The 21 Ledger
October 2025
This year, students can meet Benny the Bean, an online AI reading buddy on the Beanstack platform, who helps make reading challenges fun and interactive. Students can log every minute they read—graphic novels, articles, or chapter books—and track their progress, set goals, and celebrate accomplishments. Benny cheers students on, offers new reading ideas, and helps build strong reading habits. Students can access Beanstack on their Chromebooks and connect to their local library account for even more opportunities. Families are encouraged to join the excitement by asking their child to share their monthly reading minutes—let’s make this a year full of reading adventures!
The Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) assessment is an observation-based tool that focuses on skills and competencies critical for a child’s long-term success. During the first 40 days of school, teachers are gathering evidence by observing children as they play, work, line up, and participate in other everyday classroom activities. A strong start in kindergarten lays the foundation for learning and growth throughout a child’s school journey. Read more about it here.
Did you know that Chronic Absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the academic year for any reason, including excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. This means that students who miss more than 17 days of school during the school year are chronically absent. Help your student be present and on time every day.
This October, we join schools across the country in raising awareness about bullying and promoting kindness, respect, and inclusion. Throughout the month, we’ll be sharing tips, resources, and strategies for families on our social media channels to help prevent bullying and support positive relationships at school and at home. We also invite our community to wear orange on October 22 for Unity Day to show that we stand together against bullying. Be sure to follow along and join the conversation!
We're excited to introduce Officer Julian Bahena of the Wheeling Police Department as the new School Resource Officer for the Holmes attendance area! Officer Bahena has been with the department for two and a half years. He joins us following the departure of Corporal Devin Ladesic, who was recently promoted within the department. Officer Bahena will work closely with our schools, students, and families to support a safe and positive learning environment. Please join us in welcoming him to our community!
Join us for our first Trunk-or-Treat on October 21!
Join us for a night of candy, games and fun with the Wheeling Police and Fire Departments! Enjoy photo props and festive activities—costumes encouraged.
When: Tuesday, October 21 | 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Where: 1055 McHenry Road, Wheeling
👻 Ghosts on the Radio Writing Contest 👻
For the second year in a row, the IYWP is calling for spoooooky stories that will send chills down our spines! Youth ages 7-18 are invited to submit short stories, plays or narrative poems about ghosts, hauntings and things that go bump in the night. Submissions should be no more than five pages and written to be read aloud (think radio play or campfire story!)
Deadline: October 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST (winners will be announced the week of October 20!)
Prizes: Winning pieces will be featured in Ghosts on the Radio: A Haunted Audio Anthology Vol. 2 podcast!
Please note: One entry per writer. Files must be submitted as .doc, .docx, or .pdf. No AI-written stories will be accepted. Participants keep copyright but grant IYWP permission to publish and adapt for audio.