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Naperville District 204
Dist. 204 Schools Receive Academic Excellence Award
Naperville District 204 - Fri, 02/03/2012 - 11:16am
The Illinois State Board of Education and Northern Illinois University announced that 17 District 204 schools received the Academic Excellence Award as part of this year's Illinois Honor Roll. District 204 leads all other suburban districts in the number of schools receiving this honor. Across the state, District 204 is second only to Chicago Public Schools, which has 24 schools being recognized.
The Academic Excellence Award recognizes schools where at least 90 percent of students have met or exceeded state standards in both reading and mathematics for at least three consecutive years.
Academic Excellence Award winners in District 204 include: Brookdale Elementary School, Brooks Elementary School, Builta Elementary School, Clow Elementary School, Cowlishaw Elementary School, Fry Elementary School, Graham Elementary School, Kendall Elementary School, May Watts Elementary School, Owen Elementary School, Patterson Elementary School, Peterson Elementary School, Spring Brook Elementary School, Steck Elementary School, White Eagle Elementary School and Young Elementary School and Scullen Middle School.
A total of 438 schools in Illinois earned this distinction, including 204 elementary schools and 67 middle schools.
For more information, visit Illinois Honor Roll
Categories: Naperville District 204
Message from Health Services on Tdap Vaccine
Naperville District 204 - Thu, 02/02/2012 - 3:26pm
The Illinois Department of Public Health recently informed school districts of a new requirement impacting next year's sixth and ninth grade students. Beginning this fall, all students entering sixth and ninth grades will be required to show proof of Tdap vaccination along with the school physical form required for these grades. Tdap is a vaccine recommended to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough).
District 204's Health Services Department brings this new requirement to the attention of parents now so they have ample time to check with their medical provider to meet this requirement. Your child will be subject to exclusion from school on or before September 24, 2012 without proof of the Tdap vaccine.
If you are unsure if your school has documentation of this requirement being met for your child, please contact your school health office.
More information is located on the Health Services webpage:
Illinois Department of Public Health Letter to Parents
Categories: Naperville District 204
Around the District: January
Naperville District 204 - Tue, 01/31/2012 - 11:17am
January, 2012 Edition
It adds up to fun at math night
The common denominator was fun at Family Math Night at Longwood Elementary School. More than 100 parents, first- and second-graders and siblings had an opportunity to try 22 innovative math activities provided by the DuPage Children’s Museum. The evening is so popular that third- through fifth-graders and their families attended the week before. Longwood Principal Laura Johnston said, “This is a nice way for families to support their children in math in fun ways.” From playing Twister to understand place value to creating three-dimensional objects from brightly colored paper, each station had a hands-on activity that reinforced math concepts children were learning in the classroom. Miriam Cancel and her daughter, second-grader Isabella, were creating patterns with fabric on geoboards. “Whenever the school has these events, it’s nice to have fun as a family,” Miriam said. First-grader Monisha was learning how many paper clips she could string together in a minute. Her dad said, “Activities like these help support logical reasoning and creativity. It brings numbers and real life together.”
Longwood students and parents enjoyed math activities provided by the DuPage Children’s Museum during Family Math Nights.
Doing it the Wright way
After touring a Frank Lloyd Wright home for inspiration, Waubonsie Valley High School students in the Architectural Drafting and Interior Design classes teamed up to design and decorate the perfect virtual home for a fictitious Habitat for Humanity family. Drafting Instructor Steve Skorup explained the exercise creates student-designed homes that are modeled after those used by the nonprofit. Gayle Thanepohn, who teaches Interior Design, said she was impressed with the professionalism of her students’ presentations. “They decorated a whole house, keeping within the parameters of the floor plan,” she said. “They can apply the skills they learned in this class to their future homes or apartments.” Junior Alex Hurst said that working on the plans and then with a designer helped him see what a career as an architect could be in the future. “It provides real world experience,” he said. The various material samples the students used in their presentations were donated by Gensler Architects and Solomon Cordwell Buenz.
