It’s a great time to be an Addison Trail Blazer

As 2016-17 gets under way at Addison Trail, I would like to welcome you to a new and exciting school year!

There has never been a better time to be a Blazer. Once again, Addison Trail has received national honors as one of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” by The Washington Post, “Best Public High Schools in the Chicago Metro Area” by the Niche Rankings and “Best High Schools” by U.S. News & World Report. We are extremely proud to receive those honors. It speaks volumes to the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, parents/guardians and the entire Addison community.

As Principal of Addison Trail, I could not have asked for a better start to the 2016-17 school year. Our first day of school saw an attendance rate of more than 96 percent. Blazer Pride was evident through the energy our staff and students brought back to the campus.

One of the highlights of the first week was opening our doors to the community for the first Blue and White Community Night. Our students, staff and coaches really put on a great event showcasing our athletic, activity and performance groups. It is important the entire community is aware of all the wonderful opportunities Addison Trail offers our students. It also was a great night to see the hard work and dedication our students put in during the summer to kick off the school year. Everyone did a fantastic job, and this school year is sure to be one of the best. To read more about the Blue and White Community Night, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/5978.

One of the characteristics that separates Addison Trail from other high schools is the personalized and caring learning environment we strive to create each and every day for all students. Those relationships extend beyond the classroom to activities and athletics. Nearly 70 percent of our students are involved in sports or activities. That number is important to us, because we know students who are connected to the school through their coaches and teammates are more successful during their four years as a Blazer.

To show students what it means to be a Blazer, we will host our annual Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) assemblies on Sept. 13 and 14. The PBIS program is at the heart of our “Blazer Pride” message and was implemented in fall 2007. It’s a proactive approach to teaching and re-teaching expected behaviors to students and rewarding positive efforts. The PBIS Committee hosts events throughout the year to celebrate the successes of students and staff and to reinforce our focus and goals.

One of the main aspects of PBIS is the Blazer Pride cookie program, where staff can recognize students for exhibiting what it means to be a Blazer. Honorees receive a cookie and a note explaining the positive behavior that was observed. PBIS also gives students a voice in the decisions made at Addison Trail and in the future direction of the school. It provides them with a way to contribute to and influence school policy, which helps develop a sense of ownership and belonging. PBIS is thriving at Addison Trail, and it continues to grow and improve.

Lastly, we look forward to honoring and celebrating Addison Trail’s 50th Anniversary. This year will provide numerous opportunities for students and staff to connect with alumni from the past 50 years. We’re excited to welcome back alumni. Remember – Once a Blazer … Always a Blazer. For details about 50th anniversary events, go to www.dupage88.net/AT50thAnniversary, or join our Facebook group at http://tinyurl.com/zz9g76y. And remember to register in our alumni database at www.dupage88.net/atalumni. 

We are off to a great start to the 2016-17 school year, and we look forward to the legacy the class of 2017 will leave at Addison Trail. Thank you for your continued support of Addison Trail and District 88!