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player ready...Field Middle School is one of 21 schools in Illinois to receive a National Blue Ribbon Schools award for 2020, officials announced Thursday.
The recognition, given by the United States Department of Education, honors schools across the country in two categories: academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups, according to the program website. Field Middle School in West Northfield School District 31 was nominated in the latter category.
“The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of our educators, families and community in creating a safe and welcoming school where our students can grow and learn,” Superintendent Erin Murphy said in a news release.
Some of that progress comes from several strategies the district has used to encourage, challenge and provide “equitable learning opportunities for all students,” according to officials.
One such strategy was implementing training for all staff and administrators in the Rush Neurobehavioral Executive Functioning program, which helps people with skills like planning, organizing, making decisions, paying attention and regulating behavior, according to the Rush Neurobehavioral Center website.
The program provides a “research-based foundation for building key executive functioning strategies and skills necessary for life-long success,” district officials said in a news release.
The school purchases, distributes and teaches students how to use materials including an all-in-one binder/backpack/computer bag, specifically colored plastic folders corresponding to different classes, a Chromebook and a paper agenda. All students receive the same materials.
According to district officials, students who have graduated have reported using a similar system in high school.
In addition to these materials, advisory classes at Field teach strategies and skills for organizing, studying and goal setting, officials said.
“As the school demographics continue to evolve, Field continues to focus on what we can do to push our school to become a national school of excellence,” Principal April Miller said. “Field supports our learning environment by continuously improving curriculum, instruction, technology, social and emotional supports, and opportunities for all students to learn and succeed at high levels.”
The school also created a weekly early dismissal schedule to provide educators with extra time each week to meet in Professional Learning Communities and plan curriculum, talk about instruction and participate in professional development without having to get a substitute for class, according to the school’s award application.
District 31 enrolls about 900 students split between Field and the district’s elementary school, Winkelman. Field was previously awarded the National Blue Ribbon honor in 2000, and Winkelman also earned the recognition in 2001, according to district spokeswoman Hayley Garard.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools program is in its 38th year and has given almost 10,000 awards to almost 9,000 schools over the years, according to its website.
Field is one of 21 schools in Illinois and 367 schools across the nation to be recognized with the achievement. Program officials said 317 public and 50 non-public schools received the recognition this year.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools will receive plaques and flags in the mail. The awards ceremony will be held virtually Nov. 12 and 13.
Twitter: @kaitlinedquist
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