A Message from the Superintendent
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Dear District 153 Community,
There’s no question that this has been a tough week for our community as we collectively reel from the local blackface controversy.
This episode is particularly painful because I believe this community and District 153 work so hard to create a local culture of inclusivity and a climate in which people of many races, cultures, socioeconomic statuses, and abilities feel safe and respected.
In District 153, our students’ social and emotional health and issues of diversity are significant concerns for us. They are prioritized in the strategic plan we adopted last year. Across the school district, our staff has been busy brainstorming and implementing new ways to help students acquire the skills they need to manage their emotions, set positive goals, feel and show empathy to others, and make good choices.
All our schools devote a significant amount of time each year reviewing and practicing our behavior expectations (Positive Behavior and Interventions System/PBIS). District families will soon be hearing from our principals about how those themes and lessons about respect, empathy, fairness and safety play out in age-appropriate ways from building to building.
The importance of our schools getting this right isn’t lost on anyone in District 153. Moreover, we know this work may never be “done.” We must keep refining, improving, re-thinking, re-teaching.
So yes, this week’s incident was hugely disappointing. But, still, I am filled with hope. I have a renewed determination to get back to work. You see, I have a vantage point on this community that is unique. I am lucky to see and hear what goes on in our hallways, classrooms, cafeterias, sidewalks, meetings, and events across the entire school district. I am privileged to bear witness to the positive interactions kids have with adults and with fellow schoolmates, to the struggles of parents trying so hard to make a difference, to the educators who are determined to solve problems and improve the lives of kids.
The television stations will never send their news vans to record these interactions and relationships. They will never go viral on social media. The Washington Post will never write about them. But they happen here every single day.
I believe this community can and will pick up and continue with the challenging work of learning how to live peacefully and respectfully in a multicultural environment. District 153 will never stop learning, never stop trying, never stop working and never stop striving to be better and do better for our kids, for our schools, for our community. And for ourselves.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dale Mitchell
Superintendent
Dale.Mitchell@hsd153.org
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Bands Celebrate Musical Diversity at Spring Concert
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The Churchill and James Hart Bands will present their annual spring concert Thursday, May 9th. The concert will be a major first for the band program as most of the repertoire will be music from female and minority composers.
Inspired by organizations such as the Institute for Composer Diversity (formerly the Composer Diversity Project) and the International Alliance for Women in Music, the 2019 spring concert will kick off a long-term commitment by the band program to seek out and perform the music of historically underrepresented groups each year.
Thursday’s concert will feature American composers Katheryn Fenske, Darryl Johnson II, and William Owens, as well as Japanese composer Naoya Wada. A highlight will be local composer Heather Hoefle (pictured above during rehearsal) conducting one of her works with the James Hart Symphonic Band. Her piece, “Ascent for Concert Band” received its world premiere by the Symphonic Band in March.
James Hart Band Director Matt Johnson said the goals of this new commitment is to educate students on these great composers through hands-on experience; to show them that with hard work and discipline anyone can grow up to be a composer; and to send a message to the music publishing industry through the program’s purchasing power that the music of these composers should be encouraged.
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Student Artists Celebrated at Exhibit
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The visual arts and the students who create it were celebrated on May 6th at the 3rd annual Homewood Student Art Exhibition.
Congratulations to all the student artists from Willow, Churchill, James Hart and HF High who exhibited their creations. Special kudos to the D153 students who received 1st place and honorable mentions for their artwork:
From Willow: 1st Place: Annie Van Etten (Kindergarten). Honorable Mention: Gabrielle Martin (1st Grade)
From Churchill: 1st Place: Teirra Stewart (4th Grade), Honorable Mention: Deon Romero (5th Grade)
From James Hart: 1st Place: Wesley Schmidt (6th Grade), Honorable Mention: Ale’jah Thompson (8th Grade)
And many thanks to our friends at Bottle & Bottega Homewood for hosting this wonderful event for our kids!
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May 17: Deadline to Register for 2019-20
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After May 17, no returning student registrations will be accepted until JULY 1st.
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New student registrations are being taken now and will continue to be taken throughout the summer.
- Monday, July 1 – resume accepting returning student registrations
- Wednesday, July 24 – evening registration in the District Office, 4:00 PM-7:00 PM
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Order Next Year's School Supplies Online with PTA
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Summer is Coming. Really.
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Check out these two summer camp opportunities at James Hart
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PTA Cook's Night Out at Aurelio's May 7
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Teacher Appreciation Week
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Step Up Choir Concert (5th/6th/HCC). JH Gym, 7:00 PM
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2nd Grade Transition to Churchill Parent Night, Churchill School, 6:30-7:30 PM
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PMA Chocolate Sale Pick-Up, JH Cafeteria, 5:30-8:00 PM
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Spring Band Concert (5th-8th), JH Gym, 7:00 PM
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6th Grade White Pines Week
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School Board Meeting, JH Media Center, 7:00 PM
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4th-Grade Choir Concert, Churchill School, 7:00 PM
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PTA Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, JH Cafeteria, 8:30 AM
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PMA Pass the Baton Celebration, JH Cafeteria, 6:30 PM
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Deadline to register your student for 2019-20
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James Hart Family Reading Night, James Hart School, 6:30 -8:00 PM
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No School: Memorial Day Holiday
James Hart Band and Chamber Orchestra perform in Homewood Memorial Day Parade and Service
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