Superintendent Update:Oct. 13, 2023

from USD116 Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Superintendent Update:Oct. 13, 2023 from USD116 Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Oct. 13, 2023 Superintendent Update

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

Greetings, Urbana Friends and Families,

Following three public hearings, the Board of Education approved the District Facilities Committee's recommendation to reopen Wiley as a 6th Grade Center for the 2025-26 school year. The Board also approved the contract for the Wiley Asbestos Abatement; work begins immediately. These approvals will allow the District to move to the next phase in its enrollment analysis to ensure equitable attendance for our elementary schools and reconsider the future of a whole-school dual language school. This week, the Board approved hiring an experienced redistricting consultant firm, RSP Associates. The District will use RSP’s reports and maps to better understand demographic trends, school utilization, and the timing of construction projects. RSP has extensive experience working with school districts like ours in communities with demographic shifts and university communities with emergent bilingual populations.

These upcoming conversations will move the district one step closer to developing a new strategic plan with community engagement initiatives in the next several months.


I apologize if my earlier message did not represent my support for all those impacted by the violence coming out of Israel and the Gaza Strip. We continue to grieve the Israeli and Palestinian lives lost and are deeply saddened by the news and images we continue to see. This news and these images can be particularly difficult for children and teens to process. It is also important to note that some of our students and staff may have family members or friends directly impacted by the ongoing conflict. No person, adult, or child living here in CU or another country should live in fear of violence.


Our focus will continue to be on ensuring our schools remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming environments for our students. We ask that we all support one another and understand that bullying or discrimination will not be tolerated or allowed in our schools. You may find the following resources useful in helping students during this difficult time:


I hope the above resources, which focus on the traumatic humanitarian crisis these attacks have created, will benefit you, your family, your children, and our students.


As we near October 15th, I want to sincerely thank all who attended or supported school or District Latine Heritage Month activities. As we close our Latine Heritage focus, I hope you all have an opportunity to celebrate, recognize, and honor Latine cultures and their contributions to our community.


I wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and rejuvenating Fall Break,

Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Academic Monogram

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On Monday night we celebrated the academic achievements of our Urbana High School scholars!


The Academic Monogram program is an annual event that recognizes students in grades 10-12 for their academic efforts. The scholars must meet several criteria, including:

  • They must be enrolled in at least four classes in addition to physical education.
  • Students must earn a 4.0 grade point average in each semester of work in an academic year with no F’s.

UECS Anniversary

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USD116 is celebrating 50 years of Early Childhood in Urbana and the 10th Anniversary of UECS. You're invited to join:

  • Thursday, November 9

  • 5 p.m. (Tours at 5:30)

  • UECS

Attendance

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Every day in school counts and helps build the foundation for your student's academic success. Daily attendance supports academic success.


Chronic absence, missing 10 percent or more of school days due to absence for any reason—excused, unexcused absences and suspensions, can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by the third-grade, achieving in middle school, and graduating from high school.


Read more about attendance below:

CUSF Grant Recipients

This week, the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation (CUSF) Board of Directors delivered souvenir checks totaling more than $92,000 in Urbana and Champaign schools. The grant awards, supporting 130 new projects are part of CUSF’s ongoing efforts to invest in educators and motivate students for success in our local public schools. In addition, every first-year teacher received a $100 grant from CUSF for use in setting up their new classrooms. Thank you to CUSF for supporting USD116 teachers.


Projects in USD116 include:

  • Urbana Early Childhood School students will have the opportunity to learn about aquatic life with their new aquarium
  • UMS eighth grade visual art students will have an opportunity to explore careers in the department of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois
  • 4th and 5th grade students in the dual language program at DPW will now have access to bilingual picture dictionaries.


Read more about the grants/projects

Good News in the U

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National Honors Society

This week, many of our Urbana High School students were inducted into the National Honors Society. The National Honor Society (NHS) recognizes high schoolers who meet high academic standards and also show a commitment to leadership and service.

the choir performing during Academic Monogram
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UHS Choir

The Urbana High School Choir was selected to perform with Foreigner on October 22! They won the competition by roughly 100 votes. Thank you to everyone who voted!


The Choir also won $500 from the band, which they plan to use toward their upcoming Disney trip.


News Gazette Article
pictures of students in the C-U Pride Parade
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USD116 awarded Best Youth Participation

USD116 won best youth participation in the C-U Pride Parade from The UP Center of Champaign County! Thank U to all the staff and students who participated.

two pictures of Austin -- one of him running and another of him with his medal.
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UMS Cross Country

UMS Cross Country Runner, Austin Ogolsky is headed to State!


Austin placed 10th at sectionals over the weekend and will compete at State this weekend. #ProudofU116

two pictures, one of the color guard posed together and another of the Tiger Marching Band as they perform
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TMB

The Tiger Marching Band competed in the Viking Invitational in Danville and placed in several categories:


  • 2nd Place in Class 4A
  • Outstanding Color Guard in Class 4A
  • Outstanding Percussion in Class 4A
picture of the senior players on the UHS soccer team. They are all kneeling on one knee and holding their picture.
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Soccer Senior Night

Celebrating our seniors! Tuesday night was senior night for the UHS Boys Soccer Team.
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Swim & Dive Senior Night

Urbana Girls Swim and Dive won their Senior Night quad meet on Thursday against Mahomet, Uni, and St. Thomas More!

Teach for Urbana Card

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The teacher, staff and volunteer appreciation cards are back! This year, staff will get a card each semester.


Thank you to the local businesses and community support that make these appreciation cards possible.

Community Resources/Events

Flu Clinics

WHERE TO GET A FLU SHOT


The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District would like to remind you that influenza (flu) season is quickly approaching. Please take the following steps to protect your family this flu season. Influenza is primarily spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. This can happen when droplets from coughing and/ or sneezing of an infected person travel through the air and reaches the mouth or nose of people nearby. Sometimes flu can be spread when a person touches droplets, nose drainage or saliva from an infected person, or a soiled object, and then touches one’s own (or someone else’s) nose or mouth before washing hands. Therefore, we are taking the necessary steps to reduce the spread of flu by asking parents to assist us with the following:


  • Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
  • Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues.
  • Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
  • Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs.
  • Remember the 3C’s: Clean your hands, Cover your cough, Contain- stay home when you’re sick and don’t forget to get vaccinated.


CUPHD resources:

What you need to know - flu vaccine, inactive English, Spanish
What you need to know - flu vaccine, live English, Spanish

Parkland Fall Break Classes

Parkland College is hosting Fall Break Youth Classes. Please click the following link for more information: Parkland Fall Break Camps

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Kids Cheer Camp

The UHS Cheerleaders are hosting a Kids Cheer Camp on October 28. Questions can be directed to Coach Melissa McMahon: mmcmahon@usd116.org.


Registration is OPEN until Friday, October 20th!

In The News

Upcoming Dates

  • October 16-20: Fall Break: No School

  • October 26: Student led family/teacher conferences 4-8 p.m.

  • October 27: Student led family/teacher conferences 8-11 a.m. (No school for students)

Urbana School District #116
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