Dear Dr. Kherat,

On behalf of our Dean, Chris Jones, and all the LAS leadership team, I’d like to thank you for your participation in our panel discussion last Wednesday night.

I have heard from many students, faculty, and staff in the last two days, all of whom expressed how grateful they were to be there.  The insights and the personal stories you shared confirmed the most important values that tie us together as a learning community, and they inspired us to return to our daily tasks with a renewed pride in what we do.

I was especially glad that you shared your passion for finding new ways to offer effective education, including social and emotional education, to all the students of the district.  Likewise, you powerfully illuminated the power of study abroad to be transformative for a student, with lifelong impact.  And by sharing the nature of your friendship with Henry Vicary, and how that collegial friendship helps you both lift up the Peoria community, you demonstrated the importance of inter-disciplinary teamwork to leadership.

All these things—commitment to community need, engaged learning, the ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams—all are vital elements in our strategic plan, and you vividly illustrated how an LAS graduate takes those experiences and values into the world to make a constructive difference.

We knew that by bringing the three of you together, good things would happen.  Still, your discussion went beyond our hopes, and you encouraged everyone to recommit themselves to the mission and vision of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Thank you again for making time to be with us,

Rob Prescott

Dr. Robert Prescott

Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Bradley University

Every day, teachers have the chance to make an extraordinary difference in the lives of students. “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world,” said Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.

Peoria Public Schools is fortunate to have many remarkable teachers. They are on the frontlines of ensuring that our students are college ready, career ready and life ready. They are helping redefine what ready means, focusing on the whole child. They embody the spirit that Malala spoke of; they know that they can change the world.

Now more than ever, we need strong teachers in our classrooms. Peoria Public Schools is looking for certified teachers, May graduates pending certification, teacher aides and substitute teachers. Anyone interested in joining the remarkable PPS team is invited to attend a special hiring event on September 27, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Administration Building, 3202 N. Wisconsin Ave., Peoria.

To learn more about how you can join our team and make a difference in the lives of students, visit www.peoriapublicschools.org/employment or call 309-672-6770.

With school back in session for the new academic year, it’s a great time for students, parents and community members to refresh their memories about school safety resources and procedures. Safety efforts closely align with Peoria Public Schools’ focus on social-emotional learning and its focus on the whole child.

No Bullying Zone – In June 2013, the Peoria Public Schools Board of Education updated the District’s bullying policy with recommendations from the Parent/Teacher Advisory Committee. The full policy on bullying, tips on actions students and parents can take to prevent bullying, and other resources and materials, are available on the District’s website. Visit www.peoriapublicschools.org and click on “Students & Parents” to find the No Bullying Zone.

Tip Line – If you see something, say something! Peoria Public Schools offers a tip line that allows everyone to report possible school safety issues. All personal information is optional and kept confidential. The tip line is a great way to report any concerns, including suspected bullying or anything else that could threaten school safety. Reports to the tip line can be made through the shortcut on the District’s website or by calling 309-606-4877. The District is currently in discussions with Sandy Hook Promise to develop a new tip line; more information on that will be released in the months ahead.

Safety Drills – Knowing what to do in an emergency can save lives. That’s why it’s important for students and staff to participate in safety drills. Peoria Public Schools holds safety drills in schools and on buses every year. Parents should encourage their students to pay close attention and take these vital safety activities seriously.

Campus Safety Officers – Peoria Public Schools has an incredible team of school resource officers who take an active role in ensuring the safety of students and staff every day. Everyone is encouraged to get to know these dedicated men and women. They love to build relationships with students, parents and our community, and they are a great resource for any questions or concerns about our emergency preparedness. Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PeoriaPublicSchoolsResourceOfficers.

Peoria Public Schools encourages all parents and community members to take an active role in helping ensure the safety of our students. Together, we can make our schools the safest possible environment for learning.

