District 54 students, staff are making a difference
In these weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, I usually take the time to reflect on the past year.
What usually comes to mind is how thankful I am to work in a district with employees who are so committed to the academic success and well-being of our students; with students who give their best effort and strive to grow every day; and with parents and community members who support our vision of ensuring student success.
District 54 employees are paid to teach your child to read, write and do math. However, the dedication I witness in our schools goes so far beyond their job descriptions. The principals, assistant principals, teachers, support staff, paraprofessional, operations staff and employees at the district office are all dedicated to helping each child reach their full potential. As a team, we truly want what is best for every student.
In my position as superintendent, I visit schools each week, learn about inspiring programs and meet individuals who believe in our students.
For example, a group of staff members at Lakeview Elementary School evaluated the attendance records of students and noticed that some who had numerous absences and tardies were also struggling academically.
Rather than taking the easy way out and blaming students for failing to show up at school, they launched a program designed to encourage attendance.
The program, called Present and Prompt, invites students to check in with a staff member and engage in a fun activity until announcements begin at the start of each day.
Our bilingual coaches also developed a program that goes beyond the school day and supports students' needs. Looking at assessment data, these teachers noticed that for many English Learner students the biggest challenge was writing.
They invited students to stay after school for the 10-week Targeted Assistance Program. After one year, 137 more students met the state of Illinois' English proficiency standard, a 27 percent increase. And, more important than test scores, the confidence level of these students is growing as well.
In another example, the school board honored paraprofessional Helen Fox this year for her extra effort to support students at Fairview School. Helen creates book bags in her free time because she noticed that students had difficulty carrying home books that didn't fit in their backpacks.
District 54 students are fortunate to be supported by so many caring adults. However, our students also contribute to this caring community by giving back.
For example, Enders-Salk Elementary School hosted its 22nd annual Turkey Trot last month. Students and staff collected more than 1,704 items to be donated to the District 54 Food Pantry at Mead and Keller junior high schools.
As I visit our schools across the district this time of year, I see stacks of food and nonperishable items being collected for District 54 families in need. I've also learned about some of the outside organizations our schools support.
Frost Junior High School students supported Breast Cancer Awareness in October by wearing pink and making posters.
As a way to honor veterans, Keller Junior High School supported the GiGo Fund's "Jeans for Troops Day" by donating $180.61 and 76-plus pairs of jeans to District 54's Community Closet. In December, Keller's Interact Club is hosting a toy drive for the Wildcat Wonderland event. The purpose of the event is to spread cheer and offer support to families in our school community that are experiencing financial difficulties.
Students at the Hoover Math and Science Academy assisted the Schaumburg Fire Department this month in wrapping holiday gifts for families in need. This has been a long-standing partnership between the school and the fire department.
Fifth-grade classes at Fairview Elementary School visited Feed My Starving Children in Schaumburg recently, where they helped pack 22,896 meals. This will feed 62 children for a year.
The list goes on and on. At some point during the year, students in all District 54 schools are actively involved in a variety of charitable endeavors. Their parents, along with our entire community, can be proud of the passion and dedication that our students have for helping those who are in need.
As you enjoy the holiday season with family and friends, please join me in giving thanks to the entire District 54 community for what they do to make our corner of the world a better place. Happy holidays!