Centennial Charger, Jay Macedo, and Principal Sara Sanders attended the Illinois State Board of Education 2025 Student Advisory Council Summit! Jay is one of the student representatives. They were greeted by State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders.
Unit 4 is Celebrating Women's History Month!
Today, we spotlight Tracey Jones, who is finishing 39 years with Unit 4 Schools—the only place she’s ever worked. Her dedication and commitment to our students, families and staff is truly inspiring!
The person she finds inspiration in is River Jones. Tracey said, "River Jones inspires me for her resilience, heart, and sheer determination. From completing her undergraduate degree during COVID and taking science lab classes online to having only 2 months left of an intensive Physicians Assistant Masters program, she is the epitome of a growth mindset. She has such a compassionate heart for all people and has become an amazing woman of science!"
Here’s to the incredible women who inspire us every day!
Last week, a group of seventh and eighth grade mentees and their mentors toured six U of I Facilities and Services shops. They explored careers in the grounds area, machine shop, lock shop, insulation shop, mill shop, and operating engineers shop—learning about job roles, qualifications, and pay in the trades. A great hands-on experience for future career exploration!
Unit 4 families, we want to hear from you! The Illinois 5Essentials Survey gathers feedback on leadership, teaching, and family engagement to help improve our schools. Your input shapes our School Improvement Plan. Take 10 minutes to share your thoughts: https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/
Mark your calendars!
Spring Break: March 17-21 — No school.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: March 13-14 — No school for students.
We hope everyone enjoys a restful break and quality time with family.
Carrie Busey Elementary Assistant Principal, Brian Alexander, was the recipient of the Difference Maker Award from the United Way of Champaign County. Thanks for all you do to make our community a better place!
Reminder, families! Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday—don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour! Enjoy the extra daylight as we get closer to spring!
Unit 4 Schools welcomed many community members to read to students during Read Across America Week. It is the nation's largest celebration of reading, intended to motivate and help students become aware of and celebrate good reading habits.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker visited Centennial today to discuss his proposed statewide ban on classroom cell phone use. His initiative aims to enhance student focus and academic performance by reducing digital distractions during instructional time. Educators and students engaged in a dialogue with the governor, sharing insights on the potential impact of such a statewide policy.
Superintendent Dr. Shelia Boozer noted a similar policy Unit 4 Schools implemented this year. Unit 4’s policy aims to foster a more focused and supportive learning environment, focusing on learning and engagement, prioritizing school as a place for learning that is distraction free. Dr. Boozer said Unit 4’s policy has had a positive impact based on teacher and parent feedback.
Join us in celebrating our dedicated social workers during National School Social Work Week! We are appreciative of their stellar support of Unit 4 students. #SSWWeek2025
During Parent-Teacher conference days, each school will offer on-site registration assistance:
March 13th in the afternoon and March 14th in the morning.
For more details about specific times, please contact your child's school. #Ready4Registration
Incoming Kindergarten Families, last chance to visit any of our 12 elementary schools.
Tuesday, March 4, 5-7 pm:
Westview, Dr. Howard, South Side, Booker T. Washington, Stratton, Garden Hills
Thursday, March 6, 5-7 pm
Barkstall, Carrie Busey, Bottenfield, International Prep Academy, Kenwood, Robeson
The Science Olympiad team of International Prep Academy has advanced to the state level for the second time in just three years! They placed in 17 of the 20 events entered, securing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place, and achieving a remarkable 3rd place overall finish—bringing yet another trophy back to IPA! What an incredible feat!
A heartfelt shout out to Coach Geoffrey Freymuth!
Unit 4 Schools celebrates Women's History Month! We applaud the incredible women who have shaped history, education, and our community.
Join us in recognizing Public Schools Week, Feb. 24 - Feb. 28, 2025! Let’s celebrate the educators, students, and communities that make public schools the heart of our nation. Public schools help students achieve their dreams! Whether it’s excelling in the classroom, on the field, or in the arts, every success is worth celebrating. #PSW25
Fourteen outstanding Unit 4 staff members have been recognized as Super Care Heroes by Care Solace! The Super Care Hero Award celebrates mental health advocates, school counselors, and school mental health staff who go above and beyond to connect students to the care they need.
This recognition highlights their dedication to changing lives, supporting student well-being, and creating a positive impact in our community.
Please join us in congratulating these amazing individuals on this well-deserved honor. Their hard work and compassion make a difference every single day!
Thank you for helping us celebrate our Super Care Heroes!
Unit 4’s Special Education Department hosted a recruitment luncheon for our current student teachers. GotSophia has decided to start her career with Unit 4!
Today we celebrated Booker T. Washington STEM Academy and their staff's culture of giving! During Unit 4's United Way of Champaign County annual giving campaign, Booker T. Washington organized their building and recruited the most individual donors to the United Way!
And that's a wrap! Our CTE Career Fair was a resounding success. Again, thank you to the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and our community partners for making this career fair so impactful. Hundreds of Unit 4 students were connected with employers from dozens of industries.
In observance of Presidents' Day, all Unit 4 school and administrative buildings will be closed on Monday, February 17.
