Diamond Award
Congratulations to Barbara Paadour who were recently nominated and presented with the Diamond Award at our May 7th Board of Education meeting.
Illinois Principals Association Student Recognition
Congratulations to Damien Lopez, Sarai Guzman, Jesus Alfaro, Isabel Medina, Mauricio Mata and Danielle Mingo on your well-deserved recognition at this year’s Illinois Principal Association breakfast!
TEACHING AND LEARNING
At the beginning of the school year, the district set a goal to see all of the D76 students show growth from fall to spring on the STAR assessment in both reading and math. We are pleased to share that a significant majority of students demonstrated growth from fall to spring. We are proud of the hard work our students have invested in their own learning this year. The full assessment update will be presented to the Board of Education on June 4th. We will also be recognizing students who made the most growth from fall to spring on the STAR assessment at the June 4th Board of Education meeting.
We are looking forward to welcoming all of our families that will be joining us at our first Summer Exploration Camp! We have over 220 students attending from incoming grades K-8. Registration is now closed. Students will be spending time each day on fun inquiry and STEAM activities following a theme each week. Camp will be held at Diamond Lake School for all grades. Families sending students to Summer Exploration Camp that have questions can email Erin Grubb egrubb@dist76.org. Transportation questions should be directed to Eric Rogers erogers@dist76.org. Bus route information will be sent in a separate communication.
Facilities
Summer 2024 construction projects are scheduled to begin shortly. West Oak Campus will see a new parking lot and sidewalk installed and Diamond Lake will receive a much needed Building Automation System (BAS) upgrade. While the West Oak Campus project is taking place, the parking lot will be inaccessible until mid-July.
FINANCE
New Summer Food Monies Available
Summer EBT, or SUN Bucks, is a new permanent nutrition program authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. SUN Bucks 2024 will provide a $120 annual benefit to eligible children via an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) issuance by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) later this summer. More basic information on the new federal program is available on the USDA website HERE.
Your child is eligible for SUN Bucks if:
- your child is identified as direct certified due to participation in SNAP, TANF, income-eligible
Medicaid (185% of the federal poverty guideline), or is identified as foster, homeless, or migrant.
- Your child is qualified by meeting the household income guidelines and you fill out an eligibility form. Please contact your school office if you need a copy of the form.
INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS
We are excited to announce that next school year, our students will be receiving new, upgraded Chromebooks! This initiative is part of our continued commitment to ensuring that all students stay connected and are able to fully utilize technology to enrich their educational experiences. The upcoming Chromebooks will offer faster, more reliable access to digital tools and feature a flexible form factor with touchscreen technology, essential for today's learning environments. We look forward to the opportunities these new Chromebooks will provide for our students to explore, learn, and succeed.
Student Services
In May, D76 successfully concluded the third and final DESSA Assessment window. The DESSA, a Social Emotional Universal Screener, involves each teacher completing an online survey for every student in their homeroom (for grades K-5) or first academic period (for grades 6-8). This survey includes seven questions centered on social and emotional aspects. The outcomes of this assessment will enable educational teams to tailor Social Emotional Learning (SEL) instruction, ensuring the social and emotional requirements of students are adequately addressed.
As Summer Break is soon approaching, District 76’s Social Work team wanted to provide our families with tips and tricks to setting the summer up to be relaxing, fun, and supportive of your children’s needs. The following items are important to include when setting up your schedule:
- A consistent schedule with predictable activities and expectations
- A designated space for reading or light summer school work
- A schedule of the activities during day and/or weekend
- Specified chores the child is to complete daily
Community Liaison
This May, we brought the joy of El Día del Niño to each school building! The halls were filled with the lively sounds of a mariachi band, while classrooms buzzed with creative energy as students made fun crafts. It was a day to celebrate childhood, explore cultural traditions, and create lasting memories. As summer approaches, we'll be hosting three mobile food pantries: the first at Mundelein High School on Saturday, June 15th from 10am to 11:30am, followed by West Oak Campus on July 29th from 5pm to 6pm, and finally West Oak Campus on August 30th from 5pm to 6pm. Have a wonderful summer!
UPCOMING EVENTS
- June 3, 2024: Summer Exploration Camp Begins
- June 4, 2024: Board of Education Meeting
- June 18, 2024: Board of Education Meeting
- June 15, 2024: Summer Family Market @ MHS
- June 19, 2024: Juneteenth (No School)
- June 28, 2024: Last Day of Summer Exploration Camp
- July 23, 2024: Board of Education Meeting
- July 29, 2024: Summer Family Market @ WOC
- August 5-6, 2024: D76 Residency Fair
- August 15-16, 2024: Teacher Institute Days
- August 19, 2024: First Day of School (K-8)
- August 30, 2024: Summer Family Market @ WOC