Proud Hawk Community Update
Heritage CUSD #8 | 2024
Dear Heritage Families and Community Members,
As we begin 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made during the first 100 days of the school year.
First 100 Days Highlights
The first 100 days have been filled with learning, growth, and achievement for our great district! We are actively engaging in strategic planning with valuable community input. From academic successes to extracurricular accomplishments, I am proud of how our students and staff have demonstrated resilience, creativity, and determination.
Some notable highlights include:
- A greater emphasis on social and emotional learning, supporting the whole child.
- Outstanding student participation in plays, concerts, and performances.
- Our junior high cross country team competing at the state level.
- Students selected to perform for ILMEA (Illinois Music Education Association) honors.
- Successful community service projects, such as Caps for Cancer, Penny Drive, and North Carolina Hurricane Helene Relief efforts.
- NHS and FCCLA students reading to younger learners and assisting with the Local Authors Book Fair.
- Celebration student success with monthly recognition.
- The FFA’s petting zoo and farmers’ luncheon, fostering agricultural education and community engagement.
- Pink Night sponsored by FCCLA.
- A fun and engaging Harlem Wizards Night, made possible by the incredible support of our PTC.
These are just a few highlights—there are so many more successes and initiatives to celebrate!
E-Learning Feedback
Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent e-learning survey. Your feedback helps us improve and tailor learning experiences to best meet students' needs.
Key findings from the survey:
- Ease of Learning Materials: 50% of families rated the materials as "very easy" to use, with 34% finding them "easy."
- Student Engagement: Families reported higher engagement with structured, interactive content.
- Communication: Clear instructions and teacher accessibility were appreciated by most respondents.
- Opportunities for Improvement: We are focusing on incorporating more hands-on learning and reducing screen fatigue with more balanced approaches.
These insights will guide us as we refine our virtual learning strategies, ensuring dynamic and meaningful experiences for all students.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward, I am excited about the many opportunities 2025 will bring. Together, we will continue to strive for excellence, build strong partnerships, and ensure a supportive environment where every student thrives.
Thank you for your continued trust and collaboration. Let’s make this a fantastic year!
Warmest regards,
Dr. Kimberly Norton
Superintendent
Heritage CUSD #8
Strategic Planning Update
We are excited to share the highlights of key themes and suggestions gathered through community listening sessions and survey feedback. This input is shaping the foundation of our strategic planning process as we work together to ensure success for all students.
Highlights of Key Themes and Suggestions
Strategic Goals & Community Listening Session Feedback (January 8th):
1. Ensure Each Graduate Achieves Post-Secondary Success
- Strong interest in expanding post-secondary readiness through financial literacy, mock interviews, resume writing, and job shadowing opportunities to better prepare students for future careers.
2. Intensify Academic and Extracurricular Opportunities
- Suggestions included establishing an in-house preschool and offering after-school tutoring for at-risk students.
- Expanding trade-related programs and extracurricular activities, such as show choir, soccer, robotics, LEGO clubs, football, and drama club.
3. Ensure Safe and Welcoming Environments
- Feedback emphasized the need for expanded parking, resurfacing, and updating the track to improve facilities.
4. Expand the Financial Strength of the District
- Suggestions included gathering financial data from the wind farm project and pursuing new grant opportunities to bolster district resources.
5. Strengthen the Cooperative Relationship Between the Community and the District
- Building partnerships to offer workshops, internships, and mentorship opportunities for students.
- Proposing a Parent University with resources on artificial intelligence, online safety, bilingual support for Spanish/English families, and tools to help families support student learning.
Strategic Planning Survey Feedback (July 22nd–October 31st):
The survey responses closely aligned with the listening session themes:
1. Ensure Each Graduate Achieves Post-Secondary Success
- Respondents emphasized the importance of career readiness, including financial literacy, resume building, and practical life skills.
2. Intensify Academic and Extracurricular Opportunities
- Interest in trade-related learning, hands-on opportunities, and additional clubs and sports, such as robotics, soccer, and football.
3. Ensure Safe and Welcoming Environments
- A desire for parking improvements and track resurfacing was frequently mentioned.
4. Strengthen the Cooperative Relationship Between the Community and the District
- Collaboration with the community to provide mentorship programs, internships, and parent-focused educational workshops was a recurring theme.
Elementary and Junior High Student Feedback:
1. Ensure Each Graduate Achieves Post-Secondary Success
- Interest in more counseling support and a designated calm-down space for students managing anxiety.
- Increased desire for hands-on learning, new electives (e.g., coding and creative writing), and additional after-school clubs.
2. Intensify Academic and Extracurricular Opportunities
- Multiple mentions of adding football and a drama club.
- Inceased options for electives.
3. Strengthen the Cooperative Relationship Between the Community and the District
- Suggestions for organizing fundraisers to support national disaster relief efforts.
High School Student Feedback:
1. Ensure Each Graduate Achieves Post-Secondary Success
- Strong interest in career readiness programs, including financial literacy, mock interviews, resume writing workshops, and job shadowing opportunities.
2. Intensify Academic and Extracurricular Opportunities
- Desire for diverse electives such as coding, creative writing, and trade-related programs to meet varied interests.
- Requests for additional clubs and sports, including show choir, soccer, robotics, LEGO clubs, football, and drama club.
3. Ensure Safe and Welcoming Environments
- Highlighted need for expanded parking and resurfaced track facilities to improve safety and usability.
4. Expand the Financial Strength of the District
- Suggestions for pursuing new grants to strengthen the district’s financial position.
5. Strengthen the Cooperative Relationship Between the Community and the District
- Emphasis on building community partnerships for workshops, internships, and mentorships.
- Interest in a Parent University to support families of students at all grade levels.
