VVSD Staff Spotlight- Cassidy Henshaw, Hermansen Elementary 1st Grade Special Education Teacher
Hermansen Elementary School 1st Grade Teacher Cassidy Henshaw is a member of the large club of teachers who began their dream- and their career- by playing teacher in a home basement classroom. Since Cassidy always loved math, the next step was to tutor fellow classmates in high school.
While in high school, Cassidy joined Best Buddies, which ignited her interest in pursuing a career as a special education teacher. Cassidy co-teaches with the 1st grade teaching team at Hermansen and began our visit by describing how successful team teaching looks in a classroom.
We are Thankful for Homecomings
The Holiday Season is a time for homecomings, and on the Friday before Thanksgiving, VVSD and Jane Addams Middle School were honored to facilitate a homecoming for Jane Addams 6th grade student Winter Torres, 8th grade student Xaviar Torres, Independence Elementary School 2nd grade student Chase Fairley, and their dad, US Army SSG Michael Fairley.
Sgt. Fairley spent the last 11 months deployed in service to our country, and surprised Winter by appearing in Winter’s Technical Education class. Next stop was the Jane Addams lunchroom to surprise Xavier. Sgt. Fairley then made one more stop to reunite with Chase Fairley Independence. Amanda Dennis is the mother of all three students and coordinated the surprise visits.
Watch the video to see Sgt. Fairley and Winter reunited. Our hope is that this Holiday Season everyone gets a hug as big as the one you’ll see in the video.
Hug the ones you love this Holiday Season.
VVSD Administration Proposes 2025-26 School Year Calendar
VVSD Administration presented a proposal for the 2025-26 School Year Calendar to the Board of Education on Nov. 18, 2024. The Board is expected to take action on the calendar at the December 8, 2024, Regular Board Meeting.
VVSD Hiring Now for 2024-25 School Year
VVSD is still hiring for a wide range of positions for the 2024-25 school year with an emphasis on adding to our teams of paraprofessionals, lunchroom/playground aides and special education teachers.
We are also seeking new team members including guest teachers, bus drivers, operations & maintenance, nutrition services, and special education staff.
VVSD’s employment opportunities offer schedules for staff members that are in synchronization with school schedules, making VVSD a great choice for parents who need to have their work schedule match up with the school hours, and Winter and Spring Break for their children. To see all VVSD job opportunities and to apply, visit www.vvsd.org/jobs
A.Vito Martinez Middle School Presents “Murder on the 518”
In this play red-eye travelers on the westbound 518 are in for a surprise when first one passenger, and then another, mysteriously drop-dead right before their eyes — and just as the train is halted by a rockslide in an isolated canyon. Because the pair appears to have been poisoned, anyone and everyone in the train dining car is a suspect!
Performance dates are Fri. Dec. 13 at 6pm and Sat. Dec. 14 at Noon. Tickets available by cash purchase at the door only. Adults $5, Students $3, Children under 5 years old, no charge.
VVSD alum Sam Mitchem (Bolingbrook HS ‘15) performed the National Anthem at United Center on Fri. Nov. 29 prior to the Chicago Bulls game versus the Boston Celtics. Sam is a performing musician who has an impressive resume of individual recordings, live performances, and session work. Sam’s entire National Anthem performance is posted on TikTok.
Thanks to everyone who came to Lukancic Middle School on Thu. Nov. 21 for the Inaugural VVSD Family Reading Night. There is nothing better than a good book, especially when it is for the right price, as in FREE! Remember, a wise person once said, "if it wasn't free, you paid too much."
While VVSD students and teachers were off on Wed. Nov. 27, our VVSD Operations Team, specifically our HVAC pros took advantage of the day to install a rooftop HVAC unit at Salk Elementary School.