A child’s imagination works a bit like a computer. Its output is based on the type of input it receives. That’s why Alignment Peoria’s College and Career Readiness Action Team is piloting a K-5 Career Awareness program. It’s designed to give children a rich understanding of career opportunities, and it aims to strengthen connections between school and work. When children understand a career, they can imagine themselves doing it!

The College and Career Awareness K-5 pilot is seeking partners to be career awareness speakers in Peoria Public School classrooms. Peoria Public School children, particularly those in primary grades, need to hear about your experiences and your industry! Your interaction can spark an interest which sets a life plan in motion. The Action Team is specifically seeking partners representing one or more of the following careers:

• Emergency services
• Agriculture
• Business and entrepreneurship
• Media and communications
• Health and fitness
• Natural resources
• Government
• Information technology and computer programming
• Manufacturing
• Medical
• Engineering
• Education and training

To learn more, please visit www.alignmentpeoria.com and click the Respond to an Invitation to Participate tab.

Research proves what school principals and classroom teachers know first-hand: students achieve when parents or guardians are actively and consistently involved in their child’s school. Like a mirror, your child will reflect the value you place on education.

When parents are engaged, students achieve greater success! Here are ways parents can help their students:

• Remember the importance of attendance -- every student, every class, every day. Peoria Public School principals and teachers build creative, positive incentive programs for high attendance rates, but the real incentive comes from home. When you make sure your student gets a good night’s rest and wakes up each day in time to prepare for school and catch their bus or walk, you let your child know that their education is a top priority.
  
  
• Read with your students. Studies have shown that literacy skills are strongly correlated with academic success, and reading aloud to very young children can help promote kindergarten readiness. Of course, reading is important for students of all ages. Survey findings from Scholastic show kids of all ages want books that make them laugh, so ask your child’s teacher or a librarian for fun recommendations.
  
  
• Attend your child’s Back-to-School night. Over the next month, each Peoria Public School will host a Back-to-School night. If you haven’t already, make the time to meet your student’s teachers, guidance counselor and principal. Learn about your student’s behavior and academic expectations, and how you can help them succeed.
  
  
• Get involved in your school’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). Involvement in your school’s PTO makes everyone’s jobs easier – your job as a parent and our job as educators. Parenting is full of challenges. Forming friendships and being allies with other parents will make your job easier. PTOs also are an invaluable source of help and support for school staff. Your school PTO will begin meeting in coming weeks, and our district-wide PTO Council will meet Tuesday. Take the time to attend meetings and events and interact with your PTO through social media.
• The Peoria Public Schools Foundation offers ways to take school involvement to another level. PPS students need real-world career information from adults in a wide variety of professions. Horizons Program mentors spend 60-to-90 minutes meeting with groups of students during lunch time sharing their professional stories. Through the PPS Foundation Adopt-A-School program your business, employer, civic group or faith organization can partner with your student’s school. The Adopt-A-School coordinator will work with you to design a partnership that fits your resources and the school’s needs, whether a one-time event or an ongoing program.
  
  

Finally, the first Parent University for 2018-2019 will be Thursday, September 27, 5 to 8 p.m. at Tanner’s Orchard. Watch www.peoriapublicschools.org and the district social media for details in coming weeks. 

Making sure Peoria Public School students have met all medical requirements by the first day of school is a challenge for our school staff, particularly nurses, principals and assistant principals and for busy parents. Here is a note a received this week from one of the school nurses on our PPS team.  

Dr. Kherat, 

My name is Sheri Buskirk and I am the school nurse at Peoria High School. I am writing you this note because I cannot ignore the outstanding leaders you have at my school.

I was hired towards the middle of last year, therefore, this is my first go around with medical compliance, as I spent my first 22 years as a nurse with a cardiovascular surgical group in Peoria. It has been a learning curve transitioning to a high school setting.

Little did I know, I would not be tackling this task on my own. Dr. Annette Coleman and her assistant principals are amazing. Not only with students, but their parents and anyone who enters Peoria High School. Including me!  They have helped, called, visited homes and offered any assistance possible to me in spite of their already overwhelming schedules.

