District 88 hosts School Update Meeting for parents/guardians and students

Illinois 5Essentials Survey open through March 11: Parent/guardian participation strongly encouraged and will support District 88’s placement along the Illinois State Board of Education’s new Equity Journey Continuum

The survey provides a comprehensive picture of a school’s organizational culture in an individualized report measuring five “essentials” critical for school success. Those are:

• Effective Leaders
• Collaborative Teachers
• Involved Families
• Supportive Environment
• Ambitious Instruction

District 88 is committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive environment for all students, staff and community members, and that focus aligns with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)’s new Equity Journey Continuum (https://tinyurl.com/2p953jwa). This informational tool is meant to help districts view data through the lens of equity and identify gaps in student achievement, opportunities and supports. Parent/guardian participation on the 5Essentials Survey will be part of the criteria used to determine District 88’s placement along the equity continuum.

To complete the survey in English or in Spanish, scan the QR code above, or go to https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois.

District 88 celebrates Black History Month

BOTTOM: On Feb. 10, the Willowbrook Black Organization for Student Success (BOSS) hosted a meeting for parents/guardians to share information about the group's goals, initiatives and this year's Black History Month plans/events.

District 88 is proud to have a diverse school community – the district has about 40 languages and more than 30 countries represented among its families, and almost half of the nearly 4,000 students at District 88 speak a language other than English at home. District 88’s core values include ensuring all students, staff and community members feel safe, valued, respected and welcome.

As part of this effort, the district continues to enhance its focus on equity and culturally responsive and trauma-informed teaching to meet the needs of all its students. Each February, District 88 hosts events/activities to recognize Black History Month, and the district is offering many opportunities again this year to honor this important month.

Read more about how Addison Trail and Willowbrook are celebrating Black History Month at https://dupage88.net/site/page/14533.

District 88 celebrates National School Counseling Week 2022

This annual event is sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), and this year’s theme is “School Counseling: Better Together.” The week is an opportunity to highlight the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career and also provides recognition for school counselors who implement comprehensive school counseling programs. For more information, go to https://www.schoolcounselor.org.

To begin the week, the Willowbrook Counseling Department was presented with a bronze-medal banner on Feb. 4 for excellence in supporting the class of 2021 through the financial aid process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). See the images below.

LEFT: (From left) Willowbrook senior Eric Veal Jr., senior Amia Jackson, Director of Guidance Dana Whittaker, senior Alana Clark and senior Imani Ward display the bronze-medal banner the school received on Feb. 4 for excellence in supporting the class of 2021 through the financial aid process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

RIGHT: Willowbrook Director of Guidance Dana Whittaker displays the bronze-medal banner the school received on Feb. 4 for excellence in supporting the class of 2021 through the financial aid process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

For more information about the Addison Trail Guidance Department, go to https://dupage88.libguides.com/Guidance.

For more information about the Willowbrook Counseling Department, go to https://dupage88.libguides.com/GuidanceandCounseling.

Eye on Education: Addison Trail and Willowbrook students invited to participate in Sheldon Peck Art & Essay Contest

This week’s topic is a Sheldon Peck Art & Essay Contest, a local history project sponsored by the Lombard Historical Society and BLAC (Building Love Amongst Cultures) of Lombard. Addison Trail and Willowbrook students are invited to participate, and contestants have the option to create an original journal entry or work of art inspired by the work or life of Sheldon Peck.

All submissions, including artwork, must be photographed, scanned and e-mailed to education@lombardhistory.org by Feb. 28. A virtual awards ceremony for the winners and their families will take place starting at 2 p.m. on March 26. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three winners.

For questions or more information, go to https://www.lombardhistory.org/news-1/2022/1/13/sheldon-peck-art-amp-essay-contest-for-high-school-middle-school-and-elementary-school-students, e-mail info@lombardhistory.org or call 630-629-1885.

Attention, parents/guardians: Symbol Training Institute provides path to successful manufacturing careers

Symbol Training Institute instructs adults who are looking to begin their manufacturing career and assists them with quality job-placement services at stable, in-demand careers. Symbol provides industry-vetted teaching staff, targeted programs, small class sizes and experiential/hands-on training.

