Haven Middle School

Haven Middle School
Address
2417 Prairie Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60201
Information
School type Public school
Motto "Where teachers teach and students learn"
Founded 1927
School district School District 65
Principal Kathleen Roberson
Grades 6-8
Gender co-ed
Enrollment 800[1]
Team name Northstars
Rival Nichols Middle School
Feeder schools Orrington Elementary School, Kingsley Elementary School, Lincolnwood Elementary School, Willard Elementary School
Website district65.net/haven

Haven Middle School is located at 2417 Prairie Ave. in Evanston, Illinois. It is a publicly run middle school (junior high school or secondary school) that teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.

About Haven Middle School

Haven Middle School offers a variety of subjects, and was ranked the 54th best school in Illinois in 2009 according to the Chicago Sun-Times,[2] down from #37 in 2008. For the 2014-2015 school year, 28%[3] of Haven's students were considered low income.

"Core" subjects at Haven are Math (6-8 grade Math, Pre-algebra 1 and 2, Honors Algebra, and Honors Geometry), Reading, and Language Arts. Other subjects include Social Studies, Science, Physical Education (Gym), and a second language (French or Spanish). Fine arts are taught in the Allied Arts wing of the building. These Fine Arts are Drama, Art, Industrial Arts, Media Arts, Music. There is also a library, which was remodeled in 2009.

During the school year, Haven students can come before school to participate in Art Club, which is run by Mr. Eng and is funded by the Booster club, a parent volunteer organization. The Art Club paints murals around the school, and the murals are popular with the students. Other people, such as a local artist, artists funded by the New Deal in the 1930s and a local Boy Scouts of America troop, have painted murals at Haven Middle School.

7th-8th grade students who volunteer participate in a fall play which is performed around November. Near the end of the year, the Drama teacher and Music teacher organize a musical called Haven Help Us, which consists of many skits performed with music. This event is very popular at Haven and is often considered the highlight of the year.

Haven is also known locally for the "Haven clap", which is a special type of applause that was invented by Don Michelin, the former principal of the school.

Science initiatives

A program started in 1992 called "HANDS" (Haven and Northwestern University Discover Science) involves graduate students from science and engineering programs at Northwestern University working directly with Haven students. It was originally intended to encourage female and minority students to consider careers in science and engineering, but any student with an interest in science can attend.. The graduate students work with the middle school students to do experiments and create projects. These have often been in the area of material science.[4]

An emphasis on wellness and avoiding obesity have led to food classes at the school, which feature breakfast, fruits and vegetables, and microwaves. However, due to the retiring of the foods teacher, the foods class has been replaced with media arts, starting in the 2008-2009 school year.[5]

The different units include Earth Science, Cells and the human body, and Sexual Health.

Business program

An after-school business program was started in 2003 called "Buying into Business", in which Haven students meet with Northwestern University students to learn how to start and manage their own businesses. This program was discontinued in 2006.[6]

Events

The striking architecture of Haven has led to it being used for scenes in several major motion pictures, including Home Alone, Home Alone 3, Rookie of the Year, Curly Sue, as well as a number of commercials.[7] Four statues of children at the school's entrance were created by noted sculptor Mary Helene Andersen Clark (1910–1994).[8]

Haven had a place in the integration of Evanston's schools. Lorraine H. Morton, hired as the first African-American teacher in the Evanston public schools, rose to become Principal of Haven before entering politics and becoming Mayor of Evanston in 1993.[9]

Dress code controversy

In early 2014, Haven made national news when school administrators upset students and local parents by banning leggings and yoga pants.[10] After, according to students, teachers began informing students that their tight pants were "too distracting for boys", Haven parent Juliet Bond penned an open letter to Principal Kathleen Roberson,[11] stating, "we are frankly shocked at this antiquated and warped message that is being sent to the kids... Under no circumstances should girls be told that their clothing is responsible for boy's bad behaviors. This kind of message lands itself squarely on a continuum that blames girls and women for assault by men." An Evanston Patch column on the issue was picked up by journalists, and during March 2014 the school was referenced by several prominent American news organizations, including Slate,[12] the Huffington Post, the Daily Beast[13] and FOX News.[11] News stories featured interviews with Haven students, as well as debates regarding rape culture and the 1st amendment.

References

  1. ↑ "District Quick Facts". Evanston/Skokie School District 65. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Chicago - Chicago : News : Politics : Things To Do : Sports". Chicago. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "2014-2015 Opening of Schools Report" (PDF). Evanston/Skokie School District 65. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "Scientists Cultivate Interest Among Local Middle Schoolers: Northwestern University News". northwestern.edu. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "Chef Ann Foundation". chefann.com. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "News". northwestern.edu. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  7. ↑ http://www.riverblue.com/hughes/d_f.html
  8. ↑ http://wwgw.wpamurals.com/andersen.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.northshoremag.com/cgi-bin/ns-article?article=/communities/evanston.html
  10. ↑ "Leggings stir controversy in Evanston school". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Haven Middle School Bans Leggings & Yoga Pants -- Too Distracting For Boys". Evanston, Illinois Patch. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "Evanston, Ill., school bans leggings. Students protest for the right to wear them.". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  13. ↑ "The Politics of Leggings in Middle School". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 13 August 2015.

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