The 21 Ledger

Our partnership with the Indian Trails Public Library continues for another year, helping ensure every student can enjoy the benefits of a library card. Families can register for a new library card by Friday, September 18 by providing consent for the district to securely share student information with the library.

New cards will be distributed during the first trimester. Students who already have an Indian Trails Public Library card do not need to replace their existing card or complete a new registration. A separate form must be completed for each child who needs a new card.

Parents and guardians remain responsible for materials borrowed using their child’s card.

The countdown is on! Our Charity Golf Outing is coming up on Sept. 22, and we're getting ready for a great day on the course in support of our schools and students. Registration closes on Friday, Sept. 11, so don't miss your chance to participate. Register today, and get ready to tee it up!

What does Illinois’ new cell phone law mean for District 21 students and families? We’ve put together a Parent FAQ with answers to common questions about the law and what it means for our schools. Read it to learn more about expectations, implementation and what families can expect this school year.

We're entering the second year of District 21's three-year Strategic Plan, continuing the work that will strengthen teaching and learning, support students and staff and build strong connections across our schools and communities. New Strategic Plan posters will soon be displayed in every school. To learn more about our year-two goals and priorities, visit our dedicated Strategic Plan webpage and check out our new one-page overview.

We have, over the past few years, implemented Erin's Law, which requires age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention education for grades pre-K–12. For grades K–8, students will participate in the Be Seen and Heard curriculum, teaching safe vs. unsafe touch and secrets, and encouraging them to speak up to trusted adults. Preschool students receive the lessons from building social workers. Parents can preview the curriculum and join a Q&A on Monday, November 2, at 6 p.m. via Zoom. If you do not want your child to participate, contact your school. Lesson dates will be shared in school newsletters. A Spanish version of the presentation is also available.

District 21 students can use Beanstack to log reading minutes at home or school and participate in fun reading challenges throughout the year. Every minute counts!

This year, students in grades 3-8 will also meet Benny the Bean, an AI reading buddy who encourages reading goals, motivation and progress.

Families can support the fun by encouraging children to read regularly, asking about what they’re reading and celebrating their progress. Students can access Beanstack through their Chromebooks and may also connect their school account with their local library.

English log-in directions | Spanish | Russian

A quick reminder that District 21’s exclusionary date is coming up on October 15 – students who do not have the required immunizations and health records on file by that date will not be able to attend school until those requirements are met. Now is the perfect time to schedule appointments and take care of any outstanding paperwork. To make the process easier, families are encouraged to use the District 21 Health Center, which offers convenient, affordable access to required physicals, immunizations, and other health services to keep students healthy and ready to learn.

Got a health question you’ve been meaning to ask? We’re launching a new series, Ask the Health Center, where Dr. Erica Slack, nurse practitioner at the District 21 Health Center, will answer your burning questions.

From everyday childhood health questions to school-year wellness, sleep, nutrition and more — if you’ve wondered about it, chances are another parent has, too!

Have a question for Dr. Slack? Submit it to comms@ccsd21.org, and your question could be featured in an upcoming edition of Ask the Health Center.

As we settle into the first full month of the 2026-27 school year, we’d like to introduce (or reintroduce) the school resource officers who serve our school communities. Our SROs work alongside students, staff and families throughout the year, building relationships, providing support and helping foster safe, welcoming schools.

Meet our SROs and learn more about their roles and backgrounds:

• Officer Denys Wolf of the Buffalo Grove Police Department – Cooper, Kilmer, Longfellow and Poe
• Officer Julian Bahena of the Wheeling Police Department – Holmes, Frost, Twain, Whitman and Hawthorne
• Officer Kasia Struga of the Wheeling Police Department – London, Field, Riley, Tarkington and Hawthorne

All K-8 students can find our CCSD21 Student Start Website on their school's Research Resources websites. This website contains tutorials for students on using EL tools, accessibility features, troubleshooting common Chromebook issues, and more! Students can translate the site into any language by following these steps.

Looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students and families? We have a number of job openings across the district, with opportunities for educators, support staff and other roles. Explore our current openings and learn more about joining the D21 team!

One of the great privileges of our work is celebrating the incredible things happening every day across District 21. At the same time, protecting the privacy of our students, staff and families remains a top priority.

As conversations around artificial intelligence, digital privacy and the long-term use of images and personal information continue to evolve, we are reviewing our practices and determining whether additional safeguards are needed.

You may have already noticed fewer photos and individual student or staff stories appearing on our website and social media. This will continue in the coming weeks and months as we review our practices. We’ll continue highlighting the great work happening across our schools through districtwide news, program highlights, achievements and community updates.

Our students and staff continue to give us plenty to celebrate. We appreciate your patience as we work to find the right balance between sharing those stories and protecting the privacy of the people who make District 21 such a special place.

Getting too many ParentSquare notifications? You can customize how and when you receive them.

In the ParentSquare app:

Go to Menu → Account → Notifications to turn email, text or app notifications on or off and choose Instant or Digest delivery.

On the web:
Click your name in the top-right corner → My Account → Notification Settings. From there, you can adjust settings for General Announcements & Messages and School Alerts.

Choose the settings that work best for you while staying connected to important district and school updates.

We love celebrating the work of our community partners — including libraries, park districts, villages and more! The Community Corner highlights events, programs and opportunities that help connect and support our District 21 families. If your organization has something you'd like featured, please email us at comms@ccsd21.org with "Community Corner" in the subject line.

Wheeling Park District offers a Before- and After-School Recreation (BASR) program for children in grades K–5 attending Field, Tarkington, Twain and Whitman schools. The program provides a safe, engaging environment with games, crafts, sports, homework and quiet time.

Before-school participants are dropped off at the CRC and bused to school, while after-school participants are bused from school to the CRC for pickup. Families can choose before-school care, after-school care or both.

The Indian Trails Library has many events and workshops for students and their families during September. Check out the calendar of events for specific activities and times this month.

Tutor.com: Access one-on-one virtual homework help sessions from certified tutors in a variety of subjects. Free with your library card.

Year-Round Reading Challenges: Indian Trails Library offers year-round reading programs for all ages from birth through adults. Relax with a good book and earn prizes as you read. Visit the Youth Services Desk at the main library or check out the Youth Reading Programs Link on the library website for more information.