Jeff Ward

How to Have a Great School Year in Geneva

My helpful tips on turning 2012-13 into a school year to remember.

Now that we’re officially headed into the first full week of school, I thought it would be the perfect time to cover some back-to-school basics that’ll help make this school year one worth remembering. So without further ado, let’s get started. I’m probably not the only one who’s noticed Geneva’s finest patrolling the school zones, so it might behoove you to bear in mind that those 20 mph speed limits are back in effect. Granted, the GPD is great about passing out warnings, but why tempt the fates? And the same thing applies to school busses. Thankfully, I haven’t seen anyone pass one of them in awhile. I just know how frustrating it can be to be caught behind one of them, but should you be tempted, please consider that most of them carry …

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Ramp Up for Back-to-School with Bedtime Math

With the new school year upon us, help get your kids’ brains working again with this fun, free daily email newsletter.

Geneva School District 304 students went back to school on Aug. 22, which means it’s time for an abundance of expensive school supplies, backpacks full of complicated text books and dreaded questions about math homework. With back-to-school stresses piling up, Laura Overdeck wants to let children and parents in on a little secret: math can be fun. Really.  Overdeck is on a mission to change the way Americans think about math — especially given that math anxiety has been tracked in kids as young as age 5. This is what inspired her to create Bedtime Math, a nonprofit that sends out a daily email with a math problem tailored to “wee ones,” little and big kids.  Overdeck is an astrophysics graduate and MBA, but her love of math started long …

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Kane County Sheriff’s Office Ready for Back to School Traffic Enforcement

The Kane County Sheriff's Office is planning an aggressive effort to keep schoolchildren safe during the new school year, which starts today, Aug. 22, in Geneva.

It is that time of the year where we look forward to the end of summer and the start of the school year. The Kane County Sheriff’s Office notes that with the start of school comes the need to remind drivers to be aware of school buses, school bus stops and children waiting for school buses. Last year the Kane County Sheriff’s Office fielded countless complaints of reckless driving and speeding near school bus stops in residential neighborhoods and on county roads while children were waiting to go to school, according to a release. These complaints often came from residents who live in subdivisions near Randall Road and involved drivers in search of a short cut. This school year, the release states, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office will …

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Geneva High School's First Day Today (Aug. 22) Is Full Day of School; Get Your Textbooks ASAP!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 22, is the first day of school for Geneva High School and School District 304. Please get your text books ASAP.

Tomorrow's first day of school—Wednesday, Aug. 22—is also a FULL DAY for all students at Geneva High School. The bell schedule is printed on the back cover of the Student Handbook, according to a 304 Connects email. Each student should bring his or her schedule with them to school, as administrators will not be able to print replacement schedules. Each student may log into HAC to view and print her or his schedule. Below is this week’s schedule for the Textbook Room, which is located at the far northwest corner of the building, by the Center Street doors. Please encourage your student to get his/her textbooks as soon as possible. Students must show a current ID and schedule in order to check out books. TEXTBOOK ROOM HOURS

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Back to School at Heartland Elementary—Starting Wednesday!

School District 304 gets in gear. Here are some of the upcoming events for Heartland Elementary School.

In just a few days, Heartland Elementary will be back in full swing. Make sure to mark the events below on your calendar. And remember the first day of school for students in Grades 1-5 will be a full day with dismissal at 2:15 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22. Coffee & Conversation 8-9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22 After dropping off your kids behind the school, come and join other Heartland parents for coffee and pastries in the gym. It’s a great way to meet new parents and to reconnect with old friends. Ice Cream Social 6–7:30 p.m.Thursday, Aug. 23 Bring the kids and a picnic dinner if you’d like and join us at the Heartland Elementary playground for a fun time. The PTO will provide Dilly Bars for the kids. Curriculum Night 6:45–7:50 p.m.Thursday, …

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Backpacks, Purses, Bags NOT Allowed During School Hours at Geneva High School

Policy update: Concern is about carrying illegal items. Students are allowed to carry a wallet or other similar case to carry such items during the school day.

You can carry a backpack, purse or bag to Geneva High School, but you can't use it during the school day, according to a revised policy note sent Tuesday by School District 304. A District 304 Connects e-blast says "backpacks, purses, or bags of any kind will not be permitted during school hours. Students may use bags and purses to and from school but will be required to leave them in their lockers after the day has begun." Personal belongings can be carried in a small strapless case, such as a wallet, make-up case, or pencil case, District 304 said. The rationale? Backpacks have been prohibited at Geneva High School for many years, but the decision to limit the use of purses to before or after school came about in part due to concerns …

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beckysensei

10:59 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Could you have left the comment and edited the language? Put in a few ***s instead?   more ›

'9th Grade New Parent Night' Is Thursday at Geneva High School

Back to school starts in ernest Thursday, as new parents of high school kids get their chance to get oriented.

Back to school begins for a lot of parents this week, with an orientation at Geneva High School for parents of incoming freshmen. On Thursday evening, Aug. 16, Geneva High School will be hosting a "9th Grade and New Parent Night." The evening will include information from GHS administration, the Counseling and Advising Department, and the GHS PTO. An opportunity to ask questions regarding the upcoming school year will be provided to any ninth-grader parents wishing to attend. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the GHS Auditorium immediately following the Athletic Department orientation for ninth-grade parents. If you are unable to participate on Aug. 16, the information will be posted on the school website under the “parent information…

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Viking Sports Network VIDEO: New Burgess Field Turf Ready for Play

Geneva High School grad Jim Corkery puts together an awesome video for the Viking Sports Network previewing the new and improved Burgess Field. The Vikings' first home game is Aug. 24 against Oswego.

In two weeks, Geneva football starts its 2012 campaign on a new synthetic-turf field—and you can catch a lot of the action on the Vikings Sports Network. To highlight the event, Geneva High School 2012 grad Jim Corkery put together this two-minute video with interviews with Athletic Director Jim Kafer, varsity football coach Rob Wicinski and some student-athletes for the Vikings Sports Network. Corkery came on as a summer intern with Rising Up Sports after graduation and is heading off to University of Missouri next week. "He's done a great job and is a big part of the start of Viking Sports Network," said Chad Ciesil, GHS grad and Rising Up Sports founder. Follow  Geneva Patch by "liking"  our Geneva Patch Facebook page and following us …

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Bob McQuillan

9:45 am on Friday, August 10, 2012

Jim Corkery - the next voice of the Mizzou Tigers!   more ›

Whooping Cough Soars in Kane County

Statewide increase in pertussis sparks push by public health agencies for also for children’s vaccinations.

With more than four months lefts in 2012, Kane County so far has seen a 29.6 percent increase in the number of pertussis cases compared with all of 2011. As of Aug. 6, Kane County has seen 70 cases in 2012 compared with 54 for all of last year. Statewide, numbers are serious, as well. The Kane County Health Department reported this week there have been 1,200 cases of whooping cough in 2012, compared with the 1,500 cases in all of 2011. The state’s figure from last year marked a 40 percent increase over cases reported in 2010. Today, Illinois ranks fifth nationally with four states — Wisconsin, Washington, Minnesota, and New York — as having more whooping cough cases, according to the department’s release. Kane County Health Department …

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