In observance of American Education Week, I began Monday morning by visiting each school to personally say thank you to all of our educators, support staff, and volunteers at Palos 118. It was gratifying to be surrounded by such positive learning environments and to see teachers, aides, and parent volunteers.

It is fitting to observe American Education Week, now in its 90th year, during the same month as Thanksgiving. The national holiday originated from a mix of European and Native traditions, but essentially began as a tradition of celebrating the harvest of the year. Today, we set aside the fourth Thursday of November each year for the sake of tradition, but also to show appreciation for all we have.  

Our support staff at the district office have been working hard for many months developing new websites for our schools. I appreciate all of the effort that went into making this positive change for our school district. The new websites will feature a friendly layout, integrated calendars, and easy navigation tools that will make communication more efficient. I encourage you to visit the new district and school websites on December 1 to see the exciting changes for yourself.

In addition to our staff and faculty, I am also grateful Palos 118 has such dedicated and strong support organizations. The PFA enriches the school experience for students through programming such as art awareness, theme lunches, and more. Our Educational Foundation raises much needed funds through Laps for Literature and the Vendor Fair, and parent volunteers have really stepped up this year to help make the Music Program thrive. Thanks to all of our organizations for their dedication.

School board members serve countless hours working to make public education the best it can be for every child. November 15 has been designated as School Board Members Day in Illinois, and we extend thanks our community volunteers for their commitment and contributions to Palos 118.

 Each time I step into one of our schools, I am grateful for the teachers, staff, students, and parents that make Palos 118 warm, welcoming, and successful. Enjoy a safe Thanksgiving break.

With gratitude,

Superintendent of Schools