An Update from Supt. Smith

Notable Dates and Events

• Calendar Reminders

News and Announcements

• Election Results: District 300 Bond Referendum
• Reminder: Parent-Teacher Conference Information

District Highlights

• District 300 Recognizes School Board Members Day
• State Representative Attends Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council Meeting

Student Recognitions

• District 300 Bowler Advances to State Competition
• High School Photographers Receive Recognition

School Highlights

• On Veterans Day, Students Learn From Those Who Served
• Hampshire High School Grad Named National Rural Teacher of the Year
• ‘Mystery Readers’ Bring Stories to Life at Algonquin Lakes Elementary
• Big Timber Classroom Welcomes Superintendent for Book Reading

School Snapshots

• Algonquin Lakes Elementary School
• Algonquin Middle School
• Dundee-Crown High School
• Eastview Elementary School
• Lake in the Hills Elementary School
• Neubert Elementary School
• Perry Elementary School

Board of Education

• Next Board of Education Meeting Scheduled for November 17

Conclusion

District 300 would like to remind families of the following notable dates and events:

Friday, November 13, through Saturday, December 12:

• Fine arts events – Information about madrigal dinners is available, as are details about choir, chamber strings, guitar, jazz, and orchestra events. To learn more, please visit the District 300 calendar webpage, scroll down, and select “Fine Arts Calendar.”

Monday, November 23, and Tuesday, November 24:

• Parent-Teacher Conferences – No student attendance; for additional details, please visit the “News & Announcements” section below.

Wednesday, November 25, through Friday, November 27:

• Fall Break – No student attendance; offices and schools closed.

Wednesday, December 9:

• Late Start – For all K-12 students; December 9 will be a non-attendance day for preschool students.

On behalf of District 300, I would like to thank every voter who participated in the November 3 election. Unofficial results indicate the district’s bond referendum did not pass. These results remain subject to final counting and certification.

On November 4th, the District 300 Board of Education issued a statement that included the following:

“We respect the community’s decision. When the Board voted unanimously on July 21 to place this question on the ballot, we acknowledged the decision would rest with voters. We recognize that community members brought different perspectives and concerns to this vote. Whether you voted yes or no, thank you for taking part.”

The Board’s full statement is available on the District 300 website.

The challenges facing our schools remain. Our student population is still projected to grow by 4,000 students over the next 10 years, and nearly one-third of our buildings are already at or near capacity. Our buildings are also aging, with 13 of our schools 50 years old or older.

District 300 remains committed to providing safe, supportive learning environments where every student can reach the highest potential in their chosen pathway. We will keep our community informed as we determine the next steps to address these needs.

As a reminder, District 300 schools look forward to Parent-Teacher Conferences on:

• Monday, November 23, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  
  
• Tuesday, November 24, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The window to schedule conferences is now open. Each school sent an email communication to families providing specific information on how to sign up for conferences. This message included school-specific links to PTC Wizard online, the system used to schedule conferences.

Please contact your school office directly should you have any questions or need support.

On Sunday, November 15, District 300 will join school districts across Illinois in recognizing School Board Members Day, an opportunity to highlight the hardworking individuals who volunteer their time to support our students, our staff, and our community.

Serving on the school board extends well beyond attending meetings. It requires careful preparation, thoughtful discussion, and a commitment to understanding the needs of students, staff, and families. Our board members volunteer their time to help guide our schools, address challenges, and plan for the district’s future.

• Christine Birkett, Board President
  
  
• Leslie LaMarca, Board Vice President
  
  
• Tola Makinde, Board Secretary
  
  
• Steve Fiorentino, Board Member
  
  
• Alisa Lindmark, Board Member
  
  
• Patrick Malia Jr., Board Member
  
  
• Nancy Zettler, Board Member

Please join District 300 in thanking our school board members for their continued service to our schools and community.

Thank you to state Rep. Suzanne Ness for attending a recent meeting of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC)!

During the meeting, students introduced themselves and discussed their reasons for joining the SSAC. They also shared feedback on the implementation of District 300’s updated personal electronic device policy.

D300 Special Olympics bowlers competed in a regional tournament last month in Addison.

Congratulations to athlete Edgar Sifuentes, who is now advancing to the state competition in December!

Congratulations to the District 300 students listed below for earning recognition in the Kane County Regional Office of Education Student Photography Contest!

• Dundee-Crown High School senior Rebecca Sanchez, whose photo was selected as a Top 10 submission in Week 6 of the contest, which featured the theme “Autumnal.”

• Hampshire High School senior Danny Terriquez, whose photo was selected as a Top 10 submission in Week 6 of the contest.

• Hampshire High School senior Lucia Gamble, whose photo was selected as a Top 10 submission in Week 7 of the contest, which featured the theme “Humor & Hijinks.”

• Hampshire High School junior Hailey Como, whose photo was selected as the Weekly Winner in Week 8 of the contest, which featured the theme “Flora & Fauna.”

To learn more about the contest, please visit https://kaneroe.org/student-photography-contest.

District 300 schools recognized Veterans Day this year by honoring the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans.

Many students heard directly from veterans about their experiences, providing a personal perspective on military service and the dedication of those who serve.

District 300 extends sincere gratitude to all veterans and their families for their commitment to our country and the sacrifices they have made to protect the freedoms we share.

Congratulations to Jennifer Burdette, a 2004 graduate of Hampshire High School, who has been named National Rural Teacher of the Year by the National Rural Education Association!

Jennifer has been working for the Spoon River Valley school district in London Mills, Illinois, since fall 2011. She currently teaches social studies to students in seventh through 12th grade.

“My education at Hampshire gave me the skills to be successful in college and beyond,” Jennifer noted. “To this day I think back fondly of the teachers and staff I had at Hampshire and how they took the time to build relationships with their students and show that they cared about us as a whole person not just for our academic performance. Without these teachers to inspire me and show me what teaching can be, I would never be in the position I am today.”

Algonquin Lakes Elementary School recently welcomed two dozen “Mystery Readers” to share stories with students before its Halloween parade and classroom holiday celebrations.

Each homeroom enjoyed readings by four different community members, many of whom added to the festivities by wearing Halloween costumes themselves.

Thank you to the community members and District 300 staff who participated!

Fifth graders in Dr. Joshua Horton’s class at Big Timber Elementary School recently welcomed me for a reading of “Change Sings” by Amanda Gorman!

After the reading, students reflected on the book’s positive message of diversity, perseverance, and acceptance.

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, at District 300 Central Office, 2550 Harnish Drive, in Algonquin.

Meetings are called to order at 6 p.m., with board members immediately entering closed session; meetings then reconvene in open session at 6:30 p.m.

In-person seating for meetings is on a first-come, first-served basis. For your awareness, meetings are also streamed live on the District 300 YouTube channel beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Guidelines for public participation at board meetings are available on the district website.

District residents and members of the public can contact the board any time by emailing Board@d300.org. Any email sent to this address will reach all board members simultaneously.

To view more information about the Board of Education, including future meeting dates, agendas, past board videos, and more, please visit www.d300.org/BoardofEducation.

As we approach Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of how much there is to appreciate across District 300. I’m grateful for the dedication of our staff, the partnership of our families, and the curiosity and determination our students bring to their learning each day. Thank you for the many ways you contribute to our school community.

Look for my next Superintendent Update on Friday, December 11.

Have a wonderful weekend!