The Leaflet

Fall 2025

EPCUSD 401 Family & Community Engagement Team

Krista Kerber, Writer & Designer
Dave Porreca, Photographer

To view this newsletter with its original artwork, click here.

Cougars Celebrate Three-Peat Championship Win

As Elm Middle School’s fall sports season continues, we want to salute the girls softball team for an incredible three-peat! The Cougars captured their third consecutive Leyden-Norwood Athletic Conference championship with a 7-2 win over Mannheim on September 24 at Rosemont Stadium. Sixth grader Mia LaRocco hit a grand slam in the first inning, and eighth grader Delilah Rodriguez delivered a dominant pitching performance to secure the win.

The team finished the season 11-1 overall and 10-1 in conference play, going 31-2 against LNAC opponents over the past three seasons under head coach Sue Dutton and assistant coach Kathy Demas. Standout performances included LaRocco (.714 batting average), 7th grader KimBella Posada (.687), and Madelyn “Mad Dog” Braglia with 12 stolen bases. Delilah Rodriguez, the team’s MVP, went 10-1 with 75 strikeouts and only 16 walks.

Coach Dutton said, “I think we were able to do a three-peat because of the desire for the kids to win. They bought into everything I tried to teach them.”

Congrats to all the Cougars on an amazing season!

Read more about this story here.
 

Five EPHS Students Earn ILMEA District 1 Honors Ensembles

Five Elmwood Park High School students were recently selected to perform in the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) District 1 Honors Ensembles, a prestigious program that recognizes exceptional musical talent and dedication.

To qualify, students submitted audition videos performing challenging musical selections and were chosen through ILMEA's highly competitive review process. This year's honorees were:

• Karolina Wojdyla, Senior Band — Flute
• Amanda Camacho, Senior Chorus — Soprano I
• Kelly Dietrich, Senior Chorus — Alto II
• Terea Hargrove, Senior Chorus — Alto II
• Kimberly Herrera, Senior Chorus — Alto I

This was the first time all five students earned District 1 honors, marking an exciting milestone in their musical journeys.
For these students, music has long been a source of connection and self-expression. Kimberly Herrera, a Swing Choir member, clarinetist, and Marching Tigers drum major, said, “I love how we can express our emotions and go with the feeling of the music.” These talented musicians showcase the best of EPHS’s fine arts community through their hard work and artistry.

Read the full story here.
 

Elmwood Elementary Walk-A-Thon Raises Over $10,000

Elmwood Elementary’s annual Walk-A-Thon was a huge success, raising over $10,000 to support school programs and activities. As the PATT’s largest fundraiser, the event helps fund assemblies, classroom celebrations, extra supplies, and student and parent events—adding the “extras” that make Elmwood such a special place.

With beautiful weather, matching shirts, and plenty of smiles, students from Kindergarten through 5th grade walked the route from Belden to Bloomingdale Streets. Volunteers cheered along the way, creating an atmosphere full of energy and school spirit. From dance parties and bubbles to silly string and superhero appearances, the Walk-A-Thon had something for everyone. This event will go down in the books as another unforgettable celebration of Elmwood pride.

Read the full story here.
 

John Mills 4th Grader Named a National Math Star

We’re proud to announce that Michael Swiderski, a 4th grader at John Mills, has been selected for the National Math Stars 2025 cohort—a multi-state program that supports exceptional math students through high school. In 2025, the Midwest region had 1,700 applicants. Of those, 150 became finalists, and 45 were selected as Stars, including eleven from Illinois.

Michael was nominated by Amy Fishman, John Mills’ enrichment teacher, whose dedication helped him shine. Ms. Fishman said, “We are incredibly proud of Michael for this achievement. It’s a remarkable opportunity that will help him thrive academically and open doors in STEM for years to come.” As part of the program, Michael will receive weekly math mentoring, advanced learning opportunities, STEM enrichment, and invitations to competitions and camps—all at no cost to his family. Congratulations to Michael for his hard work!

Read the full story here.
 

Important Upcoming Dates

• December 22-January 2: Winter Break
• March 23-27: Spring Break
• May 29: Last Day of School

All Schools Commendable! 

