SEL4US and the Urban Assembly are inviting schools and communities from around the world to celebrate the importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) during the third annual SEL Day on March 11.

Below are some of the ways our district will be commemorating this important event throughout the week.

You can access additional information about SEL Day by visiting https://selday.org/. You can also learn more about the district's SEL efforts by visiting https://d86.hinsdale86.org/Page/318.

Registration for the district's summer school program is scheduled to open on March 15. This year's program features a wide array of offerings that will be delivered in person (at Hinsdale Central), online or via a hybrid format. These offerings include the following new courses:

Drivers education will also be offered at both campuses.

The first semester for summer school will take place June 13-30, while the second semester will be held July 5-21. Bus transportation will be available to all students at no additional cost.

The link for registration will be posted on the district website March 15. In the meantime, you can access additional information about or our summer school program, including the program of studies, by visiting https://d86.hinsdale86.org/domain/641.

Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South turned in outstanding performances at the competition that was held in conjunction with the recent Illinois Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference.

Both schools had a number of students qualify for the national competition, which will take place in Dallas, Texas May 4-8. In addition, the following students came in first in their individual events:

Additional information about the results from the state competition was shared via Central's social media accounts (https://bit.ly/3IIovMf) and featured in the latest edition of the Hornet Happenings newsletter (https://d86.hinsdale86.org/domain/140).

We congratulate all of the students on their success at the state conference, and wish those who are moving on to nationals the best of luck. We also want to thank faculty sponsors Ashley Yurchak from South and Janelle Hoeksema and Ken Shum from Central for all they do on behalf of the BPA organizations at both schools.

On Feb. 9, we took everyone inside April McPhillips' Clothing Construction I class at Hinsdale Central to show how students were learning to create their own garments, while also developing their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

As a follow up to our visit, we want to show you the incredible progress and amazing items those same students have made. The bags featured in the photos below are the end result of the students learning how to sew buttonholes and buttons, create a lapped zipper and a patch pocket, iron and sew a hem and box corners, and customize their work by using embroidery machines.

We are absolutely blown away by their creations, and can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Lexi Miuccio from Hinsdale South has been named an Outstanding Activity Advisor by the Illinois Directors of Student Activities (IDSA). This award celebrates individuals who have made an impact on their club or activity and exemplify what it means to be the ideal advisor. It also helps bring attention and awareness to the exemplary programs, activities and events that are provided in Illinois high schools.

Ms. Miuccio will be recognized for her accomplishments during IDSA's annual awards banquet on April 7. We congratulate her on this well-deserved honor, and thank her for everything she does to support the growth, development and success of our students.

Hinsdale Central recently recognized 14 individuals who were named Student of the Quarter by the school's various departments based on their leadership, kindness and skills as role models. Those who received the recognition included:

We congratulate these students on this honor.

The Daily Herald recently announced the names of the student-athletes who were selected for its 2021-2022 DuPage County All-Area Girls Basketball Team. We want to congratulate senior Eleanor Monyek from Hinsdale Central on being chosen for the team. We also want to congratulate sophomore Amelia Lavorato from Hinsdale South and senior Nina Sarros from Hinsdale Central on earning honorable mentions.

We want to congratulate Cathy Hannon on her retirement following an incredible 17-year career in District 86. She began her time here as the executive assistant to the superintendent, and eventually transitioned to the human resources department.

Prior to coming to District 86, Cathy spent 12 years working in the school districts for Rich Township and Mokena. She has also been the library board president in Tinley Park for the past 15 years.

We thank Cathy for her dedicated service on behalf of our schools, district and community, and wish her the very best as she starts this exciting new chapter of her life.

Hinsdale Central's Ecology Club is teaming with Tree-Plenish on a tree sapling event. The goal of this event is to encourage people to plant more trees to help offset the school's paper usage.

The club is offering three different local species of tree (Pin Oak, Red Maple and Red Oak) for $5 each that can be ordered by March 24 and picked up on April 24.

You can learn more about this event or order a sapling by visiting http://tpevents.org/school/2255.

Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South are teaming up with Young Hearts for Life (YH4L) to offer free heart screenings for all students. The screenings will take place at Central on March 24 and at South on April 7.

How important is it for young adults to get this done every two years? Thirteen students from Central had previously undiagnosed cardiac conditions identified during the last screening.

You can use the links below to learn more about YH4L's program, register your child for a screening and/or sign up to help out at the events.

Hinsdale South and Hinsdale Central will be offering in-person preschool programs in April and May through their Child Care and Development classes. These programs, which are open and available to all families regardless of whether they live in the community, focus on developmental appropriateness, creativity, safety, independence and social skills. Discounts are available for any District 86 employee who is interested in enrolling their children.

If you have questions or need more information about the preschool program at South, please email Laura Hughes at lhughes@hinsdale86.org. If you have questions or need more information about the preschool program at Central, please email Lisa Sopiarz at lsopiarz@hinsdale86.org.

The next District 86 Board of Education meeting will be held on Thursday, March 10. The agenda and packet of materials for the meeting will be posted on BoardDocs (https://bit.ly/394u9as) and shared via email tomorrow (March 8).

Please visit https://bit.ly/3d93aws to access the COVID-19 data for our district, community and county as of March 4. As a reminder, below are the metrics we plan to update on a weekly basis.