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CUSD 200 AI Event Recap

In late January, Community Unit School District 200 held an event to educate our community about the growing presence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education. For those that were unable to attend, we have re-recorded the presentation and it will be released as a four part series. The remaining videos will be released consecutively in the March 27, April 17 and May 1 CUSD 200 Newsletters.

The introductory video in our AI series sets the stage for future parts and gives some crucial background information on what is uniquely different about generative AI versus other forms of artificial intelligence that have been around for years, particularly in education. The first video can be viewed below.

Part 1 - Stay informed - The evolution of generative AI

Part 2 - Stay cautious - The considerations and cautions of generative AI

Part 3 - Stay curious - The hope of what could be for AI in education

Part 4 - How CUSD 200 is specifically addressing AI in the classroom

Gary Avenue Road Closure begins Week of March 24

The City of Wheaton has notified us that starting the week of March 24, Gary Avenue will be closed between Prairie and Harrison Avenues as crews begin the next phase of the Gary Avenue Reconstruction Project. This section of Gary Avenue is expected to be closed until mid-summer, once the south half of the road reconstruction is complete.

At this time, the City of Wheaton will be utilizing the detour route pictured below. The detour route can also be found on the City’s website by clicking this link.

We anticipate this road closure may cause transportation delays for students who attend the following schools:

Wheaton North High School
Franklin Middle School
Monroe Middle School
Sandburg Elementary School
Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Whittier Elementary School
Emerson Elementary School
Jefferson Early Childhood Center

We have been working with our bus company to make adjustments for any routes that use Gary Avenue. Our building principals will continue to communicate any detour information and potential bus route delays with impacted families as the construction progresses.

For more information about the Gary Avenue Reconstruction Project, and to stay updated as the project progresses, we encourage you to visit www.wheaton.il.us/GaryAvenue.

Classroom Close-Up

This week's Classroom Close-Up takes us to Ms. Sara Garner's fifth grade Program of Accelerated Curriculum and Enrichment (PACE) reading class at Whittier Elementary School.

Students in this class have been reading and preparing to perform the Greek play "Speed:The Story of Atalanta," which tells the story of men who fall in love with a beautiful young woman named Atalanta and are racing to win her heart. This is no easy task as Atalanta just happens to be the best runner and hunter in the Greek world and the price of defeat in a race with her is death.

Students have been focusing on more than memorizing their lines to perform this play for their peers. During class, they have been practicing their performance while focusing on their tone, inflection, flow of reading out loud and public speaking/reading skills.

Through this exciting and engaging unit, Ms. Garner's class demonstrates how literature can come alive, fostering not only a love for reading but also crucial communication and performance skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.

Citizens’ Advisory Committee: Now Accepting Applications for 2025-26 School Year

CUSD 200 is looking for engaged community members to join the Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC) for the 2025-26 school year. The CAC works to provide valuable input on educational and district-related initiatives to district administration and the Board of Education.

Candidates must reside within CUSD 200 boundaries and shall not miss more than two meetings without first notifying an officer of the CAC or the superintendent’s office. Members serve one-year terms (up to five consecutive years) and meet regularly (usually monthly) throughout the school year.

Applications are due by March 28, 2025, and can be filled out and submitted online by clicking here or visiting the CUSD 200 website.

Questions? Please contact: Dianna Hutchison at (630) 682-2002 or dianna.hutchison@cusd200.org.

CUSD 200 Staff/Student Celebrations

Wheaton Fire Department Supports Wheaton North Student

Chase Ewoldt, a student at Wheaton North, got the ride of a lifetime when the Wheaton Fire Department picked him up and drove him to school in a fire truck on Thursday, March 20! As Chase arrived at Wheaton North, his teachers and classmates were there to cheer him on!

This special moment was made possible through a partnership between the Wheaton Fire Department and Project Fire Buddies, a nonprofit organization that provides support to children facing critical illnesses. We want to thank the Wheaton Fire Department and Project Fire Buddies for supporting Chase and giving him a special experience he will likely never forget.

CUSD 200 Winter Sports Highlights

The 2024-25 IHSA winter sports season has officially ended. We want to extend our congratulations to all CUSD 200 sports for a great winter sports season!

