Dec. 13, 2024

Woman smiling with dark long hair, wearing a green top.

Shine Bright with Supt. Rebecca A. Jenkins

Dear District 70 Families,

This is our last District 70 electronic newsletter before we ring in 2025! Time flies when you’re having fun, and I can honestly say we’ve had plenty of fun Learning Together this year.

2024 has been a year of unforgettable moments and meaningful growth across our district. Together, we’ve celebrated achievements, built connections, and created memories that highlight the heart of our schools—our students, staff, and community.

We began the year cheering our Highland Middle School Girls' Basketball Team and wrestlers to new titles, setting the tone for a year of diligent work and perseverance.

In the last 12 months, we’ve continued to open doors to opportunities from career exploration to international travel, earned recognitions for student, staff, and districtwide achievements, and strengthened the partnerships that make our schools thrive. From classroom successes to community events, this year has shown the power of collaboration and a shared commitment to learning and growth.

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited about what’s to come. Thank you for being part of this journey with us—here’s to another year of Learning Together!

Shine Bright!

Rebecca

Rebecca A. Jenkins

Superintendent of Schools

Libertyville School District 70

rjenkins@d70schools.org

Rebecca's Instagram

Your Voice Is Important - Help Us Create the Calendar

D70 is polling families on setting up future calendars by collecting data this week to assist the D70 Calendar Committee in creating the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school district calendars. Your voice is important. Please complete this form by noon on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Thank you.

Calendar Survey Form to Help Set Next Year's Calendar

A row of boy and girl students standing in front of huge wooden doors to Medival Times.orses.

Fourth-graders across D70 attended Medieval Times this week to expand their knowledge of life during the Middle Ages. Many thanks to the D70 Foundation for Excellence in Education for helping to fund the trip!

Young boys kneeling and sitting in a classroom while they fan out paper play money.

Butterfield third-graders played the hands-on, interactive game Operation as they wrapped up learning about the human body.

Two female students work in the makerspace to create tools as they build a shelter out of cardboard.

Copeland Manor fifth-graders are learning about different cultural regions of indigenous peoples, and have started working on recreating the artifacts they used to survive.

Winter STAR assessments for Grades 6-8 and 2-5

Winter STAR Assessment Dates:

Highland Middle School: Dec. 16-19
Elementary Schools: Jan. 14-17

On these dates, please make sure your child’s device is fully charged before coming to school and please try to avoid absences or arriving tardy to school.

Students in kindergarten and first grade will be assessed the same week (Jan. 13-17) using AIMSwebPlus. An AIMSWeb Parent Letter has more information.

Parents can help their child on these assessments by:

Make sure that your child attends school on time each day of testing.
Make sure your child gets a good night’s rest the night before testing.
Provide breakfast on the mornings of testing.
Remind your child to ask the teacher questions if he or she does not understand the test directions.
Let your child know that you have confidence in his or her ability to do his or her best.

HMS STAR scores for 6-8 grades will be available after winter break for parents to view in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. To access your child’s scores please log into your PowerSchool account and scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “View Star Test Results.”

Want to know more about the STAR assessment and scores?

D70 24-25 Assessment Schedule

Save the Date for D70 Summer School

Believe it or not, summer school planning has already begun. Please save the dates on your calendar for our D70 Summer School Program.

Dates: June 4th - July 3rd

Where: Copeland Manor School 801 S. Seventh St., Libertyville

When: Monday - Thursday (no school on the federal Juneteenth holiday on June 19th)

Start/End Times: 8:30-11:45 a.m.

With Four Periods:

8:30-9:15 a.m.
9:20-10:05 a.m.
10:10-10:55 a.m.
11:00-11:45 a.m.

Cost: $425

Busing will be available for students for an additional fee

Your voice was heard as we listened to the parent survey responses and made some important changes! Families suggested a later program start, clear registration process, and more creative courses being offered.

Look for a course catalog and registration details to come out in February. We are bringing back some old favorites and adding some NEW and CREATIVE options!

Join us in welcoming back from retirement, Dr. Lori Poelking (lpoelking@d70schools.org) as the Summer School director, and returning Co-Principals, Mr. Kevin Joyce and Mrs. Robin VanDyke.

One boy sits in a chair with an open book reading as other students sit on the floor in front of him listening.

Enjoying a student read aloud with Adler Park fourth-graders.

Students line up two by two in chairs as if in on airplane in the classroom.

Rockland kindergartners boarded a plane and flew to Italy this week as they began learning about holidays around the world.

Thanks to the HMS NJHS and Student Council for selling hot chocolate this week to raise money for the school wide charity, Special Spaces Illinois.

Improved School Entrance Safety Measures

The video intercoms at the entrance of each building in D70 have been relocated outside as part of our enhanced security measures. We kindly ask that you remain in front of the video intercom after ringing the bell to help our team quickly verify and assist you.

If you are entering the building, please have your driver’s license ready for use at the visitor kiosk.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to Austin Johnson, director of safety and security, at ajohnson@d70schools.org.