4th Grade’s first ELA unit included some fun adventures as they learned about polio. During their personal narrative unit, they read chapters from “Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio” and learned survivor Peg Kehret’s story. They read about how Peg attributed her ability to eat normally again to a chocolate milkshake, and how she learned to play the accordion to develop her muscles. To immerse themselves in the story, they were treated to chocolate milkshakes by the Maercker PTA, and to a performance from Jon Kostal, Westmont’s very own owner of Uncle Jon’s Music, who volunteered his time to teach all the students about the accordion and play several songs!

They also learned about how the game Candyland was created by Eleanore Abbott, a polio survivor as well, to help kids in hospitals keep their mind off of polio and play a fun and magical game.

What a great way to learn! #d60learns
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Teachers smile at the camera in a classroom while they make milkshakes
Cups of milkshakes
Students standing in line to get milkshakes
Students sit in the cafeteria and watch the accordion performance
Uncle Jon performs with his accordion on stage
A student with a Candyland shirt
The student faces the other way to show the back of their Candyland shirt
We’re recognizing our Gold Standard honorees for all that they do for our students! From strengthening emergency planning and creating allergen-free snack procedures to screening hundreds of students for vision and hearing, Amy Bailey goes above and beyond to keep our Wildcats safe and supported. Her student-focused dedication makes her truly The Gold Standard! 🌟
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Amy Bailey
In 8th social studies students worked on their first Document-Based Question—an essay where students use historical documents, along with their own knowledge, to build an argument and answer a guiding question. They started by exploring the question, “The Great Migration — What Motivated People to Move?” Students analyzed five primary sources, including maps highlighting segregation laws, graphs depicting agricultural workers, firsthand accounts from World War I factory workers, and letters written to the well-known newspaper at that time, The Chicago Defender. Using critical thinking and empathy, students thoughtfully examined this important historical movement as part of their first unit, Migration and Industry. #d60learns
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Students work at a table together
Middle school students worked together during Hispanic Heritage Month to create a Frida Kahlo-inspired wings mural! They put their creativity into each wing to contribute to the mural, which is currently on display at Westview! #d60learns
5 months ago, D60 Communications
An artwork that looks like wings made u of smaller colorful designed wings
Two students standing in front of an artwork that looks like wings
It’s National School Lunch Week! Thank you to our Food Services team who provide high-quality, innovative, and culturally focused meals for our students every day.
5 months ago, D60 Communications
National School Lunch Week
D60 teachers use the Danielson Cluster Framework to guide their work and impact student learning. Clusters 2 and 3 are especially important as we start the year because it’s all about building positive relationships with students, creating classroom communities of caring and respect, and establishing classroom routines. This can look differently depending on the classroom, but we saw some great examples of it across our schools! #d60learns
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Two boys talking to each other in the classroom with a whiteboard behind them
A group of girls work together in the classroom
A girl holds up a worksheet to a whiteboard in class
A board in the classroom with Student Expectations for Success and Teacher Expectations for Success
For Hispanic Heritage Month, 8th grade students colored a mosaic to celebrate! This mosaic goes well with the display of books highlighting Hispanic cultures and authors. #d60learns
5 months ago, D60 Communications
A mosaic piece of art with a lot of color and shapes that reads, "Hispanic Heritage Month"
Books on a shelf that are about Hispanic or Latine Heritage or by Hispanic authors
6th graders began their frog dissection last week! The dissection is part of the Ecology unit where students analyze frog adaptations to their ecosystems and the niches they occupy. 🐸 #d60learns
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Students work at a table outside dissecting frogs
Students work at a table outside dissecting frogs
Students work at a table outside dissecting frogs
Students work at a table outside dissecting frogs
October is National Principals Month! We’re grateful for our team of educators who put our students first in all that they do. We will be spotlighting our amazing leaders soon. Thank you, principals! #d60learns
5 months ago, D60 Communications
A graphic that says National Principals Month with the Maercker logo
Students at Westview Hills are creating magazine covers that feature them in their dream job. The first step is for students to have their picture taken in front of a green screen and here are a few of our future Actors, CEOs, Baseball players and others waiting for their closeup. Check out how Zoe used photoshop to turn her green screen photos into a magazine cover #d60learns
5 months ago, D60 Communications
A mockup magazine cover with student Zoe holding a microphone
A student with a green screen behind her holding a microphone
Five students dressed in various quirky outfits pose for the camera
Today is National Coaches Day! Thank you to the leaders of our athletics programs who motivate our students every day. Show your appreciation for your coaches today! #d60learns
5 months ago, D60 Communications
A graphic that reads, "National Coaches Day" with a cartoon coach and the D60 logo
Maercker Intermediate Staff recently celebrated the arrival of autumn with Flannel shirts! #d60learns
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Maercker staff in flannel
Happy Navratri to all in the D60 community who celebrate!
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Happy Navratri
Don’t miss the upcoming Community Speaker Series event at Hinsdale Middle School on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 7:15pm. We are thrilled to welcome Ethan Kross, PhD, two-time National Bestselling author of Shift and Chatter, and an award-­winning professor in the University of Michigan’s top-­ranked Department of Psychology and Ross School of Business. Register here: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E127580&id=59
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Speaker series flyer
Today is National Custodian Day! Thank you to all of our custodians for keeping our schools clean and safe!
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Thank you custodians
Join us tomorrow, Oct. 2 for parent coffee and connect with principals about student progress! The topic will be Understanding MAP and Your Student’s MAP Score. We’ll see you at Maercker School at 6:30 p.m.
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Parent COffee THursday Oct. 2 at Maercker
Holmes kindergarten student Radka recently joined her mom Jessie who is the Student Learning Facilitator at DuPage Children's Museum to do some awesome science experiments on the air on Fox 32. She did a great job making a homemade lava lamp and showing off her science skills and definitely taught the hosts a few things! #d60learns
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1711032
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Mom and child on TV news set
Let's get a recap from the Wildcat Cross Country Invitational hosted over the weekend!

