Superintendent Update

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

Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated every year during the first week of May. We will celebrate our teachers and staff next week, May 6 - May 10. As a district, we look forward to this week and embrace the opportunity to express our gratitude for their dedication and commitment to Urbana students and families. Our schools and PTAs/PTSAs also plan unique ways to celebrate. If you are wondering how you can contribute or participate in their efforts, please contact your school. As a district, we have spent the year re-discovering our Whys together and remembering why our Why Matters. It has been a challenging year for the district as a whole, but our staff have continued to show up and work hard to make sure our students feel valued and supported to learn and thrive. Let’s all work together to make sure our educators feel the love and appreciation they deserve next week and beyond.

On Thursday, May 2, Thomas Paine was the first school to welcome their kindergarten families and new students in grades 1st through 5th following the new elementary boundary map changes. Thank you to the Thomas Paine families who attended their Welcome to Our School Night. There was a very large turnout of students and families. After their visit, many new TP families are looking forward to the new school year. We invite you to join us for the remaining Welcome Nights at your school on the following dates:

• King School on May 7 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

• Dr. Williams on May 9 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

• Leal on May 14 from 6-7 p.m.

• Yankee Ridge Multilingual School (Spanish & French) May 16 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

You can access more information about kindergarten here: Kindergarten Open House Flyers.

May is National Bike Month and also the time that the Champaign-Urbana Safe Routes to School Project hosts Bike & Roll to School Day! National Bike & Roll to School Day is on Wednesday, May 8. The event promotes bicycling as a healthy and fun way to get to school while emphasizing safety. Families can sign up their students for the event here: 2024 Bike & Roll to School Day. Registered students will receive a drawstring “swag bag” with supplies and goodies, such as a backpack reflector, a bilingual safety booklet, and a sticker. Also available upon request are bike locks, bike lights, and/or safety vests.

Online Registration for returning students opened on May 1st. Please log on to Skyward Family Access to register your returning student(s) by July 26. You can also call the school's main office for assistance or find more information on our website: https://usd116.org/registration/.

I hope you all had an opportunity to enjoy the fantastic weather this week.

Have a great weekend,

Dr. Ivory-Tatum

If you have a student who will be in 6th grade next school year, please come to the informational meeting on May 7 from 6-7 p.m. in the UMS Cafetorium.

On May 8 USD #116 is celebrating Urbana High School students in the Mayoral Recognition Program. This school year, UHS students volunteered more than 10,000 HOURS! That's the equivalent of more than an entire year of service!

The program is Wednesday, May 8 from 6-7 p.m. in the Urbana High School Gym. The keynote speaker is Minnie Pearson, President of the NAACP Champaign County Branch. All are welcome to attend.

The following is a general schedule for the May 8 celebration:

• A student resource fair begins at 4:30 p.m.
• Performances start at 5 p.m.
• The ceremony starts at 6 p.m.

The Mayoral Recognition Program is open to any UHS student who completes 30 hours of volunteer service during the academic year. Students who complete at least 30 service hours will receive a Certificate of Service from Mayor Marlin, Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum, and UHS Principal Jesse Guzman.

Read more: https://usd116.org/2024-mrp

The Urbana High School Class of 2024 Commencement is Thursday, May 23 at 6 p.m. at the State Farm Center.

A note for seniors and their families: Cap and gown pickup will take place on Wednesday May 8th during 6th hour lunch in the small gym. You will also receive your graduate yard sign at that time.

8th Grade Families: Join us for 8th Grade Promotion at UMS on Wednesday May 29 at 10 a.m.

5th grade promotions have been scheduled as follows

• Dr. Williams: May 24 at 9:15 a.m.
• Leal: May 30 at 10:30 a.m.
• King: May 30 at 9:30 a.m.
• Thomas Paine: May 30 at 9 a.m.
• Yankee Ridge: May 29 at 5 p.m.

