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A+ Award Recipient at Granger Middle School

December 6, 2018, 2:59 pm
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The Indian Prairie Educational Foundation and District 204 recently honored Amy Huetson, a science teacher at Granger Middle School, with the A+ Award.

You can watch the A+ Award team’s surprise visit to recognize Amy for making a difference.

Granger Middle School student Roshni Pothireddy nominated Huetson and described her as passionate and kind. She said her teacher has gone above and beyond, not only in her ways of teaching, but in her sympathy and kindness toward everyone. “She has impacted everyone that she taught, and the things I learned will stay with me forever,” Pothireddy said.

Huetson has been teaching at Granger since she joined the district in 2013. “The best thing about teaching science is I get to encourage their curiosity,” Hueston said.

Wells Fargo Advisors is partnering with IPEF and District 204 to help recognize one staff member each month for making a difference for students. To celebrate these outstanding staff members, Wells Fargo Advisors is donating $500 for the staff member to use in his or her school.

You can nominate a staff member by visiting A+ Award.
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Portrait of a Graduate

December 12, 2018, 10:59 am
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This fall, the district asked a diverse group of stakeholders to come together to identify the community's aspirations for all students and create the district's Portrait of a Graduate. The stakeholders included parents, teachers, students, business leaders, representatives from higher education, and area non-profits. Through a series of meetings, this group affirmed the value of rigorous academics, but also discussed the idea that today's educational experience must be intentional about fostering the skills young people need to thrive in a complex, rapidly changing world.

The group identified six core competencies needed to succeed, no matter what path a student takes after graduation. The competencies include creativity and innovation, communication, critical thinking and problem solving, citizenship, flexibility and adaptability, and resilience. Once the core competencies were identified, a survey was done to gather feedback from the larger community. Ninety-one percent of survey respondents agreed with the core competencies.

Superintendent Karen Sullivan said the Portrait of a Graduate provides a guide for the district. "We know these are the things our community wants us to focus on as we prepare our students for the future. We need to make sure our work aligns with the competencies."

Watch the video below or visit the webpage to learn more about the district's Portrait of a Graduate.

Portrait of a Graduate Video

Portrait of a Graduate Logo
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Superintendent's Winter Break Message

December 21, 2018, 1:48 pm
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Dear District 204 Community,

It’s hard to believe that winter break is almost here. I hope you enjoy the upcoming time with your family. Many of our families find this time of year stressful, especially our homeless families. Each year, we try to alleviate some of that stress by finding ways to support families that might be facing hardships. This year, we had concern that it might be challenging to find support for our increasing number of homeless families.

We put a call out to our community to adopt a family or provide any level of support they could, and we were overwhelmed with the response. Community partners and individuals stepped up and provided support so that each of our 122 families with a total of 220 children will be supported this holiday season.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to Samaritan Network, Neuqua Valley Student Council, Indian Prairie Parents Council, Indian Prairie Educational Foundation, many of our PTAs, and many more individuals for their contributions. Your overwhelming generosity made this holiday season brighter for our families that need it the most.

Our community has a long history of supporting those less fortunate. The Indian Prairie Parents Council has organized a winter coat drive for the past 13 years. It is through their work that a warm coat — a necessity often taken for granted — is provided for students in need. Please take a moment to watch this video to see how a dedicated parent group organizes this annual program.

I hope you have a wonderful break. We look forward to seeing our students on January 8.

Sincerely,

Karen Sullivan
Superintendent
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From the Nurse's Office

December 21, 2018, 3:18 pm
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With the snow recently fallen on the ground and cold weather holidays approaching, many of us will be hosting, or traveling to, our families and friends across the state, and/or country. While it is a wonderful time for gathering together, it is also unfortunately a time when we can find ourselves becoming ill.

According to the CDC, influenza (flu) activity has started to be sporadic in Illinois, but as always it is important to be proactive in preventing influenza-like illnesses and/or viruses from spreading. Regular hand-washing using proper technique, particularly before and after activities (eating, bathroom use, coughing and sneezing, as examples), is one of the very best best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. I encourage you to consider this a teaching moment with your child. If you believe your child is sick (if your child has a deep/barking cough, sore throat and fever over 100 degrees and/or has vomited), please keep them home from school (24-hours after a fever and/or vomiting has subsided without the use of fever-reducing and/or anti-nausea medication).

