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First look at Ronald McDonald’s new style Ronald McDonald’s new look
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Evergreens burned by the winter may recover in spring
Abigail Thorpe/MEDILL
Evergreen in Grant Park shows winter damage.
Evergreens burned by the winter may recover in spring
by Abigail Thorpe
Apr 17, 2014
Winter’s harsh temperatures froze more than our toes and left their mark on local evergreens.
Those brown patches show signs of winter damage and salt burn. While many will recover from the damage, Tim Johnson of the Chicago Botanic Garden says some of those damaged extensively will die.
Since evergreens don’t shut down over the winter, they continue transpiration, the process of releasing moisture from their foliage. When the ground freezes solid, as it did this winter, evergreens can no longer take in water, even though they are still releasing it.
A way to help protect against this is to make sure evergreens receive lots of water in the fall before winter sets in, so their roots can store it up, said Doris Taylor, plant information specialist at the Morton Arboretum.
Another cause of damage this winter was the extreme use of salt to counter the icy conditions. Salt piles up on the streets, which in turn is kicked up onto the trees, resulting in salt burn, said Johnson.
In deciding if a plant or tree is dead and should be removed, error on the side of caution. “Let them have more time if there’s any doubt about whether they’re dead or not,” said Johnson.
“It’s more of a waiting game,” said Taylor. Don’t be hasty to pronounce a tree or bush dead, it may just need a little more time to recover. Even after you’ve long given up hope, your evergreen may shoot out new branches or buds and surprise you.
A good way to check a plant or tree for life is to scratch the stem, said Johnson and Taylor. If the stem is green or whitish, then it is still alive. If it is brown or ashen, it is already dead.
If it is apparent parts of the plant or tree are definitely dead, cut those away so the plant can begin new growth.
Many people question if fertilizer can help their struggling plants and evergreens at this date. “Hold off on the fertilizer,” said Taylor.
Get a soil test first; you may just be wasting your time by fertilizing. At this time of the year, plants and trees “really want to rest more rather than sending out new growth,” said Taylor.
A continuing lack of moisture this spring could negatively affect evergreens trying to recover. If there is little or no rain, Taylor recommends watering trees to help them through their recovery process
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District 81 Board of Education Honors Lady Lightning and Mr. Narvaez!
Last Night the Board of Education honored the accomplishments of some very special people. The JV Lady Lightning from Lincoln Middle School were the featured Example of Excellence for the evening. The board presented the team with certificates and treated them to cake and juice. The girls were proud to show off their trophy and celebrate their success with the Board.
Mr. Narvaez was also honored by the Board with a standing ovation after Mrs. Harris spoke about how his dedication and commitment led to him earning the prestigious Reg Weaver award. As always, it fills me with pride to be part of a learning community that puts students at the forefront of decision making. Each day I am blessed to be surrounded by amazing students and dedicated educators who inspire me.
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Art Brings Joy to School District 81 this Spring
These eighth graders at Lincoln are brightening up the art studio with their beautiful flowers. Students are studying the color wheel, and the colors they have chosen to work with are gorgeous. Their paintings are inspired by the artist Georgia O’Keeffe. It looks like we have some budding artists in District 81!
I’m also looking forward to seeing the creations of our younger students next week at the Kennedy Art Fair, which is on Thursday, April 11th between 6:00 and 7:30. The Art Fair is always a fun family event that is paired with the Taste of Kennedy, and we welcome and encourage the community to attend!
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SD81 Welcomes Spring Events!
It has been a very busy first week back in SD81. Students and staff alike returned refreshed and excited to get back into teaching and learning.
The week ended with the Art Fair/Taste of Kennedy on Thursday evening, the Career Fair at Lincoln Middle School, and the ABC Parent Group’s Ice Cream Sale during lunch times at all three schools.
The Art Fair/Taste of Kennedy is an awesome event that spotlights the fine work our student artists create during art class. An added bonus to the evening is several different food tastings that are donated by parents, the fire department, and every classroom in Kennedy School. I offer my sincere appreciation to everyone who made the evening possible for our families.
The Annual Career Fair was held today at Lincoln Middle School. The students were very engaged as they learned about a wide variety of careers. Some of the guests…
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Autism Activists Oppose State’s Plan To Cut Classroom Program
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/03/27/autism-activists-oppose-states-plan-to-cut-classroom-program/
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Good News! NYC Department of Education Issues Guidelines for Opting Out of Tests
Here is good news indeed!
After a dozen years of test mania in New York City, Chancellor Carmen Farina issued instructions for testing that make clear that students will not be punished for opting out of the state tests that start next week.
Here are key quotes:
What should a principal do if parents express an interest in opting their children out of the State
exams?
“The principal should offer to meet with the parents to discuss their concerns. The principal may want to explain that a student’s test scores will be only one of a number of factors that evaluate his or her progress and describe the impacts of opting out of the State exams (as detailed in this School Guide and in the corresponding Parent Guide). If, after consulting with the principal, the parents still want to opt their child out of the exams, the principal should respect…
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