Hillcrest Elementary School
Hillcrest Elementary School
Address: 433 E. Depot St., Antioch
Phone: (847) 838-8001
District's name and Web site: Antioch School District 34, www.antioch34.com
Number of students/grade levels offered: About 820 students in pre-K to second grade
Number of staff: About 100
School mascot: Cubs
When was school built: 2001
Any interesting tidbit: An addition had to be made to the school after it was there for only one year in order to house more students.
Principal: Dawn Benaitis
• This is her first year at the school.
• What do you think is an unique aspect of your school? "I think the most unique aspect of Hillcrest is how well such a large school can function and appear 'small' for our little school students. The school is divided into six different colored villages. Students can easily maneuver their way throughout the school. Everything is organized and run so efficiently. When you think about having 800 students all under the age of 7 -- just making sure they get on the bus and to the right classroom is a big task."
• What are you most proud of? "I am most proud of the staff. I have almost 100 staff members. My staff works very well together and is always willing to go above and beyond to do what's best for our little friends. They are a dynamic group of educators who are always wanting and willing to create programming that will best meet the needs of all our students, individually, as well as, collectively."
• If all school enrollments were determined by choice, what would you say to potential parents to convince them to choose Hillcrest Elementary for their children? "Hillcrest School has a tremendous pre-K and early childhood program -- known as one of the best in the state. On site we have everything your child might need in order for them to be successful -- including but not limited to school psychologists, speech pathologists, OT, PT, Social Workers, Parent Educators -- where we offer evening workshops to help parents become an active part of their child's education, etc."
• If you can get one thing accomplished between now and the end of May in your school, what would it be? "We are working very hard to provide systematic and systemic, researched-based interventions for our students who are struggling with literacy. We are monitoring student progress and assisting those students in need of some extra assistance."