Unit 5 News and Special Events
October 19, 2009
Hallowen Hauntcert “2009”
Normal Community and Normal Community West High School
Orchestras will present their annual Halloween “Hauntcert”
Thursday, October 22nd at 7pm at both high schools. The
theme this year is “A Night of Scary Music.” Selections
will include Phantom of the Opera,” The Adamms Family
Theme,”
“In
the Hall of the Mountain King,” “Jaws,” “Beauty and the
Beast” and much more.
This one hour concert is designed especially for young
people , although all ages will enjoy it. It features
over a 90 piece orchestra, an emcee, singers, dancers,
and video clips. Children who wear a costume can enter a
raffle drawing for prizes. Admission is free.
September 14, 2009
Dr. Niehaus's letter to parents regarding the H1N1 virus
Letter to Parents (PDF)
August 21, 2009
Unit 5 is now on Twitter
What is Twitter? Twitter is a one-way
communication tool using short messages that allows
information to be shared between people. You can access
Twitter from a computer or a range of mobile devices
including mobile phones, pdas and ipods(a great way to
keep up with school information).
To follow Unit 5 news on Twitter, you can find us at
www.twitter.com/McLeanCountyU5. If you are not using
Twitter yet, sign up, and follow us. We will be posting
"Tweets" regularly to keep our parents and community
even better informed.
July 21, 2009
Unit 5 Names New Associate Principal at
Parkside Junior High School
NORMAL, IL . . . July 13, 2009 . . . McLean County Unit
District 5 has named Mike Clark the new associate
principal at Parkside Junior High School. He assumes his
duties immediately.
Mr. Clark, who has been with Unit 5 for eight years, was
an assistant principal at Normal Community High School.
He has served in that position since 2005. Prior to
that, Clark served as the athletic director for two
years. He was also a teacher for two years at NCHS.
The Board of Education approved Clark’s appointment at
its July 8 board meeting.
“Mr. Clark has shown outstanding leadership at Normal
Community High School,” Superintendent Gary Niehaus
said. “His previous experiences have prepared him well
for his new position.”
Mr. Clark graduated from Illinois State University with
a Bachelor of Science in education. He is married and
has two daughters attending Unit 5 Schools.
“I’m energized by the opportunity to work at such a fine
school as Parkside Junior High School,” Mr. Clark said.
“I look forward to teaming with Mr. Lee and the Parkside
community to create an environment where all students
can experience success.”
June 1, 2009
Oakdale Elementary School
Announces New
Principal
NORMAL, IL . . . June 1, 2009 . . . McLean County Unit
District 5 has named Darrin Cooper as the new principal
at Oakdale Elementary School. The position will be
effective July 1.
Cooper, who has been with Unit 5 for 12 years, is
currently the associate principal and athletic director
at Parkside Junior High School. He previously was a math
and science teacher at Northpoint Elementary School and
Chiddix Junior High School. He also was a head wrestling
coach at Chiddix for many years.
The board will officially approve Cooper’s appointment
at its June 10 board meeting.
Cooper takes the place of Marlys Bennington, who was
named the new principal at Benjamin Elementary School,
scheduled to open in fall 2010.
“Mr. Cooper is an excellent administrator and a talented
teacher,” Superintendent Gary Niehaus said. “He has the
experience and the credentials necessary to help the
students at Oakdale achieve academic excellence.”
A graduate of Illinois State University, Cooper earned a
bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in
Educational Administration.
In his free time, Cooper enjoys the outdoors and
spending time with my family. He is married and is the
father of a 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.
“Oakdale has a tremendous staff and I am excited to be a
part of the Oakdale team,” Cooper said. “By working
together, we will continue to ensure academic success
for our students.”
May 28, 2009
Unit 5 Names New Principal at
Towanda Elementary School
NORMAL, IL . . . May 27, 2009 . . . McLean
County Unit District No. 5 has named Karrah Jensen as
the principal of Towanda Elementary School for the
2009-2010 school year. The position will be effective
July 1. Jensen replaces Sarah Edwards, who is
transferring to Pepper Ridge Elementary School.
