Cougar Connection

Dear Keller Families,

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! It is hard to believe that tomorrow we will be welcoming students back into the building. It has been a pleasure meeting you and your students at Kindergarten Round Up and Open House this week. I and the rest of the Keller staff are ready and excited to welcome all of our Keller Cougars back to school tomorrow!

Ahead of tomorrow's first day of school, I want to provide an update on the renovation projects taking place at Keller and plans for student arrival and dismissal. In my last update, I shared that the building and its new learning spaces would be ready in time for the first day of school and work outside of the building would continue into the fall. This is still the case and as the project outside of the building is completed, arrival and dismissal procedures will remain the same as they were at the end of last school year. Those procedures, as well as suggested walking routes, can be found below.

This year will be a particularly special year at Keller as we will be celebrating Keller's 50th school year serving the community! We are excited to honor the traditions that have made Keller such an amazing community while also celebrating the future through the opening of the building's new addition and playground.

Lastly, I want to say thank you for trusting us with your children and for partnering with us this upcoming school year. I look forward to getting to know everyone in the Keller community this year. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to contact our office. See you soon!

Warmly,

Alex Weinberg

The following will be Keller's arrival procedure until exterior renovation work is completed:

• Students should not arrive before 7:45 A.M.
• Students who walk to school should follow the directions located in the "Suggested Walking Routes" section below.
• All students will enter the building through the front of the school. If students are car riders and being dropped off in front, they will enter through the main doors.
• Parents who drop off students in front of the building will only be allowed to drop off students in the designated “drop zone” area.
• As cars pull into the Keller parking lot, they will need to stay in the left lane. This will allow the buses to get by the cars in the right lane to drop off students.
• The buses will drop off further down the sidewalk in the bus lane, so students will never have to cross in front of them.
• Parents will not be allowed to drop off children unless they are in the “drop zone.”
• Students can only exit from the passenger side of the vehicle, and parents must pull away as soon as the child(ren) exit the vehicle.
• The area north of the “drop zone,” where the handicapped parking is located, will be coned off, to provide a vehicle free walk zone for the children. Staff members will be present to aid in this process and keep the children safe.
• School begins at 7:55 a.m. If students are tardy, parents need to park and walk the students into the building and sign in the child.

The following will be Keller's dismissal procedure until exterior renovation work is completed:

• Bus riders will be dismissed first at 2:15 p.m.
• ALL car riders will be dismissed out the front doors.
• Car riders will wait in the school and will be walked out to their cars. Parents need to stay in their vehicles parked with their car tag in the passenger window.
• Cars will leave the parking lot once the all clear has been given.
• The next wave of cars will enter and repeat the process until all car riders are dismissed.
• Walkers will be dismissed at 2:25 p.m. and exit out of the front doors of the school. Walkers need to stay on the sidewalk and cross only by the crossing guard.

The goal is to keep our children safe at all times.

• Along 76th Ave., all students are to walk to 163rd St. and cross with the crossing guard at 163rd St. and 76th Ave.
• All students on Ozark Ave. and East should walk to 163rd and Ozark Ave. and cross with the crossing guard at that intersection.
• All students to the North and West of Helen Keller Elementary School should travel to 163rd St. and then to the school. Depending on the status of construction, the walking paths connecting Everdon may not be accessible. When the walking paths are accessible, students who live North and West of Helen Keller can use these walking paths to access the school from Everdon.
• All students South and East of Helen Keller Elementary School should travel along Princeton Ave, Paxton Ave, and Parliament Ave. then cross with the crossing guard at 163rd St. and Parliament Ave.

Important August dates to mark on your calendar:

• 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

• Week of August 24 - MAP and FastBridge Testing Begin

• Tuesday, August 25 - Fall Picture Day

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

School supply lists for all D140 schools are available in the School Supply List section of our website.

KSD 140 uses the ParentSquare messaging platform to keep parents and guardians informed and engaged with our schools and the District.

• Receive messages from the school via email, text, or app notification
• Choose to receive information as it comes or all at once with a daily digest at 6 p.m.
• Communicate in your preferred language
• Direct message teachers and staff
• Sign up for parent-teacher conferences
• Sign forms & permission slips, sign up to volunteer, and more all from your desktop or mobile device

We encourage parents to access their accounts by visiting parentsquare.com/signin and REGISTERING using the email or phone number listed in Infinite Campus.

For even greater convenience, please download the ParentSquare app (available free for iOS and Android devices).

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

Hot Lunch

Hot lunch is being finalized and we will send flyers home the first week of school. We are switching our treat days to Tuesday this year. Orders will be due for the trimester on Monday August 24 with a final closing date with a late fee by August 26.

Spiritwear

We are using two new spiritwear companies for grade level shirts and general Keller Apparel this year. Grade level shirts will be ordered from Lighthouse Printing and general apparel for Keller Spiritwear will be ordered directly though 1st Place Spiritwear. Be on the lookout for more information.

Save the dates

Aug 24- last day to order 1st Trimester Hot Lunch without late fee

Aug 26- last day to order 1st Trimester Hot Lunch with late fee

Aug 27 @ 9 am -First PTO meeting of the year in Keller Commons

Sept 1- first Hot Lunch Treat Day

Sept 24 @ 9 am PTO meeting in Keller Commons

Oct 23- Trunk or Treat event

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.

Helen Keller Elementary School

7846 W. 163rd Street, Tinley Park, IL 60477

Phone: 708-532-2144

Website: ksd140.org/keller

Principal: Alex Weinberg aweinberg@ksd140.org

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