District 64 is preparing to welcome students in grades 1-8 for the kick off of the 2016-17 school year on Wednesday, August 17.
The first day will follow District 64's normal Wednesday early release schedule. Kindergarten students will follow an orientation schedule on Wednesday and Thursday, and will have their first day on Friday, August 19.
"We have been busy throughout the summer completing a host of facility improvements and finishing the deep cleaning of our schools to ensure all classrooms are ready for staff and students to begin a great year of teaching and learning when schools re-open," according to Superintendent Laurie Heinz.
"Our technology department is wrapping up its work to prepare new devices used by students for 1:1 learning, instructional materials are being unpacked at the schools, and a host of start-up activities are well underway," she noted.
This summer, many teachers were busy with curriculum writing projects and professional development classes to prepare for the coming year.
"Grade-level teams met to design enrichment activities for 3rd-5th grade math units. Work also continued on the District's grades K-5 science curriculum maps," Dr. Heinz pointed out.
"In addition, over 20 professional development classes were offered, focusing on differentiation, high-impact instruction, assessment design, and technology integration, which we know teachers can use immediately in their classrooms in August," she added.
New this year, District 64 teachers will attend back-to-back Institute Days for professional development on August 15 and 16 before students return.
"We are very pleased to bring teachers and staff together for two full days to kick off the year," Dr. Heinz said.
"This schedule allows us to focus on several key District goals, while also giving our building leadership expanded time with their staffs to focus on initiatives that are important to each individual school," she noted.
The Institute Day usually held in February will be discontinued, however the November 8 day will be maintained.
The much anticipated class assignment letters were mailed home on Friday, August 5 to all students whose registration was fully completed and accepted by District 64 staff. Families who have not completed registration paperwork are strongly encouraged to do so immediately to ensure their children are assigned a teacher.
Bus information for students who are eligible to ride the bus to and from school for free will be sent home the week of August 8.
"We are looking forward to our halls being filled with smiling student faces very soon," Dr. Heinz added.