Dear Avoca Community,

As we enter the month of November, I, like many of you, cannot help but think of gratitude. Beginning the month with Día de los Muertos, honoring Veterans Day, and ending with Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day makes this a time of remembrance and veneration for me. As I think of those who came before, I am full of gratitude for their love and sacrifice to make this a better world.

This month, I invite all of us to join together as a community in honoring those who paved the way and in expressing our appreciation for the blessings we share today. Let us celebrate the resilience, courage, and kindness that define our district and the people within it. I am especially grateful for our students, who bring fresh perspectives, creativity, and hope for the future. They inspire us daily and remind us of our mission to inspire curiosity, cultivate academic growth, and nurture diversity.

I am also deeply thankful for our teachers, staff, and administrators, whose commitment uplifts our students and our entire community. Every day, you create safe and inclusive spaces where students can thrive academically and emotionally. And to our families, thank you for the partnership, trust, and support you offer us as we work together to help each student realize their potential.

As we move through this month of gratitude, I will keep these values at the forefront of all we do. I am grateful for each one of you who makes this district a community rooted in respect, empathy, and strength.

Warmly,

Sandra Arreguín, EdD

Superintendent

Avoca School District 37

Help us create a stronger, more effective school communications experience! Join fellow families, staff, students, and community members by sharing your insights in the SCOPE survey. We’ve extended the deadline to November 10 at midnight, so there’s still time to make your voice heard.

Our goal is to reach as close to 100% participation as possible, and we can’t do it without you. Every response brings us closer to communications that truly serve and connect us all. Please encourage friends, neighbors, and colleagues to join in.

Take a few minutes to complete the anonymous survey at https://survey.k12insight.com/r/SwmFI6!

Dear Neighbors and Community Members,

We’ve received questions and concerns about the boarded-up opening at Avoca West Elementary that previously connected to West Park. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, as I know it was part of many of your routines.

Some may recall this route was an evacuation path. At the September 19 board meeting, I shared that we've implemented a new, more accessible, and safe evacuation route for students and staff, which is why the previous access point was closed.

We’ve considered suggestions like a lockable gate, but such changes involve logistical factors like costs, permits, and internal access management. We’re open to exploring this, but first, we’ll consult a school safety expert as part of a broader review of safety measures across our buildings and grounds, including this topic.

We acknowledge that earlier communication would have been helpful. Hopefully, adding this note to our November edition of The Highlighter newsletter will help. We’ll also add a sign at the site to keep everyone informed.

Thank you for your involvement, patience and suggestions, which help us create a safer, more connected school community.

The Business Office is collecting instructional fees for the 2024-2025 year. If you haven’t had a chance to pay yet, we kindly ask that you do so soon.

• Kindergarten: $395
• Grades 1-4: $440
• Grades 5-8: $455

You can pay online through the Avoca Webstore (3.56% processing fee), or send cash or a check (payable to Avoca School District 37). Simply drop your payment at your school’s front office or mail it to: Business Office, 2921 Illinois Road, Wilmette, IL 60091. Need more info? View fee details, forms, and financial assistance options.

Do you or someone you know in the district have a child who turned 3 or 4 by September 1, 2024? We still have spots in our morning preschool class (Monday-Thursday, 8:50-11:10 a.m.)! For registration and fees, contact Dawn Scaramuzza at scaramuzzad@avoca37.org or 847-728-4142.

October was a productive month for the Board of Education, covering the Fall Enrollment Report, Closed Session Audio Recordings, Tax Levy Hearing date, Board Policy Updates, the Semi-Annual Review of Closed Session Minutes, and more. The next meeting is on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 6 p.m. We know schedules are busy, so meetings are livestreamed on the board's official site, Diligent Community, where you can also view agendas, minutes, and packets anytime.

The PTC is excited to launch new fundraising events to benefit our students, and we need volunteers to make them happen!:

• Adult Trivia Night: Enjoy an evening of mingling and friendly competition!
• Family Ice Skating Night at Centennial: Fun for the whole family.
• More Community Events: We’re exploring ideas—feel free to share yours!

If you can help, email us at avocaptc@gmail.com. For details, visit www.avocaptc.org.

Thank you to everyone who attended or contributed to the October 9 ADL meeting! If you missed it, view the presentation here. We’ll host another virtual meeting before winter break. To share ideas, join our mailing list, or co-lead, contact Maria Niehus at 847-544-8585 or mcqniehus@gmail.com. For more info, visit our website here.