JUNE-JULY 2010 NEWSLETTER.indd

Vol. 5, Issue 10 | July 2010
“The future is even better”
Dundee-Crown graduation (p 12-14)
Hampshire graduation (p 15-17)
Jacobs graduation (p 18-20)
Budget update
Leading the Way
(p 4)
(p 8-11)
2
3
Graduation is just the beginning
Superintendent
Dr. Ken Arndt
CUSD300 is on
Twitter & Facebook
For more information about
D300 or this newsletter,
call (847) 551-8344
or write to:
School District 300
Communication Services
300 Cleveland Avenue
Carpentersville IL 60110.
At the end of each school year occurs a
beginning. Graduation represents not only
completion, but also the start of life’s next
important chapter. Jacobs High School
valedictorian Cassie Castillo touched poignantly
on this theme when she addressed thousands
of her peers, teachers, district leaders, and local
families at the Sears Centre on June 5.
“Class of 2010, we’re all done,” she said. “But let
me switch it around and say that there is so much
left to do. Let us be present, and do, instead
of being ‘done.’ Instead of somehow, ironically,
waiting to look at ‘now’ as the past, when the
present right now for all of us is so good. And the
future is even better.
“... Let us be done with ‘done.’ Done waiting
for the wait to be done. Done wanting for more
than what has already begun. And with this
termination of apprehension, only one question
can stand: What will we do, now that we’re done?”
Castillo’s words captured the feeling that
filled each handshake during the recent
commencement ceremonies for Jacobs, DundeeCrown, and Hampshire high schools.
District 300 School Board members and I
look forward to this annual rite of passage as
much, if not more, as any other D300 activity. It
is inspiring for the achievement it represents:
the accumulation of years of preparation and
diligence by the students, the parents, and the
faculty. But graduation also inspires through its
forward momentum, the energy and wonder felt
by all those in the arena who dream of a future
even better than the present, for the sake of our
community and our world.
Class of 2010: I extend you congratulations for
what you have done and fortitude for what you
have yet to do.
GRADUATE OVERVIEW
Number of graduates
Dundee-Crown
Hampshire
Jacobs
2008
2009
2010
533
140
564
552
148
640
499
208
575
$1.9 million +
$232,000
$2.2 million +
$1.4 million +
$1.3 million +
$1.2 million +
$1.4 million +
$1.9 million +
$3.9 million +
Scholarships earned
Dundee-Crown
Hampshire
Jacobs
Post high school plans (of seniors who provided information)
Dundee-Crown
2008
2009
2010
2-year college
104
26
164
4-year university
142
162
133
Vocational/Technical
7
5
4
Military
unavailable
7
17
4-year university
56
97
75
Vocational/Technical
8
3
0
Military
unavailable
5
7
4-year university
232
374
234
Vocational/Technical
12
13
2
Military
unavailable
6
4
Hampshire
2008
2009
2010
2-year college
46
9
50
Jacobs
2008
2009
2010
2-year college
152
31
163
Superintendent’s Message
4
5
Budget update
As of mid-June 2010, the State
of Illinois owed District 300 $15.9
million for the 2009-2010 school
year. Earlier this year, Governor Pat
Quinn had presented a plan to cut
an additional $1 billion from Illinois
K-12 schools this coming school year
(2010-2011). Historically in Illinois,
the governor’s recommendation for
education funding usually becomes
reality. Therefore, Governor Quinn’s
proposal to cut $1 billion was the
basis of the District’s target of
$15 million in budget cuts for the
2010-2011 school year. As of June
14, 2010, the D300 School Board
had achieved $9.3 million of these
targeted reductions.
The State is not expected to
finalize its education budget until
this fall, which unfortunately is a
couple of months after the D300
School Board must finalize its own
budget by law. The state was only
able to make General State Aid (GSA)
payments to school districts this past
school year (2009-2010) because of
federal stimulus funding, which will
run out this summer.
D300 leaders continue to strongly
urge Illinois lawmakers to find a
way to pay what is owed to D300
schools. We also continue to urge
all D300 stakeholders (staff, parents,
students, and general taxpayers) to
contact their state leaders about this
ONGOING crisis. If you are reading
this, please follow up as often as
possible with state legislators from
the D300 area, candidates for state
office, the Governor, and Illinois
General Assembly leaders until a
Budget update
Stay informed
and involved
D300 maintains a webpage specifically
dedicated to providing detailed, timely
information and helpful resources
regarding the impact of the state’s
ongoing budget crisis here in D300.
Our budget webpage features:
Foundation for
Educational Excellence
Mark your calendars:
Juried Art Fair August 14-15
* word-for-word transcripts of Board
meeting discussions on budget cuts, and
public comments from these meetings,
* all news releases on D300 budget cuts,
* contact information and maps for state
legislators from the D300 area,
* public input (emails and petitions)
received from January to April 2010 on the
proposed reductions,
* a summary of the teacher layoffs and
related class size projections,
* the latest draft of D300’s 2010-2011
budget, and more.