Students in the Architectural Drafting class worked on plans to design a Habitat for Humanity house.
Beautiful music together
When the Neuqua Valley High School bands made a groundbreaking visit to China in 2006, Charles Staley, Music Department Chairman, hoped that one day a band from China could visit Naperville, so they could reciprocate their Chinese hosts’ kindness and hospitality. Seven years later, The Band of the Affiliated High School of Peking University, directed by Luo Tianru, participated in the United States & China Exchange Concert held in the Neuqua Valley auditorium. The first selection of the concert, “Variations on a Shaker Melody,” was performed by the NVHS Wind Ensemble, conducted by Staley. “We played the most American music we could play. That was our gift to you from America to China,” he said. When the Chinese band performed, their first number was the Piano Concerto Yellow River, a patriotic salute to the spirit of the Chinese people. The band also played the traditional march “Manhattan Beach,” written by America’s “March King,” John Philip Sousa. The concert featured the NVHS International Festival Band, directed by Mark Duker and William Jastrow, and the NVHS Jazz Orchestra, directed by Jonathan Lauff. Sheldon Poon, Director of Music Celebrations International, the organization that brought the Chinese band to Naperville, said, “This is the first time we were able to come to the United States. It is a dream come true.”
The United States and China Exchange Concert featured The Band of the Affiliated High School of Peking University and the Neuqua Valley High School bands. This was the first time the Chinese band visited the U.S.
All’s fair
More than 1,000 middle and high school students from throughout the district participated in the annual science fairs held at Neuqua Valley High School and Metea Valley High School. Close to 500 community members were recruited as judges for the event, which is co-sponsored by the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation. Jann Hawkins, a science teacher at Scullen Middle School, said, “Having students participate in a science fair is a true simulation of skills necessary in the 21st century workplace and an essential component of preparing our students for their future.” The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico prompted Scullen seventh-grader Sarah to ask, “Does oil affect the height of pea plants?” Her sobering results found that only one plant grew out of 40 seeds and its growth was stunted. “It made me sad because (the oil spill) not only affected the animals, but also the farmers and their crops,” she said. Award-winning projects will advance to the regional science fair competition in March.
Students set up their science fair displays, which included all the information from their research, from hypothesis to conclusion.
Categories: Naperville District 204
Residency Verification Process
Naperville District 204 - Mon, 01/30/2012 - 2:52pm
As part of Illinois School Code, school districts are required by law to ask parents for proof of residency. District 204 has recently placed a greater emphasis on this area and is taking a proactive role in ensuring students are residents of the district and enrolled in their proper schools. Currently, residency is verified for all preschool, kindergarten, fifth and eighth grade students. As time permits, some schools may verify additional grade levels.
This concerted effort has removed 85 students from our district this school year who did not reside within our boundaries. With the cost of educating each student at $10,426 per year, this represents a substantial savings for the district.
Parents of current fifth and eighth grade students will soon be contacted by their schools for residency verification. Parents will need to provide three different types of proof of residency to complete the process. A student's registration for the next grade level will not be processed until the proof of residency process is completed.
By making sure the law is enforced, the district is protecting the interests of its students and taxpayers. You can see the Residency Report from the November 7 Board of Education meeting at www.204tv.org.
For more information, contact Terri Drendel, assistant director of residency, at 630-375-3856 or terri_drendel@ipsd.org.
Categories: Naperville District 204
Scullen to Host STEM Event for 204 Students
Naperville District 204 - Thu, 01/26/2012 - 7:53am
Scullen and Crone Middle School are pleased to announce an upcoming STEM event for District 204 students and their families. Local universities and labs will be attending with hands on activities and presentations for any curious learner!
This free event will be held on Monday, February 13th, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Scullen Middle School.
Refreshments will be offered. Hope to see you there!
