February 2025 Edition

Dear Avoca Community,

It is hard to believe, but we are already one full month into the 2025 calendar year!

There is no doubt that the winter months, with the cold air and minimal hours of sunlight, can be difficult to get through on some days. However, I remind myself that this is when nature rests to prepare for a tremendous season of growth. I see this growth already in all of our students. I also see in them the energy and promise of spring. The anticipation of what is to come helps me appreciate the natural beauty that exists in the silence and hibernation of this time.

As we move forward together, I am grateful for the collaboration between our families, educators, and community members. Your partnership and dedication help create the best possible environment for our students, ensuring they continue to grow and thrive.

Warmly,

Sandra Arreguín, EdD

Superintendent

Avoca School District 37

The results are in! On January 23, 2025, the Board received a report on the results of the NSPRA Communications Survey, which was conducted from October 2 to November 10, 2024. The survey gathered feedback from parents/guardians, staff, and community members on:

• How they prefer to receive information
• When they want to be communicated with
• What topics are most important to them
• How the district performs in various areas related to communications

Key Findings

• The feedback provides valuable insights into stakeholders’ perceptions and priorities, even if the results do not fully meet the district’s statistical reliability target.
• The survey highlights a strong foundation of goodwill within the district.
• A significant portion of parents and staff are satisfied with district communications.
• There are opportunities for improvement, particularly in better engaging community members.

Explore the Full Report

We encourage you to:

• Review the full survey results → https://shorturl.at/t2vua
• Watch the presentation by NSPRA’s data analyst (Skip to 1:08) → https://shorturl.at/jNTGQ
• Check out the SCOPE Scorecard in the presentation to see how Avoca compares to other districts
• Share the survey results with your district community members and neighbors

Next Steps

• The administration is actively reviewing the data and brainstorming ways to enhance communication efforts. More updates will be shared as we implement those strategies.

The winter edition of The Vision community newsletter is now available and was mailed to every district household. It features strategic focuses for the year, Portrait of a Graduate highlights, Teacher Feature, Avoca alumni, and more. If you'd like a physical copy, please grab one from the Avoca West or Marie Murphy front offices.

Dr. Desai Das stepped down from her role as Vice President effective December 19, 2024. We thank Dr. Desai Das for her leadership as Board Vice President, and we are grateful for her continued service as a Board Member. Per board Policy 2.110, Mr. Gibori was nominated and appointed to fill the Vice Presidency vacancy at the Board of Education meeting on December 19, 2024. We congratulate and welcome Mr. Gibori to his new role on the Board.

The PTC’s Innovation Grants program empowers teachers and staff by providing funding for exciting, creative, and impactful ideas that enhance learning both in and out of the classroom. Teachers apply through a formal grant process, with submissions carefully reviewed by the Innovation Grants Committee. More information on the process can be found here.

To make these grants possible, we rely solely on community donations. Your contribution—no matter the amount—directly supports teachers and their innovative ideas. This is the only fundraising method for the program, and every dollar helps bring fresh, engaging opportunities to our students.

Make a Difference Today!
To donate, log in to the Membership Toolkit here and select "Innovation Grant Donation" from the left navigation menu. Thank you for your support!