Bobcat Bulletin

Principal's Message

Dear Bannes Families,

What a great start to the school year! Our Bobcats have been busy learning routines, practicing our schoolwide expectations, building relationships, and getting back into the rhythm of learning. Thank you for all you are doing at home to help us start the year on such a positive note!

As we head into September, we are focusing on academic courage and perseverance. For our students, that means being willing to try, asking questions when they aren’t sure, learning from mistakes, and sticking with something even when it feels hard.

We want our Bobcats to know that they don’t have to get everything right the first time. Sometimes the best learning happens when something is challenging and they have to keep working at it. It’s a perfect connection to our theme this year: Challenge Accepted: Believe. Challenge. Achieve.

A Few Reminders

Arrival & Dismissal: Thank you for your patience as our routines continue to get smoother! Please continue to follow our arrival and dismissal procedures and staff directions. Our biggest priority is getting all of our Bobcats in and out of school safely each day.

Attendance Matters: Being at school each day helps students stay connected, build strong routines, and keep up with their learning. When your child is healthy and able to attend, we want them here!

Fire Prevention Poster Contest: Our Bobcats will have the opportunity to participate in the annual Fire Prevention Poster Contest! This year’s theme is “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging is a Superpower.” Your child’s teacher will share more information about participating. Posters are due September 11.

Upcoming Dates

September 2: Bannes PTO Hot Lunch Orders Close at 9 PM

September 7: No School

September 9: PTO Meeting, 7:00 PM
September 16: Beginning Band Registration at Grissom, 6:00–7:00 PM

September 17: Fall Picture Day
September 17: Board of Education Meeting at the Ad Center, 7:00 PM
September 18: Tinley Park Library Presentation at Bannes, 8:30 AM

September 23-25: Bannes PTO Fall Book Fair

We are off to such a great start, Bobcats, and we have so much to look forward to this year!

Challenge Accepted: Believe. Challenge. Achieve. 🐾

Thank you,

Ms. Kelly Folliard
Principal
Bannes Elementary School

🐾 Challenge Accepted: Family Challenge!

At Bannes, our theme Challenge Accepted: Believe. Challenge. Achieve. is about more than academics. We want our Bobcats to learn how to work through challenges, collaborate with others, communicate their thinking, and keep going when something takes effort. Those are skills we’re working to strengthen at school, and families are an important part of that work!

This month’s challenge: TEAMWORK!

Choose one task to complete together as a family. Cook a meal, rake leaves, organize a room, play a game, build a puzzle, or tackle another job that takes teamwork!

When you’re finished, talk about it: How did working together make the challenge easier? What did each person contribute?

📸 Challenge Accepted?

Send a picture of your family completing the challenge to kfolliard@ksd140.org. Every family that participates will be entered into a raffle to win a prize!

We’ll also celebrate our Bobcat families by sharing pictures of families working together so our students can see that teamwork doesn’t stop at the school doors. If you would prefer that your photo not be shared, just let us know when you send it.

These simple moments at home reinforce what we want for our students at school: collaboration, perseverance, communication, and the confidence to take on a challenge together.

Believe it. Challenge yourself. Achieve it. Together. 🐾

What Does Belonging Look Like in D140?

As we begin the school year, D140 is launching You Matter. We All Belong., a yearlong effort to strengthen the sense of belonging across our schools.

Throughout the year, you'll receive short monthly messages that focus on simple ways we can work together to help every child feel connected, valued, and supported.

Research consistently shows that students thrive when they know they belong. We appreciate your partnership in creating welcoming school communities where every student can succeed.

Together, we can make sure every child knows: You Matter. We All Belong.

Patriot Day - September 11

Students and staff are encouraged to wear red, white, and blue on Friday, September 11, in observance of Patriot Day.

Save the Date! National Walk & Roll to School Day is Wednesday, October 7

D140 families are encouraged to walk or bike to school together on Wednesday, October 7, in celebration of National Walk & Roll to School Day.

Fifth Grade Beginning Band Registration

Fifth Grade Beginning Band Registration will be held on Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17, at Grissom Middle School. The schedule is as follows:

Fifth Grade Beginning Band registration schedule for Wednesday, September 16:

Fernway Park Elementary from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Bannes Elementary from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Millennium Elementary from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Fifth Grade Beginning Band registration schedule for Thursday, September 17:

Helen Keller Elementary from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
McAulffe Elementary from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Make-up time from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

If you cannot attend at your school's suggested time, you may attend any of the other schools’ times listed above or the make-up time on Thursday evening. Please arrive at the scheduled start time for these sessions. All sessions take place at Grissom Middle School. If you have any questions regarding Beginning Band Registration, please email your child's band director. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Stay Connected with ParentSquare!

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 pm
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).

Support our Bannes PTO with Hot Lunch!

Sign up to support Hot Lunch! Even one day per month makes a huge difference.

MONDAY - Hot Dog Mondays

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044FA9AF2BA7FA7-58064225-monday

WEDNESDAY - Hot Lunch Wednesdays

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044FA9AF2BA7FA7-58062605-jets

FRIDAY - Snack Fridays

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044FA9AF2BA7FA7-58064703-friday

Any questions or to get involved, please reach out to the Bannes PTO at BannesPTO@gmail.com

PTO Housekeeping Reminders

Hot Lunch online orders will close on 2 September - make sure that you get your selections in on time. It is important to remember to change your class!

Spirit Wear available - check out the newest swag of 2026!

https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/IL/Tinley%20Park/Bannes%20Elementary%20School?srsltid=AfmBOoossY1mBDyBXY4p_aMdeptDNa4A0AoPkWLWxSHrmgpnVr2YN0T_

Taffy Apple Order Forms are coming, and will be due 16 September - as a friendly reminder, you will have to come to Bannes to pick up your order next month when they arrive!

Any questions, reach out to our PTO at BannesPTO@gmail.com

PTO Upcoming Planning Events

Monster Mash Committee Meeting: 9 September 2026 at Bannes @ 6:00PM - be a part of the magic and join us in planning one of our most beloved annual events!

We need volunteers! Please sign up today to chair events, run hot lunch days, plan new initiatives, and more!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegLh_x0FY0Fi6rHLVNumnCBKWrX-GktzaXYzeWN3jc1_XYSg/viewform?usp=dialog

Any questions or to get involved, please reach out to the Bannes PTO at BannesPTO@gmail.com

Monthly PTO Meeting

9 September 2026 at Bannes @ 7:00PM - hear updates from school admin, PTO leadership, and teacher representatives. This is a great time to ask questions, offer suggestions, and get to know your school community! We are looking to adjust the meeting format this year so stay tuned as meeting times change to cater better to all of our families!

Monthly PTO Meeting

Fall Book Fair 23-25 September

22 September - please join and help set up our Fall book fair from 5:00-8:00PM
23 September preview day
24-25 September classroom shopping

26 September Books & Bites Fundraiser – supports the school’s Reading Tech Night!

Any questions or to get involved, please reach out to the Bannes PTO at BannesPTO@gmail.com

Bannes Elementary School

16835 S. Odell Avenue, Tinley Park, IL 60477

Phone: 708-532-6466

Website: ksd140.org/bannes

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