Community Connections 4th Edition

It is hard to believe that another year has come to an end. Over the summer we will be continuing to implement building enhancements throughout the District. We look forward to seeing the completion of the work, from our middle schools to the opening of the brand new Field Elementary School!

We are so excited to know that we will be continuing our one-of-a-kind partnership with Elmhurst Hospital. Knowing that the nurses in our schools are the highly qualified staff of Elmhurst Hospital and that our students and staff will be receiving the highest quality of care possible is something that, for me as both your Superintendent and a parent, is invaluable.

I am always so proud to talk about all of the

tools that we are able to provide our students. The Student Services team members continue to work throughout all of our schools to ensure that we are providing the tiered support necessary to meet the individualized needs of every student throughout their entire journey of excellence in D205. This work can’t be done without the help of our families and we value the relationships and partnerships we have.

As Ms. Albert shares in her interview, there are so many amazing opportunities that are provided at York for D205 students to have a chance to explore various career and life pathways. The La Brigade Restaurant in the Career and Technical Division at York is a prime example of this. Not only do students have an opportunity to submerge themselves in what it is like to run a restaurant or to lead in other culinary areas, they are also able to earn college credit while they are doing it... and the food is absolutely delicious!

Thank you for another amazing year! We look forward to seeing you all in August!

Have a great summer!

REGISTER TODAY

For the 2023-2024 School Year

Online Registration

Returning families can register online through your PowerSchool. New Families can find documents on the website to fill out prior to finalizing in person at your neighborhood school.

Walk-In Registration

Visit your neighborhood school to register. Registration during the summer will be as follows:

• Elementary School/Middle School - July 25-27

• York Community High SchoolThroughout the summer

Residency Verification

Unsure what school your residency falls within? Need to verify residency for this upcoming school year? Visit the district's website to enter your address and see what documents are required to verify residency and what school your child will be attending.

Dr. Keisha Campbell Superintendent

MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT

DR. KEISHA CAMPBELL

DISTRICT 205 SCHOOL NURSES ARE

District 205 and Elmhurst Hospital extend one-of-a-kind partnership to continue providing high-quality medical services to all District 205 students

By: Tonya Daniels

School nurses allow all students to be healthy, safe, and ready to learn and having high quality school nurses allows a school to function at a higher level. They provide empathy, compassion and often develop strong relationships with students and families. School nurses collaborate with administrators, teachers, parents, families, and are often a direct line for families and health care professionals. Whether it is a sore throat, a headache, or even mental health issues, the school nurse is also often the trusted adult that students rely on and feel the most comfortable with at school. With this in mind, when Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 and Elmhurst Hospital met to discuss the continuation of their 10-year partnership to provide nurses in the schools, it was a resounding yes from both organizations. This contract is unique to District 205 with no other school district in the area reporting an agreement similar to this.

“We are thrilled to continue this important partnership with Elmhurst Hospital and to know that our students and staff will continue to be provided an added layer of health and safety not found in other school districts in the area,” said Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Superintendent Dr. Keisha Campbell. “For more than 10 years, the District has partnered with the hospital for nursing services and over that time our nurses have become a part of our school communities and we are elated to continue this extraordinary community partnership.”

The health and safety of their staff and students is one of the top priorities of District 205 and the last few years have further emphasized how important the role of the school nurse is to a school. This agreement provides an outstanding benefit to the

community by having those roles filled by nurses directly from their local hospital.

“Elmhurst Hospital is excited to continue our partnership with Elmhurst School District 205 and appreciates the opportunity to provide ongoing support for our nurses in the community,” said Dr. Kimberley Darey, President, Elmhurst Hospital

All of the school nurses will work for the Elmhurst Hospital - a top rated health care provider in the Chicagoland area. As employees of the hospital, they will also receive the same professional learning opportunities provided by Elmhurst Hospital - Delivering the highest quality care for all Elmhurst School District 205 schools.

BUILDING STUDENT SUCCESS

Updates on building upgrades slated for completion this summer

By: Karla Regalado

With the summer season fast approaching, the time has come to both continue our progress on current construction projects and initiate work on new ones. In November of 2018, the Elmhurst community overwhelmingly approved a referendum allocating $168.5M to enhance safety and security measures, expand learning spaces, and address maintenance and infrastructure needs across all schools. This summer, Fischer Elementary School, Bryan Middle School, Churchville Middle School, and Sandburg Middle School will be the sites undergoing renovations to meet the needs of our growing community.

