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2021-2022 School Year Upcoming Changes

The new Felicity school year is starting on August 16th and we have plenty of changes that will be assisting our students with blended learning and a unique school experience for the next year.

To start, Felicity staff decided to come up with a brief “Interests Inventory” for students and staff to fill out on Google Forms to include the following topics to name a few: hobbies outside of school, enjoyable activities in school, favorite candies, favorite movies/tv shows, two individuals you would like to meet and more “get to know you” questions. The original purpose of the Interest Inventory surveys were to collect data for what students for “rewards” in regards to assignment/class completion, future raffles, etc. Then, Felicity staff decided to expand this to a broader opportunity to learn more about each other.

We have been working on developing our STEAM Fab-Lab to be able to accommodate a ceramics and aquaponics component to learning that students can gain chemistry, science and even home economics knowledge to apply towards their required classes. With adding new and innovative tools, students can get cross-curicular credit in an interactive way that will be new and challenging for all.

Additionally, starting in October, Felicity School is partnering with The Rocks Group to open a carry out restaurant within the facility. With this experience, students will gain the hands-on opportunity to get an insider look at the service industry aspect of carry out service including but not limited to: marketing, accounting and servicing direct customer needs, based on student interest. Here is an update from What Now Chicago on the latest: https://whatnowchicago.com/rocks-bar-group-debuts-rocks-kitchen-at-felicity/

Please stay tuned for more information! Below is a few “before” pictures of our aquaponics system.

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Short Story Class

Students have been examining short stories by authors from various cultures and time periods (including contemporary short stories from current publications), focusing on author’s craft and style and on the use of structure and literary devices. We have read stories and watched their adapted films, Sleepy Hollow and Minority Report, to compare and contrast material. We also want to provide fun and unique experiences for the students. Recently, we read the short story, “With a Twist”, written by J.A. Konrath. The plot details detectives that were tasked with solving a murder mystery in a “locked room” format.

To further reinforce the story and to provide the students with a fun, new experience, the short story class took a field trip to Mastermind Escape Rooms in Schaumburg, Illinois. Students were tasked with having to foil an evil Sorcerer’s plot against their uncle and escape his magic lair before time ran out. With teamwork and creative problem solving, the Felicity students were able to accomplish their goal and escape the room with 31.47 seconds remaining!

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Woodshop:  Finish What You Started

For the 2017-2018 school year Felicity Students can explore what they can accomplish with their hands. Working with wood is a tactile learning experience that brings together the following skills: hand-eye coordination, following procedures, being creative, and the true reward of creating something from a piece of material. Students see practical applications of their math skills and learn to “measure twice and cut once.”

The evolution of a woodworker has been recreated firsthand in the inaugural year of woodshop at Felicity. To start the year, two construction horses were built and a piece of scrap wood was laid over the top to create a necessary workbench. From there, woodshop students followed a cut list and measured and processed 2×4’s into the correct lengths to build a more defined workbench. Being the antithesis to the digital age, woodshop classes expose students to manual labor that builds confidence, strength of character, and problem-solving skills due to the unique nature of each individual piece of lumber. From exposing students to trade opportunities or developing true GRIT, woodshop is a true-life lesson experience.

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Luskin’s Learning Lab

The 2016-2017 school year is in the record books! Students have continued to work hard towards earning credits and getting one step closer to graduation. While school work is a typical concern for any high school student, life outside of Felicity School has found one student navigating the Healthcare.gov website and tackling life’s demands.

On the road to independence, the allure of one’s first job can be overwhelming. Felicity School has provided one student the opportunity to bring in his work pay-stubs and earn credit towards an elective work study. Another student has the luxury of taking Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes in his neighborhood and participating in his first tournament later this month. Throughout the school year, students have been asked to journal about how they stay motivated and focused on their goals. During the summer months, both students and staff have a little bit of extra time to recharge their inner motivation and prepare to continue down the path of persistence, perseverance, and adapting to a constantly changing world.