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Goethe Elementary School is a PreK-8th grade neighborhood school. Goethe Elementary is a school where attitude counts, team work thrives, tolerance is expected, academic achievement is valued, effort is pursued, and nourishing the whole child is paramount.
What makes Goethe unique is excellent ISAT scores, all day Kindergarten class, active parents and community members like you, the warm environment, dedicated staff, and a wonderful surrounding neighborhood.
Goethe Elementary School is located at:
2236 N. Rockwell
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 534-4135
If you are interested in visiting Goethe or registering your child, please contact us for more information.
Goethe works as a team to guide the development of well-rounded productive citizens who value education, strive to do their best, honor their commitments, and meet responsibility. The Goethe community aims to graduate readers, writers, critical thinkers and problem solvers that will make a positive impact wherever they go.
Goethe enjoys being an AMPS-designated school-- an Autonomously Managed Performance School. Under this program the school is allowed to make decisions at the local level and is encouraged to be innovative in its approach to serving students.
All the Goethe News that's Fit to Print. Goethe has a volunteer-led journalism club that publishes a monthly newsletter. View past issues online:
June 2011
Beginning of the school year-- So many questions, lots of answers! The FOGS yahoo listserv lights up in the weeks leading up to and right after school starts. To relieve some of the anxiety, especially for preschool and kindergarten parents for whom everything is new, click here to view supply lists and frequently asked questions to ease the transition for everyone!
You say Gay-thee, I say Gurta
The school is named after the German philosopher Johann Goethe. You may have wondered how to pronounce his name if you aren’t familiar with it. The bus drivers says “Go-thee,” some neighbors say “Gay-thee” and some parents you’ve talked with say “Gurta.” What gives? We don’t have an explanation for the CTA, but during World War II, when being German was not looked upon fondly, people began to pronounce it “Gay-thee.” This was similar to the phenomenon of men named Adolf quickly adopting new names during that era. The community purposely created an Americanized pronunciation to remove the stigma of being German. So say it how you will, just say it proud!
Architect
W. August Fiedler (1843-1903) was appointed as supervising architect for the Chicago Board of Education where he oversaw the construction of a number of schools, including Goethe. Fiedler was born in Eblin, Germany. He moved to Chicago in 1874 to participate in the post-'1871 Chicago Fire' boom reconstruction. He was a partner of the firm Addison and Fiedler, and designed the Germania Club which was close to being designating a city landmark by the Chicago Commission on Landmarks as of August 2010.
Awards and Distinctions
• In 2005 Goethe Elementary was acknowledged as a School of Distinction.
• In Math Counts and Academic Olympics over 30 Goethe students have won 1st and 2nd place.
• The school’s Bilingual Program has been selected as a model for Transitional Bilingual Education programs by the Department of Language and Culture.
Facilities
Goethe has a Technology Lab, two libraries, a computer lab, a gifted math lab, a large outdoor playground, green space for sports practice, and gardened courtyard for reading classes.
In 2009 the FOGS received funding from the Logan Square Neighborhood Association to plan and plant the Goethe Bird and Butterfly Garden. The garden was planted in two raised beds, encircled by classic iron-work fencing near the playground. The low maintenance gardening plan, including plant selection, was put together by Laurie Tanenbaum, a certified landscape designer and owner of Grounds for Growth, a local landscape design firm. Plants were selected not only for their beauty and interest but to attract wild birds and butterflies.
Teachers of Goethe’s lower grades raise butterflies from caterpillars and release these wondrous creatures into the garden, inspiring our youth to learn about science and nature. The garden is a symbol of hope and pride in our community school.
While maintaining the garden, volunteers have spotted many Painted Lady Butterflies, a Black Swallowtail Butterfly, and what was reported to be a Tiger Swallowtail.
There are 6 preschool classes available as of fall 2010. These are all half-day FREE preschool classes.
Healthy Fridays! Preschool students take part in "Healthy Fridays," a program where all three preschool classrooms gather and for healthy activities. The schedule rotates between an exercise day where students learn different forms of exercise to stay healthy; a healthy snack day where students learn how to make a quick and healthy snack; and a healthy mind day where reading partners from third grade read with the preschool students.
Students have been focusing on practicing yoga during exercise day and could use yoga mat donations to pad the hard floor in the AP room where they practice! Contact Ms. Laura if you can donate a mat.
The entire Goethe school community works to support our students' education, using a comprehensive curriculum grounded in research-based instructional best practices aligned with the Illinois Teaching and Learning Standards. The staff work in grade-level teams to map curricula that is developmentally appropriate, rigorous, and balanced. The curriculum provides students with opportunities to learn and nourish creativity. Students receive differentiated instruction aligned to their learning needs regardless of level.
Goethe offers before and after school tutoring, academic after school programs for grades 2-8 in reading, math, and science. Homework and special education support is available before and after school. Gifted math is available before and after school for grades 7 and 8. All grade levels utilize common planning periods throughout the week. There is a targeted leadership program for grade level representatives for grades Pre K, 1st, 3rd-7th grades. Writer’s workshop, math and science programs are implemented school-wide.
K-8 Schedule:
8:35 am - First Bell. Students line up.
8:40 am - Second Bell. Students enter building with their teacher.
2:25 pm - First Bell. Student patrols report to posts.
2:30 pm - Students are dismissed.
The official 2010-2011 Goethe Elementary School Handbook, in English and Spanish
Information on library, gym and music (music coming soon!)
Bilingual Education
Families who register at Goethe School complete the Home Language Survey. Upon completion of the survey and once a student is identified as coming from a non-English language background, the student is administered an English language proficiency test. The WIDA ACCESS Placement Test (W-APT™) is designed to measure a student’s English language proficiency in all four language domains – Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. The student’s English language composite proficiency level determines if the student is identified as an English Language Learner (ELL) and therefore eligible for services. ISBE has set a cut-off composite proficiency level score of 4.2 in Literacy. Students scoring below this cut-off score on the W-APT™ are designated as ELLs and placed in the Transitional Bilingual Education Program. As students progress through the grade levels, more English is taught and spoken in the classroom so that they are able to transition to a monolingual classroom.
Before School
The Early Bird Program is available for preschool and Kindergarten children whose parents experience a conflict in getting their child to school because of their work schedule. Eighth graders that have been selected and trained engage the children in reading stories and playing games in the gym, and playing outside in good weather before school starts. The program begins at 8:00 a.m. where the children meet the eighth graders just inside the door of the annex. Children who need to eat breakfast are taken to do so. Then the children are brought to meet their teachers at 8:40 a.m. The eighth graders receive community service credit for their participation. Children must not be having separation issues to participate in the Early Bird Program.
After-School
Goethe offers a wide variety of academic, athletic, and recreational after school clubs. The clubs vary somewhat from year to year in response to student, parent, and teacher interests, and are affected by funding available for after school programs from the Chicago Board of Education. Previous offerings have included Soccer, Open Books, and Dance. We also work with many community partners such as Karateland, Girls on the Run, and On Track to provide after school clubs. Although there are many free clubs, Goethe also offers fee-based clubs. After school activities are announced at Back to School Night which happens the second week of school in September.
Learn more about after school activities and community partnerships with groups such as Adventure Stage Chicago and the Joffrey Ballet.
Logan Square Farmers Market
The Logan Square Farmers Market continues to operate in the winter months at the Congress Theatre (located at 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave.) FOGS volunteers work to offer kid-friendly activities many Sundays at the Winter Farmers Market. Most of the children's activities take place from 10 am to noon but the market runs until 2:00 pm. Please contact Melissa for more information.
