New year, new projects in District 94

School is in full swing at Community High School in West Chicago. Even our newest students have found their classrooms, met their teachers and are engaged in learning.

We are engaged in a new project as well — a monthly electronic community newsletter. Those who already subscribe to our current eNews blasts automatically will receive the newsletter. If you are not a subscriber and wish to be, you may text D94ENEWS to 22828, or look for the eNews mailing list subscription button on the front page of our website at d94.org.

Student performance and academic improvement are at the top of our priority list. We have initiated a renewed focus in teaching and learning to support our diverse learners. CRISS — for Creating Independence through Student-owned Strategies — training emphasizes creating individualized strategies for student learning, and is the focus for us this year. Our efforts at creating a link between classroom instruction and the newly adopted Common Core Standards will enable our students to be better-prepared as they matriculate through school. Looking forward, we will be developing assessments that help us determine what growth areas need addressing to better focus our time and efforts.

The state testing process known as the Prairie State Achievement Exam will be replaced next year with a new assessment called PARCC, or Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. The expectation of this new test will be to align the new Common Core learning standards with a focus on success in college and the workforce.

In addition to the preparation for instruction and assessment shifts, we continue to work on other opportunities available for our students. Community High School’s student involvement in co-curricular clubs and organizations has increased by 62 percent in the last five years and that trend is continuing this year. Opportunities for students are being assessed this year to make certain we are providing activities that align with students’ interests and provide a place for our students to connect with school.

To see many of these things in action, join us for some or all of the activities planned for homecoming week — Monday, Sept. 30, through Friday, Oct. 4. Our theme this year is WeGo Through Time. Each class will adopt a decade and organize a float and other activities around that era. A list of homecoming events can be found at d94.org. Mark your calendar for the varsity homecoming game at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at Memorial Stadium. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Please come out and support your Wildcats!

타 Douglas Domeracki is superintendent of Community High School District 94. His column appears in Neighbor monthly during the school year.