September 24, 2012
November 1, 2011
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Barbara Onofrio.
We are all so very excited to get back
to the work we love and welcome our
students back to Stone. This time has
been very stressful on all of us and
we understand how difficult it has
been for children and their families;
however, we can come out of this
experience
with
a
better
understanding of how lucky we are
to be part of the Stone community
and how important education is to us
all. We also understand that it may
take time for students to get back into
the swing of things, especially the
younger children, but you can help
by establishing a consistent schedule
for you children, listening to their
concerns about coming back to
school, and a making sure that they
have a quiet place to complete their
homework. If you have any questions
about the strike, please direct these to
the administration rather than the
teachers as some questions might be
uncomfortable for them to answer.
Hopefully, this new start is an
opportunity to refocus our efforts on
keeping Stone Academy as one of
the very best schools in Chicago.
You may have noticed a few changes
around the school, including
enhancements to the building itself
and changes in the faculty.
We are very excited to welcome new
teachers to our school. Please look
for their introduction later in this
newsletter. As we welcome new staff
to the building we also say goodbye
to teachers that have retired or
decided to pursue other endeavors.
Last year Ms. Turkin, Ms. Davis,
Ms. Kong, Ms. King, and Ms.
Doroshow all completed successful
teaching careers and the Stone
community congratulates them on
their service to the children and
families of Chicago. This summer
Mr. Nelson decided to move on to
the high school level and is starting
an exciting new program at Schurz
High School. This is something that
he has been longing to do for years
and his farewell letter will be posted
on our website. Mr. Pele and Ms.
Kitsuse are also pursuing new
endeavors. Mr. Pele will be teaching
English in China and Ms. Kitsuse
accepted a Language Arts position at
another CPS school. We wish them
the best and hope they’ll come back
to visit often.
Also, Ms. Korman will be taking a
leave from Stone this year for
personal reasons. The school has
identified a new certified science
teacher to take over her duties.
Filling Ms. Korman’s shoes will be a
very difficult task. Some adjustments
will need to be made to the program
when the new teacher comes on board.
Science is one of the identified
priorities
in
our
Continuous
Improvement Work Plan (CIWP), and
we
are
working
to
make
improvements
in
our
Science
curriculum.
Hopefully you’ll have a chance in the
near future to visit the newly painted
and decorated school library, which is
complete with an original mural
painted by our own Ms. Esme. In
addition to the new color, rugs,
furniture and the mural, the library
collection has also been enhanced and
we’d like to thank FOSA for the
generous support given to the school
to help make this happen. The
computer lab is now open for business
and not a moment too soon, as we
begin to administer the Measure of
Academic Progress (MAP) assessment
to all students from Kindergarten
through Eighth grade (previously
grades 2-8). Desktop computers are
much easier to use for our younger
(continued on next page)
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students as they take this assessment for the first time. Also, we are pleased that Mr. Lafferty has accepted a
teaching position here at Stone! He will work with teachers to integrate technology across subjects.
We are very pleased Stone was approved for After School All Stars. Information related to the program will be
forthcoming in the next few weeks. Classes are scheduled to begin mid to late October. In addition to After
School All Stars, we continue to offer fee-based after school programing including: band, chess, judo, art, and
tap dancing. Aftercare is also a great option for families in need of afterschool child care. Students in our
Aftercare program get homework help, play outside or in the gym, and do fantastic art projects. Seats are
available. If interested, please contact Pam Oden.
Please join me in thanking Stone parent Tom McClurg for spending an entire Saturday painting all of the
school’s exterior doors. You may have noticed the bright color that will welcome our children to school every
day for years to come. Also, thank you to all of the volunteers who came out to work in the garden on Sunday,
September 16th. We are so lucky to have such beautiful grounds, but it takes a lot of hands to keep the gardens
blooming. The PTA was also instrumental in providing funds to purchase some of the recess materials that
students are utilizing. We’re so happy that all of the Stone students have a chance to have a break during the day,
socialize with their peers and burn off some excess energy.