Not only is winter cold and flu season, but it is also the season of an increased incidence of head lice. When lice are found on a child at school, the child’s parents/guardians are informed, and we ask that the child be picked up from school. Our District Policy requests proof of treatment (either receipt or box top from treatment method, or a physician’s statement) before a child’s return to school. In following Health Department recommendations, parents are not notified if there is a student with lice in the school/class nor do we do head checks. Please talk with your child about not sharing hats and coats. Wearing long hair up in braids or buns can also be good prevention this time of year.

Kindly remember to call the school's attendance line promptly in the morning and report your child’s absence, stating the reason for their absence. Sharing his/her symptoms early with the health office allows us to monitor patterns of illness. Feel free to call and speak with the school nurse if you have questions about your child’s specific illness in relation to school attendance.
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Parent Feedback Needed

January 7, 2019, 9:58 am
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Parents across Illinois once again have the opportunity to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school as it relates to the important elements of school effectiveness.

On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by the University of Chicago. All survey responses are kept confidential. The state will provide survey results for individual schools only if a school has at least 20 percent of parents take the survey.

If you have children attending more than one school, we ask that you complete the survey for each school. Parents will have until February 15, 2019 to participate in the survey.

To take this short survey:

1. Visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/

2. Type and select “Dupage” as "County." (The county is the location of the school district's main office.)

3. Type your school's name into the "School" field and select your school.
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Student's Creative Writing Published in Spanish Magazine

January 9, 2019, 9:38 am
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8th Grade Spanish student Mahalaxmi Some wrote a short story in Spanish class and submitted it to Revistal Literal, a digital Spanish magazine written for Spanish students by Spanish students. Her story was published in the enero (January) edition. It is about a nephew, his aunt a joke she plays on him. It has a great twist at the end sure to make readers smile. You can read it online at https://revistaliteral.com/2019/01/02/revista-literal-edicion-enero-2019/
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District 204 Schools Closed on Monday, November 26

November 25, 2018, 9:36 pm
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AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM IPSD 204

Due to the heavy snowfall expected in our area, all schools in District 204 will be closed on Monday, November 26.

This includes students who attend out of district programs and building rentals. A decision on after-school activities will be made on Monday. Visit the district website (www.ipsd.org) for further updates.
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A+ Award Recipient at Gombert Elementary

January 10, 2019, 2:59 pm
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The Indian Prairie Educational Foundation and District 204 presented Alexis Mansfield, a fourth-grade teacher at Gombert Elementary School, with the A+ Award.

You can watch the A+ Award team’s surprise visit to recognize Mansfield for “Making a Difference” at A+ Award video.

Gombert parent Amanda Pratscher described Mansfield as an exemplary teacher who always has her students best interest at heart. “She doesn’t teach a classroom, she teaches each child,” Pratscher said.

Mansfield strives to make a difference by letting her students know each day that they are important. The teacher said academics are important, but she also works to connect with students so they feel supported. “I want them to feel like I could be there for them for anything, not just school matters,” Mansfield said.

Wells Fargo Advisors is partnering with IPEF and District 204 to help recognize one staff member each month for making a difference for students. To celebrate these outstanding staff members, Wells Fargo Advisors is donating $500 for the staff member to use in his or her school.

You can nominate a staff member by visiting A+ Award.
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Home Access Center (HAC) Update

January 16, 2019, 9:49 am
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Wednesday, January 16, 2019 (3:45 pm):
Home Access Center (HAC) is now available to users. Technology Services staff will monitor the system over the next 24 hours to determine if there are any lingering issues. If you experience any difficulties accessing HAC, please email techsupport@ipsd.org.

Thank you again for your patience as we worked with our vendor to restore HAC services.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 (9:45 am):
Home Access Center (HAC) is currently unavailable for users. Our vendor is working to resolve the issue as soon as possible for our district. We will provide updates on the district’s homepage.

For students and parents reviewing and selecting high school course options, please note there is no priority placement based on when you select your courses in advance of the January 31, 2019 deadline.

We apologize for any inconvenience this is causing and thank you for your patience and understanding.
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Teaching Assistant Jobs Available

January 17, 2019, 12:08 pm
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Do you have a Bachelor's Degree? Or an Associate's Degree? Or 60 semester hours of college coursework? You could be a Teaching Assistant with District 204. Being a Teaching Assistant is a perfect if you want to work full-time school hours and receive benefits. The district is now accepting applications, screening applicants and hiring individuals to start right away.

Click the link below to learn more.



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Valentine’s Day Party Classroom Volunteers Needed!

