Leyden Pride

Jan 20 - No School - Martin Luther King Day

Feb 17 - No School - President's Day

Mar 3 - No School - Casimir Pulaski Day

Mar 31 - Apr 4 - No School - Spring Break

Apr 18 - No School - Good Friday

Link: Subscribe to the Leyden calendar

Safety Week kicked off today with videos shared in class and discussions about rescue areas. Tomorrow and Wednesday, there will be various drills, including evacuation, shelter, hold, secure and active threat. The drills practiced during the week meet state requirements and help Leyden students and staff know what to expect should an emergency arise. Please note that there may be a visible presence from the first responders during the drills.

We recognize that safety drills, particularly an active threat drill, may prompt many different feelings. Students who may have concerns or need additional support during this week should reach out to the Deans office.

Safety Week Schedule:
Monday - Classroom videos

Tuesday - drills during 10th period

Wednesday - drills during 3rd period

For this month's One Amazing Story, we followed two of our most well-known alumni, the Cain brothers, as they celebrated Leyden 100th anniversary with a special community concert.

Jonathan and Tommy "Mugs" Cain have been professional musicians since high school and are both Leyden Wall of Fame inductees. Jonathan, songwriter and keyboardist for the band Journey, credits his Leyden English teacher with helping him develop his writing voice and other skills that he has utilized throughout his lengthy career. Tommy reminds students to research, practice and prepare to be the best at what you do.

This is a story about maximizing talents and gifts, and using the time in high school to test yourself and see what you are truly capable of becoming.

If you would like a piece of Cain Brothers memorabilia, a guitar, signed by the family, will be auctioned off live at Leyden’s 100th Anniversary Gala on February 8. Last call to get tickets!

Link: Watch video

All proceeds benefit student scholarships

Saturday, February 8, Leyden High School District 212 hosts a once-in-a-lifetime gala in honor of its 100th anniversary. The evening includes dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions, raffles, and special treats. Auction items include a Jonathan Cain (Songwriter/Keyboardist of the band Journey) signed guitar, paintings by Leyden alum and artist Tom Lynch, vacation packages and themed baskets.

“This is a unique opportunity for our community leaders, alumni, local businesses, parents and staff to come together to celebrate the historical significance of Leyden in this area for the past century,” said Superintendent Nick Polyak. “We are honoring the past, present in this moment, and looking forward to future students who will continue to shape our communities for the next generation.”

Attendees can expect special guest appearances, a traveling historical exhibit, the first look at the contents of the time capsule built by students and the only opportunity to purchase ShortFuse Brewing’s specialty brew in honor of Leyden’s anniversary.

The gala will be held at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, and begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for $100 each through January 17. All proceeds will fund scholarships for current and future Leyden students.

Link: Buy Tickets

Registration for summer school, Session I, is currently open. It is a great time to secure a place in the courses needed to meet graduation requirements, as space is limited.

Session I - Monday, June 9, 2025 to Thursday, June 26, 2025

8:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m.

*No classes Thursday, June 19

East Leyden High School

The following classes will be offered in Session I: Algebra I, Biology, English I, Glocal Studies, and Physical Science. They are each worth .50 credit and cost $95. Daily attendance is required. These courses take place in a classroom setting and are led by teachers.

Leyden also utilizes an online curriculum format, provided by a company called Apex. Students are required to attend class on-site daily, and there is a teacher present to assist with facilitation, however students move through the course at their own pace. The students no longer have to be on-site once the course is successfully completed. The following classes are offered in this format, during Session 1: Algebra II, Consumer Education, English II, III, IV, Geometry, Health, Physical Education and U/S History. They are each worth .50 credit and cost $95.

Registration

To register, visit MySchoolBucks.com or in-person at the East or West bookstores. Full payment is due at the time of registration. Fees apply to all courses, even those audited without credit. Refunds will only be issued if a course is canceled due to low enrollment. Bookstores are open on school days, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and they accept cash, credit cards, debit cards and personal checks.

Link: Summer School Webpage

Registration closes this week, for the Leyden ACT prep class which includes eleven evening classes and an optional Saturday practice test. Classes begin January 22, and run through April 10, meeting one evening per week. Students may choose to attend at East (Wednesdays) or West (Thursdays), and may select 3:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. or 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Students may attend at either campus, regardless of their home school.

Students who attend all sessions typically increase their scores by approximately four points. The class is open to all Leyden students at a cost of $40, which includes all books and materials. To register, sign in to MySchoolBucks or visit the school cashier. Students who are direct-certified by the state may register in person for a discounted fee of $20.

Link: Program Information

Contact: Dr. Todd Veltman, tveltman@leyden212.org.

On Wednesday, January 15, Bruce Perry, MD presents, “What happened to You; A shift from “What is Wrong with You?”

Link: Information

On Thursday, January 16, Donna Jackson Nakazawa, presents “The Adverse Childhood Experiences Guided Journal: A Workshop for Parents.”

Link: Information

Football athletes Dom Ganir, Larry Smith, Zach Jaffray, and Chris Quizphi were each named “All-Conference,” and Quizphi also received “Honorable Mention, All-Area.”

Endeavor Health has a new podcast series for parents called "Parenting Unplugged: Raising Healthy Teen Minds.”

Link: Podcast Schedule

Email: pr@leyden212.org
Website: www.leyden212.org
Location: 3400 Rose Street, Franklin Park, IL, USA
Phone: 847-451-3000
Facebook: leydenpride212
Twitter: @leydenpride212

Instagram: leydenpride212

YouTube: leydenpride212