District Newsletter
April 9, 2025
Dear District 15 Families,
As we welcome April, we’re filled with pride about the incredible growth we’ve seen in our students this school year. From full day kindergarteners learning to read their first books to middle schoolers tackling complex projects and embracing new opportunities, our students are showing resilience, curiosity, and a deepening sense of confidence.
Spring marks a time when all of their hard work begins to bloom. Beyond academic gains, we are seeing friendships blossom, and personal milestones achieved that remind us why we do this work each and every day.
Hang with Heinz – Classroom Visits
I’m looking forward to continuing my second round of “Hang with Heinz” visits this spring, during which I’ll be popping into classrooms and engaging directly with staff and students in each building. Stuart R. Paddock hosted my first visit and I had such an amazing time watching our students flourish under the careful guidance of their teachers.It’s incredibly inspiring to witness firsthand the remarkable learning and growth taking place in our classrooms.
Superintendent/Middle School Student Advisory
Walter R. Sundling students helped me kick-off Round 2 of visits where they shared their thoughts and feedback surrounding:
Interscholastic sports, Intramurals, and Clubs
How we can best prepare new students for middle school next year
Anything else that’s on their mind about middle school.
A special thanks to Mr. Dietz, Ms. Lane, Mr. Rice, Ms. Gieseke and Ms. Lillquist for joining me.
Board Election and Re-Organization Meeting
As I shared on April 2, we will be saying farewell to 8 year Board veteran Anthony Wang at our May 12 meeting. Please consider sending Mr. Wang a quick Thank You for Your Board Service note here.
Thank you for continuing to be such a vital part of our D15community. Together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.
Working on telling time during a visit to SRP.
Spring High Five Fridays kick off at GMS!
FCW students excited to name their new mascot.
Catch up with Heinz - Community Engagement
Attendance Today, Success Tomorrow!
Did you know? Students with strong attendance records are more likely to have higher academic performance and better job opportunities later in life.
Tip: Make daily attendance a top priority by establishing a morning routine that helps your child get to school on time and ready to learn. Keep absences under 9 days for a brighter future!
Dr. Laurie Heinz
We’re Hiring!
At District 15, you'll find a community of faculty and staff deeply committed to fostering both academic rigor and character development in our students. Join us, and you'll have an opportunity to contribute to an empowering learning environment where you can have a lasting impact on the next generation of leaders. View open positions and apply today!
Summer Activities
Planning to enroll your students in summer activities in the area? Visit this slideshow on our website to explore different local options.
Every student—new and returning—must register each year. We encourage families to register their child(ren) as early as possible. Learn more about the registration process on our website.
District 15 will be transitioning from Infinite Campus to PowerSchool in 2025-26. All families will need to create their PowerSchool account in order to register for school for next year. Thank you for your timely action as we launch this new system. We are committed to making this transition as seamless as possible.
Sign up to Continue Receiving D15 News
Over the next few months, we will be transitioning to a different mass communications platform, ParentSquare. Due to this change, community members who are currently receiving our district newsletters will need to join a new email list to continue receiving district news. If you are a parent/guardian already in our system, you do not need to do anything at this time.
If you are a community member who wants to continue receiving our district newsletter, join our new mailing list here.
Student Fees Past Due
As a reminder, 2024-25 Student Fees were due on June 1, 2024. Log in to Infinite Campus to review your balance and make payments. An email invoice was sent to parents on March 20 to those families who have an outstanding balance due.
Questions regarding student fees can be directed to Kameswari Pullela, Business Department, 847-963-3065.
Join the Wellness Committee
Nutrition Services is currently looking for parents/guardians to be part of the Wellness Committee for the 2025-2026 school year. The Wellness Committee helps promote student health and wellness. Schools, communities and families play an essential role in preparing students for successful futures, and proper nutrition and physical activity are key to creating constructive learning environments.
The Wellness Committee will meet bi-annually to promote safe and healthy learning environments at every school throughout the school year. If you are interested in being part of the Nutrition Service Wellness, please reach out to Tina Woods, Director of Nutrition Services at woodst@ccsd15.net
Check out our new website!
Please be informed that our website has moved to a new location! You can now access all of our content, updates, and resources at:
www.ccsd15.net/one-five-foundation
Please update your bookmarks and visit our new site for the latest information. Thank you for your continued support!
Purchase a Staff Tribute to the one-five Foundation
Show your appreciation for a CCSD15 staff member through a Staff Tribute donation in their name to the one-five Foundation! Donate $10 in a staff member's name and they will receive a personalized card and a chocolate bar during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5-9).
