|
|
This
page presents material about Kenwood and its programs. Material
comes largely from the school, media features, and discussion at school
open houses and council meetings. Discussion of interactions and relationships between Kenwood and the community (including ideas from open house discussion between residents, businesspersons, teachers, students, administrators) and assessments of the state of the school, and info about the principal search, are found in the Kenwood section of News of Schools, and other hydepark.org pages referenced there.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In this page:
Events and meetings
The Kenwood LSC in June, 2005 picked then-Assistant Principal Elizabeth Kirby as principal to replace Arthur Slater, who is now High School Instructional Officer for Area 23, which will now include Kenwood Academy. Kirby has served at the school for 6 years. The vote was swift and unanimous and followed an open interview forum. Kirby intends to build on her selection by Kenwood students as Motivator of the Year (of which she is very proud), telling the Herald that the students need to take more rigorous courses and do much better. In the past few months, Kirby has changed her assistants completely and has a deputy. July 13 2005, the Herald carried an interview with Kirby by Kiratiana Freelon. Here are excerpts. [Both her parents were teachers in Cleveland. She graduated from Harvard, ran a high-achievement program in DC. Moving to Chicago, she taught at Olive Harvey's alternative school and helped start Triumphant Center while earning a Masters in Arts and Social Services at U of C. She came to Kenwood in 1999 to gain traditional school and older kids experience, winning a Golden Apple in her first year.] How does your young age help you to connect to students? I am in the post-civil rights hip-hop generation that is connected to youth culture and olders culture. Even if I don't enjoy what youth listen to I am aware of it. I also try to spend a lot of time talking to students in a real way to see their perspectives If I asked a student to describe Elizabeth Kirby what do yu think one would say? I think they would say I really care for the students. I am always pushing them to go to college, pushing them for personal growth and development, for them to find opportunities inside and outside of school. They also know I am serious about academic rigor for them. Last spring, Hyde Park experienced a rash of violence by youth, some of whom attended Kenwood. Some community members reacted y attacking Kenwood. What do you plan to do in your power to avoid what happened last spring? The stuff that happened in in the spring just kind of took us by surprise. But we've started to do some things proactively. We're meeting with police. We're going to continue to to tighten up dismissal times. At the beginning of the year we will have orientation sessions. We're going to be clear and consistent on policies and procedures. How are you different from the former principal Arthur Slater? A lot of things I have learned from him so people should not be surprised to see [it] if many things remain the same. But on differnces...Mr Slater is a seasoned administrator. There is some stuff he just knows. Whenever Kenwood had a problem, he knew exactly who to call at the central office. But I have to be more cooperative and ask questions about stuff I am not aware of. What did you learn from Mr. Slater? I learned the importance of establishing good relationships with al the people in th sh cool, which includes the local school council, building maintenance, parents, teachers, lunchroom staff and etc. You're like the mayor of a mini-city. I also learned the power of being clear and direct. I'm probably more open to hearing more things than he would be because I am in a phase of trying to learn and understand. What is your style of leadership? I believe in distributive leadership. I also think it's important to cultivate teacher leadership--administrators, teacher leaders, student leaders. I also think it's important to cultivate teacher leadership and give teachers responsibilities beyond their classrooms. Finally, what are your academic goals for the school? We want to make sure that every kid here has a rigorous student curriculum that gives them access to the college of their choice. My goal is every kid in college and every senior with a completed college application. In my own way I want to continue to grow as a school leader and educator. April 2006 Kenwood learned it will be among 14 high schools rolling out improved English, math and science curriculum this fall under the High School Transformation Project funded by Bill and Linda Gates. In June 2007 the
school rolled out a new, 400 square foot mural by 13 students and teacher