January 20, 2019, 3:11 pm
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The PTA is looking for volunteers for the Valentine’s Day Classroom Parties on February 14th. The classroom parties will be from 2:00-3:00. We will need volunteers for crafts and games for each grade level. Please arrive to volunteer at 1:45. Please click the link below to sign up.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094CA9AA2CA0F58-valentines

If you have any questions please contact Sarah Gilberd at sbp428@gmail.com.
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Route 59 Corridor Study Open House

November 29, 2018, 11:20 am
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Dear District 204 Community,

I want to make our residents aware of the public Open House that the city of Aurora is holding on Thursday, December 6, 2018 from 4 pm to 7 pm at Calvary Church, 9S200 Route 59. The city recently completed a draft of its Route 59 Corridor Study Comprehensive Plan. The study area includes parcels south of the Metra Station, west of Route 59, north of Montgomery Road, and east of the CN Rail line. The city is seeking feedback on its development initiatives for this area. The Open House will be a time for the city to gather public input and answer questions you may have about the plan.

I am asking you to consider attending this important Open House because the draft plan proposes changes in zoning and land use along Route 59 which have the potential to significantly impact our school district. Specifically, we are concerned about increased student enrollment that could necessitate changing school boundaries and create the need for additional classroom space on the north end of the district. We also have concerns about the financial implications to the district as the city considers potential economic incentives that may be offered to future developers. Although this is a plan from the city of Aurora, these changes have the potential to impact our entire district.

We have been actively monitoring the development of this study with the city for the last several months. The city now has an opportunity for all residents to become informed and provide input. Please consider attending the December 6 Open House to learn more about the Route 59 Corridor Study Comprehensive Plan. A draft for discussion purposes only is posted on the city’s website.

Sincerely,

Karen Sullivan
Superintendent
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Volunteer of the Month: January

January 22, 2019, 12:14 pm
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Jill Mieszala has been a dedicated volunteer at Cowlishaw Elementary for the past seven years, taking on numerous volunteer positions and chairing Staff Appreciation Week. Because of her service and commitment to Cowlishaw Elementary School, she is being named the BMO Harris Bank District 204 Volunteer of the Month.

Jill has five children who attend District 204 schools. When she started volunteering at Cowlishaw seven years ago, she had young children and helped out with tasks she could complete from home. Through the years, she took on additional volunteer positions including chairing the spring dance, helping with class parties, working in the holiday store, helping in the LMC, being a head room parent and a field day volunteer. Where there was a need, Jill was there to help!

At Cowlishaw, she is best known for the elaborate staff meals she prepares throughout the year and during Teacher Appreciation Week. Beginning the meal preparations several hours in advance, Jill provides a variety of entrees, salads and desserts for the staff. Jill and her parent volunteers also decorate the room and tables to provide a beautiful dining atmosphere. One of her nominations states, "She goes above and beyond to show Cowlishaw staff how much they are appreciated. Her leadership skills, outstanding organization and attention to detail make these staff meals a huge success!"

Jill has been volunteering since she was a child and was raised to give back to the community. She enjoys volunteering and says she is honored to know that what she does makes a difference. She and her husband are raising their children to give and think of others first because the rewards are boundless.

Volunteer of the Month Check Photo

BMO Harris Bank is helping District 204 recognize one volunteer each month who has generously given his or her time to support District 204's students and schools. To celebrate these outstanding volunteers, BMO Harris Bank is donating $1,000 to the volunteer's school. To nominate an outstanding volunteer, visit Volunteer of the Month.
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After-School Activities Canceled on Jan. 22

January 22, 2019, 1:56 pm
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Due to the weather, all after-school activities are canceled on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019. This includes all building rental activities. The YMCA’s Safe ‘n Sound program will still operate. The YMCA will communicate directly with parents who have children enrolled in the program if there are changes to the schedule.
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2019-20 School Calendar

January 23, 2019, 12:20 pm
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The 2019-20 school calendar was approved at the January 22, 2019 Board of Education meeting.

You can access the calendar at the following address:
http://www.ipsd.org/calendar/SchoolCalendar1920.pdf

Classes are set to begin August 19, 2019 and the tentative last day of school is May 28, 2020.
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Winter Weather Guidelines

January 24, 2019, 2:34 pm
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Follow @ipsd204 on Twitter and be first to get the most important weather-related updates from the district!

When winter weather occurs, the safety and well-being of our students is always a top priority. District 204 follows a plan whenever there is consideration of a school closing due to weather conditions.

