Superintendent's Office

It’s been another busy summer full of renovation and building projects and now we’re prepping for the start of school.  The 2024-2025 school year kicks off with a professional development day for teachers and staff on Thursday, August 15, followed by our Back to School Night from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at all elementary schools.  The first day of school will be Monday, August 19 for all students in Kindergarten through 8th grade.  Liberty Junior High School will host their Back to School Night that evening from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.

Our biggest news of the school year is the launch of our Early Learning Center at McCord School.  Our early childhood and pre-school program continues to expand, which you can read more about on page 2 of this newsletter.  Additionally, our early learning families are invited to attend an orientation and open house on Monday, August 19, with three sessions to choose from:  9:00 - 10:30 am / 12:30 - 2:00 pm / 5:00 - 6:30 pm.  The first day of school for our Early Learning Center is Tuesday, August 20.   

New this year, we are pleased to be able to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students every school day.  District 111 has been approved for the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) through the National School Lunch Program.   Additional information can be found on page 9.

In curriculum news, Liberty Junior High School students and teachers will be learning and teaching with two new History resources during the upcoming school years.  After seeing presentations, reviewing materials, and piloting lessons, the 6th grade Social Studies team chose TCI History Alive! The Ancient World as the best resource for our 6th grade students.  The 7th and 8th grade Social Studies team determined that National Geographic US History and American Stories were the best resources for our 7th and 8th grade learners.

TCI is a hands-on resource that provides the materials to bring ancient history to life.  It engages students in learning through a variety of activities, videos, reading, and writing.  The digital and hard copy resources are built to adapt to different learning styles and needs in the classroom environment.  The National Geographic US History program views history as the study of identity, connecting the physical environment and historical events to students’ lives and fosters empathy for diverse peoples, cultures, and ideas.  The emphasis is on student engagement, empowerment, and active citizenship.  Each grade or course provides opportunities for additional support and acceleration through differentiated lesson plans.  Students will be supported with print materials and digital access to the program.  We look forward to learning and growing our understanding of the events and peoples that impacted the world we live in using these wonderful resources!

The start of school is quickly approaching and I am looking forward to another productive year for District 111.  In closing, I would like to invite our families to join us at the Back to School Rally on Saturday, August 24 at Burbank School.  It’s a family friendly event and a great way to celebrate the new school year.  As always, great things are happening in District 111!