We’re proud to share that all four District 401 schools received a COMMENDABLE summative designation from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). This designation indicates that all of our student groups performed adequately across the district. In addition, our high school’s 4-year graduation rate reached 91%.

EPHS Alumni Inspire Students at College & Career Fair

Pictured: Dr. Elliott Perez (2013), Domenic Cappelluti (2019), Kyle Wassom (2018), Jim Kozyra (2002), Basia Wilczek (2011), Vince Virgilio (2011), Kevin Clark (2011)

The College and Career Fair made a big impact at EPHS this year! With 20 colleges, 10 Triton programs, and 16 career speakers, students had the chance to explore a wide range of future opportunities.

A highlight of the day was the 7 former EPHS students who returned to share their career journeys. Alumni provided firsthand insight, showing students what it took to reach their professional goals. With careers ranging from biomedical research to finance management, their return showcased pride in the community and offered a unique connection for current students.

Students received “passports” to collect stickers from speakers
and college representatives, giving them a fun, interactive way to engage and ask questions. Overall, the College & Career Fair offered students inspiration, guidance, and a chance to meet connections in their fields of interest—especially from those who once walked the same halls.

Read the full story here.

Stories Around 401

We have the privilege of telling the many stories of our staff and students at District 401. Scan the QR code to view our website, latest news, all social channels, and more!

View All News Stories

401 Recognized by INSPRA

401 has been recognized for an Award of Excellence by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA)! The award was given to our “We Are 401” video series, created by our District Communications & Social Media Specialist, Dave Porreca. The series shares unique stories about the people of our community—like EPHS students who attend Polish school outside of their regular school day.

This specific video shows how these students celebrate and preserve their Polish culture, language, and heritage—strengthening their connections to family, history, and community. They support each other in the program while deepening their understanding of traditions and identity. This story reflects the welcoming, diverse spirit of Elmwood Park and the pride our students carry in who they are and where they come from. Thanks to the “We Are 401” series for highlighting such amazing parts of our community!
 

Superintendent

Dr. Leah Gauthier
Title: Superintendent of Schools

Building Principals

Dr. Amanda Brode-Rico, Elmwood Park High School

Ashley Groeneveld, Elm Middle School

Matt Lerner, Elmwood Elementary School

Frank Kuzniewski, John Mills Elementary School

EPCUSD 401 Family & Community Engagement Team

To view this newsletter with its original artwork, click here. 

Dominic Casamassimo Wins Artist of the Week

Elmwood Elementary 3rd grade student Dominic Casamassimo has won the Artsonia Artist of the Week in the PreK-3rd category for Dec 8- Dec 14! With the title, Casamassimo was awarded a $50 Blick art supplies gift card, and District 401 a $100 Blick card. Additionally, Elmwood Park’s Public Works used his winning piece to wrap parts of the seasonal ice rink in Central Park. Artsonia is an online art portfolio where students can upload and store their work throughout their educational careers.

Cassamassimo and Guenther with their awards

Elmwood art teacher Lauren Guenther maintains Artsonia profiles for all of her students, uploading the work as they complete it. Each week, Artsonia runs the Artist of the Week award, where they select ten pieces from across the country for each age group. Guenther has maintained portfolios at every school she has taught at in her career. Casamassimo is her first student to win the award. This is not his first honor. He says it felt good to win and looks forward to entering more competitions in the future.

Read full story here.

Elm Student Jeremiah Vera Wins Silver Gloves

6th Grade Elm Middle School student Jeremiah Vera has won the prestigious 2024 Illinois State Silver Gloves title fight for the 95 lb weight class. The audience was impressed with his performance; after the fight, he and his father, Alfredo Vera, were approached by many families and coaches, asking where their gym was and if they could visit to observe how Jeremiah trains.

“His skill set at his age level is really something to watch, and I love that everyone else noticed that for him,” Alfredo said.

Jeremiah prepared by training 7.5 hours a week, four days a week at Flowers Fitness. While training can be hard, Jeremiah likes that the sport made him stronger mentally, physically, and socially. Jeremiah wants to keep competing. He says it would be cool to go pro and go to the Olympics someday.

