BAAWG Featured on TV Show, Bridging the Gap

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2/16/10 - Leroy Brown, Dorletta Payton, Chrystal Hanson, and Gaby Wojciechowski represented BAAWG on the local TV show, Bridging the Gap, hosted by Valley View School District Security Director, Leroy Brown.

New Program Provides Support for Bolingbrook High School

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On Oct. 15, 2009, in an effort to support the many challenges faced by schools the size of Bolingbrook and Romeoville high schools, school board President Steven Quigley asked that the mayors of both towns, along with representatives from the police departments, clergy association, community organizations and the school district meet for the purpose of developing strategies for supporting student learning and students' social and emotional needs.

Out of this meeting came a call for community support specifically at Bolingbrook High School. As a result, under the leadership of Leroy Brown Jr., the BAAWG organization (Bolingbrook Academic Achievement Working Group), as well as Living Water Community Church, under the direction of pastors Ken and Chrystal Hansen, answered the call.

These volunteers are a cross section of our community. They are represented by people as young as 21 to senior citizens. They come from low-income and affluent homes, and reflect the cultural diversity of our town. Each of the volunteers had to go through a rigorous approval process that included fingerprinting, background checks and training designed to familiarize them with security procedures, as well as ways to interact with high school students. This was followed by an orientation to the building which helped the volunteers to become acclimated to the physical structure. We currently have trained more than 60 volunteers with another 100 waiting to be trained.

Many times schools and school districts asked for greater parent and community support. However, defining how to create partnerships for the purpose of support is difficult. Clearly the best means of support is for parents to engage their children. Be active in their lives, and take an interest in what they do. Nurturing, love and care are critical to children's well being. When there is a lack of these components in their lives, children suffer. When school systems are confronted with children in need, it becomes the responsibility of all of us to support those needs. The team of school board members, politicians, community support groups, school administration and clergy did an excellent job of helping to shape what the call for support looks like at Bolingbrook High School.

The F.A.N.S. of BHS serve in several capacities. One is that they act as hall monitors. In this capacity they simply watch and listen. They keep their finger on the pulse of the environment. They informally interact with our students, getting to know them, and building trust and relationships. They also serve as mentors. In this capacity they work with one or more students to develop a more personal relationship with those students who have been identified as at-risk due to academic or behavioral issues.

Furthermore, they serve as contacts with the homes. In this capacity they call homes, not as representatives of the school, but as caring parents and community members developing relationships with other parents and community members as a means of furthering partnerships in support of our students.

Finally, and critical to helping shape school culture and community relations, they act as liaisons to the public. I have often said when your house is dirty, you don't invite people to your home. When your house is clean you are proud to accept people into your home. Bolingbrook High School's house is clean. By that I mean I could not be prouder of the teachers, staff and students. Our curriculum has never been more rigorous, our staff has never been more caring, and our students are equal to any other.

Our facility is second to none, and the support through this initiative is unprecedented. What the volunteers see and hear every day at Bolingbrook High School will do one of two things. It will serve to reinforce any negative perceptions our community or surrounding communities may have about our school, or it will serve to spread the good news about the great programs, kids, faculty and staff we have at Bolingbrook High School.

Our house is clean, and I am confident that the F.A.N.S will be a positive influence in supporting the culture and reputation of Bolingbrook High School. F.A.N.S. at BHS is the pilot to what we expect to become a district-wide initiative with volunteers eventually in every school in the district.

As a member of the community, and principal of Bolingbrook high School, I cannot be prouder of our village. 

BAAWG Goes to Washington

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Dorletta Payton, Sadie Flucas and Prinicipal Mitchem will represent BAAWG at the Kettering Symposium on the Achievement Gap in Washington DC, March 17, 2010 at the National Press Club.

The symposium is based on the community forums that took place in Bolingbrook and other areas across the country.  Bolingbrook is one of only a handful that will participate in the symposium.

