•February 6, 2019•

By Ted Walk,
Supt. Sullivan CUSD #300

Over the past few years Sullivan Middle School has looked for innovative ways to encourage our middle school students to read. The Reading Redskins Program allows students to have a large amount of choice in the genre and level of books that students read, while providing incentives through various competitions. After completing a book, students fill out a form to answer questions about what they read, and the number of pages are recorded. Events are organized throughout the school year that include competitions between grade levels, genders, teachers, and parents. The top reader in each grade receives a copy of a book of choice, as well as has a copy of this book donated to the school library celebrating their accomplishment. Rewards for individuals who reach milestones such as 500 or 1000 pages per quarter vary from school dances, to ice cream parties, to putting slime on the middle school principal. For the past three years, the Reading Redskins Program has led to nearly a million pages read by Sullivan Middle School students annually. Another way that Sullivan Middle School strives to foster a love of reading is through encouragement of engagement in books from the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award List. Students who complete a specified number of books from this list get to vote in the statewide Rebecca Caudill competition as well as have their name entered into a schoolwide raffle for prizes such as a Kindle Fire, headphones, or candy at the end of the year. Additionally, Sullivan Middle School students are able to participate in a Book Club opportunity during which students discuss various novels over a pizza lunch. The value placed upon literacy at the middle school, and all levels, is one of the many reasons that I am proud to be a part of the Sullivan School District, where we strive to be Preparing Students for Successful Lives by Inspiring and Expecting Excellence in Ourselves, Our Community, and in Every Student, Every Day!

•February 6, 2019•

Illinois has been experiencing some of the coldest weather that has been seen in decades and, in some locations, ever.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cooperative weather observer at Mt. Carroll in northeastern Illinois reported a temperature of -38 degrees on the morning of Jan. 31.
“The temperature in Mt. Carroll may be a new state record, if officially confirmed,” said Brian Kerschner, spokesperson for the Illinois State Climatologist’s Office at the Illinois State Water Survey. Read More

•January 30, 2019•

Decatur Memorial Hospital Patient Transportation has added a route in Sullivan. They provide rides for adults and children (with accompanying adult) to and from Sullivan and various DMH Decatur locations.
To schedule a ride, or for more information, call 217-876-2191.

Senior Peace Meal
For additional information or for reservations, please call 1-800-543-1770
Monday, Feb. 4 - Savory sausage stew w/beans, pineapple tidbits, biscuits, warm fruit strudel bites
Tuesday, Feb. 5 - Fried chicken, mashed potatoes w/gravy, breaded tomatoes, dinner roll, seasonal dessert
Wednesday, Feb. 6 - Ravioli w/meat sauce, broccoli, corn, whole grain wheat (1), banana
Thursday, Feb. 7 - Meatloaf, Delmonico potatoes, spinach, dinner roll, cranberry apple salad
Friday, Feb. 8 - Tuna noodle casserole, peas and carrots, bean medley, whole grain wheat (1), gelatin w/1/2 cup fruit

Photo furnished
Sullivan Elementary School fourth grade students Carter Standerfer and Gavin Wade learned how cranberries are grown and harvested, then completed an Ag in the Classroom STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Challenge to see who could build the tallest free-standing tower using only cranberries and toothpicks.

•January 30, 2019•

The Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) program has announced that Moultrie County Ag in the Classroom has been funded for the 2018-2019 School Year. Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom based these grants to counties off the 2017-2018 year-end reports.
In 2017-2018, the Illinois AITC program reached 694,449 students with a message about agriculture. Additionally, 41,369 teachers and 1,166 pre-service teachers learned how to incorporate agriculture into their existing curriculum while meeting state learning standards.
Kevin Daugherty, Education Director for the Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom program, said, “County level programs are the biggest strength of our IAITC efforts. Illinois has the benefit of local contacts that provide content knowledge and easy strategies for teachers to utilize. The county programs work to integrate agriculture into existing classroom curriculum.”
In Moultrie County alone almost 6,000 students were reached with multiple lessons regarding agriculture. Students did everything from estimating the number of seeds in various sized pumpkins to looking at maps to learn where fruits and vegetables actually grow. The Moultrie County elementary students are engaged and enthusiastic about learning the vastness of agriculture, and how ag is needed for food, fuel and fiber. Read More