Wescott Word
Back-to-School 2026-27 Edition
Dear Wescott Families,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year!
My name is Tony Candela, and I am honored to introduce myself as the new principal of Wescott School. I am incredibly excited to join this wonderful community and begin what I know will be an outstanding year together.
I have spent my entire educational career serving students and families in public education. Over the past several years, I have had the privilege of serving as a teacher, associate principal, middle school principal, and elementary principal. Most recently, I served as principal of Indian Trail Elementary School in Highland Park. Throughout my career, I have learned that the strongest schools are built on meaningful relationships, a shared commitment to children, and a genuine partnership between home and school.
Outside of school, my wife, Shoshanna, and I live in Deerfield with our two sons, Coby and Jesse. They keep us busy, make us laugh every day, and remind me why creating joyful, engaging schools for children is such important work. We are also excited to be welcoming another child to our family this fall, making this school year especially meaningful for us.
From my very first visit to Wescott, I could feel what makes this school so special. I was immediately struck by the warmth of the staff, the energy of the students, and the pride that families have in their school. It is clear that Wescott has a strong tradition of excellence, and I feel fortunate to become part of this community.
I would also like to take a moment to recognize the outstanding team that will be welcoming students and families this year. I am excited to welcome back our Assistant Principal, Katie Petersen. Katie's experience, dedication to students, and deep knowledge of the Wescott community make her an invaluable leader, and I look forward to partnering with her throughout the year. Katie and her husband, Rich, spent the summer enjoying time with their daughters, Evelyn (5) and Abby (1). This year, summertime favorites were bike riding, outdoor coloring, blowing bubbles, and staying cool in the backyard splash pad. Katie has most recently been preparing for Evelyn's first day of kindergarten and chasing Abby who fearlessly loves to explore the world around her.
We are also pleased to welcome Ana Stockler, who will be joining Wescott as our Assistant Director of Student Services. Ana brings a wealth of experience supporting students and families, and we are excited to have her as part of our leadership team. Most recently, she served as a Learning Behavior Specialist at Willowbrook School for the last 8 years. Ana and her husband, Drew, have two daughters, Lia (15) and Kaia (12). When she’s not at school, you can find Ana cheering on her daughters at their winter volleyball tournaments or cuddling on the couch with her nutty pup, Nittany, and diving into a good book.
This year also marks the beginning of a new chapter in our front office as we welcome an entirely new office team. We are thrilled to introduce Vicky Camilo, who will serve as our Administrative Assistant, Evie Ligka, who will be our School Receptionist, and Esther Kim, our new School Clerk. They have already been hard at work preparing for the school year, and they will be wonderful resources for our students, families, and staff in every way, including managing our new visitor management system. This system has been installed at each school building to ensure the safety of our students and staff. To help ensure a smooth check-in process, please remember to bring a valid photo ID whenever you visit Wescott and allow a few extra minutes for entry as we begin implementing the new system. For more information about the new system, please click here.
In addition to our new front office team, we are excited to welcome several new teachers and staff to Wescott this year. Please join me in giving all of our new colleagues a warm Wescott welcome! You can find a list of our newest staff members below.
As principal, my commitment is simple: to ensure that every child feels known, valued, supported, and challenged each day. I believe students do their best learning when they feel safe, connected, and inspired, and I look forward to partnering with our talented staff and supportive families to create that experience for every student.
I also believe that successful schools are built through collaboration. Parents are a child's first and most important teachers, and I value the partnership we share in helping every student learn, grow, and thrive. My door is always open, and I welcome your ideas, questions, and perspectives as we work together throughout the year.
The beginning of a new school year always brings excitement and anticipation. Whether your family is returning to Wescott or joining us for the first time, I hope you know how excited we are to welcome you. I cannot wait to meet each of you, get to know your children, and celebrate all that this school year has in store.
On behalf of our entire staff, welcome to Wescott School. Here's to a wonderful year!
Best,
Tony Candela
Principal, Wescott School
School day hours
School hours: 8:40 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
Half day dismissal time is 11:45 a.m.
Kindergarten through 5th-grade students should plan on arriving at school by 8:40 a.m. but no earlier than 8:30 a.m. because there is no supervision. The bell to line up will ring at 8:40 a.m.
Report absences through Parent Portal
All parents and guardians must report student absences, late arrivals or early departures through the Parent Portal. Please do not contact the Health Office, School Office, or classroom teacher via phone or email.