Visit www.d300.org and click the “B”
(for Budget) button toward the left.
timely, fair, and realistic solution for education
funding is forged in Springfield. Please help
to finally end the political inertia that has
plagued our state for years.
The School Board is focused on remaining
fiscally responsible despite the state’s
bankruptcy. This is why the Board voted
unanimously in June to reduce administrator
pay and benefits by 4.1%, including furlough
days, increased insurance contributions
(matching the teacher rate), and other cuts.
Paychecks for secretaries, custodians and
Central Office support staff (who comprise the
DESPA union) will be reduced by ...
Continued on page 23
When Connie Noyes looks in a
recycling bin or the rubble of a
demolished building, she does not see
trash; she sees material for art. The
Chicago-based artist brought her new
perspective of art to Hampshire High
School on May 12 – 14. Noyes held a
2-day workshop for select art students
from each of the three high schools in
District 300. Her visit concluded with a
gallery showing of the work the students
had created in the workshop plus key
pieces of Noyes’ work.
The District 300 Foundation partnered
with Target of West Dundee to provide
funding for this exciting grant. Art
teachers Laura LaRue of Hampshire High
School and Carolyn Washow of Jacobs
High School worked with Foundation
Trustee Diane Magerko, who is the
Foundation’s Fine and Performing Arts
Committee Chair, in creating this first-ofa-kind grant.
Congratulations to Carol Anderson
of Neubert Elementary as the
Foundation’s 2010 DISTINGUISHED
EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR!
Beautiful art in a variety of mediums
will be on display at the Foundation’s
2nd Annual Art Fair, to be held at the
Algonquin Commons Saturday—Sunday
August 14 and 15. This juried fair will
be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Furniture,
ceramics, watercolor, photography,
jewelry, mixed media, and sculpture are
just some of the types of art that will
likely be featured at this year’s event. In
addition to the unique creations, the fair
will also include music performances,
kids’ art projects, food, and an art raffle.
Proceeds from the Art Fair will benefit the
D300 Foundation.
So come out to shop at the Commons
and enjoy beautiful artwork while
supporting classroom opportunities!
For more information about upcoming
Foundation events, including a student
performance of “Willy Wonka Jr.” July
30-31 and August 6-7, please visit our
website at www.d300foundation.org.
Foundation members Ken Arndt, Liz Miller,
Diane Magerko, and Ian Lamp flank award
winner Carol Anderson, at center
D300 Foundation
6
7
Briefs & Bits
REGISTRATION & FEES
All District 300 students must complete
the D300 registration process every year.
Please direct all questions to your school.
If you have not already registered your
child for the 2010-11 school year, each
school will offer open registration during
the following dates and times:
Elementary and middle schools
Monday, July 12; Tuesday, July 13;
and Wednesday, July 14. Hours are
12 noon to 8 p.m. Doors will close 4
p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Elementary and
middle schools are closed ThursdayFriday July 15 & 16 for registration
data entry.)
RELAY FOR LIFE RESULTS
LOOKING FOR ALL-DAY CHILDCARE FOR YOUR 3-5 YEAR OLD?
Community members of all ages joined
across District 300 overnight June 11-12
to raise over $83,000 for the American
Cancer Society. They are the stars of two
new photo albums now on the CUSD300
Facebook page, www.facebook.com
The 2nd Annual D300 Relay For Life
featured over 850 participants on 85
teams, plus dozens of volunteers, to
celebrate survivors, remember those lost
to cancer, and raise money to fight back
against the disease. Seven teams raised
over $2,000 each: Kelly’s Heroes, David’s
Team, Gilberts Grizzlies, Mighty Mutant
Power Rangers, Team Jessica, Team
Sprout, and Winning the Fight.
Thanks go to Hampshire High School
staff and students for hosting the event!
The 2011 Relay will be held at DundeeCrown High School on May 13-14.
The prestigious deLacey Family Education Center has openings for all-day childcare,
including 2 1/2 hours of preschool learning time by skilled staff. Space is limited.
Flexible 2-day through 5-day options are available for your convenience as follows:
High schools
Freshmen: Monday, July 12*
Sophomores: Tuesday, July 13*
Juniors: Wednesday, July 14*
Seniors: Thursday, July 15*
* Hours are 12 noon to 8 p.m. Doors will
close 4 to 5:30 p.m. (High schools are
closed for registration data entry on
Tuesday, July 20; Wednesday, July 21;
and Thursday, July 22.)
D300 allows student fees to be paid
online. To use this option, either (1) visit
www.d300.org/parents/fees and choose
“online student fee payments.” Or (2) visit
the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. The IC
Portal button is on the home page of the
D300 website, www.d300.org, toward the
left.
