Calhoun North

Overview

Grades
Calhoun North serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school's magnet program begins at the kindergarten level.

Academic programs
Math and Science Magnet Cluster School
Before and After School Programs
Technology classes for grades K-8
Graphic calculators for grades 6-8
Early Elementary Science Partnership (E2SP) with Northwestern University

Programs

Before/After school
Before-School Tutorial Program, from 7:30 am to 8:30 am, for students in grades 1-8

After-School Tutorial Program, from 2:45 pm to 4:00 pm, for students in grades 1-8

Other programs
Boyz II Men Mentoring Program for male students in grades 5-8

Wellness Health & Fitness Program

After-School All-Stars Program

Lawyers in the Classroom with Cook County Bar Association

Lakeshore Links (Social Activities – Dancing & Etiquette Training)

RUSH University Science and Math Excellence Network

Early Elementary Science Partnership (E2SP) with Northwestern University

Calhoun Kids Reading with Ryan (Diem) – Reading & Attendance Incentive Program

Boys' fall football, winter basketball, spring track, spring volleyball

Sports
Girls' fall volleyball, winter basketball, spring track

Awards and recognition

Test scores
Calhoun North has met Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) for the past two years, 2007-2008 & 2008-2009

Awards
2007 DRIVE Award Winner

2007 Area 7 Science Fair Award Winner

Academic Improvement Award for Exemplary Gains in Performance on the Illinois Learning Standards, 2005-2006

Sports awards
3rd Place – 2008 Area 7 Academic Olympics

Area 7 Girls Volleyball Championship 2007 – 5th/6th grade

Area 7 Girls Basketball Championship 2006 – 7th/8th grade

Area 7 and Regional Track Championship 2008 & 2009 – 7th/8th grade boys

Area 7 Boys Basketball Championship 2008 – 7th/8th grade

Testimonials

from Local School Council president:
"When I walk through the halls of Calhoun North Elementary today, I think back many years ago to when I was a child and attended the school. It amazes me to see how successful the school has become since that time. When I attended, there was not very much technology spread throughout the building. Now, I see computers throughout all the classrooms being used to help students learn. Today, I see the students of Calhoun North learning advanced math, such as algebra, writing, and science; skills that were barely covered or not covered when I attended Calhoun North a long time ago.

I notice that the staff and teachers of Calhoun North really want the students to learn. It is not just about getting a paycheck for them. It is about teaching the students, and they don't stop until they feel the students have learned something for that particular day. The staff and teachers give the students the motivation to keep moving forward every day. As a former student, a parent, and the Local School Council president, I want to say thank you to Calhoun North Elementary for all you have done."

from a parent and Local School Council member:
"I attended Calhoun North Elementary years ago, and now I am a Local School Council member. I have five children who attend Calhoun North Elementary. I have noticed a lot of change from the time that I was at Calhoun North. The principal, Mrs. Hughes-Hannah, the assistant principal, Ms. Ginwright, and the staff members work really hard with the children. They take the time with the children before and after school. The principal makes sure that students get the help they need to complete their goals while they are at Calhoun North."

from a parent and Local School Council member:
"Calhoun North Elementary School is a great school due to the administration, staff, and the teachers. Calhoun North students are very fortunate to have a principal and staff who tutor them, even if they are off the clock. Calhoun is wonderful with the community. They help the students who do not have school supplies. They also push students to the fullest. Students long to come to Calhoun North because they know that they have teachers who care."

from a current student:
"I have been in Calhoun for a long time. I started going when I was in kindergarten, and now I am in eighth grade. Between those years, I have had a lot of fun, including when I was in kindergarten. I was happy to meet new faces. We played learning games in addition and subtraction. I also remember having fun learning in fourth grade. My teacher at that time was Ms. Parks. The math games we played, you had to know your multiplication.  But either way it goes, I learned my multiplication.

I also had my nervous times. In third grade, I thought I might be one student who would fail. My teachers worked very hard with me to get better. When I got my report card saying I passed, I was so excited that I cried.

I have also had many memorable times at Calhoun. My most memorable time was when I was in the Science Fair. I was in the sixth grade and I came up with this great idea: "Which ball will bounce the highest between a basketball and a tennis ball."  I made it all the way to City.

After all those years, I am finally in the eighth grade. Calhoun has done a great job of preparing me to go to a good high school. I feel I can show off the skills I learned from Calhoun and become a successful student and person."

from a former Calhoun North student:
"Calhoun North was the first and only grammar school that I attended. Calhoun taught me so many things. As I attended Calhoun, I sometimes felt that I was not going to make it very far. However, throughout my years there, Calhoun had teachers who cared and tutors for students who might be struggling. Those people helped me with many things in my education. They helped me improve in school and as a person.

Calhoun North has even helped me afterwards. I was nervous about attending high school when I started. Because of how I was prepared by Calhoun North, I made it through my freshman year with seven As and one B. I was surprised, but I kept working hard. During my sophomore year, I had five As and two Bs. I also became a member of my school's National Honor Society, joined a program called Upward Bound, and have received many different kinds of awards that I never dreamed of being able to achieve. If it wasn't for Calhoun North Elementary, I would not be where I am today."