|
In just two years volunteering for the District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence, Diane Magerko has raised
the bar to a stellar level. Her creativity and tireless commitment to D300 students have earned her special recognition
by the School Board at the Board's upcoming meeting (May 10). Many people know that Magerko is the mother of twins at
Westfield Community School. But few people may know that she was the brains, sweat, and heart behind such major D300
Foundation projects as the Algonquin Commons Art Fair, the student holiday note-cards, and the Save the Music initiative.
Linda Keyes, executive assistant to the D300 Foundation, said that Magerko has demonstrated larger-than-life enthusiasm with
a clear, determined vision. "She really sees the big picture and the big idea," Keyes said. "She's
not afraid to jump in and really go after it." D300 Communication Services Supervisor Allison Strupeck agreed,
noting that Magerko often seeks opportunities for businesses to support the schools in their community. "Diane
manages to push for student opportunities without ever seeming pushy," Strupeck said. "She is graceful and
kind while rolling up her sleeves to get the job done. Her sincere love of art and her community is never in doubt." Magerko
joined the Foundation's Board of Trustees in 2008 after her initial one-woman effort to start an art fair at the Algonquin
Commons did not take off. Trustee Jim Pratt, the Commons general manager, urged her to consider putting her talents
to work for the Foundation. Within a year, the Foundation launched its inaugural juried art fair under Magerko's direction.
Save the date! The juried art fair this year will be August 14-15 at the Commons. Her next creative
pursuit was to solicit student artwork for a series of holiday note-cards, with sales benefitting the Foundation. The
students' holiday note-cards were produced at little cost to the Foundation, thanks to Magerko having secured the donation
of most materials and printing. This year, the note-cards for sale will be "all occasion" cards featuring
a variety of student artwork. Look for them to go on sale this fall. The Foundation recently
concluded its Save the Music initiative in partnership with Houlihan's, in which the public was encouraged to donate gently
used instruments for less fortunate D300 students to borrow. Nearly 25 instruments were collected, so that passionate
performers with little means will no longer have to use severely damaged and untuned instruments. Magerko saw the need
when visiting the class of music teacher Michael Kasper of Carpentersville Middle School. "From concept to coordination,
and from getting volunteers and sponsors to posting fliers, Diane was the brains and the soul behind the operation,"
Keyes said. As Chair of the Foundation's Fine & Performing Arts Committee, Magerko has helped award grants for artists
to visit D300 schools. In fact, next week (May 12-14) Chicago artist Connie Noyes will spend time with students at Dundee-Crown,
Hampshire, and Jacobs high schools to create artwork out of recycled and everyday objects. For more on Noyes, visit
http://connienoyes.com/home.html Magerko also produced the Foundation's ornaments for the Village of Lake in the Hills' Holiday Tree Festival.
She worked long hours with designer Patti Douglas to redesign all of the Foundation's marketing materials this year and will
soon unveil a new Foundation website. Additionally, she is the Foundation's Co-Vice President for Fund Development and
will be working to help secure corporate donations to further improve grant opportunities. Magerko will be honored by
the School Board at 7:30 p.m. this Monday, May 10, in the Carpentersville Middle School auditorium. The public is welcome. FOR
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE D300 FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE, WHICH IS FUNDED ENTIRELY THROUGH PRIVATE/CHARITABLE
DONATIONS, PLEASE VISIT http://www.d300foundation.org/ ###
D300 Foundation to send 3 high school students to national leadership conference Monday, March 8, 2010 Three exceptional young men will have the opportunity of a lifetime later this month when they attend the National Young Leaders Conference, proudly representing the District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence. The D300 Foundation will send one junior from each D300 high school to the conference March 23-28 in Washington D.C. They are Kwamayne King (DundeeCrown High School),ChristopherEgger (Hampshire High School), and Stephen Lenzini (Jacobs High School). These applicants were chosen based on factors including a list of school activities, out of school activites, school/community awards, leadership
experience, an essay on a leader that made an impression, a statement of future goals, and letters of recommendation. Additionally, each of these students has a special story to share in overcoming the odds against them in pursuit of excellence. Liz Miller, co-chair of fund development for the D300 Foundation, said young people today face an entire new set of challenges compared to the generation before them. “Kwamayne, Chris, and Stephen all possess the inner-spark necessary to face the challenges,” Miller said. “Any part the Foundation can play in helping to identify and encourage these young leaders in an ever‐changing world is something to which we truly want to commit ourselves.” The Algonquin Commons Shopping Center will host a reception for the students at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, March 9) at the Barley House. The news media are welcome and encouraged to attend. Attendees will also include Superintendent Ken Arndt and several Foundation Board trustees. Jim Pratt, the Foundation’s student leadership chair and senior property manager of The Algonquin Commons, worked with some of the D300 high school division heads to award the grants. The divisionals involved were Alan Wahlert (Dundee-Crown High School), Marce Kersten (Jacobs High School), and Geoffrey Falk (Hampshire High School). The D300 Foundation Leadership Grant covers the conference tuition, lodging, breakfasts, dinners, curriculum materials, and private motor coach transportation within the Washington D.C. area for the D300 young leaders. The local Rhodes Foundation generously provided funding for the D300 students’ transportation to and from the conference. D300 Foundation Board members also stepped forward to personally pay for the students’ lunches at the conference so they will have virtually no out‐of‐pocket expenses. The D300 School Board will honor these young men at an upcoming Board meeting. The students will also be invited to appear on a future D300 radio talk‐show to reflect on their experiences at the conference. Stay tuned for dates and times of these two appearances.

