This past Wednesday, Suburban Life reporter F. Amanda Tugade and photographer Sandy Bressner stopped by Warren Park Elementary School to share the story of how District 99 has pledged to continue feeding its children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This month, Cicero District 99 recognized Liliana Castaneda, third-grade transitional teacher at Daniel Burnham Elementary School, and Marcela Galvez, clerk at Unity Junior High School, for exemplary service and outstanding leadership in District 99.

Castaneda, who moved to the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 14, has worked tirelessly for seven years in Cicero who, like her, come from immigrant families. Galvez, who attended Sherlock Elementary School and graduated from Goodwin Elementary School in 2000, has proudly served as a point-person for office matters at Unity Junior High School for the past decade.

This message is to provide information on the preventive measures that District 99 is implementing to ensure the safety and wellness of our staff and students, as it relates to COVID-19. The District is implementing precautionary measures as outlined by the Illinois Department of Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

As a preventive measure, we are cancelling events that have traditionally been open to the public and parents. Extracurricular activities will continue as planned at this time. We will continue to provide updates and information as it becomes available.

Although this has been the first year Unity Junior High School has had students participate in competitive wrestling, it does not mean the young Tigers don't have talent to leave on the mat.

During the IESA wrestling regional meet on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Hadley Junior High School in west-suburban Glen Ellyn, the Unity wrestling team proudly had three of its eighth-grade wrestlers show strong performances, claiming them spots at the IESA wrestling sectional this Saturday, March 7 at Lincoln-Way West High School in south-suburban New Lenox.

In Cicero District 99, addressing the concerns of student mental health is a top priority. And, because the District's Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) Department realizes advocating for students' mental well-being should not be confined to the walls of just one school district, they're actively seeking the partnership of district leaders and community entities across the Chicago area to work together to find meaningful interventions and solutions.

For the second time this school year, District 99 will be partnering with Riveredge Hospital in Forest Park to co-host the School-Based Mental Health Roundtable discussion Thursday, April 23 from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, 3545 S. 61st Ave., Cicero.

Joining with other students from across Chicagoland, a small group of students from District 99 had the chance to join Chicago Blackhawks players as special VIP guests on Sunday, March 1 at the 12th annual Brent Seabrook Blackhawks ICE Bowl at Lucky Strike bowling alley in downtown Chicago.

Twenty-nine seventh- and eighth-grade boys and girls from Unity Junior High School kicked off District 99's inaugural bowling season Friday, Feb. 28 during the first tournament of the season against Berwyn's St. Leonard School at Striker Lanes in Berwyn.

To celebrate the joys of reading and the importance of literacy as a goal for students of all ages, students and staff at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Goodwin Elementary School celebrated National Read Across America Day a few days early on Friday, Feb. 29.

Dear Cicero District 99 students, staff and families,

In light of the growing global concerns surrounding the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Cicero District 99 administrators and health care providers have been carefully monitoring news and developments on the illness as provided by the Centers for Disease Control, Illinois Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health.