And that's why we're here today. So in your handout you have a present presentation one reflection and there are about three or four questions. It kind of tough presentation once you and so you have elbow partners next to you um at your table and I'm going to give you about 5 to 10 minutes to kind of reflect on what we're talking about and start to frame your mind in what it is that you expect today you walk me through. So there are some questions under presentation one. What stood out to you and in that not just what stood out to you but what are you thinking when you think about student experience wellbeing? What should students ex consistently experience around our schools and you have to kind of jugg so that we can refer back to this later on this afternoon or today. Okay. So, I'm going to give you about 10 minutes to have a discussion with your elbow partner.
This week I was reminded about how precious life is and how we must make sure at all times to find the silver linings in the setbacks we encounter and not sweat the small stuff. Because, class of 2026, you will absolutely encounter setbacks during many parts of your life. On Friday night, during my own son's baseball game, he was playing shortstop, which he's pretty good at, and because he's pretty aggressive, he went to try to get a kid out who was stealing second base, and he broke his arm. He likely won't play much more of his season, and my first thought was how are we going to handle this with him at home? Parents, I'm sure that you can relate. What kind of attitude will he have if he can't play baseball? Now, Charlie's a pretty positive-minded kid, but he also loves baseball more than anything, and the thought of losing a season could have been pretty upsetting.
Um, but African-American and black students, students in poverty, and adolescent males are disproportionately affected and identified in this data. These are patterns for us and not anomalies. Families are reporting, but the tool only captures one type of concern. So now it's up to us to identify or create a tool that will help us identify those additional concerns and we are not reacting or we are being proactive in our reaction to support our students and we cannot see the full picture of students at risk. We have a lot of self harm and safety concerns. I'm not going to tell you in the past two weeks how we have been up at least 9 10:00 at the night in collaboration, connection and communication with our agencies around students. And it's not just the middle school and high school. It is affecting even our elementary schools. One student is too much.
But when we got into the doctor's office and they told him that his arm was, in fact, broken, Charlie didn't cry. He didn't pout. He didn't whine. He didn't even put his shoulders down. He smiled. And it was one of those really big smiles full of teeth. He said, "Mom, it's okay. Michael Jordan broke his foot, and when that happened, he said, 'Sometimes setbacks reveal strength we didn't know we had.'" From the mouths of babes. I said, "Charlie, where did you learn that or read that?" And he said, "Mom, I've got a Jordan sticker that has the story about when he broke his foot on there, and I read it every day. It sits on my desk." And I was reminded, as an adult who was preparing for the worst, I actually should have shifted my own mindset. This setback is in no way, shape, or form the end of anything.
And so they're struggling especially when they notice that the systems fall short. Um but we do have a plan. It does have a timeline and it will continue to be iterative because we're going to have to continue to course correct and move forward. And so with that, I think it is now what the averages may be hiding instruction. Hello everyone. It's lovely to see you. >> Oh, I see Anna's hand. ask question. >> Yes. >> So, um I have a firm that suspension is not a great tool. It takes kids away from learning that need learning the most. And uh it often places them in an environment that causes the reason for their suspension because if you're sending them home to an environment that is unfriendly and that's why they're acting out at school and causing the concerns, spending more time at home is not going to fix the problem.
It's a moment for opportunity. And as I said earlier, you will have setbacks. You may break a bone that causes you to stop playing sports. You may not get into the major you were planning for. You may not get something you really, really wanted and worked really, really hard for. Things may not work out the way you intended, but those setbacks don't define you or your pathway. They actually are a sign that growth is about to happen if you let it. The past 4 years at North you have spent a lot of time figuring out your likes, your dislikes, your interests, and your strengths. And that time is not over just because you're moving on to the next step. You will continue to grow, to evolve, and to change. And you are so lucky because you have this wonderful foundation that you began right here at North High School.
Um, so I'm asking what are you doing to reduce the use of suspension and there's obviously preventive measures that you can do, but also just training on when suspension is appropriate and when it's not appropriate. And I think that if what you're trying to solve is a problem that you know you you're looking at like what are you trying to solve by using suspension and if that suspension is not going to solve that problem then maybe it should be used. >> And then just to add to that obviously in school suspension is very different than out of school. So if you want to speak to those differently or at least provide the answer about that would be >> great. So I would say that and I'm not sure where directly should pull the data sources but I do know for example at our middle school they use ISS in school suspension right and I believe that's one of their more frequent go-tos than out of school suspension.
