Principal's Blog
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Fourth Quarter Accelerated Reader 100 Point Club
Congratulations to the following students and staff for reaching 100 or more points on Accelerated Reader for the Fourth Quarter of the 2011-2012 academic year! Awesome Job! Welcome to the 100 Point Club.
Friday, April 27, 2012
With Principal-For-The-Day Ellie Johnson
Hi, Everyone! This is your "Principal For The Day", Ellie Johnson. Let me tell you what I did today. My day as Principal began by setting up for our Slim Goodbody Assembly with our custodian, Mr. Hahn. When I returned from that, Mrs. Junge surprised me with my very own staff ID card. I thought that was so cool! Then, I spoke to the students and staff of James C. Bush Elementary School for morning announcements. After that, I had a few minutes to enjoy a donut and milk and share some goodies with the Office Ladies before having to hurry to the gym to kick off the assembly. I think everyone enjoyed the assembly and learning about how their body works. Following the assembly, Mrs. Junge and I took a walk around the school to see all of the wonderful things our students were learning about today. For example, we saw Ms. Pflug's class in the Computer Lab working on their animal research projects. The pictures they drew of their animals were amazing! After that, it was lunch time. Mrs. Junge and I enjoyed eating our Wendy's...yum! When lunch was over, I went to our Learning Center to check out joke books. Mrs. Junge put me in charge of searching for joke's because "J Day" is coming up for our ABC Countdown and on that day, we celebrate "Junge's Joke Day". After typing up a list of really funny jokes for Mrs. Junge to tell, Mrs. Crook told me I had an important phone call on Line 1. When I answered the phone, it was my mom calling! I ended the day by writing this blog. Today was the most amazing Friday ever!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Third Quarter Accelerated Reader 100 Point Club
Congratulations to the following students and staff for reaching 100 or more points on Accelerated Reader for the Third Quarter of the 2011-2012 academic year! Awesome Job! Welcome to the 100 Point Club.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Mr. Rick Neiss Visited Mrs. Bauer's and Mrs. Leathers 4th Grade Classes
Today Mr. Rick Neiss, ComEd Lineman and father to JCB Fourth Grader Troy Neiss, visited Mrs. Bauer and Mrs. Leathers' fourth grade classes to explain electrical safety and his truck's boom. This community connection tied into the fourth grade science curriculum concepts of magnetism and electricity. A huge thank you goes out to Mr. Neiss for volunteering his time and talents to enhance our students' understanding of electricity and connect their knowledge to a career path!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Second Quarter Accelerated Reader 100 Point Club
Congratulations to the following students and staff for reaching 100 or more points on Accelerated Reader for the Second Quarter of the 2011-2012 academic year! Awesome Job! Welcome to the 100 Point Club.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Johnsburg Junior High School Band Assembly
This morning, I had the pleasure of accompanying our Fourth Grade Team to the Johnsburg Junior High School, where we had the privilege of listening to the wonderful musical talent of the 7th & 8th Grade Band! Our fourth grade students were introduced to the sights and sounds of the various instruments represented in the band, which served as a preview to what they can expect if they choose to join band in fifth grade. It was a wonderful experience and we are so proud of the students who are a part of the 7th & 8th Grade Band! They sounded amazing and their dedication to practicing their music was evident!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Mrs. Akers' Science Class
Today I joined Mrs. Akers' Third Grade Class for a hands-on science investigation. Students were exploring their guiding question of, "Why do some plants have more seeds than others?" Students learned that botanists classify green beans and tomatoes as fruits because they have seeds. They worked in cooperative groups to determine the amount of seeds found in fresh produce including green beans, limes, and avocados. After collecting their data, students graphed their findings in Math Class.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving
In observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday, there will be no school on Wednesday, November 23 through Friday, November 25. School will resume on Monday, November 28. On behalf of the Staff at James C. Bush Elementary School, I wish you, your family, and friends a Happy Thanksgiving. May your holiday be filled with delicious food, wonderful company, and cherished memories.
Monday, November 21, 2011
JCB Staff Attend Reading Assessment Professional Development
Recently, JCB Staff have participated in professional development for the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System. This is a one-on-one assessment that enables teachers to better understand their students as readers by identifying students' strengths and areas for improvement in the following categories:
Accuracy
Self-correction
Fluency
Comprehension
Writing
In addition, the assessment will enable teachers to identify the level of text students are able to read at with fluency and understanding. With all of this information about our students as readers, our staff will be able to plan for instruction to help raise student achievement in the area of reading.
Photo #1 From Left to Right: Melanie Junge, Sara Hesemann, Jennifer Bardell, Mary Alice Stone, Cindy Pflug, Debbie Leathers, Jill Fox, Kathy Canevello
Photo #2 Top Row From Left to Right: Annette Bedard, Bert Crossland (Trainer), Nicole Prejna, Amanda Moeller, Chris Aschbacher, Judy Kent, Deb Diedrich
Bottom Row From Left to Right: Chris Bauer, Jami Myatt, Monica Reck, Tracy Moore, Liz Akers
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Mrs. Prejna's Class Skypes with Students in New Hampshire
Today, students in Mrs. Prejna's Third Grade Class were able to meet their pen pals from Mrs. Bozek's Third Grade Class at Amherst Street School in Nashua, New Hampshire through the use of Skype. Students saw their pen pals face to face and had the opportunity to ask them questions such as:
Tell me about your school.
