WHITELEY WILDCAT UPDATE
March 12, 2021
Beyond Just Boundaries Community Engagement
Since its founding in 1946, District 15 has become a destination district, known for our academic and social emotional initiatives and for leading the way in literacy and culturally responsive practices. While we are incredibly proud of the work we have done academically, little attention or funding has been given to the operational foundation of the district over those 75 years—our 20 school buildings, and how to most effectively use them to support the academic needs of our uniquely diverse population.
Our decades-old boundary lines no longer meet our communities’ needs. Solving these challenges brings opportunity. By improving our boundary lines and modernizing our facilities, we can achieve many of the enhancements our community has requested for decades, which will support our students’ academic and social emotional needs.
Realigning school boundaries is never easy. But the outcome of this process will result in widespread improvements for everyone in District 15—not just for today’s students, but for generations to come.
That’s why our community has collaborated - for the past three years - in order to develop a solution. Thousands of community members have provided insight to our district leaders and elected Board of Education Members, and together we have identified nine high value priorities for our school district while maintaining our commitment to fiscal responsibility:
Focus on Near-Neighborhood Schools
Establish a Cohesive Educational Path for Students
Balance Enrollment
Offer Full-Day Kindergarten for All
Upgrade to a Middle School Model
Eliminate the Bilingual Overlay
Ensure Equitable Access to Programs and Services
Utilize Our Facilities More Efficiently
Repair and Restore Our School Buildings
This multi-year effort requires continuous planning, even in the midst of the pandemic. We are ready to take the next steps forward by inviting the community to learn more about where we are in the planning process and invite them to share feedback to help further inform our thinking.
Our goal throughout this process is to gather feedback from the community with opportunities for two-way communication. In an effort to keep a two-way dialogue, we will have a cap on the number of participants for our virtual sessions. We will follow state and local guidelines for the number of in-person participants we will host. If you are not able to attend or are not selected for one of the sessions, we will be recording and sharing a session to ensure the whole District 15 community will stay informed.
All of the sessions will cover the same information. To register for a session, please visit the website
Illinois 5Essentials Survey
Each school year, teachers, parents, and older students have an opportunity to share their views and perceptions about their school by participating in the 5Essentials Survey. 5Essentials survey information is a key tool that your school uses to identify and prioritize areas for improvement. As a parent, the 5Essentials survey is an opportunity to share your thoughts on the school's effectiveness.
The 5Essentials Survey will be administered online. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete, is anonymous and asks questions about five areas that are related to important student outcomes, including improved attendance and learning. The five areas focused on are:
Effective Leaders
Collaborative Teachers
Involved Families
Supportive Environments
Ambitious Instruction
Your participation in the parent portion of the survey is one important way schools can use parent information to help understand the conditions at your child’s school and focus improvement efforts. The survey is managed by the University of Chicago and the school does not have access to your identity or survey responses.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey window will be open from February 2 until March 5, 2021. Please take the survey by visiting https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. Your feedback is important as we work to continually grow as a school District.
PTA
PICTURE DAY
Whiteley Picture Day is coming up! In person photos will be taken in school on Wednesday, March 31. Virtual student photos will be taken on April 1. Virtual families: please sign up for a time to come to school for your photos to be taken. https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/11570233947302600101/false?popup=true#/invitation
Photos will be taken outside, on the blacktop, under a tent. All photos are prepaid and there will be NO retake day. Photos are completely optional. All photographers and volunteers will be wearing masks. Please order photos at https://inter-state.com/FlyerEntry Using Online Order Code 57884V
DRAWING NIGHT
Who’s the LUCKIEST Leprechaun? You are! Whiteley Virtual Drawing Night is happening 3/16 at 6:30pm! Grab the kids and let’s get creative.
Please fill out this quick survey if you plan on attending so we can make sure to have enough virtual spots. https://forms.gle/uQX8CdRCoDgfd57r9
Please contact Michelle Banczak if you have any questions michelle.banczak@yahoo.com.
YEARBOOK
Yearbook Update: Our Whiteley yearbook will include the photos of each student taken on our photo day. Please make sure to preorder your photos and make your photo appointment if your student is virtual. If your student does not have their photo taken, they will not be pictured in the yearbook. Because we are including the photos, our yearbook production is going to be delayed into the summer. Order forms to purchase yearbooks will come out after spring break. Please send any photos you have taken of your student this year to yearbookandphotos@gmail.com. As always, we appreciate your help and support as we try to make a memorable yearbook for all the students at Whiteley.
March Dine-and-Share
Join us in helping a local restaurant while supporting your Whiteley PTA. This Thursday, 3/18/21 from 11:00am – 8:30pm order from Taco Shop in Palatine and mention Whiteley PTA and they will donate 18% back to our PTA!
Wildcat Dash
Calling all Wildcats & their Families! The deadline to register for our Whiteley Wildcat Dash – Virtual Style and guarantee race wear is this Friday, 3/19/21. Sign up online or using the registration form that is available on our website (copies were sent home with in person learners) and returning the form to school. Contact Tina Odachowski tina.odachowski@gmail.com or Bree Flaska bflaska000@yahoo.com with any questions.
Looking forward to seeing everyone’s completion photos!
Health and Human Growth
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 10th-School Board Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.
March 12th-No Student Attendance - Teacher Institute Day
March 16th -PTA Young Rembrandt's @ 630 p.m.
March 22nd-28th-Spring Break
March 31st- Picture Day for In-person Students
April 1st-Picture Day for Virtual Students
Faith Rivera and Theresa Drogos
Email: riveraf@ccsd15.net
Website: https://www.ccsd15.net/FCW
Location: 4335 Haman Avenue, Hoffman Estates, IL, USA
Phone: 847-963-7200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhiteleyWildcat