Leyden Pride

Mar 31 - Apr 4 - No School - Spring Break

April 18 - No School

May 20 - West Graduation

May 21 - East Graduation

May 23 - Last day of school

Link: Subscribe to the Leyden calendar

Leyden’s Second Semester Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place Tuesday, March 11, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Conferences will be held in-person. No advanced registration is needed; families who attend will be provided the student’s schedule upon arrival.

Please reach out to the main offices at 847-451-3122 (West) or 847-451-3000 (East) for additional information.

Four summer sessions of the driver education behind-the-wheel program will be held at East Leyden, with registration opening on April 1.

Session 1

Monday, June 2 - Thursday, June 12

Session 2

Monday, June 16 - Friday, June 27

*No Instruction: Monday, June 19

-No Instruction: June 30 to July 4-

Session 3

Monday, July 7 - Thursday, July 17

Session 4

Monday, July 21 - Thursday, July 31

All sessions offer three time slots:

7:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

12:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Registration opens April 1 and ends on April 30, however sessions do fill up so early registration is encouraged. The cost for the session is $250 and payment is due at time of registration. Register at the MySchoolBucks Website, MySchoolBucks Mobile App, or the Bookstore Cashier located at either campus.

For questions regarding in-seat driver education classes taken during the school year, please contact Department Chair Chris Cook ccook@leyden212.org.

For questions regarding summer behind-the-wheel instruction, please contact Dean Dennis Byrne dbyrne@leyden212.org.

Link: Registration

The Ronald McDonald Caremobile will be visiting West Leyden on Friday, April 11, and East Leyden on Tuesday, April 15. The Caremobile team will be offering free health exams, sports physicals, and immunizations for students who have Medicaid or are uninsured. This is a great opportunity for students to receive necessary healthcare services.

The Caremobile staff will see students during the school day. A parent/guardian does not need to be present, but consent forms need to be filled out in advance. There are limited spots for both campuses and it is a first come first serve basis. Information packets will be mailed to students and are available in the health offices. Questions may be directed to the school nurses: West Leyden, Rhonda Kazmierczak, BSN, RN - (847) 451-3130 and East Leyden, Marlene Cuevas, BSN, RN - (847) 451-3084.

This partnership is made possible by Advocate Children’s Hospital and the Leyden Health Offices.

Through the Illinois State Board of Education, parents have an opportunity to share their thoughts on the important elements of Leyden’s school effectiveness in a state survey called 5Essentials. (Students and staff will have an opportunity to take the survey at a designated time.) The input provides Leyden administrators with important information that helps to better understand our parents, students and staff. We encourage parents to please share feelings, insights, and perspective with us via this survey, which will open tomorrow and remain open through March 28.

Link: Take Survey

In order to remain compliant with this state requirement, Leyden needs a minimum of 20-percent participation from parents. (At this time, we have approximately 7-percent.) Input is kept confidential and helps us understand our families and as we make decisions moving forward.

On Wednesday, March 12, Dr. Alexandra Solomon presents, “Cultivating Healthy Relationships for Joy, Peace and a Meaningful Life.”

Link: Information

The Golden Apple Foundation announced Leyden teacher Leslie Lopez as a 2025 finalist for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. Lopez is one of 30 finalists at the high school level, out of 470 nominations.

Lopez teaches classes in the family and consumer sciences department, focusing on human development, culinary arts, and preschool education. She was hired at Leyden in 2019.

The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching honor outstanding teachers for having lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and school communities. Teacher finalists demonstrate—in their teaching and results—a significant, positive impact on their students’ growth and learning.

This spring, the winners will be announced and will receive a spring sabbatical, $5,000 cash, and become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators.

