Curriculum
Located in East Lakeview, the Nettelhorst School is a Chicago Public School (CPS) cluster magnet school and International Fine and Performing Arts Program site. Nettelhorst is also one of the first CPS Community Schools in Chicago. As a Community School, Nettelhorst is dedicated to serving the academic and recreational needs of neighborhood children, their families, and the greater community through programs emphasizing learning, creativity, personal growth and appreciation for other cultures. We place a strong emphasis on an enhanced, interdisciplinary curriculum that cultivates moral character, independence, self-discipline and a disposition for lifelong learning. We recognize that each child is special and tailor the instruction to meet individual needs. The Nettelhorst School values the partnership between home and school, and encourages parents to participate in all aspects of their child's education—from preschool through the eighth grade.
The International Fine and Performing Arts Program
Nettelhorst is the only elementary school in Chicago with a focus on International Fine and Performing Arts. The program blends a dedication to the arts with a focus on international studies. Our enriched curriculum inspires independent, creative thinking and global perspectives in a positive atmosphere of mutual respect. Nettelhorst's full-time arts instructors, who are certified and specially endorsed in their areas of expertise, kindle students' natural interests and abilities. Additionally, the students have the opportunity, within the curriculum, to interact with and learn from some of the city's premier arts institutions and artists.
Significant numbers of Nettelhorst students go on to compete in city-wide, selective entrance exams for the top gifted and International Baccalaureate programs, with many earning entrance to their top high school choices.
Literature and Writing
Our literature and writing program is an intensive, language arts program with an international focus. Under the Chicago Reading Initiative, children spend at least two hours a day engaged in interactive reading and writing activities, including our Junior Great Books Read-Aloud Program, daily journal writing, and phonemic technology. Our Accelerated Reader Program provides reading challenges to advanced students so that they can reach their full potential. Nettelhorst's commitment to literacy extends into the home as well. Even our youngest students are challenged to read for a minimum of twenty minutes each evening, or to be read to by their parent, sibling or care-giver.
Mathematics and Science
The Nettelhorst School is a designated Chicago Mathematics and Science Initiative (CMSI) Readiness School—part of a Chicago-wide plan to dramatically increase student achievement and high-quality teaching in the subjects of math and science. CMSI provides up-to-the-minute, in-service training and support for our professional staff. We offer the Math Trailblazers series for the lower grades and Math Thematics for upper grade students. Science is integrated into the curriculum through thematic units, culminating in science fair competitions. Our specially endorsed science teacher presides over a fully-equipped, state-of-the-art, "hands on," scientific laboratory. The Argonne Network Educational Initiative offers training for teachers and supports student exchanges.
Nettelhorst is a partner school with Project Exploration, a living classroom that introduces students to scientific discovery through interactive exhibits, labs, unique programs and real scientists. Through the Junior Paleontologist program, Nettelhorst students have many scientific opportunities both close to home and far afield. As a partner school, Nettelhorst nominates up to five students to experience an actual dinosaur dig with renowned scholars and Project Exploration founders Paul Sereno and Gabrielle Lyon. Nettelhorst is also a Project Exploration Sisters4Science school, a program for girls that combines scientific exploration and leadership development. Visit www.projectexploration.org for more information.
Media and Technology
The Nettelhorst School is fully networked with Internet accessibility. With multiple computers in every classroom, a computer lab with 30 high-end workstations and 10 workstations with DVD capability in the library media center, Nettelhorst maintains an average ratio of one computer for every four students. (Typically, schools strive for a five-to-one ratio.)
The library media center is automated, providing an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC). OPAC provides resources to teachers, students and parents, and may be accessed from school or home by clicking here. Over 10,000 items are cataloged, including more than 4,000 print materials. Additionally, Nettelhorst has access to the databases provided to all CPS schools by the Department of Libraries. Students benefit from specialized software, the Accelerated Reader Software for Reading Enrichment. Nettelhorst's library media center and technology are managed by our school library media specialist who holds a Masters Degree in her field.
Expressive and Creative Arts
Children are encouraged to express themselves in visual arts, dance, music, drama and culinary science. Our Golden Apple, award-winning art teacher manages three, inviting art studios that offer painting, ceramics, sculpting, batiking, bookmaking, weaving, video and digital photography. Students also participate in arts programs led by Lill Street, Marwin, Gallery 37, and A.R.T. We have a mirrored dance studio with a spring-wood floor, perfect for young ballerinas and hip-hoppers. The Old Town School of Folk Music offers Nettelhorst students their Global Roots Program providing unique arts experiences with an international focus. Our intimate World Music Café is a practice/performance space equipped with guitars, recorders and a full range of Latin percussion instruments. The Pegasus Drama Center at Truman College presents their Young Playwrights program and integrates dramatic arts across the curriculum. Students perform in our auditorium (seating 430 people) as well as in two professional theaters, the Pegasus Theater and the Lakeshore Theater. Gallery 37 produces a student radio/drama program with an emphasis on special needs children. Students hone their culinary skills in our open kitchen with the Global Kitchen Cooking School. And, children may learn a foreign language through Jane's Place at Nettelhorst.
Physical Education
Over one hundred years ago, Louis Nettelhorst brought the idea of physical education into America's public schools. Our physical education instruction lives up to our founder's vision with a robust "team-centered" program that teaches healthy competition as well as cooperation and good sportsmanship. Our brand new, fully air-conditioned gym is state-of-the-art, equipped with ropes, rings, a climbing wall, scoreboard, spring-floor, ladders and basketball hoops. Weather permitting, children play organized games outside on our two playgrounds. As soon as the building is completed, Nettelhorst children will learn to swim and climb at the new Lakeview Athletic Club just half a block away.
Nutrition and Exercise
Nettelhorst is a newly designated "fruit and vegetable school." We offer a salad bar at lunch, teach about nutrition and healthy lifestyles, and provide a daily recess period. Our lunch period was expanded to 30 minutes to facilitate thoughtful food choices and a more relaxed mealtime.
Tutoring and Special Needs
Just as we challenge students of all abilities, we give extra support when necessary. Students who need help in math or reading work one-on-one with a committed volunteer tutor in our tutoring room. If your child has special needs, we have a dedicated staff of caring, certified specialists, including a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, vision specialist, psychologist, social worker, school counselor and special education teachers. We are committed to integrating children with special needs into the general student population.
Our School Environment
We believe that children and adults should be inspired by their physical surroundings. The Nettelhorst School offers WPA murals, dynamic passageways, cozy reading areas and joyful writing spaces. We teach students to respect their surroundings, each other, authority and themselves. Beginning in kindergarten, all children wear blue and white uniforms.