After careful consideration of each school’s unique needs and goals, it was determined that Fischer Elementary School required essential updates to better serve its students and staff. Specifically, the school is receiving a new addition of six state-of-the-art classrooms, as well as significant interior renovations that include reconfiguration of classroom and hallway spaces, updates to the media center, and the addition of a makerspace - a collaborative space for students to make, learn, explore and share work. Fischer will also be updating its gym by replacing the floors and giving it a fresh coat of paint. With these changes in mind, construction and renovation

updates will include the installation of new flooring in the cafeteria, a fresh coat of paint for the gym, and other enhancements. The old main office, library, and bathrooms will be completely renovated and updated. An emergency backup generator will also be installed for the building, and the auditorium stage lighting, rigging, and sound will be replaced.

The school will also improve its exterior by repaving the bus lanes, clearing the gravel parking lot, and adding additional green space. These improvements will provide major impacts to the school by creating a new atmosphere.

”Bryan Middle School continues to grow and evolve with our students. The addition of our new main office created such a warm and welcoming environment while also providing additional security. We are very excited to see the next phase of the work including the upgrades to the librar y and the creation of a student services office. The central location for our student service personnel will help serve our students and provide wrap around support. The hallway flooring upgrades will add to the warm and welcoming environment at BMS” said Jacquelyn Discipio, Bryan Middle School Principal.

Churchville Middle School will receive some of the most significant and necessary updates. First and foremost, a secure entrance will be installed to ensure the safety and security of all students, staff, and facilities. This is a top priority for District 205, and every possible step is being taken to achieve this goal. Churchville will also benefit from a gym divider cur tain, which can be used in various ways to divide the gym and allow for multiple school and sporting events to occur at the same time. Additionally, slated for the 2024 construction season, the District is designing a new auditorium for Churchville which will bring tremendous joy to the Charger community

efforts will continue throughout the remainder of the year and into the summer, so that everything is in place and ready to go when the new school year begins in the fall.

Both students and staff are eagerly waiting for the completion of these updates. Whether it’s by sparking their creativity in the new Makerspace or providing more flexible classroom options, these changes will greatly benefit them. “All of the work that is being done in the schools is student centered,” said Todd Schmidt, District 205 Director of Operations. “We are thrilled to be able to provide high-quality flexible learning spaces that also enhance safety and security.”

In addition to the construction at Fischer, all of our middle schools will also be undergoing significant updates to enhance learning spaces. Bryan Middle School, Churchville Middle School, and Sandburg Middle School will all be receiving a variety of interior renovations to enhance the building and provide students and staff with improved facilities.

Bryan Middle School is set to receive a wide range of construction updates that will transform the interior and exterior design of the school. These

Lastly, Sandburg Middle School will also undergo both interior and exterior construction updates. The front parking lot will be repaved, giving it a fresh and modern look. In terms of interior updates, an emergency generator will be installed, and a new HVAC unit will be added to the auditorium. The auditorium stage lighting and rigging will also be replaced, and the gym will be given a new coat of paint, making it feel brand new. Sandburg Middle School will also benefit from two other necessary renovations that will greatly enhance the school. The media center will be renovated, helping to ensure that students can explore their creativity and imagination. Additionally, an ADA accessible route will be added to the cafeteria, to provide access for individuals with disabilities, including those using wheelchairs or mobility devices. This renovation will continue to benefit students with disabilities for years to come. These updates were necessary for Sandburg Middle School and will be utilized fully to enhance the school’s overall experience.

With all of these changes being made to our schools, we will begin to see the benefits and how they will positively impact our students’ experience We are grateful for the support of the D05 community that has made it possible for us to continue improving our schools. This work positively impacts student outcomes and continues to elevate the Elmhurst D205 community as a great place to live and raise a family. Thank you for your continued support in making our schools the best they can be.