For more information, please contact:
Kaitlyn Elliott - kaitlyn_elliott@ipsd.org
Jennifer Albert - jennifer_albert@ipsd.org
Stephen Perlini- stephen-perlini@ipsd.org
Categories: Naperville District 204
Mandatory Washington DC Trip Meeting
Naperville District 204 - Mon, 01/23/2012 - 7:46am
The final mandatory parent/student meeting for the 8th Grade Washington D.C. trip is TONIGHT at 7:30pm in the Waubonsie Valley auditorium. Please join us with your child for details on the trip in February. We will be done ~8:30.
Categories: Naperville District 204
Weather Cancelations for Friday, Jan. 20 UPDATED
Naperville District 204 - Fri, 01/20/2012 - 10:43am
Due to the weather, all after-school activities and events in all District 204 schools are canceled for Friday, January 20. This includes all building rental events scheduled for this evening.
To allow for timely bus pick-up of our elementary and middle school students, high school students will be dismissed at 2 pm today.
The YMCA's Safe 'n Sound program will operate as usual in our buildings after school today.
All activities and events planned for Saturday, January 21 are expected to take place as scheduled.
SPANISH VERSION:
AVISO - Debido al Mal Tiempo, Se Cancelan Actividades el Viernes, 20 de Enero
Debido a la nevada y el mal tiempo, todas las actividades y eventos escolares han sido cancelados en todas las escuelas del distrito 204 hoy viernes, 20 de enero. Esto incluye todas las actividades después del día escolar y eventos en todas las escuelas del distrito 204, incluyendo eventos en los cuales las facilidades escolares han sido rentadas/alquiladas para esta noche.
Para permitir que haya adecuado tiempo para transportar por autobús a los estudiantes de escuela elemental e intermedia, los estudiantes de la escuela superior serán despedidos a las 2 pm hoy.
El programa “Safe ‘n Sound de la YMCA” mantendrá operación como de costumbre después de la escuela hoy.
Todas las actividades y eventos planeados para el sábado, 21 continuaran tomando lugar como esperado.
Categories: Naperville District 204
Market Pick Up Day
Naperville District 204 - Wed, 01/18/2012 - 9:29am
Dear Longwood Families,
There is still time to place your Market Day order for January. Order online at http://www.marketday.com by 11 pm (CST) on Saturday, Janury 21 or contact me for assistance at 630-723-1297.
Our Pickup Date is: Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Our Pickup Time is: 6:30pm to 7:30pm in the Gym
Market Day Account Number: 29205
If you have already placed your order, thank you. If not, we hope you will order today to support our organization. You will be making a purchase with purpose and will be helping us reach our fundraising goal.
Thank you for your support of the Market Day program at Longwood Elementary.
Warm regards,
Canciss Ford
PTA Market Day Chairperson
===============================================================
Estimadas Familias de Longwood,
Todavía hay tiempo para hacer su orden de Market Day para enero. Ordene en línea en http://www.marketday.com antes de las 11:00 pm horario central el sábado, 21 de enero, 2012 si necesita ayuda comuníquese conmigo al 630-723-1297.
Fecha: El miércoles, 25 de enero, 2012
Hora: 6:30pm a 7:30pm en el Gimnasio
El Número de cuenta del Market Day: 29205
Si usted ya ha hecho su orden, gracias. Si no, esperamos que ordene para apoyar nuestra organización. Hará una compra con propósito y nos estará ayudando a alcanzar nuestro objetivo de recaudación de fondos.
Gracias por su apoyo del programa de Market Day en Longwood Elementary .
sinceramente,
Canciss Ford
Presidente de Market Day para PTA
Categories: Naperville District 204
Clow and Gregory Storytellers Represent District #204
Naperville District 204 - Tue, 01/17/2012 - 8:25pm
This evening at the Naperville City Council Meeting a proclamation was presented to Anderson’s Bookshop beginning the 2012 Naperville READS program. Since 2001, Naperville READS has sought to promote community through the joy of reading. Each year Naperville celebrates great authors by reading and discussing their books and then inviting them to visit our town. Thousands of Naperville residents attend these author visits with their families and friends and experience the joy of story as a community. This year’s theme for Naperville Reads is What’s Your Story?
