Community eNewsletter
Volume 9, Issue 16 . . . December 10, 2021
Upcoming Calendar - See all events at www.d94.org/calendar
  • December 11 - NHS Pancakes with Santa - 8:30 - 11 a.m. - Commons - advance tickets at www.d94.org/santabreakfast
  • December 12 - Holiday Choral Concert - 3:00 p.m.
  • December 14 - Holiday Band Concert - 7:00 p.m.
  • December 20-22 - Final Exams - see schedule below
  • December 21 - Board of Education Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
  • December 23-31 - No School - Winter Break
  • January 3-5 - No School - Winter Break
  • January 6 - No School - Institute Day
  • January 7 - First Day of Classes in 2022
  • January 12 - Eight Grade Open House - 7:00 p.m. - for incoming Freshmen & parents
  • January 13 - Picture Retakes for Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors
  • January 13 - TCD Open House - 6:30-8:00 p.m., 301 S. Swift Rd, Addison
For more information in both English and Spanish, visit www.d94.org/binaxnow.
BinaxNOW Survey Closes 12/13 in PowerSchool

Beginning December 6th any student who presents as symptomatic at school and is sent to the Health Office will be given the opportunity to take a BinaxNOW rapid test. This test will allow a more expedient process for deciding next steps as determined by IDPH and DCHD. With the availability of BinaxNOW testing students can test on campus, and if negative for COVID 19 they can return to school faster if their symptoms are from an unknown cause. Result turnaround time is 15 minutes and parents will be notified by the Nurse of their student’s test results. If your student is positive, your student will be excluded from school, and the guidelines given by the DuPage County Health Department will be followed. 
Use of the BinaxNOW test is completely voluntary and is not required. Parents wishing their child to have this option must log into their PowerSchool account to complete the consent survey. You can find the survey in your parent PowerSchool account under BinaxNOW Testing Survey.  Click here for instructions on accessing the BinaxNOW survey in PowerSchool. The survey closes December 13, 2021. If you need help accessing your PowerSchool account please contact Beth Schuck (bschuck@d94.org) or for Spanish Janette Hernandez (jhernandez@d94.org).  
2020-21 Yearbooks Are Here

2020-21 yearbooks have arrived!

Current students can pick them up in the Bookstore during periods 6/7/8.

Graduates can pick up their copy on school days at Entrance H between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

No need to bring proof of purchase - student names are on a paid list!
Picture Retakes January 13

Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors who want their yearbook photo re-taken, or missed being photographed at school in November, can have their photo taken on January 13, 2022.

Watch the student announcements or this eNewsletter for details after Winter Break.
From the Nurse's Office
12/10/2021

Dear Wildcat Parents/Guardians:

D94 had 10 positive cases this week. If you have any questions, please contact the Health Office. 
Beginning December 6th any student who presents as symptomatic at school and is sent to the Health Office will be given the opportunity to take a BinaxNOW rapid test. This test will allow a more expedient process for deciding next steps as determined by IDPH and DCHD. With the availability of BinaxNOW testing students can test on campus, and if negative for COVID 19 they can return to school faster if their symptoms are from an unknown cause. Result turnaround time is 15 minutes and parents will be notified by the Nurse of their student’s test results. If your student is positive, your student will be excluded from school, and the guidelines given by the DuPage County Health Department will be followed.

Use of the BinaxNOW test is completely voluntary and is not required. Parents wishing their child to have this option must log into their Powerschool account to complete the consent survey by December 13. You can find the survey in your parent Powerschool account under BinaxNOW Testing Survey. If you need help accessing your Powerschool account please contact Beth Schuck (bschuck@d94.org) or for Spanish Janette Hernandez (jhernandez@d94.org)  

Those who are fully vaccinated will not be excluded if they are a close contact. Parents will be notified that they were a close contact and that they should monitor for symptoms and the DuPage County Health Department strongly recommends getting tested 3-5 days after exposure.