Please submit your $10 donation through PayPal (www.paypal.me/onefiveFoundation) or Venmo (@onefiveFoundation) and complete a brief online form to submit your personalized message and process your Staff Tribute. Be sure to put Staff Tribute for [staff member name] from [donor] in the comment box when you submit your payment.
Tributes must be submitted no later than Friday, April 26.
Congratulations to the 50/50 Raffle Winner!
Congratulations to our winner, Neerav, who took home half of the pot this year equaling $13,350. Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket this year in support of the Foundation and District 15. We appreciate your partnership!
Interested in Joining the one-five Foundation?
Our one-five Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports all of the students, staff, and schools in District 15. They plan a 50/50 raffle, staff mini-grant, and staff tributes each year, and they're looking for more members! Are you interested in joining this exciting group of volunteers? Email Jen Dunkin at dunkinj@ccsd15.net for more information.
Kindergarten Welcome Night
Please help us spread the word about this important and informative event designed to provide parents/guardians with information about the full-day kindergarten experience in District 15. The remaining elementary schools will host their welcome night this week:
Thursday, April 10, 2025 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. - Frank C. Whiteley, Gray M. Sanborn, Marion Jordan, Lincoln School, and Willow Bend
BPAC presents: Reading Night with Mr. Owl and Friends!
Experience the joy of books and travel wherever your imagination takes you on Tuesday, April 15 at 6:00 p.m. at Winston Campus Elementary School (900 E. Palatine Road in Palatine).
Get ready for Reading Night with Mr. Owl!
- Come in your pajamas to be super comfy!
- Bring your favorite cushion to sit and listen to stories.
- Come with your favorite book to share with your friends and feel free to swap if you want!
- Invite a friend from school to join in the fun!
We look forward to a magical night full of books and laughter!
More information in English here.
MPAC: Language Development and PowerSchool
Join the Multilingual Parent Advisory Committee to learn about Language Development at Home and our new student information system, PowerSchool on Wednesday, April 16 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School (101 N. Oak Street, Palatine).
Presented in English with translation provided as requested.
All participants must RSVP in advance of the meeting.
Join us! - Executive Functioning Presentation
Executive functioning skills are essential for daily tasks.
They involve such skills as: attention, organization, task
initiation, emotional regulation, and self-monitoring. District 15 is hosting another presentation for parents to explore ways to support their child’s executive functioning skills. Access this information in another language and register here.
Grade 3-5:
Speaker: Kristie Wurglitz
Date: April 23 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Central Road Elementary
Wellness Resource Fair
The United Palatine Coalition and Buehler YMCA are hosting their third annual community Wellness Resource Fair on Saturday, April 26 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The event is at the Buehler YMCA (1400 W. Northwest Hwy, Palatine) and all ages are welcome! Come to learn about educational workshops, local community organizations, health screenings, CPR demonstrations, and more!
Questions about the event? Email Beth at bsousa@palatinelibrary.org.
Free Developmental Screenings! - April 30
A free developmental screening for children ages birth to 33 months is offered to families through School District 15's Early Intervention Program. This will be the third and final opportunity for a free screening this school year, so please take advantage of the opportunity!
Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Key Dates
Wednesday, April 9 - Board of Education Meeting
Thursday, April 10 - Kindergarten Welcome Night (FCW, GMS, MJ, LS, WB)
Tuesday, April 15 - BPAC Presents: Reading Night with Mr. Owl and Friends
Wednesday, April 16 - MPAC Presents: Language Development and Powerschool
Friday, April 18 - Grades 6-8 Progress Reports Issued
Wednesday, April 23 - LEARN15: Executive Functioning Skills for Children
Wednesday, April 30 - Free Developmental Screenings
Friday, May 2 - No School, Teacher Institute Day
May 7 - BPAC Presents: Risky Behaviors and Responsible Decisions
Board of Education Meetings and Dates
All meetings of the Board of Education are held at Walter R. Sundling Middle School, located at 1100 N. Smith Street, Palatine, unless otherwise posted. Regular meetings of the Board of Education begin at 7:00 pm. Dates for meetings are as follows:
2025 Board of Education Meeting Dates
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
*Monday, May 12, 2025 (New date to be approved 4/9/25)
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Not receiving Board Briefs? Join our email list.
School Calendars
To view all upcoming events and the full 2024-25 School Calendar, please visit the calendar on the D15 website.