For a step-by-step guide on how to report an absence, click here. Please ensure to include as much detail as possible when entering the reason for the absence.
If no information is in the Parent Portal by 10 a.m. and a student is absent, the school will attempt to contact a parent or guardian.
If the absence is medically involved, please report the absence first in the Parent Portal. Following this, you are welcome to contact the school Health Office to communicate with the nurse about the condition.
Questions? Please contact the front desk.
Our new district-wide Student-Parent Handbook is intended to be a convenient tool for our district's families and staff, summarizing key information on procedures, services, and programs. We encourage every parent and guardian to review this handbook before the start of school, as some practices and policies may have evolved over time.
A NOTE ON STUDENT SMART DEVICES, ETC.: We recognize that some students will carry communication devices including smart watches to school. If a student brings a communication device to school, it should be turned off throughout the day. We reserve the right to confiscate student communication devices and hold them at the front desk if they are misused. The device will be returned to the student or a parent/guardian at the end of the day.
Weather permitting, Principal Candela will be eating lunch outside on August 11 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. with members of the administrative team. Feel free to come by, say hello, introduce yourself, and share what's been going on over the summer! This is an informal and optional opportunity for our administrative team to connect and get to know students and members of our school community. Hope you are able to stop by!
Teacher Assignments will be available within PowerSchool's parent portal on Friday, August 14. You will receive an email from the district with login information.
The staff spends a great deal of time developing class lists while also considering parent input that was submitted last spring. It is important to have a mix of students in each room. We believe it is best for children to be in classes that have a balance of male and female students (as much as possible, given the number of each gender in each grade level), and learning and behavior characteristics such as ability level, social skills, etc. We try to match up students' learning styles with the teachers' teaching styles.
Our major goal is to create a balance that will make a productive learning environment in each classroom. Student placements are considered final since they represent a great deal of time and effort spent with teams of staff members to create them. Student placements are considered final.
Kindergarten: Mrs. Caroline Drake and Mrs. Leigh Ann Salas
1st Grade: Mrs. Annie Edelheit, Ms. Courtney Hoffman, Mrs. Rachael Jennings, Mrs. Sharon Latek
2nd Grade: Ms. Kate Bulzoni, Ms. Becca Levy, Mrs. Trish Palzet, Ms. Xenia Stamoudis
3rd Grade: Mrs. Petra Choi, Mrs. Mindy Lamberti, Mrs. Alexis Macfarland, Ms. Nikki Rohn
4th Grade: Ms. Rachel Kahn, Mrs. Julie Molay, Ms. Eunice Ra, Mrs. Jessica Thiergart
5th Grade: Mrs. Tracy Bahn, Mrs. Lisa Wolf, Mrs. Jen Murnick, Mrs. Sammi Nadel
This year’s school theme, “Wescott Grows Together,” reflects our commitment to learning, improving, and supporting one another every day. As we begin a year filled with new faces, new opportunities, and new beginnings, we also continue building on the strong foundation of positivity, collaboration, and care that makes Wescott such a special place.
To ensure a smooth start to the school year, please review the following Illinois health requirements:
- All students who are new to District 30: Any student who is new to District 30 must have a completed Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination on file before the first day of school. The physical exam must have been completed within the past 12 months and include all required immunizations. Students who do not have the required documentation after October 15, 2026, may be excluded from school per state mandate until it is received.
- Kindergarten students & students new to District 30: Kindergarteners and all students new to District 30 must submit a completed Illinois Eye Examination Report by October 15, 2026. The eye exam must have been completed within 1 year of the start of the school year.
- Kindergarten & 2nd grade: Illinois law requires students entering kindergarten and second grade to submit a completed Dental Examination Form by May 15, 2027. The dental exam must have been completed within the required state timeframe (18 months prior to the deadline).
- Medications & Health Care Plans: If your child requires medication at school or has a medical condition that requires a health care plan, please complete and submit the required forms before the first day of school. If updated forms are not received, the school will continue to follow the previous year's health care plan for students with life-threatening allergies or other qualifying medical conditions until new documentation is provided.
Health, dental, eye examination, medication, and health care plan forms are available on the District 30 website. Completed forms may be:
- Dropped off at the school office
- Emailed to Administrative Assistant Vicki Camilo (vcamilosimmons@district30.org)
If you have any questions, please contact the school office at 847-272-4660.
Please welcome these new staff members to our school!
