Archive for January, 2012

Preparations for the second annual International Fair on March 10 are underway. Many groups already have committed to perform, and more are invited to help fill the program by representing their ethnicity, region, or religion, Co-superintendent Mike Nekritz said.

“It’s really about promoting diversity and encouraging people to be proud of what they stand for,” he said.

About 350 people attended the 2011 fair — a number Nekritz said he hopes to double this year. Attendees have the chance to sample food, hear music, and watch performances and demonstrations, such as Filipino dancers, Assyrian dancers, and Irish dancers. Germany and Poland are other countries expected to be represented at the fair so far.

The International Fair is one of the district’s initiatives to achieve its goal in diversity education. The goal states, “…we are committed to developing students who are knowledgeable and capable of recognizing differences and acting in a way that demonstrates acceptance, tolerance, and democratic principles.”

This year’s fair will be held in the ACHS main gym from 5-7 p.m. Contact Rachel Morales or Amy Skonberg for more information.

When extreme weather or other situations result in the cancellation of classes or other schedule changes, the quickest way to receive bulletins with important information is with our text message alert system.

By subscribing to District 117’s Text Message Alerts, students and parents can receive text messages in the event of school closings or other emergencies. By providing a cell phone number and the name of the wireless provider, district administrators can send these alerts directly to subscribers. The system proved successful this past year, and we hope to increase the number of families taking advantage of the program. Aside from a confirmation text message, no routine messages will be sent via the alert system, only urgent communications dealing with school closings or emergencies. Bulletins will also be posted on district websites, Facebook, and Twitter, as in the past.

Click here to sign up to receive District 117 Text Message Alerts. Subscriptions last for the entire school year.