K-12 Schools News on Coal City Courier

Students in Ms. George’s class at Coal City High School participated in an exercise designed to enhance their teamwork and direction-following skills by preparing a snack called blueberry banana bites. This activity was part of an extension from their weekly news article.

Students in Ms. Swink's eighth-grade English classes are currently focusing on prepositional phrases to enhance their understanding of sentence structure. By identifying these phrases, students can more easily pinpoint the subject and verb, ensuring proper subject-verb agreement. This foundational knowledge helps them write with intention rather than randomness.

In the 2022-23 school year, 66.7% of Coal City Elementary School students failed the ELA portion of the IAR test, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Enrollment at Coal City Elementary School rose compared to the previous year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Students at Coal City Early Childhood Center participated in an ABC Bootcamp Fashion Show organized by Mrs. Wren and Miss Jackman's kindergarten class. Over the first 26 days of school, students were introduced to each letter of the alphabet, its sound, and related vocabulary.

Coal City Intermediate School's fourth-grade students began their day with a special event, sharing muffins with some of their most important people. Parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends joined the young students for this morning gathering. The event is set to continue tomorrow as fifth graders will have the opportunity to enjoy muffins with their VIPs on Friday, October 11.

Manufacturing Day, a career exploration initiative for high school students, was recently observed in Illinois. The event, part of the Manufacturing Institute's efforts, is officially held on the first Friday of October. In Illinois, it coincides with Manufacturing Month as recognized by the state's Manufacturers' Association.

In Mr. Larson's first-hour math class at Coal City Middle School, students have been focusing on using integer rules with rational numbers. They are preparing for an assessment on rational numbers. Following this, they will start a unit on rates, ratios, and proportions. In this new unit, students will learn to find unit rates and connect them to the constant of proportionality as represented in tables, graphs, and equations.

In first grade science, students are exploring the wonders of the sky. Recently, Mrs. Duffy's class delved into understanding how the sun travels from east to west during the day. This lesson included observing how this movement influences shadows. Students expressed their excitement upon discovering that their shadows shift positions.

On September 18, Coal City Intermediate School organized its seventh annual Pizza Delivery Night. The event took place from 4 to 8:30 p.m., with the participation of twenty-eight staff members who volunteered to ensure its success.

Coal City Middle School emphasizes a new character trait each month, recognizing students from all grade levels who exemplify these traits. Teachers nominate students based on their behavior and attitude.

Enrollment at Coal City Intermediate School fell compared to the previous year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Students at Coal City Middle School are engaging in a comprehensive health education program led by Mr. Bunton. The curriculum this quarter focuses on understanding six major body systems, including the nervous system, skeletal system, muscular system, digestive system, circulatory system, and respiratory systems. The current focus is on the nervous system and its health benefits.

The Coal City High School Athletic Department and Soccer Team honored Sam Sterba for his four-year dedication to the Coaler Soccer Team during Senior Night on October 3. As the sole senior on the team this fall, Sterba's efforts in advancing the program have been acknowledged by his peers and mentors. Additionally, he is part of the school's Tennis Team.

Students in Mr. Leve's fifth-grade math class have been exploring the concept of coordinate graphing. This method visually represents relationships between numbers on a grid formed by two perpendicular lines, known as axes. The horizontal line is referred to as the X-axis, while the vertical line is the Y-axis. Their intersection point is called the origin.

In the Unit 1 School District, five teachers have been recognized as Star Teachers for their contributions to education and the school community. The recognition comes from the Coal City Community Unit Education Association, which represents the district's certified staff. Each academic building selected one teacher through nominations submitted by their colleagues.

Students in Ms. Fincher and Mrs. Clark's English/Language Arts class at Coal City Middle School have been reading the novel "The Giver." After completing chapter 8, the students engaged in their own "Ceremony of 12." During this activity, they received an assignment representing a career path and were given the chance to either accept it or argue for a different path by writing a letter to the committee, represented by their teachers.

Enrollment at Coal City Early Childhood Center rose compared to the previous year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Mr. Kostbade's Environmental Science class recently conducted a field trip to the Coal City Area Club on October 2 as part of their study on aquatic ecosystems. During the visit, students measured various water quality parameters of the lake, such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, water transparency, and nitrate levels. The class was accompanied by Georgette Vota, a member of the Area Club who has experience in testing these waters.

The online Coaler Store is now operational, offering a range of Coaler merchandise. Customers can choose from T-shirts, sweatshirts, and pullovers in various styles, colors, and sizes for both youth and adults.