'Where I'm From' Poetry Exhibit Presented By Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy Students

Press release from East Aurora School District 131:

AURORA, IL — Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy (FRMA) current and former 8th-grade students read excerpts from their “Where I’m From” poetry collection to the EASD 131 School Board of Education on Monday, April 15, and then to our community on Wednesday, April 17, at the Santori Aurora Public Library during a special reception. Their poems were heartwarming and inspiring!

Focusing on Nostalgic Reclamation while utilizing the theme: MY AURORA, students reflected on their past and ‘where they are from’, literally and figuratively with the purpose of healing after the pandemic and fueling resilience in each classroom and school.

In preparation for a return to school following the pandemic in 2021, our district partnered with Dr. Badia Ahad, Loyola University Provost, to train 900 teachers, administrators and support staff district wide on the concept of Nostalgia, Reclamation, Regeneration and Retribution.

Congratulations to Dr. Lisa Dallacqua, EASD 131 Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, who led the charge in making the Nostalgia Project a central and important part of our curriculum and to the 8th grade team of FRMA teachers who led this project at the school: Cynthia Martinez (Social Studies), Laura Krueger (Language Arts), Bethany Morton (Honors Algebra), Lisa Peña (Science) and Mara Zdanowska (Former Science Teacher).

The Aurora Public Library is currently exhibiting this digital and print collection of poetry until April 30. To learn more about this exhibition visit this link.

Congratulations to our EASD 131 students and staff for this incredible and meaningful exhibition!

This press release was produced by East Aurora School District 131. The views expressed here are the author’s own.