Patriot Pulse
October Edition
Hello Grissom Families.
Happy October! We already have so much to celebrate at GMS, and even more to look forward to as we progress through the first trimester of the school year.
Grissom is HOME OF THE CHAMPIONS!
Congratulations to all of our fall sports teams on their outstanding seasons!
Our Girls Cross Country team won gold at the SWIC Conference meet for the third consecutive year! We are proud of their hard work, dedication, and continued success. Well done, team!
Our Boys Cross Country team capped off a terrific season with a second-place finish at the SWIC Conference meet, the team’s highest finish in several years. Way to go, Patriots!
Our Boys Softball team captured the SWIC Conference Tournament championship! Entering the tournament as the seventh seed, the Patriots defeated four teams in a row to claim the title. Congratulations on an incredible tournament run!
Our Girls Softball team wrapped up another successful season by reaching the final four in the SWIC Conference Tournament and finishing in fourth place. Congratulations on another great season, Patriots!
Clubs and Activities
We are excited to offer Grissom students a wide variety of clubs and activities throughout the school year! Many are already underway, with others starting soon.
Students can learn about upcoming opportunities through our Daily Announcements, which are read aloud at the start of each school day and posted on the Daily Announcements page on our school website. For club schedules, including meeting dates and times, visit the Activities tab at the top of the Grissom website.
Upcoming Safety Drills
We’ve already completed several safety drills at Grissom this year, including fire, severe weather, and lockdown drills. We have a couple more drills upcoming this month. They will be completed during advisory times. They are as follows:
Thursday, October 8th - Bus Evacuation Drill
Thursday, October 15th - Earthquake Safety Drill
Attendance Matters!
We want to, again, remind families of the important role that regular attendance plays in student success. Each day at Grissom provides valuable opportunities for students to learn, connect with their teachers and classmates, and stay on track academically.
We understand that illnesses and other circumstances may occasionally require a student to miss school. Whenever possible, however, we encourage families to prioritize daily and on-time attendance. Even a few missed days can make it more difficult for students to keep pace with classroom learning.
We will communicate with families when we recognize that students are having difficulty attending school to identify concerns and ways we can support our students to attend more regularly.
Thank you for partnering with us to help ensure our students are at school, ready to learn, and making the most of every day!
See below for more important information and details of upcoming events in this month's Pulse!
With gratitude,
Mr. Michael Rumbaugh
Principal
Every Student Has a Story
Every child brings unique experiences, talents, and dreams into our schools.
Thank you for trusting us with your child's story. By working together, we can better support each student's growth and help every child feel connected to their school community.
Remember: You Matter. We All Belong.
Yearbook Orders!
See below for information on how to order a yearbook for the 2026-27 school year.
Save the Date! National Walk & Roll to School Day is Wednesday, October 7
Gather your family, put on your walking shoes or biking gear, and join us in celebrating National Walk & Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
D140 families are encouraged to walk or bike to school together using the walking routes linked below.
We hope that by encouraging participation in this event, more students will choose to walk or bike to school regularly.
Picture Re-Take Day - October 15th
Picture re-takes will be on Thursday, October 15th during the school day for those who were absent on picture day or are not satisfied with the picture originally taken.
More information about re-take day will be sent via ParentSquare in the very near future.
Contact the Grissom office at 708-429-3030 if you have any further questions.
Celebrate Unity Day by Wearing Orange on October 21
Students and staff are encouraged to wear orange on Unity Day, Wednesday, October 21, to show they care about safe and supportive schools and communities. This is the day when everyone can come together and send one large ORANGE message of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
KSD 140 Celebrates Red Ribbon Week October 26 - 30
During Red Ribbon Week, schools across the nation join together to promote a drug-free lifestyle and encourage students to make positive, healthy choices. It is an ideal way for communities to unite and take a visible stand against substance abuse.
Monday, October 26: “Red-y to Be Drug Free”
Wear red to kick off Red Ribbon Week.
“Let’s start strong and show our commitment to living drug-free!”
Tuesday, October 27: “Team Up in Our Colors”
Wear school colors to show we stand united.
“When we stand together in school spirit, we’re stronger than drugs!”
Wednesday, October 28: “Wake Up Drug Free”
Wear pajamas or the color blue.
“Dream big, live drug-free!”
Thursday, October 29: “Bright Futures Ahead”
Wear neon, bright colors, or sparkly school gear.
“Your future shines when you say no to drugs!”
Friday, October 30: “Say BOO to Drugs”
Wear a Halloween costume, school spirit wear, or school colors.
“Scare away drugs this Halloween - be drug-free and proud!”
PTO: Volunteers Needed! Hot Lunch Days
Grissom Families,
Hot lunch starts this month and we can’t wait!
We can’t run this program without you! Sign up to volunteer below!
Key Dates in October 2026
IMPORTANT October dates to mark on your calendar:
Wednesday, October 7th
National Walk & Roll to School Day
Monday, October 12th
No School - Columbus Day
Thursday, October 15th
Picture Re-Take Day - during school hours
Thursday, October 15th
Board of Education Meeting - 7 PM at KSD 140 Administration Building
Wednesday, October 21st
Unity Day - Wear Orange!
Friday, October 23rd
Last Day of 1st PE/Enrichment Class Rotations
Monday, October 26th
First Day of 2nd PE/Enrichment Class Rotations
Week of October 26th - 30th
Red Ribbon Week
Friday, October 30th
Half Day - 12 PM student dismissal
Health and Wellness
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.
Keep in Touch!
#KirbyONE40 #EveryChildEveryDay
Respectfully,
Mr. Michael Rumbaugh - Principal
Mrs. Theresa Blackwell - Assistant Principal
Virgil I. Grissom Middle School
Principal Michael Rumbaugh- mirumbaugh@ksd140.org
Website: ksd140.org/grissom
Location: 17000 South 80th Avenue, Tinley Park, IL, 60477
Phone: 708-429-3030