Those who enroll get certified in four months, and no experience is needed. Grants and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

For questions or more information, click on the video at right, view the flyer at https://www.dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=6153, call 847-673-6500, or go to https://www.symboltraining.edu.

District 88 in the news

Check out recent news articles featuring District 88 at www.dupage88.net/media. 

Addison Trail High School Event Calendar (February and March)       

6:30 p.m., Athletic Booster Club meeting

6:30 p.m., Special Education Parent Meeting: College of DuPage (CLICK HERE for details)

7 p.m., Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: The Power of Self-Compassion (CLICK HERE for details)

Noon, Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: Mindfulness for Healing and Self-care (CLICK HERE for details)

7 p.m., Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event in Spanish: Relaciones Actuales entre Adolescentes / Teen Relationships Today (CLICK HERE for details)

6 p.m., POPS Concert Dinner

7 p.m., POPS Concert

No school (Presidents Day)

Noon, Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: Creating a Community and Culture of Care: Moving Teens From Inspiration to Action (CLICK HERE for details)

4:30 p.m., Guidance Department Open House

7 p.m., Freshmen / Sophomore Post-Secondary-Education Planning Night

7 p.m., Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: Helping Students Learn to Live Above the Circumstances and Move from Inspiration to Action to Outcomes (CLICK HERE for details)

7 a.m., AT's Best

7:30 p.m., District 88 Board of Education Meeting at 2 Friendship Plaza in Addison

Mar 1

7 p.m., Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: Children’s Resilience and the Importance of Everyday Interactions (CLICK HERE for details)

Music In Our Schools Assembly

7 p.m., Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Anxiety Disorders and Other Behavioral Challenges (CLICK HERE for details)

Institute Day (no school for students)

Four Addison Trail students compete in UTI High School Top Tech Challenge

That event took place on Feb. 10 at the UTI Lisle campus and involved hands-on and written automotive testing on vehicle parts, brakes, diagnostics and electrical systems.

Seniors Daniel Zielinski (pictured at left) and Michael Godenius (pictured second from left) finished in 2^nd place and each earned a $7,500 scholarship to UTI. Seniors John Taci (pictured third from left) and Morri Bernardo (pictured at right) finished in 6^th place and each earned a $1,000 scholarship to UTI. Addison Trail also received a variety of tools valued at more than $2,000.

Addison Trail alumna and pair skater Alexa Knierim earns second-straight Olympic medal in team event

On Feb. 7, pair skater and Addison Trail alumna Alexa Knierim (class of 2009) earned a silver medal with Team USA in the figure skating team event during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. (Due to an investigation, the medal ceremony has been delayed.)

Knierim also won a bronze medal in the figure skating team event during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

For more information about Knierim, read the Shaw Local article by Chris Kudialis at https://www.shawlocal.com/my-suburban-life/sports/2022/02/07/addison-pair-skater-alexa-knierim-earns-a-second-straight-olympic-medal-in-team-event/.

Willowbrook High School Event Calendar (February and March)

6:30 p.m., Athletic Booster Club meeting

6:30 p.m., Special Education Parent Meeting: College of DuPage (CLICK HERE for details)

7 p.m., Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: The Power of Self-Compassion (CLICK HERE for details)

Noon, Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: Mindfulness for Healing and Self-care (CLICK HERE for details)

7 p.m., Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event in Spanish: Relaciones Actuales entre Adolescentes / Teen Relationships Today (CLICK HERE for details)

No school (Presidents Day)

Noon, Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: Creating a Community and Culture of Care: Moving Teens From Inspiration to Action (CLICK HERE for details)

7 p.m., Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: Helping Students Learn to Live Above the Circumstances and Move from Inspiration to Action to Outcomes (CLICK HERE for details)

7:30 p.m., District 88 Board of Education Meeting at 2 Friendship Plaza in Addison

Mar 1

7 p.m., Band Concert

7 p.m., Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: Children’s Resilience and the Importance of Everyday Interactions (CLICK HERE for details)

7 p.m., Willowbrook Parent Organization (WPO) Meeting

Choir Invitational

7 p.m., Choir Concert

7 p.m., Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) event: Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Anxiety Disorders and Other Behavioral Challenges (CLICK HERE for details)

Institute Day (no school for students)

Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Solo & Ensemble Contest

Willowbrook senior named as 2022 Regional Finalist in Coca-Cola Scholars Program

More than 68,000 applicants and 1,617 Semifinalists participated in the program, and 251 were selected as Regional Finalists based on their academic excellence, leadership and service demonstrated through school and community activities. For more information about the program, go to https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org.