Stone Welcomes New Teachers
John Charest
Many Students already know Mr. Charest for his work as a substitute teacher here at Stone. Now students
have a chance to get to know him as “Mr. Charest, the 2nd grade teacher.” Mr. Charest is originally from
the tiny state of Rhode Island but has lived in the great city of Chicago for the past four years. He’s very
excited to officially join the Stone family and can’t wait to get to know everyone even better.
Jennifer Garcia
Jennifer Garcia joins the Stone Faculty this year and will work with 5th grade students. It is her eleventh
year teaching in Chicago Public Schools. Ms. Garcia has her Masters in Reading Instruction from
Concordia University Chicago. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling along the
water, and snow skiing. She hopes to make learning fun this year and to help instill a love of learning that
will last throughout each child’s life.
Agnes Gula
Ms. Agnieszka Gula is teaching Fifth Grade Math this year at Stone. She graduated from Northeastern
Illinois University in May 2012. Ms. Gula is the product of Chicago Public Schools and attended CPS
schools from Second to Twelfth Grade. She loves to travel, especially in rural areas surrounding Chicago.
She also enjoys reading. She is excited to become a part of the Stone and join this community of students,
parents, teachers, and administrators. We are sure students will love working with Ms. Gula and will excel
in the classroom.
Jennifer Klusken
Fourth Grade Language Arts will be taught by Jennifer Klusken this year. Jennifer grew up in the
Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago and graduated from both Hawthorn and Whitney Young schools.
She attended the University of Illinois and received a degree in advertising hoping she would one day make
commercials. Soon after college graduating, Ms. Klusken realized that teaching was her true love, so she
went back to DePaul University to earn a degree in education. She has been teaching for five years and
couldn’t be happier with her decision to change careers. When she’s not teaching Ms. Klusken enjoys
travel and has been to over fifteen countries. Other than travel, she enjoys reading and spending time with
her husband, daughter (she was born in April) and their dog.
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New Teachers Continued
Ben Lafferty
Mr. Lafferty has worked at Stone Academy for the last six years as a Library Assistant and Technology
Coordinator. He is thrilled to spearhead the technology program this year, and brings a background in both
writing and library science to our new computer lab.
Kara Saternus
Kara Saternus graduated from Illinois State University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in English Education.
She taught English and Reading in various high schools for five years until this past July when she earned a
master’s degree in Reading and Special Education from DePaul University. She brings her talents to Stone and
will work as a Reading Specialist along with Ms. Sanchez. When not teaching, Ms. Saternus likes to play with
her dog, a bullmastiff named Fitz. She also enjoys reading and is currently enjoying The Game of Thrones by
George R. R. Martin. She also loves to cook and try out new recipes.
Soon you will have the opportunity to meet and greet all of the fabulous newcomers, as well as welcome back
our marvelous returning staff. I am thrilled that we are back together and know that despite our unconventional
start, we are back on the road to a very successful and satisfying year!
Anita Scotese
Anita Scotese comes to Stone to teach Sixth and Eighth Grade Math. She is very happy to be part of our
community and is looking forward to getting to know all of her students, their families, and the rest of the school
team. She has been involved in education for over thirty years and has a Master’s Degree in the Science of
Teaching Mathematics as well as holding several middle-school endorsements.
It was William Butler Yeats who said: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” Ms.
Scotese is ready for the sparks to start flying in her math classes.
Chris Westfall
Language Arts students in Sixth and Eighth Grade will have the opportunity to learn from Chris Westfall. Mr.
Westfall can be found in room 301 and will have a sixth grade homeroom. He has worked in CPS for the past
few years and has enjoyed the experience. He’s had a busy summer, not only did he change schools, but he also
married his wife Heather. Mr. Westfall is a huge sports fan and enjoys both playing and watching sports. The
Bears, Bulls, and White Sox are the teams he follows most. (Don’t worry, we’ll make him a Blackhawks fan!)