If you have questions about student
fees, please directly contact your
student’s school. Fees paid will be
updated daily.
Briefs & Bits
10-hour day program: $460-$900/month
8-hour day program: $335-$655/month
5-hour day program: $245-$475/month
FILL THE BUS!
District 300 will
collect school supplies
for over 150 homeless
students on Saturday,
July 17, at the WalMart on Randall Road
in Algonquin. The goal is to literally FILL
THE BUS with school supplies for our very
neediest students. To view the supply list,
please visit www.d300.org/news/18604
If you are not available July 17, call D300
Pupil Personnel Services 847.551.8307.
EASTVIEW KIDS PARADE THEIR
LOVE OF READING
D300 APPLICATION OF LAWN
CARE PRODUCTS
Following the requirements of Illinois
Compiled Statutes Environmental Safety
Lawn Care Products Application and
Notice Act 415ILCS65/3, notice is hereby
given by D300 that lawn care product
applications have been scheduled.
Specific application dates will be posted
at the schools and on the D300 website’s
legal notice page: www.d300.org/aboutus/other-legal-notices
Eastview Elementary students recently
kicked off their annual Summer Reading
Program - but with a twist. Like last year’s
program, students who reach their summer
reading goals will be invited to an “Eastview
only” party at the Algonquin Pool on July 31.
But new this year is an added incentive, one
that has Eastview children more willing than
ever to put books above videogames this
summer. Students who reach their reading
goals will be able to march in the Algonquin
Founders Day Parade on Saturday, July 24.
To top it off, they will all wear hand-crafted
sandwich boards that depict their favorite
stories, transforming them from ordinary
children to walking books.
deLacey is located in Carpentersville
at 50 Cleveland Avenue.
Call (224) 484-2400 to apply.
“FIREMAN TOM”
HONORED AT FUN RUN
The Dundee Highlands
Elementary School community
united June 4 to honor Lt. Tom
Lutzow of the West Dundee
Fire Department who passed
away April 10, 2010. The school’s
annual Fun Run was started 14
years ago as a fun community
gathering that promoted
fitness by running through
the neighborhood around the
school. This year, the event was
renamed the “Annual Fireman
Tom Memorial Fun Run” in
honor of Lt. Lutzow, known
to students as Fireman Tom
through the safety lessons he
taught them over the years.
As part of this memorial, the
Dundee Highlands family raised
over $1,100 for the Illinois Fire
Safety Alliance Burn Camp which
Fireman Tom supported.
Fireman Tom dedicated his life
to helping and teaching others.
His legacy will live on through
this annual community event.
For more information, please call
Principal Patricia Schmidt at (224)
484-4700.
Briefs & Bits
8
9
Leading the Way
The following students, staff and community members were specially honored in
recent months by the School Board. Please join the Board in congratulating these
leaders! (Those recognized in June will be featured in the August newsletter.)
Katherine King, teacher
Lake in the Hills Elementary School
For helping to write an ISAT test
Jennifer Rood
Soryia Sabir
Gianna Scarpelli
D300 Foundation – Student
Leadership Grant Winners
Jacobs High School
girls varsity cheerleaders
IHSA state athletes
Jessica Bonilla
Ashleigh Collins
Kaitlin Ehardt
Kimberly Froehlich
Kirsten Froehlich
Sherise Glueckert
Melissa Hauck
Loren Jones
Casey Kozak
Melissa Krieser
Jessica Stetz
Jessica Lisle
Lauren Lorusso
Brittany Lynch
Kelsey McGreaham
Kegan Moberg
Bethany Muscat
Danielle Muscia
Nina Paganucci
Ann Ramsett
Tayler Roebke
Nyla Walker
Gina Paxson
State qualifier in speech
Dundee-Crown High School
Leading the Way
Heather Anderson
Library of Congress
writing contest finalist
Lake in the Hills Elementary
Jermiko “Miko” Villanueva
IHSA state wrestler
Dundee-Crown High School
Jacobs High School girls bowling
IHSA state athletes
Elizabeth Pedraza
Ashley Rood
Sarah Siska
Rebecca Payne
Brian Andersen
2010 Kane County
Spelling Bee Winner
Dundee Middle School
Kwamayne King (pictured above)
Dundee-Crown High School
Stephen Lenzini
Jacobs High School
Christopher Egger
Hampshire High School
To hear a radio interview with
these outstanding young men
about their experiences at the
national youth leadership summit
