Dr. Nichole Gross

Executive Director of Teaching and Learning. Coach. Life-long learner. Adventurer. PhD.

[Cicero District 99 @D99Cicero]

🌟 SUMMER'S LAST HURRAH: D99'S CELEBRATES EPIC BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR 🎉

What an incredible day at @D99Cicero's annual #BackToSchoolFair! Thousands of families gathered at the Cicero Community Park over on 34th & Laramie, braving the blazing heat to enjoy an unforgettable day of fun and freebies!

📸 Highlights included:

🎒 Free school supplies and backpacks to get our students ready for the new school year!

🍧 Delicious giveaways including snowcones, hotdogs, popcorn, and exclusive D99 merch

🎈 Fun attractions like numerous bounce houses, free train rides, and the Park's splash pad to cool off

🎶 Live performances by Electro Retro, our talented District 99 concert band and drumline, capped off with an amazing Hawaiian luau show

A big shoutout to our D99 mascots, who kept the energy high, and the Minions and Marshall from Paw Patrol for snapping photos with our families!

Special thanks to our vendors including Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar, Señorita Miss Cicero, The Cicero Fire Department, Chick-fil-A (handing out free gift cards), Cicero Community Collaborative (providing fabulous face painting) Neighborhood Loans, and many more!

📺 And a heartfelt thank you to Univision Chicago for covering our event!

Each year, our Back To School Fair grows bigger and better, and we can't wait to see everyone again on Wednesday, Aug. 14, for the #FirstDayOfSchool!

#WeMoveForwardTogether #AvanzamosJuntos #backtoschool #communitystrong #D99Family

[Candy Kramer @Candy__Kramer]

What an extra special time for these inspirational educators who are all graduates of Unity Junior High and are now back in @D99Cicero as faculty! #MakingADifference 😃❤️ #Impact New Staff Orientation Week was especially exciting for this group!

[Cicero District 99 @D99Cicero]

📣 WE'RE HIRING 🌟

Apply Now: https://t.co/fLVrmltNrJ

@D99Cicero is looking for passionate educators to join our team!

🚀 We have teaching openings for: Kindergarten, 3rd Grade, 6th Grade Math, and STEAM/Digital Literacy

💰 We are also looking for Special Education (LBS1) Teachers, School Psychologists, and Speech Language Pathologists that comes with a $5,000 SIGNING BONUS

Become part of a community dedicated to igniting the road to excellence!

#WeMoveForwardTogether #AvanzamosJuntos #TeachingOpportunities #JoinOurTeam #EducationCareers #wearehiring

[Ben Zulauf @benzulauf2]

Congrats to @D99Cicero’s district literacy coach, Christine Michalik, on winning the @Amplify’s Science of Reading Star Award - Knowledge Builder. What you’re missing from your explanation of how to get teachers on board—hire more Christine Michaliks! So proud to work with you!

[Ben Zulauf @benzulauf2]

We'd love to host you for the day. We'll even pick up lunch!

[Cicero District 99 @D99Cicero]

🍎 Liberty Elementary Principal @Mr_R_Mensch in the @chicagotribune:

"Every school day should start with a healthy breakfast."

Since introducing a grab-and-go breakfast model, Liberty has seen a 400% boost in participation!

Learn about the proposed Illinois bill for better access to school meals! 📚🥣

https://t.co/5uWErgTP4S

#WeMoveForwardTogether #AvanzamosJuntos #NutritionInSchools

[Cicero District 99 @D99Cicero]

🌟 HAPPY NATIONAL AP WEEK 🌟

This #APWeek, let's shine a light on the incredible APs who work tirelessly to support our schools and inspire our students.

Your dedication, leadership, and compassion do not go unnoticed.

Thank you for being the cornerstone of our educational journey.

Here's to the unsung heroes who make a world of difference every day!

#WeMoveForwardTogether #AvanzamosJuntos #AssistantPrincipalsWeek #NationalAssistantPrincipalsWeek

[Cicero District 99 @D99Cicero]

At our latest board meeting, @D99Cicero officially set the calendar for the 2024-2025 school year.

Next year, we're starting a bit earlier than usual. Students begin on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Why the change? It's because we're more closely aligning with @Morton201 to foster a smoother transition for our students and families.

In addition, our Spring breaks will align, and the students' last day is anticipated to be May 23, 2025.

Thank you!

#WeMoveForwardTogether #AvanzamosJuntos

[Elana Gordon @mommagordon2]

Join @D99Cicero for episode 16: A Road Map for Future Support & Learning with Dr. Gross(Ex. Dir of Curriculum) 👂🏻⬇️
https://t.co/7YnfjpEkHp
@nicholegrossphd Thank You 4 your encouraging words!

[Cicero District 99 @D99Cicero]

HEAR YE HEAR YE! THE KINGS AND QUEENS OF DREXEL AND LIBERTY ELEMENTARY 👑🏰

The kingdom of learning has witnessed a splendid celebration! Our brilliant kindergarten students at Liberty and Drexel Elementary Schools have just completed their enchanting journey through CKLA @Amplify Domain 7, diving deep into the majestic world of Kings and Queens!

