Community Events

Irving Student Ruhi Saldhana Earns Honorable Mention at White House Film Festival
Ruhi Saldhana, a fourth grader from Irving Elementary School, was among the 270 students whose submission for the 2015 White House Student Film Festival received an honorable mention. More than 1600 students from around the world submitted videos for the festival. You can view Ruhi’s video by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yx1IaB6qoQ&list=PLRJNAhZxtqH-LWvhsyQDbE-F0RRETGDlz&index=158

Irving Teacher Selected as Finalist for Golden Apple Award

Lauren Saliny, a special education teacher at Irving Elementary School, has been named one of the 30 finalists for the 2015 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Saliny, whose nomination was selected from the more than 600 that were submitted, is being recognized for her role in “building a strong, better educated society.” She will be honored with the other finalists at a Celebration of Excellence being held on April 11, 2015.

All 30 finalists will experience a final round of review and classroom observations prior to the selection and announcement of the 10 award recipients. The Golden Apple’s award selection committee, which is comprised of college and university professors, administrators and former Golden Apple Award recipients, will “utilize industry and research-based professional standards to identify the teachers who exemplify the best of the teaching profession.”

Additional information about the Golden Apple Awards, as well as a list of the 2015 finalists, can be accessed by clicking here.

Oak Park Education Foundation (OPEF) Annual Gala
OPEF William C. Staszak Annual Gala
Show your support for the enriching in-school programs brought to District 97 public-school students by the Oak Park Education Foundation. Join us for a highly entertaining evening at our William C. Staszak Annual Gala on Saturday, April 11.
  • LAUGH: The wonderfully funny Mark Bazer, syndicated columnist, host of “The Interview Show” and Oak Park dad, will be our emcee.
  • LEARN: We will have surprise guests who will showcase OPEF’s next exciting, innovative program resulting from our Call for Ideas.
  • CONNECT: Mix and mingle with other great supporters of Oak Park public education — parents, teachers, administrators and engaged community members. The open bar will help, as will the small plates and desserts!
  • SUPPORT: Unique and interesting live and silent auction items will entice you to bid. We will be featuring one-of-a-kind vacation homes, sports and show tickets, food and wine, behind-the-scenes tours, and much more. This year’s raffle ticket buys a chance to win an Instant Wine Cellar, 24 bottles of wines selected by certified sommelier Andy Kohn!
There will also be a tribute to former OPEF board member Peter Traczyk.
RSVP and buy tickets at opef.org/staszak. Can’t come? We’ll miss you but you can still buy a raffle ticket or three, or make a donation. All proceeds support OPEF’s free in-school programs and BASE Camp scholarships.
With your support, all District 97 students, no matter what their resources, receive OPEF’s free programs multiple times in grades K-8. We hope you will join us to help make the magic happen!