District 97 will be hosting  a Community Technology Forum  for adults on Saturday,
November 20, 1999, from 9:30 - 11:30 AM at Emerson School, Kenilworth and
Washington Blvd.  The adult forum requires no preregistration, is offered at no cost, 
and is open to all adult community members.
        The purpose of the forum is to provide adults with information about what is going on
in the field on technology and the uses it can have in family life.  Breakout sessions will
be offered at 9:30 and 10:30 AM.  Some of the topics to be presented are:
        "Digital Camera - Easier Than Ever", in which participants will learn how to use a
digital camera and import pictures at home; "Troubleshooting Your Home PC", in which both
home remedies and preventative medicine will be discussed; "PowerPoint Basics", in which the
fundamentals of powerpoint presentations will be demonstrated;  "Look It Up!", in which a
number of valuable internet resources will be introduced; "Y2K and You", in which you'll
learn about the hype and the facts regarding your computer and the year 2000.  
        Also, Ed Yala, Lincoln parent and president of SoftSpeech, Inc., an Oak Park
healthcare technology company specializing in practice management, medical records and
billing  software, will demonstrate how speech recognition is changing the way we work with
computers. He will show how new voice recognition technology allows individuals to speak
rather than type directly into computers  so that words appear instantly on the screen and in
documents without typing.  He will also share some success stories on how a local public
school and medical practices in the Chicagoland area are using this technology to save money
and become more productive.
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        For more information contact Rosemary Jacot, 524-3028, email mrjacot@op97.k12.il.us
 

Gail Fiske Crantz
Public Relations Coordinator
Oak Park Public Elementary Schools
970 Madison
Oak Park, IL 60302
mgcrantz@op97.k12.il.us
mgcrantz@op97.k12.il.us
708-524-3006

Art Start students participate in National Christmas Pageant of Peace

The Oak Park Education Foundation*s Art Start program will receive national recognition by
participating in the 1999 *Christmas Pageant of Peace* and lighting of the National Christmas
Tree.  Art Start, in conjunction with the Oak Park Area Arts Council, commissioned third and
fourth grade students at Hatch school to create 50 ornaments that will adorn the Illinois
Tree at this annual ceremony in our nation*s Capital.

Hatch art teacher Suzanne Rexford planned and directed the students* work.  After discussing
the meaning of peace, the students decorated small bird houses and wrote messages of peace on
them.

On the evening of December 8, 1999, President Clinton will flip the switch that lights all 57
trees.  From this evening through New Year*s weekend, visitors to the Capital can view their
state*s tree and take part in performances and activities each night.

The first National Christmas Tree was erected on the lawn of the Capitol Building in December
of 1913.  Over the years, the tree has moved from this location to the White House Lawn and
to the present location, the Ellipse, which is across from the White House.  In 1954, the
lighting of the National Christmas Tree became known as the *Christmas Pageant of Peace* and
included trees representing each state, territory and the District of Columbia, which is how
the event is organized today.  Fifty-seven trees are now part of the pageant.  Each tree is
decorated with ornaments unique to the state and are contributed by state arts organizations,
arts councils, major retail corporations, manufacturers, museums, and major artists and
craftsmen.

The annual Pageant and tree-lighting is co-sponsored by the Christmas Pageant of Peace, Inc.,
a not-for-profit group, the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Washington Convention
and Visitors Association in cooperation with the National Park Service.  Private corporations
provide additional support.

Art Start is a visiting artists program that brings local visual and performing artists into
Oak Park Elementary School classrooms for hands-on projects that relate to the academic
curriculum.  One primary grade at each elementary school participates in Art Start each year.
Art Start is a program of the Oak Park Education Foundation, in partnership with the Oak Park
Area Arts Council.

The Oak Park Education Foundation also funds Global Village, a visiting scientists program,
and Technology in Motion, featuring a mobile technology workstation that travels to all ten
district schools.

The Oak Park Area Arts Council promotes, develops and supports the performing, visual, and
literary arts in Oak Park and neighboring suburban communities.
 

Gail Fiske Crantz
Public Relations Coordinator