“We do whatever he chooses to do,” Alfredo said. “Whatever the next fight will be, I will just be there to guide him and support him.”

Read full story here. 

2025 SCOTY Recipients

Sgt. Sanchez Surprises Sons at Elmwood and Elm 

On Tuesday, Jan 7, Sgt. Alexander Sanchez surprised his sons Jaxiah and Isaiah Sanchez at school after returning home from a recent deployment. Jaxiah is in 3rd grade at Elmwood Elementary, and Isaiah is in 6th at Elm Middle School. Sgt. Sanchez serves in the Army Reserve and was based in Kuwait on this deployment, conducting missions in Jordan and Iraq. While overseas, he worked as a food inspector, ensuring all stages of the food supply chain for the U.S. military and other NATO forces was safe. Sgt. Sanchez deployed in February 2024 and was scheduled to return Mar 2025. He ended up returning shortly after Christmas; when his sons were not expecting it. For Isaiah, Sgt. Sanchez surprised him during his band class. Isaiah said it was fun to enjoy the surprise at school with his classmates.

“When he first walked in, I was shocked,” Isaiah said “I didn’t know what to do. It was such a surprise!”

For Jaxiah, Elmwood proposed surprising him in front of an assembly with the school, and Sgt. Sanchez was thrilled by the idea. With the plan in place, the 3rd grade class was brought into the auditorium, and after a few minutes of usual assembly programming, Elmwood Principal Matthew Lerner called Jaxiah down to the floor.

“I heard Jax yell, ‘That’s my dad!’ and that’s when it got real,” said Sgt. Sanchez. “I’m very thankful the schools allowed me to do this and welcomed me home!”

That night, the whole family celebrated a belated Christmas together.

“It’s great to be back home and rekindle what I was missing out on,” said Sgt. Sanchez.  “I’m fortunate to be able to be back and tell my story a little bit. A lot of soldiers don’t get the opportunity to share, or to even make it home.”

Sgt. Sanchez thanks everyone who supported Isaiah and Jaxiah while he was gone and helped him coordinate his surprise return. He also thanks everyone who takes the time to hear his story. Elmwood Park thanks Sgt. Sanchez and all service members for their service.

Read full story here.

We have the privilege of telling the many stories of our staff and students at District 401. Below is just a small taste of what our district has been up to.

401 Recognized by INSPRA

401 has been recognized for multiple awards by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA). Awards of Merit have been given for the “Join Our Team! Teaching in District 401” video and “We Are 401” series, telling stories like the Cardona family’s.  

Superintendent

Dr. Leah Gauthier
Title: Superintendent of Schools

Building Principals

Dr. Amanda Brode-Rico, Elmwood Park High School

Ashley Groeneveld, Elm Middle School

Matt Lerner, Elmwood Elementary School

Frank Kuzniewski, John Mills Elementary School

The Leaflet, Fall 2024

EPCUSD 401 Family & Community Engagement Team

To view this newsletter with its original artwork, click here. 

Elm Girls Softball Win Second Championship

The Elm Girls Softball team has won the conference championship for the second year in a row! They won the 2024 title by beating Lincoln-Norwood 11-4, coming off of both an undefeated season and playoffs. The arrival of head coach Sue Dutton in 2022, and assistant coach Kathy Demas this season, has marked a series of successes for the team. In her first year, the team made it to the championship although they failed to clinch the title. In the following season, they lost only one seasonal game and won the 2023 championship. Both the 2023 and the 2024 team have also been led by 8th grader Hailey Smith-Young, star pitcher and hitter. She set the pace for the team in the championship game by homering in the 1st inning. Congratulations Elm! 

