Weekly Update
February 14, 2024
District 204’s second annual Mental Health Symposium will be held on Saturday, March 9 at Metea Valley High School from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM. This event is free, open to the public, and will feature a variety of mental health resources for parents and students in grades 8 – 12. The Mental Health Symposium will include a keynote session by author Dr. Devorah Heitner who is the author of Growing Up in Public and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World. Dr. Heitner's work has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street journal and CNN Opinion. She has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology & Society from Northwestern University and has taught at DePaul and Northwestern. The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion with local experts to discuss the relevance of Dr. Heitner’s presentation in our schools and local community.
Attendees can anticipate a variety of breakout sessions tailored to both adults and teens, covering topics ranging from practical strategies for managing anxiety to embracing resilience and self-esteem. The event will also feature a book fair, a community resource fair, and childcare services for children aged three to ten.
View the Adult Breakout Sessions
View the Teen Breakout Sessions
For more information and registration, visit the Mental Health Symposium webpage.
Parent University: Alternatives to College will premiere as a video presentation on the District’s YouTube channel on Thursday, February 15 at 7 PM. District 204’s Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education, Dr. Nicole Howard, will lead a panel discussion with local experts to help parents understand the career pathways available to high school graduates as an alternative to college.
Parents across Illinois once again have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of your child’s school as it relates to the important elements of school effectiveness.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by the University of Chicago. All survey responses will be kept confidential. The state will provide survey results for individual schools only if a school has at least 20 percent of parents take the survey. If you have children attending more than one school, we ask that you complete the survey for each school.
To take this short survey:
1. Visit 5Essentials Survey Link
2. Type and select “Dupage” as "County." (The county is the location of the school district's main office.)
3. Type your school's name into the "School" field and select your school.
Only three weeks left until the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation’s (IPEF’s) third annual Inspire Gala, taking place on Friday, March 8, at the beautiful White Eagle Golf Club. Don’t miss this amazing evening of live music, food, art, wine, and a silent auction, showcasing our talented IPSD 204 student musicians and artists while raising funds for IPEF’s district-wide enrichment programs, including the Fine Arts Festival, free cardiac screenings for high school students, Robotics, mental health counseling, and support for our homeless and low-income students. Get Your Tickets Today!
Dr. Rachael Mahmood
Georgetown Elementary 5th Grade Teacher
Dr. Rachael Mahmood was named the Far West Suburban Teacher of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education, and is one of 15 finalists for the Illinois Teacher of the Year.
Erin Rodriguez
Young Elementary School Principal
Erin Rodriguez was named the DuPage Region Elementary Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association.
The DuPage County Health Department Dental Program is joining the American Dental Association in the observance of the annual “Give Kids a Smile Day” on March 1, 2024. Dental screenings will be done by DuPage County Health Department dentists. In addition, children will receive oral health education and a free oral healthcare kit.
Regular dental screenings are important to determine oral health problems. Dental care has been identified as one of the largest unmet health needs among children in the U.S. Pain and suffering
associated with untreated dental disease can lead to problems with eating, speaking, and learning. Children in the U.S. miss 51 million hours of school each year due to dental related illnesses.
The next regular Board of Education meeting is at 7 PM on Monday, February 26, 2024 at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, Aurora. Meeting agendas and documents will be available online prior to the meeting. Video of the regular meeting can be streamed live or viewed the following day at the District’s YouTube channel.