District 88 celebrates the beginning of the 2017-18 school year

Pictured is District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton.

Welcome to the 2017-18 school year! The first week already has our buildings filled with energy and excitement as we begin a new year.

I started the first day of school on Aug. 16 by riding a bus with students and Addison Trail Principal Michael Bolden. In the afternoon, I rode a bus home from Willowbrook, along with Principal Dr. Daniel Krause. Those are great opportunities for us to speak with students about their summer and what they’re looking forward to as we head back to school. I also spent some time with our Transition Program students to celebrate the start of 2017-18. That program helps individuals with special needs who are 19 to 21 years old learn life skills, obtain job training in a community setting and transition to adult life.

Below are other highlights from the first day of the 2017-18 school year.

Addison Trail

  • 95.8-percent attendance rate on the first day of school, and the drum line welcomed students as they entered the building.
  • Staff members displayed the 2017-18 Blazer Pride T-shirt, with the message of "One School, One Community, One Family."
  • The Buildings and Grounds staff had the rooms cleaned and the floors waxed before the start of school.
  • The fall athletic season has begun. The school’s first football game will take place on Aug. 25 at Glenbard South (varsity will begin at 7:30 p.m.). All other fall sports are practicing for their season.

Willowbrook

  • 97.4-percent attendance rate on the first day of school, and the drum line welcomed students by playing in the hallways.
  • Staff members displayed the 2017-18 Warrior Pride T-shirt, with the message of “One School, One Family, All Warriors.”
  • The Buildings and Grounds staff had the rooms cleaned and the floors waxed before the start of school.
  • The fall athletic season has begun. The school’s first football game will take place on Aug. 25 (varsity will begin at 7:30 p.m. at home versus Grayslake North). All other fall sports are practicing for their season.

District 88 Transition Program

  • The Transition Program welcomes 56 students this year.
  • The Transition Program plans to open its Perks & Possibilities Café after Labor Day, which will offer a variety of new menu items. Students in the Transition Program help set up the café, and several of them stay for job training. The café is entering its eighth year and will be open from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday in the Addison Public Library. The café is successful because of generous donations from the community.
  • This year, Transition Program students will experience community-based learning opportunities such as joining recreational leagues and going to museums, theatre performances and other venues to develop life skills. They also will have guest speakers to learn about services available in the community and to increase independent living skills.
  • Students in the Transition Program receive job training at more than 33 vocational sites. The program is always looking for new job-training sites. If you’re interested, contact District 88 Vocational Coordinator Christine DiRienzo at cdirienzo@dupage88.net or 630-530-3248.

To prepare for the first day of school, District 88 administrators and department chairs participated in workshops on Aug. 1, 2 and 3. On Aug. 10, we welcomed our new staff members, along with community leaders and service organizations from Addison, Lombard and Villa Park. And on Aug. 14, all staff members attended an Institute Day.

This past school year, Addison Trail and Willowbrook were once again recognized by The Washington Post as two of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” and as “Best Public High Schools in Illinois” by the 2017 Niche Rankings. Those tremendous accomplishments were achieved because of the strong partnerships among all members of our learning community, and we look forward to more accomplishments in 2017-18.

It is our goal for the 2017-18 school year to ensure all of our students develop high-level skills and knowledge that will support college and career readiness and prepare them for successful post-secondary experiences. Our focus and initiatives this year will include continuing the great work that takes place in District 88 through:

  • Continuing to close the achievement gap
  • Expanding measurement and assessment practices to monitor and promote student growth
  • Continuing to look at best practices with regard to technology to ensure the district remains on the cutting edge and provides students with 21st-century skills – we must always provide our pupils with an education that is focused on what they will need in the future, not just today
  • Maintaining a comprehensive curriculum and school environment to build futures for all students, while remaining fiscally responsible
  • Partnering with post-secondary institutions to expand dual-credit and certification opportunities for all students
  • Partnering with parents/guardians and community members to maintain support systems that reinforce high student performance
  • Continuing our open, honest and transparent communication with all stakeholders

District 88 offers a meaningful and comprehensive educational program that provides a strong foundation for success beyond high school, and the 2017-18 school year will provide yet another opportunity to expand on our achievements. I would like to thank you for your support of our programs and staff members and for your partnership in “Building Futures” for the students of District 88.


With District 88 Pride,

Scott J. Helton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools, DuPage High School District 88