Leyden Pride
January 23, 2023
Important dates
Feb 20 - No School
Mar 6 - No School
Mar 14 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
Mar 27 - Spring Break
Apr 3 - Classes Resume
April 7 - No School
May 23 - West Graduation
May 24 - East Graduation
Parents asked to provide important feedback on 5Essentials Survey - Open Jan 24
Through the Illinois State Board of Education, parents have an opportunity to share their thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about Leyden High School District 212. This survey provides Leyden administrators with important information that helps to better understand our parents, students and staff. In addition, this year, questions will include remote learning and will explore the unique year we’ve experienced together.
In order to remain compliant with this state requirement, Leyden needs a minimum of 20-percent participation from parents, students and staff. Input is kept confidential and helps us understand our families and as we make decisions moving forward.
Parents will receive an email this week, with the link to the online survey. We encourage parents to please share your feelings, insights, and perspective with us via this survey, which will remain open through March 11. Students and staff will have the option to participate in this survey during a scheduled time in the near future.
Four-part series for Spanish-speaking families
West Leyden Student Services Department, in partnership with West Snowball and West Peer Leaders, are excited to present a four-part parent series for our Spanish-speaking parents. These presentations will be in Spanish, with English translations available as needed.
Our presenter, Dr. Ferney Ramirez, has written a number of books guiding families through the difficulties of parenting and on the social emotional needs of our youth. Presentations will be
from 6:00 - 8:15 p.m. and food and childcare will be provided.
For additional information, visit the West Students Services webpage or contact the Department at (847) 451-3138.
February 27 - 6:00 - 8:15 p.m.: “Empowering our children to be leaders”
March 22 - 6:00 - 8:15 p.m.: “Positive discipline at home”
*Saturday, April 15 - 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.: “Does video game addiction exist? How does it affect our adolescents?
May 3 - 6:00 - 8:15 p.m.: “How to understand child and adolescent depression, anxiety, and other emotional difficulties”
*Special date and time
SAT prep course registration open now through Jan 30
Registration is open for Leyden’s SAT prep course. Students who attend all of the preparatory classes see a significant increase in their SAT scores. Classes begin February 1 (East) and February 2 (West) and meet once a week for nine weeks.
Various options are offered to meet the needs of student schedules:
Wednesdays, 3:15-6-15 p.m. (East)
Wednesdays, 6:00-9:00 p.m. (East)
Thursdays, 3:15-6-15 p.m. (West)
Thursdays, 6:00-9:00 p.m. (West)
The cost of the course is $50. Families who would like to apply for a cost reduction may do so through our waiver upload. (Click “waiver upload” and follow the steps.)
These classes fill up quickly, so be sure to register as soon as possible. Students may sign up for the course at either campus. Register by January 31 through your MySchoolBucks account or in person with the school cashier. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Veltman.
Attention Seniors/Families: Local scholarships available
(CORRECTION: The scholarship application opened January 13)
Leyden has compiled a list of more than 30 local scholarships that are available to East/West Leyden students. The Leyden Common Local Scholarship Application opened January 13, and we encourage students and families to see what scholarships are available, decide which ones to apply to, and begin gathering the needed information for those scholarships.
The Leyden Local Scholarship Application requests the following information:
Personal Information
Academic Information/History: GPA, SAT Scores, college, major and career plans, schools attended 1st-8th grade
Extracurricular Information: School Activities, Work Experience, Volunteer Work
2 Essay Prompts:
Prompt 1: A personal statement about your background, your educational and career goals.
Prompt 2: How will your future career benefit your community?
1 Letter of Recommendation
Some local scholarships require that you submit additional materials. These scholarships require that you fill out the Confidential Family Financial/Income Sheet, upload a video, or submit an extra essay answering other prompts.
Scholarship applications are due by 10 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2023.
LINK: List of scholarships
LINK: Leyden Common Local Scholarship Application
Important information:
You do not have to complete the application in one sitting. The information you enter will be automatically saved for 30 days. Once you submit the application you will not be able to go back and edit.
Do NOT upload blank pages to essay answers or the letter of recommendation. YOU WILL NOT be able to go back and replace them.
