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Veteran’s Day Program at Freeport Junior High School November 10th
Freeport School District #145 plans a Veterans’ Appreciation Program.
The Freeport School District will be out of session on November 11th, celebrating the national Veteran’s Day holiday. A special Veteran’s Appreciation Program is planned for the day before - Tuesday, November 10th.
The program will begin at 1:00 PM at the Freeport Junior High School Conference Center. The entrance to the conference center is immediately right of the Jeannette Lloyd Theater entrance at the east end of the building. Parking is available at the lot immediately in front of the tennis courts which is also at the east of the building.
Attendees will be welcomed by the Empire School 4th grade chorus, followed by the NJROTC Color Guard. Other program highlights include recognition of the Freeport School District’s own faculty and staff veterans, video and Drill Team presentations, and a performance by the Freeport High School varsity choir.
The Veteran’s Appreciation Program concludes at 1:40 PM and will be followed by a brief reception ending at 2:00 PM. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. If interested in attending, please contact Freeport High School at 815-232-0400 so that ample refreshments can be prepared.
Freeport High School’s Homecoming Week, which begins September 27th:
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 Parade starts at 5:00 P.M. at the corner of Benson Blvd. and Empire Street.
The parade will proceed east on Empire to Freeport high School.
(Groups interested in the parade can contact Linda Marske or Tara Wingert at 232-0464 or
There is no cost to be in the parade.)
Friday, October 2nd, 2009 Homecoming King and Queen coronation
Football games at 5:00 and 7:15 P.M.
Saturday, October 3rd , 2009 Dance: 7:30-10:30 P.M. FHS students & Guests
Cafeteria $5.00 per person
Theme: Masquerade
School Dress up Day Themes:
Monday, 9/27: Celebrity Day
Tuesday, 9/28: Twin Day
Wednesday, 9/30: Shiny Clothes Day
Thursday, 10/1: Class T-shirt Day
Friday, 10/2: School Spirit Day
September 15th Magnet School Informational Meeting
6:30 PM at the Freeport Public Library
Learn more, share your ideas, and ask questions about the upcoming magnet school decisions.
Parents, staff, and community members are invited and encouraged to attend.
More September Events click here
Community Partners Work Together to Provide
Supplies-Filled Backpacks for Needy Freeport Students
Led by 3rd Ward Alderman Ronnie Bush, the Back-to School Backpack program is going strong in its 10th consecutive year.
Working to assist Freeport School District #145 students, Bush continues to coordinate the donations and volunteers who make the annual program possible. Every year, Bush is pleasantly surprised and very thankful for the outpouring of community support. He noted that original partner, Newell-Rubbermaid, remains committed to helping students and has donated very large quantities of school supplies since the program began in 1999.
Additional support for the 2009-2010 school year came in a big way through the extreme generosity of Freeport’s own Wagner Business Products. Owner Phil Schooff acted without hesitation when he realized the magnitude of the need, by single-handedly providing 400 brand new backpacks. According to Ronnie Bush, without Schooff and Wagner’s bighearted assistance, along with Newell-Rubbermaid’s ongoing donations, the project would not have been possible this year.
Once the backpacks and supplies became available, they needed to be brought together. Volunteers of all ages worked hard August 17th at the Boys & Girls Club to fill the new backpacks with pencils, pens, rulers, tissues, wipes, pencil boxes, and more. Young ladies from the Boys & Girls Club “Smart Girls” program, parents, school family resources coordinators, community volunteers, and a principal were on hand to get the job done. Young Carson Diaz, age 3, was right in the mix, volunteering alongside his dad Jorge Diaz.
These efforts will mean the best possible start to school for 700 Freeport School District students, all of whom will receive their filled backpacks on the first day of school, later this week. Registered students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch are those who may receive the backpacks.
Other donors include: Brian Hammond with Alarm Systems, Union Savings Bank, State Bank, Cornerstone Credit Union, Citizens State Bank, United Steelworkers Local 745L ,Maurice’s clothing store (who provided merchandise discounts for those donating supplies), and all three Freeport fire stations for serving as supply collection points.
In addition to Wagner Business Products and Newell-Rubbermaid, Bush also extends sincere appreciation to the countless Freeport citizens for their continued generosity and support. Their large monetary and supplies’ donations ensured the success of the backpack program once again this year.
Contact: Stephanie Helms, Communications Specialist/
Freeport School District #145
501 E. South Street, Freeport, IL 61032 815.232.0369
stephanie.helms@fsd145.org
New Principal for Taylor Park Elementary School
Freeport School District #145 welcomes a new principal to kick off the 2009-2010 school year.
