Leyden Pride

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Nov 26, 27, 28 - No School , Thanksgiving Break

Dec 22 - Jan 5 - No School, Winter Break

Jan 6 - No School, Institute Day

Link: Subscribe to the Leyden calendar

American Education Week (November 17-21) is a special time when we celebrate our public school community. The designation was created by the National Education Association (NEA) as a way to honor the team of people who work in our nation’s public schools, everyone from the bus driver and classroom teacher to the cafeteria worker and administrative staff, plus countless others.

Here at Leyden, we celebrate by recognizing our staff through written acknowledgments, tokens of appreciation and treats throughout the week.

“This week gives us a great opportunity to recognize and thank each and every one of the Leyden staff for all of the hard work they do to positively impact the students and families in our communities,” said Superintendent Dr. Nick Polyak. “And to all those who are working in public education, we express our sincere gratitude for your ongoing commitment to kids.”

Leyden High School District 212 offers two west-suburban public schools to serve the communities of Franklin Park, River Grove, Rosemont, Schiller Park, unincorporated Leyden Township and portions of Northlake and Melrose Park. The total student enrollment is approximately 3,500 distributed between East Leyden and West Leyden.

Leyden employs more than 600 professionals who each contribute to the educational experiences of our students. From teachers, support staff, food service staff, bus drivers, security, maintenance and administrators, we are each committed to “Doing What’s Best for the kids.”

The Leyden High School District 212 Board of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Katy Boehm as its newest member. Boehm will fill the vacancy left by the recent passing of her mother, longtime Board Member Sandra Boehm, serving the remainder of her term through the spring of 2027.

A proud Leyden alumna, Boehm brings deep roots in the community and an impressive record of service and educational involvement. She currently serves as a school librarian at Scott Elementary School, in one of Leyden’s valued partner districts, and is an active member of the Franklin Park Library Board. She was also a member of the planning committee for Leyden’s 100th Anniversary Gala and has shared her time and talents with the Leyden marching band and color guard for 17 years. Her volunteerism and professional dedication reflect a lifelong commitment to learning, literacy, and public service.

“Katy embodies the spirit of engagement and community that defines Leyden,” said Board President Greg Ignoffo. “Her experience in education, her leadership in local organizations, and her thoughtful approach to service make her an exceptional addition to our Board. While her mother’s legacy will always be part of Leyden’s story, Katy has earned this appointment entirely on her own merits.”

The District extends its deepest appreciation to the Boehm family for their ongoing contributions to the Leyden community. The Board looks forward to working with Katy as she helps continue the District’s mission to educate, enrich, and empower all students.

“Leyden has always meant so much to me and is truly a special place,” said Boehm. “The opportunities Leyden students have, from academics to athletics to music to service to trades, are truly remarkable. I look forward to collaborating with the board members and administrators to continue building and supporting these incredible opportunities for all Leyden Eagles. I’m honored to continue my mom’s legacy of service while bringing my own perspective as both an educator and alumna.”

The Taste of West will be held on Tuesday, December 2, and the Taste of East will be held Wednesday, December 3. Both events run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

This is the first event in a student’s career at Leyden High School and offers families and students a glimpse into the curriculum and many activities that are offered throughout the school year. A postcard will be mailed out with additional information. Please contact the main office at West Leyden at 847-451-3122 or East Leyden at 847-451-3023 with any questions.

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.

The potential for winter weather school building closures is upon us. In the event that in-person instruction would need to be canceled due to snow, freezing temperatures, or other hazardous conditions, all families, students and staff would receive direct communication (email, phone, text) from Leyden. In addition, the information would be posted on the Leyden website and in local and social media outlets.

As a reminder, the general plan would be to move to an E-Learning, asynchronous schedule. This means that assignments would be posted in Schoology by 9 a.m. and students would need to complete them by the end of the day. If the emergency situation continues longer than one day, the district plans to switch to a synchronous E-Learning schedule for the second day and beyond, as necessary. The synchronous schedule would follow the same format as a regular school day bell schedule.

Link: Emergency closing

Registration is now open for the Leyden ACT prep class which includes 11 evening classes and an optional Saturday practice test. Classes begin January 21 and run through April 9, meeting one evening per week. Students may choose to attend at East (Wednesdays) or West (Thursdays), and may select 3:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. or 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Students may attend at either campus, regardless of their home school.

Students who attend all sessions typically increase their scores by an average of 120 points. The class is open to all Leyden students at a cost of $40, which includes all books and materials. To register, sign in to MySchoolBucks or visit the school cashier. Students who are direct-certified by the state may register in person for a discounted fee of $20.

Contact: Dr. Todd Veltman, tveltman@leyden212.org.

Link: Full Schedule

Juniors and seniors who plan to take Consumer Education this summer must complete registration between November 3 and March 16. Space may be limited so early registration is encouraged. The course is worth a .50 credit and costs $95.

This course is offered in an online format, provided by a company called Apex. Students are required to attend class on-site daily at West Leyden, and there is a teacher present to assist with facilitation, however students move through the course at their own pace. The students no longer have to be on-site once the course is successfully completed.

Consumer Education is offered during both summer sessions:

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

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

*No classes July 29 - July 3

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

This month’s One Amazing Story features Angelina Fakhoury-Siverts, East Leyden alum and trailblazer as the first-ever female football player in the West Suburban Conference. Today, Angelina continues to break barriers as the Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at City of Hope Cancer Center–Chicago. Her journey from the Leyden field to hospital leadership is a story of courage, dedication, and compassion.

Link: Watch Video

On Thanksgiving, November 27, Leyden High Schools will host a holiday celebration for approximately 200 Navy Recruits from Great Lakes Naval Station. Leyden will send buses up to the base in Waukegan, and the recruits will spend the day from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. enjoying a full thanksgiving meal and experience at East Leyden. Treats will be prepared by the Leyden culinary students and there will be games, including football, table tops, bags, and even chromebooks and cell phones so that the recruits can connect with their families.

“It gives us such joy to be able to treat those who serve our country a family-style experience at a time when we know they aren’t able to be with their own families,” said Superintendent, Dr. Nick Polyak. “Our hope is that their time with us helps to show them the love and support of our Leyden communities.

Our talented Orchesis Dance Team gave a stunning performance at the Día de los Muertos celebration held in the Student Commons at West Leyden on November 4.

West Leyden Painting I students recently visited the Art Institute of Chicago where they had the opportunity to see the original masterpieces they replicated during class.

State Representative Norma Hernandez visited East Leyden High School on Thursday, November 14, to connect with students and see learning in action. During her visit, she joined a culinary class to help make bruschetta, toured the building to see our programs and facilities, and stopped by an Advanced Placement European History class to speak with students about civic engagement and leadership.

Leyden builds lasting success through year-round grit

Community news: Leyden singers head to state

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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