Community Unit School District 200

Community Unit School District 200 is dedicated to fostering a well-rounded educational experience for every student, and at the heart of this mission lies our comprehensive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Framework. This framework is built on five key pillars: relationships, behavioral wellness, emotional wellness, learning, and mindset. These pillars guide our efforts to enhance student learning, enrich the overall school experience, and address the emotional and social needs of all learners. As part of our steadfast commitment to SEL, we have launched a special SEL website (https://bit.ly/4a997qY) designed to serve as a hub of resources and information. This user-friendly platform provides an in-depth look at our comprehensive SEL approach and details the programming we’ve implemented under each of the five pillars. We encourage families, staff, and community members to explore this valuable resource and learn more about how SEL is shaping the success and well-being of our students. Together, we can continue to build a supportive and nurturing environment where every student can thrive. #YourCommunitySchools

Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South high school students were award winners at the DuKane Conference Art Show on Wednesday, November 20! Students competed in a number of categories including painting, digital photography, analog photography, drawing, mixed media/printmaking, graphic design, digital illustration, time arts, sculpture/jewelry, and ceramics glass. To view a list of winners and pictures of the artwork, visit https://bit.ly/4a3Y8yI. Congratulations to all of the winners! #YourCommunitySchools

In this week’s CUSD 200 Newsletter, we highlight the following: - Prioritizing Social Emotional Learning in CUSD 200 - Classroom Close-Up at Wiesbrook Elementary School - CUSD 200 Community Presentation on AI - Carol Stream Police Department Recognizes Jefferson Early Childhood Staff Members - Bower Student's Artwork Chosen for Warrenville Fire Department's Holiday Card - Sociology Poverty Simulation at Wheaton North Read more by visiting, https://bit.ly/41F7S0t.

This week's TBT takes us back to 1936 at Wheaton Community High School. #YourCommunitySchools

Students at the Transition Program work on their vocational skills each week. Part of this work includes creating items for the school store and pop up shops within the district. Last week, they visited the School Service Center. Students greeted their customers, helped show off the items they made, worked on their money skills by calculating totals and change, and wished their customers a great day. Look for future Pop-up Shops on the CUSD 200 Transition Center Facebook page. #YourCommunitySchools

The CUSD 200 Board of Education held its Regular Meeting on Wednesday, December 11, at Edison Middle School. To read a recap of the meeting, visit https://bit.ly/49CfToA #YourCommunitySchools

A visit to Hubble Middle School in 1993 is our destination for this week's TBT. #YourCommunitySchools

This November, over 115 students at Hubble Middle School brought their fall play, Transyl-Mania, to life. The Drama Department at Hubble is a great example of how theatre fosters creativity, builds lifelong skills, boosts confidence, and encourages collaboration among students. Those involved devoted countless hours before and after school, pouring passion and enthusiasm into every detail of the production. From designing intricate costumes and styling 35 wigs to creating extensive makeup designs and constructing a breathtaking two-story set. Transyl-Mania was directed by Ariel Fogg, with set building by Larry Monaco, props and painting by Kaitlyn Stoll, lights, sound, and music managed by Edgie Quetua, Amy Fountain assisted with all production needs, and 8th graders Payton Mowinski and Kendall Woods were the student directors for the show. #YourCommunitySchools

We are beginning a new series called "Classroom Close-Up" where we take a look at what students are currently learning in the classroom. In each Newsletter, we will feature one one class or grade level. Last week week, we stopped by Katie Anderson's 8th Grade Math Class at Monroe Middle School, where students were working on solving equations with balanced moves. During the lesson, students continued to develop their communication and collaboration skills while working with peers to determine moves that would simplify equations. In the first activity of the lesson, students used Magna-Tiles on vertical learning surfaces to visualize equations through hanging diagrams, write equations for the given diagram, and problem-solve steps to simplify. In the next activity, students were paired with new partners and given two sets of cards. One set displayed two equations and the other displayed steps used to simplify an equation. Students had to work together to determine which cards matched. In the final activity, students met with new partners at the whiteboard to explore different methods to solve similar algebraic equations. We want to thank Mrs. Anderson, Math Coach Kelly Klenck, and the students for showing us what an engaging and collaborative math lesson looks like at the middle school level. #YourCommunitySchools

Last week’s CUSD 200 Newsletter featured a Staff Spotlight on Dr. John Disanza and Mrs. Traci Burnham, who are members of the district’s student services team. Together, they work tirelessly to support our students, staff, and families in a multitude of ways. To learn more about Dr. Disanza and Mrs. Burnham and the work they do in CUSD 200, visit https://bit.ly/4gmkihH. #YourCommunitySchools

Wheaton North’s Key Club and Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society would like to thank the many members of the Falcon community who supported their drive for the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. The collection was a huge success, and the veterans were thrilled to receive the generous donations from our Falcon family. The Key Club and Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society loved the opportunity to honor these heroes as part of Wheaton North’s Veterans Day activities. #YourCommunitySchools