Growing up an athlete, he has always been interested in health and fitness, so if you have a question about health
and fitness he is an excellent resource. Welcome Mr. Westfall!
Natalie Agaton
Ms. Agaton is a Math support teacher working with third, sixth, and seventh grade. Ms. Agaton graduated from
Loyola University Chicago in Spring 2012 and received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with an
endorsement in Math and Music. She is very excited to start the school year and looking forward to learning
what Stone pride is all about. Her goal as a teacher is to help her students perform at his/her highest potential
and build their confidence in math. In her spare time she loves to dance, play sports, and try new food.
Future Newsletters
In an effort to reduce the number of copies that we make and to save some trees, this newsletter is the only
edition that will be sent home to all students. All future newsletters will be sent via email, available from the
school website, or hardcopies can be found in the office at the beginning of the month. Room parents will be
collecting emails that we will use to send the eNeswletter to you. If you need a paper copy of the Newsletter,
we will be glad to make a copy and send one home per family. Please complete this section and return it to
school. Please request only one newsletter per family.
Student’s Name : ________________________Homeroom__________________
Stone Academy PTA
September 24
Open House 6:00-7:30 and Band
Registration
September 26-28
6th Grade Trip to White Pines
October 5
Art Exhibit at Old Town School
of Folk Music
October 7
PTA Nature Outing
October 11
FOSA Meeting 6:30
October 15
LSC Meeting 7:00
The PTA welcomes you back to school! The Stone PTA is a network of
parents and teachers who support the school by sponsoring events and
activities that promote school spirit, provide an opportunity for families and
kids to socialize, and complement in-school activities. Officers for the coming
year are: Janice Hack, President; Tracy Shields, Vice President; Colleen
Loeffler, Vice President; Greg Falkner, Treasurer; Eric Vander Arend,
Secretary; Brad Hack, Membership; and Mena Pfest, Teacher
Representative. Membership in the PTA supports events and teacher
appreciation activities. Be sure to look for notices about our upcoming events,
landscape clean-up days and the Scholastic Book Fair.
Landscape Clean-up A Success!
About 30 people came out on Sunday September 16th to clean-up the gardens
around the front of the school. Led by Jeanne-Marie Greiner and Brad Hack,
parents and students pulled weeds and trimmed bushes uncovering plants that
have been lovingly planted over the years. Among the participating families
were: Anderson (K), Budak (2nd grade), Bhondwe (K and 6th), Bramble
(2nd and 4th), Budak (2nd), Hack, (3rd), Greiner (2nd and 4th), King (1st), and
Sharma Adams (3rd). Another landscaping day will take place in October to
mulch the spruced-up gardens. Lots of help is needed for this project and a
date and time will be announced shortly.
October 19
Picture Day
ART Opening
The PTA & FOSA are sponsoring an art exhibit at the Old Town School of Folk Music entitled "Creative
Connection: Artists Linked to Stone Academy. "Fifteen parents of students at Stone are exhibiting work in this
show. The Old Town School gallery is located at 4544 N Lincoln Ave (on the 2nd floor) and the exhibit is open to
the public daily through December 21, 2012.
On Friday, Oct 5, from 7-9pm, there will be an opening reception at the Old Town School celebrating our school
and the artists in the exhibit. Please join us! Celebrate the community of parents, teachers, administration and kids
that make Stone an outstanding place for learning. The exhibit opening event is free and children are welcome. Look
for a postcard invitation with more details in your kid's backpack next week.
Student Business
Please submit the $85 student fee to the school office at your earliest convenience. This fee is used to provide
supplemental material to students and stretches our already thin dollars. Your cooperation is appreciated.
At the start of the school year, many forms are distributed to families which include: emergency contact
information, medical requests, media release forms, lunch applications, etc. Please be sure to complete and return
these forms as soon as possible.