Harvard Rising- Community May '23

There are so many AMAZING things happening in our schools and classrooms every day. This blog shines a light on these stories of positivity, creativity and success throughout CUSD 50.

Congratulations, Graduates!

CUSD 50 is proud of all of our graduates! Click here to see photo galleries from Harvard High School and Harvard Junior High 2023 Graduation Ceremonies.

First DUO Graduates Earn Their Associate Degree

Congratulations to our inaugural group of dual degree (DUO) students at Harvard High School! We are proud of these fourteen hard working students, earning an associate degree before high school graduation! Eight-hundred fifteen credits earned and a total savings of $95,000! “I am immensely proud of this group of students that are graduating not only with their high school diplomas, but also their well-deserved associate degrees,” said D50 Superintendent Dr. Corey Tafoya. “I have no doubt that they will continue to inspire and reshape the world around them.” Students do not pay for this program but must apply and meet minimum eligibility requirements, tuition is covered equally by District 50, MCC, and Harvard Community Education Foundation.

D50 Inspires Life Long Learners

No matter what path our students choose after high school graduation, it is our mission to make sure they are prepared. CUSD 50 is #FutureFocused, inspiring life long learners!

CUSD 50 To Open New Therapeutic School in Harvard

Harvard Community Unit School District 50 has partnered with ChanceLight Education to open a school for The HIVE Program (Harvard's Innovative Versatile Education). Set to open with the start of school in August, this specialized, therapeutic setting will be located within Harvard Trinity Lutheran Church and have forty available spots for 6-12 grade students.

“As costs rise to transport students and placements become more challenging to secure in the surrounding area, we felt strongly that it was time to create the capacity in Harvard for students that demonstrate a need for innovative, structured, therapeutic programming,” said Jessica Loustaunau, D50 Director of Special Programs and Services. “The HIVE Program will be a hybrid of general and special education students addressing academic and social-emotional needs.”

ChanceLight Education partners with school districts and families providing services to intervene academically, behaviorally and socially to help students catch up with their peers. The organization will manage outfitting Trinity Lutheran Church with dedicated classrooms and a cafeteria and hire local educators and social workers. The district will maintain oversight of students and provide transportation. Entering a partnership with ChanceLight Education to open this new facility is a lower expense than the district is currently paying for off-site tuition and transportation.

“District 50 is committed to meeting the unique needs of each student,” said Superintendent Dr. Corey Tafoya. “This school and our HIVE Program will provide a safe and supportive space where students can thrive emotionally, academically, and socially.”

Graduates Celebrate Scholarships at Senior Honors Ceremony

With great pride we celebrated our scholarship recipients at the Senior Honors Ceremony. These impressive individuals earned over $740,000 in scholarships! Special congratulations to Myles Brinks, receiving $179,800 from Lawrence University, and Jade Sanchez, receiving the Presidential Scholarship from Nova Southeastern University for $143,520- full tuition! We are excited to see all these impressive students pursue their dreams. Click here to see all photos from this event. {pictured clockwise from left: all recipients, Jade Sanchez, Michelle Dollman ($88,000 from Loyola University- Chicago), Jenny Castillo ($81,000 from North Park University), Katelyn Duber ($88,000 from Carroll University), Madelyn Uzyn ($84,000 from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design), Myles Brinks.}

Record-Breaking Number of HHS Graduates Earn Seal of Biliteracy

Harvard Community Unit School District 50 is proud to announce that thirty-four 2023 Harvard High School graduates earned the prestigious Illinois Seal of Biliteracy, a recognition of a high level of proficiency in two or more languages. This is the largest graduating class at Harvard High School to earn the Seal of Biliteracy, 10% more than in 2022.

This year also marks another milestone for the district, as Tala Abu Almazeh, a graduating senior, becomes the first-ever Harvard High School student to receive the Arabic Seal of Biliteracy.

This remarkable accomplishment showcases the commitment and dedication of these students, and solidifies District 50’s position as a leader in promoting multilingualism and cultural understanding in schools.

