U-46 to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Elgin Area School District U-46 will host veteran, author and motivational speaker Consuelo Castillo-Kickbusch for the second consecutive year to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with the district's families.

Castillo-Kickbusch was once the highest-ranking Latina in the U.S. Army and gave 20 years of service before retiring to establish Educational Achievement Services Inc., where she supports youth leadership.

"Consuelo Castillo-Kickbusch is an excellent role model who has dedicated her life to helping all children succeed, exactly what we hope to do here at U-46," said English Language Learners Director Annette Acevedo.

"The ELL Department is excited to bring her back and give more U-46 families the chance to be inspired and empowered by her story."

Castillo-Kickbusch grew up as the child of immigrants in Laredo, Texas, where her family was rich in culture, tradition, values and faith even if they were not materially wealthy. She travels the country talking to students about leadership and self-esteem, expanding her message with educational materials, CDs and a book called "Journey to the Future: A Roadmap for Success for Youth."

The Parent Night presentation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, in the Elgin High auditorium, 1200 Maroon Drive. The presentation will be conducted in Spanish with English interpretation.

Castillo-Kickbusch will give parents concrete strategies to become more effective role models for their children and better engage children in their education to help them achieve academic success. Child care, including a video screening and a snack, will be provided for those ages 5-10.

Besides the Parent Night presentation, the veteran will talk to students during the school day at Elgin, Larkin and Streamwood high schools Sept. 29-30.

Carlos Ojeda Jr. will speak at Kimball, Larsen, Canton and Ellis middle schools over the same two days. Ojeda is an educator, youth speaker, author, poet and entrepreneur. He has reached more than 1 million students over the last 15 years of motivational speaking, spreading the message that their voice is their power.

The Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff events will give U-46 students and their families an opportunity to be inspired by two sought-after speakers. In their classes, students will learn more about Latino history and culture, recognizing a group that continues to shape the U.S. Daytime assemblies are not open to the public.