Superintendent's Weekly Update
MARCH 15, 2024
FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Who is D34? The answer is in our new logo.
On March 4th, otherwise known as D34 day, we released our newly designed D34 logo. The new logo, designed by one our parents, Ray Swanson, was inspired by our strategic plan and the strategic planning team. One of our new strategic plan goals was to develop a new logo that would be more representative of our schools and our mission.
Our district is comprised of 5 schools . . . our stars. Antioch Upper Grade School, more popularly known as AUGS, is home to students in grades 6-8 and is our largest school in the district. Oakland Elementary School is one of our K-5 elementary schools and is located in Lake Villa. Hillcrest Elementary School is our largest K-5 elementary school and is located on the east side of Antioch. W.C.Petty Elementary School is our smallest elementary school and is located on the west side of Antioch next to AUGS. Our preschool and birth-to-three programs are located at our Mary Kay McNeill Early Learning Center in downtown Antioch in a building that was once home to Antioch Elementary School. These schools are represented in our newly designed logo by the 5 stars in the upper left of the logo.
Since our school district is named Antioch CCCSD 34, sometimes our students and families from Lake Villa and Lindenhurst feel like they are overlooked. That is why the focus or dominant look of our logo is on "34" and not on the word Antioch. Our three villages are represented by the three different swooshes which are green, light blue, and dark blue. These three swooshes surround our 34, much like the fact that our villages, our communities surround and support our students and District 34.
At the bottom of the logo, you will see the phrase, "Inspire to Dream ~ Empower to Achieve". This is a shortened phrase of our mission statement. Our strategic plan team asked what is that we do and why do we exist? The answer always came back to our students. We inspire our students to dream about the endless possibilities of who they can become and what they can do. We also empower our students to achieve through our everyday lessons. Achievement can be viewed in many forms. Not only do we empower our students to achieve in subjects such as math and reading, but we empower our students to achieve in many areas such as performing music, playing a sport, collecting goods for those in need, serving our community, being kind to others, and the list of areas where our students achieve is endless.
5 ESSENTIALS SURVEY - OAKLAND IS STILL IN THE LEAD!
5Essentials Parent Survey Update
Please complete the 5Essentials Survey - the deadline is March 29th
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. We strongly encourage you to take the survey by clicking this link (opens in a new window). As a family member, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school participants and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Most Recent 5Essentials Parent Response Rate
Help us achieve our goal of achieving a 60% response rate for each school! The feedback is helpful for schools in making decisions.
Antioch Upper Grade School - 42% up from 32%
Hillcrest Elementary School - 38% up from 16%
MKM Early Learning Center - 27% up from 12%
Oakland Elementary School - 59% up from 50%
Petty Elementary School - 45% up from 34%
STAFF FEATURE - OUR INSPIRATION
Antioch CCSD 34 is staffed with many amazing people from a variety of backgrounds who work with, care fore, and are devoted to making our schools a magical place for our students. In each Superintendent Newsletter we will feature a staff member to give you a chance to learn more about these special people.
Scott Staver
Physical Education Teacher at Oakland Elementary School
About Me:
I live in Lindenhurst with my wonderful wife of 30 years, Jill, and our 19 year old son Casey, a freshman at Carthage College who is studying PE and coaching while playing on the baseball team. I enjoy watching Casey play ball, family vacations, reading, and cheering for the Packers, Brewers, and Badgers!
Experience:
I've been lucky enough to spend my entire 31-year career in District 34. I taught PE at Antioch Lower Grade/Antioch Elementary for 26 years and have been at Oakland for the last 5 years. I'll be retiring in three years and feel blessed to have spent my whole career in one place!
Why I'm a PE Teacher:
I was originally studying to be a classroom teacher at the elementary level, but fell in love with PE after my first experience in the gym. Kids bring a special energy and enthusiasm to PE, and having the opportunity to work with every student in the school and to continue working with them from year-to-year is a pleasure. Getting to see our classes every day makes it even better!
