By: Dr. Jeff Feucht, Superintendent
D117 Families, Students, and Staff,
This is the November edition of our monthly update, where you will receive timely reminders, links to upcoming events, and news from Community High School District #117. We promise to keep this to a 5-minute read (or less!)!
1. Please talk as a family about your grades TODAY!
Parents! Now is the time to “discover” if a student’s grade is lower than you would have hoped for as a parent! We have 5 weeks left in the semester and there is still time! Please ask your student to pull up their grades on their chromebook and have a conversation with your student today about what classes they need to dedicate extra time and attention to! We also want to remind all parents that they are welcome to email any of their student’s teachers at any time during the year to schedule a phone call, video conference, or in-person meeting to discuss their child’s performance in the class. Our teachers are always eager to meet and partner with parents in supporting their student’s success!
2. Please Take Advantage of Our College and Career Centers!
College application season is in full swing and several applications are currently open for trade union apprenticeships! Both Antioch and Lakes have college & career counselors to assist students with their post-secondary plans, as well as a dedicated District 117 CLC Navigator who is on site 4 days a week to seamlessly transition students to the College of Lake County. Every week they are hosting college visits, financial aid workshops, and individual appointments from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please stop by and utilize these tremendous experts! For a calendar of upcoming college and career events, check the principal’s newsletter at the very first link on the top left of the menu bar of your school website titled “Quick Links” (click here for ACHS or here for LCHS).
You can also always email Kelly McCracken (kelly.mccracken@chsd117.org) at ACHS and Nate Bargar (nathan.bargar@chsd117.org) at LCHS - they are our expert post-secondary Counselors!
3. Summer 3 Week International Exchange Opportunity from Rotary
Are you interested in exploring the world, meeting new people, and learning about another culture? The Antioch Rotary Club, a longtime supporter of our students, is offering an amazing three-week student exchange program this summer. Many CHSD117 students have participated in this program in the past, and it is a tremendous opportunity! There is a cost to families, but it is an incredible opportunity to travel abroad, build leadership skills, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please join us for the Information Night on Wednesday, November 19 at 7:00 pm in the Lakes Community High School Cafeteria. If you are unable to attend the meeting on the 19th, you can still apply via the application all students received in their email. If you are unable to attend and have questions about this opportunity, please contact Dr. Feucht at jeff.feucht@chsd117.org .
4. Mr. Bailey & Ms. Stall Are Staff Role Models of Our D117 Portrait of a Graduate!
Every quarter, I am thrilled to highlight two exceptional District 117 educators who truly embody our D117 Portrait of a Graduate. This quarter focuses on ACHS P.E. / Drivers Ed teacher Chris Bailey and LCHS Science Teacher Tyra Stall. I was honored to sit down and interview both of them last month. Through their unique approaches and dedication, they serve as shining examples of the competencies we aim to instill in all of our students by the time they graduate! Click here to read this quarter’s article about Mr. Bailey & Ms. Stall!
5. Holiday Concerts, Winter Sports, and Winter Break Calendar Overload?
In this world of AI bots and information overload, please know there are TWO ESSENTIAL CLICKS for you as a student or parent to know what is going on at our schools:
ONE: View Dr. Berrie’s (“Sequoit Weekly”) and Ms. Bowen’s (“News from the Nest”) super informative weekly newsletters in your email inbox and anytime on our websites at the very first link on the top left of the menu bar titled “Quick Links” OR just click here for ACHS or here for LCHS.
TWO: Our calendar hub at www.chsd117.org/page/calendars is your portal to the dates for all of our Holiday concerts, athletic events and the school attendance schedule!
Ping us back! If you have a question about any of these items or would like to suggest a topic for our December update, please feel free to share your idea with our superintendent, Dr. Jeff Feucht via email (jeff.feucht@chsd117.org) or via phone (direct line: 847.838.7679).