in Washington D.C., please visit
www.d300.org/audio/17451
Jessie Van Dorin
IHSA girls 3A basketball
3-point shooter state champion
Hampshire High School
Jacobs High School
Special Olympics Basketball Team
State medalists
Daniel Marquis
Nathan Lewandowski
Kaylyn Leopold
Alex Bohman
Spencer Deacon
Jessica Serio
J.T. Morrison
Ashley Morales
Jacobs High School
Tutoring Center
Honored by the National
Tutoring Association
Staff : Mandi Frye and Ami Engel
Students:
Becca Clark
Beth Lampp
Lauren Booth
Matt Del Fiacco
Jess Gabl
Sai Mallipeddi
Molly Messner
Ashley McCallister
Alizey Azmi
Joslyn Bait
Mark Batt
Meghan Odendaal
Siobhan Odendaal
Pam Schuett
Luke Moyta
Josh Jarach
Leading the Way
10
11
Jacobs High School Project Ignition
“In the blink of an eye: think before you drive”
National Recognition
Sponsors Eliseo Saldivar and Terri Dawson
Michelle Mikos
Mackenzie Moy
Ashley Mueller
Taylor Paice
Arly Panvino
Jaimie Rohde
Kayla Schneider
Kelsey Schneider
Anna Vierneisel
Karen Zaehler
Jaquez Person
Read 180
National All-Star
Lakewood School
Delina
Zapata with
her father
and her
guidance
counselor,
Janet
Johnson
Delina Zapata
Illinois Golden Apple Scholarship
Dundee-Crown High School
Leading the Way (continued)
To read the biography of each nominee, and to see who landed top honors at the
county awards, please visit: http://www.d300.org/news/18049 You can listen to a radio
interview with all four nominees at http://www.d300.org/audio/17929
Nancy Garber
Dundee Middle
Jacobs High School Varsity Dance Team
State finalists
Hip Hop Dance and Open Pom
Taylor Bruno
Mackenzie Butler
Cassie Castillo
Abby Chieppa
Alyssa Chittenden
Carley Dubinski
Olivia Flowers
Nancy Hyman
Chrissy Jordanov
Alyssa Martorano
Alyssa Menolascino
Nominees for 2010 Kane County Educator of the Year
John Gorman
Dundee-Crown
Marilyn Becker
Gary D. Wright Elem.
Kelly Bolas
Neubert Elem.
2010 State Science Fair
Diane Magerko (right) greets donors
during the D300 Foundation’s
“Save the Music” instrument drive this April
Diane Magerko
D300 Foundation
Outstanding volunteer service
Algonquin Middle School: Daniyel Carpenter
and Jake Modlisz
Dundee Middle School: Kristy Fang, Emily
Skrzypczynski, Andrew Fischer, Morgan
Frederiksen, Rachel Gallagher, Nathan Haas,
Kelsea Nolan, Archit Potharazu, Thomas Rice,
and Ben Stone
Dundee Township
Rotary Club
30 years of dedicated
support of D300 students,
most recently including the
donation of 456 Webster’s
dictionaries to Title I schools
Hampshire Middle School: Sylvia Faszczewski
Westfield Community School: Sarah Basheer,
Taylor Brust, Miranda Corbett, Jamie DeVita,
Rebecca Haughey, Matthew Q. Johnson,
Alyssa Lach, Suzie McDaniel, Sejal Patel, Ariana
Pignatari, Keeley Quinlan, Amy Schuett, Joseph
Slovak, and McKenzie Stern
Lorraine Jensen with her husband Tom
(left) and Superintendent Ken Arndt
Lorraine Jensen
For 33+ years of service as the
Superintendent’s assistant, serving a
total of five D300 superintendents
Dundee-Crown High School: Lydia Auch, Kyle
Efken, Eleanor Oskorep, and Elinor Davies
Hampshire High School: Nick DeNardo
(L to R): Katie Rim, Megan Elliott,
Mary Do, Sara Ciavarella, and Kyle Brooks
Jacobs High School: Prachi Aggarwal, Abdul Basheer, Jexenia Bennett, Cameron
Bodie, Jessica Bonilla, Kyle Brooks, Sara Ciavarella, Mary Do, Megan Elliott, Tiffany
Fang, Katie Rim, Victoria Tamburrino, Katie Walker, and Connor Yau
Leading the Way
12
13
Dundee-Crown High School
Graduation 2010
To see more than 100 “behind the scenes”
photos of DCHS graduation in full color, please
visit the school district’s Facebook page.
Go to www.facebook.com and search for
CUSD300 (one word). The photo albums are on
the left side of the CUSD300 Facebook page.
“
To our families, we never could have made
it here without you. Thank you for everything.
From running out to buy supplies the night
before a big project was due, to guiding us
through the sometimes treacherous waters of
adolescence and helping us to figure out the
people we want to become, we cannot begin
to express our gratitude. As we assume more
responsibilities in the coming years, whether
we will be entering the workforce, attending
centers of higher education, or beginning
families of our own, we will continue to
discover newfound appreciation for all that you
have done for us.”