Training/Degrees:
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville: Bachelor's in Physical Education
- Northern Illinois University: Master's in Elementary Education
D34 HIGHLIGHTS
Mary Kay McNeill Early Learning Center
Hillcrest Elementary School
Mrs. Owens' class just embarked on an EPID journey into the wacky world of Bartholomew and the Oobleck. Students read this Dr. Seuss classic i9n conjunction with Read Across America Day and dove headfirst into this gooey, mesmerizing tale and emerged with minds BLOWN!
They didn't just read about Oobleck, they got their hands dirty and made it themselves! Check out all the giggles, the "whoa!" moments as they dipped their fingers into this magical concoction!
If you're curious about what Oobleck is, well, it's not quite a liquid, not quite a solid - it's a mysterious substance that defies all laws of physics! But hey, who needs to understand it when it's so much fun to play with it?
Kudos to Mrs. Owens' class for embarking on this scientific adventure! Keep reading and embracing the magic of books!
Woohoo! Let's give a big round of applause to our amazing PBIS raffle winners! You all totally rocked it by showing off those awesome PBIS traits! Keep shining bright, students!
Oakland Elementary School
The Morris Brothers brought a ton of energy and wisdom with them when they visited for a K-2 assembly. Our energetic presenter talked about making super-duper choices, standing up to bullying, and spreading kindness like confetti!
Big shoutout to the Oakland Eagle Boosters and to our fantastic students for being such attentive listeners! We can't wait to see the ripple effects of kindness and positivity spreading through our school. Keep shining bright, Eagles!
Calling all adventurous readers and book-loving Eagles!
Mrs. Williams-Foley-s class has hit their Lexia goal and celebrated in true camping style! Complete with cozy reading forts and a classroom campfire crackling away, students dove into their favorite books for some epic, well-earned reading adventures!
Huge congratulations to our goal-getters in Mrs. Williams-Foley's class for reaching your reading goals!
Our awesome Eagles were challenged to stack and organize cups while making keen observations along the way. It was a cup-stacking extravaganza!
From balancing acts to speedy stacking, our kiddos showed off some serious skills! Let's keep those brains and bodies moving and grooving!
W.C. Petty Elementary School
Super U Challenge Assembly
2nd Grade Music Concert
Antioch Upper Grade School
Congratulations and best of luck to the five wrestlers who are headed down state to compete in the 2024 Illinois Elementary School Association State Wrestling Tournament this weekend!
AUGS students and staff cheered on the state-bound wrestlers and sent them off in style as they ran the halls during the traditional Running of the Warriors. Good luck, Warriors . . . Win the Day!
What's π Day without a little pie?
Yesterday's Pi Day turned into a literal Pie Day and it was a deliciously messy affair! Some of our incredibly brave 6th grade teachers stepped up to the plate (or should we say, pie tin?) and volunteered their faces for a sweet surprise! These pie-tastic educators were the perfect targets for our students, who couldn't wait to let their pie-throwing skills shine!
Hats off to our teachers for being such great sports! These Warriors sure know how to π it up!
Our amazing 6th, 7th, and 8th grade band students rocked the house on their visit to Lakes Community High School! Students took over the stage in the lakes auditorium and absolutely nailed their performances!
After each of their performances, students received some top-notch coaching from Lakes Band Director, Mr. Kastor. Talk about a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow as musicians!
Hats off to our talented band members and huge thanks to AUGS Band Directors Mr. Frank and Mr. Bajek and Mr. Kastor for helping to make this opportunity possible!
The Lakes Community High School Studio Theatre class is on a mission to spread positivity and fight bullying through the power of theater! On Friday, they brought this inspiring message to AUGS, where they performed skits and shared important messages about kindness and sparked meaningful conversations around the topic of bullying.
A BIG thanks and shout out to all of the student performers and to Lakes' theatre teacher, Mr. Esquivel, for taking time to stop by to help spread positivity and kindness!