You have spent the past 4 years figuring out who you are and how you evolve. You figure out what fits and what doesn't, and you have become confident young people along the way. And young people who have opportunities to change the world. So, when the day comes and the setback occurs, take a breath and do something I didn't. Shift your mindset, lean on what you've learned here, find the strength you hadn't tapped into, and above all, don't sweat the small stuff. To the class of 2026, please know we have so much love in our hearts for all of you. And I personally am so incredibly grateful to have spent these last 4 years with you. You make our world a very, very better place. And I am personally so grateful and lucky to have been a part of that with you. I look forward to seeing what's to come in your very bright futures.
Um they have a assigned room where you go and do your instruction. there is um supports in place. Adult supports I'm not going to pick on for this year. So the adult supports so I I firmly believe there's different levels to what happens but it all reports out as in one bucket category. Um I will also say that anything that has come to my desk in terms of an out of school beyond a certain number of days had to have been a very severe um action. Um and it I have not I have not seen even in emergency removals where individuals are removed from the school campus that time until they have the meeting where it is something that is I'm going to say trivial and is not something that is identified as possibly harming not just themselves but but others around them in the environment.
Congratulations, class of 2026. And now, Dr. Thiele and members of the Board of Education, it is with great honor that I present to you the North High Class of 2026. As principal, I certify that the graduating class of 2026 has met all of the requirements as set forth by the state of Illinois and the Board of Education of District 99 and are hereby granted all the rights and privileges that correspond accordingly. It is now my pleasure to introduce the superintendent of Community High School District 99, Dr. Hank Thiele. I would like to start out by congratulating the class of 2026 on all of your accomplishments over the last 4 years. Uh before we proceed today, but I'd like for you to take a moment, find your family or friends in the crowd, and just wave at them to thank them for helping get you here today.
I think that as a district leadership team or even a collective, we need to identify additional supports. Um I know for a fact that it's funny that um Mr. Paul is here because he had told me about a mentorship program. But then in the data chat with Cracker Farm last week, they brought up that there was a group of students who needed some semblance of support and their behaviors were not within what we would want to see. And so they were able to connect to mentors to come in and have conversations with these students. I think I know that it's beyond just training around what are the options. It's also providing clear options or steps of interventions before we get to that suspension point. So I can't pull it out right now because I don't know I I I'm not actually saying power school to say this is in school suspension versus um out of school is one big bucket.
Now, from this point forward, it will be those folks setting you free out into the world, and you'll go with all of the help and assistance that other adults and friends have given you throughout your life. So, take a moment to think about all of those that helped get you here as well. Now, as you go forward, what you're going to going to find is that what you are most in control of now is your time. And where you spend your time shows what you value. So, spend it wisely. I want you to know as you go forward into the world, this place will always be your home. So, always feel free to come back to visit us, to share your great successes with us. We can't wait to see what you become from here. It is now my privilege to recommend to the members of the Board of Education that the class of 2026 moves forward as graduates of High School District 99.
But I I do agree and acknowledge with what you're saying that many times the students act forward back to the environment that they were running from. So I feel like there are progressive steps at least in one district that we move forward and in another district we see where they lean on the community to show different examples and have that. So that's where we're talking about. >> Yes. >> Thank you J. I hate to belver a point about suspension, but I think that we often isolate a student who did some act that we don't like from everybody else, but in fact, there are community problems that are happening. So, bullying is often not one person bullying another person. It is a whole context of that classroom or that environment allowing a student to get isolated and bullied. You never see bullying of the person that everybody loves.
Let me now welcome Board of Education member and Vice President Carrie Caston to accept the graduating class. To the class of 2026, you have created a vibrant and strong community within DGN. In classrooms, on stages, on fields, and beyond, you have accomplished a lot. I hope each one of you feels a genuine connection to DGN through your peers, your teachers, staff members, coaches, and others. You have also positively impacted the larger community that enthusiastically watched and celebrated your achievements. From what we've seen over the past 4 years, we have no doubt your future is bright. On behalf of the District 99 Board of Education, it is my honor to accept and recognize the Downers Grove North graduating class of 2026. Congratulations and enjoy the exciting next chapter in your life. >> Thank you, Dr. Affili and Ms. Caston. At this time, we are going to begin conferring the diplomas.
It's always that person who is generally pushed out that then allows a bully to bully somebody. And so that there is responsibility of the entire class or environment that has to be addressed. And by pulling somebody out, we ignore the large part of the problem. >> So I would say that's one context and thank you for that. And what that lends in is that we've had conversations recently about identifying bystander um that's what it is car we're talking about bystander >> active bystander. active bystander, right? Active bystander training for for individuals because a lot of the times things occur and even in that moment even though I am in the class I might be having my own reaction to what is happening to someone else. So it is not that I do not want to support someone or I am adding to pushing them out.
