District 203 celebrates year's successes
Another successful school year has come to an end. The 2016-17 school year was filled with student success and growth, and we look forward to an excellent 2017-18.
This coming school year, our youngest learners will be introduced to personalized and individualized learning through the rich curriculum and learning experiences provided through digital learning.
We will be implementing the final stage of our three-year Digital Learning Initiative. For information on the Digital Learning Initiative, visit naperville203.org.
In fall 2016, more than 14,500 Naperville Unit District 203 community members completed our School Day Survey. As a result of survey feedback, community engagement sessions and school board approval, both high schools will have a late start once a week to allow teachers to collaborate in professional learning communities.
That is only the beginning, as we continue to look at how to best use our school day at all levels.
New science curriculum will be rolled out at the high school and junior high levels, and a new social-emotional learning curriculum will enable students to demonstrate the skills needed to be competent in their families, with their peers, in their school, at their work settings, and in their communities.
District 203 is once again hosting an opportunity to connect with new families in the district while meeting representatives from your child's school and community organizations.
We hope our families will join us for our Welcome to 203 Community Resource Fair from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, at Kennedy Junior High School, 2929 Green Trails Drive, Lisle.
The 2016-17 school year was full of success for our schools and our students. District 203 continues to make national rankings. All 14 elementary schools ranked in the Top 100 according to Niche.com, and Kennedy Junior High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School.
Naperville North senior Jane Boettcher was named a 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholar, 32 Naperville Central and North seniors were named 2016 National Merit Scholarship finalists, and North junior Jason Xia received the only perfect score on the AP Physics exam in the world.
The Huskies boys soccer team and girls cross-country teams, and the Redhawks boys tennis team and newspaper, The Central Times, were all IHSA state champions.
The Kennedy eighth-grade team placed first in the nation in the WordMasters Challenge.
A high-quality public education is a top priority of our community and remains a draw for families moving to the area. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to education and our students.
• Dan Bridges is superintendent of Naperville Unit District 203. During the school year, his column appears monthly in Neighbor.