ORIGINALLY POSTED ON dioceseofjoliet.org

JOLIET, IL– Bishop Richard Pates, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Joliet, announced today that the 52 Catholic schools in the diocese will open this Fall.

The bishop has appointed a task force headed by Fr. Burke Masters to prepare the schools so that each will fully comply with necessary provisions to make the particular school safe in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The stakeholders of our schools – parents and children, administrators and teachers, priests and parishioners – very much desire to see our schools fully functioning this Fall,” Bishop Pates said.

He also noted that the re-opening of diocesan parishes has gone very well, with the vast majority of parishes now celebrating Mass again. In order to open, each of the parishes had to be certified that certain, defined safety measures were in place. A similar certification process will be developed for our schools.

“All connected with our Catholic schools eagerly await the new school year to once again benefit from the academic excellence and Catholic identity that characterize these schools.”

View the original post from the Diocese of Joliet Catholic Schools’ Website

About the Diocese of Joliet Catholic Schools

The Diocese of Joliet serves nearly 17,000 students in 42 elementary schools, eight high schools and two preschools in five counties including DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall and Will. The second largest school system (public or private) in the western/southwestern suburban region, We Teach More as our students are formed in the image of Christ and achieve ahead of their peers while they study with great teachers. They are treated as individuals and taught to make the right choices because they realize that they belong to something bigger than themselves. Visit www.WeTeachMore.org to learn more about the benefits and values of Catholic education.

Learn more about Diocese of Joliet Catholic Schools

The ACT is a widely used college entrance exam. It assesses high school students’ general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The score range is 1-36. The multiple-choice tests will cover four skill areas: English, math, reading, and science. ACT offers an optional fifth test, writing, that measures skill in planning and writing a short essay. The essay cannot be taken separately. The writing portion of the exam might be required for admission, depending on the university. Registration is required for the National Testing Dates.

What areas does the ACT test cover?

The multiple-choice test will cover four skill areas: English, math, reading and science. ACT offers an optional fifth test, writing, that measures skill in planning and writing a short essay. The essay cannot be taken separately. The writing portion of the exam might be required for college admission, depending on the university. The score range is 1-36. 

• English: Punctuation, Grammar, and Usage, Sentence Structure, Strategy, Organization, and Style (45 minutes)
• Mathematics: Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Plane Geometry, and Trigonometry (60 minutes)
• Reading: Prose Fiction, Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences (35 minutes)
• Science: Data Representation, Research Summaries, and Conflicting Viewpoints (35 minutes)
• Writing (Optional): (30 minutes)

Which Colleges have ACT Writing Test requirements?

Some colleges and universities have decided to require or to recommend that their applicants submit scores from the ACT Writing Test.

Others have decided writing test scores are not needed; their applicants do not need to take the test.

Others have not yet reported their decision to ACT.

2019 – 2020 Test Dates & Registration Deadlines

WSEA Tutoring’s ACT Prep Programs

• Instruction covers all four content areas (English, Math, Reading, Science).
• Small group instruction
• Guided practice and test-taking strategies help each student achieve their best personal score
• Experienced, caring instructors

Many of our students have increased their scores and received college scholarships.

Camille Jones commented, “It is important that the person in the leadership position is first, a great teacher. Secondly, the person needs to be a highly ethical person possessing a commitment to providing quality, compassionate instruction to students. Jennifer is all of this and more.”

Diane Nelson, who currently works with elementary students at WSEA, will remain in the role of Elementary Director of grades K-5. Nelson holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Master of Education in interdisciplinary studies in curriculum and instruction. She taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades in nearby Wheaton before joining WSEA.

Jennifer Bredberg will become WSEA Tutoring’s sole owner as Camille Jones moves into an advisory role to the business. “I am also pleased that a business that was started by women is passed on to a woman,” said Camille Jones. Bredberg taught Language Arts for several years in middle school and has a BA in English and a Master of Education with a secondary certification in English and social science.

Bredberg commented, “We have touched the lives of hundreds of children and families as a result of good leadership, dedication, and showing a love and passion for working with children. We will miss Camille and wish her the best – but we’re also excited to continue our mission to change students’ lives in the years ahead. It is a privilege and an honor to continue in her footsteps.”

“In thirty years there have been a great many changes in Naperville, in the schools and in education” said Camille Jones. Indeed, their broad range of creative and effective programming has helped WSEA thrive through the toughest economic climate. The firm currently boasts a staff of nearly 15 certified, experienced elementary teachers and experts in secondary education.

“We have adapted to changes while adhering to our commitment to provide individual educational plans for our students to empower them to achieve their best and develop a life-long love of learning. It has been my privilege and joy to work in Naperville and serve Naperville families.” – Camille Jones

About WSEA Tutoring of Naperville, Inc. (WSEA)
For 30 years, WSEA has provided private and small-group academic tutoring for grades kindergarten through 12 and college. The company covers all subject areas, including tutoring in math, reading, language arts, phonics, study skills, science, social studies, and foreign languages. Students benefit from individualized homework support; proprietary programs such as Phonics Is Phun and Strategic Study Skills Workshop; and a customized approach to their ACT, SAT, PSAT prep, and private high school entrance exam prep programs.

For more information about WSEA Tutoring, visit wseatutoring.com or call 630-922-8100.

Many Colleges and Universities are accepting both the SAT and ACT for College Applications. Choose which test is best for you. 

Use the table below to compare the two tests.

The 2016 fall conference was held locally, at Northern Illinois University’s Naperville Conference Center. Nationally recognized keynote speakers gave presentations on Reading Comprehension Difficulty: Causes and Solutions, and Effective Vocabulary Instruction. There were many seminars available, which covered topics such as the neural basis of dyslexia, phonics and other approaches to reading and fluency, building writing skills, improving math performance, improving test performance, legislative issues that impact students with dyslexia, developing IEP’s, and common co-occurring diagnoses.

Conference attendees included parents, teachers, tutors, administrators and college students. Everyone Reading Illinois also holds an annual parent conference in the spring, which provides excellent resources and knowledge for parents of dyslexic students.

As a tutor, I found the conference to be very helpful. I learned several strategies that I can implement with students to support their reading comprehension, phonemic awareness, vocabulary instruction and writing skills.

Author:
Karen Zielinski
Elementary Tutor