Panther Weekly

All schools will be closed on Monday, January 19

All CCSD 89 schools will be closed on Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The district office will also be closed. All CCSD 89 buildings will re-open on a regular schedule on Tuesday, January 20.

Please do not send students snacks in glass or Pyrex containers

Recently, we have had several incidents where glass and Pyrex containers were accidentally dropped and shattered. As you can imagine, cleaning up broken glass in a busy environment with children is a significant safety concern and can lead to avoidable injuries.

To ensure a "shatter-free" environment, we kindly ask that you do not send glass or Pyrex snack or lunch containers to school.

Recommended alternatives

We encourage the use of lightweight, durable options such as:

Stainless steel bento boxes or thermoses.
BPA-free plastic containers.
Silicone reusable snack bags.

We understand many families prefer glass for its sustainability and health benefits, but in a school setting, the risk of breakage is simply too high. We appreciate your commitment to keeping our hallways and lunchrooms safe.

Parent book discussion on February 1: The Anxious Generation

Sunday, February 1, 2 - 3:30 p.m., Glen Ellyn Public Library

Connect with like-minded parents and learn how to best support your student regarding smartphones and social media. Join us as we bring together parents for a judgement-free discussion of The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.

Copies will be available for Park View families at the Glen Ellyn Public Library beginning December 18. (Check "Park View PTC Book Club" in the book club section on the second floor.)

Haven't read the book? No problem! All interested parents and guardians of students in CCSD 89 are welcome to join the discussion. Bring a friend!

RSVP here!

This event is co-sponsored by the Park View PTC and the Park View Wait Until 8th Committee. Questions can be directed to Emily Henkels at emilyhenkels@gmail.com

Students, families invited to District 89 Day of Service on January 19

CCSD 89 students and their families are invited to participate in the District 89 Day of Service on Monday, January 19, at Park View Elementary School. Students and adults will have the opportunity to make crafts and assemble care packages to benefit others at this free event. Families can sign up to participate from 9 to 10 a.m. or 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (Both sessions have the same activities.)

Sign up to participate in the event

Sign up to volunteer at the event

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4qcWvX0

January 16 is deadline for families to take strategic-plan survey

CCSD 89 has begun the process of creating the district’s next strategic plan, and feedback from families is an essential part of this work. The strategic plan is a document that will guide the big-picture work of the district over the next five years. Families are invited to share their feedback through this survey:https://bit.ly/ccsd89familysurvey

The deadline to complete this survey is 5 p.m. Friday, January 16.

Learn more about the strategic plan work at www.ccsd89.org/strategicplan

Volunteers need All Abilities Fair on week of March 2

CCSD 89 elementary schools are looking for parents to help with the second annual All Abilities Fair on March 4. Students will have hands-on activities that will help them develop acceptance, inclusion, and respect for disabilities and other differences.

Families are needed to help run stations in either a morning session (8-11:45 a.m.) or afternoon session (12:35 to 3:30 p.m.). If you are interested in volunteering or need more information, please contact Lesley Amor at lamor@ccsd89.org.

Families can buy ‘awesome’ shirts to support 2026 All Abilities Week

CCSD 89 will once again host an All Abilities Week in March. Families who want to support this event can purchase a shirt for themselves or their student from “The Awesome Company”, an Ohio business that employs adults with autism. Order the shirt at: https://bit.ly/3NcW5RN

The 2026 shirt will say “Choose to Include” and will be a different color than the 2025 shirt.

Orders are due by January 28. The shirts will be delivered to schools in February so they will be ready to be worn during All Abilities Week.

2026-27 preschool pre-registration is now open

Families interested in having their child attend CCSD 89 preschool in the 2026-27 school year can now fill out pre-registration. This is for students who will be new to the district in 2026-27. There are limited openings for 3- and 4-year-old children. The program features a developmentally appropriate curriculum delivered by certified early childhood educators. CCSD 89 preschool is held at Briar Glen. More info: https://bit.ly/4oW002w

Pre-registration for other students who will be new to the district in 2026-27 will open February 4. Registration for returning students will open April 8.

Pack the place for unified basketball game on January 16 at Glen Crest

Cheer on CCSD 89’s unified basketball team in their game at 4:15 p.m. on Friday, January 16, at Glen Crest Middle School.

A unified basketball team includes students who qualify for Special Olympics playing on the same team as peer buddies. The CCSD 89 team will be playing against students from Leman Middle School. The goal is to pack the house with fans! Elementary school students should be accompanied by an adult.

Be prepared for winter with accurate contact info, warm clothes

When school buildings need to close due to extreme weather, information will be released through a phone message, as well as the district’s website (www.ccsd89.org) and Facebook page (facebook.com/CCSD89). The district’s messaging system uses contact info supplied by guardians, so it is important you contact the school secretary and update your records if they have changed.

Even when school is open, students should dress for the cold. Students will continue to go outside for recess as long as the weather remains above 10 degrees. If your family needs winter clothing, our school can help; please call the school’s main number and ask for our school’s social worker.

Parent Series: Fostering athletes’ confidence for peak performance (January 21)

At noon and 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 21, Nike performance coach Kirsten Jones will discuss how families can positively impact their child’s confidence, wellbeing, and performance in athletics, while also preparing them for success outside of sports. Preview Learn more: https://gpsparentseries.org/events/kirsten-jones/

Music Boosters will plan for Music Café at January 22 meeting

The D89 Music Boosters will hold a planning meeting via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 22. The meeting will be focused on planning for the April 18 Music Café. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82714558957

If you’re interested in joining the Music Boosters, go here: https://bit.ly/4prtAgA Anyone with questions can contact Dina Hilliard at dinahilliard@gmail.com.