Attention D15 residents interested in working part-time with school-age children: employment opportunities are available across the District, and likely at your neighborhood school!
 
The Palatine and Rolling Meadows Park Districts are currently recruiting qualified staff for District 15's Children's Activity, Recreation, and Enrichment Program, or C.A.R.E.

C.A.R.E. is a collaborative venture between District 15 and the park districts that provides high-quality and affordable before- and after-school childcare to students in kindergarten through sixth grade in each D15 elementary school.

"C.A.R.E. demonstrates the positive outcomes that occur for students and their families when strong community partnerships between various governmental entities exist," said Matthew Barbini, Ed.D., District 15's Deputy Superintendent of Schools.

During the 2015-16 school year, enrollment in this incredibly popular program increased from about 650 students to around 850, as the park districts significantly increased their staffing to accommodate a greater number of students. To continue to offer this program at this level--and to potentially reduce waiting lists that still exist at some D15 schools--they are now seeking to hire parents, grandparents, high school students, or any D15 community members who ...

• Are at least 17 years old and have a desire to work with school-age children.
• Are caring, positive, punctual, dependable, enthusiastic, and energetic role models.
• Demonstrate strong customer service skills and can effectively communicate to and build strong relationships with children and adults.
• Can interact with and supervise children, and can plan and implement a variety of age-appropriate recreational, enrichment, and group activities.
• Care about and can attend to individual participants' needs.
• Can attend training and staff meetings and follow all Park District and District 15 policies and procedures.

When school is in session, C.A.R.E.'s before-school program begins at 7 a.m. each weekday morning, and runs until the school day begins at each site. C.A.R.E.'s after-school program begins when each school dismisses in the afternoon, and runs until 6 p.m. each evening. C.A.R.E. staff typically work between 15 and 23 hours a week, and their pay ranges from $8.25 to $10.50 per hour depending upon their experience.
 
Applications for these positions must be submitted by Sunday, July 31, so if this kind of part-time employment opportunity interests you, don't hesitate. Visit the employment sections of the Palatine and Rolling Meadows Park Districts' websites to learn more or to apply to become part of District 15's C.A.R.E. staff.

The Kimball Hill School community is enjoying a new garden this summer thanks to Lowe's.

The Lowe's Heroes program provided Kimball Hill with $2,500 of materials needed to build the new garden. It also provided the school community with a helping hand in completing the task. More than a dozen local Lowe's employees volunteered their time earlier this summer to join Kimball Hill staff, students, and families in building the beautiful new garden plot.

"This was a total community effort," said Kristen Franke, Kimball Hill's LRC director. "As the day progressed, families came, helped out, and then had to leave, but then more families would magically show up. It was a magical flow of kids and families all day long."

"Lowe's employees even had their children with them,' added Mrs. Franke. "I met a couple who are Lowe's employees and who had just purchased a house in the neighborhood. They had their 8-month-old daughter in a stroller as they worked with us, and I couldn't help but think, 'That baby is a future Kimball Hill student! How cool is that?!'"

Kimball Hill's new garden is situated behind the school, and it features ornate fencing that encompasses a bird bath and paver stones that lead to three raised beds filled with a variety of vegetables and herbs. The school developed an online form for families to sign up to care for the garden over the summer, and the form was completely filled in within hours of the project's completion.

"We are so grateful to Lowe's and its local employees for their gift of this garden," said Tracey Wrobel, Kimball Hill School Principal. "Their hard work and their generous donation of supplies and equipment made it all possible. This is a community service project that the Lowe's Heroes program can be proud of, as Kimball Hill students and families will enjoy it for many years to come."