Lindsey Clark
2010 Valedictorian
“
Mrs. McCarthy, your determination as the
binding unit of our school, and even your
welcoming announcements over the PA
system, have created a spirit of Charger Pride
that will follow us Chargers to a future of higher
education, military, and the job force.”
Gina Paxson
Class of 2010
Dundee-Crown graduation
“
When the district was forced to let 180
teachers go, we as students recognized the
need to support our teachers. We value our
education and our learning environment,
providing our educators, our community
members, with the support they needed. We
did not just protest in support of education,
we reinforced the belief that our teachers
are imperative to our education. Without
our teachers to support us and provide us
with an education, we can never hope to
be as successful as we have become. We as
students have recognized this inherent flaw
in the system and have worked to prevent our
community’s collapse, proving that our worth
is not determinant on money or test scores,
but rather our strive to support each other and
ensure that we are always receiving the best
education we can.
We as a community always ensure success
by aiding those members that are in need of
protection and support, as we have done for
our teachers. We have created our own wealth
and value by creating our community and
letting this support system live within us, in
and out of school. Our teachers, as imperative
members of our community, can remember
their value to us and take this with them
wherever they go. They are only leaving the
Dundee-Crown community in the physical
sense. Their impact on us will remain even after
they are gone. They were a part of the creation
of our community, and our support will remain
with them as they continue to aid and support
new students in the future.
We must not forget the impact of this support
system on our education or allow it to diminish.”
Michelle Musielewisz
2010 Salutatorian
Dundee-Crown graduation
14
15
“
This is the ceremony that turns your baby
girl or boy into an individual ready to take on
the world. You have seen them grow, walk, talk,
smile, cry, and even that dreadful word ‘date.’
But most importantly, you have seen them
become passionate for something and have
supported them throughout these four years.
Welcome to the final stage of your child’s high
school experience.”
Gina Paxson
Class of 2010
“
I will always have a special place in my heart
for the class of 2010. We both entered DundeeCrown in the fall of 2006 as novices in our roles;
the students as excited, yet scared, freshmen
and me as an excited, yet scared, new principal.
This class has been a catalyst for positive
change at Dundee-Crown. While our paths
will now part ways, I know we have learned
from each other and are no longer the naïve
freshmen we were four years ago. Keep pushing
that pride, Chargers!”
Principal Lynn McCarthy
Where are they going?
Hampshire High School
Graduation 2010
“
Six years ago, my brother, Troy, recited
a quote that I still live by today. Although
it is quoted by many, legendary Notre
Dame football coach Lou Holtz is most
often attributed to the quote. He says,
If what you did yesterday
seems big, you haven’t done
anything today.
To see more than 100
“behind the scenes” photos of
Hampshire graduation in full
color, please visit the school
district’s Facebook page.
Go to www.facebook.com
and search for CUSD300 (one
word). The photo albums are
on the left side of the CUSD300
Facebook page.
It is easy to apply the quote only to
sports, because it originated from an
athletic environment. But the quote can
take on more meaning than that. Move
on to achieve greater accomplishments that exceed all of your previous triumphs.
Continue learning new and interesting topics even after high school. Keep making
new friends and great memories to bring more enjoyment to your life. Live every day
with a purpose, and make every day count.
This advice promotes self-motivation, which in my mind is a key to success. As a
member of the class of 2010, I have seen the great potential for success throughout
our graduating class. ... I have personally seen numerous athletes training in the offseason without any coaches to fuel their drive for success. I have also seen several
students taking time out of their own lives to expand their interest, such as music or
theater, into a potential career. If we can motivate ourselves without any guaranteed
reward or pat on the back, then we will continue to improve ourselves and achieve
success when others do not. “
Ty Hendry, Valedictorian
Members of this year’s DCHS
graduating class are headed to
Northwestern, IIT, the University of
Chicago, Manchester –UK, DePaul,
Loyola, UIC, Augustana, Carthage,
all state schools, plus many other
prestigious institutions.
Dundee-Crown graduation (continued)
Hampshire graduation
16
17
“
This year’s senior class is a talented
group of hardworking individuals,
adjusting well to their second year
in a new high school and excelling
in academics, athletics, the arts, and
leadership. The class is made of 22
Illinois State Scholars; 33 received
the President’s Award for Educational
Excellence;19 students were named
Prairie State Scholars; 17 students
received Career Readiness
Award Certificates. Fortytwo Advanced Placement
(AP) Exams were taken by
seniors this year
Additionally, Senior
Abuzar Zaidi helped
to organize Mayday
Mayhem, a successful
first-time fun fair and Mr.