"Being the only Arab in my school, along with my brother, served as a powerful motivation for me to pursue and earn the Seal of Biliteracy," said Abu Almazeh. "I saw it as an opportunity to represent both myself and the diversity within Harvard High School."

CUSD 50 Celebrates Q3/Q4 BHAG Winners

We celebrated our Q3/Q4 BHAG Award Winners Kim Differding, Rebekah Tittle, Stacy Weber, Cory Fain, Sharon Velasquez, and Jessica Wolf (not pictured) for their continued excellence in the classroom and contributions to helping the district achieve our BHAG goals!

Congratulations to our D50 Retirees!

Thank you to our 2023 retirees for their dedicated service to D50! Congratulations Dr. Judy Floeter, Colleen Warren, JoEllen VanHout, Sandra Knop, Lisa Kee, Bertoldo Navarro Herrera (not pictured), and Kathryn Walsh (not pictured). That is one-hundred thirty-six combined years of dedication to our district!

Grand Finale : D50 Band & Choir Year-End Concerts

Jefferson Elementary, Harvard Junior High , and Harvard High School band and choir students performed to a packed audience! Click the links to watch the full performances! D50 BAND CONCERT | D50 CHOIR CONCERT | D50 JAZZ NIGHT CONCERT

Diggins Library Transformed by D50 Artistic Talent

The D50 Art Show transformed the library into an art gallery! For two weeks the community viewed special pieces from D50 students of all ages. Congratulations to these award recipients: Esmerelda Ortiz Ramirez (HHS, Superintendent’s Award), Madelyn Uzyn (HHS, Principal's Award), Ava Brennecka (HJH, Principal's Award), Wendy Rojas-Ortiz (Jefferson, Principal's Award), Crystal Rojas Rojas (Crosby, Principal's Award)

Taste of Washington / Touch a Truck Unites a Community

Over two-hundred D50 families and community members came out for this annual event at Washington School. Local restaurants Bopps, China Town, Angelos, J's Lanes, Rosati's, and Los Jalapeño Brothers donated delicious food and Harvard Chevy donated bottles of water. The McHenry County Sheriff's Department, Harvard Police Department, Harvard Fire Protection District, Stark Service, and Alan Horticulture brought vehicles and equipment for kids to enjoy.

A Bittersweet Farewell to 3 Transition Students

District 50’s Transition program held a celebration for 3 students aging out at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. Staff visited the open house to wish students Ashley Clark, Jason Pichardo, and Lisbet Olivares well in their post-secondary pursuits. They will be missed! (Pictured celebrating: Mrs. Dahn, Lisbeth Fuentes, Lindsey Martinez, Ashley Clark, Mrs. Morgan, Danny Juarez)

FFA Hosts Ag Day at Crosby

Crosby students were excited to bring the tradition of AG Day back this year! This event is an opportunity for some Harvard High School FFA members to showcase their final supervised agricultural experience (SAE) projects. FFA students sit next to their animals or projects and talk about them with Crosby students.

Jefferson Families Celebrate a Successful School Year

Jefferson hosted a year-end celebration for students and their families. Attendees enjoyed great local food, games, and arts & crafts.

"I am so proud of what our staff and students accomplished this year, this was the perfect way to celebrate with the community," said Jefferson Principal Dr. Floeter. "I would like to personally thank my staff members that organized and participated in this event."

HHS Student Entrepreneurs Place 2nd at MCC Pitch Night

Out of more than fifty INCubator groups across McHenry County, Harvard High School INCubator group Rent A Hen earns 2nd place and People's Choice awards at the 2023 Entrepreneurship Pitch Night at McHenry County College.

Seniors Lorenzo Eichholz, Jovon Ratcliff, Lucas Merryman, and Ryan Weidner developed their business idea, Rent A Hen, as part of the business INCubator curriculum. Rent A Hen is a subscription-based service that allows families from McHenry County to rent egg-laying hens, visit them on our farm, harvest eggs, and spoil them with treats. Their motto is, "From our farm to yours, let us give your family the farm fresh experience this summer!"