As we prepare for next year, we would like to inform all families of the option to request plant-based meals through our food service provider, Quest. The student does not need to follow a plant-based diet to request a plant-based lunch. The student does not need to eat lunch at school every day to request plant-based meals. To request plant-based meals, fill out a plant-based request form and return it to foodservice@usd116.org

Summer EBT is a new grocery benefits program that provides families $120 for each eligible school-aged child to buy groceries during the summer months. Children are eligible for the program if the household already participates in SNAP or the household income meets the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals.

Enrollment: Some families will get Summer EBT automatically if they are getting other benefits, but some families need to apply.

• If the household is not automatically enrolled, but they qualify based on the income guidelines, they can get request an application from their school office. THIS MUST BE TURNED IN BY MAY 15.

Eligibility:

• Students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

• All children who currently receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Income Eligible Medicaid (Free and Reduced Price eligible) as well as foster children (Youth in Care) within the compulsory school age (age 6 on or before Sept. 1 through age 17).

How Summer EBT Works:

The benefits will be provided on an EBT card and can be used to buy groceries. Families will receive a one-time benefit of $120 per eligible child per summer. Benefits can be used at authorized retailers, like grocery stores and farmers markets, to purchase healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, meats and other protein sources, whole grains, and dairy.

UHS theatre presents its newest musical: Kala: A Musical Faerie Tale.

Show dates/times:

• May 3: 7 p.m.
• May 4: 7 p.m.
• May 5: 2 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online: Show Tickets

Summer Programming is available for all USD116 Students. Please see below for 2024 programs based on grade level. Please note, all programs run Monday-Thursday (with the exception of Camp Invention). There will be no programs on June 19 or July 5. For more information, or to sign up your student(s), please contact your school.

Congrats to the following USD #116 staff named 2024 Shining Stars and Super Stars by the CU Schools Foundation.

SHINING STAR: These teachers were nominated by their peers and exhibit exemplary service, extra effort, enthusiastic attitude, and innovative ideas that noticeably benefit their students.

• Erin Claxon, music and choir teacher at Urbana Middle School
• Les Kutz, art teacher at Dr. Williams Elementary,
• Felicia Tufano, English teacher at Urbana High School.

SUPER STAR: This award recognizes individuals who work in a support role whose exemplary service, extra efforts, and enthusiastic attitude noticeably benefit their district, school and/or co-workers.

• Mario Gamiz, Multilingual Teaching Assistant at Urbana High School
• Yolanda Fundemera, Teaching Assistant at Urbana High School
• Margaret Reyes, Attendance Secretary at Leal Elementary School

Read more about the winners: 2024 CUSF Awards

We celebrated our 2024 Young Author's during our annual event. Students heard from children's author, Marianne Malone and watched UHS drama students act out some of their stories.

Elementary, middle and high school students submitted many wonderful stories! The overall building winners were:

• Lucy Martin from Dr. Williams
• Aleksandre Stankevitch from Dr. King
• Barack Hasanadka from Leal
• Coraline Hauser from Thomas Paine
• Lydia Ruud from Yankee Ridge
• Mason Marshall from UMS
• Isabel Valencia-Ramirez from UHS

A special thank you to all of our school coordinators who helped make this event happen. #UrbanaBetterTogether

UHS Science Olympiad Team competed at the state competition and took 1st place in Forestry, 3rd in Robot Tour, and 5th in both Tower and Dynamic Planet.

• May 7: Board of Education Meeting

• May 8: Bike & Roll to School Day

• May 8: Mayoral Recognition Program

• May 23: UHS Graduation

• May 27: Memorial Day - No School

• May 30: Last day of school

Email: contactus@usd116.org
Website: usd116.org
Location: 1101 East University Avenue, Suite B, Urbana, IL, USA
Phone: 2173843600
Facebook: facebook.com/usd116
Instagram: instagram.com/urbana116/

X: @urbana116