Chicago Gear Up
 
West Town Student Zone
 Summer Academies

 Tutoring

 Shadowing Experience

 Success Clubs

 Team Building/Ropes
 West Town
Parent Room

 English Lessons

 Computer Workshops
 Me and My Child
 Useful links

Department of Education GEAR UP Site

Illinois Board of Education

Serving Over 12,000 Chicago Area Students

West Town Learning Network
Click on the school or University on the map and find out what's going on in individual schools:
Northeastern Illinois UniversityLozano Bilingual & International CenterPeabody Elementary SchoolAndersen Elementary SchoolWells Community Academy High SchoolOtis ElementaryChicago Teachers' Center

    The purpose of the West Town Learning Network is to prepare your child for college! GEAR UP brings together students, parents, teachers, and universities to prepare for higher education.

   West Town's Learning Network, year 2000-2001 is for all students from 5-8 grade.

    By 2004, students from grades 5-12 will be involved.

    GEAR UP principals and teachers work together to make our schools as challenging and exciting as possible and to get their students ready for college.
 West Town Activities  

 Summer Academy- Summer 2001  
Students participated in a month long learning opportunity that combined art and technology with exciting subjects like digging for dinosaurs or the exploration of the Amazon

View the West Town Summer Academy 2001 slide shows

 Early High School Credit - Saturday's
  

  Students can take Creative Writing/Drama, Desktop Publishing/Internet or Interactive Math classes for high school credit. Contact your teacher for more information.
Tutors  
With a teacher request, tutors are placed in classrooms to help students one on one. Contact your teacher for more information.


Shadowing Experience- 1-Day  

  Each year, students are paired with a high school student for half a day. These students visit classes, tour the school and become part of Wells High School for one day.
 Success Clubs
 		  

5th, 6th and 7th grade students get a chance to learn about some really interesting careers. You will even get an opportunity to follow around someone for a day who has a career you're interested in. Club meets once a week at your school.

 Teamworks
  

  In teams of 12, students are paired with 3-mentors representing a teacher, a college student and a community member. You get a chance to learn to work on a team and improve on your leadership skills.

  E-Mentoring
  

  Students get a chance to e-mail professions at various corporations around Chicago.

 University/College Visits  
2nd Semester
 Visit a college you are interested that is in the GEAR UP network and get a change to see a campus first-hand.



PARENT SERVICES

English Classes -
English as a second language classes are designed to help parents who need to larn or improve their speaking skills in the English language. The following schools offer these classes.
Peabody
Andersen
Otis
Wells High School

Computer Workshops -
A series of six workshops three times in the school year were scheduled for parents in the participating schools. These workshops introduced parents to the elementary functions of computers, keyboarding, word processing and the use of the internet.

Me and my child -
The following workshops were offered when requested by parents or school administration:
  • Financial planning for my child to attend college
  • Effective ways to discipline my child
  • Selecting the best high school for my child
  • Supporting my child in the transition to high school
  • Interacting with my child's teacher and school administration
  • Understanding the developmental and emotional needs of adolescents
  • Using technology in the classroom and at home
  • Improving my own self-esteem and personal skills