District 88 Board of Education celebrates Summer Commencement 2022

Willowbrook Principal Dr. Daniel Krause (left) and Addison Trail Principal Jack Andrews (right) congratulate District 88 Summer Commencement graduates. They are (from left) Willowbrook graduate Sufyan Khan and Addison Trail graduates Kairo Ortiz, Leonardo Martinez Ramirez and Arnav Patel. The students were recognized during the Aug. 29 District 88 Board of Education meeting.

Before its Aug. 29 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education recognized Addison Trail and Willowbrook students for graduating from District 88 during its Summer Commencement celebration. To watch this event, click on the video at right.

• The Addison Trail students who graduated are Juan Beltran, Jeff Condado Merino, Vincenzo Gagliano, Frank Gutierrez, Daniela Macias, Gael Martinez, Leonardo Martinez Ramirez, Kairo Ortiz, Arnav Patel, Emilio Perez and Anthony Silva.
• The Willowbrook students who graduated are Alana Clark and Sufyan Khan.

During the ceremony, District 88 Superintendent Dr. Jean Barbanente welcomed the crowd and congratulated the students, and District 88 Board of Education President Donna Craft Cain offered remarks of encouragement.

District 88 shares important information regarding food service for 2022-23 school year

As the 2022-23 school year gets underway, District 88 would like to share important details regarding the district’s food service.

WHAT IS CHANGING WITH REGARD TO FOOD SERVICE FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR?
This year, schools will return to pre-pandemic meal programs, comprised of free, reduced-price and paid options for students.

WHY ARE MEALS NO LONGER FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS?
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, schools were given federal flexibilities to serve free meals to all students to ensure they received the nutrition they need. Those flexibilities have expired.

WHEN WILL THIS CHANGE BE IMPLEMENTED?
District 88 will return to pre-pandemic meal programs starting on Sept. 29.

HOW DO I KNOW WHETHER I QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS?
To view the requirements to qualify for free or reduced-price meals, go to www.dupage88.net/lunchApplication.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS?
To complete the “Free and Reduced Lunch Application,” go to www.dupage88.net/lunchApplication. As a reminder, the application must be filled out before the district transitions to pre-pandemic meal programs on Sept. 29.

WILL THE MENU ITEMS BE THE SAME THIS YEAR?
District 88 will continue to focus on providing students with healthy menu items, however, schools are dealing with the same hardships many grocery stores and other places are facing with regard to getting all the food and supplies they need. School nutrition professionals are doing everything they can to serve healthy meals, but it might be necessary to swap out some foods because other items are easier to receive. Your patience is appreciated as the district works through these challenges.

School meals must meet high nutrition standards, and District 88 is committed to serving students the nutritious and delicious meals they need to learn and grow.

WHO CAN I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS OR FOR MORE INFORMATION?
For questions or more information about District 88’s food service, contact Addison Trail at 630-628-3300 or Willowbrook at 630-530-3400.

District 88 welcomes new staff members for the 2022-23 school year

Pictured are District 88 staff members who are new to Addison Trail or Willowbrook this school year. They were welcomed by the District 88 Board of Education during the Aug. 29 Board meeting. At left is Addison Trail Principal Jack Andrews, and at right is Willowbrook Principal Dr. Daniel Krause.

During its Aug. 29 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education welcomed new Addison Trail and Willowbrook staff members to the District 88 family.

To watch this event, click on the video at right.

The staff members introduced themselves and shared their education/career backgrounds, and the Board wished them well for the school year. To see a list of new certified staff for the 2022-23 school year, go to https://tinyurl.com/District88NewStaff2022.

District 88 in the news

District 88 is thankful to members of the media for their support and coverage of the great things happening in the district!

Check out recent news articles featuring District 88 at www.dupage88.net/media. 

Addison Trail calendar of upcoming events

Check out the upcoming events at Addison Trail!

Be sure to view the school calendar to stay up to date with all the Blazer happenings – including concerts, performances, athletic events, meetings and more!

To access the calendar, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/sub/2#calendar, or click on the image at right.

Addison Trail names August recipient of 88’s Best recognition

Lea Staller (pictured at right, with Addison Trail Principal Jack Andrews) has been named as Addison Trail’s August recipient of 88’s Best recognition for her outstanding academic accomplishments.

Staller, a senior, was recognized during the Aug. 29 District 88 Board of Education meeting.

To read more, and to watch Staller's 88’s Best presentation, click on the link or on the video at right. (read more)

“ Staller is an exceptional young woman, who is always focused, curious and hardworking. She is a role model for her classmates and an absolute joy to have in class.

- Kira Bonk, Addison Trail science teacher

Two Addison Trail seniors awarded with academic honors from College Board National Recognition Programs

Addison Trail seniors Natalia Perez and Verenise Morales-Saavedra have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs.

These programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect them with colleges/universities throughout the country, helping them meaningfully connect to those institutions and stand out during the admissions process.

To be eligible for the College Board National Recognition Programs, students must:

• Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Excel on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) or PSAT 10
• Earn a score of 3 or higher on two or more Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level exams
• Qualify for at least one of the following categories: African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, attend school in a rural area or small town

For more information, go to https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/scholarships-recognition/programs/eligibility.

Counseling Corner: Addison Trail Guidance Department to host financial aid workshops to assist students and parents/guardians with post-secondary-education planning

The Addison Trail Guidance Department will host two financial aid workshops to assist families with post-secondary-education planning.

• Starting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 8, Paul Daly with OMH Partner Group Inc. will discuss financial aid terms and guide parents/guardians through the financial aid process during a virtual workshop. We encourage all Addison Trail parents/guardians who have children interested in attending college (no matter what year they are in high school) to attend this event to learn about the financial aid process.
• Starting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 29, representatives from the College of DuPage (COD) Financial Aid Department will present about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during a virtual workshop. They will go through the FAFSA line by line. Class of 2023 families can begin completing the FAFSA starting on Oct. 1, and the form can be accessed at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. As a reminder, completing the FAFSA is a graduation requirement for Illinois students. Seniors who choose not to complete the FAFSA must submit the waiver at https://www.isbe.net/Documents/FAFSA-Non-Participation-Form.pdf and return it to their counselor.

Zoom links for each presentation will be e-mailed to families the week of the respective workshop. The links also will be posted online at https://dupage88.libguides.com/Guidance. If you’re unable to join live, recordings will be available on that webpage after each workshop.

For questions or more information, contact Addison Trail Guidance Counselor Dana Marine at 630-628-3373 or dmarine@dupage88.net.

• This is a semimonthly column that features news from the Guidance Department. The column will alternate between Addison Trail and Willowbrook.

Two Addison Trail students named as winners of Village of Addison RWJF Culture of Health Prize logo-design contest

This past October, the Village of Addison was named as a 2020-2021 RWJF Culture of Health Prize winner by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation! The RWJF Culture of Health Prize honors and elevates U.S. communities working at the forefront of advancing health, opportunity and equity for all.

Addison is one of 10 winners and is being recognized nationally for pursuing innovative ideas and bringing partners together to rally around a shared vision of health. For more information about the award, go to tinyurl.com/AddisonRWJF.

To celebrate this prestigious award, students in Addison were invited to participate in a contest to design a logo that shows what being a “culture of health” means to them as youth in the village. Students were encouraged to create an image that represents all aspects of health – including physical health; mental health; safety; education; career opportunities; and support, equity and access for all residents.

On Aug. 28, two Addison Trail students were recognized as the winners of the competition: Maria Gonzalez (pictured above, second from left) and Emily Moy (pictured above, third from left). They were presented by Village of Addison Mayor Rich Veenstra (pictured above, right) and District 88 Superintendent Dr. Jean Barbanente (pictured above, left).

Gonzalez is a senior at Addison Trail and submitted a digital drawing entitled “Bloom From The Heart (Floresca Desde El Corazon).” Moy is a freshman at Addison Trail and submitted a digital art piece with marker touch-ups, entitled “Wings to Health.” See their winning entries below.

As the winners of the contest, Gonzalez and Moy were each presented with a $100 gift card and a certificate of recognition. Their entries also were featured on the Village of Addison’s RWJF Culture of Health Prize T-shirt, as well as online at tinyurl.com/AddisonRWJF.

Addison Trail welcomes new School Resource Officer

A new School Resource Officer (SRO) recently joined the team at Addison Trail – but he is a familiar face to the community.

Tim Johnston (pictured at right) will succeed Marcus Rivera as the SRO. Johnston might be new to Addison Trail, but he has been with the Addison Police Department for 10 years and serves as a detective.

“My main goal as Addison Trail’s new SRO is to ensure the safety of students and staff,” Johnston said. “I also hope to get to know each student in different environments, whether that be at sporting events, dances, afterschool activities, or just popping into classrooms and giving a quick presentation on different topics. I want the school and community to know my door is always open, and everyone is always welcome.”

Throughout his career with the Addison Police Department, Johnston has worked as a juvenile officer, a member of the Crisis Intervention Team, an instructor for firearms and Rapid Response and several other specialty positions. In his free time, he has worked as a patrol officer to get to know the youth in the area. But it was during his temporary duty assignment with Indian Trail Junior High School when Johnston realized he wanted to serve as an SRO.

Addison Trail Principal Jack Andrews said the school is pleased to welcome Johnston, and he knows Johnston will continue the excellent work Rivera and previous SROs have established.

