DuQuoin CUSD #300

School is right around the corner starting Mon., Aug. 15! Now is a great time to download the district app so you can stay up-to-date on "all things Du Quoin Schools" and get notifications. Use the app to find out what's for lunch in the Dining section and keep informed on activities, sports, early dismissals and more in Events. Search for DuQuoin CUSD 300 in your app store or scan the QR code in the photo.

The Du Quoin District 300 Educational Foundation would like to thank our Foundation-level and Event-level sponsors, as well as our business/organization sponsors and hole sponsors of the 16th Annual Jim Booker Memorial Golf Scramble: $1,000 Foundation Sponsor: AFLAC - Estel Hoffard $500 Event Sponsor: Grady & Carolyn Sorrows Businesses & organizations / hole sponsorships: Alongi's Restaurant Banterra Bank Matthew Benson, Attorney at Law Bigham, Tanner & Foster, Attorneys at Law Bovinette Insurance Agency Boyt Engineering Campanella & Campanella, Brothers at Law The City of Du Quoin Common Goal Systems Jeff Cook Pools CTS Technology Solutions Du Quoin Education Association Du Quoin State Bank Sam Easterly / Regions Bank Fare Foods Corporation Fenton's Custom & Collision First Student First Mid Wealth Management / Rich Gossett Zach Gooden, State Farm Insurance Matthew Hickam for Regional Superintendent Chad Howard Insurance Planning & Management / Greg Toensing The Kelly Family Knight Hawk Coal Jodi Koester, Perry County Treasurer Monte Kuhnert, Wells Fargo Advisors Lee's Sports Steve Marek, Country Financial Ruth Mathis McPherson Automotive, Inc. Jeff & Paula Myers Chuck & Mary Jo Novak Perry County Counseling Center Rice Sullivan LLC The W Restaurant White & Borgognoni Architects Yondr Inc. Zimmerman Chiropractic Thank you for helping raise over $10,000 for student scholarships and classroom mini-grants for teachers!

New teachers were welcomed to the District with generous gifts and donations from many Du Quoin business and community members. Read more here https://duquoinil.sites.thrillshare.com/article/801162

Elementary News https://drive.google.com/file/d/18kNXwkSj2zXI81_u6raaRDpvrsj4mNPK/view?usp=sharing

Free grab & go meals are now available at lunchtime for children up to age 18! This is now available at the pool and Keyes Park distribution sites through the Du Quoin CUSD 300 Summer Food Program! See the attached pic for more details.

JOB POSTINGS for 2022-2023 school year: Instructional Aide Positions & Individual Student Aide Position We are currently seeking applicants for instructional aide positions which will serve students at our middle school and high school as well as an individual student aide position. These are full-time positions and individual health insurance is provided to our full-time employees. Applicants for the aide positions must meet the qualifications to be a school paraprofessional in Illinois. Those qualifications are as follows: - At least 19 years of age - ONE of the following: Associate’s degree or higher OR 60 semester hours of coursework OR high school diploma/GED and a score of 460 or higher on the ETS Parapro test OR high school diploma/GED and the following scores on the ACT Workkeys test: Applied Mathematics/Applied Math (with a score of 4) Reading for information/Workplace Documents (with a score of 4) To apply, please complete a Support Staff Application. A District 300 Support Staff Application can be accessed and downloaded from our website at this link: https://www.duquoinschools.org/browse/53919 . Applications may be returned by e-mail to Administrative Assistant Denise Hirsch at dhirsch@duquoinschools.org or turned in at the District Office at 845 E. Jackson St. Applications should be turned in by 3:00 PM on Friday, July 8, 2022. If you have any questions regarding the positions, please call the Du Quoin CUSD 300 office at 542-3856.

The 2022 Pullis Family Scholarship is now available through the District #300 Educational Foundation Scholarship Program. The District #300 Educational Foundation has announced it is now accepting applications for the 2022 Pullis Family Scholarship (formerly known as the Rosemary Pullis Scholarship). Dr. Michael Pullis, son of Rosemary and George Pullis, re-named this scholarship six years ago in memory of the contributions his parent’s made to students throughout their careers in education. The Pullis Family Scholarship is available to recent Du Quoin High School graduates who have completed at least their first or second year of college, will be enrolling as a sophomore or junior, and are majoring in one of the following areas: Education, Counseling, Social Work, Nursing, Pre Med, or other profession that seeks to help others. Academic record, future promise of academic achievement and need are the criteria in consideration in the awarding of this scholarship. This scholarship which has been in place since 1985 has provided nearly $40,000 in assistance to past Du Quoin High School graduates. It will again be a $2,000 award and will be selected by the District #300 Educational Foundation Scholarship Committee. Applications for the Pullis Family Scholarship are available by contacting Melissa Tilley at the District #300 Central Office, may be submitted in typed or electronic form, and must be received by Friday, July 15, 2022 for consideration. The District #300 Educational Foundation is honored and thankful to continue our partnership with Dr. Michael Pullis as a way to continue the tradition of this scholarship. This scholarship has continued to fulfill its original purpose in providing assistance to college-level students as they pursue professions that benefit others.

If your student is participating in the Outdoor Explorers field trip, they are running a bit late. Expected return is between 2:00-2:10 at the elementary school in the front.

