School District 54 would like to thank the many sponsors, donors, volunteers and participants that made the Run to Read 2010 a huge success. 

The event – held Sept. 26 at Dirksen School in Schaumburg – raised more than $8,000 to support literacy in School District 54. Our goal is to collect 1,000 children’s books for every classroom in District 54. Many individuals brought books to the race to support our cause. About 525 people turned out to participate in the 5K race, the 1-mile family fun walk or the 100- and 400-yard dashes for children. Another 80 people volunteered to work at the event and countless others were there to cheer on a family member or friend.

District 54 thanks the Campanelli YMCA – the title sponsor of the event this year. We also send our sincere appreciation to Premier Credit Union, Dick Pond Athletics, Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Schaumburg, Mobile Cellutions (a Verizon wireless authorized retailer), Hemisphere Educational Travel and Tru Rehab and Wellness.

Several businesses also made donations and deserve our thanks:  Baker’s Breakfast Cookies, Road ID, Sam’s Club, Orbit Skate Center, Putting Edge, Math Wizards, Mars, Biore, Wheaties, the Schaumburg Township District Library, Applebee’s, Caribou Coffee, Cassidy Tire & Service, the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Wolves, Gameworks, the Shedd Aquarium and Spin Doctors.

A special thank you to the Dirksen Boy Scouts who passed out information about the event to every home on our route; and to the Keller Cross Country teams and coaches who filled all the goody bags.

Next year’s Run to Read will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, at Dirksen School. Online registration is already available at http://sd54.org/runtoread. If you are interested in attending or sponsoring the event, visit the website or contact Terri McHugh at (847) 357-5028 or TerriMcHugh@sd54.org.

Race Results can be found at http://sd54.org/runtoread

Every successful organization has a plan of action with specific goals to guide its work.  District 54, being a high-performing school district, is no different.  Our mission of Ensuring Student Success is at the forefront of everything that we do. 

District 54 has experienced unprecedented gains in student achievement since the plan was approved by our Board of Education and put into action.  It includes our district’s mission, vision, collective commitments, goals and annual projects. The complete document can be found on our district’s website at http://sd54.org/board/mission.

Results from the most recent state and local assessments indicate that our students continue to make remarkable progress.  The ongoing support that we receive from our parents and community, along with our hard working and dedicated staff, has made District 54 what it is today – a great place to learn!  We are proud of the outstanding learning opportunities that take place in our classrooms and are looking forward to seeing what our staff and students will accomplish during the 2010-2011 school year.

The work that we do in all 27 of our schools is guided by the following district goals:

• Students who have attended District 54 schools for at least one year will read at grade level upon entering third grade.
• Each school will close the achievement gap for all students in reading and math as measured by both district and state assessments.
• At least 90% of all students will meet or exceed standards in reading and math as measured by both district and state assessments.

In addition to being accountable for these goals, our staff is engaged in a variety of district-wide projects.  The projects are aligned with district goals and assist us as we continuously improve the educational experiences that we provide for our students.  Several of this year’s key projects are highlighted below. 

To support and strengthen our reading instruction, we will be implementing a new literacy plan in kindergarten through second grade.  In addition, a new writing framework will be utilized in every grade across the district.  These will give our staff additional instructional strategies and resources as they teach their students to become proficient readers and writers. 

Even though our English-language learners are performing well when compared to students across Illinois, we feel that we can do better.  To close the achievement gap for our English-language learners, we will be implementing a new program structure.  These changes will enable us to provide more intensive learning opportunities to help these students transition into English as quickly as possible. 

This year, every student will be receiving the revised standards-based report card.  This change is intended to keep students, parents and staff more fully informed about the progress that is being made and any area that may need additional support. 

To improve communication, our district and each school launched a new Web site.  Please share your feedback regarding any of the improvements.

During the past year, we have been analyzing student enrollment trend data and current school boundaries.  Given the size of our district and the number of students that we serve, it is not hard to imagine that additional adjustments in attendance boundaries will periodically need to be made.  Later this fall, we will be scheduling informational meetings for any family that is impacted.  

We are looking forward to another great school year in District 54 and believe that 2010-2011 will be our best yet!

District 54 Special Olympics is having its Annual Car Wash Fundraiser, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at Nathan Hale Elementary School, 1300 W. Wise Road in Schaumburg.

Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children with intellectual disabilities by giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community. We like to focus on what athletes can do. Like everyone, Special Olympics athletes like to win, but more importantly- they strive to do their best. The sportsmanship that is demonstrated on the court, field, or on the track serves as an inspiration to all.

Donations received at the fundraiser will be used for programming for the 2010-11 school year. For more information on the District 54 Special Olympics program, please call District 54 Special Olympics office at (847)357-2105.

District 54 submitted the following seven nominations for the 2010 Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel Awards program and all seven will be recognized:

• Dilshad Patel, a sixth-grade teacher at Stevenson Elementary School in Elk Grove Village, won an Award of Excellence in the outstanding early career educator category.
• Bob Frankel, a volunteer at MacArthur Elementary School in Hoffman Estates, won an Award of Merit in the community volunteer category.
• Brad Carter, the principal of Muir Elementary in Hoffman Estates, won an Award of Merit in the school administrator category.
• The District 54 Transportation Department won an Award of Merit in the team category.
• Arlene Donatelli, an instructional assistant at Fox Elementary School in Hanover Park, won an award of Merit in the educational service personnel category.
• Blanca Leal, a kindergarten dual language teacher at MacArthur Elementary School in Hoffman Estates, won an Award of Recognition in the classroom teacher category.
• Karen Buzek, the library media teacher at Blackwell Elementary School in Schaumburg, won an Award of Recognition in the student support personnel category.

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District 54 would like to thank the many Scout troops, businesses and organizations who donated school supplies for our students in need this year.

AT&T Illinois Northwest Council Pioneers once again donated hundreds of backpacks filled with supplies. The Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual school supply drive and donated not only supplies, but also gift cards so that our schools could buy exactly what the students needed. Parkway Realty Services, eKiwanis the Disney Vacation Club store at Woodfield Mall and Nerge Girl Scout troops also all made a large contribution to our students.

Thanks to the generosity of the people who live and work in our community, hundreds of students – who would have come to school empty-handed – received some of the nicest supplies at their school.