by: Dr. Jeff Feucht, Superintendent
D117 Families, Students, and Staff,
This is the May 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. Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with a Thank You Email!
As Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4th–May 8th) concludes today, this weekend offers a perfect chance to spend five minutes sending a note of gratitude to the educators who make a daily difference for our students. While teachers have a lasting impact on generations, they often do not realize the full extent of their positive influence. Given that teaching is frequently cited as one of the most stressful careers, your own “5 Minute” email could truly brighten someone's week. Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing six of our remarkable staff members about their service to our district; you can read their stories here!
2. Key Dates as the School Year Concludes
The upcoming weeks are packed with activity, especially for Seniors preparing for Commencement next Sunday and 9th–11th graders facing finals the following week. Stay informed by checking the weekly newsletters from Dr. Berrie (“Sequoit Weekly”) and Ms. Bowen (“News from the Nest”). These are available in your email inbox or on our websites under “Quick Links” at the top left of the menu bar. Click here for ACHS or here for LCHS.
3. Looking Ahead: Important August Dates
Please include these essential dates as you plan your family calendars for the upcoming school year:
Wednesday, August 12: Freshman Orientation Day (freshmen only). Families of incoming freshmen will receive more details regarding the schedule by late July.
Monday, August 17: Freshman First Day (freshmen only).
Tuesday, August 18: First Day of School for All Students (Grades 9-12).
For school-specific and district calendars, you can always visit: https://www.chsd117.org/page/calendars
4. Update on our District 117 Portrait of a Graduate!
This spring, a community group of over 50 students, staff, parents, and Board Members gathered to review our District 117 Portrait of a Graduate. Over two nights of student presentations and small-group discussions, we collected feedback on our six competencies. AI was utilized to summarize 37 group conversations, providing valuable insights on how to further develop these competencies in our students. A key finding was that many are still unfamiliar with the specific definitions of these competencies, so we are committed to sharing them more broadly starting now: ➡️ District 117 Portrait of a Graduate With Definitions
5. Village of Antioch Community Travel Plan
The Village of Antioch, supported by the IDOT Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, is creating a plan to improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure around our schools. This initiative aims to encourage safe walking and biking while positioning the village for future grants. IDOT data indicates that SRTS programs can significantly increase student walking/biking (35–45%) and drastically reduce pedestrian injuries (45–75%). Beyond safety, these changes promote health and social benefits for students and the entire community. Throughout the planning process, there will be several opportunities for community input and engagement, including an online interactive map, an in-person engagement event, and an online survey. Stay tuned – engagement opportunities will be posted on our webpages and email newsletters!
Ping us back! If you have a question about any of these items or would like to suggest a topic for our Summer 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).