The Naperville READS 2012 committee invited the Clow TattleTales and Gregory Fellowship of Legend storytellers to participate in two exciting story events. The first was this evening where the combined group welcomed in the What's Your Story? 2012 Naperville READS theme with "The Storytelling Song" (used with permission from Swamp Gravy of the Colquitt Miller Arts Council in Colquitt, GA). Be sure to catch their presentation on Naperville Community Television, channel 17. The second event will be as an opening act for Antonio Sacre at Wentz Hall, North Central College the evening of February 9th.
Antonio is an internationally-touring writer, storyteller, and solo performance artist based in Los Angeles. He has performed at the National Book Festival at the Library of Congress, the Kennedy Center, the National Storytelling Festival, and many international festivals. He is also widely recognized as a performer and workshop leader at museums, schools, and libraries. Antonio Sacre's books for children are: The Barking Mouse, A Mango in the Hand: A Story Told Through Proverbs, La Noche Buena: A Christmas Story.
The thirty two TattleTales are fourth and fifth graders from Clow Elementary and the nineteen Fellowship of Legend are sixth – eighth graders. They work all year to learn stories that they tell at a spring storytelling festival. This year will be the tenth anniversary for Clow’s festival and the first for Gregory. As the TattleTales and Fellowship of Legend said this evening, "I've got a story. What's yours?"
Categories: Naperville District 204
After School Activities for Thursday, January 12
Naperville District 204 - Thu, 01/12/2012 - 2:27pm
The majority of athletic and after school activities throughout District 204 are still scheduled as planned for Thursday, January 12.
A few schools have canceled after school activities today due to weather conditions. Please consult your school's web page for specific information about any cancelations.
Building rental activities will occur as scheduled unless the event is canceled by the organization renting the district's facility.
Categories: Naperville District 204
Where to Find School Closing Info this Winter
Naperville District 204 - Wed, 01/11/2012 - 12:31pm
With the forecast calling for the arrival of the area’s first snowflakes, please be reminded of the ways District 204 announces weather-related school closing information throughout the winter. The announcement is made by 6:00 am through the following:
- Information is posted first on the district's website at www.ipsd.org
- A Connect-ED phone call to parents/guardians
- Local television and radio stations
- Emergency Closing Center's website at www.emergencyclosingcenter.com/ecc/search.jsp
- A message on the district's information line at 630-375-3015 (Please do not call your individual school)
We will only announce when schools are closed. If schools are not closed, it is ultimately the responsibility of parents and guardians to decide if conditions safely allow for their children to attend school. If children are kept home due to weather conditions, it will count as an excused absence.
Categories: Naperville District 204
Points of Pride, 01.11.12
Naperville District 204 - Wed, 01/11/2012 - 11:31am
High Schools Named Grammy Semifinalists
The Grammy Foundation announced that Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley, and Waubonsie Valley High Schools are among the 125 schools nationwide that have been selected as Grammy Signature Schools semifinalists for 2012. Finalists will be announced in mid-March and the selected schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to benefit their music program.
The Grammy Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education. Both Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley have previously won multiple Grammy awards, including Neuqua Valley being recognized as the top music program in the country.
The complete list of semifinalists is online at 2012 Grammy Signature Semifinalists.
Drafting Teacher of the Year
Neuqua Valley High School drafting teacher Corey Duzan has been named the Drafting Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Drafting Educators of America. His work in curriculum writing and his leadership position in bringing the Project Lead the Way program to District 204 helped him earn this honor. Duzan also taught Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) at Joliet Junior College, which gives him a unique understanding of the relationships that must be forged with higher education to help students succeed beyond high school.