The following Seniors were named 2025 Illinois State Scholars based on their academic achievements: Sonia Angelova, Julia Augustyn, Julia Blonski, Adriel Carrera, Amanda Carrera, Ingrid Espinosa, Jose De Jesus Fragoso, Samantha Gallegos, Alondra Garcia, Neftali Garcia, Jack Helms, Liliana Hernandez-Wolas, Monica Hernandez-Wolas, Olivia Irla, Aidan Jaffray, Christopher Juraszek, Olesia Kulinich, Viktoriia Kulinich, Terez Lang, Kacper Leja, Angelina Lozada Cortez, Edwin Martinez, Jesus Mata Osuna, Aldrene Matignas, Cassandra Meraz, Joshua Montes Huesca, Jaedyn Pacheco, James Quesada, Claudine Ricana, Andres Rios, Abel Rivera, Casidy Sanchez, Samantha Sosa, Laura Stankiewicz, Marina Stoyanova, Gabriela Syper, Leanna Sayuri Tanega, David Tracewicz, Angelica Umilin, Jonathan Vasquez, Michelle Vazquez and Samantha Villaron.

The prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards recognized 13 Leyden students with distinction for the 2024-25 school year. From more than 110,000 applicants and 340,000 works of art, Leyden students won six gold keys, two silver keys, and nine honorable mentions. The six gold key winners will move on to compete at the national level.

Gold Key winners include Emily Garcia, Mylene Lewis, Emily Perez, Felix Reyes, and Sam Villaron (who won two awards), who will advance to the national competition. Silver Keys were awarded to Lillia Podolska and Magali Penaloza. Honorable Mentions include Ava Ceballos, Aster Chaidez, Crystal Christy, Nevena Doncheva, Magali Penaloza (who won a total of three recognitions), Karla Rodriguez, and Mia Thomas.

Zoey Dodgers and Sabrina Bono made Leyden history as the first female wrestlers to qualify for the IHSA state tournament, and then, doubled down on that feat by each earning a 5th place spot on the final podium. With their incredible victories earning them “All-State” honors, Zoey and Sabrina have set a new standard for the Leyden girls wrestling program.

Students in the Leyden Plumbers Bridge Program successfully completed its requirements and graduated, with seven students receiving letters of intent to hire from local plumbing companies. Successful students join the Plumbers Local 130 union, receive postsecondary education at no cost, and earn more than $50/hour upon completing their apprenticeship.

Congratulations to the following students who graduated: Daniel Avalos, Leonardo Delgado, Joshua Ferrer, Jonathan Garcia, Jose Mata, Giovany Ortega, Alan Ruiz, Fernando Sanchez, David Soto, Michael Vazquez, and Jonathan Zavala.

*Throwback: Remember Rickardo Montero from last year’s One Amazing Story? Watch Video

On February 25, 19 Italian students and 21 French students were inducted into honor societies, celebrating their dedication, hard work, and passion for learning a new language and culture.

The following students have been inducted into the French Honor Society: Jazlyn Alvarez, Wren Arguezo, Isabella Bonafe, Nevaeh Branscum, Diego Cervantes, Daniela Contreras, Makayla Hernandez, Angelo Iguban, Valeria Inzurriaga, Jenna Keggenbeil, Sookie Lane, Konstantin Magdnovski, Ryan Median, Liliana Pantaleon, Alondra Nunez, Victoria Perez, Julissa Ramirez, Sophia Rodriguez, Nataly Salgado, Miranda Terron-Morales and Nelly Vyroubalova.

The following students have been inducted into the Italian Honor Society: Abigail Arias, Mayra Arias, Ariana Arnoni, Marcos Basave, Sabrina Bono, Sarah Cano, Michelle Dimitrova, Isabella Donahue, Anthony Giangrasso, Anthony Giannakopoulos, Julia Giannosa, Valeria Gonzalez, Rocio Grosso, Aylanie Jamaica, Alivia Lappano, Oliver Mastela, Julio Rodriguez, Michael Sidak and Michelle Vera.

East Leyden Business Professionals of America attended the Illinois State conference from February 27 - March 1. The following students finished in first place and have qualified for Nationals: Marina Stoyanova, Computer Security; Amelia Mieskowicz, Health Administration Concepts; and Ryan Medina, Management, Marketing, and Human Resource Concepts.

Girls Wrestling: Maine West Leyden prospect bring home first state medalists

ISBE Recognizes 2 Leyden Teachers

Endeavor Health offers a free monthly podcast series called "Parenting Unplugged: Raising Healthy Teen Minds." This podcast is designed to empower parents with the knowledge and tools necessary to support their children's mental and emotional well-being.

Link: Information

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

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