JOB POSTINGS for 2022-2023 school year: Instructional Aide Position Individual Student Aide Position We are currently seeking applicants for an instructional aide position which will serve students at our high school and an individual student aide position. These are full-time positions and individual health insurance is provided to our full-time employees. Applicants for the aide positions must meet the qualifications to be a school paraprofessional in Illinois. Those qualifications are as follows: - At least 19 years of age - ONE of the following: Associate’s degree or higher OR 60 semester hours of coursework OR high school diploma/GED and a score of 460 or higher on the ETS Parapro test OR high school diploma/GED and the following scores on the ACT Workkeys test: Applied Mathematics/Applied Math (with a score of 4) Reading for information/Workplace Documents (with a score of 4) To apply, please complete a Support Staff Application. A District 300 Support Staff Application can be accessed and downloaded from our website at this link: https://www.duquoinschools.org/browse/53919 . Applications may be returned by e-mail to Administrative Assistant Denise Hirsch at dhirsch@duquoinschools.org or turned in at the District Office at 845 E. Jackson St. Applications should be turned in by 3:00 PM on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. If you have any questions regarding the positions, please call the Du Quoin CUSD 300 office at 542-3856.

Students in K-8 who are enrolled in the 21st Century summer program have a family letter with details concerning the program schedule. Please look for this letter in your child's backpack. Also we will be using the new bus company, First Student, for our summer routes. The parent letter indicates bus information and pick-up time in the morning. Please contact Kailah Kelly at 542.4744 or Diana Rea at 542-3856 if you have questions.

May, 25, 2022 – As part of our efforts to ensure kids have access to healthy meals during the summer months, Du Quoin School District #300 is pleased to announce its summer meals site will be serving kids and teens. Starting on Monday, June 6, all kids and teens 18 and under can receive meals free of charge, no registration needed. The summer months are already one of the hungriest times of year for many kids. The need will be even greater this summer as the nation continues to grapple with the pandemic. Due to changes at the federal level, we are no longer able to offer grab-and-go or parent pick-up meals. We are dedicated to still serving children and the community, and we plan to serve meals Monday-Friday from June 6–July 29, 2022. We will have meals served at the following locations/times: Du Quoin Elementary/Middle School - Breakfast 8-9 a.m. / Lunch 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Du Quoin Pool Park Pavilion - Lunch only 11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Du Quoin Keyes Park Pavilion - Lunch only 12:30-1:00 p.m. The Summer Meals program is funded by the USDA and run by school districts and local organizations. Sites can be found throughout the area. We’re always happy to see you at our designated locations, but there may be more convenient locations closer to you. Families can text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304 and type in a zip code to find nearby summer meals sites, along with operating days and times. No application, registration or proof of residency or citizenship is required at sites. Visit our Facebook page to learn more. DuQuoin Summer Food Service Program The Summer Food Service Program is available to all eligible children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Any person who feels that he or she has been discriminated against in any USDA-related activity should write immediately to: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 202550-9410

Elementary News for the week of May 23rd https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gDd2aSxByQqWon00NZInzv3kP1QShlSF/view?usp=sharing

Tonight's high school graduation can be viewed by clicking on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyE8Jr5G48KKDW3BcpQvAcw

District 300 Families, It is with sadness that I tell you about a loss to our school family. On Thursday evening, Mr. Mark Morefield, a DMS classroom aide, passed away unexpectedly. For those of you that knew Mr. Morefield, we ask that you remember and celebrate his service to our schools. For those of you who did not know Mr. Morefield, we ask that you respect our sadness and support us with your understanding, particularly for our middle school. Our social workers and counselors will be available to provide support to students at any time on Friday. Additional counselors from Perry County Counseling will be in our K-8 building on Friday as well to support students, faculty, and staff. If you notice your child struggling with this, please let your child's school know so that we can help support your student when they are at school. Please keep Mr. Morefield's family and our school family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you

Congratulations to the Class of 2022! https://www.duquoinschools.org/article/746900

Elementary News for the week of May 16th https://drive.google.com/file/d/17nW5l97G7914nuwKOfEocGAvVi34xQtp/view?usp=sharing

Elementary News for the week of May 9th https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bXqTHOBdtd7bhgZJAwRZsFMfqmxUGSVd/view?usp=sharing

Summer Food Program begins Monday June 6 through Friday July 29, 2022. Meals are free for kids 18 and under and will be available at the elementary school plus 2 other sites. Breakfast and lunch will be enjoyed on site this year, no grab-n-go orders. Watch for more details later this month on the future sites around town.

Congratulations to Lauren Heape on achieving the Million Words Club membership! Lauren is a senior and the fourth Du Quoin High school student to earn this level of success. Pictured is Mrs. Coleman, senior English teacher, with Lauren, who presented the award and t-shirt. Congratulations and keep reading!

The 2022 Southern Illinois Reading Council held the Spring Celebrations Program on April 28 awarding excellence in creative writing, including five Du Quoin CUSD 300 student authors. The SIRC sponsors an annual writing contest, open to public and private students across the southern Illinois regions for students in grades 2nd – 8th. Students are challenged to write a short story judged on creativity and organization, as well as overall theme and message. The contest recognizes the top three places in each each grade level out of a 13 county region. It is with tremendous pride we celebrate this accomplishment with our student winners. Student winners, respective award places and teacher’s name. 2nd grade Nixon Porter (2nd place) and Sofia Williams (3rd place) submitted by teacher, Mrs. Rachel Tilley; 3rd grader Harper Hill (3rd place) submitted by teacher, Mrs. Kimberly Loyd; and 5th graders Kai Travis (2nd place) and Ashlyn Strode (3rd place) submitted by teacher, Mrs. Leslie Small.