School News

D155 Celebrates Student Artists in SPARK Show at the Dole
Kari Firak

SPARK was truly a standout show! This annual all-district art show showcased artwork from a talented group of CLC, CLS, Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge and Haber Oaks students.

The closing was celebrated in a gathering of students, families, staff and community to the background beat of the CG jazz ensemble.

SPARK was truly a standout show! This annual all-district art show showcased artwork from a talented group of CLC, CLS, Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge and Haber Oaks students. D155 art educators Aaron Cummins, Lindsey DiLeo, Wendy Guss, Bob Hewett, Michelle Kidd, Rigel Nelson, Kerry Parrish, Judd Shutt, Taylor Smith and Zachary Wisser curated this remarkable show at the Dole. The closing was celebrated in a gathering of students, families, staff and community to the background beat of the CG jazz ensemble.

 

D155 Schools Nationally Recognized by U.S. News & World Report
Alex LeMoine

U.S. News & World Report ranked all four District 155 high schools in the top twelve percent of high schools ranked nationwide and all four high schools earned a spot in the top 100 in the state of Illinois.

U.S. News & World Report ranked all four District 155 high schools in the top twelve percent of high schools ranked nationwide and all four high schools earned a spot in the top 100 in the state of Illinois. The annual list conducted by U.S. News and World Report is determined based on six factors, including how well students performed on state exams and college preparedness.

Nationwide, nearly 24,000 public high schools in all 50 states were considered and approximately 17,860 were ranked. Cary-Grove ranked 1,500th, Prairie Ridge ranked 1,536th, Crystal Lake South ranked 1,617th and Crystal Lake Central ranked 2,142nd.

In Illinois, 647 schools were considered. Cary-Grove placed 63rd in the state and Prairie Ridge was right behind, ranking 65th in Illinois. Crystal Lake South came in 73rd overall, and Crystal Lake Central was ranked 89th. 

“Each year, I am incredibly proud of the work of our outstanding students and staff that has earned all four D155 buildings a place on this list,” said Steve Olson, superintendent of District 155. “The dedication and perseverance our teachers and staff have displayed in order to continue to provide meaningful education to our students, even in the midst of adversity, is truly inspiring. We look forward to continuing to offer a first-rate educational experience to our students and community.”

To view the Illinois’ Best Public High Schools list, and further detailed results of D155 high schools, please click here.

Rosecrance Presents Coffee and Coping: A Virtual Parent Discussion Group
Alex LeMoine

Rosecrance has announced the 2021 schedule for Coffee and Coping: A Virtual Parent Discussion Group. Sessions are held virtually and links will be provided upon registration. 

Rosecrance has announced the 2021 schedule for Coffee and Coping: A Virtual Parent Discussion Group. Sessions are held virtually and links will be provided upon registration. 

Each session will begin with an informational presentation followed by an open, honest discussion to deal with the challenges of parenting in the pandemic. All meetings are confidential.

January: Isolation & Engagement
Facilitator: Meghan Chamberlain

Tuesday, January 19, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 21, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, January 26, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 28, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

February: Conflict Resolution 
Facilitator: Shawn Garry

Tuesday, February 2, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 11, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, February 16, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 25, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

March: Emotional Support
Facilitator: Melissa Walton

Tuesday, March 2, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 11, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, March 16, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 25, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
 

Rosecrance is a leading provider of treatment services for individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Nearly 50,000 children, teens, adults, and families receive help each year.

Fall 2020 Food Service for D155 Students
Alex LeMoine

Meals will be available for pick-up at Crystal Lake Central High School, located at 45 W. Franklin Ave. in Crystal Lake (field house entrance off Walkup). Beginning Monday, August 17, food will be provided Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Illinois State Board of Education recently announced the extension of the free summer food service program for children ages 18 and under. District 155 will now provide free grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals for children who live in District 155 boundaries, regardless of free/reduced lunch status. 

Meals will be available for pick-up at Crystal Lake Central High School, located at 45 W. Franklin Ave. in Crystal Lake (field house entrance off Walkup). Food will be provided Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

For everyone’s health and safety, bagged meals will be placed on a table for drivers to grab and go to limit exposure and adhere to social distancing guidelines. If your child has any food allergies, please check the nutritional labels on food items.

Information about continued meal distribution will be sent out via email to families, and it will also be posted to the school district websites and social media. Questions about food distribution can be directed to distmail@d155.org.

This Week on #WorkforceWednesday: Meet the Co-Founder of Project Front Line
Alex LeMoine

Devon Hubbard Tessmer, a 2001 Crystal Lake Central graduate, has co-founded Project Front Line McHenry County, a grassroots coronavirus relief effort with a mission to aid local restaurants and give back to workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Tessmer and a committee of four other community members have raised nearly $45,000 towards the cause. 

Watch Devon's #WorkforceWednesday video here!

Devon Hubbard Tessmer, a 2001 Crystal Lake Central graduate, has co-founded Project Front Line McHenry County, a grassroots coronavirus relief effort with a mission to aid local restaurants and give back to workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Tessmer and a committee of four other community members have raised nearly $45,000 towards the cause. 

After recognizing this area of need in the community, the Project Front Line team began collecting donations that have been put towards meals for healthcare workers all across the county. 

“The idea was to raise money from the community and deploy that money at local restaurants to bring a little bit of happiness, joy, a smile to the front line workers,” said Tessmer.

To date, the team has supported 35 to 40 local restaurants and delivered food to approximately 4,000 front line workers. Tessmer and her team aim to raise $50,000 by the end of the Illinois stay-at-home order. 

The project also collaborated with Crystal Lake Central art teacher, Kerry Parrish, who enlisted her art students to create thank you messages that appeared on hundreds of donations, and the deliveries aren’t done yet. 

“We’re hoping to do one last final push, where we deliver to all of the hospitals in the county and all of the employees,” she said. 

Aside from her career in business development at Exemplar, her family’s wealth management firm, Tessmer has always had a passion for philanthropy and giving back. 

“I grew up with the ethos that you give back to your community more than you take, so I was lucky to be raised in Crystal Lake,” she said.