WINTER 2022 - Leyden High School District 212
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WINTER 2022
Superintendent’s Corner
Cheers to 2022!
Dear Leyden Community,
As we have welcomed in 2022, I want our students and teachers, and our
to highlight some very good news partnership with Triton College. We
from our annual school report card for know that when students have the
the district. Last year, 1,568 Leyden opportunity to take college level
students were able to take courses coursework in high school, it helps
that earned them early college credit. with their confidence and their
That represents 45.8% of our student transition to whatever lies ahead.
population. In 2020, that percentage
Similarly, we have seen dramatic
was 36.9% and in 2019 it was 33.6%.
increases in students earning career-
These opportunities are a combination ready credentials in fields such as early
of Advanced Placement Courses, childhood education, culinary arts,
where students take exams for college nursing, automotives, manufacturing,
Nick Polyak, Ed.D.
Superintendent credit at the end of the year, and technology, and more. By providing
Dual Credit Courses, where students a wide range of career and college
earn credit at both Leyden and Triton readiness opportunities, we feel that
College at the same time. Either way, our students are prepared for whatever
those course credits are generally pathways they pursue after high school.
transferable to other universities and
As always, we thank you for your
programs that our students pursue
continued partnership as we always
after graduation.
strive to “Do What’s Best For The Kids.”
The growth in these numbers are
With Leyden Pride,
a testament to the dedication of
Dr. Nick Polyak
E-Sports debut
in Fall 2021
With varsity and
junior varsity teams,
a roster of students
are competing in
the E-Sports games
of Overwatch and
Rocket League.
2 LEYDEN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 212 www.leyden212.org
District hires new principal for West Leyden
On Thursday, December 16, the Leyden Senteno earned a Bachelor of Arts in
High School District 212 Board of Teaching from Monmouth College, Master
Education approved the hiring of Arturo of Arts in Teaching from Aurora University
Senteno as the new West Leyden and an Educational Administration
principal, effective July 1, 2022. The hiring Superintendent’s Endorsement (Ed.S)
of Senteno is a result of an extensive from Northern Illinois University where
search process, including a pre-screening he also expects to earn his Educational
of qualified candidates and a series of Doctorate in December of 2022.
interviews with Leyden administrators,
faculty, staff and students. “The reason I come to work every day
is to give every student the opportunity
“After meeting with many outstanding for personal success and I can’t wait to
candidates, Senteno emerged as our continue this in the Leyden community,”
finalist because of his extensive and vast said Senteno. “I hope that together
leadership experience, his passion for we can provide a support system that
building relationships with faculty, and his employs advocacy for students and
unwavering support for student growth maintains the rigor necessary to be
and learning,” said Superintendent Nick successful beyond high school. My goal Arturo Senteno
Polyak. “He has demonstrated throughout is to give all students the spark to light
a lengthy and diverse career in education their passion because every child should
that he has the ability to lead West be encouraged to be the best version of
Leyden on the strong path that has been themselves.” “The reason I
established and to help us in our efforts
to continue to meet the needs of our Senteno fills the role resulting from current come to work
communities.” principal, Patricia Makishima’s intention to every day is to give
step away from the role at the conclusion
Senteno currently serves as the associate of this school year to pursue other
every student the
principal for instruction at Elk Grove High opportunities. opportunity for
School in District 214. Prior to that, he personal success
served in numerous other roles at the “Principal Makishima has been a crucial
district, including associate principal of part of the Leyden family for the past and I can’t wait
student services/operations at Rolling three years, and we wish her the best of
luck in her new adventures,” said Polyak.
to continue this
Meadows High School, dean of students,
biology teacher, and head varsity water “She accomplished great things during in the Leyden
polo coach. Senteno has served as a her time here, helped lead us through community.”
Captain in the Illinois Army National Guard the pandemic, and will be missed by the
as a medical specialist and did a tour of entire Leyden Family.”
duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
LEYDEN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 212 www.leyden212.org 3
Leyden continues One Amazing Story series
The video series launched last spring with the goal of “The beauty of this series is that with each individual
sharing the stories of Leyden parents, students, staff and story, we are building the collective story of our
the community, one story at a time. These are meant to be Leyden community,” said Karen Geddeis, Director of
stories that are unique, timely, interesting, and showcase Communications.
something that might usually go unrecognized.
students to
“‘I want our
an do that.” “It feels go
say, hey, I c od to know
— Pazol helped so you
meone els
e.”
— East Stu
dents (D e
Rodzach, jesus,
Lesny, So
bieralsk y)
Science teacher conducts Autos students build a
research in the Arctic bike to help a child in need
Science teacher Jon Pazol spent six weeks on When engaging in a design process, we often ask, “What
an icebreaker in the arctic collecting research for problem are we trying to solve?” The problem our autos
environmental studies. While he was able to share his students set out to address was that of a child, who due
experiences with students through video chats, the real to a physical limitation, had trouble enjoying a simple bike
beauty was in showing his students that, “Hey, I can do ride like her friends. Under the leadership of autos teacher
that!” Pazol wants students to know what is possible in Paul Potvin, the students converted a standard bike into an
this life, and that is One Amazing Story. eBike that helps this young lady ride in style.
Kamila Banach and Aleyda Urcino took 3rd at the State Special The annual Leyden Food and Toy Drive collected more than 700 lbs of food
Olympics bowling championship this weekend. and more than 100 toys this past season for local families in need.