If your student has any COVID-like symptoms, they can only return to school if they have a negative COVID test or stay home for 10 days. We can no longer accept a differential diagnosis for COVID-like symptoms. For example, if a student has a sore throat and is diagnosed with strep, they would still need a negative COVID test to return to school prior to 10 days.  

If your student has a negative COVID test but had vomiting or diarrhea, they must stay home for 48 hours from the last time they threw up or had diarrhea.  

Please do not send your student to school if they have any of the following symptoms:
Fever (100.4 or higher), new onset of moderate to severe headache, shortness of breath, new cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue from unknown cause, muscle or body aches from unknown cause.

We need everyone's help to keep all our Wildcat Staff and Students safe and healthy.  

If you have any questions about whether or not your student should be attending school, please contact the Health Office:

630-876-6245 Nurse Page
630-876-6246 Nurse Cathy
630-876-6469 (Mrs. Mendoza Spanish)
Semester 1 Final Exam Schedule

The final exam schedule for 1st Semester has been set. Exam days are December 20, 21 and 22.

Buses will run each morning on the usual schedule, and will leave the school 10 minutes after the last period of each day.

The exam schedule can be found on our website at www.d94.org/finalexams.
Pancakes with Santa Dec. 11

Make memories this holiday season, and start a new family tradition! Join the 
National Honor Society as we host our first annual holiday breakfast with Santa on December 11, 2021 from 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. at West Chicago Community High School, 326 Joliet Street, West Chicago, IL 60185.

Families are invited to join us as our elves serve a pancake breakfast. Children can visit Santa, write letters to the North Pole, play games, and create their very ornament for the tree. We invite parents to enjoy holiday carols by some of our 
talented singers, and to participate in our raffle. Be sure to bring a camera to capture the memories!
Tickets available at the door or in advance at www.d94.org/santabreakfast.
$5 for children and senior citizens, $7 for adults

Ticket availability is limited, and families are encouraged to use our online ticketing system to reserve their place at the event. We ask that all guests arrive between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. to ensure enough time to fully participate in all of the exciting activities we have planned.

Questions about the event? Contact Paloma at 43002@students.d94.org.
Seniors: Cap & Gown Order Deadline is December 15

Seniors!
If you have not ordered your Cap & Gown, you must order now! Deadline is December 15, 2021. Orders placed after this date will incur a late fee.

Order Now and Pay Now at www.HerffJonesIL.com
You can choose to Order Now and Pay Later. Just fill out the Cap & Gown reservation survey at 
To order by Phone or ask questions, please Call Herff Jones at 815-756-4743.
Substitute Teachers Needed

Retired and looking for something meaningful to do? Become a substitute teacher and work as little or as often as you want!

If you have an Associates or Bachelor's degree, apply at www.d94.org/hr and we will guide you through the process of obtaining your sub license!
Get a FREE Car Wash While Supporting Wildcat Athletics
Ends January 1

Approximate 20 days remain to support Wildcat athletics at the pump - and The PRIDE Stores will throw in a FREE car wash! (Only valid at The PRIDE of West Chicago at the BP at Rt. 59 and North Avenue in West Chicago.)

Help out your West Chicago Wildcats by filling up at the PRIDE of West Chicago's Spirit Pump. Spend $20 at the pump or in the store and get a FREE Carwash ($3 Value), spend $50 and get a FREE Premium Carwash (Valued at $9). Only valid at The PRIDE of West Chicago) Come out and support West Chicago Community High School and get a FREE Carwash!
Softball Dine Out Event 12/20 at Village Tavern

Girls Softball will be hosting a dine out event on December 20, 2021 from 11 AM - 11 PM at Village Tavern, 291 S. Schmale Road in Carol Stream. Show the flyer to on the left and 20% of your order will be donated to the WCCHS softball team whether in-person or carry out.

