This week's #TBT takes us back to 1967 at Wheaton North High School. #YourCommunitySchools
We recently stopped by Mr. Eli Mondrella's Adaptive Physical Education class at Hawthorne Elementary School for a Classroom Close-Up.
Students in Mr. Mondrella's class are part of the Social Academic Integrated Learning (SAIL) Program at Hawthorne. This program is designed to meet the needs of children in the areas of communication, social interaction, and sensory regulation. Positive interventions and strategies are used to address unique needs, support adapting to environmental changes, and repetitive or stereotypical activities.
Through a variety of activities in adaptive P.E., students work on balance, strength, cardio, sports skills and breathing, while simultaneously focusing on their social skills and communication.
In this adaptive P.E. class, students used scooters to navigate around the gym to retrieve puzzle pieces as they worked with partners to complete a puzzle. During this lesson, they had to communicate choice, follow directions, use their social skills to work with their peers to complete a puzzle, and practice patience, taking turns all while navigating a scooter. #YourCommunitySchools
Wren Page, a sophomore at Wheaton North High School, composed a full symphony for an 80+ piece orchestra titled "Valley of the Ancients." Wren's symphony recently debuted with the Naperville Youth Orchestra and featured several musicians from Wheaton North. Congratulations to Wren for composing an amazing piece of music!
Early voting starts today for the April 1 Consolidated Election.
View a sample ballot based on your address by visiting https://bit.ly/4i8I6Hp
And, view the list of early voting locations by visiting https://bit.ly/47Vb5K
Keira Quintero named new Principal of Lowell Elementary School
At their March 12 meeting, the Board of Education approved Keira Quintero as the new Principal of Lowell Elementary School beginning on July 1. Mrs. Quintero will be replacing Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, who will be retiring after 11 years in CUSD 200.
Mrs. Quintero is a CUSD 200 resident and joins us from Community Consolidated School District 93 where she has served as the Principal at Cloverdale Elementary School since 2023. Mrs. Quintero also served as an Assistant Principal at Roy DeShane Elementary School in District 93 for one year. Prior to that, she was an Assistant Principal at McCleery Elementary School in West Aurora School District 129 for two years. Mrs. Quintero began her career serving as a Music Teacher for 12 years. She earned an associate’s degree in fine arts from Harper College, a bachelor’s degree in music education from Elmhurst University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Aurora University.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Schuler is pleased to welcome Mrs. Quintero to CUSD 200. “I want to congratulate Mrs. Quintero on her appointment as the new Principal of Lowell Elementary School,” said Dr. Schuler. “Mrs. Quintero comes to Lowell with more than a decade of school experience. She is not only very knowledgeable, but also deeply caring and thoughtful in her approach as an administrator. Mrs. Quintero's leadership style is both intentional and student-centered, demonstrating a deep commitment to creating a positive and supportive learning environment for every child. We are excited to welcome her to Lowell.”
Mrs. Quintero is looking forward to her new role with CUSD 200. “I am thrilled to join the Lowell Elementary School community and be part of the district my kids attend,” said Quintero. “With Lowell’s proven success and strong foundation, my focus will be on creating a positive, safe, and inclusive learning environment where all decisions are made collaboratively with a student-centered lens. I’m eager to build authentic relationships with students, staff, and families at Lowell.”
Hugh Boger named new Principal of Pleasant Hill Elementary School
At their March 12 meeting, the Board of Education approved Hugh Boger as the new Principal of Pleasant Hill Elementary School beginning on July 1. Mr. Boger will be replacing Mrs. Debra Klein, who has been serving as the Interim Principal at Pleasant Hill this year, and will be retiring after 33 years in CUSD 200.
Mr. Boger comes to CUSD 200 from Naperville Community Unit School District 203 where he has served as the Principal at Scott Elementary School since 2017. Mr. Boger has also served in other leadership positions in District 203 as the Assistant Principal at Highlands and Ranch View elementary schools for two years, and Assistant Principal at Kingsley Elementary School for two years. He began his career in education as a fourth and fifth grade teacher before serving as a Dean of Students at Stonybrook Intermediate Academy in Indianapolis. Mr. Boger earned a master's degree in education from Indiana University, and his principal licensure from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Schuler is pleased to welcome Mr. Boger to CUSD 200. “I want to congratulate Mr. Boger on his appointment as the new Principal of Pleasant Hill Elementary School,” said Dr. Schuler. “Mr. Boger comes to Pleasant Hill with more than a decade of school leadership experience. His leadership helped his current school earn a National Blue Ribbon School designation in 2024, and also achieved the exemplary summative designation for two consecutive years. Mr. Boger's proven track record of success makes him a valuable addition to CUSD 200, and we are excited to see the positive impact he will have on Pleasant Hill.”