SchoolSearch 2011 Bright A+ Award
District 204 was selected as one of only 59 Illinois school districts (out of 868) to receive the SchoolSearch 2011 Bright A+ Award. The award identifies the top 5 percent of Illinois school districts academically. Selection is based on student performance with the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) and the ACT composite scores. SchoolSearch is an educational research and consulting firm that publishes rankings of school districts.
Students Selected for All-State
The Illinois Music Educators Association selected 56 Indian Prairie high school students to perform at this year's All-State conference. The student musicians are from all three high schools. In addition, the following groups have also been selected to perform: the Neuqua Valley Chamber Singers, conducted by Jay Kellner and Ryan Rimington; the fifth-grade choir from Fry Elementary, under the direction of Mary Whitney; and the third-grade choir from May Watts, under the direction of Cathy Dunafin.
Categories: Naperville District 204
Science Fair Judges Needed
Naperville District 204 - Tue, 01/10/2012 - 12:17pm
District 204 needs judges for the 2012 District Science Fairs. Judges do not have to work in a scientific field, but it is helpful if judges understand how a Science Fair works. Having a degree in science isn't as necessary as having an understanding of kids. Judges are needed for the January 28 and February 4 science fairs. If you are interested in judging, please fill out the form on the district's website.
Categories: Naperville District 204
District 204 High Schools Named Grammy Semifinalists
Naperville District 204 - Thu, 12/22/2011 - 11:58am
The Grammy Foundation has announced that Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley, and Waubonsie Valley High Schools are among the 125 schools nationwide that have been selected as Grammy Signature Schools semifinalists for 2012. Finalists will be announced in mid-March and the selected schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to benefit their music program.
Created in 1998, the Grammy Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year. Both Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley have previously won multiple Grammy awards, including Neuqua Valley being recognized as the top music program the country.
"The Grammy Signature Schools program sustains excellence in music education by granting awards to public high school music programs in communities across the country," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation. "Each of these semifinalist schools should be commended for their commitment to keeping the arts in their curriculum for the long-term benefits of their students."
The selection process for Grammy Signature Schools begins each year in August when the Grammy Foundation mails notification to more than 20,000 public high schools from districts large and small, urban, suburban and rural, requesting information about each school's music program. After the applications are scored, finalists are identified and asked to submit additional documentation, such as recordings of school concerts, sample concert programs and repertoire, which is then reviewed by an independent blue-ribbon committee of top music educators and professionals to determine the schools that merit Grammy Signature School status.
Complete list of 2012 Grammy Signature School Semifinalists
Categories: Naperville District 204
Important ACT Information
Naperville District 204 - Wed, 12/21/2011 - 11:25am
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS TAKING THE ACT: Beginning this year with the Class of 2013, students taking the PSAE will no longer take the ACT writing section. Students seeking admission to universities and colleges that require a writing score (including University of Illinois and many other schools) must take the writing section of the ACT or SAT on a national test date. Students are encouraged to check with their specific colleges for requirements.
Please know that eliminating the writing portion of the ACT was not District 204's decision. When the ACT is administered as part of the PSAE, the test is paid for by the IL State Board of Education. The IL State Board of Education decided to eliminate the writing portion of the test due to fiscal reasons at the state level. District 204, along with other districts, approached ACT to ask if individual districts could pay for the writing portion, but ACT has not allowed school districts to fund for that portion of the test.