Outstanding Soloist award winners from the Evanston Jazz Festival
From left to right: Cole Sanfilippo (alto sax), Abriana Hirtle (tenor sax & baritone sax), Alex Dusek (trumpet)
D34 Day Raffle Winners
COMMUNITY EVENTS
DISTRICT EVENTS
2023-2024 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
District-Wide Events
- March 19 | Regular Board Meeting
- March 22 | Early Dismissal Schedule
- March 25-29 | Spring Break
- April 4 | AUGS Spring Showcase
- April 8 | K-2 Spring Showcase
- April 9 | ELC Spring Showcase
- April 11| 3-5 Spring Showcase
Mary Kay McNeill Early Learning Center
- March 22 | Early Dismissal Schedule
- March 25-29 | Spring Break
- April 1 | School Resumes
Hillcrest Elementary School
- March 18 | 2nd Grade Concert (rescheduled date)
- March 21 | Kindergarten Concert
- March 22 | Community Meeting
- March 22 | Early Dismissal Schedule
- March 25-29 | Spring Break
- April 1 | School Resumes
- April 8 | K-2 Spring Showcase 6-7 PM
- April 11 | 3-5 Spring Showcase 6-7 PM
Oakland Elementary School
- March 22 | Early Dismissal Schedule
- March 25-29 | Spring Break
- April 1 | School Resumes
- April 8 | K-2 Spring Showcase 6-7 PM
- April 11 | 3-5 Spring Showcase 6-7 PM
W.C. Petty Elementary School
- March 22 | Early Dismissal Schedule
- March 25-29 | Spring Break
- April 1 | School Resumes
- April 8 | K-2 Spring Showcase 6-7 PM
- April 11 | 3-5 Spring Showcase 6-7 PM
The clock is ticking and you don't want to miss out on capturing all the memories of this unforgettable school year!
Order your 2023/24 yearbook TODAY for just $20!
From heartwarming student photos to action-packed snapshots, this yearbook is your ticket to relive all the highlights of the school year! So don't delay, secure your copy now before it's too late! Visit the online store to ensure you don't miss out on this timeless keepsake!
Click HERE to order.
Antioch Upper Grade School
- March 20 | Warrior Wednesday "Going Places" (wear vacay clothes)
- March 20 | 8th grade boys Basketball Parent Game, 3:30-5 PM AUGS Gym
- March 20 | Jazz Night at Lakes High School, AUGS Jazz Band, 5 PM
- March 21 | PE Basketball Tournament Fundraiser, 2:45-5 PM (student participants only)
- March 22 | Early Dismissal Schedule, release at 1:45 PM
- March 25-29 | Spring Break
- April 1 | School Resumes
- April 2 | Student Council D34 Leadership Conference, AUGS Library, 8:00 AM - 12:45 PM
- April 3 | 8th grade Washington DC Parent Meeting, Cafeteria, 6-7:30 PM
- April 3 | Warrior Boosters Meeting, AUGS Library, 6:45 PM
- April 4 | Spring Showcase 6-7 PM
- April 8 | IAR Math Testing, 7:30-10:12 AM
- April 9 | IAR Math Testing, 7:30-10:12 AM
- April 9 | 6th & 7th grade Spring Picture Day (optional), 11:30 AM, AUGS Library
- April 10 | IAR Math Testing, 7:30-9:49 AM
MARCH LUNCH MENUS
DON'T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR AN AMAZING TEAM!
Our open positions can be found on our website under Departments > Human Resources > Employment > View Our Open Positions or by clicking here.
Amy Mahr
Director of Human Resources
847-838-8457
NEWSLETTER TOPIC SUGGESTIONS
Please enter your suggestions for future newsletter topics in the Superintendent Weekly Update Topic Suggestions form.
Welcome, Antioch CCSD 34 families, to the 2023/24 school year!
I will be providing bi-weekly updates for families. Please feel free to email me with any questions, concerns, or even positive news at aborowiak@antioch34.com. I will be attending the upcoming Meet and Greets at each of the buildings the night before opening day. Please stop me to say hello. I look forward to the upcoming school year and getting to know all of your students and our families!
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CENTER
Email: info@antioch34.com
Website: www.antioch34.com
Location: 964 Spafford Street, Antioch, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 838-8401
March 15, 2024