Skylights in new Makerspace in Fischer Elementary School

ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Special Education Services in Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205

By: Kevin Rubenstein

The Student Journey of Excellence, the District’s strategic planning framework, envisions students who are educated, engaged, and empowered to be College, Career, and Life Ready. That includes the more than 1,400 students with disabilities who are served by the District’s special education programs. “I look at the strategic plan and recognize that it includes every student - not just those who are high achieving or who speak well. It also includes those students who need a bit of extra support or specialized instruction. Those are the students we serve in special education and the Journey of Excellence certainly calls that out,” said Dr. Kevin Rubenstein, the District’s Assistant Superintendent for Student Services. Rubenstein oversees efforts to ensure that every student experiences a high quality, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment that supports their unique needs so that every learner has an opportunity to thrive.

Governed by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), special education services are available to students who have one or more disabilities and who require specialized instruction. Beginning on a child’s third birthday and continuing through the age of 22, special education services allow a student to receive intensive instruction aligned to individualized goals. While many of these services were once offered outside of the general education setting, more than 70% of the District’s students with disabilities attend general education settings for the vast majority of their day. From basic reading skill support to more extensive behavior, speech and language, or occupational therapy services, the District provides services based on the individualized needs of each student. Those

1

Beginning developmental

0491). Once Center. “We Early Childhood ensure that we Early intervention help prevent or

needs are articulated with the parents and guardians of students with disabilities at an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) meeting - something that occurs at least once per year to set goals and review services. “IEP meetings really help to drive what we do with every student in our program and make sure that services are tailored to the individual student,” said Dr. Skip Kumm, Assistant Director of Special Education for the District.

Special education services in the District assist the District in their commitment to graduating students who are College, Career, and Life ready. Said Rubenstein, “every student with a disability gives us a unique opportunity to serve and support so that they can reach further than they thought was possible.” Several trends have emerged during the recent years which drive what is happening in special education and student services across the district:

1. Early Intervention Provides Strong Success

2. Strong Parent and Family Partnerships

3. Highly Qualified Team Members

2Strong Parent

For the last several special education of Special Education for EC-5 and so we have worked hard now provided Facilitated IEP practice which starts with the noted, “the feedback has been partner with teachers and other we implemented this strategy. programming for parents of

3 District and learning, students work Special Education based practices

Early Intervention Provides Strong Success

Beginning from early ages, families can seek support for children who may not be meeting developmental milestones through the DuPage County Child and Family Connections (888-356Once a child turns three years old, they may be enrolled in the District’s Madison Early Childhood have so much to offer our youngest learners,” said Dr. Susan Kondrat, Principal at Madison Childhood Center. Kondrat continued, “our programs really support the needs of every child and we are developing strong speech and language skills combined with fine and gross motor skills.” intervention is important because it has a significant impact on a child’s overall development and can or minimize the long-term effects of developmental delays, disabilities, or other challenges.

Parent and Family Partnerships

several years, the District has provided a great deal of professional learning for all education staff members on partnering with parents and families. Colleen Cook, Director EC-5 noted that, “parent and family engagement is extremely impor tant to all of us hard to understand every situation from the perspective of a parent.” The District has IEP Training to the vast majority of its staff and every building is implementing this best the strengths of the student and helps to make every IEP meeting run a bit better. Cook been really great with over 98% of families telling us that they are ‘considered an equal other professionals’ at the IEP meeting. That’s exactly what we were hoping for when strategy. The District’s Special Education Resource Group (SERG) also provides support and students with disabilities throughout the school year

3

Highly Qualified Team Members

The District employs over 300 special education teachers, paraprofessionals, related ser vice providers, and other skilled staff and regularly partners with the School Association for Special Education in Dupage County (SASED). Teachers are the backbone of the and special education teachers and service providers have the expertise and credentials to effectively deliver lessons, facilitate student and assess student progress. “Our team of highly qualified professionals who are dedicated to the success of our special education work hard each day. Our staff members bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table,” said Anna Bahramis, Director of Education for 6-12+. Staff members work with mentors and are provided significant opportunities to stay abreast of the latest evidencepractices and strategies in the field, ensuring that students receive the most appropriate suppor t.

RAVE REVIEWS FOR LA BRIGADE RESTAURANT AT YORK HIGH

Learning essential life skills while exploring passions and pathways.

By: Tonya Daniels

Did you know that one of the most sought-after restaurants in Elmhurst is located in York High School? Vietnamese veggie spring rolls with chili sauce, creamy lemon spinach pasta, lemon coconut cheesecake…these are just examples of the creative culinary works of art that you could experience if you are able to snag one of the highly sought-after reservations to a La Brigade luncheon or dinner.

