Since 1997, DeKalb High School’s Academic Boosters committee has provided opportunities for parents and staff to work together to support academic endeavors and recognize academic achievement among the student population at DHS.
Academic Boosters hosts three main events during the school year: the Academic Letter Award Night in early fall, a late winter Honors Ice Cream Social, and the Senior Recognition Cord breakfast in May. Students who reach certain academic benchmarks (measured by GPA) are invited to participate. These events, which are respected traditions at DHS, encourage students to set high academic goals.
In addition, Academic Boosters provides healthy snacks for students on school testing days, and has at various times offered parent directories and sponsored academically themed speakers for parents.
Academic Boosters has always been a simple group, small but dedicated, with members meeting every other month to plan the annual events and share ideas for future ways to support academics. For years, the school’s earnings through the Target “Take Charge of Education” program funded its activities. In 2016, Target discontinued this program. Since then the group has been using its remaining funds and requesting product donations to continue events. At this time, Academic Boosters is without funding.
The group is reaching out to community members, civic groups and local businesses, asking to help support the DeKalb High School Academic Boosters so that it can continue to fulfill its goals of supporting academic achievement. Those able to provide a monetary or in-kind contribution, as a one-time or ongoing donation, can send it to DHS Academic Boosters at 501 W. Dresser Road, DeKalb, IL 60115.
Academic Boosters has scheduled its first fundraiser. The Chili’s restaurant in DeKalb has offered a nine-day fundraising program from May 4 through May 13. Patrons can show a voucher while ordering, and the group will receive 15 percent. The vouchers are available in the DeKalb High School main office and online at www.dist428.org in the daily announcements.
For more informations about Academic Boosters, contact Angel Smith at 815-754-2120 or angelsmith@d48.org.