Community Unit School District 200

#TBT - Step back in time with us to 1970 and the very first yearbook of Monroe Junior High School. As the new school welcomed its first students in the 1969-1970 academic year, a significant decision was made: the students themselves unanimously voted to name it in tribute to PFC James Howard Monroe. This honor recognized his extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War, for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1968. #YourCommunitySchools

CUSD 200 Seniors recognized by TCD Each year, TCD recognizes outstanding seniors at the end of each year. Outstanding Seniors are recognized for going above and beyond program expectations, have excelled academically, have excellent attendance, and modeled great behavior. Senior Achievers are recognized for excelling in the face of adversity, have demonstrated tremendous effort in their program, have excellent attendance, and modeled great behavior. The students listed below were recognized as either "Outstanding Seniors" or "Senior Achievers." Outstanding Seniors: Mike E. Jr. - Wheaton North High School Lyrik H. - Wheaton North High School Soe M. - Wheaton North High School Christy A. - Wheaton North High School Isabella Z. - Wheaton Warrenville South High School Senior Achievers: Joshua L. - Wheaton North High School Deonte S. - Wheaton North High School Isabel P. - Wheaton North High School Izabella G. - Wheaton Warrenville South High School Morgan N. - Wheaton Warrenville South High School Daniel L. - Wheaton Warrenville South High School

For our last Classroom Close-Up of the year, we stepped into the creative world of Ms. Claire Drews's Dual Credit Contemporary Broadcast Media I class at Wheaton Warrenville South High School, which is part of our Career Pathways program designed to give students hands-on experience in potential future professions. In this class, students were beginning to work on pre-production for their final short film projects. Ms. Drews kicked off the lesson by walking students through a review of the essential roles involved in producing a film - Director, Camera Operator/Director of Photography, Script Writer, and Editor - emphasizing how each role plays a critical part in bringing a story to life on screen. The students' next task was to determine which of the four roles they would fulfil on their teams for the final short film projects. From there, it was time for an activity to train in these roles. Students met with their counterparts and were given a phrase or theme to create a short 15-20 second video or dialogue for. The Directors and Camera Operators had to use three props to tell a visual story. The Editors and Script writers had to write at least 10 lines of dialogue to fit the theme, edit down to 7 lines, and record a voiceover of the script. At the end of class, groups shared their creations with the rest of the class, who tried to guess the original prompt. This activity gave students a chance to explore different production roles in a collaborative setting, helping them discover which roles best matched their strengths and interests. Next, students will use what they learned about these roles to work together to complete their short film projects for their final. The students have the option of producing a Documentary or Narrative short film, which they will see through from pre-production, to production (filming), and finally post-production. This final project is the culmination of all they have learned throughout the semester: camera shot composition, storyboarding, script writing, editing, pacing, storytelling, and more. #YourCommunitySchools

Anthony Quarto, a P.E. Teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School was recently named DuPage County Elementary Educator of the Year by the DuPage Regional Office of Education during an awards banquet on May 1. Mr. Quarto was named Educator of the Year for his unwavering dedication to student wellness, inclusivity, and community connection. Whether he's running a before-school Running Club, organizing family fitness nights, or designing PE lessons with accessible entry points for all learners, Tony fosters a sense of belonging and perseverance in every child. His leadership extends beyond the gym, creating meaningful opportunities for students, families, and staff to grow stronger—together. The following CUSD 200 educators were also nominated for awards and recognized at the event: Aaron Pearlman (Math Teacher, Football and Baseball Coach at Wheaton North) - Nominated for High School Educator of the Year Dr. Brian Turyna (Principal at Wiesbrook Elementary School) - Nominated for Principal of the Year

In this week’s CUSD 200 Newsletter, we highlight the following: - New: 2025-26 Parent/Community Advisory Committees Applications - A Look at Facilities Work This Summer - Wheaton Police to Host Neighborhood Roll Call Events at CUSD 200 Schools This Summer - Information for Wallet Refund Requests for Graduating Seniors and Students NOT Returning to CUSD 200 - CUSD 200’s Dr. Schuler Named Superintendent of Distinction - Hawthorne Teacher Named DuPage Educator of the Year - CUSD 200 Seniors Recognized by TCD - Hawthorne's New Outdoor Classroom Read more by visiting, https://bit.ly/4mLhZJl. #YourCommunitySchools

The CUSD 200 Board of Education held a Special Meeting on Wednesday, May 21, at the School Service Center. To read a recap of the meeting, visit https://bit.ly/4jgp5Cr. #YourCommunitySchools

#TBT - The countdown to graduation is on for our CUSD 200 high schools! ✨ Before this weekend's big events, join us for a trip down memory lane and relive some cherished moments from previous graduations. #YourCommunitySchools

Recently, CUSD 200 hosted the second annual Future Educator Signing Day at Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools. The signing day honored seniors who took the Intro to Teaching class and have made the commitment to study education in college. In addition, the students will be guaranteed an interview with CUSD 200 after they earn their teaching license. We look forward to supporting these students as they pursue a degree in education and become future educators. #YourCommunitySchools