Jensen has been a teacher in Unit 5 for nine years, and
is currently a fourth grade teacher at Northpoint
Elementary School. She is also a district science
curriculum chair for grades third through fifth. Jensen
previously spent eight years as a teacher at Colene
Hoose Elementary School in second and fourth grades.
Last summer she was the director of Unit 5’s elementary
school programming, a position she will hold again this
summer.
The board will officially approve Jensen’s appointment
at its May 27 board meeting.
“Mrs. Jensen will be a valuable addition to Towanda
Elementary School,” Superintendent Gary Niehaus said.
“Her duties as a summer school director have given her
the skill set to run her first elementary school.”
A graduate of Illinois State University, Jensen earned a
Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a Master of
Science degree in Educational Administrations and
Foundations.
Jensen is married and has a 3-year-old daughter. In her
free time she enjoys camping and spending time with her
family.
“Taking on this new role, as Principal, at Towanda
Elementary School allows me to continue working with
students, staff, and parents in a new and exciting way,”
Jensen said. “I look forward to building new
relationships and continuing the Towanda pride that has
long been established.”
May 14, 2009
New Assistant Superintendent
for Human Resources to join Unit 5
NORMAL, IL . . . May 13, 2009 . . .
Nathaniel Cunningham, a school administrator from
Ball-Chatham School District 5, has been named the new
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at McLean
County Unit District 5.
The Unit 5 Board of Education voted on
Cunningham’s hiring at its May 13, meeting. He will
assume the position July 1. During the next school year,
Cunningham will work side-by-side with Assistant
Superintendent John Pye, who is planning to retire in
June 2010.
“Mr. Cunningham will be a valuable
addition to the Unit 5 administrative team,”
Superintendent Gary Niehaus said. “His experience in
human resources and his background as a school leader
makes him a good fit for the district and will help Unit
5 continue to hire high quality faculty and staff
members.”
Cunningham is currently the principal
at Glenwood High School in Chatham, a position he has
held since 2003. Prior to that, he was an Associate
Principal at Rantoul Township High School for three
years. Cunningham also taught eighth-grade science for
many years, as well as coached basketball and football.
Before becoming an educator, he served in the United
States Air Force for more than 10 years.
"I'm excited to have this opportunity.
Any time you are starting with a new organization,
there's a high level of excitement,” Cunningham said. “I
see Unit 5 as having a great deal of community pride and
support. There are great people in the district that are
working hard to get things done for students, staff and
the community.”
May 15, 2009
Unit 5 Hires Literacy Director
NORMAL, IL . . . May 13, 2009 . . . The Unit
5 Board of Education Wednesday night hired Carol
Frericks to be the district’s Director Literacy and RTI
(Response to Intervention).
Frericks has been an educator for 28 years. She will
begin her new position July 1.
“I am delighted to be coming to Unit 5,” Frericks
said. “My goal is to implement effective Response to
Intervention opportunities for all students.”
Her responsibilities will include training teachers
for reading intervention at the elementary level and
organizing intervention groups. The district hired a
literacy director to best prepare teachers to work with
students on reading skills and strategies.
Frericks is currently the Literacy Coordinator for
Quincy Public Schools. In that role she also serves as
the district’s literacy coach for Pre-k through 12th
grade. She received her bachelor’s degree at Quincy
University in elementary and special education and her
master’s degree in educational administration at
Illinois State University.
“I welcome Ms. Frericks as a valuable addition to
Unit 5,” Superintendent Gary Niehaus said. “Her
experience working with struggling readers will allow
Unit 5 to best meet the challenge of providing quality
services for all of our students.”
April 21,2009
Unit 5 Names New Principal at Benjamin Elementary
School
McLean County Unit District 5 has named Marlys Bennington
as the principal of Benjamin Elementary School, which will
open in fall 2010. The position will be effective July 1.
Bennington, who has been with Unit 5 for 19 years, is
currently the principal at Oakdale Elementary School. She
has served in that position since 2004. Prior to that, Bennington
spent three years as a principal at Parkside Elementary
School, and two years as an administrative intern at Prairieland
Elementary School. Before becoming an administrator, Bennington
was a special education teacher at Pepper Ridge Elementary
and Colene Hoose Elementary schools.
The board will officially approve Bennington’s appointment
at its April 22 board meeting.
