On a mission to ignite the power and potential of each student.
DISTRICT 20 eNEWS
October 2019
Student Programs Spotlight
Coffee Cart and Mail Delivery Programs
The District has a wide variety of programs to provide unique learning opportunities to students with special needs. For example, the Greenbrook offers a fun learning activity where the students help to run a Friday Coffee Cart to deliver items to staff throughout the building. Students learn and utilize skills such as making signs, organizing materials and supplies, reading a menu, using a checklist, counting money and making change, handling food safely, working together to stock their cart, and learning social skills and exchanges during delivery to the classroom teachers.

Waterbury runs a similar program, where students with special needs deliver mail to staff across the building. These learning opportunities provide a real world experience for the students and allows them to learn and work collaboratively.
Elementary Enrichment Program
This is the fifth year of the Elementary Enrichment Program for 3rd through 5th grade students who participate daily in activities aimed to develop creative and critical thinking skills. Students work within their areas of academic strength (reading and/or math) and also develop social and emotional learning skills. Students also learn to manage themselves and improve communication and collaboration skills. Enrichment curriculum at Greenbrook and Waterbury schools are aligned with one another.
Reading enrichment students have been working to build their vocabulary through collecting words in their word journals, including deepening comprehension skills. Math enrichment students strengthen understanding through hands-on approach. Some of the activities involve analyzing and communicating data, understanding the flexibility of numbers, and thinking in cubes as they construct and deconstruct various models. All students in the program will participate in an Enrichment Exposition in mid-May of 2020 where families can see their work.
Teaching Everyone About Meaning (TEAM) Program
Spring Wood is implementing the Teaching Everyone About Meaning (TEAM) Program as part of the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) middle school curriculum.

A recent TEAM activity focused on making connections and building relationships which is the foundation for creating a strong culture and climate for the school. During "Meaningful Monday," each teacher shared items in a classroom circle that represent him or her personally, inspiring students to share their connections with the items as well. Students wrote down an item that they would put into the group circle to represent them, and one word that connects them to the item. During "Follow-up Friday" sessions, students shared their personal connections and feelings. The students were interested, engaged, and eager to learn more about their teachers and their peers.

The TEAM Program will continue through the school year with "caring circle" activities that help to encourage students to build strong social relationships in their school community.
District Parent Programs
Families play an important role in helping students succeed, which is why District 20 offers many ways for parents, guardians, and families to engage in their children's education. The programs highlighted below are just two of our parent groups in the district. We encourage you to visit www.esd20.org to learn more about the many programs, events, and other ways that you can connect with your school and district.
Parent Café  

District 20 partners with the DuPage Regional Office of Education to help strengthen and grow the relationship between home and school. The Superintendent's Parent Advisory Committee was formed to lead this initiative and develope a year-long series of parent and family engagement activities through the creation of Parent Café.

Parent Café is a physically and emotionally safe space where parents and caregivers talk about the challenges and victories of raising a family. Keeneyville District 20 is committed to serving our parents by offering a series of child rearing topics of their choice. Participants leave Parent Café events feeling inspired, energized, and excited to put into practice what they have learned.

In early October, a Back to School Picnic sponsored by District 20 and Parent Café brought families from all schools together to celebrate the start of a new year. The first Parent Café presentation of the year, Fostering Resilience in Youth: The Need for Relationships, will be held on November 14th where parents can learn more about how to better understand their child and gain tools to help their child as s/he grows. There is a year-long series of events planned for parents to gather and learn together. Please click here to see the calendar of events .
Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC)

The District 20 Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) works to establish parent and community engagement for students in English Learner (EL) Program. BPAC has representation from each of the schools and parents meet to plan the agendas and provide suggestions regarding themes for the meetings that are relevant for them and their families.

The EL teachers will be hosting the first BPAC event entitled "In My Shoes" on Thursday, November 21st. This program will help parents to understand what their children are learning on a daily basis, discussing the EL lesson plans and educational experiences of their children in the classroom. One presentation room will be instructed in English/Polish and the other room will be taught in English/Spanish.

There are several BPAC events planned for this school year, including the International Day of the Child in the Spring which is a collaborative event with BPAC and Parent Café.
School Safety
District 20 Board of Education
The Keeneyville Elementary School District 20 Board of Education held a regular board meeting on October 24, 2019 at Spring Wood Middle School. Meeting highlights are listed below. The next regular meeting of the District 20 Board of Education will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 7:00pm at the Spring Wood Middle School Library.

Meeting information and minutes are located on the website, or click here . You can also view video recordings of Board Meetings on

 October Board Meeting Highlights

  • Presentation of Board Policies reviewed fro the first read by Jennifer Kuban, Policy Committee Chair and Board Member.
  • Presentation of Tentative 2019 Tax Levy for All Funds by Wendy Flaherty, Director of Operations and Treasurer.
  • Review of Financial Dashboard by Wendy Flaherty, including Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for District 20 for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year 2018.
  • Presentation of Concept Plans for future-ready learning space renovation projects at Waterbury and Spring Wood.
  • Review of Staff and Student Attendance Dashboards, noting an improvement in attendance of students when compared to last year, by Dr. Omar Castillo, Superintendent.

