North Central Progress

Becky Densmore-Stoll, Assistant State Director of NCA, and Dick Spohr, School Improvement Advisor, visited with the North Central Steering Committee and the principal in late November. The meeting was of a consultation nature to note the progress ICS is making with its two school improvement goals. Their findings indicated that we are on the right track. The consultants have recommended that the behavior goal of improving bullying behavior shift to emphasize the teaching and reinforcement of the school’s “Behavior Matrix.” Only two formal bullying reports have been filed since the beginning of the school year. We believe that the school has done a good job in educating our  students, as well as parents, in understanding bully behavior. All misbehavior is not bully behavior. A copy of the “Behavior Matrix” is enclosed in the white envelope.

2009-2010 School Calendar

The Diocese of Peoria has decided to make school calendars a bit more uniform throughout the 40 elementary schools next year. All schools will be required to be in attendance a minimum of 176 full days. A full day of instruction includes a minimum of 5 ½ hours of classroom instruction, excluding lunch period and recess. Only the first and last day of the school year may be shortened to less than a full day without making up the instructional time, provided students are present for at least 3 ½ hours. In addition, principals may dismiss students after 3 ½ hours of instruction for two scheduled days for parent-teacher conferences. Teachers need to attend four full days of staff development each year; however, no school days may be shortened for school improvement. Shortened school days are discouraged. If the school dismisses early for heat, a minimum of 5 ½ hours must have been met, or an additional day must be added at the end of the school year to makeup for the early dismissal day. Finally, a minimum of 5 emergency days, scheduled before the last day of student attendance, must be built into the school calendar. ICS already complies with most of the Diocesan requirements. Only two changes will be made in next year’s calendar: 1. No early dismissal days for school improvement will be scheduled. 2. No early dismissal for heat will occur on a regular basis. If the school is dismissed early for heat and 5 ½ hours of instruction have not been met, additional days will be added at the end of the school calendar.

Tuition Semi-Annual Payments

A reminder to parents who selected semi-annual payments for school year 2008-2009, the second half of the payment will be debited from your checking or saving accounts on January 20, 2009. Parents may pay in the school office prior to January 20th