- Dr. Tony Candela, Principal
- Ana Stockler, Assistant Director of Student Services
- Kurt Barker, Music Teacher (joining us as Wescott to teach kindergarten)
- Vicky Camilo, Administrative Assistant
- Danielle Crandall, District ELA/SS Coordinator
- Julianna Cruz, PE Teacher
- Ramsin Israel, District Tech Mobile Specialist
- Mindy Kallsnick, School Nurse
- Esther Kim, School Clerk
- Evie Ligka, School Receptionist
- Amy McDonald, Speech Language Pathologist
- Mariana Reyes, Occupational Therapist
- Kristin Sendaydiego, Music (Joining us at Wescott to teach kindy only!)
- Ashley Shaevitz, Instructional Assistant - Complex Learner
- Ann Warner, Learning Behavior Specialist
- Sally Yik, Orchestra Teacher
Please mark your calendars for the school supply drop-off scheduled on Tuesday, August 18, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. for grades 1-5. This is a time for students to drop off supplies in their classroom and locker, meet their teacher, and view the class list.
Our teachers will be occupied with meetings and other preparations outside of this window. Therefore, if you are unable to visit within this window, you may simply send your student to school the following day with their supplies.
REMINDER: It's not too late to order your 2026-27 school supplies from School Tool Box. If you'd rather do the shopping, print a supply list before you go!
Playground Playdate August. 12
The Wescott PTO is excited to host two playground playdates in August for incoming kindergarteners and their families.
- Where: Wescott Playground
- When: Wednesday, August 12 at 6:00 p.m.
Meet the Teacher & Popsicles on the Playground August 19
On Wednesday, August 19, incoming kindergarten students and parents are invited to Meet the Teeacher and drop off school supplies at 10 a.m. Right afterwards, around 10:30 a.m., enjoy popsicles sponsored by our PTO and meet up with other kindergarteners and their parents on the Wescott playground. See you then!
Additional Details:
- Join for one or both playdates.
- Siblings welcome.
- Allergy-friendly popsicles will be served.
- If you have any questions, please reach out to Eleni Katsoulis or Halley Winer at wescottpto@district30.org.
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
Following the start of the 2026-27 school year, the district's online adaptive assessment, Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), will be administered to all students in grades 1-8. The MAP testing window will open on August 24 and run through September 15. Students in grades 2-8 will take two assessments: reading and mathematics. Grade 1 will take mathematics only.
Please check with your child's teacher about their testing schedule so there are no conflicts if appointments need to be scheduled during this time.
These assessment results will continue to be used (1) by teachers to assist them in differentiating lessons in reading/language arts and mathematics; as well as (2) to measure student academic growth. Students' fall assessment reports will be made available to parents later in the school year.
Our Curriculum Night will be Thursday, August 27. We invite all parents and guardians to attend this informative evening session. Please note - children do not attend this event.
- 6:00-6:25 p.m. Formal presentation for Kindy, 1st, and 2nd grade classrooms
- 6:30 -7:00 p.m. General session for parents in the gym
- 7:05-7:30 p.m. Formal presentation for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classrooms
Formal presentations will be made by each classroom teacher and will include an overview of the curriculum, teacher expectations, and projected activities for the year. Informal sessions will be held in classrooms, when the formal presentations are not occurring at 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. If you are not attending a classroom presentation, please consider visiting music, art, physical education, library, or related service personnel.
All who live in District 30 boundaries are invited to meet Superintendent Dr. Tammaru and a member of our Board of Education to ask questions and share what is important to you in our schools.
You can pick from either the 12 p.m. session on Thursday, September 24 at our District 30 Offices, 2374 Shermer Road, Northbrook, or during a 6 p.m. online session that same day. RSVP is optional so we can plan for space and send a reminder to participants close to the event date.
Please share with neighbors, as this event is for everyone in our boundaries – even if they do not have children in our schools. Click below to join us!
When members of the public, including parents and siblings, have reason to visit our building during regular hours of operation, they must enter through the main entrance and check in with the front desk. All visitors to school property are required to:
Report to the main entrance
Show proper identification
Clear the district’s security screening identification system
Wear a visitor badge in a manner that is visible to all employees and students at all times when on school property and
Return the issued visitor badge upon departure from the building
This step-by-step guide can help you prepare for a visit or to check out a child during the school day using our new system. Additional visitor information can be found in the District 30 Student-Parent Handbook on page 10.
