Superintendent Update

from USD116 Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Superintendent Update from USD116 Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

December 19, 2024 Superintendent Update

To view past superintendent updates, please visit District Updates on our website.

Dear Urbana Family and Friends,

As we approach the holiday season, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your incredible efforts and unwavering dedication to our students and school community. This semester has been filled with challenges and triumphs, and your commitment has made all the difference.


I want to thank our Calendar Committee, which has made significant progress on the 2025-26 school year calendar. I shared the first draft this week with the Board of Education. If you have not had a chance to watch the meeting, you can review the full video, and the presentation linked here: December 17 Board of Education Update. The slideshow is also linked here: Calendar Committee Board Report. The committee has also redesigned the format for the calendar to make it easier to read and understand. Calendar Draft 2025-26 New Format | Calendar Draft 2025-26 Old Format Based on the feedback received from the Board on our very early first draft, the Committee will meet again in early January and bring forward additional changes. A survey will be shared to collect your feedback on the new format and the new changes for the 25-26 school year.


Now is a good time for mid-year reflection. Reflection time is critical in all roles, including those of stakeholders, educators, family members, staff members, community members, and scholars. It is a natural time to reflect on the past year and the year to come. At the elementary level, school teams review student growth data to reflect on the year’s accomplishments and look ahead to improvements and changes that may need to be made for acceleration, remediation, or reteaching. Other levels are having similar conversations, as departments, and instructional teams look forward to the new year.


Take time to pause, reflect, and enjoy the moments that matter most: time with friends, family, and those we love. I hope this holiday season brings you the joy, rest, and rejuvenation you deserve. Spend time with loved ones, embrace the warmth of the season, and take care of yourselves.


Thank you for all you do to make our schools a place of learning, growth, and inspiration. I look forward to seeing what we will accomplish together in the new year.


Wishing you a happy and peaceful holiday season!

Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Dates

  • December 20: Institute Day: No school for students
  • December 23-January 5: No School - Winter Break

Top Highlights

KNOW

School resumes Monday, January 6. Enjoy your break!

DO

Check your student's attendance regularly. Regular attendance is directly linked to academic success.

SHARE

Urbana students are performing in the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation "We are the Schools: Music Fest" on February 16 from 1 to 7 p.m. at The City Center in Champaign. (Click for the Facebook event with more details.)

UHS Senior Receives Full Ride to Rice University

UHS Senior Jalen Johnson has earned a four-year scholarship to Rice University through the QuestBridge Program!


QuestBridge is a national nonprofit that connects high-achieving, low-income students with 52 of the nation’s top colleges and universities through its National College Match.


Jalen has worked so hard for this, juggling four jobs and several extracurriculars during her time at UHS. Read more about her amazing accomplishment: https://usd116.org/johnson-rice/

ILMEA All-State

Congratulations to our Urbana High School Students who have been selected to participate in the 2025 Illinois Music Education Association All-State Festival in Peoria on January 29-February 1, 2025!

  • JJ Lee: Choir
  • Grace Coady: Flute - Orchestra
  • Colin Guth: Trombone - Orchestra
  • Elianna Lee: Percussion - Orchestra
  • Alex Tartakovsky: Bass Trombone - Orchestra
  • Kierra Moten: Future Music Educators Seminar
  • Declan O’Connor: Future Music Educators Seminar


These students were selected from thousands of auditioning high school musicians across nine districts in the state. This is the highest honor for student musicians in the State of Illinois.

National Board Certified Teachers

Congratulations to #USD116 educator, Cheyenne Warman-Neal (UHS) for earning her National Board Certification. Additionally, Bridget Maloney (Leal) and Elizabeth Smith-Andree (Yankee Ridge)

have successfully renewed their National Board Certification. We are fortunate to have these accomplished educators in Urbana.

School News

Yankee Ridge Multilingual

Students in the Garden Club at Yankee Ridge Multilingual Elementary are learning about the concept of hydrogen ions, testing the pH in the hydroponics system, studying angiosperms and gymnosperms, and taking care of their tomato sprouts.

Thomas Paine

5th Graders at Thomas Paine presented their space science projects ahead of winter break.

Tiger Academy

Tiger Academy student, Kederick, celebrated his graduation this week. Thanks to his hard work and dedication, he was able to graduate a semester early! #ProudofU

School Based Health Center

The Urbana School Based Health Center is taking walk-in appointments for patients under 18. The Health Center will be open for medical services on select dates over winter break:

  • December 23
  • December 27
  • December 30
  • January 3


USHC is a partnership between Promise Healthcare and the Urbana School District. Promise Healthcare provides primary medical, behavioral health and dental care to patients regardless of ability to pay. The Health Center is located adjacent to Urbana High School and is open 8 a.m to 5 p.m.

2024-25 Calendar

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