Next Steps:
We are excited to incorporate these valuable insights as we begin committee work to develop a dynamic strategic plan reflecting our shared vision.
Thank you for your continued dedication to Heritage Schools and our students. Together, we will create a strong future for our students and community.
Please email Dr. Norton at norton.kimberly@heritage8.org if you have any questions.
Board Update: January 21, 2025
The Heritage Board of Education continues to prioritize enhancing educational experiences, supporting student activities, and planning for future growth. Key items from the most recent board meeting include:
Action Items
- Approval of Personnel Updates: The board approved employment of Mrs. Ariel Wells as an additional secretary at the elementary/junior high.
- Transportation Enhancements: Approval was granted for the purchase of (four) new 71-passenger buses and (two) Multifunction School Activity Buses to improve student transportation safety and efficiency.
Discussion Items
- Academic Calendars: The board reviewed a first reading of the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school calendars, considering scheduling options to maximize instructional time and student engagement.
- Cooperative Agreement with Academy High: A first reading of a proposed two-year cooperative agreement with Academy High was discussed, aimed at expanding opportunities for high school girls in softball and volleyball.
Superintendent’s Report
- Principal Reports: Updates highlighted academic progress, student engagement initiatives, and classroom successes across the district.
- Activities and Sports: The board reviewed recent student achievements in athletics, music, and other extracurricular activities, recognizing the dedication and talent of Heritage students.
- Strategic Planning Update: Progress on developing a comprehensive strategic plan was shared, including feedback from staff and community engagement sessions. The board remains committed to creating a vision and actionable steps for long-term growth and improvement.
The board is grateful for the continued support and input from families, staff, and community members. Board meetings are open to the public, and meeting minutes can be found on the district’s website.
Welcome, Our New Elementary/Junior High Secretary-Mrs. Wells
Meet Mrs. Wells!
We’re excited to introduce Mrs. Wells, a proud Heritage alum and a familiar face in our community!
- She has two boys currently attending Heritage.
- Mrs. Wells is an active leader, serving as secretary of the Heritage PTC and the Homer Sports Commission.
- In her free time, she enjoys reading, camping, and taking trips to Disney.
Mrs. Wells is thrilled to step into her new role at Heritage High School and is eager to see all the students on a regular basis. Be sure to stop by the office and say hello!
PTC Events
Please visit our NEW Hawk Shop!!!
This shop closes at the end of the month and is your LAST chance to get new Hawks apparel before our new releases in August!
**click on the left hand side where it says Campus Ink*
If you are looking for ways to get involved, email heritageptc@gmail.com to join our email list or for help finding our FB page!
Homer Library
This Saturday, Jan 25 from 12-2pm we are hosting a Valentines for Seniors card making craft. Kids can come make a Valentine card (or two) to bring home but we ask everyone who comes to make at least one card that we will send to area senior citizens. This is part of State Senator Chapin Rose's Valentines for Seniors Card Drive. We will provide supplies - you provide the imagination.
We are also starting a Family Game Night. Friday, Jan. 31st from 6:30-8:30 we will have a variety of games for all ages and some snacks. Families can check out our Facebook page for more information.
Heritage Elementary/Junior High Update-Mrs. Sanders
Hello Heritage Elementary and JH Families!
As we welcome our students back after the sometimes hectic holiday break, we are excited to share with you our upcoming events here at Heritage Elementary and Junior High School.
During the last couple of weeks, we are both excited and sad to see the successful conclusion of our boys basketball season. Starting on Jan. 25th, the 7th grade boys team will embark on their 7th regional play in Martinsville, IL. Following the 7th grade regionals we will travel again to cheer on our 8th grade boys’ basketball team for their regional play on Jan. 25th.
As with all seasons, one comes to an end as we begin to embark on the beginning of another, our JH girls’ volleyball season. Their season has started and will continue throughout February allowing for all our community partners to come out and support our outstanding Hawks team!
January can oftentimes be a long, cold month for our students and families. To help this month speed by, we are grateful to our Heritage PTC for providing our students with a fantastic opportunity to explore and enjoy hands-on learning by bringing a performance of Crime Scene Science to our K-8 students. This looks to be a fun and exciting time for all our students to experience true science at their grade levels.
In addition to these exciting events, we’re diligently narrowing down our selection for our new math curriculum for the upcoming school year. On Jan. 15th, we hosted community and school strategic planning meetings at both the Homer and Broadlands schools. We were blown away with the attendees, ideas, and discussions we had at those meetings. Thank you so much for taking the time to come and share your visions with us! We are committed to enhancing our educational offerings and look forward to sharing updates on this process with all of you.
In closing, please make sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages to see all our talented students growing and thriving in our Heritage Schools.
Mrs. Sanders
Character Strong Update-Mrs. Desmond
This month our school's focus is perseverance! Perseverance is pushing yourself to work through life's obstacles and challenges. It's not a matter of if, but rather when things in life are difficult or don't go as planned, we have to equip ourselves with the skills to know what to do and how to press on, rather than give up. One of our very own students shared with her class saying, "If you give up when life gets hard, you'll end up missing out on what could bring you life's greatest joy".
Our younger students worked out strategies to stay engaged in learning and class participation, using focusing skills and self talk. Our 3rd-5th graders used flexible thinking to overcome obstacles that could get in the way of their goals. Junior High students focused on conflict resolution, and how to navigate them in a peaceful and healthy way. This month our students were inspired by stories of Martin Luther King Jr., Michael Jordan, and others who have faced extreme hardships during their lives, but found ways to persevere.
At the end of the month, our K-5th students will enjoy a friendly game of "Class vs. class Snowball Fight" to celebrate great behavior!