To minimize traffic congestion before and after school, students may only be dropped off or picked up in front of the school building along the curb of the circle drive. If students are dropped off on a side street across from Wescott, they must cross with the crossing guard.
Other essentials for arrival and dismissal procedures:
- During the busy drop off/pick up times, all traffic must enter the circular drive from the north. No left turns, or traffic from the east is allowed into the circle drive during drop-off and pick-up times. Cars must wait in one line alongside Wescott Park to enter the circular drive.
- Cars may not be parked in the circle drive parking spaces parallel to the school right before, during or after drop-off or pick-up times: 8:00-9:00 a.m. and 3:00-3:40 p.m.
- Cars may not be parked in the circle drive parking spaces facing Western Avenue between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- No traffic is allowed in the south parking lot during drop-off and pickup times.
- All crosswalks must be open; cars should wait behind the intersection to enter the circle drive.
- The traffic flow to use to enter the line of cars waiting on Western Avenue is to take Fieldwood to Farnsworth to Western. PLEASE DO NOT CUT INTO THE TRAFFIC LINE FROM OTHER STREETS.
- Cars should not make U-turns in the middle of the street or turn around in residents’ driveways.
Students should arrive at school no earlier than 8:30 a.m. There is no playground supervision until that time. Students who walk to school should cross with the crossing guard at Techny and Western, Brentwood and Western, Dehne and Western, or Farnsworth and Western Avenues. There is to be no crossing in any other area on the east side of the school. Parents and students may use the striping on Fieldwood to access Wescott, but please know there is no crossing guard assigned to this area.
The first bell rings at 8:40 a.m. All students will enter the building supervised by staff at the following locations:
- Kindergarten and 1st-graders: main entrance
- 2nd- and 3rd-graders: Door Q on the north side of the building adjacent to the playground
- 4th-graders Door P on the north side of the building near the North Courtyard
- 5th-graders: Door M on the north side of the building near the North Courtyard.
We thank you for your patience and cooperation in keeping our students safe!
Bicycle, scooter and rollerblade safety
Students may ride their bicycles, scooters, and rollerblades to school. Bicycles should be walked on the sidewalks leading in or out of Wescott School and locked in the bike racks. At no time are students allowed to ride on the blacktop when children are present, or through the parking lot on the south side of the school. Children should wear bicycle helmets at all times when riding. Skateboards are not allowed on school grounds. They are not to be brought to school. Rollerblades may not be worn on the blacktop when other children are present.
E-BIKE NOTICE: While e-bikes are permitted in the Village of Northbrook, safety officials have provided this guidance for residents. In Glenview, e-bikes are prohibited.
The village also shares these tips:
- To ensure the safety of pedestrians, all students must walk their bikes or scooters to the bike racks once they are on school property.
- Helmets are an essential safety tool when riding a bike or scooter and are required by law for students who are under 16.
No dogs or other pets on school grounds, please
We love all pets and especially dogs, but we kindly remind families to not bring them onto school grounds at drop-off, pickup or during school hours. This is for the safety and comfort of all our students. We thank you for your partnership.
Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 continues its partnership with Quest Food Management Services to provide quality food services to your student. We are happy to offer a preorder system via myMealOrder!
- The meal will consist of an entree, side, fresh fruit, and vegetable, including milk or water.
- All orders must be placed at least three days in advance.
Visit mymealorder.com to open an account, learn more about our preorder system, and view the menu.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ashley Jenkins, Food Service Director for Quest at ajenkins@questfms.com.
District 30 has an Intergovernmental Agreement with Northbrook Park District that allows before- and after-school care to students in K-5th grade at Wescott School. District 30 provides the facility while the park district provides the program and staff management with all revenues going to the park district.
This Adventure Campus Program offers the ability to participate in before- and/or after-school care on days when school is in session and on select teacher institute days, conference days, and holidays.
Contact the Northbrook Park District at 847-291-2995 or visit their webpage nbparks.org for more information.
Wescott has a “no food or drink” birthday celebration practice. We want our students to know other ways to celebrate birthdays besides treats.
If you want your child to bring something in for their birthday, we encourage you to donate a book to our library through the PTO Birthday Book Club. You can also send school supplies such as pencils, erasers, stickers, bookmarks, etc.
Please do not send paper birthday invitations to school. The use of electronic invitations through our PTO directory is suggested.
