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By: Theresa Gutierrez, 8/17/2009
Students at Chicago International Lloyd Bond School will be learning in a high-tech environment, thanks to the multi-million dollar renovation of an old Catholic school.
Three hundred fifty students from kindergarten through eighth grade Monday started the school year at the new school.
The Chicago International Lloyd Bond School is located on the grounds of the Altgeld Gardens Public Housing Project on Chicago's far South Side
A $2 million renovation project transformed what was previously Our Lady of the Gardens Catholic School into the new charter school for one of Chicago's most economically challenged neighborhoods.
Teachers at the newly-renovated Chicago International Lloyd Bond School were hand-picked for this job. The school principal says they spent over $500,000 on curriculum in addition to the $2 million to renovate the school.
"Our mission is to provide a rigorous curriculum with a holistic approach, including arts, music, academics, and creating what we consider lifelong learners," Principal Michael Campbell said.
Dr. Lloyd Bond, the school's namesake, grew up in Altgeld Gardens and is a consulting scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
At the school, students dress in uniform and are addressed by their last name. Character building, team work and manners are important parts of the school day.
"This school will help me live up to expectations and probably succeed," student Myshawn Rollins said
"The prior school didn't offer as much," student Jillian Harris said.
Each classroom will have a PolyVision interactive whiteboard that can incorporate information from a variety of sources, including the internet.
Some students learned how to make their own CD, featuring music they like and graphics that represent something about them.
"We have three labs, two are mobile and one is stationary, which I'm very excited about. All the kids will get computer literacy skills and an opportunity to be on the computer," teacher Ashley Williams said.
"It's not like any other school I've been to and the president cares about our reputation," student Myles Gimmar said.
President Barack Obama did his community organizing at Altgeld Gardens and is an inspiration at this school.
"We wanted to take all of the opportunities that the president has envisioned for this school and this community and bring them to fruition," Campbell said.
Chicago International Charter School (CICS) is the largest charter school in Illinois, serving over 8,000 students across 13 Chicago neighborhoods. Students at several CICS campuses have scores among the city's highest for non-selective schools, with 83-percent of the graduates attending college.
There are some openings in kindergarten through second grade, so parents can still apply.
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Source: http://www.abc7chicago.com
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