Uh I ask that our line leaders please move into place and prepare the graduates. For those in the audience, I respectfully request that you remain in your seats and hold your applause and other acknowledgements until all students have been awarded diplomas in order to provide the appropriate recognition that each student deserves. Just as you want to hear the name of your child read, so too will other parents and families. Any loud noise can drown out the reading of a student's name. Please do not be responsible for preventing a student's name from being heard. We thank you so much for your appropriate and respectful behavior. Will the class of 2026 please come forward to receive your diplomas? Omar Abaroa Maya Aboud Jordan Abutar Alberto Acevedo Soto Ashley Adamo Tyler Adams >> [screaming] >> Matthew Adelman Abigail Adjokatcher Yeraldine Aguilar Aria Ahmad Rama Alamad Shayka Alcantar Rodriguez Emma Alexunas Sophia Algaben Jazlyn Allen Matthew Althols Ethan Alvario Nathan Amade Priscilla Amazu Alexis Anderson Alexander Andreen James Noah Apap Andres Arellano Maria Armas Perez McKenzie Ashcraft Thora Askland Alexander Badillo Lucas Baginskis Breanna Baker Jose Baluon Emilia Banazak Amelia Banavicius Michael Barrios Smilta Boroloskaite Jason Beavers John Bauer Logan Beeby Claudia Bednars >> Gabriel Gabriel Byrne Finnian Beechler Nora Benjamins Colette Bell Evan Bergen Maxwell Burger Brandon Bath Anthony Bertocchi Ariana Bizzarri Ruth Bayana Ramari Binyon Benjamin Bianco Smith Ella Bonk Bogoy Bogoyev Naya Bouvier Alan Boucher Kristen Bowers Weston Boden Molly Brazina Matthew Brenner Samuel Brockway Isaac Broadnax Rishona Brooks Claire Bromberick Alexander Bruno Sophia Brown Nina Buscelato Gage Bryant Terrence Burton Olivia Burge Joseph Calderon Maya Bykal Benjamin Campos Jude Caldwell Cecilia Casas Addison Carter Stephanie Castillo Shannon Casey Gavin Chan Augustine Chidester Kira Choudhury Joseph Andrew Thomas Chang Angelo Ciarelli Eliana Chen Aubrey Ciarelli Mia Chico Caden Ciarelli Savan Choksi Liliana Ciuffini Lucy Crisos Saraiyah Coleman Kamarian Coleman Ava Cook Jason Collazo Christopher Cordero Griffin Cooper Grace Cristiano Drake Casenza Mallory Croft Nazareth Crawford Samantha Cruz Kelly Crowley Philip Supio William Cunningham Caitlin Cutright James Curry Abigail Dara Sydney Serwinski Oliver Davies Jake Devaro Michael Davis Justin Davis Abigail De Sico Tia De Meso Jack Delaney Damian Dela Cruz Medrano Sanaiya Dixon Diego Delgado Galvan Isabelle Doll Anthony Dinigris Lucas Donut Amanda Dobres Alexander Douglas Reese Domino Jessica Ann Doomlaw Eve Donnellan Omar Duran Lane Dubois Lilly Eddington Jose Duran Varina Eyubbi Daniel Durkin Emma Enright L Edwards Ryan Enright Carson Engel Yeva Ezerskis Aaron Erickson Addison Fanta Emily Falk Aiden Felts Joshua Ferraro Mason Felts Melanie Ference Nia Finley Alexandra Fertig Breanna Flynn Colin Fitzgerald Kylie Ford Jada Ford Harmony Foster Grant Ferdonksi Brenda Angela Frias Noah Fox Alexa Gallardo Grace Gagnon Emiliano Garcia Emilio Gandaria Alexander Garcia Hernandez Jesus Garcia Romina Garcia Ulloa Oscar Garcia Lopez Haley Garrity Yash Garg Jada Gazaferri Julia Gasson Daria Gibson Dylan Guyer Maddy Goddard Tyler Gibbons Giana Goodwin Osmar Gonzalez Maria Gurriades Angel Gonzalez Cruz Jack Grebentin Andrew Gorman Audrey Graves Matthew Godziak Olivia Graves Alexander Growman Aaron Gray Lucy Grable Elizabeth Griffin Edward Green Jr.
It might be how I am processing the moment as well. So there are some things that we can't say is the whole culture, but we can say that there are some things that we need to do as a system to make sure that we're supporting students and take keeping in mind that if I am seeing something occurring with someone or hearing something that's occurring with someone else, I too am processing what I am experiencing in that moment. And it may not be that I do not want to support you, but maybe I am going through something for myself. So that's the balance of where we are as a I wouldn't say that it's because everyone wants in a classroom wants to shun someone. I also have to say that you don't allow yourself to be believable. Um it's something that happens to you and what you experience.
