Students from each school in Cicero District 99 asked their teachers what they love most about their schools, just in time for Valentine's Day!

This month, Cicero District 99 recognized Dorene Cherry, Cicero District 99's accounts payable manager, and Laura Licea, a social worker at Liberty Elementary School, for making a difference in the communities they grew up in.

On Thursday, Feb. 7, students from across District 99 flocked to Unity Junior High School for the District's third annual Academic Showcase.

Growing up in Switzerland as the child of American missionaries, author L.B. Tillit was constantly reminded of everything that made her different — her trouble balancing German and English, her struggles with writing and grammar, her overall "Americanness."

But instead of letting those obstacles get in the way of her future, Tillit found a way to embrace her struggles through channeling her energy through teaching struggling, at-risk youth and writing books that urban teens could better identify with.

To demonstrate to Chicago-area youth the importance of perseverance through tenacity, former NFL and former No. 1 collegiate wide-receiver Kyle Prater stopped by Unity Junior High School on Wednesday, Feb. 6, speaking to students about chasing their dreams, no matter what obstacles come their way.

On Monday, Feb. 4, Cicero District 99 sixth-grade girls volleyball teams competed against one another in the annual intramural tournament.

On Friday, Feb. 1, more than 250 seventh- and eighth-graders from Unity Junior High School were honored with certificates and a family breakfast for achieving straight A's during the second semester.

Congratulations to all students for their demonstration of academic success in Cicero!

All Cicero District 99 schools will be OPEN tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 1.

Todas las escuelas de Cicero Distrito 99 estarán abiertas mañana, viernes, 1 de febrero.

For the second time this school year, Cicero District 99 has had the chance to celebrate being selected as a lucky recipient of school supply and other student donations from Enchanted Backpack, a Chicago-based charity which donates classroom goods to schools and students in predominantly lower-income neighborhoods.

Click the link to read the District's newsletter from happenings across District 99 during the first half of the 2018-2019 school year.

Ignite 99 — 2018 Fall Newsletter

During the week of Jan. 14-19, physical education teacher Lanette Wolford led students at McKinley Elementary School through a heart adventure challenge in which students maneuver through athletic obstacles arranged like the four chambers of the heart.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and his legacy, this video features students from across District 99 sharing facts about King's life and legacy.

Students from the beginning, intermediate and advanced Cicero District 99 student bands provided an evening full of music entertainment Thursday, Jan. 17 during the District's annual winter band concert.

Congratulations to the Unity Junior High School Special Olympics basketball team on its regional championship at Oak Park and River Forest High School on Jan. 13.

The Tigers defeated teams from Proviso Township and Lincoln-Way Township to capture the crown.

When Cicero District 99 looks to forge a strong working relationship with an outside entity, it does so with the hopes of not only providing potential business and fiscal support to the District, but maintaining a connection complete with role model and mentorship opportunities.

That's why for the past 11 years, the District has been proud to call ExxonMobil a valued community partner for its monetary and personnel support towards various curriculum initiatives, including those within the STEAM curriculum.

When science is practiced in the real world, methods are learned and projects are completed through real-time observations and hands-on practice.

So, since seventh-grade students at Unity Junior High School are encouraged to actively learn their science curriculum practically through project-based learning, students had the opportunity to expand their practice this year through Project Lead The Way, a national, nonprofit project-based engineering initiative which develops STEM instruction for elementary through high-school age students.

This month, Cicero District 99 recognized Kristina Moreno, a first-grade teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, and Anel Sanchez, a sixth-grade social studies teacher at Warren Park Elementary School, for making a difference in the communities they grew up in.

On Dec. 3, students across the district celebrated the State's 200th birthday by researching historic landmarks, politicians and events and showcasing their projects for their classmates to see.

For 524 students living on Cicero's northeast side, the joy of Christmas came a few days early this year as Santa Claus and his crew of local police and fire personnel and area Walmart employees flocked to Liberty Elementary School on Thursday, Dec. 20, bringing games, presents and smiles.

Throughout December, students, teachers and family members from across Cicero District 99 came to school to celebrate the holiday season with snacks, games, crafts and of course, music and song.

The members of the executive council in Cicero District 99 wish all of our families and staff members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We can't wait to see everyone back at school in 2019!

In a proud display of community pride and Christmas spirit, Cicero District 99 partnered with the Town of Cicero and the Cicero Mexican Cultural Committee for its annual Cicero Christmas Posada celebration Friday, Dec. 14 at Cicero Stadium, 1909 S. Laramie Ave.

During the Cicero District 99 Board of Education's regular meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at Liberty Elementary School, several students were recognized by the District for their commitment to education and demonstrations of interactive learning.

Last month, Unity Junior High School was proud to announce three of its students were named recipients of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund — a Chicago-area scholarship which grants area teens the finances necessary to attend a private or boarding school of their choice for high school.

