Fresh look for Diamond Lake District 76 logo
A new administration in Diamond Lake Elementary District 76 has come with some changes, including a new school logo.
The district's stated motto still is "reaching further, opening minds and creating futures," but a fresh-look logo focusing on the partnership between the district's three schools has replaced the old numerical version.
"I was pleasantly surprised at the level of enthusiasm and involvement of our students," said Bhavna Sharma-Lewis, who joined the district July 1 as its new superintendent. Sharma-Lewis said the idea was to create something centered on children that also reflected the board's vision and relationship of the schools.
"I went to each classroom and told them about the board's new mission," she said.
More than 70 students submitted entries as individuals, partners or classrooms. Three were selected by school officials as the top choices, then the students in the K-8 district voted. The result was declared a tie and Diamond Lake School fourth-grader Madelyn Wayne and Leia Zarinebaf, a seventh grader at West Oak Middle School, were declared co-winners.
In the colorful new logo it, three students representing each of the schools join hands atop an image of a globe. The slogan "three schools, one district" and phrases "preparing our children to be lifelong learners, engaged in their community and ready for the world," accompany the art work.
The District 76 school board hired Sharma-Lewis from Riverside District 96 to continue and enhance student achievement initiatives and shepherd a plan for district facilities, including the three schools. Several top administrators also have come aboard.
A transition team comprised of administrators and staff from each school met several times during the summer, and Sharma-Lewis compiled a new vision statement revealed to staff at the beginning of the year. Generally, they include optimizing learning for students and professional experiences for staff, maintaining fiscally responsible and efficient processes and communicating in a meaningful manner.