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Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and the Classrooms First Commission will release a set of draft recommendations on April 17 focused on improving educational opportunity and the efficient use of educational resources. The public is invited to give its input on the recommendations at four hearings across the state. Individuals will be given up to five minutes to provide comment, and speakers will be allotted time on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who cannot attend a hearing can give input here. To view the Commission’s recommendations please visit www.ltgov.illinois.gov.

Public Hearing Schedule:
• April 19, 2012 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Parkland College, Room D244, 2400 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign, IL 61821
• April 20, 2012 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Southern Illinois University, Student Health Center Auditorium, 374 East Grand Ave. , Carbondale, IL 62901
• April 26, 2012 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Prairie State College, Conference Center Auditorium, 202 S. Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, IL 60411
• April 30, 2012 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Rock Valley College, Woodward Technology Center, Room 117-121, 3301 North Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61114

District 117 has been named a recipient of a Bright Red Apple Award for 2012. Only seventy-nine of the 866 school districts in Illinois received this honor, which is given annually by SchoolSearch, an educational research and consulting firm.

All school districts in Illinois are considered for the award, and the award criteria are based on objective factors so that all districts are judged fairly. The award criteria are based on the primary areas of concern of most relocating families: academic performance, pupil/teacher ratio, operating expenditure per pupil, educational level of teachers, and average teacher salary.

The award criteria for secondary school districts include having more than 60 percent of teachers with a master’s degree or above, a pupil-to-teacher ratio of less than 19 to 1, average teacher salary of at least $65,000, operating expenditures per pupil of at least $11,537, and an ACT composite score of at least 21.2.

Data for the awards is gathered from 2011 school report cards.

Millions of Illinois voters headed to the polls on March 20 to cast their ballots in the state primary election. When they did, approximately 30 ACHS juniors and seniors were at the polling places to work as election judges, helping to make sure the voting process goes smoothly.

The Lake County Clerk Office’s Student Election Judge Program recruits high school students to serve as election day workers and provides on-site training to those interested. Approximately 46 ACHS students participated in the training in February.

Election judges must be U.S. citizens, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and secure written permission from of the school principal and a parent. The Lake County Board selects election judges based on their qualifications and availability.

The Lakes chapter of Tri-M National Music Honors Society has prepared a host of activities to celebrate Music in Our Schools Month. In addition to weekly music themes for the PA system during passing periods, the Fine Arts Department has scheduled more than a dozen live performances. These include the band and choir concert on Tuesday, March 13, Jazz Night on March 22, and Friday morning performances in the commons from various groups, including the Percussion Ensemble, faculty band, and Chamber Choir. Additionally, there will be a musical instrument drive. Click here for more information about the festivities.

The National Association for Music Education sponsors Music in Our Schools Month to highlight music education. This year, the group is especially concerned about protecting music programs from budget cuts, encouraging participants to “get involved and do your part to ensure that America’s students have access to a comprehensive, sequential music education taught by exemplary music educators,” according to the web site.

The second annual District 117 International Fair will take place at Antioch High School on Saturday, March 10th from 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm. The main gym will be filled with over thirty booths representing various regions and cultures of the world. We have a full line-up of entertainment scheduled and numerous food stations. Come see our local talent perform and taste the cuisine from both the homes of our students and local restaurants. The evening promises to be fun, filling, and educational. Please click here for additional details.

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.

While Lakes and Antioch are distinct schools with separate athletic programs and activities, one club has taken on a more global and unique approach. The Interact Club brings students from both buildings together to form the only District-wide club. This service organization began last spring and has continued its wonderful work this year. About twenty students from both Lakes and Antioch meet weekly to organize their philanthropic endeavors and discuss ways in which they can positively transform the world a little bit at a time. We are very proud of their wonderful commitment to humanity and limitless energy. Below is a list of the great things that this cadre of young adults completed during the first semester.

Students have been volunteering on the third Thursday of each month at Open Arms Mission helping to pack and distribute food to those in need in our area.

The Interact Club has been collecting fruit cups for the back pack program that goes to the kids in need at the elementary schools in this area.

In September, about 10 students volunteered several hours at “Fishing has no Boundaries” helping those with special needs experience fishing on the Chain of Lakes.

In October, students made and painted per request, two Baggo sets for the Rotary Auction and earned $300 to support their cause.

In October, students collected and donated money to feed school children in Tanzania.

In November, Interact students helped Rotarians pack food for the holidays to be distributed to local families that could use a little assistance.

In December, students packed food with “Feed My Starving Children” to be sent to countries in need.

In December, students visited Lotus School Afterschool club to educate students about healthy snacks. A good portion of the afternoon was spent making these healthy treats.

It has been a busy few months for our students involved in the fine arts and the results of their hard work are impressive. Check out these amazing accomplishments:

• Staff and students from ACHS wrote and performed a play based on the novel Thirteen Reasons Why a few years back. The story’s author, Jay Ashur saw this performance and used the Antioch script to create the now published stage play.
• Lakes Marching Band - State of Illinois Championships at Illinois State University, Normal, IL Class 2A Winner of Best Crowd Appeal, Class 2A, Overall 4th place. Percussionists Charley Gillette and Matt O’Connor were invited to perform in the 85th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as part of the Great American Marching Band. This band was “comprised of selected students from each of the fifty states” and was a way to honor “America’s finest high school musicians.”
• The Marching Sequoits - Marengo Contest, IL- first place in class, for the second year in a row. Also won caption awards for Best Drum Majors, Best Color Guard, Best Brass and Best Marching
• Lakes drama students will perform Scenes of Diversity. This free show features original work written and performed by Lakes students. The content focuses on the district’s diversity goal. The show is on December 2, 2011 at 7:00 pm.
• The Antioch Speech Team saw some record performances from Ryan Leonard in Dramatic Performance, Gaby Avila in Oral Interpretation and Dana Legg in Declamation.
• Kyle Hill has been working hard on the Illinois High School Theatre Festival’s All-State production of Almost Maine. Recently he was appointed the Stage Manager of the production! There is only one stage Manager chosen in the entire state for this all state production.

Musical Honors for District 117 students

• Tim Gorski has been chosen as a Future Music Educator for the All-State conference in the Choral division.
• Charley Gillette has been selected for the 2012 Illinois Music Educators Association’s All-State Band.
• DJ Kolpanen was selected for the Army All-American Marching Band.
• Steven Farrell and Trevor Olsen were selected for the District IMEA Honor’s Choir.   Steven was selected for the IMEA State Honors Choir and Trevor Olsen was selected All State Future Music Educators Seminar.<
• Payton Gallardo earned a position in the Top Vocal Jazz Group for IMEA District Jazz Band and Skyler Kite and Becca Bowen made the Vocal Jazz II Group.
• Angela Barone, Brian Chivers and Alexandria Hoffman were selected for the IMEA District Band. Angela and Alex were selected for the State IMEA Concert Band. Heather Beckman was selected for the District Honors Orchestra.

Click here for the press release announcing a teacher resignation.
Click here for District 117’s official response to computer tampering allegations.