Decatur's Open House is held in early September (see the school calendar for exact date). It is the perfect opportunity to meet your children's teachers and to see the classrooms. At that time, each teacher will make presentations regarding curriculum, philosophies, and expectations. A general overview of plans for the school year is presented. However, no private teacher-parent conferences are held at this time. Due to the nature of the presentations and because limited space is available, attendance of children is strongly discouraged.

Decatur invites schools that are options for our students to hand out brochures and talk to both parents and students about their programs. This gives much needed insight into what we could look forward to as we go through the application process for 7th & 8th Grade programs, and helps families make decisions on where to apply. This Fair continues to grow each year, with many more schools in attendance, including: The AC Programs at Whitney Young and Taft HS, the IB Prep Programs, Gifted Programs, Magnet Schools and Private Schools all hoping to obtain our students for their schools.

A new artist in residence program was started in the Spring of 2009, with the hiring of Go Get Your Smock, a local artists workshop that came in and worked with Decatur students for 8 weeks. This highly successful program will return to Decatur for 20 weeks during the 2009-2010 school year. This program is sponsored by the school using SGSA Funds via the SIPAAA, to allow art into our classrooms where there is no funding for a permanent art teacher.

We are thankful to Go Get Your Smock and Decatur's Administration for this program for our students.

Click here for more information about Go Get Your Smock.

Tap instruction is part of our curriculum. Sponsored by the school, quality dance instruction is provided throughout the school year as a PE class, special performances and for our all school play by Performing Arts Limited.

Click here for more information about Performing Arts Ltd.

Decatur has been fortunate to be selected as a site for a satellite choir of the Chicago Children's Choir. Once a week at lunchtime, participating students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades practice with a choir leader and perform several times a year, both in and out of school. A donation is suggested for those accepted in the program. An audition is required.

Click here for more information about Chicago Children's Choir.

The All School Spring Play is part of our fine arts curriculum. The entire student body participates in an exciting original production. Held on two evenings in May at Mather High School Auditorium, these visually pleasing and high energy performances are a highlight of the school year for students and parents alike. Many volunteering opportunities are available during this time. Parents sew costumes, apply make up and do hair for the performances, print playbills, make props and backdrops and much, much more.

Music House Classes and Performances

Instructors give classes twice a week before school from Music House, Inc., 2925 W. Devon, Chicago. Instruction in most orchestral or band instruments are offered. A student may apply to be in the Decatur Orchestra. Instruction fees, instrument rentals fees, and book fees are some of the charges that may be included. Bus service for before school classes is not provided.

Click here for more information about Music House

Chess Club

Chess Club is a before-school program for all Decatur students. Sponsored by the PTA, and led by parent volunteer Carmen Finch, this is an instructive and fun club for Decatur's chess enthusiasts. The chess team competes in local competitions throughout the season. Look for information during the school year on how/when to sign up!

Chess Club Coordinator - Carmen Finch

Afterschooligans

Money from a CPS Grant is used to create fun after school programs for our students. Past activities has included Lego Robotics, Dance, Computer, Jewelry Making and much much more. This program is for 2nd though 6th grade students after school from 2:45 - 4:00PM seasonally.

Little Linguists

Decatur is happy to have this tuition based after school program that offers both Spanish and Mandarin Chinese for our students. Click here for more about Little Linguists.

Girls On The Run

Girls on the Run® is a life-changing, experiential learning programs for girls in 3rd through 6th grade. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development. The Decatur GOTR program starts in the Spring, ending with a 5k in early June. The life lessons and bonds of friendship that the girls establish during the training are amazing. Look for information about GOTR during the school year.

GOTR program meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30-4:00 p.m. The program is offered in the spring for 8 weeks, ending with the Wondergirl 5k at the lake front in June.

For more information, click on the link below.

• www.gotrchicago.org

At the end of the school year, students in the intermediate grades are honored at an Awards Assembly for academic achievement, service to the school and other appropriate areas. Primary students are recognized for their efforts in their classrooms. During the year, students may receive recognition for such events as Science Fair, Latin Olympics, Career, Poetry and Poster Contests, Academic Olympics, PTA Reflections Contest and other events.

Every month a student from each classroom who has demonstrated values associated with being a good citizen is selected. Good citizens are presented a good citizenship ribbon and represent their class for that month. Pictures of our good citizens are placed on the Citizenship Bulletin Board and their names scroll across our digital display board all month.

Students in the 4th through 6th grades who achieve superior grades are honored with an Honor Roll announcement. To be listed on the Honor Roll, a student must attain all “A”s in all subjects and no checks marks on the report card.

Student Congress

Each October two students from each grade (except Kindergarten) are selected by their fellow students to be their representatives in Decatur's Student Congress. These student representatives elect officers of the Congress. The Congress meets once a week in the library to discuss school issues. Their purpose is to give students an opportunity to express themselves, to resolve student-teacher problems, to give students a chance to promote school spirit and to become self-guiding by sponsoring certain projects. Through the years, Decatur Student Congress has had many accomplishments. Among them: establishing numerous awards and awards ceremonies and luncheons (for teacher, parents and students), fund raising, sponsoring contests, and organizing drives for the needy.

This annual event is given to say “Thank You” to the dedicated and hard working professionals at Decatur Classical School. During this time teachers are given a luncheon and entertained by the Student Council.

