Deep Dive with Dr. Hinz- A D47 Podcast

In celebration of Earth Day, our latest podcast episode explores one way D47 schools are providing students with hands-on opportunities to learn about the environment and sustainability! Two dedicated parent volunteers, Hannah Pfaff from North Elementary and Andy Reinhard from South Elementary, join Dr. Hinz to discuss school gardens  and the impact the experience has on our students' learning and growth.

This year all three D47 middle schools have teams participating in the Fluid Power Action Challenge, a STEM-based competition sponsored by Durabar, where students design and build a fluid power mechanism.  In this episode, Dr. Hinz is joined by a team from Hannah Beardsley—Dane, Keshav, and Maddox—and their sponsor, Ms. Mooney, to discuss their mechanism design and what they've learned as they prepare for the competition on April 23rd. 

For the past two years, 70+ staff members from every school in the district have convened for eight full-day training sessions to delve into the concept of deep equity and understand the district's ongoing efforts to foster inclusivity and equity, empowering all students, staff, and families. In this episode, Corwin representatives John and Trudy, who have been facilitating these crucial conversations, along with Amy Frank from Canterbury and Meagan Powell from Coventry, join Dr. Hinz to discuss the journey, the changes already implemented, and what lies ahead.

What is a Hope Squad? In this episode, Dr. Hinz is joined by Hope Squad advisors Amy Hoven from Hannah Beardsley, Katie Staggs from Lundahl, and Katherine Albavera from Bernotas, alongside Hope Squad members Madison, Aiden, and Sam. Together, they highlight the impactful work being done in schools to train students in assisting their peers with mental health issues. 

"It’s clear that Hope Squad isn't just a program—it's a source of support and connection for our students." - Dr. Hinz

Schools throughout the district are celebrating literacy in March with the National Education Association's Read Across America initiative with guest readers and events. 

We're shining a spotlight on Indian Prairie Elementary School, where the spirit of Read Across America will come to life on March 1st. Joining Dr. Hinz on the podcast are 4th grade teacher Mrs. Isby and 5th grade teacher Mrs. Oliver, and young readers Sean, Max, and Emaline. They'll share how they're bringing families and community members together to foster a love of reading.

"I love my community. I felt like student council is one way to show my love for my community"

From finding ways of celebrating and lifting up their peers to community fundraising and outreach, D47 Student Councils are doing amazing things! In this podcast, Dr. Hinz is joined by Riley, Kameron, Ms. Tilton, and Ms. Vedder from Husmann Cougar Council and Hannah Beardsley Student Council Vice President Theola, who share their experiences, projects, and what being part of the Student Council means to them.

Calling all incoming kindergarten families! This podcast is for you!  Kindergarten registration opens this Monday, February 5! In this episode, Dr. Hinz is joined by two kindergarten teachers, Hannah Jaconetti from West Elementary and Casey Suh from Coventry Elementary, sharing what to expect in dual language and monolingual classrooms. West Elementary kindergartener Emily steals the show, explaining why kindergarten is so much fun and showcasing her amazing reading skills! Director of Student Information Systems, Aaron Knoth, gives the 'why' behind the importance of early registration, and Rebecca Morton, Director of Multicultural Programs, dives into the dual language lottery. New or current D47 families, this is your sneak peek into the world of kindergarten in District 47! Make sure you listen to the entire episode, it contains a special offer for listeners!

Lundahl Middle School 7th grade dual language students made it to the final round of a worldwide competition held by UNESCO called the Human Rights and Multicultural Challenge. They are the only United States school to move on to the finals. In this episode, Dr. Hinz is joined by dual language teacher Miren Ogando, principal Angie Compere, and students Sebastian, Joshua, Charlie and Bri, who share more about this incredible achievement! 

Canterbury principal Stacy Graff joins the podcast to talk about a program they launched this holiday season called "We CAN Give" where staff members generously contributed gifts that students could select and present to the adults in their lives. This program aimed to provide every student with the opportunity to experience the joy and satisfaction that comes with giving and highlights the generosity of Canterbury staff. 

Using a branch of ESSER funding, the district was able to provide 36 staff members with 30 hours of training in the Orton-Gillingham ‘decoding reading’ technique to utilize in class- an effort to address students struggling with reading disabilities. In this episode, Dr. Hinz is joined by Director of Special Education Holly Lyman, and special education teachers that were trained in the OG method- Erin Blake from Hannah Beardsley Middle School and Julia Lambert from Husmann Elementary School.