District 88 wishes you a safe and happy holiday season

Pictured is District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton.

As we come to the end of 2019 and the first semester of the school year, it’s a great time to reflect on the successes we’ve had so far.

It is because of our partnerships that we’re able to build positive futures for our students and guide them to success inside the classroom and beyond. Our students and schools continue to receive state and national recognitions in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities, and that happens thanks to our Board of Education, staff, students, parents/guardians and community members coming together to accomplish our mission of working for the continuous improvement of student achievement.

DISTRICT 88 HIGHLIGHTS

  • The safety and well-being of our students and staff is our No. 1 priority, and I want to assure you maintaining the security of our buildings is always at the forefront of our work. More information about steps we take to maintain a secure and caring home at District 88 can be viewed at www.dupage88.net/Safety2019-20.

  • We continue to increase dual-credit, Advanced Placement (AP) and asynchronous offerings to provide students with an opportunity to earn college credit while in high school.

  • We partnered with OUR HOME iMPROVEMENT (OHi) in Elk Grove Village to host a four-part series, where District 88 pupils traveled to OHi once a month to attend classes on various industry topics and work on a job site. The plan is to have the participants apply and interview for a summer apprenticeship with the company.

  • We continue to work with local businesses, workforce development committees and chambers to provide students with real-world opportunities in the workplace. Read more at https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/11142. We also continue to expand workplace certifications.

  • We received two awards during the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) 2019-20 Those Who Excel Awards Banquet. Former District 88 Board of Education member Sharon Kucik received an Award of Merit in the category of Board Member, and members of the DuPage High School District 88 Learning Community School Safety Team received an Award of Excellence.

  • District 88 Board of Education President Donna Craft Cain achieved Master Board Member recognition by the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB).

  • Willowbrook Principal Dr. Daniel Krause was named as President of the Illinois Principals Association (IPA) for the 2019-20 school year.

  • We participated in a Manufacturing Matters Breakfast with the Illinois Manufacturers' Association and the Village of Addison to celebrate Manufacturing Month and Manufacturing Day.

  • We hosted and welcomed a Shanghai Municipal delegation, who visited District 88 to learn about the U.S. education system.

ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS

  • Seventy-nine District 88 students were recognized as December graduates.

  • Willowbrook seniors Grace Placek and Emma Staunton were named as Commended Students in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program.

  • The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) announced the 2020-21 State Scholars, and 80 District 88 students earned that honor.

ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS

  • Addison Trail-Willowbrook Girls Swim Team member Mary “Ellie” Hassler (a sophomore at Willowbrook) competed in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Girls Swimming & Diving State Meet. Hassler competed in the 50-Yard Freestyle (6th place), the 100-Yard Freestyle (6th place) and the 100-Yard Breaststroke (5th place) for Athletes with Disabilities.

  • Addison Trail juniors Viviana Sanfilippo and Dylan Moran competed in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Cross-Country State Meet.

  • The Willowbrook Football Team advanced to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) 7A Playoffs Semifinals for the first time since 1975.

  • The Willowbrook Special Olympics Volleyball Team competed in the Special Olympics Illinois Fall Games.

EXTRACURRICULAR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Seven District 88 students were named as All-State Musicians by the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA).

  • Addison Trail junior Gerardo Alvidrez, junior Gabriela Mendoza and senior Madison Walsh were selected to participate in the 2020 Illinois High School Theatre Festival (IHSTF) All-State production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida.” Addison Trail Theatre Tech Assistant Alex Holod (who graduated from Addison Trail in 2009) also was selected as Co-Prop Designer.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

  • Willowbrook alumna Sydney Keehner (class of 2019) was inducted into the 2019 class of Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois.

  • Addison Trail alumnus Aaron Ozee’s children's book “Regulus” continues its journey of traveling throughout the world – and is now set to take the big screen! Ozee has sold the production rights from his notable creation to a stop-motion animation studio that will adapt “Regulus” into an unorthodox theatrical feature.

As we head into the holiday season with Winter Break, I also would like to highlight how our students and staff demonstrate giving back is a cornerstone of District 88 pride. It’s our goal to provide a comprehensive educational experience for students, with a focus on the “whole child.” We strive to develop within students an understanding of the importance of accepting and helping others, and we volunteer, host and participate in events such as:

  • Blood drives
  • A Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon at Addison Trail, in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Addison and the Addison Park District
  • The Brook Catering Co. (which is comprised of Willowbrook students enrolled in culinary classes at the school) prepared a Thanksgiving meal for the Villa Park Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2801
  • Serving meals at the DuPagePads homeless shelter at First Presbyterian Church of Itasca
  • Raising money for breast cancer awareness and research throughout October
  • Relay For Life of District 88 Youth and Willowbrook’s Brook Olympics to raise money for the American Cancer Society
  • Kiwanis Peanut Days
  • Salvation Army bell ringing
  • Park Pride Cleanup Day and Salt Creek Cleanup Day

  • Toys for Tots at Addison Trail and the Warrior Project at Willowbrook (pictured above), which collect gifts for local families and children for the holidays
  • Food drives to benefit local food pantries
  • Winter apparel drives
  • Shoveling snow for community members in need (to request assistance from students, call the Village of Addison or the Village of Villa Park)
  • Collecting formal wear and accessories, as well as school spirit wear, to ensure all students have access to these items
  • Blazer Relief Center at Addison Trail (a collection of hygiene items for students and their families)

These are just some examples of how District 88 students and staff show they care about one another, their community and the world around them.

It truly takes all of us working together to build positive futures for our students. It takes involved parents/guardians, engaged students and community members, knowledgeable Board of Education members and dedicated and passionate staff. Thank you to all of our stakeholders for your continued support of District 88. On behalf of the district, I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season.


Respectfully,

Scott J. Helton, Ed.D.
Superintendent