SUPERINTENDENT NEWSLETTER
Dear FSD Staff & Families,
Last Saturday, Freeport High School celebrated 100 years, and the community showed up to join the celebration. Alumni came back from decades ago, current students stood next to grandparents who once sat in the same classrooms, and for a few hours you could feel just how much history lives inside those walls.
That's what a hundred years does. It doesn't just mark time, it stacks up generations of teachers who cared, students who grew up, and families who kept coming back. Every one of them added something to what FHS is today.
It's easy to get caught up in the day to day of running a district and forget to step back and see the bigger picture. Saturday was a reminder. FHS isn't just a building or a mascot, it's a hundred years of people believing in this community and investing in the kids who walk through its doors. That's the kind of legacy worth celebrating, and it's exactly why "All In For All Kids" isn't just a slogan for us. It's been true for a century.
Thank you to everyone who helped make Saturday happen and to everyone who showed up. Here's to the next hundred years of Pretzel pride.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15. It's a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in our community and across the country.
The 2026 theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is “Unidos, Somos Mas: Together, We Are More- focusing on family, resilience, creativity, faith, and service.
At FSD 145, we're proud of the rich diversity our Hispanic and Latino staff, students and families bring to our schools. We encourage staff and families to take this month to learn, reflect, and celebrate together.
A dedicated planning committee worked for months to honor FHS’s rich history and create a memorable celebration for all ages. Committee members coordinated activities, entertainment, vendors, displays, tours and countless other details.
Our students played an important role. The FHS Band performed the national anthem, and the NJROTC Color Guard officially opened the celebration. Members of Student Council, Key Club, Student Ambassadors, M.A.M.A. (Multicultural Asian Minority Association), the Thespians and the Speech Team proudly served as tour guides. Several advisory classes assisted with setup, and Mrs. Becky Connors also conducted tours.
Local bands Lobbin Robbins and Southpaw Stance, along with the music ensemble The Cole Family, entertained the crowd. Local businesses and student organizations served as vendors, while area food trucks offered delicious options—including Freeport’s newest soft pretzel business.
Thank you to our guest speakers—former FSD educators, some of whom are also alumni—who shared meaningful reflections about the FHS/FSD family: LaFrancine Baker, James Cole, Doug Firebaugh, Jennifer Kanosky, Pat Norman and Jim Winker. Tim Connors served as emcee, and Mayor Jodi Miller sent a proclamation from the City of Freeport.
A special shout-out goes to Josh Elliott of Elliott Graphix for donating event signage and transforming the historical timeline, researched and written by FHS educator Whitney Eberle, into a visual showpiece. Rachel Gastel of the Stephenson County Historical Society shared an exhibit highlighting our community’s past, while Denairo Thomas presented a video celebrating Freeport’s people, places and stories.
Most importantly, former staff members, alumni, families, students and friends of FHS—traveling from near and far—filled the campus with memories, laughter and school spirit. Their support showed that Pretzel Pride truly spans generations.
The Planning Committee members were: Principal Sarah Hasken, Whitney Eberle, Tim Connors, Aleisha Leeper, Andrea Luy, Jaci Ogden, T.J. Jackson, Wanda Kerchief-Mendoza, Paulette Williams-Thomas and Robert Winter.
Additional staff members who assisted Saturday included Superintendent Dr. Anna Alvarado, Nate Arendt, Katy Hattula, Ruth Hattula, Jenny Schneiderman, Haley Kurtz, Jena Kleindl Spinnato and Justin Pasch.
To every committee member, student, performer, speaker, vendor, organization, business, volunteer, staff member and community partner who made the celebration possible—THANK YOU! Your dedication made this historic milestone truly special.
To Principal Sarah Hasken and the entire team: Job well done!
FSD 145’s Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) Department brought families, staff and community members together for an evening of resources, relationships and fun at its Passport to Resources - Community Resource Fair.
More than 369 attendees + staff members/volunteers had the opportunity to connect with more than 20 community and district partners representing a variety of services and organizations throughout our community. Along with valuable information and resources, families enjoyed games, activities, giveaways, food trucks and plenty of opportunities to simply connect and have a good time together.
The evening was F.A.C.E.’s mission in action: building meaningful partnerships that empower every student to thrive. By connecting families with resources, removing barriers and creating opportunities for engagement, F.A.C.E. is working to ensure every family feels welcomed, valued, supported and connected to their child’s education.
One event. More than 20 community partners. Over 375 attendees. Countless connections. That’s F.A.C.E. in action! Photos
Have ideas for how to improve walking or biking to school? Join in for a walk audit to evaluate the streets and crossings around schools and to learn about how the City of Freeport IL is working to create safer routes for students and families.” See the schedule of school-specific audit walks below.
Beginning with our October 2nd edition, All In: The Pretzel Pulse will take you Inside 145, spotlighting a school or district department and the people, programs and services that make it an important part of FSD 145.
Up first, our Early Childhood Center under the leadership of principal Aimee Kasper. We excited to spotlight the home of our youngest learners in our next edition.
As you will learn, the ECC is the place to BEE!