During the second semester, a Roman Banquet is held in the Multi-Purpose Room for fifth and sixth grade students. Students wear Roman costumes. Included in the festivities are a Roman feast, performances, and games.

Students in the intermediate grades are eligible to participate in the Latin Olympics, held on a Saturday in the spring at the University of Illinois at Chicago. All students take a series of tests in the morning and may choose to compete in costume, oratory, and art contests in the afternoon. Contests that occur in advance include the modern myth and t-shirt design competition. Additionally, four students in the fourth grade and four students in the sixth grade are invited to participate in the Certamen, which is a Latin academic bowl competition.

Second grade students participate in the Elementary Latin Exam, a national contest sponsored by the American Classical League. Participants receive ribbons and high-scoring students receive certificates.

Third through fifth grade students participate in the National Mythology Exam, a national contest sponsored by the American Classical League. High-scoring students receive medals.

Sixth grade students participate in the National Latin Exam, a national contest sponsored by the American Classical League. High-scoring students receive certificates and/or medals.

All sixth grade students are invited to belong to the Certamen Team, a Latin academic bowl competition. Practices take place at lunch and there are three evening competitions held at area high schools. Parents are required to provide transportation to and from Certamen evenings and are welcome to observe the events. Decatur's Certamen Team frequently takes a prize in the competitions even though they are competing against middle school students! See Magistra Cohen's website (under Rooms) for more information.

The PTA sponsors a national contest to encourage participation in the Arts. Submissions in the visual arts, photography, literature, or music can be made relating to the announced theme. All submissions require an official entry form, which is sent home with each student. The 2011-2012 theme is “DIVERSITY MEANS…”. All entries are due by November 21, 2011.

Once a year, the National Geographic Society sponsors a countrywide Geography Bee for students in 5th and 6th grades. The winner at Decatur will take a written test that is given to all the school wide competition winners; fifty winners from each state will participate in a statewide Geography Bee. The first place winner in each state will compete on the national level where winners can win scholarship worth up to $25,000.

The Young Author's Conference is actually a contest. At the school level, students in the intermediate grades except kindergarten, submit samples of their writing in the form of stories. The winning entrants go on to compete at the region level.

From there, they can go onto the state conference at Illinois State University in Normal. Teachers and authors are the judges at the region and state level. All entrants are invited to meet with these authors.

Each year in the fall and winter, the pre-algebra class receives instruction in the stock market. The Chicago Tribune, De Paul University, and the Illinois Council on Economic Education sponsor this project. Students form stock investment teams and decide how to invest $100,000 in imaginary money. They check the daily market fluctuations, receive computer printouts and buy and sell stocks weekly. Participants compete with elementary and high schools throughout the Chicago area and are eventually ranked with all the other teams in the state.

The all school Book Swap is a great opportunity to get rid of some older “gently used” books and exchange them for some “new to you” books. Students may bring in up to three, grade-appropriate, books to be exchanged at each session throughout the school year. The enthusiasm and thrill of reading books is shared throughout the school. Parents volunteers are greatly encouraged to help with this event.

Several times a year, the PTA sponsors a Scholastic Book Fair. Sample lists of paperbacks that can be purchased are sent home one week prior to the sale. On the day of the Book Fair, students are given the opportunity to purchase paperback books at reasonable cost. Students should bring money in an envelope with their name on it to be used at the book fair. On Open House and Report Card Pick-up days, parents can also attend the Book Fair. Look for your child's wish list at the check out counter to see what books your little reader is interest in. The PTA realizes a cash profit based on the number of books sold, as well as free books that are placed in the library, classroom collections and used as prizes for participation in PTA projects. Classroom “wish lists” are filled out by the teacher if student's would like to donate a book to their classroom libraries. Parent volunteers are always needed for this event.

Book-It is a reading incentive program used in all the classrooms designed to motivate students to read more-both at school and at home- by rewarding them for their reading accomplishments. Children who meet the reading goals set by their teachers will receive a free pizza certificate. This program is sponsored by Pizza Hut and starts in October and ends in February. Other sponsors include Six Flags Great America, who gives a discount coupon for all students who complete the program.

The 1st through 6th graders participate in the Science Fair throughout the school year. Grade appropriate projects are of an experimental nature and include a research paper, display board and oral report. Intermediate Grade projects are judged by Upper Grade students while the Upper Grade projects are judged by a panel of distinguished guests. Primary Grade projects are non-competitive and do not include a display board. The award-winning upper grade students will be able to compete in the Regional Science Fair in February. These projects are part of Decatur student's grade in Science and are a mandatory part of our curriculum. Information packets will be distributed by classroom teachers at the appropriate time.

Teachers and parents work together to create a night of scientific awareness for the entire school. Science Night is presented annually and students participate in many experiments, which will enhance their knowledge in Science.

The 5th and 6th Grade students at Decatur compete in a History Fair. Students may use visual media as well as display boards for their projects. These wonderfully creative projects are viewed at an Open House in the Multi-Purpose Room. Decatur students frequently make it to the State and National Levels, going to Springfield, IL and Washington DC to compete.

The 3rd Grade holds a Chicago History Fair. Students research a subject of Chicago History, make a display board and a model of their subject. Parents visit the projects in the classroom. Projects themes range from Chicago's building landmarks, historical events and Sports Teams.

* Technology has been infused across the curriculum as evidenced by student team participation at the
Illinois Student Technology Conference, the International Junior Summit and the International Peace Child UNESCO Summit.