Libertyville SD 70 board honors student fire-safety poster winners and community responders

The Libertyville SD 70 Board of Education on Oct. 27 honored four elementary students for trophy-winning entries in the Libertyville Fire Department’s 52nd annual Fire Safety Poster Week and recognized community members, staff and emergency responders credited with saving a man who suffered a serious medical emergency near Copeland Manor earlier this fall.

Superintendent Rebecca Jenkins led the honors, naming student winners Eva V., Joey S., Mokshitaa H. and Isabelle C. The fire department contest is open to grades one through five and this year’s theme was “Charge into Fire Safety.” Board members and attendees took a short recess from 6:10 p.m. to 6:19 p.m. to meet the honorees and community responders.

Jenkins also highlighted districtwide learning and service projects in her October report, including an Institute Day focused on belonging and inclusion, a Copeland Manor Tower Build that collected food items later donated to Fill A Heart 4 Kids, and a variety show at Copeland Manor. At Adler Park she said students participated in connection-focused activities; Highland Middle School offered hands-on sewing and food-and-nutrition classes; the Child Care program worked with Little Sprouts Preschool learners; and Butterfield emphasized measurement through collaborative math lessons and a Buddy program pairing older and younger students.

Principal Steve Feldman of Rockland was noted for encouraging student leadership and for launching a new Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) unit that the report said has “students thinking deeply and learning with excitement.”

The board’s recognition of the lifesaving response and the student awards underscored district and community partnership in student safety and civic engagement. No further actions or votes were required for the recognitions announced at the meeting.