News Releases
Virginia Lake Named a No Excuses University School
 March 4, 2008
Virginia Lake School in Palatine has just been named a No Excuses University (NEU) school—one of a network of K-8 schools across the nation committed to aggressively promoting college readiness for all students and universal academic achievement.
Becoming an NEU school requires completion of an extensive application, including a video, documenting the school’s focus on student achievement. “To say that we are impressed is an understatement,” commented Damen Lopez, co-founder of the NEU network, about Virginia Lake’s application and video. “From your plans to further the development of a culture of universal achievement, to your work in the area of exceptional systems, your application showed a true dedication to holding students, parents and staff to the highest expectations possible.”
Virginia Lake is the fourth District 15 school to attain the NEU designation. Lincoln School, Lake Louise School, and Winston Campus Junior High School are also NEU schools. Several other district schools are in the application process. Currently the NEU network consists of 18 schools in four states.
NEU schools work to give all students the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills should they choose to go to college. Teachers, administrators, and all members of the school’s staff are expected to embrace the concept that they have the power to influence every student to be academically successful, even those who are most at risk.
An NEU celebration at Virginia Lake is planned later this month. Classes at the school have already been “adopting” universities and colleges, hosting college student visitors, becoming pen pals with college and university students, wearing college-themed clothing on special days and displaying college and university paraphernalia in their classrooms.
|
