District 15 students honored for stock market challenge and Seal of Biliteracy

At its May 13 meeting the McHenry CCSD 15 Board of Education recognized two student accomplishments: an MMS sixth-grade team’s placement in the Capitol Hill Stock Market Challenge and 21 graduating seniors who earned the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy.

Sherry Hagen, an MMS sixth-grade teacher, and teacher Missus Kagan described the Capitol Hill Stock Market Challenge as a national competition in which congressional offices may have up to two schools representing them. Presenters said more than 1,400 teams competed and the MMS team finished in the top 5 percent nationally. Presenters said the team had $100,000 in virtual capital, learned about stocks, bonds and mutual funds, met with Congressman Bill Schneider for a classroom visit, and had net virtual gains “of almost $3,000” by the day of the presentation.

Maureen Cassidy, executive director of Multilingual Services for District 15, presented the Seal of Biliteracy recognitions. Cassidy said the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to graduating seniors who demonstrate high proficiency in English and another language; District 15 awarded the seal to 21 students this year, and Cassidy said nine awardees were alumni of the district’s English Learner program. As part of the district’s Pathways to Biliteracy initiative, those students received graduation cords and certificates.

Board members offered congratulations from the dais and the district provided certificates and photographs for students. The recognitions were presented as ceremonial items; no board action was required.