Dupage Policy Journal

Testimony by both Hillcrest school students and staff was featured at the recent District 58 School Board Meeting.

During a Sept. 12 District 58 Board of Education Meeting, six sixth graders from Hillcrest school came to the school board meeting to share some of their favorite things about their school. Jack Haselhorst, Bridie Nastal, Rebecca Renner, Maddy Mayer, Evelyn Nelson, and Teegan Smith shared things like their playground, their multi-grade family groups, field day activities, art programs, handprints on the wall traditions, and their favorite teachers.

The PTA co-presidents for Hillcrest, Susie Howe and Beth Nelson, also gave a short presentation on the recent success of the PTA. They highlighted their new family mentor program that helped new families to the area get involved and integrated. They also talked about recent events like the back-to-school festival, adults only events, parent volunteer fun lunches, a variety show and the Hound Dog Dash fun run. 

"...I just want to share this is our theme for this year: we are family," Hillcrest School Principal Michelle Rzepka said at the meeting. "Centered around our philosophy of collaboration and hopefully those things that the students and our PTA co-president shared this evening just reiterate and show that unity that we have together with bringing students, staff, families and the larger community all together."

Rzepka shared recent data reports on the school’s test results. She shared that the strong focus the school has had in recent years on math proved successful as almost 90% of students were meeting or exceeding the standards for their grade. She also shared, however, that many students, especially in the higher-level grades, were not as successful in their writing scores, which will be a priority in the next few years.