GCE students urge us to vote by reminding us why our vote matters to them. Most of our students are not old enough to vote, but more than ever before, young people are demanding to be heard. Our students encourage those of us who can vote to practice our civic duty and use our vote to speak up for their future.
News
In 1,000 Words
The theme for this term’s Final Presentation was A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words. GCE students were challenged to demonstrate their learning with an image. Given just a couple of guidelines, the students were free to create dynamic and personal presentations that showcased how they connect their learning across disciplines and to themselves. The presentations varied in format and allowed the guests to experience learning like a GCE student.
Presidents’ Day: NO SCHOOL
February
18
First Day of Elective Term
January
29
December
5
Parent Wine Down
Finding the right high school for your child can be tough. Luckily, these parents know exactly what you’re going through. Join parents like you for wine, small bites, and advice. Get advice from the pros. Ask the questions you haven’t yet. Have a glass of wine and relax. You’ve got this!
It was a Smash!
We danced the night away at our first-ever GCE Halloween Dance. HUGE shout-out to Lina Nicklin, parent of Simas and member of the parent association for organizing a spooky night of fun. The members of student council and the dance committee were masters at transforming the school into a ghoulish crime scene. The students wowed with their creative costumes. We had an angel and a devil, Steven Universe and Connie, Agnes from Despicable Me, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a zombie school girl, a deer and a cheetah, and many others. It was such a treat to spend a Saturday night dancing and eating lots of candy with our GCE family.
Field Experience
Feeling Climate Change @ The Lincoln Park Conservatory
In the final unit of the Water class, the Freshman have been investigating the guiding question, How can you utilize water to predict the weather?. In pursuit of an answer, students have been studying precipitation, cloud formation, greenhouse gasses, and climate change. As a part of this investigation, students visited the Lincoln Park Conservatory which houses thousands of plants that thrive in different climates. Students walked through the Palm House, the Fern Room, the Orchid Room, and the Showroom, all of which were set at different temperatures to best mimic the plants’ natural habitats. The Freshman took this opportunity to measure temperatures and humidity levels, and experienced in an immediate way, how climate change feels.
Why
The Freshman walked through the halls of the Lincoln Park Conservatory, experienced climate change, and measured and collected data on temperature.
How
Students were guided through the halls by a docent who offered insight on why different plants thrive in certain temperatures and how climate change is effecting plants and animals in their natural habitats.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day: NO SCHOOL
January
21
First Day of Elective Term
November
6
Welcome back!
Fall Respite: NO SCHOOL
November
2
Congratulations on completing fall term! Enjoy a restful respite and we’ll start elective term with renewed energy.
Holiday Break
December
24
Happy Holidays! We hope you have a restful break spent with family.
December
21
Holiday Community Potluck and Talent Show
Celebrate the holidays with us! Come for our community potluck and student talent show, and spend some quality time with us before our holiday break.
Thanksgiving Break
November
21
Happy Thanksgiving! We are grateful for the community we have at GCE. We hope you have a restful break.
Field Experience
Examining Photojournalism @ The Gage Gallery
In the final unit of the Journalism course, the Seniors have been investigating the guiding question, How does photojournalism help you see the world?. As a part of this investigation, students have been examining the works of famous photojournalists to better understand the elements of an effective photograph. The Seniors visited the Gage Gallery at Roosevelt University to view the exhibit, Steve Schapiro: Civil Rights Era Contact Sheets which showcases a collection of enlarged proof sheets from Steve Schapiro’s work during the civil rights era of the 1960s. Steve Schapiro is an American photographer known for his work documenting key moments of the civil rights movement. The exhibit of mostly unpublished photographs provided the students with a unique behind-the-scenes look at photojournalism.
Why?
The purpose of this Field Experience is to investigate the guiding question, What’s the meaning of life… in 1000 words and 1 photo?. The students examined the photographs in the exhibit, Steve Schapiro: Civil Rights Era Contact Sheet and talked to Mike Ensdorf, the gallery director and photography professor at Roosevelt University to better understand the role of photojournalists in educating the public.
How?
The students will examine the photographs and gather inspiration for their own photograph.
Photo Gallery
Rapid Prototyping with James Dyson Foundation
In preparation for their next Action Project, the Juniors in the Design & Engineering class worked with Emily Shuki from the James Dyson Foundation to learn some basic prototyping skills using cardboard, X-Acto knives, markers, and rulers. The students were challenged to create a prototype of an original design that addresses faults in any existing invention. Amongst the designs was a truck that automatically refills potholes, a more efficient CTA train car, and a lap desk suited for bumpy car rides.
Elective Respite: NO SCHOOL
January
25
January
24
Elective Term Final Presentation
Join us for our Elective Term Final Presentations, the best way to experience learning with our students as they share their discoveries from the past term. The event will include opportunities to learn more about GCE’s curriculum, engage in activities planned and facilitated by GCE students, and to see for yourself why Action Projects demonstrate student mastery.
Photo Gallery
Let’s Scavenge!
Our perseverance, creativity, physical agility, and collaboration skills were put to the test at this year’s first Community Day. We were presented with a totally epic scavenger hunt that challenged us to act, sing, solve riddles, find and pet a dog, make a trick shot, form a human pyramid, and talk to people in our neighborhood. The results are hilarious and heart-warming.
Field Experiences: We Experience the World
On Wednesday, October 17th, we invited field experience partners to join us for breakfast so we can say thank you for being a partner in education. It meant so much to us to open up our space, for a change, and to share our hopes for the field experience program. The work we do to impart the importance of real-world learning is brought to life with the partneships we cultivate and foster with organizations, companies, and individuals dedicated to providing purposeful and relevant edcuation to students.