Members of the community are welcome to sign up for the Indian Prairie Unit School District 204 official e-newsletter at School District 204 www.ipsd.org. The School District 204 Administrative Building is located at 780 Shoreline Drive in Aurora, IL 60504. To visit the school district’s website, click www.ipsd.org.
The following letter arrived via e-mail on August 21, 2013, just as schools are beginning to open for the 2013-14 school year on August 22.
Superintendent’s Message
Dear District 204 Community,
Welcome to the start of a new school year. I hope you had an enjoyable summer with friends and family. Our staff has been busy this summer preparing for the return of our students. We can’t wait to welcome them back.
There are a few new things to share with you. First, the safety and security of our students is always a top priority. We have a new procedure for visitors when they come to any of our schools. By the end of September, all schools will use the Raptor system, which helps track visitors, including volunteers, who enter our schools. All visitors will be asked to present a valid state issued ID that will be entered into the Raptor system. Once entered, staff will instantly receive alerts on people who may jeopardize school safety. We ask for your cooperation in presenting your valid state issued ID when entering a school. Your ID will be returned to you when you leave the building. Thank you in advance for helping to keep our schools safe.
You may have noticed a new district logo at the top of this email. It was time to create a new logo that better reflected our district. The new logo is symbolic of many things–most importantly, that each student’s educational path can be different and that all of our students experience growth. I have heard people say they see different things represented in the logo. Some see feathers represented. Others say it reminds them of something that would grow in a prairie. My favorite is from a student who said it reminds her of an open book. Whatever you may see in our new logo, know that it proudly represents all that is District 204.
We look forward to partnering with your family for a wonderful school year.
Sincerely,
Kathy Birkett Superintendent
Editor’s Note: Superintendent Kathy Birkett, 56, announced earlier this summer that she will be retiring from School District 204 at the end of the 2013-14 school year.
Birkett’s entire career has been with District 204 where she began teaching physical education 35 years ago. In recent years, she advanced through the administration and since 2009 has served the top administrative position in the Illinois’s third-largest district.
No stranger for outreach in the community and setting an example of enthusiasm, Birkett is well-known for sharing her time with local fundraising initiatives and service organizations, too.
Here’s to a great year to all students, teachers, staff and Superintendent Birkett.
Drive carefully. Watch out for children. Remember the speed limit in Naperville is 25 mph unless posted otherwise. Don’t text or talk on cell phones while driving. And be mindful of the new safety and security procedures mentioned in the above letter to the community.