BAAWG General Meetings 2010

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2/20/10 - Living Water Community Church - 11AM 
3/20/10 - Living Water Community Church - 11AM 
4/17/10 - Living Water Community Church - 11AM 
5/15/10 - Living Water Community Church - 11AM
6/19/10 -Living Water Community Church - 11AM

New Faces Seen At BHS

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Wearing bright yellow vests that say "Visitor Staff" and carrying radios for communication, the first of what will be 60 or so community volunteers began interacting with students at Bolingbrook High School this week.

The volunteers, many of whom live in Bolingbrook, are part of the new FANS (Friends, Families and Neighbors Supporting Students) program, which is designed to provide increased adult interaction with students during the heaviest traffic times before school, during lunch and after school.

"The community volunteers will see a school that is well run with great kids who are serious learners," said Bolingbrook High School Principal James Mitchem. "We hope word will spread so we can continue the process of changing the perception of our school to what it really is -- a great place for kids to learn."

Volunteer Chrystal Hansen, co-pastor at Living Water Community Church, recalled a visit by Mitchem to the Bolingbrook Academic Achievement Working Group to get the ball rolling.

"We talked with Principal Mitchem about how we could help," said Hansen, who talked to her congregation and said: "Let's get involved. Let's get beside Principal Mitchem."

Read the rest of the Bolingbrook Sun news article here

BAAWG Members Volunteer To Provide Extra Level of Security at Bolingbrook Highschool

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"The new security volunteers at Bolingbrook High School will certainly be noticeable when they begin duty after Christmas break in early January.

The volunteers will be issued lime green mesh vests and radios to help distinguish them from regular staff and security personnel. They have also been encouraged to wear shoes conducive to walking as they navigate the hallways of the sprawling school campus.

However, the most vital equipment will be the community volunteers' eyes and ears, tools to be deployed in assisting or befriending students and in helping identify and report any potential trouble.

Over the past several weeks, some 90 volunteers have stepped forward and more than 60 have already gone through background checks and training sessions in preparation for their roles in providing additional help to assure the safety and security of students at Bolingbrook High School.

Many of the volunteers come from Living Water Church and other local churches, as well as the Bolingbrook Academic Achievement Working Group and Bolingbrook Adventist Hospital.

The presence of community volunteers augments the two police officers, nine deans and 20 or more security guards that are present in the school on any given day."

Read the rest of the Bolingbrook Sun news article here

ISAT (Illinois Standards Achievement Test) Informational Night

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Patti Chow,  BAAWG First Vice Chair, will host two ISAT Informational Workshops on Thursday, January 21st from 6:30-7:30PM and Friday, January 22nd from 9:15-10:15AM at Wood View Elementary School. This will be an opportunity for parents of Third through Fifth Graders to gain general information about the assessment, as well as learn ways to help prepare their children at home. A sample assessment will be given that evening. Click here to register.

Kindergarten Reading Volunteers

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Several schools in Valley View District #365U are looking for volunteers to read with Kindergarten students on a weekly basis. If you have a few hours that you could spare each week to do this and are interested in working with young children, we have the opportunity for you!

Some of the activities that you could do with the children include:  working with letter/sound flash cards, reading to individual students, listening to individual students read, etc.  

No preparation is involved! Download Flyer Here

If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Patti Chow, BAAWG Board Member  - patti.chow@BAAWG.org

Please include the following information in your message:

Name, Phone Number, school preference*, days/times available

The following schools are interested in assistance:

Salk, Tibbott (if volunteer can speak Spanish), Pioneer, Wood View, Oak View, Skoff, B.J. Ward, Independence

Once the information is received, we will pair you up with a school and contact person to set up your volunteering time and activities.

THANKS for considering making a difference in a young person’s life!

Preparing for College Admissions Seminars

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BAAWG will host a series of Preparing for College Admissions Seminars. All seminars will be held at Living Water Community Church at 190 Lily Cache Lane in Bolingbrook from 7pm - 8:30pm.

