Christa McAuliffe Chronicle

Hello McAuliffe Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I hope your family has had an opportunity this summer to rest, recharge, and spend time together. Our staff has been hard at work preparing, and we cannot wait to welcome our Challengers back to McAuliffe!

This year, our staff will be rallying around a simple message: One Team. One Standard. One McAuliffe. At its heart, it means that we are one school community with students, staff, and families working together to create an exceptional experience for every child. We will set high expectations, provide strong support, and continue challenging our students to discover just how much they are capable of accomplishing.

Last year showed us what can happen when we set our sights high. We challenged our students to read one million minutes together, and they blew that goal out of the water! This year, we're aiming even higher with a goal of two million minutes. But the bigger goal isn't simply to read more. We want our students to think more deeply about what they read, the problems they solve, the questions they ask, and the connections they make. The hard work of our students was evident last year, including strong improvement in ELA performance on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) across grades 3–5. This year, we are ready to build on that momentum.

There is plenty of important back-to-school information below. Please take a few minutes to review everything as we prepare for a great start to the year.

Challenging Potential: We All Belong Here

Throughout the year, I'll use this space to share a little about how we are helping our Challengers challenge their potential and how families can partner with us. We begin with belonging. Children are better prepared to learn, take risks, and tackle challenges when they feel known, safe, and connected. During these opening weeks, our staff will spend intentional time building relationships, establishing routines, and helping every child know that they are an important part of McAuliffe.

Try this at home: Ask your child, "Who helped you feel welcome today?" or "Where do you already feel comfortable at school?"

Thank you for trusting us with your children and for being an important part of our team. I am incredibly excited about where we are headed and can't wait to see what our Challengers accomplish together this year!

Sincerely,
Mr. Hanley

We are so excited to welcome our newest Challenger kindergarten students and their families!

Please join us for Kindergarten Roundup on Monday, August 17, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to meet their kindergarten teachers, become familiar with the school, and begin feeling comfortable in their new learning environment.

You'll have a chance to ask questions and learn everything you need to know to help your child have a successful first day of school. Starting kindergarten is a big milestone, and we're looking forward to partnering with your family every step of the way.

We can't wait to meet you and welcome you to the McAuliffe family.

See you on August 17!

Please make plans to attend our elementary and middle school open houses:

• Tuesday, August 18 – Elementary Open House for Early Childhood, Preschool, and K-5 families from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. This year, our elementary Open House will take place two days before the first day of school. Be sure to mark your calendar so you don't miss it.

• Monday, August 24 – Middle School Open House from 6:00 to 7:30 pm

Parents and students are welcome to view their schools, meet their teachers, and visit with our PTOs.

Elementary classroom assignments, middle school student schedules, and transportation information will be released via Infinite Campus Parent Portals at 8:00 am on Monday, August 3.

If you need assistance with your parent portal, please contact your school office.

Important August dates to mark on your calendar:

• Monday, August 3 - Elementary classroom assignments, middle school student schedules, and transportation information released via Infinite Campus Parent Portals. Please contact your school office if you need assistance with your parent portal login.

• Wednesday, August 5 - Middle School Student/Parent Walkthrough for Students/Parents from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The walkthrough provides an opportunity to purchase locks, gym suits, and spirit wear, and pick up pre-ordered school supply kits.

• Monday, August 17 - Kindergarten Roundup from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at Bannes, Fernway, Keller, McAuliffe, and Millennium. This is a special time for families to meet their principal and teachers and learn everything they'll need to know about the first day of school. Please join us!

• Tuesday, August 18 - Open House at Elementary Schools for EC, Preschool, and K-5 families from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. This year, our elementary Open House will take place two days before the first day of school. Be sure to mark your calendar so you don't miss it.

• Tuesday, August 18 - Teacher Institute Day - No School

• Wednesday, August 19 - Teacher Institute Day - No School

• Thursday, August 20 - First Day of School for All Students (EC - 8) - Elementary school students will attend school from 7:55 am to 2:25 pm. Middle school students will attend school from 8:40 am to 3:07 pm.

• Monday, August 24 - Middle School Open House from 6:00 to 7:30 pm

The entire school year calendar can be viewed on our website at 2026-27 School Year Calendar.

As we prepare for the 2026-27 school year, we encourage families to review the district calendar.

2026-27 school supply lists and PTO supply kit ordering information are available on our school supply list page.

Help our school earn money for essential programs and supplies by participating in Box Tops for Education! It’s easier than ever—just download the Box Tops app, scan your grocery receipts, and earn cash for our school with every eligible purchase. Every Box Top counts, and together, we can make a big impact.

Download the app today and start scanning! Use this referral code/link for additional bonuses. Thank you for your support!

Email: jhanley@ksd140.org
Website: https://www.ksd140.org/mcauliffe
Location: 8944 W. 174th Street Tinley Park, IL 60487

Phone: 708.429.4565
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcauliffechallengers/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcauliffe_challengers/