Leyden Pride

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Dec 22 - Jan 5 - No School, Winter Break

Jan 6 - No School, Institute Day

Jan 19 - No School, Martin Luther King Day

Feb 16 - No School, Presidents' Day

Link: Subscribe to the Leyden calendar

Leyden Superintendent Dr. Nick Polyak has been named the 2026 Illinois Superintendent of the Year! The highly competitive selection process judges nominees on the following criteria: academic achievement, preparing students for the future, social-emotional support, teaching and instruction and leadership. This honor recognizes Dr. Polyak’s exceptional leadership, visionary initiatives, and unwavering commitment to educational excellence at the local, state, and national levels.

“Dr. Polyak’s recognition as the 2026 Illinois Superintendent of the Year is a testament to his dedication to student success, equity, innovation, and the development of future leaders in education,” said Leyden Board President Greg Ignoffo. “Being a superintendent isn’t a job, it’s a calling. This is a 24/7/365 job, and we know that he is wrestling with monumental decisions on where we are going with our district, our students, and our community, and he just makes it look so simple.”

Dr. Polyak has served as an educator for 27 years and has held the role of superintendent for the past 17 years. Since taking the helm at Leyden in 2013. He has led transformational change focused on the guiding principle of “What’s Best for the Kids.”

Links:

The end of semester summatives will take place over the last three days of student attendance before winter break. This ensures that all students benefit from a maximum of three summatives in one day. Please see the schedules below and note: December 17, will be a Wednesday that runs on a regular schedule (no late start), with the school day starting at 7:35 a.m. Grab and go lunches will be provided December 18 and 19.

Leyden’s Winter Art Exhibit will take place Monday through Wednesday, December 8 – 11, in both the East and West Leyden Libraries. The show will highlight an impressive range of student work including drawings, paintings, prints, graphic design projects, photography, ceramics, and sculpture created by our student artists and those from our partner schools. Artwork will be on display from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday. An evening reception will be held on Monday, December 8, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., providing an opportunity for artists and their families to view the exhibit together.

Leyden High School proudly presents the 31st Annual Yuletide Celebration on December 13, with performances at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The evening will feature the Leyden Chamber Singers alongside GraceNotes, Unresolved, and First Ending. Join our musicians for an evening of yuletide merriment, warm soups, and seasonal beverages in the East Leyden Commons. Enjoy festive carols as students guide you through a sparkling Winter Wonderland light display, then return to your seat for a special treat as the night concludes with our final musical selections. This joyful, family-friendly event is perfect for all ages and promises to leave you filled with holiday cheer. Tickets are $10 per person and must be purchased in advance.

Link: Purchase tickets

Families of incoming freshmen will learn about opportunities for summer school enrichment for the class of 2030 through the Taste of East and West programs this week.

Registration for summer school will be open for incoming freshmen from December 4 - 7. Attending summer school as an incoming freshman is a great way to transition to high school, learn the buildings and facilities, and free up more time in semester schedules for future electives.

Session 1: Monday, June 8 - Thursday, June 25*

Session 2: Monday, July 6 - Thursday, July 23

*No classes July 29 - July 3

West Leyden High School

8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. daily

Courses

The following classes will be offered in Sessions 1 and 2: Digital Literacy, Digital Literacy (online) and Global Studies. They are each worth .50 credit and cost $95. Daily attendance is required. These courses take place in a classroom setting and are led by teachers, with the exception of the Digital Literacy online course, which is virtual, with a mandatory meeting May 7, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Registration

To register, visit MySchoolBucks.com or in-person at the East or West bookstores. Full payment is due at the time of registration. Fees apply to all courses, even those audited without credit. Refunds will only be issued if a course is canceled due to low enrollment. Bookstores are open on school days, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and they accept cash, credit cards, debit cards and personal checks.

Link: Summer School Webpage

On December 10, the Chicago-O’Hare Rotary, in partnership with Leyden High School District 212, will honor the following 12 students in its 11th annual Inspirational Eagle Awards: Julio Andujar Araujo, Dominic Ganir, Jacob Ganir, Jesus Rosa Gomez, Lily Mason, Francisco Melendez, Hilliana Mendoza, Noala Morales, Lizeth Romero, Angel Marcos Payan, Maylen Parra Sales, and Jacob Sanchez.

The purpose of these awards are to expand what is typically acknowledged in terms of academics and athletics, and instead to honor students for accomplishments in self improvements, overcoming adversity, and contributions to the community.

The Illinois chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA) honored Leyden with an Award of Excellence, the highest level of recognition, for the video series Leyden: Making History. Leyden was one of eight districts in the state recognized for their efforts in this category. INSPRA’s annual communications contest took place on November 14, and recognized professionals throughout the state for quality publications and productions.

Leyden: Making History was produced for the district’s 100th anniversary celebration last school year, and featured five episodes noting the stories of alumni, community leaders, staff, families and students and their strong ties to Leyden.

Link: Watch Leyden: Making History

The Boys Bowling team made their debut on Thursday, November 13, competing in their first match since becoming and official sport this winter.

Just before Thanksgiving break, Leyden Theatre staged the colorful show, "And Hilarity Ensued...Pursued by a Bear," for three performances in the West Leyden auditorium.

Leyden High School District 212 Appoints Boehm to Board of Education

Late Leyden School Board Member Sandra Boehm’s daughter steps in to fulfill term

Community News: Leyden School staffers honored, Infant Welfare Society fundraiser, more

Email: pr@leyden212.org
Website: www.leyden212.org
Location: 3400 Rose Street, Franklin Park, IL, USA
Phone: 847-451-3000
Facebook: leydenpride212
Twitter: @leydenpride212

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