Welcome to the 2025-26 school year! We have had a wonderful start and are looking forward to all we are going to accomplish!
After piloting three resources during the 2024-25 school year, the District has adopted two new English Language Arts programs to be implemented this year: HMH’s Into Reading (K-5) and Heggerty’s Bridge to Reading (K-2). Into Reading is a comprehensive program that addresses all components of literacy and provides a wealth of resources. Aligned to the Common Core State Standards and the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, it includes quality, complex, age-appropriate texts by diverse authors, opportunities for differentiation, and assessments to monitor student progress. Bridge to Reading emphasizes foundational skills: print concepts, phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency. Aligned to the Illinois State Standards and best practice, it provides hands-on practice that supports the needs of all learners. Middle school curriculum continues to be delivered using a Literacy Studio structure, an integrated and individualized approach to reading and writing instruction. With texts and tasks that become increasingly sophisticated through the grades, students develop confidence and proficiency in oral and written language, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. District 30 recognizes the importance of differentiating instruction to maximize achievement for all students and that language skills are essential to furthering learning, communication, career development, and the human spirit.
District 30 math instruction is aligned to the Common Core Mathematics Standards. Comprehensive programs (Bridges in kindergarten, Math in Focus in grades 1-5, and Big Ideas in grades 6-8) support the standards and demand a high level of rigor. Notable shifts from previous programs include a focus on studying fewer topics in more depth, mastery rather than a spiraling approach curriculum, and the use of models to foster conceptual understanding.
Our students continue to participate in the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, a series of assessments that measure a student’s general knowledge in reading and mathematics. The tests measure a student’s overall growth and progress in school. The assessment also informs the school system regarding instruction. Scores depend on two things: the difficulty of each question and how many questions are answered correctly.
As always, our first priority is the health and safety of all students and staff. To that end, all members of the District 30 community continue to participate in programs that support social-emotional learning. Students and staff will continue to embrace the tenets of RULER, a systemic approach to SEL developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. In addition, elementary students will engage in Wayfinder, an SEL resource that addresses academic and life skills. Middle school students (grades 6-8) will use their Advisory period to participate in a comprehensive standards-aligned program that addresses the specific needs of the middle school population. These programs impart the foundation students need to become skilled decision-makers and to exhibit responsible behavior in personal, school, and community contexts.
Throughout the year, we will work to meet our strategic goals of empowering all students to reach their academic potential and cultivating a safe, positive, and engaging climate of belonging to meet the social, emotional, and physical needs of our community. We embrace all aspects of diversity and its contributions to learning. Equitable access, representation, and participation in educational opportunities generate the most effective learning environment for ALL students and prepares students to become global citizens. We do not tolerate racism, hate, or other discriminatory actions.
As we strive to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of all students, please do not hesitate to contact me should you ever have any questions or concerns regarding your child(ren) and/or programming. Enjoy the 2025-26 school year!
Warmest regards,
Dr. Melissa E. Hirsch
