Irene King Elementary School is home to the first in-school food pantry supported by the West Suburban Community Pantry. The Irene King School Pantry officially opened on Thu. Nov. 21 and is available to Irene King families every Thursday from 3:30-5:30 pm providing fresh meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, fruits and vegetables in addition to a full selection of shelf-stable dry goods.

Goods will be procured through the West Suburban Community Pantry’s partnerships with Northern Illinois Food Bank, area retailers and community donations. The pantry will be staffed by West Suburban Community Pantry volunteers in cooperation with school staff and volunteers.

The pantry is funded by founding private donors Barbara Gulick and the Ronald L. McDaniel Foundation. “I’ve always had a strongly held belief that no child should go hungry or go to bed with an empty stomach,” says Gulick. “As a Board Member of WSCP, when I learned of this school with a high need and limited access to food, I knew I had to do something. I was blessed to have the opportunity to direct some funds to a worthy cause. I chose opening a school pantry so that those families and their kids could have what we all deserve - food to fill our bellies.”

Watch the video at vvsd.org to see the official ribbon cutting and hear Irene King Principal Mrs. April Vacik explain why the food pantry is important to the Irene King School community.

R.C. Hill Elementary Student Receives “Yes, I Can Award”

R.C. Hill Elementary School 2nd grade student Jeremiah Morris is turning his use of his augmentative and alternative communication device into a shelf full of awards and a trip to Portland OR. Jeremiah is a multi-needs student and is the 2020 Illinois Council for Exceptional Children’s “Yes, I Can Award” for use of technology.

Jeremiah was nominated for the award by R.C. Hill Speech Therapist Ms. Kristen Anderson and received the award in Naperville in November.

But wait, there’s more! Jeremiah is also a winner of a National Council for Exceptional Children award and he will travel with his family to Portland OR to accept the award that recognizes his use of his AAC device to enhance his communication skills and his learning.

Oak View Students Chime In

Everyone loves Friday because it is the end of the work/school week. Fridays are extra special at Oak View Elementary School because if you arrive at the school early, you are greeted with the beautiful sound of chimes being played by students who are members of the Oak View Chimes.

Oak View Music Teacher Mrs. Susan Pemble (she’s the Ring Leader!) and Fifth Grade Teacher Mrs. Sandi Brennan formed the group after they participated in a church bell group.

After securing grant money from the Valley View Educational Enrichment Foundation and other sources to purchase chimes, an invitation to interested students led to the group that performs at various Oak View Elementary events. Watch the video at vvsd.org to come along with us on an early Friday morning to hear the beautiful tones of “Christmas Medley”.