“Mrs. Bennington brings a tremendous skill set to the
Benjamin Elementary School principal position,” Superintendent
Gary Niehaus said. “She has done a wonderful job helping
the students at Oakdale achieve academic excellence, and
I know she will continue those efforts as she leads a new
school team.”
Bennington graduated from Illinois State University with
a Bachelor of Science in special education and a Master’s
degree in Educational Administration.
In her free time, Bennington enjoys reading and spending
time with her family. She is married and has a daughter
and son attending Unit 5 schools.
"I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to
be a part of the opening of Benjamin Elementary School,”
Bennington said. “I look forward to meeting and getting
to know the future Benjamin families, as we begin this new
journey together."
April 13,2009
Unit 5 Names New Principal at Pepper Ridge Elementary
School
McLean County Unit District 5 has named Sarah
Edwards as the principal of Pepper Ridge Elementary
School for the 2009-2010 school year. The
position will be effective July 1. She will take the place
of retiring principal Diana Coombs.
Edwards, who has been with Unit 5 for 13 years, is currently
the principal at Towanda Elementary School. She has served
in that position since 2006. Prior to that, Edwards served
as the Learning and Behavioral Disorder Coordinator for
the district. She also taught at Brigham and Prairieland
elementary schools.
The board will officially approve Edwards’ appointment
at the April 22 board meeting.
“Sarah comes to Pepper Ridge with great experience,”
Superintendent Gary Niehaus said. “She has all the credentials
necessary to help the students at Pepper Ridge achieve academic
excellence.”
Edwards graduated from Illinois State University with
a Bachelor of Science in special education. She is married
and has one son attending Unit 5 schools.
“I am extremely excited and proud to have this opportunity.
I will always treasure the time I had at Towanda Elementary,”
Edwards said. “I look forward to meeting the staff, students
and families at Pepper Ridge, and continuing to work together
to further ensure an excellent educational experience for
everyone.”
Unit 5 Schools Honored for Consistently High Achievement
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois State Board of Education and
Northern Illinois University today recognized five schools
in McLean County Unit District 5 for academic excellence.
Colene Hoose Elementary, Grove Elementary and Prairieland
Elementary, all in Normal, as well as Fox Creek Elementary
and Northpoint Elementary, both in Bloomington, were each
named Academic Excellence Schools. They were among only
388 schools statewide to receive this honor.
Unit 5 was among the top 2 percent of districts in the
state with five Academic Excellence Schools. Schools winning
the Academic Excellence Award have sustained very high performance
levels on state assessment tests for at least three years.
In these elementary schools, at least 90 percent of students
met or exceeded state standards both in reading and in mathematics
for at least 3 consecutive years.
“Unit 5 provides an outstanding education at each of
its schools, and we are always happy when they are recognized
for excellence,” Niehaus said. “I would like to congratulate
the administrators, teachers, parents and students for all
their hard work.”
A complete listing of the 2008 Illinois Honor Roll Schools
can be found online at
http://www.ilhonorroll.niu.edu/
Achievement Matters…In Bloomington-Normal.
For the last two years, a group of dedicated educators and
community members have worked supporting students in our
Bloomington-Normal community be more successful in school.
The Achievement Gap Task Force was created to locally address
the national achievement disparity that exists between groups
of students across racial and socioeconomic levels. With
the leadership of District #87 and Unit 5, the task force
has helped narrow the achievement gap and develop programs
and outreach that continue to address the needs of our students.
But the job is far from over. To assure all of our students
are successful and have a bright future, it takes parents,
community organizations, business leaders, higher education
and concerned citizens working together with schools to
address the challenge.
With a new school year underway and
the work of the task force continuing to draw support from
parents and various community groups, District 87 and Unit
5 are pleased that Tom Laxton will provide full-time staff
leadership to the task force and assure that the task force
has the support it needs as it continues to work closely
with both districts.
Currently working in the Public Affairs
department at State Farm®, Tom will be “loaned” to the districts
for a year. In addition to coordinating the efforts of the
task force, he will work to better connect the resources
in this community with the needs of the districts. Visit
achievementmatters.org for more on the work of the task
force and for ideas on how you can support the academic
achievement of students.
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