“Our No. 1 priority is the safety and security of our students and staff, and the SRO position is a way for us to ensure the well-being of everyone in our building,” Andrews said. “We look forward to working with Johnston and continuing our tremendous partnership with the Addison Police Department.”

Although Johnston’s job is to enforce the law and school policies, he knows the role encompasses so much more. He is thrilled to help maintain a culture of trust and understanding.

“My goal is to develop positive relationships with students and their families and build trust with them and the community,” Johnston said. “I want them to know I will be there for them – whether it be in a crisis situation, or just to give them an ear when they need someone to listen. At the same time, I will be fair and honest with them.”

To contact Johnston, e-mail tjohnston@dupage88.net.

“ My goal is to develop positive relationships with students and their families and build trust with them and the community. I want them to know I will be there for them – whether it be in a crisis situation, or just to give them an ear when they need someone to listen. At the same time, I will be fair and honest with them.

- Tim Johnston, Addison Trail's new School Resource Officer

Willowbrook calendar of upcoming events

Check out the upcoming events at Willowbrook!

Be sure to view the school calendar to stay up to date with all the Warrior happenings – including concerts, performances, athletic events, meetings and more!

To access the calendar, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/sub/3#calendar, or click on the image at right.

Willowbrook names August recipient of 88’s Best recognition

Neeraja Kumar (pictured at right, with Willowbrook Principal Dr. Daniel Krause) has been named as Willowbrook’s August recipient of 88’s Best recognition for her outstanding academic accomplishments.

Kumar, a senior, was recognized during the Aug. 29 District 88 Board of Education meeting.

To read more, and to watch Kumar's 88’s Best presentation, click on the link or on the video at right. (read more)

“ An amazing, well-rounded, well-spoken young woman! Kumar is a thoughtful and considerate human, always ready with kind words.

- Maritza Francisco, Willowbrook social studies teacher

Ten Willowbrook seniors awarded with academic honors from College Board National Recognition Programs

The 10 Willowbrook seniors listed below have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs.

Evelyn Arellano
Iliana Esparza
Jennifer Valois
Katheryn Ramirez Zanabria
Lia Galindo
Marin Ortiz-Rivera
Mary Brennan
Noah Campbell
Ryan Riley
Skye Thomas

These programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect them with colleges/universities throughout the country, helping them meaningfully connect to those institutions and stand out during the admissions process.

To be eligible for the College Board National Recognition Programs, students must:

• Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Excel on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) or PSAT 10
• Earn a score of 3 or higher on two or more Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level exams
• Qualify for at least one of the following categories: African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, attend school in a rural area or small town

For more information, go to https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/scholarships-recognition/programs/eligibility.

Warrior Wellness: An inside look at Willowbrook’s Fitness & Nutrition class

Willowbrook students are working hard every day to become more educated with their health and wellness, and we are thrilled to feature those accomplishments through this monthly column.

In this edition of Warrior Wellness, the Physical Education Department is proud to highlight our Warriors who are enrolled in our Fitness & Nutrition class! This yearlong dual-credit course is taught by physical education teachers Megan Murphy and Steve Belknap and nutrition teacher Staci Scapardine. Students have started the year strong with fitness testing to begin analyzing their health and setting goals/plans to make improvements and healthy changes throughout the school year.

During the semester, students will participate in a variety of lifetime fitness activities, including walking, strength training, yoga, Zumba, tennis and so much more. We continue to sample a variety of workouts to help each individual discover what he/she enjoys and what works best for him/her.

On the nutrition side, students will navigate the basics of preparing healthy meals, while learning about each of the essential nutrients. The goal is to make sure students have these lifelong tools to recognize and make healthier choices.

The Fitness & Nutrition course challenges all students and allows them to work with their teachers, as each student develops an individual plan for his/her wellness. Another unique component of this class is students are eligible to earn dual credit with College of DuPage.

We are excited to work alongside our students to help them on their health and wellness journey!

• The Warrior Wellness column provides an inside look into the physical education, health and driver education classes at Willowbrook. This monthly feature highlights what students are working on in class, as well as student successes in those departments.

Willowbrook’s new Flag Football Team has winning start to season

On Aug. 27, Willowbrook’s new Flag Football Team (pictured at right) competed in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS)/West Suburban Conference (WSC) Flag Football Jamboree.

The team participated in two scrimmages and won both, 18-0 and 19-0. The team also had the opportunity to participate in drills with NFL FLAG masters and meet Dr. Jen Welter, the first female to serve as an NFL coach.

Although the day was physically challenging, team members improved their skills and are hopeful for the upcoming season. The team’s first game will begin at 3 p.m. on Sept. 10 versus Proviso East (at Oak Park and River Forest High School).