“The entrepreneurship skills these students are learning in Harvard High School’s INCubator class are setting them up for success in the future no matter where their path takes them,” said Superintendent Dr. Corey Tafoya. “They are learning to collaborate, communicate, to think critically and creativity. We are all incredibly proud of our Rent A Hen group for placing 2nd in McHenry County!”

D50 Athletes Sign Letter of Intent

Harvard Athletics celebrated athletes Lorenzo Eichholz, Lindsay Lehmann, Aaralynn Schneider, and Brenna Uppleger as they signed their letter of intent to play in college. Lindsay Lehmann will play soccer at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, Aaralynn Schneider will play golf at Rock Valley College, Lorenzo Eichholz will play soccer at McHenry County College, and Brenna Uppleger will join the track team at Purdue Northwest University.

HJH Track Teams Win Conference

7th Grade Girls Track and 8th Grade Boys Track teams celebrate conference championships!

Teachers Receive Outpouring of Gratitude for Teacher Appreciation

If you have a moment, read through the comments on this social media post. There are over ninety comments from students, parents, and the community supporting their favorite D50 teachers.

The Hashtag Results Are In!

Over two-hundred voters have decided on a hashtag at each D50 school! Use these hashtags to see and share all the great things happening at your school! Washington School : #TheWashingtonWay | Richard D. Crosby Elementary : #CrosBees | Jefferson Elementary : #JeffersonJourney | Harvard Junior High : #JrHornetsRising | Harvard High School : #HornetStrong CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM STUDENTS!

Bernie's Books Boosts Student Libraries

Education is the gift that keeps on giving, and thanks to Bernie's Books generous donation of over 11,000 books to CUSD 50 K-6th grade students, our young readers will have endless opportunities to learn and get lost in the literature!

75 HJH Students Inducted into NJHS

Congratulations to all seventy-five Harvard Junior High students inducted into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). Students are selected for induction into NJHS based on the four pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Selected students and their families attended a ceremony on Wednesday, April 12. "We are very proud of all of our NJHS students, and happy to honor their hard work all year at this ceremony," said Principal Tom Cardamone. "I would also like to thank sponsors Catherine Gallagher and Lori Thomas for their dedication to NJHS and the role they play in developing these student leaders." {7th Grade Inductees: Aiden Amill, Alexandra Bourmas, Christopher Gonzalez Antonio, Ethan Kasten, Isabela Lazaro, Adrian Perez, Sophia Saucedo, Jasmine Villa | 8th Grade Inductees: Jett Damiano, Sapphire Damiano, Felipe Galarza, Blake Livdahl, Callie O’Grady, Angelica Rodriguez}

#FutureFocused in 5th Grade

Empowering our future generation! Jefferson fifth-grade students eagerly listened as parents, grandparents, and siblings shared their diverse career journeys, sparking inspiration and opening doors to endless possibilities. Students engaged with some hands-on experiences, asked questions, and learned from these local experts.

Crosby Students Explore the Environment with MCSEEP

Third graders learned about the water cycle in an interactive presentation from the McHenry County Schools Environmental Education Program (MCSEEP). From crafting a water cycle bracelet, to beach ball geography, to a groundwater model demonstration of pollution, it was an action packed STEM lesson!

MCSEEP provides STEM activities correlated to the Next Generation Science Standards. Lessons are available from Pre-K through 12th grade.

If you have not registered for the 2023-2024 school year, please CLICK THIS LINK TO REGISTER BY MAY 26.

What's the Buzz?

Did you know that every school in D50 is now on INSTAGRAM? All of our social accounts are listed below, please follow along as we share celebrations and important district news! Also, we now have PHOTO GALLERIES on our website! We work hard to document classroom projects, sports and activities, achievements and events throughout D50 and this is a way to share those with students, parents, and the community.

Appreciate