Patriot Pulse

Hello Grissom Families.

The 2026-27 school year is right around the corner! We are eager to welcome our new and returning Patriots for the first day of school on Thursday, August 20th. Please review arrival and dismissal procedures linked in this newsletter so you are prepared for the first day of school.

PLEASE NOTE that our doors will open for arrival this year starting at 8:30 AM. Staff will be out supervising bus and door entrances at this time. Students walking, biking, or being dropped off via car to school will not be able to enter the building until that time.

Also, mark your calendars for our Open House on Monday, August 24th at Grissom from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.

Hot Lunch is now open for ordering! You will find the information and link for ordering Hot Lunch for your child for the first half of our school year.

Grissom's school picture day will be held on Friday, August 28th during the school day. Students should come dressed to school on this day ready to take their pictures for school-IDs and the yearbook. Information for how to pre-order pictures is available in the newsletter.

We are looking forward to a terrific start to the new school year! Go Patriots!

With gratitude,

Mr. Michael Rumbaugh

Principal

Arrival and Dismissal Times

Arrival (8:30 - 8:37 a.m.)

Staff are on hand to supervise students outside the building entrances starting at 8:30 a.m. every morning. If your child is a walker or car rider, it is recommended that they arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 8:37 a.m. to ensure they reach their first-period class by the 8:40 a.m. bell.

Walker/car rider entrances will not be accessible after 8:37 a.m. Students who arrive after this time will need to report directly to the main office and may be marked tardy to school.

Dismissal (3:07 p.m.)
Students are dismissed at 3:07 p.m. every full school day. On half days, students are dismissed at 12 p.m.

Bus Riders

Students riding the bus to school will be dropped off and picked up in the bus corral on the east end of the building. They will enter and exit through the designated bus doors.

Car Riders

Our two designated car drop-off and pick-up locations are northbound on Grissom Drive and eastbound on 169th Street. Drop off and pick up students on the side nearest to the school. See the map below for the specific locations.

Walkers

Walkers and bike riders must cross the street at 169th Street and Grissom Drive when arriving to and leaving from school. A crossing guard is assigned to this corner to safely cross students at arrival and dismissal.

Safe Routes to School
Refer to the information and map below, indicating safe walking routes to school. If your child walks or rides a bike to school, please take a moment to review and discuss the safest route to take when traveling to and from school.

Please make plans to attend our elementary and middle school open houses:

• Tuesday, August 18 – Elementary Open House for Early Childhood, Preschool, and K-5 families from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. This year, our elementary Open House will take place two days before the first day of school. Be sure to mark your calendar so you don't miss it.

• Monday, August 24 – Middle School Open House from 6:00 to 7:30 pm

Parents and students are welcome to view their schools, meet their teachers, and visit with our PTOs.

Hot Lunch ordering is now open!

CLICK THIS LINK TO ORDER HOT LUNCH FOR THE 26-27 SCHOOL YEAR.

All orders and payments for first half of the school year will be due on Tuesday, August 25th.

The instructions for ordering Hot Lunch can be found in the attached document below.

Volunteers Needed! Hot Lunch Days

We can’t run this program without you! Come join us and help make Hot Lunch a success for our Grissom Patriots. Sign up to volunteer below!

Thank you!

Grissom PTO

grissommspto@gmail.com

School Picture Day will be Friday, August 28th during school hours. Order forms will be sent home with students next week.

All students will have their picture taken, whether or not they purchase a package. These photos will also be used for student ID cards and the school yearbook.

Please encourage your child to dress appropriately for Picture Day.

If your child is absent, a make-up/re-take day will be scheduled later in the school year.

Below is a flyer with information for how to pre-order picture packages. These flyers will also be distributed to students to take home next week. The flyer states that pre-ordering is required. However, there will be an opportunity to order pictures after picture day, as well.

If you have any questions, please call the Grissom office at 708-429-3030.

Kindergarten Roundup from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at Bannes, Fernway, Keller, McAuliffe, and Millennium. This is a special time for families to meet their principal and teachers and learn everything they'll need to know about the first day of school. Please join us!

Tuesday, August 18

Open House at Elementary Schools for EC, Preschool, and K-5 families from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. This year, our elementary Open House will take place two days before the first day of school. Be sure to mark your calendar so you don't miss it.

Tuesday, August 18 - Teacher Institute Day - No School

Wednesday, August 19 - Teacher Institute Day - No School

Thursday, August 20

First Day of School for All Students (EC - 8) - Elementary school students will attend school from 7:55 am to 2:25 pm. Middle school students will attend school from 8:40 am to 3:07 pm.

Monday, August 24

Middle School Open House from 6:00 to 7:30 pm

The entire school year calendar can be viewed on our website at 2026-27 School Year Calendar.

Friday, August 28

Grissom School Picture Day - during school hours

As we prepare for the 2026-27 school year, we encourage families to review the district calendar.

KSD 140 uses the ParentSquare messaging platform to keep parents and guardians informed and engaged with our schools and the District.

• Receive messages from the school via email, text, or app notification

• Choose to receive information as it comes or all at once with a daily digest at 6 p.m.

• Communicate in your preferred language

• Direct message teachers and staff

• Sign up for parent-teacher conferences

• Sign forms & permission slips, sign up to volunteer, and more, all from your desktop or mobile device

We encourage parents to access their accounts by visiting parentsquare.com/signin and REGISTERING using the email or phone number listed in Infinite Campus.

For even greater convenience, please download the ParentSquare app (available free for iOS and Android devices).

D140 prioritizes comprehensive strategies to support students' mental, emotional, and physical health. Please click Health Information to review our resources. Together, we can create a nurturing environment where every student can thrive.

#KirbyONE40 #EveryChildEveryDay

Respectfully,

Mr. Michael Rumbaugh - Principal

mirumbaugh@ksd140.org

Mrs. Theresa Blackwell - Assistant Principal

tblackwell@ksd140.org

Principal Michael Rumbaugh- mirumbaugh@ksd140.org

Website: ksd140.org/grissom
Location: 17000 South 80th Avenue, Tinley Park, IL, 60477
Phone: 708-429-3030