Superintendent Update: 4/28/23

This week our District and, specifically, our elementary schools celebrated Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week. We recognize and appreciate our staff from the Before School Child Care Program (i.e., BSCCP) and After School Child Care Program (i.e., ASCCP). Because their hard work and creativity happen before and after school, sometimes their dedication can go unnoticed. An estimated 10.2 million young children participate in afterschool programs each year, and our program is well-respected and highly sought-after. The USD116 Family wants to publicly celebrate and acknowledge their efforts during this “special” week and all year. We hope our BSCCP and ASCCP families gave staff a special “thank U” this week. We would not be USD without BSCCP & ASCCP. Thank you!

The District Facilities Committee studying the future programming for Wiley met for the first time this week. I would like to thank the group of diverse, dedicated individuals that comprise the group, which includes teachers, parents, building principals, community members, board members, and district administrators. While it is a large group (60+), we are off to a great start. I will keep you updated on the group’s progress. There will be opportunities for the larger Urbana community to provide input and participate in future engagements.

May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI), which celebrates the histories of Americans from Asian continents and the Pacific Islands. This month, communities around the country will celebrate AAPI's history and culture and how they show their resilience, persistence, and determination. This year’s theme is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” According to the Oxford English Dictionary, opportunity can be defined as “a set of circumstances that make it possible to do something.” Opportunity can be built, accessed, achieved, or given; as our District continues to discuss future equity initiatives, all students, staff, and families must be given access to opportunities in our school community.

Teacher Appreciation Week is also celebrated in May. It is recognized in the first full week in May this year, May 8 - May 12, with National Teacher’s Day occurring on May 2, 2023. In USD116, our principals and district administrators look forward to the opportunity to celebrate our teachers and staff. This is also your opportunity to acknowledge the challenges that teachers and staff face by saying thank you to those who play an essential role in your children's lives. We hope you find creative ways to express your appreciation during this week.

Online Registration for returning students is open! Please log on to Skyward Family Access to register your returning student(s) by July 27. You should have received a separate email from the District with your Skyward username and password. If you need help, please email onlineregistration@usd116.org. Please include your student’s name, school, and your contact information in the email. Urbana Early Childhood and elementary school parents, please contact your schools, as they will be making computers available on-site at different events and times during the month of May if you would prefer to complete the registration process in person. If you need assistance, we will host a Registration Tech Help Night on May 10 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Urbana Middle School. You can find more registration information on our website: https://usd116.org/registration/. You can also watch a helpful step-by-step registration video here and in Español and a Step-by-step registration guide in Español and Français.

As we enter the month of May, please make sure you have added two very important culminating events to your calendars, the Urbana Adult Education Center’s Graduation on Wednesday, May 24th, at 6:00 p.m. in Cobb Auditorium at UHS and the Urbana High School Commencement on Thursday, May 25th at 6:00 p.m. at State Farm Center. As a Prek-12 District, our ultimate goal is to see all of our students walk the stage with a diploma in hand. Let’s support all of our graduates and celebrate these special events.

Stay safe and well,

Dr. Ivory-Tatum