What are your hobbies?
Tell me about your family.
The students were so excited about this experience and I enjoyed joining them in meeting their pen pals!
Friday, November 11, 2011
JCB Honors Our Veterans
The students and staff at James C. Bush Elementary School paid tribute to Veterans Day today in some very special ways. The day began with an assembly where we honored Veterans through words, music, and even special projects. There were over 60 Veterans who attended the ceremony! Our Guest Speaker, Chuck Thill, encouraged students to give Veterans "a great big hug and say thank you for serving our country". He also explained the origin of Veterans Day as well as what it means to be a Veteran. Following this ceremony, all students, staff, Veterans, and other guests enjoyed refreshments. This afternoon, the Veterans from VFW Post 4600 displayed and discussed memorabilia with students. It was a very meaningful and heartfelt day for everyone involved! We thank all Veterans for serving our country and protecting our freedoms!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
McHenry County Curriculum Council
The staff at James C. Bush Elementary School had a strong presence at this month's McHenry County Curriculum Council presentation. The meeting was focused on Social Emotional Learning. This was a wonderful professional development opportunity, and the staff who attended this presentation will share their learning with their peers at an upcoming staff meeting. Staff in attendance included: (Top Row from Left to Right) Mrs. Aschbacher, Mrs. Junge, Miss Vent (Bottom Row from Left to Right) Mrs. Bardell, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Davis-Weaver.
Monday, November 7, 2011
JCB Front Entrance Beautification
If you've passed by James C. Bush Elementary School lately, you may have noticed the front entrance now boasts a beautiful assortment of fall foliage. This fresh fall look is thanks to Laurie and Rick Keane, who donated all of the flowers as well as their time and talent to arrange and plant them! The JCB learning community appreciates the generosity of Laurie and Rick Keane! We love the festive fall colors they have brought to our school.
Monday, October 31, 2011
JCB Celebrates Halloween
The students and staff at James C. Bush Elementary School enjoyed a spooktacular afternoon filled with Halloween festivities! The fun kicked off with a costume parade in which each classroom carried a banner that they created in honor of Red Ribbon Week and Halloween. Our JCB students took this opportunity to say "BOO" to drugs. The celebrations continued with our classroom parties which were made possible thanks to the tremendous efforts of our PTO Party Parent Volunteers! Have a safe and fun-filled Halloween!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Johnsburg Walmart Presents JCB with Box Tops for Education
On behalf of the students and staff at James C. Bush Elementary School, I would like to thank the Johnsburg Walmart. This evening, as part of their Grand Opening ceremony, I was presented with a certificate worth 1,000 Box Tops for Education, which is equivalent to $100! These funds will directly benefit student learning by providing resources for our school's Learning Center. We truly appreciate this generous donation and welcome Walmart to the Johnsburg community.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Special Assembly to Kick-off Red Ribbon Week
Today, students and staff at James C. Bush Elementary School kicked off Red Ribbon Week with an extra special assembly! Our opening act featured some of our very own JCB students who make up the Johnsburg Cheer and Poms squad. After the girls performed an amazing routine, we welcomed our guest speaker and performer, Matt Wilhelm. As seen on America's Got Talent, Matt Wilhelm is a 3-Time X Games Medalist and 2-Time National Champion. In addition to wowing the audience with his amazing tricks, Matt conveyed very powerful messages. He spoke to students about making positive choices in their lives and never giving up on their dreams. He even shared some words of wisdom on how to overcome bullying. The students and staff at James C. Bush Elementary School would like to thank the PTO for providing the funding for this awesome assembly!
Friday, October 21, 2011
First Quarter Accelerated Reader 100 Point Card
Congratulations to Mrs. Fox and Sarah M. for reaching 100 or more points on Accelerated Reader for the First Quarter of the 2011-2012 academic year! Awesome job! Welcome to the 100 Point Club!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Environmental Education Lessons
All third and fourth grade students at James C. Bush Elementary School participated in environmental education lessons this week that were provided to us through the McHenry County Schools Environmental Education Program. Third grade students participated in a lesson known as W.O.R.M.S.-- "Why Organisms Renew My Soil", while fourth grade students participated in a lesson called "The Race to Renew". Pictured below are students from Mrs. Bivin's class, Mrs. Hesemann's class, and Mrs. Prejna's class.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
International Walk to School Day
Today, many JCB students and their families participated in International Walk to School Day by either walking or riding their bikes to school. This day encourages safer and improved routes to school, healthier habits, and environmental concern. Ellen Bathje, Village of Johnsburg Assistant Administrator, joined me in recognizing our participants by presenting them with walker charms, bottled water, and a sticker.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Rachel's Challenge
The students and staff of James C. Bush Elementary School took a walk to Johnsburg Junior High School this morning to view a very powerful assembly called Rachel's Challenge. During this assembly, students accepted five goals to work on, which are all collectively part of Rachel's Challenge. These goals include:
1. Choose positive influences
2. Keep a journal
3. Write down goals
4. Be kind
5. Accept and include others
Our school was presented with a banner, which students and staff signed. We have proudly hung this Rachel's Challenge banner in our cafe.
