Dear District 80 Families, 

Norridge School District 80 offers a Summer School Program for students entering first through eighth grades, scheduled from June 10 to June 29, 2025, with no classes on June 19. The program operates daily from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with a tuition fee of $150 per child, payable by check or cash. Registration is open from March 17 to April 25, 2025; a limited number of students may receive tuition vouchers funded by grants.  Summer School Registration information will be on our website and emailed to all families on Monday, March 17th.  

The Norridge School District 80 Summer School Program offers a variety of educational opportunities for students entering grades 1 through 8. It focuses on reinforcing and enriching students' skills in subjects such as math, reading, and writing. It is a fun program for the students.  

A small number of students are offered Extended School Year (ESY) through the Special Education Department.  If your child qualifies for ESY you will be receiving information directly addressed to you this week.  Registration for ESY must be completed by April 25, 2025.  

Norwood Park Township will sponsor “Summer Camp” July 21 to August 1, 2025, at Ridgewood High School from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM.  Registration for this program will open on April 15th.  Please see the “save the date” flyer on the right side of this page under “Community Events” for more information.  

Please take advantage of one or both of these educational and fun opportunities for your child.  

Best, 

Michele Guzik

Superintendent 

Dear Leigh Families, 

At our school, we place a strong emphasis on being Safe, Responsible, and Respectful. We will be taking some time; over the course of the next two weeks, to teach our students about the impact of their words and actions. It is essential that they understand how we all come to school as part of our school family, bringing various gifts that make us unique individuals. These gifts include, but are not limited to; our ethnicity, culture, family traditions, hobbies, and the languages we speak.

To help our students grasp these concepts, we will be incorporating age appropriate lessons on race and the importance of respecting one another into our curriculum. Here is a brief overview of what the students will be learning:

1. Kindergarten and 1st Grade
   • We will read the book "The Skin You Live In" by Michael Tyler, which celebrates the beauty of diversity and teaches children to appreciate their own and others' unique features. Through discussions and creating their own “All About Me” web, students will learn about their own attributes and the importance of treating everyone with kindness and respect. You can watch a read aloud of the book at; https://youtu.be/iEvwTx-96AI?si=aTFlwNjgfuqxak3b 
2. 2nd through 4th Grade
   • Using the PBS KIDS video "Talk About: Race, Racism & Identity," students will explore the concepts of race and racism. They will learn how racism affects people and why it is crucial to treat everyone with respect. The lessons will include discussions and students will create their own “All About Me”  web to help them understand and appreciate their own attributes and those of others.

Here is a sample “All About Me” web; 

​

These lessons will be taught by one of our social workers at Leigh. The goal of these lessons is to celebrate the diversity within our school community and to ensure that no student feels marginalized or disrespected because of who they are. We believe that by fostering an environment of empathy, kindness, and respect, we can create a safe and welcoming space for all students to thrive. Every student should feel welcome and treated with respect at Leigh School. 

We understand that discussions on these topics can be sensitive. Our approach will be age-appropriate, respectful, and focused on promoting our positive values of Safe, Responsible and Respectful. We want our students to understand that our differences are what make us unique and that these differences should be celebrated, not used to hurt one another.

We appreciate your support and understanding as we work together to uphold the values of being Safe, Responsible, and Respectful in our school. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Sean Rabiola

 

Happy Friday! 

I hope everyone has the chance to enjoy the beautiful weather tonight and tomorrow! 

At conferences this week, students who have been absent or tardy for 5 or more days received an attendance record sheet. We issue this so everyone can be on the same page. If you received one and have any questions, please reach out to me directly.

 Instruction here at Leigh School starts promptly at 8:10. We open our doors for students at 7:55 am. Please ensure that you are dropping your children off so they will be in their class ready to learn at 8:10 am each day. 

Have a wonderful week! 

Christine Ahrens