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U-46 students return to new programs, laptops, services Wednesday

More than 39,000 Elgin Area School District U-46 students are gearing up for the start of the school year Wednesday.

Among them are students, families, teachers and employees of Centennial Elementary School in Bartlett who finished chalking the front entrance and sidewalks of the school Tuesday with inspirational and welcoming quotes and pictures. The artwork is tied to the school's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and Kindness Campaign. The school also is installing buddy benches in its playground as part of that campaign.

Local artist Michelle Fitzsimmons, owner of ArtBar 39, and her fellow artists also volunteered their time to paint quotes about kindness and positive self-esteem in every bathroom of the school.

This year, the district is adding guidance counselors at its eight middle schools, and an upgraded mathematics curriculum and expansion of the dual language program to its five high schools.

Officials will distribute more than 13,000 Chromebooks to middle and high school students. Students in ninth through 12th grades will be issued a dedicated Chromebook to use throughout the school year. Middle school students enrolled in an Algebra 1, Algebra 2, or Geometry courses will be issued a Chromebook as part of the updated math curriculum and move to an online platform.

The dual language program, which expanded to eighth grade last year, will be available to high school freshmen this year. Officials plan to expand the program by adding a grade each of the following years. More than 10,000 U-46 students will be taught in dual language classrooms districtwide this school year.

Middle and high school students also will have access to Naviance, a web-based college and career readiness platform, to explore their strengths and interests and create a plan for future careers.

U-46 again will offer a free career expo for eighth-graders this year. For the first time, it will be on a weekday - Wednesday, Sept. 12 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

  Parent Katie Kuhn draws a pencil eraser while helping to create a "Welcome Back" message in chalk at the front entrance to Centennial Elementary School in Bartlett Tuesday evening. Students begin classes Wednesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Former student Naimah Ambriz, 12, helps create a "Welcome Back" message in chalk at the front entrance to Centennial Elementary School in Bartlett Tuesday evening. Students begin classes Wednesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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