Whippur contest, raising
money for the Make a
Wish Foundation. Seniors Kelly Linder
and Sean Doherty are co-chairs for the
District 300 Relay For Life event, hosted
at Hampshire High School, helping
with recruitment, event planning, and
fundraising for cancer research. Both
have dedicated their time to attend
numerous after-school and evening
meetings to help plan the event
We congratulate the students for
their performance at the 46th Annual
Illinois SkillsUSA contest that was held in
Springfield, Illinois, last month: Anthony
Hampshire graduation (continued)
Tischer, 7th place Culinary Arts; Roman
Martinez, 10th place Diesel Technology;
Alex Caul, 12th place Cabinetmaking;
Aric Hassen, 12th place Power Equipment
Technology; TJ Thompson, 7th place
Power Equipment Technology.
This year’s senior class also has athletes
who have been members of teams who
won nine conference championships,
nine regionals, four sectionals, and one
supersectional. They also
have contributed to winning
two state soccer and one
state volleyball trophy. This
year alone, eight seniors
competed for individual
championships at state.
Most recently, seniors Holly
Plichta and Tiffany Phu were
on the Two-Mile Relay Team
that brought home gold and
set two new state records.
Two of our scholarship winners were
accepted into an honors program: Tyler
Hendry at Northern Illinois University,
and Sean Doherty at Millikin University.
Amy Wehrs and Kara Wehrs received full
athletic scholarships to play Division 1
volleyball at the University of Kansas.
Alex Gemaljevic will be attending the
Belgrade University School of Medicine in
Belgrade, Serbia.”
Principal Chuck Bumbales
“
In a way, our high school careers
can be compared to that mile in
gym class, with graduation as the
finish line. Some of us ran as fast
as we could, to get it over with.
These students are the ones who
could not be happier that this day
is finally here,
and some
even decided
to leave us in
January. Some
of us walked
the first few
laps and then
picked it up
at the end.
These are the
students who
might be a
little hesitant
to leave the halls of Hampshire
High but have become more
ready to graduate in their last year,
semester, or even few weeks of
class. Whichever student we were,
I’m sure that we all had that feeling
of dread when we stepped onto
the track.
Some of us won’t admit it, but
that feeling of dread carries over
into our lives right now as well.
Now that you are done with one
hypothetical race, you must start
a longer, much more difficult one.
Even the best runners get anxiety
before a big race. And even the most
confident students will be nervous
starting the
rest of their
lives after
today.
One of my
teachers here
at Hampshire
once told me
that whether
or not we
want to leave
here, we are
ready to get
out and start
something new.
I sincerely hope that your high
school career at Hampshire was
great. But I also hope that your life
when you leave here is exponentially
better.”
Rachel Neisendorf
Salutatorian
Hampshire graduation
18
19
Jacobs High School
Graduation 2010
More from Elizabeth Lampp:
“When we walk out that door, we’ll stand
To see more than 100 “behind the
scenes” photos of Jacobs graduation in
full color, please visit the school district’s
Facebook page.
Go to www.facebook.com and search
for CUSD300 (one word). The photo
albums are on the left side of the CUSD300
Facebook page.
“I’m going to start with a quote from a song
called ‘For Good’ from the musical ‘Wicked’,
because it fits. It reads,
I’ve heard it said that people come
into our lives for a reason, bringing
something we must learn; and we are
led to those people who help us most to
grow if we let them and we help them in
return.
This rings true for all of us, I think. Even if it
only rings true when we think of one or two
people. I know for certain that if each of you
looks around this arena, you’ll see someone
who has changed who you are, at your core,
for the better. Whether it’s a teacher, a family
member, or a friend, there is someone you can
look to - or remember - that has helped shape
who you are during the past four years. That’s
the essence of the high school experience.”
Elizabeth Lampp
Class of 2010
Jacobs graduation
on the cusp of a new decade. We are the next
generation, leading the charge into what I can
only call the ‘tens.’ History remembers only a
select few individuals specifically, but it defines
decades by the people that lived through them.
We remember the polka-dotted dresses and
nuclear families from the 50s. We remember the
growing peace movement and social revolution
from the 60s. We remember the full force of
the anti-war movement and the music from the
70s. Each of these preceding generations laid
down certain foundations that we can either
preserve, build upon, or demolish. We’ll have to
remove some bits and improve others in order
to improve ourselves and society, and we’ll
have to do it as a strong force. I, for one, don’t
intend to be remembered as a member of a Lost
Generation or a Silent Generation. And I doubt
any of you do, either.
People remember thunderstorms for their
sound and fury, and they remember generations
for the same. What will set us apart is our sound
and fury. We’ll have to build that for ourselves,
like our parents and our grandparents and our
great-grandparents did.”
2010 JHS Valedictorians
Joseph M. Barnec
Cassandra J. Castillo
Jae Wook Cha
Brittany N. Cooke
Ashlen E. Dunn
Emily R. Heinz
Erik J. Melchers
Kevin R. Olson
Meghan Odendaal
Daniel V. Paitl
Siobhan Odendaal
Brandon S. Richman
Pamela M. Schuett
Brittany L. White
Danielle M. Montgomery
Jacobs graduation
20
21
“Although the feeling of completion is a
victorious one, and though the excitement
of the upcoming future can only bring
pleasant thoughts, does it seem absurd to
wonder how much time anyone spends
waiting for that moment to arrive?