Mr. Boger is looking forward to his new role with CUSD 200. "I am excited to join the Pleasant Hill Elementary community and CUSD 200,” said Boger. “The dedication of the staff and the support of families at Pleasant Hill create a strong foundation for student success. My passion lies in ensuring that every child is seen, valued, and given the support they need to thrive each day. I look forward to building relationships and working together to make a meaningful impact for all students.”
The Washington Elementary School Staff planned a Family Night on February 22. The event included a variety of fun activity stations including: math games, literacy games, line dancing, strength challenges, wellness activities, a photo booth, and a cultural traditions fair. It was a wonderful evening of fun and learning for the entire Washington Elementary community!
The CUSD 200 Board of Education held its Regular Board Meeting on Wednesday, March 12, at Wheaton North High School.
To read a recap of the meeting, visit https://bit.ly/3DJm0Mz. #YourCommunitySchools
Engage Emerson is a committee of Emerson staff members committed to strengthening communication and collaboration between teachers and families. After seeking feedback from teachers and families, Engage Emerson has put together a 3-part book study of The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.
During the first session on March 4, more than 45 parents and teachers came together to support the well-being of our children. The hour was packed with open, honest and respectful dialogue, and attendees left feeling hopeful about the positive changes that will come from these important discussions.
This week's #TBT takes us back to Wheaton Community High School in 1922. The class of 1922 was the first graduating class of the high school. #YourCommunitySchools
Monroe Dance Marathon Raises $7K
Monroe Middle School hosted its first Dance Marathon that raised money to support Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
The Dance Marathon was meaningful, empowering, impactful, and most of all, fun! By the end of the event, the school surpassed its $5,000 goal and raised over $7,000 to benefit Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
Thank you to the Castino family for their vision and advocacy, student council members and sponsors Ms. Aghazadeh and Ms. Granbom for their commitment and passion, staff and parent volunteers, and Monroe community for supporting the event. Thank you to the guest speakers and survivors for sharing their powerful stories and inspiring hope. Thank you to the Wheaton Police Department for coming and showing support, and to the Hadley community for joining in and showing incredible sportsmanship.
Spring Testing: Information and Tips for Families
Each spring, students in Community Unit School District 200 participate in standardized assessments. These tests are administered for the following reasons:
- Monitor Student Progress: They help us track your child's academic growth and identify areas where they may need additional support.
- Guide School Improvement: Test results provide valuable data that our schools use to set goals for improvement and evaluate the effectiveness of our curriculum.
- Inform the Illinois State Report Card: Results from some assessments (IAR, ISA, and ACT) are included in the Illinois State Report Card, which provides information about school performance, including proficiency and growth data.
Below is a list of assessments your student may take this spring:
Grades 3-8
Illinois Assessment for Readiness ELA (IAR): March 12-20
Illinois Assessment for Readiness Math (IAR): April 9-15
Results available upon state-wide release at the end of October
Grades 5 & 8
Illinois Science Assessment (ISA): March 20-26 OR April 22-April 25
Results available upon state-wide release at the end of October
Grades 9,10,11
PreACT 9 Secure: April 16
PreACT Secure for Grade 10: April 16
ACT (Grade 11): April 16
Reports are available 5–8 weeks after testing through ACT's Online Reporting system, which is accessible by logging in to success.act.org.
Select Students in Grades 3-11
Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment (DLM): March 12-May 7
The Dynamic Learning Maps-Alternate Assessment is the required state assessment for students, in grades 3-11, with the most significant cognitive disabilities. As determined by the Individualized Education Plan (IEP), students with the most significant cognitive disabilities may take the DLM if participation in the state’s regular assessments is not appropriate, even with accommodations.
Results available upon state-wide release at the end of October
K-8
FastBridge Universal Screener Spring Window: April 30-May 14
Spring results will be posted in ParentVue on May 29
CUSD 200 recognizes assessments can cause extra stress or anxiety for some students. To help support your student during the spring testing, we recommend the following tips:
Ensure your child gets adequate sleep, especially the night before the test.
Eat a nutritious breakfast
Stay active outside of school as exercise is proven to reduce stress and improves focus
Ask teachers for recommendations on how to support your child's preparation.
Remind your student to focus on doing their best and avoid unnecessary worry.
Recently, Pleasant Hill Elementary School had a special visit from a mime! The mime helped students write a story, and then acted out their stories in front of the school during an assembly. The Pleasant Hill PTA supported this full-day event.
