Winter 2024

Latest News | District Calendars | Careers | Virtual Backpack

Founders Elementary students participated in a mock-election to learn about our nation's voting process and candidates at the local, state, and federal level. 

Greetings everyone!

The start of our year has passed quickly, and as we move into the second quarter, which also promises to keep a brisk pace, I appreciate the opportunity this newsletter brings to reflect on the work everyone is doing, including our students, to be active, engaged, and thoughtful learners.

Our first few weeks back were focused on building strong classroom communities and getting everyone acclimated to the rhythm of learning again. I am proud to report that our enrollment numbers remain stable, with just over 6,800 students. We continue to commit to providing flexible learning spaces that meet the diverse needs of our students while also focusing on maintaining small class sizes, ensuring each student receives the attention and support they need to thrive.

We were also pleased to introduce several new programs and initiatives, including expanded STEAM offerings in all of our elementary schools with Project Lead the Way and enhanced social-emotional learning (SEL) support through programs like Daybreak (read more below). Our focus on the whole student—academic, social, and emotional well-being—continues to be a priority.

Students are the only ones focusing on learning, so are our dedicated educators and administrators. Many members of our teams present and participate in conferences. Student Services staff attended and presented at both the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education and Collaborative for Academic and Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Conferences. AJ Crook, our Multilingual Services Coordinator, along with Instructional Support Coaches Sonia Enriquez and Emily Weller, are co-presenting at the State Multilingual/ESSA Conference to help school districts review their units of instruction to ensure all standards are present and best methods of biliteracy instruction are occurring. These are just a few of the many ways our educators continue to be lifelong learners and experts in their fields for the benefit of our students.

As an update to a message I shared with families in September regarding the District's review of our processes with First Student, we have made significant progress in our efforts to ensure there is additional training and staffing for drivers and aids, that everyone follows all drop-off and loading protocols at each of our schools, and that additional checkpoints and tools to further aid everyone in being diligent in their responsibilities are in place. This includes the completion of a new Parent/Student Transportation Handbook to clarify all processes and serve as a single point of reference. You'll find the handbook and more helpful information on our Transportation webpage. 

As we move into the next part of the school year, we remain focused on our district’s goals: improving student achievement, fostering a safe and inclusive environment, and preparing every student for success in college, career, and life. I look forward to the continued success of our students and staff, and I am grateful for the ongoing support of our families and community. Thank you for being a vital part of the DeKalb CUSD 428 community. Together, we are building a brighter future for all of our students.

Keep up the amazing work Barbs!

Minerva Garcia-Sanchez, Ed.D.
Superintendent

In anticipation of the opening of the newest elementary school in District 428, Mitchell Elementary Principal Maurice McDavid set out to engage students and families in selecting a mascot that would represent the community. The best way to generate ideas was to ask the students what they thought!

In August, a Mitchell Mascot Activity sheet was sent to every elementary building in the District. Students were asked to select a mascot, draw a picture, and explain why they believed their submission would be a good mascot.

The entries poured in, and students excitedly shared their thoughts. Using a rubric, Principal McDavid looked through each entry to select finalists from each school. From there, entries were narrowed to the final four and then shared at a district-wide Community Conversation in September. With plenty of discussion and consideration, attendees voted for their favorite mascot. In dominating fashion, the Monarchs won a majority of the votes. Congratulations to Littlejohn 5th grade student Aniaya H., who submitted the winning design. Anaiya is pictured with Principal McDavid, holding her design, which features letters, shapes, and numbers in the wings of her monarch.

The Mitchell Monarchs will officially begin their journey in the fall of 2025 but are already spreading their wings in preparation. 

Click here to see the latest drone footage of construction at Mitchell Elementary.

We are so excited about the ELDC playground expansion! It is almost done and offers a larger space for playground equipment, plus a new area for bikes and a children’s garden. Additional equipment was also installed through a Pathways to Play grant through the Regional Office of Education.

Who would have thought the new lunch conversations in 4th grade at Littlejohn would be about the latest science lesson? That is precisely what has been happening lately! The typical chatter has been replaced with discussions about mixing the plaster and creating ways mechanical weathering will impact the environments that they created in groups. There’s tangible excitement in wondering what they get to observe the next day and hypothesizing what they may see as a result. 

So, what is exactly happening with 4th grade classrooms across our district this fall? Nineteen classrooms, 19 teachers (each trained in 16 hours of professional development), and 516 students are incorporating PLTW (Project Lead The Way) into the multidisciplinary unit (MDU) that is new to 4th-grade classrooms this year. The MDU embeds literacy and writing according to science and social studies standards. 