If you can't make the event, you can purchase gift cards online at https://www.villagetavernandgrill.com/gift-cards anytime during the event, and those count, too!
Amber DelRio - Class of 2011 - WeGo Places Podcast

Another great WeGo Places alumni podcast! This one is about Amber DelRio, Class of 2011, Video Content Creator for the WNBA's Chicago Sky. Listen to her full interview at

Who might you know that we interviewed? Check out lots of great interviews with former WeGo Wildcats with amazing careers at www.d94.org/wegoplaces.
WCCHS Social Emotional Support Web Page

The members of the Student Services Department recognize how difficult this time has been on our students, families, and members of our feeder communities.
With that in mind, we would like to share our social emotional support page which has a myriad of mental health resources for students, parents, and teachers.
From Our Community Partners
FREE programs for WCCHS parents from the Glenbard Parent Series:
Cultivating Genius and Joy at Home to Ensure All Children Thrive
Co-hosted by the Equity and Inclusion Committee (EIC), and Families United in Support of Excellence and Equity of All, Especially Those that Identify as African American Students of Black (FUSE).
Wed. Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. 
Dr. Gholdy Muhammad

High performing, engaged students is the goal of all caregivers. Here are the practical and inspirational ways to draw from students’ strengths and promote marginalized learners′ success within and beyond their classroom walls. Participants will learn a framework for excellence, which is based on identity development and skill development. Discover free and practical resources, literacy strategies and activities to build competence and achievement. The goal is to help youth to see the joy in themselves and others.
13 Things Mentally Strong Kids Do
Wed. Jan. 19 at noon and 7p.m. 
Amy Morin

Here are the tools students need to train their brain to think, feel and act stronger than ever both inside and out. Learn the ways to help young people develop healthy habits, build mental strength to overcome life’s toughest challenges, and take action toward becoming their best selves. Morin’s best-selling books, including; 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do, and 13 Things Strong Kids Do have been translated into 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, “The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong,” is one of the most popular talks of all time.
Presentado por el Comité Asesor de Padres Bilingües (B-PAC) y GPS – Programas en español.
Herramientas prácticas para padres para tiempos difíciles
Jueves 16 de diciembre a las 7 - 8 p.m. 
Dr. Ferny Ramirez

Los adolescentes están reportando niveles de estrés que son incluso más altos que los de los adultos. Los adolescentes se preocupan por la tarea, las calificaciones, los amigos y las obligaciones familiares. Estas preocupaciones, además de los miedos que tienen sobre la seguridad, la estabilidad y lo desconocido, han provocado niveles aún mayores de ansiedad y depresión en los adolescentes de hoy.
El Dr. Ferney Ramirez está aquí para ayudarlo. Los participantes aprenderán cómo abordar la desesperanza, la irritabilidad, el bajo rendimiento escolar y la falta de motivación. Los participantes también aprenderán sobre el papel que juega la inteligencia emocional en el éxito de un niño durante toda la vida. El Dr. Ramírez ofrecerá orientación sobre cómo responder a comportamientos que los adultos tal vez no comprendan, y brindará estrategias compasivas para que los cuidadores fomenten las habilidades que son esenciales para todos los adolescentes y conducen a una vida más satisfactoria, las mismas habilidades que conducen a la educación y éxito profesional y resultados exitosos en la vida.
El psicólogo Dr. Ferney Ramírez coordina programas para familias en Chicago y varios distritos escolares de Illinois y es autor de diez publicaciones sobre salud mental. Es presidente de Family First Organization y tiene una amplia experiencia en psicología clínica, terapia de pareja y consejería familiar dentro y fuera de los Estados Unidos. Obtuvo títulos avanzados en Filosofía, Psicología Clínica y Salud Ocupacional en Colombia y fue profesor de las Facultades de Psicología y Educación de la Universidad San Buenaventura, Colombia.

Este evento se presentará virtualmente. El enlace para iniciar sesión en este seminario web desde su computadora, tableta o teléfono es https://glenbard.zoom.us/j/87183869887
Have a question? Want to suggest an eNewsletter topic?
Contact Communications Coordinator
Becky Koltz | 630-876-6215 | bkoltz@d94.org
Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Community High School District 94 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.