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Hillcrest students showcase phonics, SEL and digital learning gains at District 58 board meeting
Summary
Student council members and Hillcrest staff presented highlights including the UFLI phonics program, zones of regulation SEL work, DreamBox math usage and PTA-funded equipment upgrades; staff and PTA leaders thanked board for building enhancements and new classroom technology.
Student council officers and Hillcrest staff on Monday presented school highlights to the Board of Education, describing classroom programs, social-emotional learning and recent building enhancements the PTA helped fund.
"Hi. I'm Johnny Colavenu and I am the student council president," said the Hillcrest student council president during the board meeting presentation, introducing classmates who described monthly family meetings, service projects and spirit days. PTA co-presidents Kelly Falin Wilson and Katie Wojciechowski told the board the PTA prioritized community-building while expanding volunteer leadership.
Principal Zabka and presenters noted Hillcrest is a phase‑1 school that has received building improvements, including a renovated front entry and an enhanced office area. Staff highlighted new classroom equipment purchased with PTA support: more xylophones for music, styluses for iPads, a new projector and screen and assistive equipment for occupational therapy. The presenters thanked the board and district for those phase‑1 enhancements.
Instructionally, Hillcrest staff described expansive use of UFLI (UFLI phonics) for kindergarten through third grade with four lessons per week and created sound walls in classrooms. The school also reported using benchmark reading tools and common literacy resources, and the district's math platforms DreamBox and IXL. Staff noted a DreamBox goal of five lessons per week (about 15 minutes per day) and reported that students regularly completing five or more lessons per week are showing strong growth: "Students who have completed 5 or more lessons per week are demonstrating an average of 1 and a half grade levels of growth in 1 year's time," the presenter said.
Hillcrest also described sustained work on the Zones of Regulation curriculum to support student self‑regulation and calming areas available in kindergarten through grade classrooms. Staff reported a decline in both classroom-managed and office-managed behavior incidents since October, attributing improvements to SEL routines and targeted interventions.
PTA leaders said community-building and volunteer recruitment helped fund equipment that staff said has improved classroom experiences. Board members thanked students and staff for attending and noted the value of student presentations at board meetings.
The Hillcrest presentation was informational; no board action was requested.