Now, Unity has the pleasure of adding the names of four more eighth-graders to the coveted scholarship's list — Lisani Calderon, Mario Cortes, Monserrat Flores and Evelyn Salgado.

Parents of students at William McKinley Elementary School were invited for an afternoon of interactive math games and math lesson practice Friday, Dec. 14.

Congratulations to technology resource teacher Katherine Karl Anderson, who was recently selected as a Feature Teacher by MasteryConnect for her efforts working towards finding innovative ways for students in Cicero District 99 to become better learners with the help of technology.

When Cicero parents send their children to school, they're trusting Cicero District 99 to provide their children with both the best curriculum possible and prepare them with the necessary skills needed for success in the 21st-century workplace.

To showcase to parents the benefits of a STEAM education and get parents in on the action themselves, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School hosted a STEAM Parent Day on Wednesday, Dec. 5.

This month, Cicero District 99 recognized Elizabeth Alba, a secretary at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, and Nancy Brown, a second-grade teacher at Liberty Elementary School, for making a difference in the communities they grew up in.

To help residents in town celebrate the start of the holiday season, members of the Unity Singers — Unity Junior High School's student choir — sang Christmas carols for seniors and town officials at Cicero's annual Senior Christmas Lunch on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

On Friday, Dec. 7, Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School's digital literacy teachers Amanda Swert and Ian Armstrong welcomed Mary Monroy-Spampinato, Microsoft's Midwest operations and community manager, to the school for an Hour of Code event with fourth-grade students.

Being scared, getting teased, feeling isolated — all feelings most teens have felt at some point in their lives.

Having dozens of surgeries by the age of 18? Something most have luckily never had to experience.

But for 18-year-old Peter Dankelson of north suburban Libertyville, experiencing 30 major surgeries in his young lifetime has not only taught him the value of life — it's also inspired him to teach children across the country the importance of embracing who they are and spread the message that kindness is key.

Though Goodwin Elementary School calls itself "gator country," the entire school turned into Blackhawks nation on Monday, Dec. 3, as retired Chicago Blackhawks player Patrick Sharp made a special visit to students and staff, speaking about his experiences playing professional hockey, teaching floor hockey lessons, and stopping for photos and autographs.

Sure, most junior-high kids enjoy creating experiments and having fun with STEAM technologies in the classroom, but when they're put to the test, how many can actually score high on an exam testing advanced level comprehension of science practices and formulas?

Eighth-grader Reynaldo Camas can.

Despite growing up hundreds of miles from both U.S. coasts, ocean photographer and science editor Alex Rose has had an affinity for the sea for as long as she can remember.

By now, Jasmine Hernandez, Jorge Martinez and Jose Sotelo are seasoned students of Cicero District 99.

The Unity Junior High School eighth-graders — District students since kindergarten — have achieved academic, athletic and extracurricular accolades during their time in District 99.

"Checkmate."

That's a phrase you may be hearing a lot of at Drexel Elementary School, where every Thursday morning, 48 fifth- and sixth-graders come together for a friendly battle in the classic game of chess.

I would like to take this time to formally express my gratitude to all District employees who worked together to ensure that all our schools and administrative facilities were up and running smoothly despite the inclement winter weather on Monday, Nov. 26.

Although many schools observe Veterans Day by teaching history lessons on war and the military from textbooks, students from across Cicero District 99, including those at north-east side Liberty Elementary School, celebrated America and those who have defended it firsthand from those who served in the military.

Though Chicago meteorologists are predicting blizzard-like conditions in our area throughout the evening and early morning hours, at this time, District 99 administrators have made the decision for all campuses to stay open for classes tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 26.

With the daily bombardment of violence and natural disasters infiltrating our television screens, it may seem harder and harder to believe that there is any positivity and goodness left in the world.

But on Monday, Nov. 19, acclaimed children's author and Joliet native Amy Logan paid a visit to Cicero students and staff at Columbus West Elementary School, sharing her message of respect and acting with kindness towards one another.

While some students showed up in princess dresses and others in superhero costumes on Halloween at Drexel Elementary School, the real showstopper on Oct. 31 was David Fisher — the nation's very own Rock 'n' Rope Warrior and holder of three Guinness World Records.

This month, Cicero District 99 recognized district technology clerk Dawn Benvenuto and Warren Park Elementary School second-grade teacher Jorge Pina for making a difference in the communities they grew up in.

Emphasis on community and serving others is already strong throughout Cicero, but over the past few years, Cicero District 99 has encouraged students to become part of a larger initiative geared toward encouraging compassion in youths for both local and global communities.

On Nov. 10, Unity Junior High School served as the host site for a regional WE Day summit, where more than 200 children and teachers from schools and organizations across Chicagoland came together to hear messages of encouragement and information on how students can better their communities and work alongside movements to donate goods and time around the world.