Dear Herrin CUSD 4 Community,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural issue of Stories and Stripes, Herrin Schools’ official quarterly magazine. This publication reflects the incredible work happening every day in our schools and is a testament to the passion, dedication, and collaboration that drives our entire community.

In this first issue, we celebrate the stories of our students, teachers, and staff who make Herrin Schools such a special place to learn and grow. You’ll read about the amazing strides we are making in early childhood education, a critical area of focus as we build strong foundations for our youngest learners. You’ll also learn about the tremendous success we’ve achieved through our Full Service Community Schools Grant, a program that’s enhancing support for our students and families in ways that are already making a significant difference.

In addition, we are proud to showcase the Tech Tigers and the excitement around STEM Night, an event that brings together students, parents, teachers, and the entire community to engage with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in new and innovative ways. Another story features a very special group’s efforts to ease the transition from 6th to 7th grade, ensuring our students feel supported and confident as they move into the next phase of their education, and we celebrate a young man who earned the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy, one of only a small number of Illinois students to achieve such status.

These stories, and many others, reflect who we are as a community. They show the strength of our school district and the incredible potential of our students. As Superintendent, I couldn’t be prouder to help Herrin Schools share these stories with you as both a reflection of the outstanding work being done here and as a window into our shared future.

There is so much to celebrate within these pages, and we invite you to continue supporting our schools as we promote the strengths of this amazing district. Together, we will continue to grow, succeed, and create opportunities for our young people to thrive.

Thank you for being part of our journey and for your unwavering support of Herrin Schools. I look forward to sharing more of our stories with you in the issues to come.

Warm regards,

Nathaniel Wilson
Superintendent, Herrin Community Unit School District No. 4