Wescott School offers a variety of staff-sponsored clubs during the school year. These clubs are inspired by staff interest/passion and are free to students. However, space is limited. Clubs run for a period of 8 to 16 sessions. Look for registration information throughout the year in the Wescott Word.
Wescott School has several ways of communicating with parents about their child's learning and progress:
- Curriculum Night: At the beginning of the school year, parents are invited to participate in Curriculum Night which focuses on the sharing of curricular information.
- Parent-Teacher conferences: There are also conferences twice a year, in October and February.
- Report cards: Report cards are sent home in December, March, and June.
It is equally important that parents communicate with the school. Anything that would affect your student's progress, emotionally or academically, should be discussed with their teacher(s). Thank you for your partnership in supporting our students!
The new Wescott PTO Executive Board is looking forward to serving the Wescott community for the 2026-2027 school year. Whether you're new to our school or have been part of the community for years, we're so glad you're here.
We invite you to explore, get involved, and help us continue making Wescott an incredible place for every student. Please email us at wescottpto@district30.org to volunteer, provide feedback, share suggestions or just say hello!
And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news, events, volunteer opportunities, and ways to stay connected!
Meet your new Executive Board!
Co-Presidents: Eleni Katsoulis & Halley Winer
Co-VPs of Fundraising: Sara Rhode & Susie Klipstein
Co-VPs of Communications: Kristen Leverso & Kacy Raffe
Co-VPs of Digital Operations: Jessica Cooper & Melissa Dallek
Co-Secretaries: Carrie Glick & Jaime Feeney
Co-Treasurer: Stephanie McGuinness & Cindy Paddor
The Wescott Word is a communication that the school sends our weekly to families and staff on Fridays. All copies will be sent electronically to the email addresses that families previously provided us using the online registration system. By now, you should have completed the online registration process so that you can receive all of our school's communications. The next issue will be emailed on Friday, August 21. Please contact the office if you do not receive this edition by Saturday, August 22. The Wescott Word is also posted on the school's website.
Important information is sent home throughout the year in the Wescott Word so please make sure to take the time to read each week's issue. We don't want anyone to miss out on seeing notices about current or upcoming events at the school.
Other ways to stay connected with what's happening in our schools include:
- District 30 Facebook
- Wescott School PTO Facebook
- District 30 Instagram
- Wescott PTO Instagram
- District 30 LinkedIn
- District 30 YouTube
- Watch for e-blasts from the PTO about upcoming events
- Email the PTO Board with questions or suggestions (see 'From the PTO' above for contact info)
- Check out the Wescott PTO website for all PTO events and forms
Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 15, 2027. Please join us for the 26th Annual Lew Blond Memorial 5K Run/Walk. Registration for our May race opens in the winter. Please click here to explore all of the excitement from this meaningful community event.
We will need volunteers for committees to coordinate this event. If you can volunteer please email Maple Assistant Principal Angela Jaeger at blondrun@district30.org.
Be a helper. Be a runner. Be a sponsor! Do them all!!
Any time a student feels unsafe, any adult in their school can help!
But sometimes, students or parents wish to reach out for help in a different way or after school hours. Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe way to share information 24/7 that might help prevent any threat to school safety, including bullying, self-harm or other serious concerns.
The goal of this program is to get students to “seek help before harm;" it is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish. Safe2Help Illinois also offers a Mental Health Toolkit that provides resources for parents and educators reinforce the components of this program.
Safe2Help Illinois offers around-the-clock help via:
- Hotline: 844-4-SAFEIL
- Text line: 72332
- Email HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com
- Plus a website full of resources for young people seeking help for themselves or a friend. Its Ways To Get Help page is a directory of specialized hotlines, and other sections of its website provide practical steps for dealing with depression or helping a distraught friend. The checklist called "20 Questions To Ask Yourself If You Feel Like Giving Up" can help older children overcome a bout of anxiety or depression.
Wescott School
Wescott School is part of Northbrook/Glenview District 30, which exists to create an inclusive community that inspires learning, fosters resiliency, and cares deeply for every child. We honor childhood and foster intellectual, physical and social-emotional growth. District 30 serves more than 1,200 students in pre-K through 8th grade across Willowbrook, Wescott and Maple Schools.
We prohibit harassment and discrimination of all forms within our district and follows all policies and procedures to ensure a safe environment for all.
Main office: 847-272-4660
Health Office: 847-400-8760
Location: 1820 Western Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062, USA
Website: district30.org/wescott
