More than 200 eighth-graders graduated from Deer Path Middle School on June 1, with remote and hybrid students together in one outdoor, socially distanced ceremony. (Karl Nagel pictured.)

Cherokee students celebrated the end of the school year with Spirit Week and bid farewell to 64 fourth-graders, Principal Luke Livingston said.

Everett Elementary sent its 64 graduating Eagles off in style, said Principal Dr. Angela Sopko, who noted that they were treated to special year-end traditions including a Fourth Grade Celebration with an Everett version of Jeopardy and a pizza party and yearbook signing.

Everett fourth-graders like to send retiring staff members off with a special song.  Figuring out how to make that happen for two high-profile retirees — Principal Dr. Angela Sopko and Associate Principal Bridget Booker —  during a pandemic fell to Music Teacher Leslie Thornton who pulled it off.

Sheridan’s 44 graduating fourth-graders were treated to the annual Clap Out and lunch to end this school year, said Principal Susan Milsk.

The District 67 APT partnered with Project F_LL on its annual School’s Out Food Drive, which benefits North Chicago Community Partners (NCCP). Some 250 bags of nonperishable and kid-friendly items collected in May will be donated to NCCP, which will distribute the bags to families in June, said Becky Nagel, Chair of the District 67 APT Executive Board’s Community Service Committee.

Moved by the suffering in India caused by COVID-19,  District 67 students and community members are raising money to send help “from halfway across the globe.”

Districts 67 and 115 shared information about COVID-19 vaccinations in a community forum, featuring Dr. Michael Bauer (pictured), and provided opportunities for students to get the shots at clinics at Deer Path Middle School and Lake Forest High School in May and June.

Raise Your Spirit, the first virtual fundraiser held by the Spirit of 67 Foundation, raised $56,000. Spirit Special Events Vice President Laurie Whisler shares highlights of the May 3-6 paddle raise event, which featured a video lineup including one from District 67 students on the best and most difficult parts of the 2020-21 school year.

The Spirit of  67 completed its Crosstown Challenge fundraising competition on May 6 with two schools — Everett and Cherokee — hitting their targets.

The District 67 APT showered teachers with attention during May 3-7’s Teacher Appreciation Week. But it didn’t stop there. Appreciation events happened throughout the school year, and in the last half of the 2019-20 school year, as the APT tried to buoy teachers challenged in unprecedented ways by the pandemic.

The Northern Suburban Special Education District, or NSSED, debuts a new name — TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 — on July 1.

CROYA, the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff middle school and high school youth organization, dedicated its "U BELONG” mural at the Illinois Road viaduct in Lake Forest as part of celebrations of what it’s calling its 40th(+1) anniversary. COVID-19 prevented a celebration of the 40-year-mark in 2020 so CROYA is marking the milestone this year, with events including a June 6 celebration festival that featured live music, food, fun, and photos of events throughout the organization’s four decades.

Artwork created by sixth-grader Kate Walters is among District 67 student highlights worthy of celebration.