With the first day of school for Niles Community Schools quickly approaching, we look forward to welcoming new and returning students to Niles Community Schools. While our students were off, we’ve been busy preparing for the year ahead, and we have many great activities in store for our students and families when they return on Sept. 4.

Opportunities for staff development played a large role in our summer schedule. Two hundred Niles teachers, administrators, and staff participated in professional development sessions to expand their instructional knowledge and capacity. Opportunities to enhance literacy instruction, to offer advanced placement courses, and to write common assessments were just some of the session topics. Many staff and parents also served on committees that recruited and hired new, energetic, and highly-skilled administrators and teachers.

Even with students out of sight, we never lost focus of our goal to improve student achievement by continuing our partnership with Chartwells, the YMCA and other organizations to help students keep up with their learning throughout the summer. Niles High School students were able to catch up on credits during two academic sessions and elementary school students enjoyed the Summer My Way day camp, pop-up libraries, and other opportunities to receive — and read — new books.

While school starts after Labor Day, kindergartners already took their first step in their educational journey by attending and participating in our new readiness screening during the first week of August. The students were evaluated — not only from an academic perspective, but from social and emotional perspectives as well. Evaluating the whole learner at the beginning of student’s educational career ensures we are able to individualize their initial placement.

If you have driven by Ballard Elementary, Oak Manor, Eastside Connections or Niles High School, you know that construction crews worked tirelessly throughout the summer. Despite tight deadlines in place for completing all projects, we expect to be able to start the school year on time. Though the majority of the work is hidden behind the walls and above the ceilings, the exterior of the buildings and the new and refreshed learning environments look spectacular. We could not have done it without the support of the community.

This upcoming year is set to be another great one for our remarkable and talented students. Last year, we saw an incredible number of awards, recognitions and scholarships recognizing our students, and I believe this year we will all be just as amazed. We look forward to another great year of accomplishments — in the classroom and on the fields, courts, stages, and any other venue where Niles Vikings perform. We encourage the community to continue to come out and support our hardworking students.