The La Brigade Restaurant is operated by students in the Food and Restaurant Management class, part of the Career and Technical Education Division at York. La Brigade provides an opportunity for students to experience, hands-on, what it takes to run a restaurant or kitchen from front-of-house service to back-of-house service. Students are responsible to develop the menus, plan out the plating, test the recipes, scale the recipes, order all of the groceries, schedule the preparation plan for the week leading up to a luncheon and create the placement and responsibilities of their employees to ensure success on the day of the event. From opening the kitchen to prep and service, it is completely run and managed by the La Brigade student team.

“This class isn’t just about restaurants and food,” said La Brigade Restaurant Teacher Wendy Albert. “Students are learning to think on their feet, to collaborate and work as a team. They are learning how to challenge their thinking and come up with original ideas, and to shift and pivot in the moment as customer needs are changing. This class provides an opportunity for them to build essential life skills that they can apply throughout the rest of their lives.”

Teegan, a Senior in the La Brigade class, spoke with us about what this class has meant to her. “It taught me how to work well in stressful situations especially when something goes wrong. We work as a team to problem solve,” she shared. “It has taught me how to lead others and has helped me find these passions in myself. Without this class I wouldn’t be able to manage as much as I do now.”

While enrolled in this class, students have the opportunity to receive their sanitation license through the completion of coursework for ServeSafe Sanitation Manager. ServSafe is a food and beverage safety training and certificate program that they also receive free college credit for completing. This certification signifies to a restaurant manager that these students know how to prepare and serve food in a safe manner.

La Brigade student, Nora, will be attending the University of Alabama as a major in food and restaurant

management and shared how she felt this class has prepared her for college. “I’ve really learned a lot in this class that will help me as I begin classes in college. I was able to receive my ServSafe certificate, meaning that I will already have college credits, but it has also taught me so much about teamwork.”

“Without this class I wouldn’t be able to manage as much as I do now”

Reflecting on the breadth of academic options at York, Ms. Albert shared, with pride, that she loves the students at York because, “they come in passionate and excited about learning and wanting to work together to produce the highest level of food and service that they can. York is amazing because we have so many different opportunities for kids and I have loved seeing students find their place. Whether that is in the restaurant field, music, industrial technology, or business, we have so many ways for students to explore their personal passions and career options. It is rewarding when students find that place for them and to see them grow and thrive.”

La Brigade hosts multiple lunch and dinner events throughout the year. If you want to be added to the list to receive information about each of them, you can email labrigade@elmhurst205.org. Make sure you grab your reservations quickly because they have been known to sell out in under two hours!

JOIN THE D205 TEAM!

Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 is a fantastic place to live. It’s also an outstanding place to work!

We are regularly hiring for administrative, teaching, support staff, and other positions in each of our buildings. There is currently a high need for applicants in the following areas:

• Special Education Teachers

• Educational Assistants

• Lunch/Recess Supervisors

• Custodians

Interested people should apply online at https://qrco.de/D205Jobs, or by scanning this QR code

Scan this code to learn more about the program and watch interviews with students and staff

“York is amazing because we have so many different opportunities for kids and I have loved seeing students find their place.”

WELCOME, NEW D205 LEADERS!

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Members serving our community boardofeducation@elmhurst205.org

COURTENAE TRAUTMANN, SECRETARY

Committees: Policy - Chair Safety

KARA CAFORIO

Committees: Finance LEND

ATHENA ARVANITIS PRESIDENT

Committees: Parent-Teacher Advisory/ Behavioral Interventions - Chair

JIM COLLINS Committee: Finance - Chair

BETH HOSLER VICE PRESIDENT

Committees: Policy, IASB Representative SASED Gov Board

KELLY ASSEFF

Committees: Parent-Teacher Advisory/ Behavioral Interventions Finance

DR. KELLY HENRY

Committees: Parent-Teacher Advisory/ Behavioral Interventions Policy

JESSICA HURT PRINCIPAL, YORK HIGH SCHOOL

JOSHUA LOUIS PRINCIPAL, SANDBURG MIDDLE SCHOOL

EFRAÍN MARTÍNEZ PRINCIPAL, CONRAD FISCHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL