💙 D99 SCHOOLS KICK OFF A BIG MESSAGE: RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, & SAFETY START WITH ALL OF US! 💛

What happens when you mix schoolwide expectations, a little friendly competition, some very determined students and staff, and scooter races?!

You get an unforgettable start to PBS at Columbus West and Wilson Elementary Schools!

Both schools recently kicked off PBS with high-energy assemblies designed to remind our students of three simple expectations that can make a huge difference:
Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe.

🎮 At Columbus West, students were challenged to "LEVEL UP" this school year! From doing your work and taking care of your materials, to being kind, listening when others are speaking, walking safely in the hallways, making good choices at recess and so much more, students learned that PBS isn't simply a list of school rules — it's about the choices we make every single day.

And, of course, you can't kick off a great year without having a little fun! 

Students cheered as staff members went head-to-head in scooter races, and then it was the students' turn to race! There was plenty of excitement, plenty of cheering, and — let's be honest — probably a few staff members who discovered just how competitive they really are. 😂

But underneath all the fun was an important message: PBS works best when it doesn't stop at the school doors. That's where our District 99 families and community come in. Imagine what can happen when a child hears "Be respectful, be responsible, and be safe" at school... and then hears and practices those same ideas at home.

At school, RESPONSIBILITY might mean completing your work and taking care of classroom materials. At home, it might mean putting away your backpack, helping with a chore, or getting ready for school on time.

At school, RESPECT might mean listening when someone else is speaking. At home, it might mean using kind words, helping a sibling, or putting the phone down when someone is talking to you.

At school, SAFETY might mean walking in the hallway and keeping your hands and feet to yourself. At home and in our community, it might mean wearing a seat belt, looking both ways before crossing the street, or making a safe choice even when an adult isn't watching.

Those little moments matter. Because PBS isn't really about getting children to behave while they're at school. It's about helping children develop habits and character they can carry everywhere they go. So here's our challenge to every District 99 family:

TAKE PBS HOME! This weekend, ask your child: "What does being respectful, responsible, and safe look like in our house?" Let them answer. You might be surprised by what they say!

Then choose one way your whole family can LEVEL UP. Maybe everyone puts things away when they're finished. Maybe devices go down during conversations. Maybe everyone works on using kinder words. Maybe older siblings help younger siblings.

It doesn't have to be complicated. School teaches it. Home reinforces it. Our community models it. And our children live it.

That's how we create something bigger than a successful school year. That's how we build a culture.

A HUGE thank you to the teams at Columbus West and Wilson Elementary Schools for starting the year with so much energy, creativity, laughter and purpose — and to our students and staff who bravely put their scooter-racing skills on display!

Cicero District 99, the challenge has officially been issued. Level Up. Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe.

At school. At home. In our community. Everywhere!