With the winter months upon us, CUSD 200 wants to take this opportunity to remind families about our protocol for inclement weather. Staff, students, families, and community members will be notified of any changes to the school day (e.g., delayed start, E-Learning day, early dismissal) via email, text, phone call, CUSD 200 social media, and website alerts. We encourage all stakeholders to confirm that their contact information is accurate in our information systems—ParentVue (for parents) and iVisions (for staff). Having correct information in these systems ensures you receive the most up-to-date notifications from the district on inclement weather days. In the event CUSD 200 calls an E-Learning Day due to inclement weather, students in grades 1-12 will follow the E-Learning schedule, that can be viewed by visiting https://bit.ly/4f8r7mb. This plan outlines the schedule and expectations for remote learning should there be a need to close schools due to extreme weather conditions. On E-Learning days, instruction begins online for students at 9:00 a.m. All students should log in to Google Classroom to access assignments and the Meets link. Kindergarten and early childhood students will follow the plan communicated by their teacher. Thank you for your attention to these important updates. By working together, we can ensure a smooth and safe experience for our students and families during the winter season. If you have any questions about our inclement weather protocols or E-Learning plans, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s school or the district office. #YourCommunitySchools

The second graders at Hawthorne Elementary School are on Unit 3 and in one of their lessons, one of the problems referenced a Saree. Planning ahead with the staff at Hawthorne, the teachers quickly thought of Sweta Amin, a Teaching Assistant, and asked if she would share what a Saree is and why meters (and centimeters) are important in this problem. Principal Holly Zimmer had the opportunity to join the class while Ms. Amin shared a little about a Saree and meters. The students were very engaged and asked questions-about centimeters, meters, culture, and so more. Mrs. Zimmer said it was amazing to see the engagement from every child. This teaching moment not only built on the lesson's intentions, but also built on the students' cultural competencies, showed value in our staff members, and created an environment where our young learners could ask questions. #YourCommunitySchools

The Community Unit School District 200 Board of Education Meeting is this Wednesday, December 11, at 7 p.m. at Edison Middle School, 1125 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton. To view the agenda, visit https://bit.ly/3Jw8prm, and click on December 11, on the calendar in the upper right hand corner. #YourCommunitySchools

Monroe Middle School's production of Finding Nemo Jr. went swimmingly a few weekends ago! Congratulations to directors Tammy Croll and Logan Bertrand for another outstanding performance. With over 50 students in cast and over 60 in crew, it was the biggest production yet! #YourCommunitySchools

On December 3, CUSD 200's Flying Tigers, comprised of students from the CUSD 200 Transition Center, Wheaton Warrenville South and Wheaton North high schools, played in a great game that "Packed the Gym" for a great cause! The team's new Mascot also joined in for a great community event. While fans watched the athletes sportsmanship, positive attitudes and teamwork on the court, they raised $860 for the Christmas Sharing of Wheaton/Warrenville. #YourCommunitySchools

We are beginning a new series called "Classroom Close-Up" where we take a look at what students are currently learning in the classroom. In each Newsletter, we will feature one one class or grade level. Last week, we visited the Sapphire Village classrooms at Jefferson Early Childhood Center. The students in these classes have been reading the Bear and Friends books by Karma Wilson. Classes read the book titled "Bear Says Thanks." Each class used what they learned in the book in the following ways: In Ms. Cathy's class, the children used Story Champ visuals (character, setting, problem, feeling, action, and solution/ending) to identify parts of the story as we read "Bear Says Thanks." The children then worked to write and illustrate their own stories, using the visuals as a reminder of what part to add into their story. In Ms. Cassi's class, after reading the book, speech language pathologist Ms. Nicole, visited to help students make a friendship snack mix. During this activity, each student brought in a snack to share, and they all took turns adding items into their bowl. At the end, they each had the opportunity to thank their friends for bringing in food and enjoyed their snack together. In Ms. Amy's class, during their activity center time, students visited a bear cave to learn more about bears. They also practiced their colors by sorting little bear toys into patterns in the sensory bin. Finally, they also worked on number recognition and counting with the number cards with bears in the feeling table. We want to thank the Saffire Village for giving us a window into what a day in the life at Jefferson Early Childhood Center is like! #YourCommunitySchools

In this week’s CUSD 200 Newsletter, we highlight the following: - Inclement Weather Reminders - Staff Spotlight: Dr. John Disanza and Mrs. Traci Burnham - Classroom Close-Up at Monroe Middle School - Pack the Gym Night Recap - Hubble's Fall Production of Transyl-Mania - DuKane Conference Art Show Award Winners - Transition Program Pop-Up Shop - Fourth Grade National Park Project at Lincoln Read more by visiting, https://bit.ly/4gmkihH.

📣FREE Mobile Food Market TODAY 📣 There is a FREE mobile food market TODAY from 4:30-6 p.m. at Villagebrook Apartments located at 278 E St Charles Road in Carol Stream. Families will receive a week's worth of groceries at no cost. This distribution is drive-thru only, and is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Please help spread the word! #YourCommunitySchools

This week’s TBT brings us back 37 years ago to explore what was happening at Franklin Middle School. #YourCommunitySchools