Register Here             
Download Event Flyer

Seminar dates and topics are:

-Financial Aid and Scholarships - Nov. 3, 2009
-The College Application - Dec. 1, 2009
-College Essay and Letters of Recommendation - Jan. 5, 2010
-High School Class Selection and Extra-curricular Activities - Feb. 2, 2010
-Which Tests to Take (ACT, SAT, PSAT, AP and SAT Subject tests) - March 2, 2010
-Developing College Lists, Visiting Colleges and College Interviews - April 13, 2010

BAAWG Remaining General Meetings 2009

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10/17/09 - Bolingbrook Firestation #3 - 11AM -Community Room
11/21/09 - Bolingbrook Firestation #4 - 11AM -Community Room
12/19/09 - Living Water Community Church - 11AM 

BAAWG is on Facebook

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Join our Facebook Group to connect and share our cause with others.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2009

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BAAWG hosts Community Forums to address ways to improve academic achievement in Bolingbrook Schools

On January 8 & 10, 2009, the Bolingbrook Academic Achievement Working Group, (BAAWG), hosted community forums at Bolingbrook High School, and Living Water Community Church, respectively. A combined total of 128 adults and youth attended the forums, titled “Raising the Bar and Closing the Gap: Ensuring a World Class Education for Bolingbrook Students.” 

Using a locally written discussion guide, forum participants deliberated on three possible approaches to closing the academic achievement gap and improving the quality of education for all students in Bolingbrook public schools: 1. Families Must Take the Lead, 2. Use Culture as a Positive Motivation for Learning and 3. Raise Expectations and Demand Accountability. 

During the deliberation, participants deliberated on the pros and cons of each approach, and identified actions that can be taken by individuals, the community, businesses, and the schools. They also identified trade-offs that they were willing to make in order for some of the actions to be taken. Discussions were lively and while some people came with pretty firm opinions about this issue, most were able to listen to other points of view and objectively weigh the benefits, consequences and costs of what others proposed.

Through this respectful exchange of ideas, some specific “common ground for actions” was identified. The following were among them: become more involved in interacting with the school board, provide increased recognition for academic achievement and academic improvement, develop a system of  identifying specific needs for volunteers in the schools and to recruit community members to meet those needs, strengthen and increase tutoring and mentoring, and several items specific to families.

BAAWG planned the forums so that they could analyze forum results and report findings to the community, and so that actions teams could be formed to move forward with actions tied to specific community concerns. Next steps will be considered and a report presented to the community, the village and the school board by no later than the end of March. 

In the meantime, some participants have already begun to form action teams for some of the items. Cedra Crenshaw is seeking volunteers interested in staying on top of issues that come before the school board, and the budget, and who are committed to attending board meetings and providing feedback to BAAWG.

Attorney Owolabi T. Alaba will lead a team to explore formation of a business and community-supported system of increased recognition for students with high academic achievement and/or significant academic improvement. 

Sadie Flucas’s team will identify how community volunteers are (or could be) used during school hours, and will work with schools to recruit additional volunteers. 

Dorletta Payton will head up a team to explore expanding academic options during the summer. Anyone interested in joining one of these action teams should contact the team leader or email baawg@yahoo.com.

Conversations about the critical issue of education for our children are far from over, but the community forums were a great beginning. Anyone wanting to hold a forum in their organization should contact BAAWG.

Charlie Hauser, an associate of Kettering Foundation, observed the forums and will be submitting his findings as part of a report on how a small group of communities in various parts of the country have used deliberation to address the academic achievement gap.