Wednesday, May 19, 2011
Congratulations to the following students and staff members for reaching 100 or more points on Accelerated Reader for the Third Quarter! Awesome job! I am proud of you!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
On Tuesday, May 10th, our third graders performed a concert with the theme of “Feelin’ Good” at the High School Auditorium. It was a wonderful evening showcasing a lot of musical talent from our students, under the direction of James C. Bush Elementary School Music Teacher, Kathy Belcher.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
On Wednesday, May 4th, students in third through fifth grade participated in Johnsburg School District 12’s Annual Spelling Bee. The following pictures highlight our third and fourth grade class representatives, who qualified to participate in the bee by winning classroom and grade level bees throughout the school year. Being one of the judges for this year’s spelling bee, I can assure you that the competition was fierce and all of our students truly demonstrated their superb spelling skills. I am very proud of these students for their accomplishments!
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Third Grade: |
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Fourth Grade: |
Pictured here is Third Grade Runner-up Noah Strote with Third Grade Champion Nicholas Baird.
Here I am with 4th Grade Champion Marieke Western.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
with Principal-for-the-Day Daniel Calhoun
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Hi! This is Daniel Calhoun and I’m a third grade student in Mrs. Bardell’s class at James C. Bush Elementary School. Today, I got to be Principal because my mom won a raffle at the Gala. I got to do the morning announcements. Everyone says I did a good job speaking clearly on the intercom. As the day went on, I walked around the school with Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Junge. Many students were waving at me and giving me “knuckles”. I got to visit all of the classrooms and watch what the students were doing. I filled the teacher mailboxes in the office. When I was done, Mrs. Norris went to Burger King to get lunch for Mrs. Junge and me. After that, I played Jenga with Mrs. Norris. Mrs. Norris won both times! I stayed in contact with Mr. Hahn, our custodian, on the walkie-talkie. A parent came to the office to ask me if I could extend recess time for third grade. I told him yes since I am in third grade, but Mrs. Junge didn’t think that was a good idea! I ended the day by writing this article. I had a Wacky Wednesday. Being Principal for the day was fun, but I still want to be a farmer with my dad.
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Wednesday, April 13, 2011
with Principal-for-the-Day Nicholas Jarvi
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Hi, Everyone! This is Nicholas Jarvi and I am a fourth grade student at James C. Bush Elementary School. Today, I got to be principal for the day with Mrs. Junge because I won a raffle as part of the JEPF Gala. I’d like to tell you a little bit about what I did today. First, I got to do the announcements. Then, I had a doughnut and shared some treats with the ladies in the office. After that, I got to walk around the school and visit classrooms with Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Junge. I toured the kitchen and got to see where the dishes are washed. Next, I helped at fourth grade recess duty. Mrs. Junge, Mrs. Calmeyer, and I played some soccer and some other kids joined in. We enjoyed a special lunch. Then, we did a practice Skype session with author Suzanne Slade to get ready for next week’s Family Reading Night. I got to ask her of all the books she has written, which one is her favorite. She told me that just like a grandma loves all of her grandchildren, all of her books are special in their own way. I also got to observe Mrs. Helfand teach math and I told her the class was awesome! I wrote this blog entry and then headed outside for bus duty. What a busy day! Overall, it was a wicky-wacky wonderful Wednesday.
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Tuesday, April 5, 2011
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Hello and welcome to the Principal’s Corner! Here, you will find some quick highlights of variousactivities happening around James C. Bush Elementary School. The format of this section will be rather informal in nature in comparison to the Bush Beacon, which is the Principal’s Newsletter. First of all, I would like to welcome you all back from what I hope was a safe, relaxing, and fun-filled Spring Break! I know the students feel as though the week off helped to recharge their batteries and they are ready to finish out the rest of a great school year. Today I had the pleasure of spending lunch with third graders Jimmy Broderick and Evan Halverson. Through the JEPF Gala, Jimmy had received the opportunity to have lunch and play games with the Principal and a friend. Here you can see that our game of Jenga was quite intense. After a heated match, I ended up making the tower topple over. I’ll be asking the boys for a rematch! For those of you who are already looking ahead to tomorrow’s dinner plans (on Wednesday, April 6), you may want to consider heading out to the Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store in McHenry for dessert between 3:30 and 10:00 p.m.! When you make purchases at Obereweis with the Fundraiser Coupon that was sent home in students’ backpacks, up to 30% of your purchase would benefit the Johnsburg High School Prom. Sounds like a “sweet” way to enjoy a treat and benefit a great cause. Hope to see you there!
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