The boys cross country team hosted 15 schools at Central Park in Bolingbrook this past Saturday in the 8th Annual Wildcat Invite. In the varsity race, Westview was led by Yebby who won his 7th race of the season. He was followed by Diego in 8th place, Theo in 10th place, Emmett in 11th place, Jordan in 12th, Liam in 14th place, and Isaac in 21st place. This earned our boys first place in the varsity race!

In the open race, Westview was led by Owen McK. who won! He was followed by Ahmed in 2nd place, Amatya in 5th place, Sam in 9th place, Taj in 12th place, and Matthew S. in 13th place. This also earned our boys 1st place in the open race.

The girls’ cross country team participated and in the varsity race, Maddie earned a medal for finishing in 5th place. For the team, she was followed by Karolina, Melanie, Eleanor, Maggie, and Adhishna. The girls’ team finished in 7th place.

In the open race, Stella was the first Wildcat to finish. Both Sofia and Ava set a new personal best time for the season at the Wildcat Invite. The open girls finished in 6th place overall. Great job girls.
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Cross country collage highlights
These first graders learned all about how sound is a form of energy and is caused by vibrations of materials! #d60learns
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Tuning fork activity
Tuning fork activity
Tuning fork activity
Tuning fork activity
Tuning fork activity
Tuning fork activity
Maercker D60 is excited to announce that the Preschool for All Program that launched last year has received the Silver Circle of Quality from ExceleRate Illinois! This is a great achievement for a brand new program and first year teacher Amanda Laurinec. Read the full story for more about the work and dedication that goes into setting our youngest Wildcats up for success! #d60learns
https://www.maercker.org/article/2435349
5 months ago, D60 Communications
Preschool students
Preschool students
Preschool students
Preschool students
Preschool students
Preschool students