Mr. Zugardp/ A new member elected to the LSC in April 2006 appeals for support of Kenwood, announces new meeting date.I, Anthony Travis, am a new local school council member at Kenwood Academy, It is our job to keep parents and the community aware of when we meet and the time so that you can come to our meetings. All of us have been trained to do the right thing and that is to get you the parents and the community to join one or two committees. It is our job to include the school community and it should be our policy to have community involvement in our meetings. The Herald has done a good job in keeping you, the school community, informed about Kenwood Academy and the good job we're are doing. But we can do better with the community's help and involvement. Also, it is the parents' responsibility to make sure their children are coming home with their homework. Parents should come to school and find out what their children are doing. We as adult must keep our eyes on all our students and make sure no one gets left behind. The parents and community should tell others about LSC meetings. It should be standing room only at these meetings. Our next meeting is at noon on July 8. I thank those of you who voted for me and the other members. Anthony Travis, Kenwood Academy LSC. CEO Arne Duncan visits Kenwood Brotherhood's responsibility roundtable in September, touts high first day attendance and lower drop out rateHyde Park Herald, September 14, 2005. By Kiratiana E. Freelain In a candid roundtable discussion of student responsibility, African American males in the Brotherhood Club of Kenwood Academy High School told Chicago Public Schools Chief Arne Duncan Monday that their parents, positive peer pressure and a fatherly figure like Kenwood Counselor Shelby wyatt keep them on the track to graduation and college. The Brotherhood Club, started by Wyatt and two Kenwood juniors in 2003, is a male mentoring program in which students hold weekly discussions, participate in community service and visit colleges. Duncan announced to the students that the CPS one-year dropout rate hit a new low of 10.2 percent last school year. According to CPS spokesman Tim Tuten, the biggest decrease in dropout rates of the last two years has come from African-American males. Duncan attributed CPS's lower dropout rate to the success of programs like the Brotherhood Club. "You guys are setting an example not just for yourselves but for the entire city," Duncan said. "At some graduations I attend, 75 percent of graduates are women. You all are starting to turn the tide on that." Sophomore member Stephon Walker-Purnell explained to Duncan how the Brotherhood helped him to quell his discipline problems last year. "Last year I had several parent conferences and in-school suspensions," Walker-Purnell recounted. "[Wyatt] told me I had to shape up or I'm going to be put out of Brotherhood. I went before a [Brotherhood] courtroom. I was going to get kicked out of the club but the [Brotherhood] council saved me. I got my class credit through night school. wyatt told me that I showed responsibility. Now I do all my work." For Kenwood junior Akeem Robinson, school allows him to better himself. "When you're not at school it's real boring....I don't want to be another male statistic, a drug dealer or dropout," said Robinson. "You try to come to school and better yourself." Kenwood facts and programKenwood is a 4-year high school with an Academic Center for gifted 7th through 12th with enrollment of about 1700. It is located on the south side of Chicago in Hyde Park-Kenwood, serving students there as well as students from throughout the city enrolled in one of its Options programs. (The Options program is competitive and involves both accelerated high school courses and the option of taking classes at the University of Chicago.) Hundreds and more youngsters apply every year to attend Kenwood, a neighborhood school with high scores. There is not room for all of them, but Kenwood does not turn students away except for full space. Like all schools, Kenwood this year will have a slightly smaller staff serving the same number of students. Kenwood utilizes tutors, heavily from the University and could use many more! Contact Elizabeth Kirby if you can help. Faculty- 120. 74% have MA/MS, 47% of these 30+ hours beyond. Two are PHD's. The average has served 8 years at Kenwood, half of their 17.2 years in the profession. Kenwood is fully accredited including by North Central. Student body- varied, from the community and outside (60-70% latter). African-American 90%, white 4%, Hispanic 2.7%, Asian 2.5%. College, etc. Over 80% of the class of 2004 continued on to a 4 year institution, 5% a two-year college. Several entered the military. Avid- a program that opens access to the curriculum in a way that ensures college eligibility, mainstream involvement in school activities, and responsible citizenship. Student activities and leadership opportunities- There's literally an activity for every interest. Over 25 clubs in addition to sports included 3 National Honor Societies, subject-based, service and social based, ad more. Graduation requirements. There are 110+ courses. 24 credits are required in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Languages, Art, Music, Physical Education, and 5 elective units. Non-credit requirement are advisory, drivers ed, consumer ed, Public law 195, and 40 hours of community service. Grading- A 95-100, B 88-94, C 81-87, D 75-80, F below 75. Rank and GPA are computed at the end of semesters. These are weighted for Honors and Advanced Placement courses Course levels. Students are grouped in ability groups for each subject. Project Excel and College Bridge courses are available with DeVry, Robert Morris, Kennedy-King, Malcolm X, Harold Washington, Truman, University of Chicago, and DePaul. Small Learning Communities. This is especially stressed for incoming freshmen cohorts, for whom the core is the Freshman Academy Program. Course Departments: Art, English, Foreign Language, Social Science, Math, Music, Physical Education, Cinema, Education to Careers Highlights of interest to the community, as presented May 11 at a Kenwood Open House for community school-interested personsReporter's note: If the proof is in the pudding, there is a very impressive group of high achieving, community-involved students at Kenwood, not just in the top but in the next tiers as well. GMO
