Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Let Grow topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
South Park students, parents describe 'Let Grow' projects to Deerfield SD 109 board
Summary
Students and parents at South Park Elementary told the Deerfield SD 109 school board about home-based "Let Grow" projects — walking to school, cooking, chores — saying short, student-selected tasks have boosted confidence and independence. Staff said the program may expand districtwide under the Stronger Together initiative.
South Park Elementary students and parents presented the district's Let Grow home-based independence program to the Deerfield School District 109 Board on Nov. 20, describing a series of short, student-selected tasks that families said have increased confidence and problem-solving.
Kelly Jeong, introduced by the school staff as a leader on the initiative, told the board that Let Grow is a program the school launched after learning about it several years ago and integrating monthly themes into parent and classroom communications. "Let Grow is a project that is beyond just our school in our district," Jeong said, explaining teachers share materials while the actual challenges occur at home.
Students described everyday tasks they completed as their Let Grow projects. One first-grade student, identified by the board as Maggie, told the board, "I loaded the dishwasher up by myself," and said the experience made her "happy and impressed." Other students described making eggs, walking to school, and helping with family chores. Parents said watching their children complete small tasks has reduced parental anxiety and created new opportunities for children to practice independent decision-making.
Parent and community volunteers described using Let Grow language informally in social settings to encourage children to try ordering at restaurants or approaching school staff for help. One parent said a second grader rang the school office bell to retrieve a forgotten water bottle and returned within minutes, illustrating the program's emphasis on supervised independence.
School leaders told the board that Let Grow is designed as a home-based complement to in-school goals around productive struggle, and they thanked families for partnering in the work. The board noted that Stronger Together — a districtwide resolution passed earlier in the year — included an action item committing to implement Let Grow in elementary schools, and administrators said South Park's experience could inform rollouts at other schools.
Board members applauded the students and recognized staff and parents for their engagement. Certificates were presented to students who shared their projects, and the board took photos to commemorate the presentations. The district indicated it will share examples from other elementary schools later in the year as part of the Stronger Together initiative.
