Superintendent's Message

Superintendent's Message

Archive

Office of the Superintendent

April 17, 2025

Dear Rich Township Families,

As we wrap up the third week of April and head into Spring Break, the energy and momentum across the district continue to shine. Our students and staff have been pushing boundaries, setting new standards, and showing an inspiring commitment to excellence and growth. Their achievements are a testament to the vibrant, resilient community we’re building together. As we take a well-deserved pause, we also look ahead with excitement to the important updates and events still to come this spring.

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Spring Break Reminder

A reminder to all families that there will be no school tomorrow, Friday, April 18th in observance of Good Friday. Spring Break will continue the following week, from April 21st through April 25th. Classes will resume on Monday, April 28th. We hope our students and staff enjoy a safe, restful, and well-deserved break!

Raptor Excellence on Full Display as We Head Into Spring Break

This past weekend, our Raptors made their mark both on and off the field. At Ozinga Field, the Raptors Baseball team scored a major win at the Chicago Baseball Classic, defeating the Ogden Owls 12–6. Hosted by @blackbaseballmedia, this powerful event celebrated Black baseball excellence, and we were proud to be a part of it.

In track and field, Rich Township delivered standout performances at the Stagg Co-Ed Invitational, taking 2nd place overall in the first outdoor meet of the 2025 season. London Cushmeer blazed to a 1st place finish in the 100m with a time of 12.55, now ranked #29 in Illinois. The Girls 4x200 relay team of G. Valladay, L. Cushmeer, M. Doss, and T. Thompson took 1st place with a time of 1:44.95, earning a #8 state ranking.

Our Fine Arts programs also had a weekend to remember. The Jazz Band and Concert Band both earned Superior Ratings—the highest possible— at the IHSA

Organizational Competition at Harvard High School. We are incredibly proud of our musicians and directors for their continued excellence.

In STEM, the MER Club and Principles of Engineering students showcased their talents at the South Works Engineering and Robotics Olympics. Our students brought home 2nd Place finishes in both the Pathfinders Robotics Line Follower and the Catapult competition. Raptor Engineering is on the rise!

To cap off the weekend, the Performing Arts Collective brought the house down with a stunning final performance of the Spring Musical, Dream Girls. With incredible talent on display each night, the production was a major success and a true celebration of student artistry.

These wins—athletic, academic, artistic, and technical—are just a few examples of the excellence happening every day at Rich Township. We’re proud of our Raptors!

Class of 2025 Graduation Updates

The Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 17th at 3:30 PM at the Fine Arts & Communications campus field stadium.

Senior families are encouraged to visit the graduation webpage for important updates, requirements, and upcoming events: www.rich227.org/page/class-of-2025.

If you have any questions, please contact Senior Class Sponsor Deb Wright at dwright@rich227.org.

We look forward to celebrating this exciting milestone with our graduates!

You may also follow us on social media:

● Facebook: @District227

● Twitter: @DrJohnnieThomas @richtownshiphs

● Instagram: @district227_

● Superintendent's Message on our district website: https://www.rich227.org/page/superintendents-message

Your continued support of Rich Township High School District 227 is appreciated and vital to ensure student success.

Respectfully,

Dr. Johnnie Thomas

Superintendent