Eagle's Post - 7/28/25

Dear Families,

With just two weeks left before we kick off the 2025–2026 school year, excitement is building across our community! I hope your summer has been filled with rest, adventure, and connection. In this edition of our newsletter, you’ll find several important details to help ensure a smooth start for your student. From upcoming events like our 6th Grade Orientation and Walk Your Schedule Day, to the release of student schedules and bus information on August 4th, there are plenty of opportunities for your child to feel ready and confident as they return to school.

I also want to spotlight two exciting ways for students to get involved right from the start: our fall musical, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and our upcoming fall athletics season. Whether your student is hoping to take the stage, join a team, or cheer from the sidelines, there are so many opportunities to connect, compete, and contribute to our school community. I encourage you to read through the full newsletter for important dates, forms, and updates to help your student make the most of the year ahead!

Have a wonderful week!

Anthony Dengler
Principal

Please note that there is a correction for our POMS dates shared in our last newsletter under the Athletics and Activities section of this newsletter.

Thursday, August 7, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Walk Your Schedule Day

Wednesday, August 13, 2025
First Full Day of School

Friday, August 22, 2025 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
6th Grade Activity Night

Monday, August 25, 2025 | 6:15 PM – 8:30 PM
6th Grade Curriculum Night

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | 6:15 PM – 8:30 PM
7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night

Join the fun at Paulus Park on August 10th from 11 am - 3 pm. Pack a picnic and join us for a day to unplug and connect with our community! For more information go to: www.unpluggedfest.com

Schedules for the 2025-2026 school year will be made available on August 4th. To access your student’s schedule on August 4th, login to ParentVUE and click on the CLASS SCHEDULE tab (located on the left side of your screen).

Additionally, your student’s transportation information can be found by logging into ParentVUE in the Student Information Section (scroll down to view Transportation Information).

Please note that, while initial route information will be available for viewing on Monday, August 4th - there may be slight changes in student pick-up times as routes are run the week prior to school and are optimized; families should check for more finalized information on Monday, August 11th.

This year, students and staff will have access to a therapy dog on a weekly basis again. This support will allow students who wish an opportunity to practice self-awareness and self-management skills during the school day while interacting with our guest.

We will ensure that the District’s Guidelines for Using Animals in School Facilities are followed, school grounds are appropriately cleaned following the therapy dog visits, and that the dog’s handler understands all procedures for meeting the dog’s needs during visits. No student or staff member will be made responsible for meeting any of the dog’s needs (i.e., access to water, bathrooming needs) at any point during the visits.

It is our hope that this is one more opportunity to meet the SEL needs of our students, to provide students a positive experience at school, and to help students be successful. As always, please let me know if you have questions.

As we approach the start of the school year, we want to remind all of our students and families of bus behavior expectations. Please take some time to review the information below with your student(s) before the start of school:

• Drink water only while on the bus; other food or drinks should be kept put away

• Use a voice level of 0 (voices off), 1 (whisper) or 2 (conversational volume, such as talking to someone next to you) at all times while on the bus

• Keep the aisle clear when students are loading or unloading

• Keep all body parts within the bus during the entire route

• Remain seated during the entire route

• Report to and stay in your assigned seat during the entire route

• Follow loading/unloading/crossing directions provided

• Exit through the designated doors only

• Take all trash and personal items with you when exiting the bus

• Keep all personal items with you during the route

• Use your assigned bus stop

Families can find additional information regarding bus expectations in Chapter 4 of the Parent-Student Handbook; students will also receive additional instruction on this topic during the first few weeks of school. We look forward to your partnership in these efforts, and to a successful start to the school year on transportation!

Do you know an amazing Lake Zurich High School alumni who has made great contributions and achievements in the world? If so, submit a nomination for the LZHS Distinguished Alumni Recognition award!

Nomination Criteria: To be nominated, alumni must have graduated from Lake Zurich High School at least 10 years ago and made significant contributions in their chosen field of work or through service to community, country, or world. NOMINATIONS DUE BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 22nd (at midnight)!!

