Focus on 47

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All of us in District 47 believe in empowering every student to reach their full potential. While this goal is the same for every student, we recognize that each student will have their own unique educational journey.

The stories shared in this newsletter really exemplify the amount of opportunities that students have to grow and learn. I’m proud of our staff for creating these opportunities, making sure each and every student is set up for success, and I’m proud of our students for embracing them, empowering themselves both in and out of the classroom.

Thank you all for another great year of supporting students. Wishing everyone a wonderful summer break!

Sincerely,

Dr. Kathy Hinz

Superintendent

May

• May 23: Last Day of School for PreK & Kindergarten

• May 24: Last Day of School for Grades 1-7 (1.5 hour day)
• May 24: End of Trimester 3 (Elementary) & End of Term 6/Trimester 3 (Middle Schools)

June

• June 3: New Family Registration Opens
• June 3: August 16 Free Summer Lunch Program
• June 17: Board of Education Meeting

August

• Aug. 1: Transportation Open House (PreK & Kindergarten)

Staff, students, friends, and families all came out to the District 47 Art Show at The Dole to check out the amazing art on display. Thank you to our art teachers for organizing this event, and encouraging our talented young artists year-round. Select pieces from the art show were also chosen to be featured at the CORE Center!

The Hannah Beardsley Science Olympiad team qualified for state by placing 3rd overall at the regional competition hosted by McHenry County College. At the state competition, they came in 16th out of 60 teams! In their respective categories, Alex and Ananya took 1st, Xander, Brennan, Gabriella, and Aylin took 3rd, Ananya, Nand, Oshmith and Brennan took fourth, and Max and Atticus took 6th.

Congratulations to the outstanding cast and crew of our three sensational middle school plays this year. Audiences were entertained by Hannah Beardsley's Elf the Musical, Bernotas' Mary Poppins, and Lundahl's Singin' in the Rain.

This year teams from all three D47 middle schools participated in the Fluid Power Action Challenge, a STEM-based competition where students design and build a fluid power mechanism. The Lundahl team took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the teamwork category out of over 30 teams present! To hear more about the design process and competition, click here for the Fluid Power D47 podcast episode!

In April, District 47 was represented by 32 middle school students at the Fox Valley Honors Band concert, where they had the opportunity to perform with an elite group of musicians from surrounding schools.

Congratulations!

• Four D47 students were state qualifiers in wrestling. Jackson and Jack from Bernotas and Logan and Gabe from Lundahl. Jack from Bernotas finished 3rd in his IESA weight class!
  
• 14 D47 track and field athletes qualified for state- Owen and Elynor from Bernotas, Adam and Brady from Lundahl and Mason, Emmie, Landon, Johnny, Jon, Jordyn, Sam, Eli, Leo, and Carter from Hannah Beardsley.

As the spring sports season draws to a close, we take great pride in the accomplishments of our athletes!

Two eighth-graders at Bernotas Middle School submitted entries to Senator Craig Wilcox's 'My Inspirational Teacher' Essay Contest. Ryleigh's tribute to elementary teacher Kelly Adams, Glacier Ridge, and Max's tribute to Jennifer Nixon, Husmann, were chosen out of over 30 entries!

Kyle from Glacier Ridge took top honors at the Sodexo Future Chef competition this year! Eight talented D47 students chopped, stirred, sauteed, and cooked their signature recipe for this final competition. Entrees were judged by an all-star line up from the community, Crystal Lake Mayor Haig Haleblian, Duke's Alehouse and Kitchen Chef and Owner, Zak Dolezal, Crystal Lake Police Department Community Resource Officer Kristiana Stolzman, Community High School District 155 Culinary instructor Erika Jones, and D47 Superintendent Dr. Kathy Hinz.

Wireless Wednesdays at Hannah Beardsley Middle School provide students with an opportunity to set aside screens and engage more with classwork, teachers, and peers. Tune in to hear about Wireless Wednesdays!

District 47 was honored to be the sole school district in Illinois selected by the Association for Positive Behavior Support (APBS) for a visit by international representatives. Delegates from Thailand, Japan, Canada and other states had the opportunity to tour our schools. One group visited Bernotas and North, while another visited Lundahl and West, witnessing firsthand the remarkable ways our staff incorporates PBIS into the curriculum, teaching students the values of being safe, respectful, and responsible.

District 47 is thrilled to announce our partnership with Daybreak Health, a school-based mental health company, to offer teletherapy services to our K-8 students! These services are provided at no cost to families. We understand that access to high-quality mental care is a significant barrier for children and their families. That's why we sought to enhance our capacity to provide additional mental health support to a greater number of students and families. Read more here, https://bit.ly/D47DaybreakHealth

This Fall, our classrooms will welcome new mathematics resources, emphasizing student-centered learning and the development of critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. From Kindergarten to 8th grade, these materials will encourage collaboration and exploration, fostering positive math identities among students. Teachers will receive support through Professional Learning experiences, ensuring effective implementation of these resources. Click here to learn more about these new resources.

Students in our district are utilizing bilingual keyboard overlays to enhance accessibility and empower learning! District 47 offers keyboard overlays in Ukrainian, Russian, and Chinese! Watch to see how two Ukrainian students from Bernotas use this resource to help them on a daily basis.

The district gathered to celebrate and honor the 2024 retirees, who collectively served a total of 887 years. These individuals have impacted thousands of lives during their tenure, and we are grateful for their dedication and the lasting legacy they leave behind. Click here to view photos from this event.

We're also excited to honor employees achieving significant work anniversaries ranging from 10 to 40 years! Their unwavering dedication and loyalty define our incredible staff. Click here for a full list of names.