One Amazing Story: Montserrat Avitia
This month our One Amazing Story video series features Montserrat Avitia, a female athlete on the boys' golf team. While being a female on an all male team has its challenges, Montserrat has raised her competitive game by surrounding herself with a tough field of talent. She leads by example and shows other aspiring female athletes how to break down barriers associated with male-dominated sports.
Link: Watch Video
Bridge basketball team state-bound!
Congratulations to the Bridge Special Olympics basketball team who recently qualified for the state competition which will take place in March. The following students are members of the team: Daniel Chillis, Emmanuel Deacon, Jonathan Gonzalez, Chris Guttierez, Cassandra Jimmerson, Alexander Juraszek, William Landy, Lester Martinez, Daniel Ramirez and Sammy Termine.
Future Business Leaders of America students crush competition
East Leyden's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club competed in the Northern Area Conference last week. Leyden had 22 students/teams earn top level honors in the various events, with 67 students participating overall. Congratulations to all of them and best of luck to those advancing to the state conference in April.
Congratulations to Lina Alhasan, Robert Aponte, Delano Arguezo, Julia Augustyn, Ethan Bahena, Kamil Bak, Nicola Bak, Dylan Bower, Meilyn Calderon Zapet, Juan Cavillo, Dominick Davilla, Kathy DeJesus, Michael Dermody, Jazmin Diaz, Gabriela Drozd, Antony Falco, Liam Fazzi, Avi Flores, Angelina Gonzalez, Lieric Gonzalez, Dominic Irla, Oliva Irla, John Kaplangil, John Kasongo, Daniela Katlabi, Hailey Keeton, Diana Kopestynska, Marianna Kopestynska, Karol Kuc, Viktoria Kulinich, Jericho Lavarias, Gabriela Lenczewski, Melanie Lobos Torres, Valentina Ly, Lesley Martinez, Xavier Martinez, Matilde Merlos Garcia, Jakub Michalik, Vladyslav Modnyy, Desiree Morad, Kimberly Narvasa, Steven Nguyen, David Niznik, Mateusz Nowakowski, Michael O’Neill, Brittney Orcullo, Sebastian Orellana, Isabella Palmisano, Arianna Pardo, Om Patel, Shivesh Patel, Sofia Perez, Antonio Petrucci, Dominika Pindor, Mark Pineda, Julia Prokop, Nicholas Radomski, Juan Ramirez, Emmet Southfield, Marina Stoyanova, Daniel Taborsky, Aisuluu Tolubaeva, Emily Urueta-Hernandez, Sorin Valeanu, Mihail Velikov, Dario Verria and Matthew White.
Local alumni honored by Chamber
The newly merged Grand Chamber by O’Hare, is honoring East Leyden alumni Melissa Bukovatz with the 2023 Community Advancement Award. Melissa is the director of community relations for Leyden Township. Congratulations Melissa!
In the News
In the Community
Triton College Continuing Education
Triton College School of Continuing Education is offering the following adult education courses at our respective sites for the Spring 2023 semester. For additional information regarding the programs contact (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3513 or AdultEducation@triton.edu.
East Leyden High School
American Sign Language I - Tues./Thurs. - 6:30 p.m-9:20 p.m. - Start 1/31 - End 5/04
Polish I - Tuesdays - 6:00 p.m.-8:50 p.m. - Start 2/07 - End 4/25
Basic Sketching & Drawing - Wednesday - 7:00 p.m.-8:50 p.m. - Start 2/15 - End 3/22
The Adult Education ESL department will be hosting an information/registration session at both East and West Leyden this month. They will visit East Leyden on Tuesday, January 24, and West Leyden on Wednesday, January 25, both from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The free English as a Second Language is offered to adults 18 years and older. Depending on enrollment classes would be held at our site and start in February. Develop your listening and speaking skills in a comfortable environment with other adult English language learners.
Connect with us:
Email: pr@leyden212.org
Website: www.leyden212.org
Location: 3400 Rose Street, Franklin Park, IL, USA
Phone: 847-451-3000
Facebook: facebook.com/leydenpride212
Twitter: @leydenpride212