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District 204 is proud to release its 2022-23 Annual Report entitled Charting Progress: A Comprehensive Report on Our Strategic Plan Achievements. During the 2022-2023 school year, Indian Prairie implemented the first year of its strategic plan. The plan was developed utilizing input from students, staff, parents, and other community stakeholders, and serves as a guide for where the district is going over the next five years.

The annual report provides an opportunity for the district to communicate to the community the district’s progress in achieving the goals set forth within the strategic plan. The strategic plan has four priorities: Focus on Student Development; Invest in Staff; Engage with the Community; and Optimize Resources and Operations.

The 2022-23 Annual Report and the five-year strategic plan are available on the district’s website.

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District 204 recently completed a comprehensive facilities assessment. Wight & Company, a top-ranked Chicago-based architecture, engineering, and design-build firm, was contracted to support the process. Meetings within each of the three feeders were held to engage with stakeholder groups to determine essential facilities needs. Consideration was given to building structure, instructional needs, energy management, and safety/security.

A draft Facilities Assessment and Master Plan presentation was given to the board of education at its November 20 meeting.

Your feedback is an integral part of developing the final plan which will be presented to the board of education on December 18. Please visit the Facilities Assessment and Master Plan webpage to view documents for buildings within District 204 that are of interest to you. After reviewing the documents, please fill out the Facilities Assessment and Master Plan Feedback Survey. The survey will be open through December 11, 2023.

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The IPPC Winter Wishes Program ends this Friday. The program provides gift cards to District 204 families in need and allows them the dignity to purchase essential items and gifts for their children, making the holiday season a little brighter. Currently, there are nearly 100 families in our district experiencing homelessness and many more who are struggling with challenging circumstances. The online store offers a variety of gift cards to choose from and monetary donations can also be made. Please contact Jeannie Dina at jeannie_dina@ipsd.org or 630-375-3017 with questions.

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Say thank you to that special teacher or staff member that has gone ‘above and beyond’ for your student through the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation’s Gifts of Gratitude program. By making a tax-deductible donation to IPEF on behalf of your honoree, your recipient will enjoy a personalized certificate and a letter with a custom message from you. All donations benefit IPEF’s Teacher Innovation Grants program. Please submit your gift by December 15 to ensure certificate delivery prior to Winter Break. Visit Gifts of Gratitude for more details.

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Parent University: What is SEL? will premiere as a video presentation on the District’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, December 6 at 7 PM. District 204’s Social Emotional Learning & Wellness Coordinator, Dawn Forkner, provides an overview of SEL in the district. Viewers will hear from IPSD 204 principals, administrators, and classroom teachers as they share how social emotional learning is incorporated in the classroom and what parents can do to support these lessons at home.

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The Indian Prairie Educational Foundation (IPEF) and District 204 proudly honor Kraig Miller, a Fifth-Grade Teacher at Patterson Elementary School, with the November A+ Award. You can watch the A+ Award team’s surprise visit to recognize Mr. Miller for “Making a Difference” in the November A+ Award Video.

Mr. Miller was nominated for the A+ Award by District 204 parent, Amy Donahue. In her essay, Mrs. Donahue stated how grateful she is for Mr. Miller’s efforts to make his classroom comfortable and stress free for her daughter as she goes through chemotherapy. She went on to say, “He makes sure she's caught up with work. He even checks on her when she's stuck at home. He truly inspires my daughter. She has said she wants to be a teacher just like him.”

Patterson Elementary Principal Michele Frost was excited to help present the A+ Award to Mr. Miller and stated that she was not surprised that he was nominated. “Kraig has this amazing way of connecting with every child,” she said proudly.

IPEF is proud to sponsor the A+ Award in its tenth year. You can nominate a staff member by visiting A+ Award.

Webinar – Virtual

Wednesday, December 20, from 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Title: Stress and Anxiety: What’s the Difference and How Do I Help My Teen With Both?

Speaker: Sari Salvesen, LCPC
Understand how stress and anxiety can be helpful for your teen’s development.
Identify warning signs that stress and anxiety are becoming problematic.
Learn ways to help your teen navigate stress and anxiety in healthy ways.

High School Students - One Night a Month Join Peers, Make a Difference

High school is about more than studying, it’s about helping make a difference. Join a YAC meeting for meaningful fun volunteering with peers from local high schools. We are just starting to brainstorm for National Prevention Week. What are your ideas for implementing fun activities in our community and schools? Come to the next meeting! The YAC meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 12 from 6:30-8:00 PM at 360 Youth Services, 1323 Bond Street, #119, Naperville. Email Sarah, the YAC Coordinator before attending the meeting.

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The next regular Board of Education meeting is at 7 PM on Monday, December 4, 2023 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.

Safety Reminder: If an emergency occurs in your child’s school, the district may contact you via phone, email, and/or SMS messaging. To ensure you will receive these emergency communications, update your contact information in ParentVUE. To receive text messages, you must have a designated phone number listed in Parent VUE for SMS messages. Please see the SMS Messaging Setup Instructions. Check the district’s Safety & Security Webpage for more helpful safety information.