Superintendent Dr. Omar Castillo and Board President Heather Weishaar thanked the District Principals for their dedication and hard work, and recognized the building administrators with a certificate and small token of appreciation.
Waterbury Principal
Dr. Deb Guzan
Greenbrook Principal
Mr. John Gustafson
Spring Wood Principal
Mr. Jamie Pearce
School Highlights
Visit District News for more information about district-wide events.
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
On October 24th, all Early Childhood students and their parents were invited to attend a family engagement activity where they took a field trip to Sonny Acres Pumpkin Farm. While they were there, they were able to go on a hayride, look at animals, go into a spooky house, see a kiddie corral, and they even got their own pumpkin to take home. Parents were encouraged to come with their child and enjoy the day together. We had an amazing turnout of parents and children for this event and it was a fun fall day for everyone!

On October 25th, the self-contained classes at the Early Childhood Center took a field trip through Northwest Special Recreation Association. The theme was “sports sampler” and the students were able to try frisbee, kickball, and basketball with their teachers and paraprofessionals. They had a great time trying new things and really enjoyed the activities!
GREENBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Greenbrook STAARS Art Exhibit

On October 9th, several of Greenbrook's student artists were recognized for their artwork at Hanover Park Village Hall as part of the STudents, Artists and AuthoRS program. Village Clerk Eira L. Corral Sepulveda and Mayor Craig presented the students with certificates and spoke with each artist about their piece in the exhibit. 

The students' artwork was on display on the 2nd Floor of the Village Hall for the enire month of October. It was wonderful to see the pride of the students, families, and
Art Teacher Ms. White! Congratulations Artists! To see additional pictures of the event, click here .
WATERBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Waterbury Family Reading Night

Waterbury Family Reading Night on October 16th was OUT OF THIS WORLD! Families enjoyed multiple books read aloud by Roselle Library and several school staff. Students also watched a space-themed Readers' Theater Performance, took pictures inside a space ship, and had a chance to win a canvas bag painted by school staff. Each child who attended was able to choose one free book to take home with them.

Thank you also to the Waterbury PTO for hosting a Book Fair this month and allowing families the chance to bring the love of reading home!  It was a great way to celebrate the love of reading! 

To see additional pictures of the event, click here.
SPRING WOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL
October Was Busy at SWMS!
October was a busy month for Spring Wood Students, including the Charger Changers (SW Student Council).

The month began with the annual Socktober Drive that collected new pairs of socks to donate to homeless in our community. Students who brought in donations were entered in a raffle for " Torture the Teachers " that will be held during the assembly before winter break. Some of the teacher-approved "tortures" include cracking eggs over heads, pies in the face, and singing cringe-worthy karaoke.

On October 23rd, all students were welcome for the 1st annual Recreation Night . The fall themed fest included basketball, volleyball, 9-square, photo booth, music, concessions, and board games. All proceeds went to the PTO to help support field trips and learning.

During Positive Choices Spirit Week , each day had a special challenge for students to show how they can take a stand against bullying and make positive choices. The week highlighted the power of choosing kindness and being positive, making healthy choices both physically and mentally, and ending with wearing blue to take a stand against bullying.

Spring Wood also welcomed motivational speaker and pro BMX rider, Matt Wilhelm, this month when he empowered students to stand up for one another, stand up for themselves, and be everyday heroes.
8th Grade Boys Cross Country Team won at their Conference Meet
Dare to Dream created a bulletin board to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
SWMS revealed the new signage this month in The Thunderdome (aka Old Carpet Gym)
Community Connections
Community Leaders Visit
Elementary Schools

Students at both elementary schools learned about community this month, including hosting community leaders at each building to bring the real world into their classrooms. Greenbrook 2nd Grade Students welcomed Hanover Park Mayor Craig and talked about how communities work together. Waterbury 3rd Grade hosted Illinois State Representative Michelle Mussman (in September) and State Senator Laura Murphy, and both leaders discussed their roles in the government and what they do to help the community. We are grateful for the support of our community leaders and appreciate that they are eager to share their time and talents with our students.
Roselle Public Forum

Help shape the long-term future of the community by providing feedback about public services at the Envision Roselle Community Forum on November 6 at Lake Park High School West Campus, 500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., at 7:00 p.m. This session is open to all members of the community and will employ a keypad voting system that allows participants to provide real-time feedback.

Envision Roselle
Community Forum

November 6th at 7:00pm
Lake Park High School West Campus
500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
District 20 is working collaboratively on the Envision Roselle Initiative with the Village of Roselle and partners Lake Park High School District 108, Medinah School District 11, Roselle School District 12, Bloomingdale School District 13, Keeneyville School District 20, Roselle Public Library District, Roselle Park District, Medinah Park District. This initiative is seeking feedback from the community as we look back to the last 30 years and toward the next 30 years in Roselle.

  • We encourage you to view the video "Then and Now" which takes a look back at Roselle over the years, including Keeneyville SD20.

  • To provide feedback via online survey, click here by November 15th.

Keeneyville Elementary School District 20 | 5540 Arlington Drive E | T (630) 894-2250