District 88 welcomes delegates from China

Top left: Addison Trail students visit with a group of delegates from China on Nov. 14 and showcase what they're learning in their culinary class. That group traveled the Chicago area to complete a project/research related to environmental protection and green sustainable development. Top right: The group tours Addison Trail's auto shop. Bottom: Addison Trail Principal Michael Bolden welcomes the delegates to the school.

Top: District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton (left) and Village of Addison Mayor Rich Veenstra (right) welcome a group of delegates from China on Nov. 14. The group visited Addison and District 88 as part of a tour of the Chicago area to complete a project/research related to environmental protection and green sustainable development. Bottom: Helton discusses school finances, budget and operations with the group.

On Nov. 14, District 88 and Addison Trail welcomed visitors from China. That group consisted of 20 delegates from various departments of the Shenzhen Municipal administration (a city in Guangdong Province, China), nine of whom stopped by District 88. They are visiting the Chicago area to complete a project/research related to environmental protection and green sustainable development.

During their visit to District 88, the group members toured Addison Trail and spoke with administrators, teachers and students. They also participated in a presentation about school finances, budget and operations with District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton, District 88 Chief Financial Officer Ed Hoster and Village of Addison Mayor Rich Veenstra. The delegates visited Addison School District 4 as well. The event was coordinated through 21st Century Institute in Oak Brook.

District 88 embraces the diversity of its student body and communities as a strength for Addison Trail and Willowbrook. The district has about 40 languages and more than 30 countries represented among its families, and almost half of the nearly 4,000 students at District 88 speak a language other than English at home. The district continuously provides opportunities for students and staff to experience other cultures and looks forward to more programs like the delegation visit.