Mike Berrie

Welcome to the Home Page of the Social Studies Department.

We are very pleased to announce that Ms. Jackie Roche, Social Studies teacher at the Ninth Grade Center, recently earned her National Board Certification. She now joins an elite group of teachers who have been certified as excellent educators. Since it's inception in 1993, only 50,000 teachers nationwide have successfully completed the process to become accredited by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Ms. Roche began the long process 15 months ago. On May 12^th of this year, she took the content area test that takes 4 hours to complete. The difficulty with the test is that it covers the breadth of material in all of the Social Studies. Although Ms. Roche's area of expertise is World History, she was held responsible for material covering all of the disciplines found within the Social Studies.

The process required Ms. Roche to submit a very lengthy portfolio that showed the depth of her teaching. Examples of student work, videotaping of class activities and evidence of community involvement were but a few key components of her portfolio.

This accolade received by Ms. Roche is quite indicative of her commitment to the students of her class. Her innovativeness and desire to make learning meaningful has resulted in her students having had to participate in a Middle Eastern Summit to discuss the political problems that plague that region, create a museum of Latin American history and host an African Bazaar. Students know that Ms. Roche dares to "dream big" and that she challenges students to do likewise. Ms. Roche is the first to admit that it was the students and their continued cooperation throughout the process that had tremendous impact on her success.

We wish very sincere congratulations to Jackie. We are extremely proud of her accomplishments.

Chicago Metro History Fair

We would also like to congratulate all of the students who participated in the school wide level of the Chicago Metro History Fair in 2007. A special thanks goes to the teachers who coordinated this year's event; Mr. Belmont, Mr. Friedrich, Mr. Bill and Miss. Hoitink. To look at some of the projects from this year and the past, click here.

Amazon Museum

During the week of February 27th, Ms. Roche's classes at the Ninth Grade Center engaged in a very extensive project. As a culminating event in their study of Africa, the students created a museuem in the library. Other classes in the building were invited to come to the museum and receive a tour from the students in the class. To see pictures of the museum, click here.

PSAE

The Prairie State Exam that will be given to all juniors at Waukegan High School. The test is a two day event and will be administered in April of 2007. Complete information regarding the test can be accessed through the State Board of Education website. To see this information, click here. To see a copy of the letter sent home last year to students, click here.

WHSSocialStudies News