Forum leaders consisted of adults and youth who had been trained by the College of DuPage Public Policy Institute. Youth forum leaders came from Bolingbrook High School or the DuPage County ACT-SO program. The ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho, Zeta Omicron Sigma Alumnae Chapter served as on-site volunteers for Saturday. Bolingbrook High School and Living Water custodial staff provided outstanding support for the two venues.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2009

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BAAWG hosted moderator training to prepare for community forums to address the academic achievement gap in Bolingbrook schools

On Saturday, January 3, 2009, from 8:30am – 5pm, the Bolingbrook Academic Achievement Working Group hosted moderator training for community members who will lead small group discussions at upcoming community forums to be held 1/8/09 and 1/10/09, at Bolingbrook High School Cafeteria from 7-9pm and Living Water Community Church from 9:30-11:30am, respectively. Training was provided by College of DuPage Public Policy Institute and facilitated by Kim Casey, Dorletta Payton, and Sadie Flucas. Pastors Ken and Chrystal Hansen of Living Water Community Church provided the use of their atrium and classrooms for the training. 

Additional administrative and technical supports were provided by Ernest Beam, Angelica Payton, Justin Payton, Mark Payton, Dorletta Payton, and Patricia Wooley.  

Trainees included adults as well as teens (noted with an asterick): Darius Ardison*, Deborah Ardison, Maria Avila, Gerado Avila Jr.*, Sydney Avila*,Gwendolyn Beam, Steffanee Beckley*, Carl Brown, Stacey K. Brown, Leroy Brown Jr., Elizabeth Campbell, Derrick Carter, Patti Chow, Reginald Collins, Cedra Crenshaw, Justin Davis*, Kirsten Davis*, Dortha Desmond, LaToya Forrester, Erika Garza*, Chrystal Hansen, Michael Henderson Jr.*, Lenora Hunt, Maggie Lyons, Cheryl Jordan, Bette Lawrence-Waters, Michael Metkowski, Kimberly Newman, Barbara Osborne, Thomas Peterson*, Pamela Pritchard, Joshua Sheppard*, Maxie Sheppherd*, Cheryl Smith, Danielle Sprowl*, David Sprowl*, Eva Walker-Outlaw, Aysia Walters, and Patricia Wooley.

In the morning session, trainees participated in an example forum titled What Is the 21st Century Mission for Our Public Schools? Trainees discussed the pros and cons of three possible approaches with the purpose of finding common ground for action.

In the afternoon session, trainees separated into two groups where they were instructed on how to engage community members in deliberation with the purpose of finding common ground for action. Trainees then practiced moderating the Bolingbrook forum titled Raising the Bar and Bridging the Gap: Ensuring a World Class Education for All Bolingbrook Students. Trainers and fellow trainees critiqued each trainee. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2008

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BAAWG to host Community Forums January 8th & 10th about solutions to the academic achievement gap in Bolingbrook Schools

On January 8 & 10, 2009, the Bolingbrook Academic Achievement Working Group will host two community forums at Bolingbrook High School Cafeteria (enter through door #17), 7-9 p.m., and Living Water Community Church (190 Lily Cache Lane), 9:30-11:30 a.m., respectively. Adults and youth (8th grade and up) are invited. Titled “Raising the Bar and Closing the Gap: Ensuring a World Class Education for Bolingbrook Students,” the forums will give a voice to education stakeholders, including those who may usually feel disenfranchised from educational decision making. 

Refreshments Will Be Served

Research has shown that students are most successful in places where the “community is in the schools” rather than just where the “school is in the community.” This means that citizens willing to become involved can make a significant impact on improving our children’s educational experience. 

These forums will not include presentations from a panel of experts; instead trained community members will lead participants in small group discussions, using a locally written discussion guide, about what can be done to positively impact the education of students in Bolingbrook public schools. 

A summary report of common ground identified from these forums will be published by March 2009. Community action teams will be launched to implement solutions identified in these forums to enrich the education experience for all Bolingbrook students. 

Register by calling (630) 759-9659 or visit www.baawg2008.wordpress.com

Organizations are encouraged to show support of our children by publicizing these events to their membership. In recognition of their efforts, they can be listed in the forum program as a supporter. They can call (630) 759-9659 or email baawg@yahoo.com to have their organization’s name added to our list of organizational partners.

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The Bolingbrook Academic Achievement Working Group (BAAWG) is a non profit organization. Contributions to BAAWG are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

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