Highlights from the Kenwood Semi-Annual Report, May 10, 2005
More on Kenwood's college-boundThe rate going to college has gone up at Kenwood from 56% to 70% in 2005. Expected stats: Graduating class of 2005- 355. Enrolled in college so far- may well rise: 213 or 60%. (Note this this is of graduates.) Of these nearly 3/4 or 151 are enrolled in 4-year colleges. In 2004 60% went to college but some may have enrolled after the survey was taken. The city's rate is 49.6 percent (which is controversial) and is just under the national average of 64%. Among non-selective city high schools, Kenwood is 3rd, edged out by Lincoln Park and Morgan Park. If the 73% at Kenwood expressing intention to go do so, Kenwood will be in the league of the other 2 (70%). In 2004, 28 of the college-bound Kenwood grads entered very selective colleges. Administrators hope this and the college-entry rate will increase as more take Advanced Placement courses, especially the second-tier students under AVID. (80% of those in CPS who take 2 or more advanced courses go to college). Assistant Principal Elizabeth Kirby is quoted in the Herald: "Students who attend Kenwood Academy know that there a high expectations here and they are expected to go to the college of their choice. That has always been the legacy and that continues to be the legacy." Counselor Linda Parker is quoted: "Our preparation for all students is college-bound, starting with talking in freshman time that they should be researching the university. We fully get on them junior year. We have our Kenwood to college manual which tells them everything- resumes, interviews, persona statements, things they need to have ready to start their college search." More Kenwood achievements, including on scores, and how they were accomplishedKenwood scored the highest of Mid-South schools in every subject in 2004 and is nearly at state median--and it's not a selective school! (Note, however, that King is reconstituting its grades and there will be a junior class to take the Prairie State exam for the first time this year.) Equally significant is that the achievement is across the board, including scores equivalent to school-wide average for low income and African-American categories. And Kenwood continues to show yearly progress except in math, where schools statewide are lagging--at least in terms of a rising bar under No Child Left Behind. Teachers and the principal told the Herald (Oct. 20) how they work to achieve success: "We formed grade-level teams in the English department. The entire...department met once a week to communicate what people were doing in each of the grade levels." "Every department concentrated on reading and writing." Two special efforts include Jump Start and Recovery to retain freshman and stay with them to make sure they graduate. Plans for the coming year include continued curricular realignment to fit state standards and department meetings to develop assessments to identify the students' strengths and weaknesses. Kenwood Academy High School's 2004 Prairie State Results by subject- Percent of students at or above state standard
(Definitive 2005 results will not be available until October) Note that while there appears to be no pattern of relative success in math vs reading in elementary schools, in high schools reading appears stronger than math or science at Kenwood and in the city, but not statewide. Kenwood's scores are almost comparable to state scores in reading, writing but not math, science and social sciences. In every category Kenwood is modestly to strongly better than city average, which seriously lags both the standard and the state average. Kenwood's Principal Arthur Slater reported his school's increasing PSAE scores at a local school council meeting in October. He announced at the meeting that Kenwood is ranked first in every subject in its region, which comprises 22 public high schools. Kenwood, 5015 S. Blackstone Ave., improved in every subject except math on the PSAE, scoring well above t he city averages in every subject. Overall, 44 percent of Kenwood juniors met or exceeded state standards, a three percent improvement over last year. Kenwood
junior and senior women worked with the University of Chicago on the
"Hip Hop and Feminism" project that culminated in a major
