Latest news with #AndrewCookeMagnetElementarySchool
Chicago Tribune
20-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Dozens fly kites in Waukegan on Kids to Parks Day; ‘Engaging kids in memorable outdoor experiences'
Some parents, like Jennyfer Cordova of Waukegan, have not flown a kite since they were youngsters and their children never had the chance until she made the effort. She took her daughter, Isabella Escobar, and her son, Mateo Escobar, to a park to try it. Isabella quickly got the wind to catch her kite and lift it into the air. She let out some string and then pulled some in, keeping it aloft. She moved her arms if the kite dipped to keep it moving in the air. 'It's fun,' Isabella, a fifth grader at Andrew Cooke Magnet Elementary School, said. 'It's like controlling an airplane, but not really as hard.' Cordova and her children were among 60 people participating in the Waukegan Park District's 15th-annual Kids to Parks Day Saturday at Bevier Park as part of a national effort to give youngsters a positive outdoor experience. As people arrived at the park, they received kits to make kites. Besides the kite itself, there was a colorful tail to be made and other decorations available. There was also a spool with a long string to attach to the kite and navigate it through the air. Jonathan Cochrane, a recreation specialist with the Park District, said along with making kites, nature's classroom housed at the park was available for exploration. There were also people using play equipment and walking the trails. Julia Sanchez, a recreation supervisor, said each year the Park District selects a different park for people to explore on Kids to Parks Day. A number of parents said anything that gets their children outdoors and away from electronic screens is worthwhile. Giving her children an opportunity to get outdoors — the wind was strong for kite-flying Saturday — is something Cordova said she tries to find. Playing outside rather than indoors creates a healthy environment for them. Isabella was getting the knack of kite-flying. 'You have to hold the string tight so the wind lifts it into the air,' she said, 'You hold it and watch it go toward the sky.' Along with kite-making, Rob Booth, who was there was his son, said he too flew kites as a youngster and now he was giving his children the same opportunity. They were busy making a kite's tail. The boy was eating frozen custard provided by a local business. 'It's fun to enjoy it with the kids,' Booth said of eating frozen custard at 10 a.m. Dulce Ortiz brought two of her children and one of their friends to try kite-flying. She, too, did it as a youngster and wants them to have the opportunity. When they felt it was too cold, she took them to the swings. Gunes Patnett brought her two young children to try kite-flying — Eren, a fourth grader, and Yaren, who is in fifth grade. She likes outdoor activities. Eren was concerned about the wind. 'I'm going to try it again,' Eren said after the kite came quickly to the grounds. 'It feels like it is getting windy. I'll fly it anyway.' Watching the kite-flying but not trying it himself was Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg. He said he took the time to interact with families and listen to them. He said he wants to 'give them a positive view of law enforcement.' Kids to Parks Day is organized by the National Park Trust to 'foster future outdoor enthusiasts and help with developing the next generation of park stewards by engaging kids in memorable outdoor experiences,' according to a Park District press release.
Chicago Tribune
04-03-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Program teaches young Waukegan students to speak in two languages; ‘An opportunity to become bilingual and multicultural'
When a meal or some other delivery arrives at the Waukegan home of Anisa Jordan and the driver appears uncomfortable speaking English, it is no problem for her twin, fifth-grade sons — Charles and Matthew Jordan — as they ask the delivery person if they speak Spanish. Once Charles or Matthew sees the smile and the Spanish words easily tumble out of the driver's mouth, the rest of the transaction goes smoothly. 'If they don't know English, we know how to speak Spanish,' Charles said. 'We ask if he knows Spanish. When he says 'yes,' we speak Spanish.' Matthew and Charles are two of the students enrolled in the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 two-way dual language program at Andrew Cooke Magnet Elementary School in Waukegan, which they started as kindergartners. Elisabeth Ambrogio, the district's director of bilingual and multicultural programs, said the two-way dual language class brings students whose first language is English and those speaking Spanish from birth together to learn in two languages with a goal of becoming fluent in both. Started at Cooke during the 2019-2020 school year, Ambroiggio said the initial cohort is now in fifth grade. A second program began a year ago for preschoolers at Oakdale Elementary School. Both are open to anyone starting preschool or kindergarten. Half the schooling is done in English, and the other half in Spanish. She said all subjects — from math to science, to social studies, to language arts — are taught in both languages. The goal is to enable those in the program to have an Illinois Seal of Biliteracy on their high school diploma. 'It's doing wonderfully,' Ambroiggio said. 'They can speak, read and write at grade level in both languages. This gives them an opportunity to become bilingual and multicultural. They (generally) perform better than their monolingual peers on state assessments.' Both Matthew and Charles said when they need extra help with a subject like math or science, the teacher will switch to their first language to help them get a better understanding of the concepts. Not to be confused with the dual language program for English learners (EL), Ambroiggio said approximately 7,000 students whose first language is other than English are in a program to develop their English skills to a level with their peers. While in both high school and college, Jordan said she took Spanish and had an opportunity to study abroad in both Honduras and Mexico. She felt putting her sons in the two-way dual language program would give them a valuable life skill. She is pleased with the choice. 'I felt if they knew Spanish, it would really help them,' Jordan said. 'They can have conversations in Spanish. They understand a lot.' Charles and Matthew said spending their sixth year together with the same classmates has helped them develop strong friendships. Becoming bilingual is 'cool,' but the friendships are special. 'It's really fun being with really good friends,' Matthew said. 'They are very good friends, and I like being with them. A new kid came in second grade, and now he's my best friend.' Both boys play soccer. Some of the athletes are Spanish speakers, and others speak English. They like the fact they can understand both. Their coach is bilingual and uses the appropriate language depending on which player is the recipient of his comments. For the 2025-2026 school year, Ambroiggio said the district hopes to have a program in a third school. It starts with preschool or kindergarten, depending on whether the elementary school has a preschool program. Not all do. No deadline is set for registration. There will be an information session at 5 p.m. on March 18 at Glenwood Elementary School.