D428 is doing science differently. We are empowering our students to become innovative problem-solvers, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners. PLTW's hands-on approach aligns perfectly with our goal of preparing students for success in the 21st-century workforce. PLTW fosters a collaborative learning environment where students work together to tackle real-world challenges. This strengthens their teamwork skills and builds a strong sense of community within our school. PLTW offers a unique opportunity to provide all students with high-quality STEAM education. By investing in PLTW, we're taking a proactive step toward closing the equity gap in education. Stay tuned as this spreads into 5th-grade classrooms in the 2025/26 SY. 

Pictured below - Malta 4th graders work on their PLTW lesson Chemical or Mechanical, where they test out how chemical factors affect components that make up the Earth. Then, they compare results to observations that occurred previously on mechanical factors.

October was Cybersecurity Awareness Month and provided a good time to be reminded of the diligence needed to protect the District against ever-present cyber threats. With the growing reliance on technology in education, staying vigilant and informed about the latest security risks and best practices is crucial. K-12 education is one of the hardest-hit industries when it comes to cyberattacks.

Below is a high-level summary of threats that were thwarted in just the first two months of the school year.

There are several tips to keep in mind when navigating the digital world to help keep you and your personal information safe such as using secure passphrases and two-factor authentication. Read more and find helpful links to references on our news page.

A new partnership with Daybreak Health to provide free mental health services, including teletherapy started in early October for all D428 students and families. This grant-funded initiative reflects the District’s ongoing commitment to supporting the mental well-being of all students, ensuring that mental health care is accessible, inclusive, and tailored to meet individual and family needs.

According to NAMI Illinois and the Kaiser Family Foundation and the American Psychological Association, 81 of 102 counties in Illinois have no child/adolescent psychiatrist access, and 54% of teens see “no point to plan for the future.”

Through this partnership, students can access comprehensive mental health support, including individual and family therapy, through a secure virtual platform. Daybreak Health’s teletherapy services are available in multiple languages, and families can work with a diverse team of licensed clinicians who reflect the varied backgrounds of DeKalb's community. The services are available Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., providing families with flexible access to care at convenient times.

Families can access these services by visiting app.daybreakhealth.com or contacting their child’s school. This initiative aligns with the district’s efforts to promote mental wellness through its Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs.

Read More...

We are here to help you support your student!

Please utilize any of the many resources for your family's benefit found on our
Parent Resources website.

______________

*New* 

Check out the
Choice Board for tips and free, easy-to-use resources to support your student through tough times.

Daybreak free family class - Vaping & Teen Mental Health. This virtual session, led by a licensed clinician, for families to learn more about addiction and the teenage brain, how to talk to teens about vaping, prevention strategies, and ways to support quitting. 

Class in English: Wednesday, November 20
5:00 PM PST I 8:00 PM EST: REGISTER HERE

Clase en español: Jueves 21 de noviembre 5:00 PM PST I 8:00 PM EST: REGÍSTRESE AQUÍ 

Go here for the full calendar of family mental health classes,
including topic areas and registration links. 

D428 is excited to announce that we have adopted a new form of school-to-home communication through ParentSquare. ParentSquare provides a safe, efficient, and accessible way for the District and schools to communicate with our families and staff. It offers an improved interface and mobile-friendly delivery. 

All District and school building-level communications will be sent using ParentSquare. Many of our teachers will also start integrating ParentSquare into their classroom communications in the near future. 

We encourage families to download the ParentSquare app and activate an account now to take full advantage of the many features available, including notification and language settings. However, downloading the app is not required to receive alerts and posts from the District and school buildings. 

**An important reminder: Make sure your contact information is up to date in Skyward so you are receiving notifications and information from the District and your school(s). 

The ParentSquare app is available in iOS or Android stores. Downloading the mobile app is the easiest way to receive emergency alerts, posts, events, sign-up requests, photos and files, and more.

Android App - Google Play Store

iOS App - Apple Store

QR code for Android App

QR code for Apple App

November 5: No school, Election Day
November 8: PLC Early Release Day
November 12: Board of Education Meeting
November 22: PLC Early Release Day
November 25-26: Parent/Teacher Conferences. No School
November 27-29: Thanksgiving Break. No School. Education Center Closed

December 3: Board of Education Meeting
December 6: PLC Early Release Day
December 17: Board of Education Meeting
December 20: PLC Early Release Day
December 23 - Jan. 3: Winter Break. No School

January 6: Classes resume
January 7: Board of Education Meeting
January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. No School. Education Center Closed
January 21: Board of Education Meeting

District Calendar of Events

Questions or comments? Email Communication@d428.org