Gary Avenue Road Closure begins Week of March 16
The City of Wheaton has notified us that starting the week of March 16, Gary Avenue will be closed between Prairie and Harrison Avenues as crews begin the next phase of the Gary Avenue Reconstruction Project. This section of Gary Avenue is expected to be closed until mid-summer, once the south half of the road reconstruction is complete.
At this time, the City of Wheaton will be utilizing the detour route pictured below. The detour route can also be found on the City’s website (https://www.wheaton.il.us/1341/Gary-Avenue-Detour-Map).
We anticipate this road closure may cause transportation delays for students who attend the following schools:
- Wheaton North High School
- Franklin Middle School
- Monroe Middle School
- Sandburg Elementary School
- Pleasant Hill Elementary School
- Whittier Elementary School
- Emerson Elementary School
- Jefferson Early Childhood Center
We are working with our bus company to make adjustments for any routes that use Gary Avenue. Our building principals will communicate detour information and potential bus route delays with impacted families in the coming days.
We encourage you to visit www.wheaton.il.us/GaryAvenue for more information about the Gary Avenue Reconstruction Project and to stay updated as it progresses.
In this week’s CUSD 200 Newsletter, we highlight the following:
- Spring Testing: Information and Tips for Families
- Gary Avenue Road Closure begins Week of March 16
- Classroom Close-Up at Hawthorne Elementary School
- Mental Health & Wellness Symposium
- 5Essentials Parent Survey
- Online Registration for the 2025-26 School Year
- Citizens' Advisory Committee Now Accepting Applications for 2025-26 School Year
- Monroe Dance Marathon Raises $7K
- Pleasant Hill One School, One Book Program Creates Engaging Activities for Students, Gives Back to the Community
- Wheaton North Student Composes Large Symphony
- Emerson Parent Book Study
- Washington Family Fun Night
Read more by visiting, https://bit.ly/41sEA3i. #YourCommunitySchools
Join CUSD 200 and neighboring districts for the 3rd Annual Mental Health & Wellness Symposium this Saturday, March 8, at Metea Valley High School!
Choose from a variety of breakout sessions designed for adults and teens, covering topics from practical strategies for managing anxiety, supporting children's needs, navigating college readiness, and much more. Keynote speaker Doug Bolton will address the challenges of "Overscheduled and Overwhelmed: Navigating a Culture of High Achievement." Plus, enjoy free childcare (ages 3-10), a resource fair, and a book fair!
For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/3QgHgMn.
Recently, we stopped by Allison Kresal's fifth grade math lesson at Bower Elementary School, who was also joined by Math Coach Melissa Lamkin, for a Classroom Close-Up.
During the lesson, students were working with partners on vertical writing surfaces to explain why a pair of decimal expressions are equivalent. This activity challenged students by testing their understanding of multiplying decimal expressions and utilizing math vocabulary to explain their reasoning.
After working with their partners, students got together in small groups to share their written explanations of why the decimal expressions are equivalent, and provided feedback to each other. Students gave feedback on the math vocabulary they heard, if anything needed clarification, and suggestions for things to add or change to make their explanations stronger and clearer. #YourCommunitySchools
This week's #TBT takes us to Monroe Middle School in 2011. The Monroe eagle was soaring high and the yearbook challenged everyone to "Envision New Horizons". #YourCommunitySchools
Theatre students from both Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools recently attended the Illinois High School Theatre Festival, the largest and oldest non-competitive high school theatre festival in the nation. Throughout the event, students participated in a variety of workshops led by industry professionals, exploring everything from acting techniques and stage combat to set design, directing, and musical theatre.
Students had the opportunity to collaborate with peers from across the state, gaining new perspectives on performance, technical theatre, and storytelling. Students also attended inspiring performances, sparking fresh ideas and creative energy to bring back to our own stage.
A highlight of the festival was the All-State Production, a showcase featuring the top high school theatre talent from across Illinois. We’re proud to share that a Wheaton North student was part of the costume crew for this prestigious production, contributing her skills to a high-caliber show celebrated by festival attendees.
This experience not only strengthened our students' theatrical skills but also helped build strong crosstown relationships within our Performing Arts departments. The collaboration between Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South students reflects our shared passion for the arts, and we’re excited to see how these connections will inspire future productions.
Edison Celebrates National Periodic Table Day
Every year on February 7, the seventh-grade science students at Edison Middle School celebrate National Periodic Table Day! Each seventh grader designs and presents a t-shirt representing one of the elements, and then they all wear their shirt for the big day!