Below are highlights of CUSD 200 sports teams who had strong finishes in the postseason:

Wheaton-Warrenville Co-Op School Boys Swimming IHSA State Qualifiers
- Austin Kirkman (WWS) - 500 Meter Freestyle
- Kevin Boyle (WWS), Miles Lewis (WN), Declan Sullivan (WN), and Luca Zdravkov (WN) - 400 Meter Freestyle Relay Team
Wheaton North High School Boys Wrestling IHSA State Qualifiers
- Rocco Macellaio - 120 lbs
- Ryan Rosch - 150 lbs
- Julian Flores - 165 lbs
- Carlo Saenz - 190 lbs
Wheaton-Warrenville Co-Op Girls Gymnastics - Regional and Sectional Champions
Wheaton Warrenville South High School Boys Basketball - Regional Champions
Wheaton North High School Girls Basketball - Regional Champions
Wheaton North High School and Wheaton Warrenville South High School Chess Teams - Co DuKane Chess Conference Champions and IHSA State Qualifiers

CUSD 200 National Merit Finalists

Five CUSD 200 students were recently named National Merit Finalists. The National Merit Scholarship provides 7,140 scholarships worth $28 million annually to academically talented high school seniors. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.

The following CUSD 200 students were named National Merit Finalists:

Jack Mathis - Wheaton Warrenville South High School
Reagan Crosthwaite - Wheaton North High School
Jack Nelson - Wheaton North High School
Maddie Romaine - Wheaton North High School
Jacob Valentino - Wheaton North High School

CUSD 200 ILMEA All-State Finalists

Students from Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools were recently named Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Finalists. Students in grades 9-12 who participated in the ILMEA District Festivals are also eligible to be selected into ILMEA’s All-State band, orchestra and choir programs. These students go through a rigorous process of auditions and qualify for All-State based on scores they receive. This group traveled with their teachers to Peoria at the end of January for a weekend of rehearsals and clinics culminating in concerts on Saturday.

The following CUSD 200 students were named ILMEA All-State Finalists:

Choir

Natalie Diaz (alto) - Wheaton North High School
Ellie Durbin (soprano) - Wheaton North High School
Kate Peeler (soprano) - Wheaton North High School
Luke Hafkey (tenor) - Wheaton North High School
Lucy Wiper (soprano) - Wheaton North High School

Band

Michael Shebar (jazz alto saxophone) - Wheaton North High School
Matthew Hufford (jazz trumpet) - Wheaton North High School

Orchestra

Ellie Korntheuer (violin) - Wheaton North High School
Simon Klemme (violin) - Wheaton North High School
Wren Page (cello) - Wheaton North High School
Daria Volkart (viola) - Wheaton Warrenville South High School

Future Educator Seminar

Patrick Griffin from Wheaton Warrenville South High School was selected as one of 55 high school students in the State to be part of the Future Music Educator Seminar.

CUSD 200 Board of Education Recognition

The CUSD 200 Board of Education recently received the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) School Governance Recognition. The "School Board Governance Recognition" program acknowledges school boards that learn and practice effective governance behaviors as identified in IASB's Foundational Principles of Effective Governance, through participation in and support for board development programs and events.

Wheaton Warrenville South Teacher Named CTE Instructor of the Year

Wheaton Warrenville South High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher Samantha Phelan was honored as the CTE Instructor of the Year for CUSD 200 at a ceremony on Feb 26 at the Technology Center of DuPage (TCD) .

Ms. Phelan was recognized for being an innovative and inspirational teacher who has helped grow South's Business INCubator program each year, starting with two sections with 50 students during the 2020-21 school year, to now four sections with 117 students. Under her leadership, CUSD 200 INCubator teams from South have gone on to compete in and win local and regional competitions. Congratulations to Ms. Phelan for being an outstanding CUSD 200 educator who is making a difference in the lives of students!

CUSD 200 Important Dates

Spring Break (No School) - March 31 - April 4
Board of Education Meeting - 7 p.m. April 9, at Hubble Middle School
Coffee With the Board - 9 a.m. April 12, at the School Service Center

CUSD 200 Newsletter