District 45 families attend gingerbread house event at Jefferson Middle School
On December 4, families from District 45 participated in the Gingerbread House Spectacular at Jefferson Middle School, an event organized by the Frida Community Organization. Attendees, including both children and adults, built and decorated gingerbread houses using kits and a variety of toppings.
Holiday music played as participants worked together to assemble their creations. Children filled piping bags with freshly made icing to use as glue for toppings such as shredded coconut, chocolates, cereals, and crushed candy canes.
Alejando Aguilera, Program Coordinator for Frida Community Organization, commented on the sense of community fostered by the event. "For many families, it’s not just about building something sweet with their loved ones, but also about being inspired by the incredible creations from others in our community," he said. "And honestly, who doesn’t want a little extra sugar in their life during the holidays?"
Jefferson Middle School is part of Villa Park School District 45, which serves several schools in DuPage County including Ardmore Elementary School and Jackson Middle School. More information about the district's schools can be found at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
According to recent data from the Illinois State Board of Education, Villa Park School District 45 employs 224 teachers with an average salary of $74,159. The teaching staff is predominantly female at 82.8 percent. No teachers in the district have more than ten absences per year; details are available at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
The student population in District 45 is diverse: 43.4 percent White, 7.8 percent Black, 35.4 percent Hispanic, and 8.2 percent Asian (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In terms of spending, the district allocated $23,216 per student in 2020 for a total expenditure of $76,753,683 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
Aguilera expressed appreciation for those who attended and supported the event: "A heartfelt thank you to Frida Community Organization for hosting a magical family night."