🤴 The corridors of Liberty transformed into a grand palace as our young royals hosted a spectacular royal ball and breakfast. The gym was echoing with laughter, music, and the clinking of breakfast cups, as students dressed in their regal best danced and dined like true royalty!

👸 Not to be outdone, the noble court at Drexel threw a royal tea party that would make even the Queen envious. Our little Kings and Queens sipped juice boxes with the poise and grace of the court, their crowns glittering and robes swirling around them.

These events were not just about the pomp and pageantry; they were a celebration of learning, creativity, and community. Our students have journeyed through history, exploring the lives, responsibilities, and the glittering world of monarchs, all while learning valuable lessons in literature, history, and the art of royal etiquette.

👏 We are immensely proud of our young royals for their hard work and enthusiasm. A big thank you to our wonderful teachers and parents for supporting these memorable experiences. Let's give a royal round of applause for our students' splendid achievements!

Check out the photos and see our gallant Kings and Queens in their royal attire and snapshots from our regal celebrations!

#WeMoveForwardTogether #AvanzamosJuntos #RoyalCelebration #KingsAndQueens #CKLAAmplify #ElementaryRoyalty #LearningIsFun #RoyalBallAndTeaParty #FutureMonarchsOfLearning

[Cicero District 99 @D99Cicero]

IMPORTANT UPDATE: CHANGE IN REPORT CARD RELEASE DATE 📄

Release of report cards, originally scheduled for Wed. 1/24, has moved to Fri. 1/26.

This allows D99 staff additional time to ensure the accuracy & thoroughness of evaluations!

#WeMoveForwardTogether #AvanzamosJuntos

[Cicero District 99 @D99Cicero]

🚨 EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

D99's January Parent Resource Newsletter is now live! 🏫 📰

With info on how to best support your child's learning at home, this is a can't-miss read!

👀: https://t.co/lx7d0hgpYN

#WeMoveForwardTogether #AvanzamosJuntos

[Cicero District 99 @D99Cicero]

🚨 CALL TO ACTION: HELP US MAKE SURE EVERY DAY COUNTS 🚨

Did you know? Last year, nearly 40% of students in Cicero District 99 faced the challenge of chronic absenteeism.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more school days. This means that if one student misses 18 or more school days for the entire school year, they will be labeled chronically absent by the State of Illinois.

This is our call to action — and it is a hurdle we must overcome together!

This year, just over 2,500 of our students are on track to be chronically absent. But there’s good news — we can reverse this trend!

This isn’t just about statistics — it’s a reflection of lost potential.

This is why we are urging parents, students and community members to collaborate with us in fostering an environment where every school day counts. Whether it’s establishing consistent morning routines, understanding the academic consequences of absences, or participating in school activities, your involvement makes a difference.

The District is committed to identifying and addressing the underlying causes of absenteeism, from health and mental wellness support to improving transportation systems. We are dedicated to providing the necessary resources to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Prior to the pandemic, our Chronic Absenteeism Rate was only 13.5%. Our goal now is to get even lower than that!

Our hope is that by sharing monthly attendance data with our community, it will offer a transparent view of our progress.

Check out the graphics below for more insights into chronic absenteeism in District 99 and how you can be part of the solution!

Let’s show up together as #WeMoveForwardTogether!

[Mila Koumpilova @MilaKoumpilova]

In the Chicago suburbs, Cicero added 30 minutes of math & reading instruction to each school day — roughly 3 additional weeks of school — in a bid to help students catch up post-COVID.
Chalkbeat's @kalynbelsha reports on a rare and challenging move.
https://t.co/XHqniHn8S6

[Tony Sanders @TonySandersSupt]

Thanks to @D99Cicero and Liberty Elementary for hosting @GovPritzker as he engaged with the Illinois Commission to End Hunger. What a great opportunity to celebrate what we do well in Illinois, while recognizing the work we need to do to end hunger. @ISBEnews

[Tom Geraghty @tgeraghty611]

D99@CiceroMexicanIndependenceFest

[The Reading League Illinois @ReadingLeagueIL]

“If we are really going to turn the tide, we HAVE to study implementation change at the organizational level.”

SOLin99

[Dr. Nichole Gross @nicholegrossphd]

Thank you for sharing your story to help inspire us!

[Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D. @MitchellBrookns]

Shout-Out to Cicero, IL District 99: You afforded me the opportunity to share the importance of school administrators being the LEAD LITERACY LEARNER. #SOLin99

[The Reading League Illinois @ReadingLeagueIL]

“Bilingualism is an asset!”

[Dr. Aldo Calderin @AldoCalderin]

Today ⁦@D99Cicero⁩ hosted over 60 districts ⁦@mortoncollege⁩ for our Leadership and Literacy Symposium. Thank you to our guest speakers, ⁦@benzulauf2⁩ and all teachers that attended in order to improve student outcomes!