Superintendent Update: 5/13/22

To view past superintendent updates, please visit District Updates on our website.

It is hard to believe that we have reached the month of May, and what a year it has been! Transitioning back to “normal” after pandemic restrictions has been challenging for many students and staff. When we began the school year with everyone in person, social distancing, COVID testing, and mask-wearing, who knew that the transition would be so challenging for all of us? We started the year excited to have our students back in person and worked hard this year to maximize learning outcomes for all.

The end of this school year 2022 has been uncommon and presented a unique set of challenges due to the pressures and demands on teachers and their students; however, U116 staff are still working hard to maximize instruction, teaching and learning remain in full swing, and we continue to push forward to deliver high-quality instruction to students while working against the excitement that the summer can bring. I encourage you to tune in to Board of Education meetings during the month of June to learn more about each school’s progress toward school improvement and their initiatives for this year and plans for next year.

As school winds down, it can bring out different emotions in students and teachers. Some are excited about the freedom and relaxation that summer brings, while others have a different experience. Many students lose their routine, structure, and the consistency that school brings once the year ends. We are thankful to be able to assist by offering so many summer opportunities to our students who need stability or those who need to continue to recoup lost learning. If you are looking for summer school options for your student, it is not too late to contact your school for more information about our summer learning opportunities.

I encourage students over the next couple of weeks to take time to reflect on the learning and growth that took place throughout the school year. As you reflect, do not think only about your grades or the standards mastered but find growth in your work and skills from the beginning of the year compared to now.

Please review the full update below to mark your calendars for all end-of-the-year recognitions and celebrations (i.e., 5th & 8th-grade promotions, UHS graduation, Honor’s Night, etc.).

In celebration of our youth,

Dr. Ivory-Tatum,

Superintendent

• May 18: UHS Honors Night/National Honors Society Night

• May 24: Adult Ed Graduation | 6 p.m. | UHS Auditorium

• May 26: 8th Grade Promotion 9 a.m. Team Divergent | 10:30 a.m. Team Jedi | 12 p.m. Team Hercules

• May 26: UHS Graduation State Farm Center 6 p.m.

• May 26: Last day for UECS

• May 27: Last day of school K-11 (Early Dismissal)

We held a small groundbreaking ceremony at Thomas Paine Elementary Thursday morning as part of the renovation/expansion of the school. The kids in their hard hats definitely stole the show! We are all excited to see the finished project. You can view the presentation about the work from the March 1 BOE meeting here: TP Renovation/Expansion

UMS Students were visited by Youth Motivational Speaker, David Edward Garcia, on Wednesday. Mr. Garcia empathizes with diverse students who face challenges because he was once considered an “at-risk student” himself before defying the odds and graduating with a bachelor’s degree and then earning his Master’s Degree. More about David Edward Garcia

Seven Urbana High School graduates from the Class of 2022 earned the prestigious Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy. They are:

• Madeline Garbacz (Spanish)
• Kaia Garbacz (Spanish)
• Carmen Lopez-Irineo (Spanish)
• Amairane Martinez-Hernandez (Spanish)
• Rema Salem (French)
• Carmen Sanchez (Spanish)
• Emily Sanders (Spanish)

The State Seal of Biliteracy program recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in English and in one or more foreign or world languages. The seal is designated on the student’s diploma and transcript.

Additionally, three 2022 graduates earned a Commendation toward Biliteracy:

• Abigail Brown (German)
• Jada Herakovich-Catchings (German)
• Crystal Rodriguez (Spanish)

The commendation toward Biliteracy is awarded to students who demonstrate progress toward biliteracy, but do not fully meet the requirements of the Seal of Biliteracy.

Participating in the program encourages the study of other languages, benefits the student by increasing employment and academic opportunities, benefits the global community by communication with people from other cultures, and allows participants to get college credit at public universities.

Find additional information on the UHS Graduation, including ticket, seating and parking information here: https://usd116.org/uhs-graduation-2022/

In continued partnership with our transportation provider First Student, USD116 will

launch the FirstView App this fall. FirstView is a bus tracking and parent communications app

for your smartphone or desktop. Set up the app to track your student’s bus in real-time

and receive alerts prior to arrival.

We successfully piloted the FirstView app at UMS and Thomas Paine this spring and are excited to expand it districtwide starting this fall.

Once bus assignments have been finalized, you will receive information from your school on how to set up the app. We are excited about the timely access to bus information that the FirstView app will bring!

REMINDER: Online registration opens May 31. All returning students must register by Monday, July 25 in order to have transportation on the first day of school.

UECS held a Mayan Celebration last weekend with the community. They celebrated and learned about Mayan Culture through art, music, guest speakers, food and more.

This event was a collaboration between the Birth to Three home visiting programs, Krannert Art Museum and Spurlock Museum of World Cultures.

The #USD116 CU Early program at Urbana Early Childhood School is part of the larger Birth to Three home visiting groups.

Yankee Ridge hosts Urbana French immersion program:Illinois Newsroom

Email: contactus@usd116.org
Website: usd116.org
Location: 1101 East University Avenue, Suite B, Urbana, IL, USA
Phone: 2173843600
Facebook: facebook.com/usd116
Twitter: @urbana116