2020-2021 School Year
Facing the Challenges as a Community
We want you to know that even if we do not have access to D97 schools in the coming semester or school year, we will be working with our partners and our families to deliver exciting, STEAM-focused enrichment, in a safe and meaningful way.
We’ve created a survey to capture your thoughts on how this year should look. Take the survey here.
Award-Winning Programs
Architecture Adventure
Architects design, build and explore the human-made world with K-5th graders.
Art Start
Artists animate the curriculum through visual and performing arts with K-2nd graders.
Geared Up
3rd-grade students engineer simple machines using specialized LEGOs.
Science Alliance
Working scientists conduct experiments and lead field trips with 3rd-8th graders.
Spoken Word
Middle schoolers find and cultivate their unique voices by reading, writing and performing poetry.
Vex Robotics
Tech experts work with teams of middle schoolers to design, build, program and compete with robots.
What’s New
2020 Virtual Poetry Slam
How do you have a poetry slam when you can't gather? You do it virtually! Just like the rest of the world, our Spoken Word program had some unexpected challenges this year. But, our poets prevailed. For the first time, we had a combined Brooks/Julian club. The poets...
Good-Beye to Mr. Ellwanger
One of the things that made us saddest about canceling this year's Bingo Bash was that we were losing the chance to give Mr. Ellwanger, also known as Mr. E, the 2020 Staszak Educator Award. Mr. Ellwanger started his Oak Park career as a music teacher at Beye, and...
BASE Camp Cancelled for Summer 2020, Seeking New Ideas
It is with great sadness that we have decided to cancel our four weeks of in-person BASE (Build A Summer Education) Camp. We’ve consulted with our board, staff, D97 leaders and other community partners, and it has become clear that there will be no way to safely run...
Events
JOIN US FOR THESE AND OTHER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR!
See Us in Action!
“There isn’t any other part of our curriculum that is like this. It gives students a glimpse into a very specific world of science through a person who is making a career of it, but it also carries over into our everyday science units in school. I appreciate the time the scientists give this program.”