[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 100 (Thursday, July 15, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1558-E1559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO MR. CHRIS CHIAVERINA AND MR. RICHARD BERNOTOS: TWO EXCELLENT 
                               EDUCATORS

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                        HON. DONALD A. MANZULLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 1999

  Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to take this opportunity to 
officially recognize two outstanding gentlemen from the 16th District 
of Illinois for their important contributions to advancing educational 
excellence in Illinois.
  Mr. Chris Chiaverina lives in Crystal Lake and is a physics teacher 
at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL. He exemplifies the 
innovativeness and creativity that teachers can bring to education. 
Through his collaborations with fellow educators in math and science, 
Mr. Chiaverina has helped to develop the Connections Project, which has 
recently won a grant from the GTE GIFT (Growth Initiative For Teachers) 
program. GTE offers 60 grants to groups integrating math and science 
with technology in innovative ways. I would like to include a summary 
of this inspiring project that won this national award.
  I also would like to praise the dedicated work of Mr. Richard 
Bernotos, Superintendent of School District 47 in Crystal Lake, IL, who 
was recently chosen as the Parade Grand Marshal for the Crystal Lake 
Fourth of July celebration. The Crystal Lake Gala Committee picked the 
Grand Marshal of the parade based on nominations from the community 
including that of Franklin McAnally, a sixth grade student from Lundahl 
Middle School. Franklin's letter is included as a testimony to Mr. 
Bernotos' legacy.

                        The Connections Project


                    What is the Connections Project?

       The New Trier Connections Project is an ongoing endeavor 
     which was initiated several years ago as a result of 
     collaboration among art, mathematics and science teachers. 
     The specific goals of the Connections Project include: (1) 
     the production of interactive, interdisciplinary exhibits; 
     (2) the creation of hands-on curricular resources that permit 
     the integration of the exhibits into existing art, 
     mathematics and science courses; (3) the promotion of sender 
     school/high school articulation; (4) the fostering of intra- 
     and inter-departmental collaboration; (5) the implementation 
     of in-service opportunities to acquaint faculty at New Trier 
     and its sender schools with interactive, interdisciplinary 
     resources; and (6) the operation of a web-site to provide on-
     line access to information about our project.
       The teachers and students involved in this initiative have 
     created more than 80 hands-on, museum-type exhibits that 
     demonstrate interrelationships between art, mathematics, 
     science and human perception. The multi-disciplinary exhibits 
     are grouped in thematic clusters that currently include 
     ``bubbles'', ``curves'', ``illusion and perception'', 
     ``iteration and fractals'', ``light, color and optics'', 
     ``symmetry and reflection'', ``tessellation''. These exhibits 
     are used to create motivating experiences for students and to 
     enhance and expand the curriculum.
       The displays are being used in a variety of venues. In 
     addition to being presented in exhibitions in the Brierly 
     Gallery, the exhibits have been used in a wide range of 
     classes at New Trier, in local and Chicago elementary 
     schools, at professional meetings, and in university classes.


      How does the Connections Project Benefit New Trier Students?

       New Trier's motto, ``to commit minds to inquiry'', is at 
     the heart of the Connections Project philosophy. Our exhibits 
     are designed to encourage students to actively explore the 
     world around them while discovering elements common to the 
     arts, mathematics and science. Connections exhibits 
     complement student course work in art, math, science, and 
     other subjects by giving students a common set of experiences 
     through which they may understand basic ideas, make 
     connections between related concepts, and integrate newly 
     acquired understanding with prior knowledge. By presenting 
     seemingly disparate disciplines in a real-world context, the 
     artificial boundaries between subjects become less 
     pronounced.
       While fun is not the main goal of education, the 
     Connections Project exhibits permit students to experience 
     interdisciplinary relationships in a less structured, more 
     play-like atmosphere. Furthermore, interactive exhibits 
     address the need to expose students to concrete examples of 
     phenomena prior to the development of abstract concepts. A 
     student's interaction with an exhibit is often the first step 
     in the understanding of a more abstract idea.


                                                    April 9, 1999.
     Crystal Lake Gala Committee,
     Crystal Lake, IL.
       Dear Committee: My family and I would like to nominate Mr. 
     Richard Bernotos, District 47 School Superintendent, for 
     Parade Grand Marshall. I feel Mr. Bernotos deserves this 
     honor because of his dedication to the children of District 
     47. His outstanding services as a teacher, administrator, and 
     now as Superintendent has shown commitment and the extra 
     effort that has made Crystal Lake ``A better place to live.'' 
     The children of this district are always his number one 
     priority as he makes sure that our schools are safe and that 
     we get the best education possible. His commitment to 
     children and his efforts on our behalf have made District 47 
     an outstanding place to live and learn. I don't think you can 
     do more for a community than to help the children of that 
     community. Even when Mr. Bernotos was in the hospital and 
     undergoing treatment for an illness, he

[[Page E1559]]

     thought about the children of District 47. He returned to 
     work earlier than he probably should have to be sure that our 
     schools ran smoothly and safely.
       For these reasons, I hope that you will honor Mr. Bernotos 
     by naming him Grand Marshall of the Crystal Lake Gala's 
     Parade. He has helped every single person in this community 
     by working for the children of the community.
       Thank you very much.
           Sincerely,
                                                Franklin McAnally,
                                            Lundahl Middle School.

     

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