|
| Dr. Scarpino reads in character as Big Anthony to children at Barnes & Noble on Black Friday. |
Barnes & Noble Book Fair on Black Friday A big THANK YOU to Dr. David Scarpino for donning the Big Anthony costume from Strega Nona by
Tomi DePaola. Dr. Scarpino participated in the Barnes and Noble Book Fair on Black Friday as the guest reader. In preparation
he contacted the elementary librarians and asked that they send him their favorite books so the children could pick from the
group. It was a wonderful 45 minutes. Thanks to all our volunteers who helped wrap patron's gifts that day.
Barnes & Noble has been an excellent partner to the Foundation for years.
We thank them for their continued support. Mary Fioretti,
Chairman


|
| Mary Fioretti, Chairman & Deb Kelley, VP Development recieve $1000 IASBO donation from Dr. Crates |
D300 Finance Officer Awards Foundation $1000 IASBO
Monarach Gift
Dr. Cheryl Crates, District 300 Finance Officer, was awarded the prestigious
2008 Monarch Award from the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO). As part of the award, IASBO awarded
$1,000 to the D300 Foundation in Crates’ name for student leadership initiatives.
May 2008 Chair Receives 2008 Public Education
Ambassador Award

|
| DOE Christine Cohn presents INSPRA award to Chairman Fioretti with Dr. Arndt |
District 300 Foundation Chairman Mary Fioretti earned the
very highest honor among 40 impressive nominees as 2008 Public Education Ambassador of the Year for the entire state of Illinois.
The judging committee
determined that Fioretti was the epitome of “distinguished service to public education.” The Distinguished
Service Awards program is facilitated by INSPRA (the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association).
Daily Herald: The Briefs: Foundation
honors alumni March 26, 2008 Five
alumni of Community Unit District 300 will be honored this year at the District 300 Foundation's annual award ceremony
spring gala. Each year, the foundation chooses District 300 graduates or former students who have achieved success in their
field or engaged in community service to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. This year's recipients are: Donna Schuring
Redmer, a former District 300 principal; Laro Tan, who works for the FBI; political reporter Bethany Jaeger; Dundee Township
Park District Commissioner Craig Rakow; and former athlete Kevin Orr. The gala will be at 6 p.m. on April 25 at the Raue Center
for the Arts in Crystal Lake.
 News Digest March 23, 2008 School District 300 Alumni to be honored
The Community Unit School District 300
Foundation will honor five outstanding alumni with Distinguished Alumni Awards at the annual Award Ceremony Spring Gala at
6 p.m. April 25 at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake. Awards are given to alumni over 30 years old who have made
significant accomplishments in their profession or service to the community. Alumni were nominated by people within the community
who have been affected by the recipients' work. The recipients are Craig Rakow, Dr. Donna Schuring Redmer, Kevin Orr and
Laro Tan. The recipient of the Distinguished Young Alumni Award is Bethany Carson Jaeger. Tickets for the event are available
at www.rauecenter.org. For more information on the recipients and the awards visit www.d300foundation.org.
March 5, 2008 D300 Foundation Honors Alumni Award Recipients
CARPENTERSVILLE- This year the District 300 Foundation will get a chance to honor five of the outstanding alumni that
have graduated from the District 300 schools. The distinguished alumni Award is granted to a District 300 graduate or former student over the age
of 30 for significant accomplishments on ones profession or service to the community. These people are
making a difference not only in their world, but also in the worlds of the people around them. These alumni
have been nominated by different people within the community that have been touched directly by their work and seen their
passion and enthusiasm up close. The Foundation was excited to be able to choose these five recipients
on March 5th. The winners will be formally honored on Friday, April 25th at the Annual
Award Ceremony Spring Gala.
The five recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award are; Craig
Rakow, Dr. Donna Shuring Redmer, Kevin Orr, and Laro Tan. The recipient of the Distinguished Young Alumni
is Bethany (Carson) Jaeger.
Click here to read the entire press release on the Distinguished Alumni Awards

|
| Author Yuyi Morales |
Yuyi Morales Visit The Foundation underwrote
the author illustrator Yuyi Morales to visit with Lakewood and Hampshire students. See our Adobe slide show here>>
|