Haven Middle School

Haven Middle School is located at 2417 Prairie Ave. in Evanston, Illinois. It is a middle school that teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Courses offered include Math (Everyday Math, Prealgebra 1 and 2, and Honors Algebra), Reading, Social Studies, Language Arts, Gym, French/Spanish, Art, Music, Media Arts, Drama, Wood shop, and Science.

Demographics

Haven has an enrollment of 619. The enrollment includes (2005) 53.9% white, 38.2% black, 5.7% Hispanic, and 1.6% Asian. Overall, 33% of the students are low income. In 2005, 71.4% of the students met or exceeded expectations in state exams, 28.6% did not achieve minimum sores. [ [http://iirc.niu.edu/Scripts/school.asp?test=all&schoolID=1401606501007] Interactive Illinois Report Card]

cience initiatives

A program started in 1992 called "HANDS" (Haven and Northwestern University Discover Science) involves graduate students from science and engineering programs at Northwestern University working directly with Haven students. It was originally intended to encourage female and minority students to consider careers in science and engineering, but any student with an interest in science can attend.. The graduate students work with the middle school students to do experiments and create projects. These have often been in the area of material science. [ [http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2006/04/hands.html] Katharine Duke, "Scientists Cultivate Interest Among Local Middle Scholars" News Center, Northwestern University, March 14, 2007]

An emphasis on wellness and avoiding obesity have led to food classes at the school, which feature breakfast,fruits and vegetables, and microwaves. However, due to the retiring of the foods teacher, the foods class has been replaced with media arts, starting in the 08-09 school year. [ [http://www.chefann.com/blog/?p=588] Chef Ann Cooper, "Lunch lessons." Feb. 13, 2007]

Business program

An after school business program was started in 2003 called "Buying into Business" in which Haven students meet after school with Northwestern University students where Haven students learn how to start and manage their own businesses. [ [http://www.northwestern.edu/observer/issues/2004-spring/business.html] Marilyn Idelman Soglin, "Program has middle school students buying into business." Observer Online, Northwestern University, Spring 2004.]

The different units include Earth Science, Cells and the human body and Sexual Health.

Notable events

The striking architecture of Haven led to its being used for scenes in several major motion pictures, including Home Alone, Home Alone 3, Rookie of the Year, Curly Sue, and a few commercials. [ [http://www.riverblue.com/hughes/d_f.html] The John Hughes Files] Four statues of children at the school's entrance (visible in the illustration at [ [http://www.geocities.com/xanderubi/html/john_hughes_shooting_locations.html] John Hughes Shooting Locations] ) were created by noted sculptor Mary Helene Andersen Clark (1910-1994). [ [http://www.wpamurals.com/andersen.htm] www.wpamurals.com]

Haven had a place in the integration of Evanston's schools. Lorraine H. Morton, hired as the first African-American teacher in the Evanston public schools, rose to become Principal of Haven before entering politics and becoming Mayor of Evanston in 1993. [ [http://www.northshoremag.com/cgi-bin/ns-article?article=/communities/evanston.html] Caryn Green, "Welcome to Evanston." North Shore Magazine, March 2007]

References

External links

* [http://haven.district65.net/ Official site]