2024 Elm Championship Softball Team 

Elmwood Park Wins Big Joining Upstate 8 Conference

This year, District 401 joined 13 schools in the Upstate 8 Conference. The conference is split into East and West divisions, with 401 in the East division. The conference also extends to extracurricular activities. EPHS is set to host the Upstate 8 Conference Art Fest, and will compete in Scholastic Bowl and Math Club. EPHS teams have started off in the conference strong, with great performances in many fall sports. Junior Sam LaBarbera was the Upstate 8 Conference Golfer of the Year, finishing 1st place during the regular season and Upstate 8 Conference Tournament Championship. Girls Volleyball, Boys Soccer, and Girls Tennis all finished in 3rd place in the East Division, and Freshman/Sophmore Girls Cross Country finished 3rd in all of Upstate 8! Go Tigers!

What's Next? 

As we enter the holiday season, here are some dates to keep in mind!

• Dec 23-Jan 3: Winter Break
• Mar 22-31: Spring Break
• Jun 1: High School Graduation
• Jun 3: Last Day of School

All Schools Commendable!

For the 23-24 school year, all of District 401’s schools received a COMMENDABLE summative designation from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). This means there were no underperforming student groups as determined by ISBE across our buildings, and our 4-year high school graduation rate was 87.8%.

Early Childhood Program Earns Quality Recognition Award From the State

Early Childhood Student Rhiley Lockhart and Xavier Cerda play on the John Mills Pre-K playground

“I am incredibly thrilled, proud, and honored that our program earned the Gold Quality recognition from the state,” said Dr. Stephanie Daly,  Executive Director for Student Services. “This achievement is a testament to our teachers and their unwavering commitment and relentless pursuit of excellence.”

 

EPHS Students Visit the Dominican Republic

This article’s full-length edition was written by Senior Yeimi Alday, as part of EPHS’s journalism program. Read it here.

This past summer, 11 EPHS students had the opportunity to go on a school trip to the Dominican Republic, led by teacher Kendal Ahlmann

The trip included service-based learning, alongside fun exploration such as whitewater rafting, relaxing on the beach, and cultural experiences such as pottery classes.  Ahlmann says the purpose was to get students more engaged with the community. 

EPHS students and their expert pilot go whitewater rafting.

Students worked with an institute that specializes in biodiversity and participated in planting coffee trees. Senior Joaquin Aguilar looks back on the experience positively. “It made me feel like I was doing something important,” he says.

The other service opportunity was a collaboration with InspireDR, a sports-based afterschool program for boys. It was senior Sophia Chora’s absolute favorite activity. “Getting to know the kids living there and helping them through sports was definitely a highlight of the trip for me,” she says. 

The trip highlighted the lives of DR youth, including the challenges and advantages they experience. Senior Olivia Martinez-Mohabir noted the memorable social environment. “I got to see a real community — everybody was so friendly there,” she says.

The students agree that this trip went beyond just a vacation. “It was a life-changing experience,” said Chora. And for these students, it allowed them to get out of their comfort zone and changed the way they view their lives. “I learned to be grateful and appreciate the small things,” Aguilar says.

Ahlmann leads an international trip yearly, with next year’s team going to Ireland. It is open to students in the top 20% of their class, or with recommendation. 

Transition Program Continues to Impact Lives in Elmwood Park

District 401 recognizes the importance of supporting students aged 18 to 22 with special needs by providing specialized educational programs promoting independence and life skills. Students in District 401’s Transition Program are currently developing these essential life skills through both classroom learning and real-world experiences. Students get hands-on work experiences by partnering with local businesses. 

Students Alessandra Camacho and Juan Sanabria preparing letters

They also make, distribute, and sell their own products, such as dog treats and spice blends. Those profits are then used to fund special trips to places in the community for entertainment and life-skills practice. 

“We celebrate the smallest victories in the biggest way possible,” says Bridget Flood, a Transition Program teacher. Because each student in the program has different support needs, the staff works together to decide how to best support each student. 

Read full story here.

We have the privilege of telling the many stories of our staff and students at District 401. Below is just a small taste of what our district has been up to.

401 Recognized by INSPRA

401 has been recognized for multiple awards by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA). Awards of Merit have been given for the “Join Our Team! Teaching in District 401” video and “We Are 401” series, telling stories like the Cardona family’s.  

