Haven Middle School
Encyclopedia
Haven Middle School is located at 2417 Prairie Ave. in Evanston, Illinois
. It is a publicly run middle school
(junior high school or secondary school
) that teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.
"Core" subjects at Haven are Math (6-8 grade Math, Prealgebra 1 and 2, Honors Algebra, and Honors Geometry), Reading, and Language Arts. Other subjects include Social Studies, Science, Physical Education (Gym), and a second language (French or Spanish). Fine arts are taught in the Allied Arts wing of the building (with the exception of Drama, which is taught on the 4th floor). These Fine Arts are Drama, Art, Industrial Arts (called wood shop by students), Media Arts and Music. There is also a library, which was remodeled in 2009.
During the school year, Haven students can come before school to participate in Art Club, which is run by the Arts teacher and is funded by the Booster club, a parent volunteer organization. The Art Club paints murals around the school, and the murals are popular with the students. Other people, such as a local artist, artists funded by the New Deal
in the 1930s and a local Boy Scouts of America
troop, have painted murals at Haven Middle School.
7th-8th grade students who volunteer participate in a fall play which is performed around November. Near the end of the year, the Drama teacher and Music teacher organize a musical called Haven Help Us, which consists of many skits performed with music. This event is very popular at Haven and is often considered the highlight of the year.
Haven's motto is Where teachers teach and students learn and their three principles are Respect, Responsibility and Ready to Learn.
Haven is also known locally for the "Haven clap", which is a special type of applause that was invented by Don Michelin, the former principal of the school.
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.
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.
The different units include Earth Science, Cells and the human body, and Sexual Health.
, Home Alone 3
, Rookie of the Year
, Curly Sue
, and a few commercials. Four statues of children at the school's entrance (visible in the illustration at ) were created by noted sculptor Mary Helene Andersen Clark (1910–1994).
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.
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
. It is a publicly run middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
(junior high school or secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
) that teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.
About Haven Middle School
Haven Middle School offers a variety of subjects and was ranked the 54th best school in Illinois in 2009 according to the Chicago Sun-Times. However, that is down from #37 in 2008. 33.5% of Haven's students are considered low income."Core" subjects at Haven are Math (6-8 grade Math, Prealgebra 1 and 2, Honors Algebra, and Honors Geometry), Reading, and Language Arts. Other subjects include Social Studies, Science, Physical Education (Gym), and a second language (French or Spanish). Fine arts are taught in the Allied Arts wing of the building (with the exception of Drama, which is taught on the 4th floor). These Fine Arts are Drama, Art, Industrial Arts (called wood shop by students), Media Arts and Music. There is also a library, which was remodeled in 2009.
During the school year, Haven students can come before school to participate in Art Club, which is run by the Arts teacher and is funded by the Booster club, a parent volunteer organization. The Art Club paints murals around the school, and the murals are popular with the students. Other people, such as a local artist, artists funded by the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
in the 1930s and a local Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
troop, have painted murals at Haven Middle School.
7th-8th grade students who volunteer participate in a fall play which is performed around November. Near the end of the year, the Drama teacher and Music teacher organize a musical called Haven Help Us, which consists of many skits performed with music. This event is very popular at Haven and is often considered the highlight of the year.
Haven's motto is Where teachers teach and students learn and their three principles are Respect, Responsibility and Ready to Learn.
Haven is also known locally for the "Haven clap", which is a special type of applause that was invented by Don Michelin, the former principal of the school.
Science initiatives
A program started in 1992 called "HANDS" (Haven and Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
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.
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.
The different units include Earth Science, Cells and the human body, and Sexual Health.
Business program
An after-school business program was started in 2003 called "Buying into Business", in which Haven students meet with Northwestern University students to learn how to start and manage their own businesses. This program was discontinued in 2006.Notable events
The striking architecture of Haven led to its being used for scenes in several major motion pictures, including Home AloneHome Alone
Home Alone is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. The film stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy, who is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas vacation...
, Home Alone 3
Home Alone 3
Home Alone 3 is a 1997 family comedy film written and produced by John Hughes. It is the third film in the Home Alone series and the first not to feature actor Macaulay Culkin or director Chris Columbus. The film is directed by Raja Gosnell, who served as the editor of both original films, and...
, Rookie of the Year
Rookie of the Year (film)
Rookie of the Year is a 1993 American film comedy with a baseball theme starring Thomas Ian Nicholas and Gary Busey.The cast also includes Albert Hall, Dan Hedaya, Eddie Bracken, Amy Morton, Bruce Altman, John Gegenhuber, Neil Flynn, Daniel Stern and John Candy.-Plot:Henry Rowengartner ,...
, Curly Sue
Curly Sue
Curly Sue is a 1991 comedy film starring James Belushi, Alisan Porter and Kelly Lynch. The film was written and directed by John Hughes. Music for the movie was provided by Georges Delerue, with the end title song "You Never Know" performed by Ringo Starr....
, and a few commercials. Four statues of children at the school's entrance (visible in the illustration at ) were created by noted sculptor Mary Helene Andersen Clark (1910–1994).
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.