Dr. Peter Flynn, Superintendent of Freeport Schools, announced today that Jon Runkle has been hired as the principal of Taylor Park Elementary School. The Freeport School District Board of Education voted Wednesday, August 5th, to approve Mr. Runkle’s contract. Mr. Runkle replaces former principal Aaron Mercier, now employed as the Assistant Superintendent of the Regional Office of Education in Stockton.
Mr. Runkle most recently served as principal of P.H. Miller School in Plano, Illinois, a position he held for four years. Prior to his tenure at P.H. Miller School, he spent a decade as principal of Mazon-Verona-Kinsman School in Mazon, Illinois, preceded by two years as principal at Indian Knoll School in West Chicago.
Additionally, Mr. Runkle has eleven years prior teaching experience, as well as seven years of high school volleyball/basketball/softball coaching experience.
A 1981 graduate of Augustana College in Rock Island, Mr. Runkle earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education, followed by a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University in 1990.
Mr. Runkle and his wife of 25 years, Lori, have three children: Julia (18), Joseph (14), and Jillian (11). In his free time, Mr. Runkle enjoys reading, camping, and fishing.
Dr. Flynn remarked of the district’s new principal, “We are glad to have Jon join our District Leadership Team. The experience that he brings to our group will be very helpful in addressing the challenges we face as we try to have all of our students meet or exceed the state and local standards.”
Contact: Stephanie Helms, Communications Specialist
Freeport School District #145
501 E. South Street, Freeport, IL 61032
815.232.0369
stephanie.helms@fsd145.org
Freeport School District Holds Another Focus Group Meeting About the Magnet School:
Freeport School District 145
Magnet School Focus Group meeting
Thursday, July 9th at 4:00 PM
Blackhawk School cafeteria (please enter through north doors next to parking lot)
A light meal will be served.
The Freeport School District will be hosting a focus group to discuss and get feedback about the new magnet school that will be up and running in August of 2010. Parents and staff are asked to attend a focus group meeting to learn more about the magnet school concept, see presentations about the three proposed themes, and to vote for the theme they prefer.
The creation of a magnet school is a tremendous opportunity for the district. Parents in particular, have a rare chance to actually help design the specialized school that they would like their own children to attend. It is parent opinion that will decide the new school’s theme.
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Tuesday and Thursday FSD #145 Focus Groups for Magnet School Held
Freeport Illinois- The Freeport Public Library was host Tuesday evening for another of the focus group discussions about the new magnet school.
The public was invited to join in the discussion led by school superintendent Dr. Peter Flynn. The group of about 30 who were present was shown a presentation that outlined many of the proposed ideas of what the magnet school would be and how the students that attend would be chosen. The group allowed a wide variety of discussion topics and continually accepted questions from the public in attendance. There were several school district employees on hand to answer questions including Patty Burke, Teresa Hines, Christina Babicz and Stephanie Helms.
It was said that the students would be chosen on a first come-first served basis. One parent did ask about the balance of races for the students.
"There will not be a school theme that appeals to just one demographic," said Dr. Flynn.
Feedback forms were passed to the parents and they were allowed to take them with them to turn in later. The voting is to help determine the specific Magnet School theme. All Freeport School District students are eligible and the school is geared toward those kindergarten through fourth grade.
There is another meeting on Thursday, June 25 at the Freeport Boys and Girls Club. For more information For more information CLICK HERE
Community Partners Work Together to Provide Summer Activities for Freeport Students
A partnership between Freeport School District #145, the Boys and Girls Club of Freeport & Stephenson County, the Housing Authority of the City of Freeport, and the Freeport Park District will ensure activities for approximately 80 Freeport children this summer.
The cooperative summer program begins Monday, June 29th and runs through August 7th. It will serve youth ages 7 through 14. Program hours will run daily, Monday through Friday, from noon until 4:00 PM.
Participants may register at the Boys & Girls Club, and youth residing in public housing may also register at the Housing Authority’s Central Office at the corner of Galena and Harlem Avenues. There is no cost to students who reside in public housing. Participants registered through the Boys and Girls Club must be club members. Memberships are $6.
Transportation duties will be provided by both the Freeport School District and the Housing Authority. Additionally, daily meals will be provided by the Freeport School District, and recreational activities will be offered through the Freeport Park District. The Housing Authority of the City of Freeport will provide additional transportation.Contact: James Rhyne, Director Boys & Girls Club of Freeport & Stephenson County511 S. Liberty Avenue, Freeport, IL 61032 815.233.1600 x 123