Selection Criteria:

• Graduated a minimum of 10 years prior

• Models high standards of excellence in personal and/or professional life

• Outstanding contribution to volunteer service or their community, country, or world

• Post-secondary experiences reflect the values supporting our district mission: Academic Excellence, Accountability, Collaboration, Equity, Integrity, Perseverance, Respect

Click here to nominate a candidate meeting these criteria!

Inductees will be honored at the Homecoming football game and will have their pictures added to our Distinguished Alumni Wall at LZHS!

On Wednesday, August 6th, between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., all incoming 6th-grade students will have an opportunity to attend the Middle School South 6th grade orientation. During the orientation, there will be several activities that will allow students to familiarize themselves with our building and meet some new classmates. There will be several staff members here throughout the day to help guide students. Parents can drop off their students beginning at 9:15 AM at the main entrance and pick them up at 12:00 PM.

All Middle School South students will have the ability to walk their schedules on Thursday, August 7th from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. Parents and students will be able to walk the building with their schedules to become familiar with the school. Students will also be able to access their lockers and place supplies/materials in them.

The first day of student attendance is Wednesday, August 13th. As a reminder, the first day of school is a full day, from 7:20 a.m. - 2:10 p.m.

Please mark your calendar with the following dates:

Monday, August 25th: 6th Grade Curriculum Night; 6:15 PM - 8:30 PM

Tuesday, August 26th: 7th & 8th Grade Curriculum Night; 6:15 PM - 8:30 PM

A current grade-level list of school supplies can be found on the school website. You can also access the middle school supply lists by clicking here.

To Find more information about Free and Reduced Lunch Waivers and CUSD95 Fee Waivers, please visit our Business and Operations section of the LZ95 website: https://www.lz95.org/departments/business-operations.

There are two separate applications for 1)Free and Reduced Lunch Waivers and 2) CUSD 95 Fee Waivers. The School Board of Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 requires a separate application for a waiver of school fees (click here for board policy 4:130 on waiver of student fees) and free and reduced lunch.

Links to the forms, and information can be found under the section: Free & Reduced Lunch and Fee Waivers.

Needed Forms Prior to First Day of Activity/Tryout:

For students interested in trying out and participating in a sport, students must have the following:

• Physical: All students participating in try-outs and a sport must have a current physical or sports physical on file. Physicals are good for one year and one month from the date the physical was conducted. Please check to make sure your physical is current prior to tryouts or the start of an athletic activity. The physical should be turned into the Nurse’s Office.

• Emergency Information Form: Students must have a completed and signed Emergency Information Form for each activity they are trying out for/participating in. They will need to turn this form in to the coach or sponsor at the time of try-outs. If try-outs are not required, then the form should be turned-in at the first meeting of the sport or activity.

All registration for activities will be in ParentVUE and information about registration will be sent later this summer.

Do you want to be a part of the MSS Fall Musical? This year's musical will be a production ofYou're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Whether you are interested in joining the cast or being a part of the stage crew, there will be an information meeting on Wednesday, August 20th after school.

Here are a few other important dates:

Workshop: Thursday, August 21, 2025

Auditions: Monday, August 25th, Tuesday, August 26th, and Wednesday, August 27th.

Below is information regarding tryouts, season schedules, and other information for our Fall athletic teams.

Softball:

Tryouts: Monday, August 11th, Tuesday, August 12th, and Wednesday, August 13th @ 2:20 PM - PLEASE NOTE THESE DAYS ARE PRIOR TO THE START OF SCHOOL.

Click here for a flyer.

Click here to see this season's schedule.

Cross Country:

No tryout required

Student Informational Meeting: Thursday, August 14th @ 2:20 PM

Click here for information about optional early practices beginning Monday, August 4th.

Click here to sign up for early practices.

Season Schedule

Boys Soccer:

Tryouts: Friday, August 15th & Monday, August 18th @ 2:20 PM

Season Schedule

Pom Poms:

Clinics: Tuesday, September 2nd & Wednesday, September 3rd @ 2:20 PM

Tryouts: Thursday, September 4th @ 2:20 PM

Season Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Tryouts: Monday, September 15th & Tuesday, September 16th @ 2:20 PM

Season Schedule