On Wednesday, April 30, CUSD 200 students from the Business INCubator classes at both high schools presented their final pitches for their start-up ideas in a shark tank-style competition for a chance to receive up to $2,500. The INCubator program provides young entrepreneurs an opportunity to create and fully develop their own product or service. Business experts from the community served as coaches and mentors, guiding the teams throughout the process. During the event, eight teams presented their pitches. Due to the high level of competition, the sharks were unable to select just one team for first, second or third place. As a result, the sharks selected two first place teams, and two second place teams. The following teams earned funding for their start-up ideas: First Place ($2,500) - Mains du Temps: Luxury custom-made watches (Wheaton North) & Mother Putter: A "breakable" putter that can be put back together, for when you miss those close shots (Wheaton Warrenville South) Second Place ($1,000) - Hoodie Hero: Stylish hoodie "string stoppers" (Wheaton North), & Turf Taker: Frictionless tape for healing turf burns. (Wheaton Warrenville South) #YourCommunitySchools

Each year, CUSD 200 teachers are named Distinguished Educators by the Student Excellence Foundation. Additionally, one retired CUSD 200 teacher is named a Golden Star. The following CUSD 200 educators were honored during the Foundation's Celebrate Our Stars event on Wednesday, April 30, at Wheaton North High School: Julie Braun: Edison Middle School (6th Grade Math) Kelley Heatherington: Washington Elementary School (3rd Grade) Joanne Lang: Wheaton North High School (Spanish) Jonah Lather: Bower Elementary School (5th Grade) Katie Turner: Monroe Middle School (8th Grade ELA) Brianna Yarwood: Wheaton Warrenville South High School (English) Sally Keith: Golden Star Award During the event, the Student Excellence Foundation also awarded scholarships to the following students: Sultan G. - Wheaton North High School Fernando G. - Wheaton North High School Faheed N. - Wheaton North High School Soe M. - Wheaton North High School Grace B. - Wheaton Warrenville South High School Miles D. - Wheaton Warrenville South High School Eunice R. - Wheaton Warrenville South High School Christopher W. - Wheaton Warrenville South High School #YourCommunitySchools

The Community Unit School District 200 Board of Education will have a Special Board Meeting this Wednesday, May 21, at 6 p.m. at the School Service Center located at 130 W. Park Ave., in Wheaton. To view the agenda, visit https://bit.ly/3Jw8prm, and click on May 21, on the calendar in the top right corner. The meeting will also be livestreamed and posted on our YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/4fL931R. #YourCommunitySchools

For more than twenty years, the Community Unit School District 200 Safety Committee has fostered valuable relationships and provided vital collaborative leadership in school safety. To further enhance our collective efforts, we've developed a new document outlining the roles and responsibilities of the committee. A critical part of our committee's work involves understanding and effectively implementing safety and security procedures, such as the "secure and teach" protocol. In CUSD 200, buildings utilize a secure and teach protocol in the event of a community emergency, building search, or medical emergency (e.g. cleaning up vomit or assisting a student with an injury). This is the most versatile security procedure, and one that is applied to many different situations. For example, one of the most common uses is when medical emergencies occur in a hallway or classroom. This may necessitate a “secure and teach” response so medical personnel can handle the emergency unencumbered. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a “secure and teach” would be utilized for a potential threat or situation that impacts the safety of the entire building. In this type of situation, CUSD 200 works directly with first responders who take command of the incident/building to determine the next steps. Any time there is a “secure and teach” crisis response protocol utilized for a potential threat, parents/guardians will be notified. For more information about our district’s comprehensive approach to school safety, please visit CUSD 200’s School Safety and Security Web Page. (https://www.cusd200.org/page/safety-security) #YourCommunitySchools

Throughout February, more than 35 Wheaton North High School staff participated in an annual voluntary peer observation cohort called "Falcon Flyovers". Participating staff ranged from varying grade levels, content areas, and years of experience in the classroom. The purpose of the Falcon Flyovers is to provide an informal, non-evaluative opportunity for teachers to showcase the innovative instructional practices and the engaging student learning happening in their classrooms. Teachers signed up to “host” other teachers in their classroom and signed up to observe their peers, oftentimes, in a different content area than their own. By getting into different classrooms and watching the way colleagues teach, teachers picked up tricks and techniques that they were then able to take back to their own classrooms. In addition, seeing students with another teacher generates ideas that one may never have come up with on their own. Mr. Aaron Pearlman, found that through observing “You will pick up useful methods for improving your instruction, management, and overall teaching approach. More importantly, this time spent with other teachers across the building has led to a greater sense of connectedness to the school as a whole. Not to mention, students love seeing their teachers drop into their other classes.” A collaborative luncheon was organized where teachers further cultivated a spirit of experimentation and learning together by asking questions and discussing what they experienced in one another’s classroom. Overall, it was an incredible learning experience that the Wheaton North Staff looks forward to growing and expanding next year. #YourCommunitySchools