Life wasn’t meant to be taken in bits and
pieces. If we’re all waiting for something
better than the present, will we continue
to be unsatisfied? When your ‘life flashes
before you,’ will you look upon those
restless moments with regret of the
possible gain that could have prospered in
that time?”
Cassie Castillo
Valedictorian
Earning their way
Grant Dixon $172,000 trustee scholarship
and university scholarship to the University of
Southern California
Emily Heinz $100,000 gymnastics
scholarship to Central Michigan University
Elizabeth Lampp $149,640 full tuition
scholarship to the University of Wisconsin,
Madison
Emmanuella Makridakis $125,832 deans’
scholarship to Texas Christian University
Jacobs graduation (continued)
Bregy appointed next superintendent
serve as assistant principal of Jefferson High
The D300 School Board voted
School in Rockford. His parents, Joyce and
unanimously on May 6, 2010, to
Bob Bregy, still live in the Mt. Prospect home
hire Michael Bregy as the next
where he grew up.
superintendent of D300.
Bregy joined District 300 in 2001 as an
Superintendent Ken Arndt will retire
assistant principal at Jacobs High School and
on June 30, 2011, after diligently serving
was promoted to principal in 2004. Over the
the district for 10 years. Bregy will begin
years, he has made significant contributions
his transition by first serving as associate
to many district-level efforts.
superintendent for a year, beginning
He looks forward to applying his
this summer. This will enable him to
elementary, middle and high school
learn from Dr. Arndt while also taking
experiences at the district level
on the responsibilities
and building upon these diverse
of the associate
experiences to support each and
superintendent. These
every student.
responsibilities include
“As principal, I considered
directing the daily
myself the ‘head teacher’ and
operations of the entire
have consistently applied
district in terms of legal
that philosophy,” he said. “As
matters, Board policies,
superintendent, I plan on being
Administrative
Procedures,
Superintendent-elect Michael Bregy actively involved in all of our
student registration
with Associate Superintendent-elect schools, not just observing the
day-to-day operations. My
and enrollment,
Sarah Kedroski
focus always has been and will
safety oversight,
be on student learning and the classroom
transportation oversight, and more. He
environment.”
will officially become the district’s ninth
The Board’s decision came after an
superintendent on July 1, 2011.
intensive process, led by recruiting firm
Bregy secured his Bachelor’s degree
Hazard, Young, Attea & Assoc. (HYA). The
in 1995 from the University of North
process began a few months ago and
Texas in interdisciplinary studies with
featured input forums with stakeholders
a mathematics specialization. He went
across the district. HYA then developed a
on to achieve a Master’s degree from
profile of what stakeholders said they wanted
Northern Illinois University in 2001
in the district’s next leader. The findings
and his Education Specialist Degree
revealed their universal preference to hire an
from Northern Illinois University in
internal candidate (current staff member).
2005. Bregy has completed his doctoral
The pool of qualified internal candidates was
coursework and is in the writing portion
eventually narrowed, and the finalists were
of finishing his dissertation.
each interviewed exhaustively.
Now 44 years old, the Algonquin
“The Board took this process extremely
resident began his educational career
seriously,” said Board President Joe Stevens.
nearly 15 years ago as a third grade
“Selection of the superintendent is probably
teacher in the Dallas suburb of Coppell,
the most crucial job we have. We trusted the
Texas. Bregy then became a middle
process and had no preconceived notions
school math teacher in Coppell before
about the outcome.”
relocating back to his native Illinois to
Superintendent Appointment
22
23
LEAD Teacher Feature
LANCE HUBER
YEARS TEACHING IN
D300: 16
QUOTE FROM HIS HIGH
SCHOOL COACH:
“Sometimes
you’re the
windshield,
sometimes
you’re the bug.”
Lance Huber strongly believes that as a high school
athletic coach, you wear a lot of different hats. He has
had many years and venues to develop this belief.
After graduating from Millikin University, majoring in
communications with a minor in business, he went on to
earn his Master’s degree in teacher leadership from Roosevelt
University. Huber has been a coach and business education
teacher for the past 16 years at Dundee-Crown High
School, where he currently coaches varsity basketball and
sophomore football.
“Coaching is about a lot more than the score on the board
at the end of the game,” Huber said.
Powerful and meaningful relationships develop between
children and their coaches. Questions about which classes to
take, or which girl to date, are as common as inquiries about
game strategy or strength training. For students who come
from single-parent homes, their coach can become their
all-important male role model. Huber believes it is a huge
responsibility to be so involved in shaping the character of
young men and women. And, he says, it is a responsibility
that the entire Athletic Department at Dundee-Crown takes
seriously.