HOW DO WE MAKE OUR DECISION?
When weather conditions are challenging, we make the decision to open or close schools based on a careful consideration of all relevant factors, such as:
- Data from the National Weather Service with updates regarding temperature, wind chill, and snow/ice accumulation.
- Information from the company that provides student transportation about any issues that might occur with buses.
- Changes to the weather forecast during the course of the school day that indicates if conditions will improve or worsen.
- Mechanical systems in schools are checked to make sure electricity and heat are working properly.
- District administrators talk with maintenance and custodial staff to check conditions of parking lots and sidewalks.
- Discussions with city officials about snow removal status and road conditions for neighborhoods and streets that are more challenging during times of inclement weather.
- Discussions with other school districts.

WHO MAKES THE DECISION?
The superintendent makes the final decision to keep schools open or close school during inclement weather. The decision is made based on the factors mentioned above.

WHEN IS THE DECISION MADE?
The decision is made by 6 a.m.

HOW DO WE CONTACT PARENTS?
- Information is posted first by @ipsd204 on Twitter, and then at the district website.
- Connect-ED phone call to parents/guardians.
- Local television and radio stations.
- Emergency Closing Center's website.

We will only make an announcement if schools will be closed. Announcements are not made that schools will be open.

ATHLETICS/EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
If school is not in session, all athletic and extra-curricular activities, including practices, may be cancelled. Schools will communicate directly with parents to notify them of cancellations.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITY
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 school is in session and you decide to keep your child home due to weather conditions, it will count as an excused absence. In this case, you must contact the school to let them know your child will not be in attendance.

Please take a moment to check your phone number and email address in eSchoolPlus to make sure we have accurate contact information for you. Primary guardians can edit email addresses if they are incorrect. Additional email addresses and phone numbers can be corrected by contacting your school and asking them to update the information.
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Schools Closed Monday, January 28

January 28, 2019, 5:18 am
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Due to the weather, all schools in District 204 will be closed on Monday, January 28.

This includes students who attend out of district programs and building rentals. A decision on after-school activities will be made later today. Visit www.ipsd.org later today, for further updates.
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A+ Award Recipient at Granger Middle School

December 6, 2018, 2:59 pm
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The Indian Prairie Educational Foundation and District 204 recently honored Amy Huetson, a science teacher at Granger Middle School, with the A+ Award.

You can watch the A+ Award team’s surprise visit to recognize Amy for making a difference.

Granger Middle School student Roshni Pothireddy nominated Huetson and described her as passionate and kind. She said her teacher has gone above and beyond, not only in her ways of teaching, but in her sympathy and kindness toward everyone. “She has impacted everyone that she taught, and the things I learned will stay with me forever,” Pothireddy said.

Huetson has been teaching at Granger since she joined the district in 2013. “The best thing about teaching science is I get to encourage their curiosity,” Hueston said.

Wells Fargo Advisors is partnering with IPEF and District 204 to help recognize one staff member each month for making a difference for students. To celebrate these outstanding staff members, Wells Fargo Advisors is donating $500 for the staff member to use in his or her school.

You can nominate a staff member by visiting A+ Award.
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School Closings and Activity Cancellations: Jan 29-31

January 29, 2019, 10:12 am
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Due to the extreme weather conditions expected in our area, District 204 announces the following closings:

Tuesday, January 29, 2019: All elementary and middle school after-school activities are canceled. This includes building rental programs. The YMCA will still operate its Safe 'n Sound program. Information on high school after-school activities will be communicated directly from your school.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019: All schools will be closed. This includes students who receive transportation for out of district programs. All after-school and evening activities are canceled. This includes building rental programs. The district's administrative office will be closed.

Thursday, January 31, 2019: All schools will be closed. This includes students who receive transportation for out of district programs. All after-school and evening activities are canceled. This includes building rental programs. The district's administrative office will be closed.

Check www.ipsd.org and follow @ipsd204 on Twitter for updates. Stay safe and warm!
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Board Candidate Forums

February 4, 2019, 3:39 pm
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Community members have the opportunity to learn about the candidates running in the April 2, 2019 school board election by attending one of the following forums:

Monday, February 25, 2019, 7 pm
Neuqua Valley High School Auditorium
2360 95th Street, Naperville
Hosted by Indian Prairie Educational Association and Indian Prairie Classified Association

Tuesday, February 26, 2019, 7 pm
Naperville Municipal Center
400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville
Hosted by the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation

Wednesday, March 11, 2019, 7 pm
Crouse Education Center
780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora
Hosted by Indian Prairie Parents' Council and League of Women Voters

Three seats on the seven-member board of education will be filled in the upcoming election. Those elected will serve four-year terms. The following candidates are on the ballot: Gautam Bhatia, Natasha Grover, Carole M. Jones, Justin J. Karubas, and Mark Rising.
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