The CUSD 200 Board of Education held its Regular Meeting on Wednesday, May 14, at the School Service Center. To read a recap of the meeting, visit https://bit.ly/4di3b0a. #YourCommunitySchools

Wheaton Warrenville South Teacher Named CTE Instructor of the Year Wheaton Warrenville South High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher Samantha Phelan was honored as the CTE Instructor of the Year for CUSD 200 at a ceremony on Feb 26 at the Technology Center of DuPage (TCD) . Ms. Phelan was recognized for being an innovative and inspirational teacher who has helped grow South's Business INCubator program each year, starting with two sections with 50 students during the 2020-21 school year, to now four sections with 117 students. Under her leadership, CUSD 200 INCubator teams from South have gone on to compete in and win local and regional competitions. Congratulations to Ms. Phelan for being an outstanding CUSD 200 educator who is making a difference in the lives of students! #YourCommunitySchools

📣FREE Mobile Food Market TODAY 📣 There is a FREE mobile food market TODAY from 4:30-6 p.m. at Johnson Elementary School, 2S700 Continental Drive in Warrenville. Families will receive a week's worth of groceries at no cost. This distribution is drive-thru only, and is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Please help spread the word! #YourCommunitySchools

#TBT - Hubble Middle School buzzed with excitement in 2002, a year the yearbook aptly named "A Year of Courage," as students enthusiastically embraced its spirit. #YourCommunitySchools.

CUSD 200 ILMEA All-State Finalists Students from Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools were recently named Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Finalists. Students in grades 9-12 who participated in the ILMEA District Festivals are also eligible to be selected into ILMEA’s All-State band, orchestra, and choir programs. These students go through a rigorous process of auditions and qualify for All-State based on the scores they receive. This group traveled with their teachers to Peoria at the end of January for a weekend of rehearsals and clinics culminating in concerts on Saturday. The following CUSD 200 students were named ILMEA All-State Finalists: Choir Natalie Diaz (alto) - Wheaton North High School Ellie Durbin (soprano) - Wheaton North High School Kate Peeler (soprano) - Wheaton North High School Luke Hafkey (tenor) - Wheaton North High School Lucy Wiper (soprano) - Wheaton North High School Band Michael Shebar (jazz alto saxophone) - Wheaton North High School Matthew Hufford (jazz trumpet) - Wheaton North High School Orchestra Ellie Korntheuer (violin) - Wheaton North High School Simon Klemme (violin) - Wheaton North High School Wren Page (cello) - Wheaton North High School Daria Volkart (viola) - Wheaton Warrenville South High School Future Educator Seminar Patrick Griffin from Wheaton Warrenville South High School was selected as one of 55 high school students in the State to be part of the Future Music Educator Seminar. #YourCommunitySchools

The 2024-25 IHSA winter sports season has officially ended. We want to extend our congratulations to all CUSD 200 sports for a great winter sports season! Below are highlights of CUSD 200 sports teams who had strong finishes in the postseason: Wheaton-Warrenville Co-Op School Boys Swimming IHSA State Qualifiers Austin Kirkman (WWS) - 500 Meter Freestyle Kevin Boyle (WWS), Miles Lewis (WN), Declan Sullivan (WN), and Luca Zdravkov (WN) - 400 Meter Freestyle Relay Team Wheaton North High School Boys Wrestling IHSA State Qualifiers Rocco Macellaio - 120 lbs Ryan Rosch - 150 lbs Julian Flores - 165 lbs Carlo Saenz - 190 lbs Wheaton-Warrenville Co-Op Girls Gymnastics - Regional and Sectional Champions Wheaton Warrenville South High School Boys Basketball - Regional Champions Wheaton North High School Girls Basketball - Regional Champions Wheaton North High School and Wheaton Warrenville South High School Chess Teams - Co DuKane Chess Conference Champions and IHSA State Qualifiers #YourCommunity Schools

We recently visited Mrs. Sophie Shaw's first grade class at Washington Elementary where she was joined by bilingual teacher, Mr. Brian Clark. During this Bookworms unit, students were working on writing their own mystery stories. Students began the writing process by plotting their narratives, outlining the missing item and the three key places their characters searched before the mystery was solved. This structured approach provided a solid foundation for their writing. The co-teachers then encouraged a deeper level of storytelling, prompting students to include genuine feelings and realistic dialogue within the story. Throughout the writing process, the focus remained on crafting clear, sensible stories with attention to essential writing conventions like spelling and punctuation. By the end of the lesson, students were enthusiastically reading their mystery stories to their peers! This engaging writing activity in Mrs. Shaw's first-grade class, with the support of Mr. Clark, helps foster imagination and essential writing skills in Washington Elementary's youngest learners. #YourCommunitySchools