Huber said he appreciates working for a school where
no child is turned away from sports because of financial
constraints. For example, Dundee-Crown has an “Adopt an
Athlete” Foundation through which community members
can sponsor children who cannot afford the
equipment or athletic fees associated with
high school sports. Additionally, the coaches at
Dundee-Crown tend to be rather generous with
their own resources when helping children.
Huber said that the rewards associated with
developing relationships with young people
are extraordinary. Students commonly come
back to see Huber after they’ve moved on with
their lives. As a business teacher and coach, he
has felt the joy of students returning to tell their
stories of playing ball in college. Or they may
share with him their good news about managing
their money and writing checks as responsible
adults.
There are many roads that can lead today’s
generation to self destruction. Huber is living proof that a
dedicated high school teacher can make a difference in the
choices young people make when leaving high school.
“I want to give students skills they need to be proud of
their life choices.”
LEAD Teacher Feature: Lance Huber
Budget update
(cont. from p. 4)
... 4.5% through furlough days, no overtime
pay, and other means. Non-union employees
will likewise be hit by 4.4% in 2010-2011.
The Board was disappointed by a majority of
LEAD, the teachers union, voting against $2.2
million in concessions in early June. While the
union noted that the teacher layoffs will help the
district with its budget, Board members noted
that nearly all D300 employees who still have
their jobs this fall will feel a personal impact on
their own paychecks -- except LEAD members.
When this newsletter went to print, Board
President Joe Stevens was set to meet with LEAD
representatives to continue negotiations.
From the June 10 news release,
which outlined the new contracts
for most employee groups and
provided the Board’s response to
the LEAD vote:
SALARIES & BENEFITS
2009-10 to 2010-11*
Administrators = -4.1 % cut
Secretaries/custodians = -4.5 % cut
Non-union = -4.4 % cut
Paraeducators = +4.5 % increase **
Teachers/certified = +6.0 % increase
* For those staff retaining their jobs
** The paraeducators’ contract was
already in place for 2008-2013.
D300 introduces
“fresh fruits &
vegetables” program
This upcoming school year (2010-2011),
District 300 will launch the Fresh Fruits &
Vegetables Program at five elementary
schools: Golfview, Parkview, Lakewood,
Meadowdale, and Perry. These are some of
the schools in D300 whose staff are working to improve their schools’ wellness environment,
by striving to meet the standards of the federal Healthier US School Challenge.
“The kids have really started talking about and making healthier food choices,” said Lianne
Tompkins, a health and physical education teacher at Golfview. “Recently, we added some
traditional fresh fruits and vegetables to our school lunches. And now this fall we will have
‘exotic’ fruits and veggies through this new program.”
D300 will begin offering a creative slate of fruits and veggies in collaboration with our
community, to instill lifelong healthy habits and learning for our students and their families.
D300 was recently awarded the program grant, valued at approximately $175,000 to
$225,000, or $50 to $75 dollars per child. The program is funded by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, which allocated $3.3 million to Illinois schools to create healthier school
environments, by expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children can experience
throughout their day.
The program will provide students with fresh fruits and vegetables at least twice weekly
at times other than their traditional breakfast and lunch meal periods. Illinois schools being
awarded program funding have made creative efforts to introduce items beyond the usual
ABC’s: apples, bananas, and carrots.
School Board Meetings
7:30 p.m. Monday, July 26, at the Administration Center
7:30 p.m. Monday, August 9, at the Administration Center
Back to school: Monday, August 16
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit 300
Dundee IL 60118
Calendar
POSTAL PATRON
Board of Education
Top row, left to right: Superintendent Ken Arndt, Associate
Superintendent Michael Bregy, Board Member Karen Plaza
(Algonquin Township), Board Member Monica Clark (Hampshire
Township), Board Member David Alessio (Dundee Township), and
Board Member Chris Stanton (Rutland Township).
Lower row, left to right: Board Secretary Anne Miller (Algonquin
Township), Board President Joe Stevens (Dundee Township), and
Board Vice President Karen Roeckner (Dundee Township).
PLAZA APPOINTED TO BOARD
After publicly interviewing the nine applicants for
the Board seat recently vacated by John Ryan, the
School Board decided to appoint Karen Plaza. She was
sworn into office June 14 to finish the term through
April 2011.
Plaza, who lives in Lake in the Hills, has worked in the Business Office
of three school districts, including District 300’s Accounting Office from
2004 to 2007, and currently works as the Director of Finance for Crystal
Lake District 47. She also has classroom experience as a paraeducator
and long-term substitute teacher. In her interview and application
materials, Plaza noted that D300 must live within its means despite the
difficult decisions presented by the state’s budget problems.
COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT 300
300 CLEVELAND AVENUE
CARPENTERSVILLE IL 60110
You are welcome to contact the Board as follows: [email protected]