District 47 Extended Curriculum (EC) teachers were recently honored for their outstanding work in Holocaust education at the Jewish Federation of Greater Rockford's annual Holocaust Observance. Scott Pinshower (West), Trisha Mitchell (Indian Prairie), Jody Harvel (Glacier Ridge), Carissa Evans (Canterbury), Stephanie Kuligowski (North), Becky Vedder (Husmann), Melissa Tatman (South), Kate Walsh (Woods Creek), and Jenny Sanchez (Coventry) were chosen to accept an award for their exceptional efforts at the Remembrance event.

District 47's Elevate program recognizes employees who uphold and exemplify the district's mission and core values and go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of students, schools, and the community. Nominations are submitted by parents, staff, and community members. Out of 43 nominations, 10 winners were chosen by a committee of peers. To read more about our Elevate winners visit https://bit.ly/SpringElevateWinners. District 47 would also like to thank all the businesses that have chosen to sponsor our Elevate program this year.

During Staff Appreciation Week, from May 6 to May 10, District 47 families sent or posted 126 messages to our staff. Thank you for showing appreciation to our hardworking team! Click here to see some of the messages.

Faces of D47 shines a light on the incredible people that work in the district, why they chose D47, and what makes them feel at home here. Get to know our staff members by clicking here to read some recent 'Faces of D47' features.

The District 47 Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) hosted a Multicultural Literacy Night at Glacier Ridge Elementary School, aimed to honor and celebrate the diverse cultures within District 47. This event was a unique opportunity for students, families, faculty, and staff to explore various countries, cultures, and traditions through literacy. The night kicked off with a storytelling session by children's author and former Canterbury dual language teacher, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo, accompanied by a sign language translator, followed by a ¡WEPA! Libros multilingual book fair offering complimentary books for each student, and stations with literacy games and crafts. Click here to read more.

D155 tiger, wolf, and gator graduates visited all nine D47 elementary schools to celebrate at their alma maters! They reunited with former teachers, reminisced, and were cheered on by our excited young students!

The district was proud to recognize the outstanding dedication of Ashlee Tominey, Youth Services Librarian at the Crystal Lake Public Library! Nominated by District 47, Ashlee has been honored with a Distinguished Service Award for her unwavering commitment to fostering positive connections with staff, students, and families in Crystal Lake Elementary District 47. Click here to read more.

The boundary committee, composed of board of education members, administration, staff, parents/guardians, and community members, has met twice to review data and discuss potential boundary changes. A new Boundary Update page is now available on the District website, which includes a timeline of the review process, history of boundary changes, goals and priorities, and ongoing communications to the community. It will be regularly updated to share new information and feedback opportunities.

District 47 partnered with Bricks of Hope for a charitable LEGO® Drive to support children during hospital stays. Families and students donated over 175 new LEGO® sets at collection sites throughout the district, spreading joy and comfort to young patients. Click here to read more about this on our website or in the news.

District 47 has partnered with local judges to provide students with real-world lessons in civic education. This collaboration supports the social science curriculum, focusing on topics such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the US government. The judges offer first-hand accounts to help students understand how our nation operates and is governed. Click here to read more on our website.

Many of our schools have gardens where you can find all kinds of things growing – from fruits and vegetables to native plants. Listen to this podcast episode to explore how some dedicated parent volunteers are providing students with hands-on opportunities to learn about the environment and sustainability! Click here to listen to Episode 19: School Gardens, STEM, and Sustainability

Healthy Boundaries in the Home Setting- This session focuses on assisting parents/guardians with respect, chores, and placing limits on devices for their children. Key strategies are shared for building closer connections, empowering students, and setting healthy boundaries around the use of technology. Click here to watch all four sessions from the 2023-2024 school year.

The district purchased books to expand every student's library! Every District 47 school set up a "free bookstore" allowing students to shop and choose 2-3 books of their choice. English and Spanish books were available. This initiative, paid for by ESSER funds, aims to empower students by giving them the opportunity to choose books that interest them, igniting a lifelong love for reading.

District 47 received a Certificate of Excellence (COE) in Financial Reporting for its 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) by the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO), marking the 37th consecutive year the district has achieved this recognition. ASBO International recognizes school districts that have met the program’s high standards for financial reporting and transparency.

Fourth graders Luke, Matthew, Everly, Alli, Killian, and Claire shared all the ways South Elementary School is making a positive impact on their school community and beyond with the board of education. From initiatives like the math club and buddy readers sharing knowledge within the school, to fundraising efforts for Habitat for Humanity and the American Heart Association, their presentation truly captured the spirit of compassion and service at South Elementary.

Canterbury’s 1st-grade dual-language students—Gia, Deacon, Geronimo, and Axel—shared their ideas for school improvement with the school board. As part of a language arts assignment from their teacher, Mrs. Estrada, the students wrote and defended ideas to enhance what they love about the school.

At the February 20 board of education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Hinz and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Aimee Kasper presented a winter data review to the board. The presentation is available on the district website; click here. Thank you to all D47 parents and guardians for filling out the 5Essentials Survey this year, all 12 schools exceeded the participation goal and will receive this important data in the fall.

This year on the podcast the district covered mental health, literacy and dual language curriculum initiatives, conversations with student leaders of all ages, community partnerships benefiting students, interviews with staff dedicated to their roles and supporting their school community, and so much more. Our mission of Empowering all Students is evident throughout and we encourage you to revisit some of these episodes on d47.org.

In this video series, D47 principals select a student to interview, highlighting programs, academic achievements, clubs, and more! It's a great way to see some of the things going on in each of our schools, straight from the source = students! Click here to see all 12 Hall Pass episodes from 2023-2024!