HR1283 LRB096 22420 KXB 41604 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate the students,
4 staff, faculty, administration, and alumni of Old Orchard
5 Junior High School in Skokie as they celebrate the 50th
6 anniversary of the school; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Old Orchard Junior High was constructed in 1959
8 and 1960 after Sharp Corner School became too small for the
9 growing district population; in the fall of 1960 the school
10 opened and 6th graders attended the junior high for the first
11 time; at its peak, there were 1,400 students in the building;
12 and
 
13     WHEREAS, Today the student population is between 600 to 700
14 students, and part of the school has been turned over to the
15 Early Childhood Center; major renovation has taken place to
16 bring the school up to modern standards in the last few years;
17 however, the majority of the structure has held up well thanks
18 to the outstanding planning of long time Buildings and Grounds
19 Superintendent, Charlie Kalmes; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Old Orchard uses a teaming structure, and was one
21 of the first schools in the nation to adopt the concept back in
22 the late 1960s; and
 

 

 

HR1283 - 2 - LRB096 22420 KXB 41604 r

1     WHEREAS, Students at Old Orchard are assigned to one of two
2 teams at each grade level; the two current teams are the
3 Olympians and Oracles; the teachers on these teams meet on a
4 regular basis to plan and discuss student progress; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Teachers in each subject meet across the team to
6 insure a coordinated and similar learning experience; each team
7 has a subject area specialist and a special education teacher;
8 a team leader organizes the team and meets with other team
9 leaders and the administration on a regular basis; and
 
10     WHEREAS, The current leadership for the school is Dr.
11 Frances McTague, Superintendent, Skokie School District 68,
12 and Mr. Luis Illa, Principal, Old Orchard Junior High School;
13 therefore, be it
 
14     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
16 congratulate everyone involved in the 50th anniversary of Old
17 Orchard Junior High School and wish them continued success in
18 the future; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to Principal Luis Illa as a symbol of our respect and
21 esteem.