Regional Finalists will participate in the next phase of the selection process, a 20-minute interview with the Regional Interview Committee (comprised of a Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation staff member and previous Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship recipients). After the interviews, 150 students will be named as Coca-Cola Scholars and will receive a $20,000 college scholarship.

To read more about Veal Jr. and his accomplishments, go to https://dupage88.net/site/page/14174.

Willowbrook presents 2021-22 third-quarter Outstanding Students and Outstanding Teacher

On Feb. 10, 12 Willowbrook students were recognized as Outstanding Students for the third quarter of the 2021-22 school year. To watch the presentations, click on the video at right.

Criteria to be chosen for that award include:

• Demonstrating extraordinary achievement, outstanding effort, commendable attitude and motivation
• Ability to overcome obstacles
• Continuous exemplary performance

The Outstanding Students are:

Art: Senior Arianna Sanchez

Career and Technical Education (CTE): Senior Matthew Ruiz

English: Freshman Isabel Scheeler

Learning services: Freshman Amir Schmidt

Literacy: Senior Jimmy Macedonio

Math: Senior Alexander Kuban

Music: Senior Katie Corsini

Physical education: Seniors Annabelle Romero and Mary Whiting

Science: Sophomore Annabelle Deany

Social studies: Senior Molly Brewer

World languages: Sophomore Declan Abercrombie

Willowbrook science teacher Sara Phillips (pictured above, left) received the Outstanding Teacher award and was presented by Willowbrook sophomores Melvin Baez (pictured above, center) and Natalia Garcia-Avila (pictured above, right). To earn the Outstanding Teacher award, a staff member must treat teaching as a passion – not just a job, create a positive learning environment where students feel encouraged and supported, use a variety of strategies to engage students, be willing to offer extra support when needed, provide prompt and effective feedback to students on their learning and relate to and understand the viewpoints and perspectives of students.

Willowbrook Speech Team makes school history by advancing all 14 events to Sectional contest           

Below are the team’s results from that tournament. For the first time in school history, all 14 events advanced to the Sectional contest, which will take place on Feb. 12 at Downers Grove South.

Dramatic Duet Acting: Seniors Katherine Wentworth and Damian Rocha (2^ndplace)

Dramatic Interpretation: Senior Katherine Wentworth (5th place)

Extemporaneous Speaking: Freshman Colton Emmert (3^rdplace)

Humorous Duet Acting: Junior Amelia Tortorici and sophomore Sean O’Brochta (2^ndplace)

Humorous Interpretation: Senior Elizabeth Michael (2^ndplace)

Impromptu Speaking: Senior Emily Maher (3^rdplace)

Informative Speaking: Junior Lia Galindo (3^rdplace)

Oratorical Declamation: Freshman Margaret Brennan (3^rdplace)

Original Comedy: Junior Amelia Tortorici (1^stplace – Regional Champion)

Original Oratory: Senior Emma Wrzeszcz (2nd place)

Poetry Reading: Freshman Aryash Sampat (4^thplace)

Prose Reading: Senior Emily Maher (4^thplace)

Radio Speaking: Freshman Aryash Sampat (3^rdplace)

Special Occasion Speaking: Sophomore Sean O’Brochta (3^rdplace)

Willowbrook World Language students complete Valentine’s Day project to help learn various languages

Students in the school’s Spanish, French and German classes created paper candy hearts with messages of love, friendship, motivation and kindness written in the language they’re studying – just in time for Valentine’s Day. The decorations were placed in the hallway in the pattern of “XOXO.” To view some of the items, see the photo gallery above.

Willowbrook Music Booster Club hosting spirit wear fundraiser

Through Feb. 25, the club will host a Music Spirt Wear sale, featuring eight apparel styles and three color choices for most styles (see the image at right for details). Proceeds will benefit band, choir and orchestra programs and students.

CLICK HERE to buy items by Feb. 25. Orders will be processed after that date and shipped directly.