Although I have only met you in passing, thank you. Thank you for leading this district and thank you for employing outstanding individuals who will do whatever they can to make the students of Peoria Public Schools a success. 

 
Sincerely,
 
Sheri Buskirk, RN, BSN
Peoria High School

Lessons from the "Bad Kids" by Pernille Ripp

On Monday August 20, Peoria Public Schools Wraparound Center, located at Trewyn School, will begin providing services to Peoria citizens, particularly residents of zip code 61605. A community celebration for the opening, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 18, will feature entertainment and a chance to learn more about the center. 

The Wraparound Center is an outgrowth of the District’s Social, Emotional Learning (SEL) program.

In 2016 Peoria Public Schools began devoting resources to SEL for our students. Under the direction of Derrick Booth, the district adopted a curriculum focusing on five competencies required for social and emotional health: self-awareness, self-management or regulation, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.

Our staff and our community partners, including Family Core, Children’s Home and E.L.I.T.E, have the tools and expertise to teach these competencies, but we needed to take more assertive action. We needed to address the needs of our students’ community.  The Wraparound Center is a resource to confront the reality of our community.

The Wraparound Center is located in the heart of the 61605 zip code, the second-poorest zip code in Illinois and the 48^th poorest zip code in the U.S. This is an area riddled with problems typical of severe urban poverty: lower life expectancy, higher crime, substandard housing, lack of access to basic healthcare and grocery stores, higher rates of substance abuse and domestic violence. When this is a student’s day-to-day reality, focusing on academics is all but impossible. The Wraparound Center is a one-stop-shop which will help residents confront the daunting challenges they face with support. By bringing the services of Peoria’s social service agencies to their neighborhood, we will provide support to empower Peoria families.

Please take the time to view this video on The Wraparound Center and watch our website for more news about The Wraparound Center.

We had a beautiful sunrise this morning. Peoria Public School transportation staff is ready to roll on the first day of school.  2018-2019 will be an amazing year!

It’s our final week to prepare before school starts on August 15. Preparation is the key to a success school year for our staff, our students and their families.

The fleet of Peoria Public School buses is out on the roads this week. Transportation staff practice to-and-from school routes to make sure buses are in top mechanical shape and that they know their routes well before our students return to class. With multiple areas of construction throughout Peoria to maneuver, this period of preparation is particularly important.

School staff from principals to maintenance staff are in schools organizing classrooms, offices and libraries, installing hallway displays, polishing floors and finishing last-minute maintenance and cleaning. 

With the First Day Compliance policy, students must have documentation of required physical and dental exams and immunizations submitted to their student’s school on the first day of school. It’s not too late to call the Peoria City/County Health Department at 679-6555 to make an appointment. Heartland Health Services’ five locations in Peoria are also taking appointments for physical exams and immunizations. The East Bluff Heartland Clinic at 2321 N. Wisconsin Ave, offers evening and Saturday hours. For a list of Heartland locations and to make your appointment, please visit www.hhsil.com or call 680-7600. Students can begin school on August 15 if they have proof of a scheduled appointment for exams and immunizations and then keep the appointment.

Peoria Public Schools will be on a back-to-school schedule from August 15 until August 31. Schools will dismiss one hour early during these weeks. The regular schedule will begin on Tuesday, September 4, following the Labor Day holiday. I cannot emphasize strongly enough how very important it is to make sure that children attend school every day during these beginning weeks and throughout the first grading period. When strong attendance is a habit, it becomes easier to keep that habit going! Remember: we want to see every student in every class, every day!

Many schools will host Unpack Your Backpack and orientation events on Monday, August 13 and Tuesday, August 14. Those events are listed in the enrollment packets mailed to parent’s homes and are posted on each school’s website calendar. I encourage you to take the time to attend these events and meet your student’s principal and teachers. 

I am always excited when the beginning of the school year approaches. The new year brings the promise of a fresh beginning and the excitement of learning new things. I hope Peoria Public School students and their families are fired up and ready to go for a great new year!