Students from Sherlock Elementary School share their favorite parts about the new school, thanking board members for their dedication to ensuring their continued educational success.

The entire student body and faculty members from Abraham Lincoln Elementary School reflected on the importance of the armed forces as they celebrated Veterans Day with a belated assembly on Thursday, Nov. 14.

This month, Cicero District 99 recognized Carol Yurkovic, a social studies teacher at Unity Junior High School, and Viviana Sifuentes, a secretary at Unity Junior High School, for exemplary service and outstanding leadership as employees in the District they grew up in.

Choir students from Cicero West, Columbus West and Goodwin elementary schools had the chance to sing in the spotlight on Sunday, Nov. 10 before the start of the Chicago Wolves hockey game at the Allstate Arena in suburban Rosemont.

For the past decade, Cicero District 99 has hosted Parent University — an initiative created to connect local parents with the District and guest speakers, providing educational resources to help bridge the gap between socioeconomic barriers and academic success.

To kick off the first session of the 2019-2020 academic year, District 99 Superintendent Rodolfo Hernandez will welcome parents on Friday, Dec. 6 to Unity Junior High School (2115 S. 54th Ave.) as he delivers the opening keynote address. Hernandez will share with parents the importance of helping their students reach their academic goals and serving as support systems for both the educational and personal growth of their children.

This past February, a formal partnership was forged between Cicero District 99 and the Greater Chicago Food Depository as Cicero West Elementary School became home to the District's first Healthy Student Market — a food distribution initiative aiming to provide healthy food to children and families who may not otherwise have the opportunity to receive healthy groceries for free.

Nine months later, District 99 was called a model for the State of Illinois in the fight to end childhood hunger by Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, as the Greater Chicago Food Depository and officials from the State of Illinois held a news conference at Cicero West on Friday, Nov. 1, to announce the new co-chairs of the Illinois Commission to End Hunger.

From the north side of Cicero to the south side, students in District 99 are continually reminded of the importance of practicing their math skills — especially during Halloween, when everyone loves to count how much candy they've collected.

Woodrow Wilson Elementary School celebrated fall with live music, carnival games and a chance for parents to mingle with their kids' teachers Wednesday, Oct. 30 at the school's annual Fall Carnival.

To celebrate Mexican culture and honor loved ones who have died, District 99 students and families gathered at Unity Junior High School on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m for the District's annual Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) event.

Day of the Dead, a holiday which originates from Mexico, is a multi-day celebration which involves family and friends coming together to pray for and remember loved ones who have passed away, helping support the spiritual journeys of the deceased.

Don't forget — this Saturday, Nov. 2, is District 99's annual Dia de los Muertos celebration!

Head on over to Unity Junior High School from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. for free food, games, raffles and Mexican cultural celebrations!

Cicero District 99's Superintendent Rodolfo Hernandez and members of the District's administration team hosted a special recognition breakfast for all 16 building principals Wednesday, Oct. 30, in honor of National Principals Month.

Every day, District 99 is grateful for the hard work and endless dedication its principals provide to their students and Cicero families.

The soccer field behind Unity Junior High School was full of excited boys and families Thursday, Oct. 24, as both the seventh- and eighth-grade boys soccer teams were named West Suburban Conference champions following the final game of their seasons.

Students from Cicero East and Cicero West elementary schools celebrated both the end of the first quarter and Halloween at the Monster Math Family Night, Thursday, Oct. 24, at Cicero West. The evening was complete with choral performances, student artwork and STEAM games.

All students and staff members in District 99 banded together for another year of celebrating Unity Day on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Unity Day is national event sponsored by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center that encourages children and adults to wear orange and show society that no child should have to experience bullying.

Cicero District 99 extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Marine Corps Pfc. Christian Bautista, who passed away in a training accident Sunday morning in Bridgeport, Calif.