ACT National Test Dates
SAT National Test Dates
Categories: Naperville District 204
Around the District: December
Naperville District 204 - Tue, 12/20/2011 - 3:00pm
December, 2011 Edition
Gingerbread Junction a treasured tradition
More than 800 people recently attended Gingerbread Junction, the popular annual craft show that was celebrating its 30th anniversary at Hill Middle School. The show has grown along with the school, which is also celebrating its 30th anniversary. Organizers Rose Baranyk, Lisa Gierczak and Laura Duguid are part of a volunteer committee, which begins planning the event over the summer. “It’s our biggest fundraiser for the Hill PTSA,” Baranyk said. Exhibitors Marge and Megan Daniele of Whimsical Designs, who design and create original and custom-made jewelry, have a personal connection to the show -- Marge is a retired Hill teacher. “This is the best show of the year,” Marge said. “It’s like coming home.” Longtime exhibitors Doug Zahery of All American D.Zigns and Jean Casano, who creates hand-painted Santas, said they enjoy seeing their loyal customers every year. “We just love it here,” Zahery said. Casano, who has been exhibiting for 17 years, is a former Hill parent, who lives in the neighborhood. In addition to the 70 exhibitors, there was a raffle and bake sale. “It’s more than a fundraiser, it’s a treasured tradition,” Baranyk said.
Marge and Megan Daniele were exhibitors at Gingerbread Junction. Marge is a retired Hill Middle School teacher.
Club Owen makes fitness fun
For some, winter means a decrease in physical activity because of cold and inclement weather, but not for students, staff members and parents at Owen Elementary School. Physical Education teacher Jared Folley started Club Owen in 2007 as a way to keep kids active throughout the year. “To see the students coming in and being active is great. To see an entire school community being involved in being active is awesome,” Folley said. Between 75 and 150 students attend each week before school from December through February to participate in a variety of exercises. The equipment is a varied as the exercises and can include exercise balls, steppers, jump ropes, agility ladders and more. During trainer days, parent volunteers, including Karen Kieronomos and Sue O’Neill, help students move through stations that each focus on a specific area of fitness, such as muscular strength, cardio, agility or flexibility. Fifth-grader Lily, who is one of the student leaders, said, “It’s fun to exercise. You can make friends when you’re doing it. There are a lot of different things to do so you don’t get bored.” Club Owen has received a grant from the Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance.
Sue O’Neill leads a group in sit-ups during Club Owen at Owen Elementary School.
District 204 educators highlight STEM education
District 204 educators, Mike Kennedy and Matt Kirkpatrick, were the featured presenters during “The State of STEM Education,” held at Neuqua Valley High School. Speaking to an audience of about 150 parents, students, and District 204 staff members, they touched on issues affecting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education globally, nationally and locally. Kennedy, assistant science department chair at Neuqua Valley, spent 2010-2011 in Washington, D.C. as an Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, advising the Department of Energy's Office of Science, on programs for students and teachers. During his yearlong experience, he offered a teacher’s perspective to policymakers. Kirkpatrick, science department chair at Metea Valley High School, said he was in college before he discovered that he loved science and found his future career as a teacher. As founder of the Inspire-STEM Clubs, he said that students should have authentic learning opportunities to investigate real world problems in a collaborative atmosphere working with STEM mentors. Two iSTEM students also presented their work during the meeting. One student is working with Stanford University to collect data on solar flares using an antenna she built and another team is working on a diesel hybrid engine regenerator.
Matt Kirkpatrick and Mike Kennedy were the featured speakers during a presentation on STEM education.
Categories: Naperville District 204
Message from the Superintendent
Naperville District 204 - Mon, 12/19/2011 - 12:48pm
Dear District 204 Community,
I wanted to take a moment during this busy time of year to express my gratitude to the many community members and organizations who took the time to help our students this holiday season. With many of our parents feeling the impact of the challenging economy, more families than ever expressed concerns this year about not being able to provide a holiday gift for their children. Many people answered our call to help. I'm happy to tell you that due to their generosity, more than 1,300 children in our district will receive gifts.
We are especially appreciative of the support we received from our community partners -- the Naperville Jaycees, Rotary Club of Naperville, Rotary Club of Naperville - South, Fry Family YMCA, KidsMatter, Junior League, Alden of Waterford, and Wheatland Salem Church. The generous spirit of our involved community is evident, and it's one of the things that makes our district great.
