Superintendent Update

from USD116 Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Superintendent Update from USD116 Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

September 27, 2024 Superintendent Update

To view past superintendent updates, please visit District Updates on our website.

Greetings, Urbana Family and Friends,

As we close out the month of September, Families - I hope you have learned more about the district’s objectives related to why Attendance Matters - Why we want every student to attend school every day on time! Students - Each day you show up on time for school, you prove that you know that your attendance matters!


I hope you have also learned that absences add up. Missing two days or more per month means a student misses more than 10 percent of the school year. Build the habit of good attendance early!


One of the benefits of going to school every day is the learning you will receive. Our teachers, administrators, and staff invest a lot of time and professional development in learning new curriculum, using new strategies, and showing up for school. This significantly affects a student’s academic success in kindergarten through fifth grade and middle and high school. Attendance Matters! Remember, you have to Be Present to Be Powerful! Here is an excellent example of how Thomas Paine Elementary encourages its students to be Paws-itively Present Every Day!


Speaking of the new curriculum, our elementary schools celebrated the last Curriculum Night events this week. Each school took a different approach to sharing information with families about what their students are learning in school. All of our schools shared information about the new language arts curriculum in grades K-5, shared Math ideas from Illustrative, or talked about SEL. I hope families learned something new about what their students are learning in school and took away at least one idea they can try at home to continue to support learning. This learning will look very different in grades EC-5 and 6-12; they are never too old to show you or tell you about the new things they have learned.


In pursuit of student learning,

Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Attendance

Strong attendance has a proven impact on student success. Our goal this year is to decrease our chronic absenteeism by 15 percent. Help us by making sure your student is in school EVERY DAY, in order to achieve academic success. Please let us know how we can support you.


We know that some absences are unavoidable. We understand kids get sick and occasionally need to stay home. The important thing is to get your student to school as often as possible.


USD #116 Attendance information

Family Survey: Please Complete

Please take a few minutes to complete you school's family Panorama survey by clicking one of the links below, or scanning the QR code.


This is an opportunity for families to share how their student’s school can create a more welcoming environment, support student learning at home, and build lasting partnerships that contribute to student success. The Panorama family survey will provide schools with family perspectives of classroom and whole school experiences.

UECS QR Code to Family Panorama Survey

DPW QR Code to Family Panorama Survey

King QR Code to Family Panorama Survey

Leal QR Code to Family Panorama Survey

Thomas Paine QR Code to Family Panorama Survey

Yankee Ridge QR Code to Family Panorama Survey

UMS QR Code to Family Panorama Survey

UHS QR Code to Family Panorama Survey

Buddy Benches

Hundreds of bottle caps have turned into a place of companionship at Urbana’s elementary schools, thanks to the Champaign West Rotary Club. Five “Buddy Benches” were installed this week, one at each of the elementary schools. The intent of the Buddy Bench is to promote friendship, inclusiveness and kindness.


Each bench takes 200 pounds of plastic caps and costs about $295. Green Tree Plastics in Evansville, Ind., produced the benches. They were installed by the Urbana School District facilities team, each bench also has a plaque. The caps and funding were graciously provided by the Champaign West Rotary Club.

Forty Under 40

We are proud to announce Tierra Brown at Urbana High School, Kristi Kaplan at Yankee Ridge Multilingual School and Domesha Perkins-Nunn at Tiger Academy have been named Central Illinois Business Magazine FORTY UNDER 40 2024 award winners!


Tierra is a CTE teacher at UHS where she also helps with AVID. She is also the head cheerleading coach. Kristi Kaplan is an Intensive Intervention Teacher at Yankee Ridge and a coach for the UHS Color Guard/Winter Guard. Domesha is a Restore U Facilitator at Tiger Academy.

Financial Aid Night

UHS FAMILIES: If you have a junior or senior, mark your calendar for the College Financial Aid Night at Urbana High School.


A guest speaker from ISAC Corps will share information about the types of aid available to help pay for postsecondary education and training.

Urbana School Based Health Center

The Urbana School Based Health Care Center is now offering Psychiatry services with Psych NP, Meghan Leach. Meghan is at the School-Based Clinic Tuesdays and Wednesdays and provides diagnostic services (depression, anxiety, ADHD, etc.) and medication management services.


The Urbana Health Clinic also has counseling services for ages 5+, five days a week. Call 217-403-5433 to schedule.

Latine Heritage Month

The students in the Dual Language Program at Urbana Middle School celebrated Latine Heritage Month with a parade through the school.

UECS

Congratulations to Urbana Early Childhood School Principal Madigan, Former Principal Heinhorst and all of the UECS staff for earning a Gold Circle of Quality rating from ExceleRate Illilnois.


ExceleRate Illinois recognizes early learning providers who place a high priority on teaching and learning, family and community engagement, leadership and management, and qualifications and continuing education.


Read More: https://usd116.org/uecs-gold-circle/

Tiger Pride

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the CU Pride Parade and Fair. USD Staff and students walked in the parade, helped at the booth, decorated, donated items, organized and much more. Our students, families, staff, and Urbana community appreciate your efforts.

2024-25 Calendar

October Dates

  • October 1: Board of Education Meeting | 6 p.m.
  • October 2: UHS Showcase 1 (Wind Symphony, Concert Choir, Chamber Orchestra) | 7 p.m.
  • October 3: Special Education Family and Staff Advisory Council | 6 p.m.
  • October 7: Bring Your Family to School Day - check with your student's school for more details
  • October 9: Walk & Roll to School Day
  • October 14-18: Fall Break - No School
  • October 24: No School - Family Conferences
  • October 25: No School -Family Conferences

In The News

Community Events

University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Open House


  • Sunday, October 6, 2024
  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Free Admissions
  • 2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
Urbana School District #116
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