Nathan Hash Brady Griffin Winter Hammon Arianne Faye Guevara Zane Huck Aiden Halpin Noah Harkness Sawyer Henson Charlotte Hayes Brennan Hardy Brendan Hackett Emerson Harris Julia Heisler John Herndon Jack Housden Emma Herr Joshua Hensley Cordelia Heller Alyssa Higher Alexander Hengels McKenna Hodges Juan Hernandez Brennan Holmes Megan Hill Michael Humphrey Anna Horsley Michael Humphrey Ethan Horsley Gianna Horridge Cruz Huerta Puntos Alaya Hubbard Ethan Houlihan Anaya Hubbard Kristi Huerta Allison Hurley Kyler Hunchy Ricardo Yopolo Rania Hussein Corina Irvin Emma Irby Ivana Yakelya Connor Jackson Isaac Jenisauskas Mackenzie James Evan Jeske Aris Jeskulis Molly Jeske Sophia Jimenez Kyla Johnson Hannah Grace Johnson Michael Jones Richard Johnson Helen Justice Ava Joseph Caitlin Kapraal Siratorn Lazar Karanakov Mustansir Karimi Rua Kazaz Colin Keefer Layton Callan Leonidas King Jane Kanavy Dean Klebanov Morgan Klein Skyler Kloos Elena Knezevich Ivy Konop Grace Konuchal Brandon Kolen Monica Kolodziej Jaden Kolbeck Jacob Kopanak Luke Konechna Joshua Kopanek Ruby Kanapacki Louis Kraus Ruby Kowalski Emily Kukta Kieran Krishnan Alex Kutsev Ava Keither Charlotte Labianco Melina Kirsch Jacqueline Lally McKinley LaForge Kaylen Landry Reese Lamentia Ava Langley Chloe Lang Sade Lanucha Jessica Laning Joseph Lasoda Colin Larkin Addison Legare Ava Lansu and Owen Lansu Ireland Lenz Helen Long Tessa Levy Ashley Lou Bethany Lopez Giana Lopez Charlie Love Reagan Lovelady Dylan Low Bianca Laurigio Caden Lusk Tyler Lynch-Goff Matt Masik William Maher Lucia Madden Calvin Mendoza Jason Malanowski Mackenzie Macy Gabriel Marone Calvin Mendoza Giana Martinez Adriana Marsicano Georgia Marzo Jasmine Martinez Sacramento Eli Matthew Ashley Moscote Ann McCluskey Landon May Lee McCluskey Kevin McAlinan Alexandra McDonald Colvis McCann Colin McGlone Julian McDermott Morgan McGrath Allison McGinn Connor McLaughlin Rose Ellen McLaughlin McGowan Xavier McMahon Zachary McAllen James McDolty Chase McNamara Spear Matthew Mendez Dashiell McNamara Spear Mia Mertus Teagan McNulty Coy Meyer Eleanor Merfeldas Aidan Metzel Maxwell Metcalf Kate Miller Madison Myers Zachary Miller Annabelle Miller Klim Minkoff Mary Miller Vasiliki Vivian Metropolis Kathleen Milos Nolan Montague Miles Mitchell Ella Moreno Gabriella Monroy Serena Moy Claudia Moran Colin Murphy Stanislav Mosons Sophie Murphy Sai Mundy Kemper Myers Elizabeth Murphy Mega Nambisan Tessa Murphy Jonathan Nelson Katie Miles Liam Neustadter Emma Nelson Maya Nicholson Melissa Newman Carter Nothnagel Jessica Nieber Matthew Novak Rachel Nieber Liam O'Brien Evan Novak Oliver O'Shaughnessy Steven Oyedele Nathaniel Olona Kevin O'Donahue Grigory Onika Mary Oaks Raquel Oriana Lauren Olson Jose Ortiz Bettencourt Cali Ordway Braden Page Amelia Ortiz.
And so we have to recognize what that individual the word that we have and it's the word that is across it. The person who feels targeted or the target is experiencing in that moment is the reality for them. And it may be again not that they allow themselves to do that to be to be known to them, but they it's what they experience and they have no other choice in their reaction. >> Quick question. Um >> you're not allowed to ask. >> I'm not asking. So for the anxious child, >> yes, >> obviously that was like a standout. Yes. In our new data for Hampshire, >> have we looked at, >> she mentioned cleaning hands. Have we looked at cell phones and different rules around cell phones to help decrease the anxious child? So there's a desi initiative about getting the um the cell phones out of the classrooms and our senator group has pointed out recently that districts with limited financial resources don't have the ability to implement those initiatives have a law I don't I think is created a regulation based on the law they do have some grants and things available and I also want to step back to I understand in terms of digital safety what you're saying.