Dear Parents and Community Members,

Ridgeland School District 122 continues to strive for excellence in everything we do to help provide our children with the best education possible. Using assessment data such as the Illinois Standards Achievement Test, AIMSweb, MAP, and classroom assessments, we are able to identify students who may need extra help in school. With the hiring of Mrs. Sheri Maher as our Curriculum Coordinator, we are able to analyze, develop, and implement a curriculum that ties closely with the Illinois State Standards.

As many of you know, we are currently in the second year of a three year strategic plan to help improve the quality of education for our students. One of our many goals in the plan includes bringing back music and art for our elementary students. At the beginning of the school year, we hired Ms. Julia Morton as our art teacher, and Mr. Kenneth Hommowun as our music teacher. Both teachers come highly recommended by our principals and have already had a positive impact on our students learning. We are lucky to have them and wish them continued success as the school year progresses.

Every year, Board members, superintendents, business managers, assistant superintendents, school attorneys', and board secretaries meet to share ideas on how to best govern schools at the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago. At this year's conference, our Board members and staff attended workshops in the areas of educational legislation, improved educational opportunities for students, and school construction. We met with vendors offering the newest in educational products, and listened to speakers on the importance of student learning. I would like to thank Board members Dan Sodaro, Jean Werner, Christine Glader-Wendt, Pat Pulver, and Steve Niceforo for attending. If you would like more information on the Joint Annual Conference, please contact the Illinois Association of School Boards at 217-528-9688.

As a school District, we have many outside organizations that work with us in enhancing student learning. They help us with supplementary materials for teachers, supplies for students, and after school activities for all our children. Some of these organizations include the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA), Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO), Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, and so on.  At this time, I would like to recognize the Oak Lawn Rotary Club for all they do in supplying our third grade students with new dictionaries. Their organization has been promoting the Dictionary Project since 1975 and has supplied thousands upon thousands of students with dictionaries. Thank you for all you do to promote our students education.

In conclusion, our school year continues to progress smoothly and successfully. Should you have any questions, comments, or concerns about our learning community, my door is always open. On behalf of the Board of Education, we would like to thank you for all your support and wish you and your family a great Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.

Yours for a better school district,
Superintendent Tom Smyth Ed.S.
Ridgeland School District 122