Dr. Keith Davis
Welcome to the 2017-2018 School Year! Click here to visit my page.
The annual PARCC assessment window for students in grades three through eight is April 3 - 20, 2018. Students in grades five and eight will also take the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) during the week of March 12-16, 2018. Please see the attached letter for additional information.
The Heart That Smiles Mobile Dentists will be coming to Heather Hill on February 26, 2018. Please read The Heart That Smiles PDF for more information and fill out the consent form.
Welcome back! Over the next few weeks students will be assessed using AIMSweb fluency and NWEA (MAP) comprehension assessments in both reading and math. These assessments will help us evaluate student progress and set new goals for learning.
Are you wondering how best to help your child for the upcoming Illinois PARCC test? Review the slide show for information on what the PARCC assesses, test taking strategies, and links to parent and student resources. Also, make sure to visit the Illinois Learning Standards links for English Language Arts and Mathematics (see below) to see what specific content your student will see in his/ her assessment. If you have any further questions about this assessment, please fee fee to contact your child's teacher.
PARCC Practice Tests: https://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/
USA Testprep https://goo.gl/DX7j1j (Check with your child’s teacher for log-in information--Access practice questions based on your child’s pre-test.)
Practice Test Geeks: https://goo.gl/6wA6Vr
Learningfarm: https://goo.gl/5yV4nN
Lumoslearning worksheets: https://goo.gl/a11c2b
Lumoslearning practice tests: https://goo.gl/hJpZ4b
PARCC Parent Resources: https://parcc-assessment.org/parent-resources/
Understand the score (IL): http://understandthescore.org/your-state/illinois/
Be a Learning Hero https://bealearninghero.org/
Great Schools Test Guide for Parents (enter state/ grade level to see each standard and how to help):
https://www.greatschools.org/gk/common-core-test-guide/
Click on the Illinois Learning Standards to download information on the content that your student(s) will be learning this year! 
School District 161 is implementing a new K-5 math program: Bridges in Mathematics! Click on Bridges 2nd Edition Family Support to be directed to a site that details an overview of the math program, frequently asked questions and "Ways a Parent Can Help with Math." In addition, you can click on each grade level to find more information on overviews, a welcome letter, unit parent letters, games and additional resources. We hope you find these online resources helpful! 
Congratulations to the Heather Hill Green Team! This active group of students and educators made school district history through teamwork, research and letter writing!
In the fall, The Green Team noticed that Ceres, the school district hot lunch provider, had changed food packaging from cardboard to styrofoam containers. At that point, the Green Team had already been using excess cardboard for projects around the school, as well as donations for local veterinarians to use as pet feeding containers. The group was unhappy about the change and decided to do some research. They came up with some important facts: 1. small amounts of chemicals used in the production of styrofoam can leak into hot food 2.styrofoam never goes away. In fact, they found that currently, 30% of landfills are made up of styrofoam products. Once their research was complete, the team decided something needed to be done. So, they wrote a letter detailing their research and asked the Regional Co-ordinator of Ceres to change the food containers back to cardboard. To their surprise, the Regional Co-ordinator wrote back right away saying she would look into the matter.
After winter break the Team received a letter from Ceres stating they would switch back to cardboard lunch containers for all of School District 161! The Green Team was thrilled with this response and students felt empowered. Joan Mahler, one of the staff member leaders of the group, said she felt, "Students learned not to be afraid to speak up. They learned to be persistent."
The Heather Hill Green Team was interviewed by the Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle (see link below). They were also honored by the Flossmoor School District 161 School Board, on January 22, 2018, for their outstanding work. The students and staff presented their project to the board detailing the series of events. They ended with a quote from Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
We're proud of The Green Team! The way they incorporated the power of research and writing, as well as their persistence, are qualities we strive to instill in all students at Heather Hill. Thank you to The Green Team for being such great models of citizenship and change!
