🥳 CICERO TURNS A CANCELED BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR INTO A NIGHT HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES WON'T FORGET! 🎪
The weather may have canceled our original Back to School Fair... but it certainly didn't cancel our celebration!
On Wednesday night, Cicero District 99 brought a special version of our Back to School Fair to the Town of Cicero's weekly Summer in the Park — and what happened was a perfect example of what makes our community so special.
In just THREE DAYS, we came together and made something pretty incredible happen for our families.
Thanks to Town of Cicero President Larry Dominick and the Department of Special Events, District 99 was able to partner with the Town and transform Wednesday night into a huge celebration for our students and families — just ONE WEEK before the first day of school!
And when we say celebration, we mean it!
🎡 Carnival rides
🚂 Train rides
🐴 Pony rides
🐐 A petting zoo
🦎 An incredible reptile show
🎶 A fantastic performance by our D99 student band
🔬 Hands-on STEAM activities hosted by our amazing teachers
📚 Hundreds and hundreds of school supply kits
🎒 Backpacks, books and D99 swag at our new trailer
🍿 Popcorn, hotdogs and a bunch of snacks
🚚 Food Trucks
And every single bit of it was FREE for our families.
Several hundred members of our community — nearly 1,000 people — came out to celebrate with us, and everywhere you looked there was something happening.
Kids were riding ponies. Families were enjoying the carnival rides. Students were getting up close with some incredible animals. Our teachers were helping children explore hands-on STEAM activities. Our student musicians were performing. Families were eating together, laughing together and getting ready for another school year together.
And at the end of the night, we were able to put hundreds of school-supply kits directly into the hands of our students, helping make sure they are ready when those classroom doors open on Wednesday, August 19.
But as exciting as the rides, animals, music, food and giveaways were, Wednesday night was about something even bigger.
It was about community.
An event like this doesn't come together in three days because of one person, one department, or one organization.
It happens when people decide to work together for kids.
When severe weather forced us to cancel our originally scheduled Back to School Fair, we could have simply said, "We'll try again next year."
Instead, District 99 and the Town of Cicero asked a different question:
"What can we still do for our families?"
And because of the incredible partnership we have with Town of Cicero President Larry Dominick and the Department of Special Events, the answer became something pretty special.
This is what a true community partnership looks like.
It isn't just two organizations putting their names next to each other on a flyer. It's people sharing resources, ideas, time and energy because we serve the same families, love the same community and want the very best for the same children.
And we are incredibly fortunate to have that here in Cicero.
To President Larry Dominick and the Department of Special Events: THANK YOU. Thank you for opening the doors for us to join Wednesday's event, for helping us turn three days of planning into a night our families will remember, and most importantly, for continuing to be such tremendous partners to Cicero District 99 and our students.
To our District 99 teachers and staff who came out and made the night special: THANK YOU.
To our talented student band: THANK YOU for bringing the music!
And to every D99 student, parent, grandparent and family member who spent the evening with us: THANK YOU for showing up and reminding us exactly why we do what we do.
Wednesday night wasn't simply about getting ready to go back to school. It was about sending our children a message before they ever walk through our doors:
Your school district is excited to see you. Your teachers are ready for you. Your town supports you. And your community is behind you.
Now the backpacks are packed. The school supplies are ready. The countdown is officially on. Wednesday, August 19—we're coming for you!
Welcome back, District 99. We Move Forward Together.