I hope you enjoy the upcoming break and the extra time available to spend with your children. We look forward to welcoming students back to school on January 9.
Kathy Birkett
Superintendent
Categories: Naperville District 204
School Health Services Information
Naperville District 204 - Fri, 12/16/2011 - 10:46am
The School Health Services Department has launched a new page on the district's website that has health related forms and important health information for parents.
Included is information from the County Health Department about pertussis (whooping cough). The media has recently reported a spike in cases of whooping cough seen throughout the suburbs. It is a highly infectious and usually mild illness that is easily transmitted through coughing and sneezing. The first symptoms of pertussis are similar to those of a common cold: a runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild occasional cough for at least 2 weeks, which can become severe and spasmodic--with a distinctive “whooping” sound.
With the rise in whooping cough cases and the arrival of cold and flu season, the district would like to remind parents of precautionary measures you and your family members can take to stay healthy. Practicing simple hygiene measures can help prevent the spread of cold and flu viruses. Please take a moment to remind your children to wash their hands and instruct them not to share personal items like drinks or food. Instruct them to cover up their cough or sneeze using their elbow, arm or sleeve instead of their hands. They also need to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth to prevent spreading germs.
Most importantly, if you get sick, you should stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. A child must be fever free without taking fever-reducing medications for 24 hours before returning to school. The start of the cold and flu season is always a good time to review childcare contingency plans should you need to keep your child home from school.
For more information, contact your healthcare provider or visit School Heath Services.
Categories: Naperville District 204
Superintendent's Budget Message
Naperville District 204 - Thu, 12/15/2011 - 11:44am
Dear District 204 Community,
When I became superintendent three years ago, I shared with you that I would focus on student achievement, finances, and communication. I remain focused on those areas today. This fall, I was happy to share with you that student achievement is solid, with our students setting a record score on the ACT. We've also increased communication to you over the past three years, including creating transparency with on-demand videos available through www.204tv.org.
We have faced our greatest challenges in the area of finance. The state's funding formula is designed so the more a district receives in property taxes, the less it receives in state funding. We receive less revenue from property taxes per pupil than some surrounding districts. Therefore, we rely on the state for 13.25 percent of our budget. Over the past several years, the budget turmoil in Springfield has negatively impacted our district. During that time, we've had to cut $30.4 million from our operating budget in order to maintain a balanced budget. We have tried to do so with minimal impact to our students.
Unfortunately, when we look at next year's budget, we are facing familiar challenges. We are forecasted to have a $3.5 million deficit. When we add deferred projects that have been placed on hold for budget reasons over the past several years, including curriculum and technology needs, we are looking at an approximate $8.1 million deficit.
In order to achieve a balanced budget next year we need to cut our budget once again. Last month we asked the community for suggestions on ways to save money. We have received more than 500 responses from our parents and staff. The Citizens Financial Advisory Committee is reviewing those suggestions.
With each round of budget cuts over the past several years, we have tried to stay as far away from the classroom as possible. We are at the point where that is no longer possible. In January, administrators will present a list of possible reductions to the Board of Education. Our board will then have the very difficult decision of deciding how to balance the budget, keeping in mind what is best for our students.
I want to remind you that you can watch budget videos from the board of education meetings at www.204tv.org. I will continue to bring you updates as we move forward in the budget process.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kathy Birkett
Superintendent
Categories: Naperville District 204
IPSN PTA 2nd Annual Be a Fan T-Shirt Design Contest
Naperville District 204 - Wed, 12/14/2011 - 12:07pm
IPSN PTA is pleased to announce our 2nd annual Be a Fan T-Shirt Design Contest.
We are looking for a "fun" shirt that promotes District 204 Special Olympics.
This year's theme is "Be a Fan - Celebrate Diversity".
The design winner will receive a free shirt.
The Contest is open to any student of District 204.
The deadline to enter is Tuesday January 10, 2012.
Contest details and entry forms are attached.
Categories: Naperville District 204