conference at the University in April 2005. Sophomore Eric Willis, Jr. was honored by South East Chicago Commission in April, 2005 for an astonishing 476 hours of community service, at the Hyde Park Learning and Resource Center. Counselor Karen Calloway was one of six CPS teachers honored with the Suave Performance Plus Award for founding the FOCUS student club focusing on academic, personal, and social responsibility. Spring 2008 the Kenwood debate team placed second in two of three citywide championship tournaments!! These students have become self-c0nfident leaders and achievers. And Also spring 2008 13 Kenwood art students won medals for artwork in an all city competition held at Museum of Science and Industry and Museum of Contemporary Art. Pieces are on display (as of early May) at the two museums. The work of the artists and other Kenwood, King, and Lane plus photography and live performance will be featured at "Selected Shots" at Hyd Park Art Center 3-5 pm May 11. Profiles of some Kenwood students, excelling to presenting challengesThe following was taken from material furnished by the school. Michael- entered the magnet program in 7th grade. Lives in the area. Friend Howard is from outside. They now take Algebra-Trig with Martin, who excels in math but is weak in verbal, keeping him out of selective high schools. Martin can approach each skill as appropriate. Alan's mother hope her son, and average student, will be inspired by the above students. Beatrice could attend any selective school but chose Kenwood so she can take courses at U of C as a senior. She lives in the area, but friend Sarah in the program does not. Alice and Beverly came to Kenwood when their high school closed and have a long ride to school. Kenwood provided guidance services and tutoring. Jerry and Louise shifted to Kenwood from a failing school under NCLB--and the slots are reserved for low performers while 3 non-selective schools--Kenwood, Lincoln Park, and Morgan Park--had scores high enough to have to take such transfers. Providing enough remedial classes and services is difficult. Likewise for Jim, who enrolled at Kenwood claiming homeless--his records cannot be accessed. Kudos and scholarshipsFour Kenwood students in 2005 attended the Student Ocean Conference at Nat. Miss. River Mus. and Aquarium in Dubuque, IA. Shanice Jones, Tiesha Jones, Derick Rent. The 2005 Posse Scholars at Kenwood are Terrence Patterson and Ezinnaya Ubagharaji. Winners receive full tuition scholarships to attend an Illinois Partnership School in a "posse" with other local scholars. One will go to DePaul, the other to Denison in Ohio. Peter Cole was named a "Commended Student" in the 2006 National Merit Scholarship Program, putting him in the top 5% in the nation. Ama Thrasher scored in the top 5% of African Americans in the 2006 National Achievement Scholarship Program. The Kenwood High School Concert Band received a superior rating at CPS and Illinois contests. 150 foreign language scholars were recognized in a May 26 ceremony. Grade average was 3.2. Among other 2005 Kenwood scholarships:
Kenwood Counselor Karen Calloway was honored for founding and conducting the FOCUS program. FOCUS reaches students of all categories, especially those considered in some way vulnerable and work with them, including through peer mentoring and pressure, to teach personal skills. The one-word mission is "college," the means is commitment, the slogan "A man is not great because he has not failed, but because his failure has not stopped him/" Calloway was honored with five other CPS educators with the Suave Performance Plus Award. Lasaadia Jones, female Junior, became the first woman to pay on a CPS high school varsity football team, and has been a very valuable contributor. In early 2007, Kenwood Academy started of Black History Month by hosting the Robben Island Singers, who had been political prisoners in South Africa with Nelson Mandela. Kenwood's Timeless Players joined two other area schools in putting on productions at Court Theatre. Kenood's production was Moliere's Tartuffe as well as George Wolfe productions. Court provided the sets et al. Hyde Park Bank sponsored the program as part of its Classics and the Community program with Court's Artists-in-Schools, a program founded four years before. Court actors work at Kenwood with drama teacher Jon Nemeth and students get discounted prices for tickets. At a business coffee sponsored by Ald. Preckwinkle at Pizza Capri February 6 2007, both city and University police praised Principal Kirby, staff, and students at Kenwood for improving good order on and off campus. Friends of Kenwood, which has existed over 35 years, in 2007 awarded its annual scholarship for schol performance to graduating seniors Marshall Mays and Dontae Simmons. Mays will study biology at University of Chicago; Simmons will attend Tuskegee University. In 2007 After School Matters enabled 256 Kenwood students learn the full range fo production with claymation. Kenwood Library gets new murals in 2007 to go with those on the Blackstone entrance. 10 students and art teacher Dennis Zygadlo (Mr. Z) painted 16 panels for the library. The wooden panels depict objects meaningful in teir livess or scholwork and will include quotations chosen by each student. Students in the KidStart program (who are paid for their work) include Tiffany Tobias, Leah Robinson, Ariel Armstorng, and Sir Edmond. In 2006 another group created mosaics for the Blackstone entrance of the Saarinen-designed school. Another art teacher and students in 2007 decorated a globe for the Cool Globes project, set up in Gant Park and the Museum Campus. . |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
A
service of Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference (email).
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HPKCC HOME | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