The Cardonas are leaving a multi-generational impression on EPHS. Along with exploring their individual interests, Junior Eric, and Freshman Kylie, play both soccer and percussion, just like their father Alex Cardona (‘03) did! To watch the Cardona story and other INSPRA-awarded videos, click the button above!

Superintendent

Dr. Leah Gauthier
Title: Superintendent of Schools

Building Principals

Dr. Amanda Brode-Rico, Elmwood Park High School

Ashley Groeneveld, Elm Middle School

Matt Lerner, Elmwood Elementary School

Frank Kuzniewski, John Mills Elementary School

EPCUSD 401 Family & Community Engagement Team

Sam Britten, Writer and Photographer  
Dave Porreca, Photographer
Aaron Celmer, Ed.S., Editor

To view this newsletter with its original artwork, click here. 

2024 Graduation

A new class of Elmwood Park High School students has a bright future ahead of them. 2024’s commencement ceremony saw 236 graduates walk across the stage. 

This year’s graduates did not have the typical introduction to high school. This group of students began their freshman year online amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It was not until their sophomore year that in-person learning resumed for all students. 

Students watch on during the 2024 commencement

“They are an incredible group of students and they have set a very high bar for all the students who come after them,” said EPHS Principal Dr. Amanda Brode-Rico. 

This is a resilient group that flourished over the past four years. Several seniors carried on the traditions of many extracurricular activities including National Honor Society, DECA and athletics. 

District 401 could not be more proud of the class of 2024! Click here to view photos from graduation. 

Class of 2024 Highlights

• 168 students are headed to college
• 13 students will enter trade or apprenticeship programs
• 4 students will be serving the United States by joining the military
• 26 students earned 31 total scholarships
• 35 students earned either the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation towards Biliteracy

2023-24 District Highlights

• 79 students received biliteracy honors from the state of Illinois
• 10 EPHS students competed at the DECA International Career Development Conference
• 179 elementary students graduated from the D.A.R.E. program
• 9 EPHS and Elm Middle School students were honored by the Illinois Music Education Association 
• 6 staff members were placed on the Illinois State Board of Education’s “Those Who Excel” list
• 55 students were inducted into either the National Honor Society or the National Junior Honor Society

What's Next?

• Aug. 21: First day of school
• Oct. 4: Homecoming, kickoff at 7 PM
• Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Winter Break
• March 24-28: Spring Break
• June 3: Last day of school

Athletics

EPHS

EPHS wrapped up its final year in the Metro-Suburban Conference as the Tigers join the Upstate 8 this fall. Here are some of the school’s achievements:

• Regional Champions: Girl’s Varsity Softball
• Conference Champions: Girl’s Varsity Soccer
• State Track & Field Qualifier: Jordyn Boatman
• State XC Qualifier: Cassandra Chowaniak
• State Wrestling Qualifier: Rose Craig

Elm

Elm had another successful year in the Leyden-Norwood Athletic Conference. Here are some of the school’s achievements:

• Conference Champions: Girl’s Softball

• Conference Runners-Up: Girl’s Soccer

• Conference Runners-Up: Boy’s Varsity Volleyball

• Conference Runners-Up: Boy’s JV Volleyball

Have you enrolled for the 2024-25 school year? Click here to visit our enrollment page!

Construction

This past year, students and staff utilized the renovated learning spaces at Elmwood Elementary School, John Mills Elementary School and EPHS. 

As you may have seen while driving by one of our buildings, we have multiple ongoing projects. Thank you for your continued support as we continue to improve District 401!

Elm Middle School’s main office under construction in June

Current Projects

• EPHS Decade Wall installation
• New flooring in the EPHS cafeteria
• Elm front office renovation
• Landscaping at the elementary buildings
• Partial roof replacement at the elementary buildings

View our progress here!

EPHS Journalism

Journalism programs at EPHS saw significant growth. Thanks to a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, the student newspaper, The Tiger, had its website upgraded while the student television team, EPTV, worked from their brand new broadcast studio. 

“It was a joy to be able to provide new opportunities to the students and see them take initiative,” said Director for Data, Assessment & Innovation Aaron Celmer. 