4 LEYDEN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 212 www.leyden212.org
A new video debuts each month, at the Board of Education social media, and publications. Subscribe
meeting, and then is posted and distributed throughout on YouTube; scan the QR code to enjoy the
Leyden’s communications channels including YouTube, following fall videos:
up who
“I saw this gro “The students
ly stranger s , and helping
began as most them connect
d up with theater,
to each other en is where my he
connected ar t is - it’s
becoming very why I do what
rever.” I do and
and changed fo have been gra
— D elgado
teful ever y
day that I get to
come to
Leyden and ‘p
lay’”
— Pilolla
Illinois educators conduct service Technical director helps
projects in Dominican Republic student connect with theater
Superintendent Nick Polyak, Board Member Cesar Garcia, Technical director Victor Pilolla, now recently retired, is a
and Video Production Specialist Brandon Delgado joined true artist of many media who found his place here with
other educators from across the state in the Dominican the students at Leyden and ended up staying for his entire
Republic last month where they conducted various service career. An engineer by trade, he paved his way through
projects over a four-day period. This inaugural Illinois high school theater, leading state-wide conferences and
Association of School Administrators (IASA) Global Service productions, hundreds of shows, and recently added
Project 2021 was part of an effort to build relationships “world premiere debut” to his resume with “Wave” earlier
across Illinois, while doing meaningful work and learning this year. Pilolla retired this year and has opened a fine art
and experiencing another culture. gallery in Hawaii.
Leyden’s BRIDGE Special Olympics Basketball team is state-bound! In
March, the following student athletes will compete in the championship
in Bloomington-Normal: Gianluca Bravo, Christopher Carrera-Sanchez,
Emmanuel Deacon, Jonathon Gonzalez, Alexander Juraszek, William
Landy, Dominic LaRocco, Lester Martinez, Daniel Ramirez, Javier Rosado, The cast and crew of Wave were invited to perform at
Sammy Termine and William Torres. the 46th annual Illinois High School Theater Festival,
January 6 - 8 at Illinois State University. QR Code:
Watch Wave the documentary
LEYDEN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 212 www.leyden212.org 5
Leyden is New This Year Water Polo teams debut in
hiring! Three new courses Spring 2022
Join our approved for the 2022-23 It was announced at the Board of
team school year Education Meeting on October 6 that
Companies and Next year, students will have the Leyden will officially have boys and girls
organizations opportunity to select three new courses Water Polo teams in the spring of 2022.
across all including Environmental Science, Bilingual Water Polo teams consist of six players
industries Biology and Bilingual Global Studies. and one goalie.
are struggling to hire and retain These courses were recommended
employees in this current climate by the faculty and instructional chairs #LeydenPride Congratulations!
surrounding the pandemic and its and then approved by the Curriculum Teachers Dana Jeske and Chris
impact on our economy. Advisory Council. Environmental Science Lange earned their National Board
was recommended as a way to offer Certification! This is one of the highest
At Leyden High School District
seniors another option beyond Physics distinctions a teacher can earn, and
212, we too are experiencing
and Health Sciences. Bilingual Biology requires hours of dedication in a lengthy
the challenges of this economic
and Global Studies are about helping to process.
impact, and have important roles
in our organization that remain create a course sequence that provides Natalie Juszczyk, a sophomore at
unfilled. Potential and ongoing an opportunity for our Spanish-speaking East Leyden, recently earned first place in
openings include administrative, students to have improved access to the Polish Translation in the 2021 Illinois
certified teaching, transportation, content. High School Translation Competition.
food services, maintenance, guest Thirty-five students from 23 schools in
teaching and various support staff West to get a new Illinois participated in the competition
roles. A full list of current jobs and concession stand and translated a 450-700-word text from
the online application A new Eagle’s Nest concession stand either Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, or
is available at www. was approved to be built for the start of Swedish into English.
leyden212.org/jobs, the 2022-23 school year. In addition to Leyden students Patty Karpiesiuk and
or scan the QR code. the concession stand itself, the project Lily Dodgers, scored their personal
includes significant site work, improving best in diving and Lily for setting a new
water retention, plumbing and electrical school record with 333.6 points at the
components. The building footprint is Fenwick Sectional meet! The Leyden girls
scheduled to double in size and will be swim team took 3rd place overall closing
constructed over the spring and summer. out the season.
Leyden District 212 Board of Education
Board of Education meetings are in the East Campus Board Room
Leyden High School District 212 is an equal opportunity
institution, committed to compliance with all applicable
state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination. This
includes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, order of
protection status, sexual orientation, physical or mental
disability, homelessness and marital/parental status,
including pregnancy.
As required by S.B. 898, you may go to Leyden’s
Mr.Gregory T. Ignoffo Mrs. Gloria Murawska Mr. James A. Lima Mr. Joseph Trevino Mrs. Lisa Anthony website to view our budget at: www.leyden212.org
President Vice President Secretary Member Member
East Campus West Campus
3400 Rose Street 1000 N. Wolf Road
Franklin Park, IL 60131 Northlake, IL 60164
Thank you to those who contributed photos to
this edition of the newsletter.
Mrs. Sandra Boehm Mr. Cesar Garcia Daniel Lechuga Izabella Laniewski
Member Member Student Member Student Member
LEYDEN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 212 www.leyden212.org
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