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Wheeling CCSD 21 celebrates spelling-bee winners, Citizen of the Year and new district artwork; literacy nights partnership reaches 1,400 students
Summary
The March 20 board meeting highlighted the District 21 spelling bee winners, the village Citizen of the Year award to Maya Schaap, literacy nights with local libraries and partners that served more than 1,400 students, and unveiled a new painting by Holmes Middle School art teacher Steve Hammond.
The Wheeling CCSD 21 meeting on March 20 opened with several recognitions: the district celebrated its spelling bee participants and winners, announced the village Citizen of the Year, recapped a literacy-nights partnership with local libraries and community groups, and unveiled a new piece of student-centered art for the administration reception area.
Dr. Drury, literacy equity coach at Cooper Middle School, described the district’s third annual spelling bee, which expanded this year to include fourth- and fifth-grade participants and produced competitors who went on to regional contests. Drury said 25 students competed in the final evening after some late withdrawals; Ethan Thomas (identified in meeting as a Cooper student) won the district championship, and fourth-grader Adva Kincherla advanced to the North Cook competition where he finished fourth. Drury said the competition showed growing student interest across grade levels.
Joe Arduino, principal at Tarkington Elementary School, introduced Maya Schaap, a fifth-grader at Tarkington who was named the village of Wheeling’s Citizen of the Year; board members presented the recognition and a photo opportunity followed.
Amy Bridal and other staff recapped district literacy nights run in partnership with the Indian Trails Library, Prospect Heights Library, Buffalo Grove Rotary Club, and Buffalo Grove Bank & Trust. According to staff, the events included story time, STEM activities, scavenger hunts and distributed more than 300 first-time library cards during a pilot at Cooper, Whitman and Fields; staff described more than 1,400 student participants across events at the local libraries.
Art teacher Steve Hammond from Holmes Middle School unveiled a new painting that will hang in the district administration reception area; staff said the teacher logged about 575 hours on the piece. Principal Jenny Lagunas provided a written statement read at the meeting praising Hammond’s instruction and the painting’s contribution to student creativity.
Ending
Board members thanked the teachers, volunteers and community partners for the programs and celebrations; the meeting included a reminder to continue partnerships that promote literacy and student recognition.