The new tools made available to classes paid off. Five EPTV students competed at the Illinois High School Association Journalism sectional competition, all of whom placed top six in their categories. The TV News team placed first, qualifying for state.

In the Illinois Journalism Education Association (IJEA) competition meanwhile, four different students earned either first place, second place or an honorable mention.

“The enrollment numbers for both Introduction to Journalism and Advanced Journalism are skyrocketing,” said Journalism Teacher Christina Heinen. “Students are truly excited to experience this career pathway.”

Journalism students Johnny Baratta, Sarai Quintanar and Rayan Lahlou-nabil work in the new broadcast studio

IHSA Awards

• 1st Place in TV News: Johnny Baratta, Rayan Lahlou-nabil & Sarai Quintanar
• 4th Place in Sports Writing: Matthew Pritt
• 5th Place in Editorial Writing: Lili Corbett
• 6th Place in Review Writing: Lili Corbett

IJEA Awards

• 1st & 2nd Place in Best Sports Feature Story: Matthew Pritt
• 1st Place in Best Serious Commentary: Weronika Walaszek
• 2nd Place in Best Review: Yeimi Alday
• Honorable Mention in Best Video Story: Michael Rominiski

Dual-Credit Opportunities

EPHS continues to offer dual-credit opportunities for its students. Similar to Advanced Placement courses, credits earned from dual-credit classes are transferable to colleges and universities after graduation. 

Some classes are taken at the high school, like Virtual Enterprises International and English College Composition. Other classes are offered off-campus at Triton College or the Technology Center of DuPage. 

Senior Roy Zuniga during one of his TCD classes

For dual-credit courses, students earn transferable credit based on completion and class grade. This differs from AP, where a college or university determines credit a student may receive based on how well they perform on the end of year AP test.

Interested in our many dual-credit classes? Talk with your school counselor this fall!

Teacher Spotlight

Jackie Regnier

Jackie is a Social Studies Teacher at EPHS. She is also a cross country and track & field coach as well as a 2025 class sponsor. Here’s some trivia about her!

• Years at EPHS: 2.5
• Undergrad: Illinois State University
• Achievements: ISBE Award of Meritorious Service & Street Law Supreme Court Attendee
• Fun fact about me: I enjoy fishing and my best catch was a 41-inch musky
• In my free time: I run and spend time with my dog Frank, my family and friends
• My family and I always argue about: Where to go for dinner
• A hot take of mine: Pineapple belongs on pizza

Stories Around 401

We have the privilege of telling the many stories of our staff and students at District 401. Below is just a small taste of what our district has been up to. Click here to view our entire district news section!

WE ARE 401: Elm Middle School's Jazzy Soto

Jazzy Soto is now in eighth-grade at Elm. Jazzy’s dedication and disciplined skating have earned her a place on the Starlights, one of the top synchronized teams in the country. Her commitment shows what D401 is about!

Butterflies released by John Mills students

John Mills students learned about the life cycles of butterflies as they tended to their transformation from chrysalises. The lesson finished when students released the insects into the wild. 

EPHS Theatre Company dazzles in Chicago

The moment everyone in EPHS Theatre had been working for since December finally arrived when the curtain opened for this year’s spring musical, Chicago: Teen Edition. Cast and crew members worked tirelessly to deliver three stellar performances.

Elmwood students work on stories with their parents

Elmwood third-grade students wrote stories about any topic of their choosing. After finishing their rough drafts, their parents came in and helped them write the final draft and draw a picture. 

Cultural Heritage Celebration sees great turnout

This year’s Cultural Heritage Celebration (previously multicultural night) had a great turnout this year. The event featured several performances highlighting different cultures. After the performances, the crowd enjoyed food from a variety of cultures. 

Superintendent

Dr. Leah Gauthier
Title: Superintendent of Schools

Building Principals

Dr. Amanda Brode-Rico, Elmwood Park High School

Ashley Groeneveld, Elm Middle School

Matt Lerner, Elmwood Elementary School

Frank Kuzniewski, John Mills Elementary School

View Winter 2023-34 Newsletter Here

View Winter 2023-34 Newsletter Here