Happy Last Week of School! Thank you for helping to make this school year so successful. Please join me in congratulating our Class of 2025 Eighth Grade Graduates! Best wishes to these 1,027 young adults as they enter high school in the fall. We will stream live at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. the Dirksen, Gompers, Hufford, and Washington Graduation Ceremonies on Tuesday, June 3rd at the following links:
Dirksen: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=YTM2NT
Gompers: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=ZTNhY
Hufford: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=ZjA3Mj
Washington: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=ZjZkMD
May was a busy month celebrating so many students and staff members. I hope you had the chance to visit our District 86 Art Show and see the incredible student artwork. The artwork was truly amazing, and I loved hearing the Jazz Bands perform.
I am so proud to announce that Forest Park I.E. School was recognized as a National School of Character by Character.org! Congratulations to Forest Park Principal Jacob Darley, his dedicated staff and students for earning this national award. Forest Park is the only school in Illinois to be recognized, and one of only 71 schools in the country to be recognized this year. This is the second time Forest Park has received this esteemed honor, and we are so proud of their success.
Congratulations to students who received many awards this past month, including the Superintendent Award winners for the Third Trimester, Student Notecard Winners, Joliet Chamber Education Scholarship Winners, Students who competed in the Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Exposition at the University of Illinois, Eighth Grade Music Award winners, Students of the Month winners, Foundation Scholarship Winners, and 100s of students who will be named on the Third Trimester Honor Roll list.
Best wishes to our 12 Joliet Public Schools District 86 retirees. These individuals worked collectively for a total of 257 years in the school district! Retirees include: Silvia Becerra Puente, Sator Sanchez Elementary; 6 years; Laura Cast, Thomas Jefferson Elementary, 37 years; Sammie Cast, Thomas Jefferson Elementary, 22 years; Veronica Hatch, Isaac Singleton Elementary; 16 years; Lisa Johnson, Eisenhower Academy, 35 years; Lawanda Kent, J.F. Kennedy Administrative Center; 21 years; Rebecca Nahas, J.F. Kennedy Administrative Center; 34 years; Antonio Pena, Isaac Singleton Elementary; 13 years; Michelle Peterson, Dirksen Junior High; 17 years; Victoria Plut, Woodland Elementary; 9 years; Kathryn Scheidt, M.J. Cunningham Elementary; 35 years; and Donna Sobotka, M.J. Cunningham Elementary; 12 years. Thank you for your dedication to Joliet Public Schools District 86 and supporting our students and families during your tenure.
Have a wonderful, relaxing, and safe Summer Break! If you ever have a question, comment, concern, or compliment about one of our schools or the District, please send a Let’s Talk message at https://www.joliet86.org/o/jps/page/joliet-public-schools-district-86-lets-talk or click on “Let’s Talk” at the top of the website https://www.joliet86.org/.