D124 Family Newsletter - 10-12-26

October is National Principal Appreciation Month, and we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible principals and assistant principals who support our students, families, and staff every day! We’d love to hear from you! Share a favorite memory, a kind word, or something you appreciate about your school’s principal or assistant principal. Your responses will be used throughout the month to help us recognize and celebrate these special members of our school community.

Please fill out this Google Form.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to help us make them feel appreciated!

Here are a few dates to know for the coming weeks:

• September 15-October 15 - Hispanic Heritage Month
• Wednesday, October 14 - NO Late Start
• Wednesday, October 21 - NO Late Start
• Friday, October 23 - End of First Quarter - Half day for Students
• Wednesday, October 28 - Late Start
• Friday, October 30 - Report Cards Sent Home

We are looking for parents who are interested in joining the D124 Parent Advisory Committee! At Evergreen Park School District 124, we believe parents are important partners in our students’ success, and we value your feedback and perspectives.

The Parent Advisory Committee brings together parents from across our district’s four quadrants to share ideas, provide feedback, and help ensure that district initiatives reflect the needs and priorities of our families. This committee is an opportunity to connect with other parents, share your voice, and collaborate with district leadership to identify ways to better support our students and school community.

If you are interested in serving on the Parent Advisory Committee, please complete the interest form linked below. We look forward to connecting with families who want to be involved and help make a positive impact across D124!

Parent Advisory Committee Interest Form

We are looking for parents and community members who are interested in becoming substitute teachers! Subbing is a great way to support our students and staff while enjoying a flexible schedule—you can choose the days that work best for you. Substitute teachers are paid $150 per day, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to spend time in our schools, get to know our staff and students, and be an important part of our school community. If you’ve ever thought about becoming a substitute, we’d love to have you join our team! Check out the steps in this document to get started! Any questions? Reach out to Mary Kate McGarry (mamcgarry@d124.org).

Fashion Show: Celebrate Culture Through Fashion! As part of our Culture Night we are hosting a fashion show! We are looking for staff, students and families who would like to participate by wearing traditional or culturally meaningful clothing that represents their heritage, family, or culture. Participants will have the opportunity to walk in the fashion show and proudly share their culture with our school community.

This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our differences, honor our traditions, and learn from one another. We would love to see our D124 Families represented!

Interested in participating in the Ethnic Fashion Show? Please let us know! More information about participation and Culture Night will be shared soon.

Come celebrate the beautiful diversity that makes our community special! Please email Carrie Berry at cberry@d124.org or by phone, 708-422-6501.

Host a Room? For this event, we’re inviting D124 families to volunteer to host a room and share a country or culture that is meaningful to you and your family. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce other D124 families to your traditions, food, music, games, crafts, stories, or other aspects of your culture.

You do not need to be an expert or create an elaborate presentation. We’re simply looking for families who are excited to share something that is important to them!

What could you do?

• 🎨 Teach a simple craft or activity
• 🎵 Share music or a traditional dance
• 🎲 Play a game connected to your culture
• 🍽️ Share information about traditional foods
• 📸 Display photos, clothing, artifacts, or other meaningful items
• 📖 Share stories, traditions, or celebrations

Families will move in and out of rooms throughout the evening, so activities should be interactive, flexible, and easy for families to join at any point.

Interested in hosting a room?
We would love to have you! Please email Haley at hvermeer@d124.org if you are interested in volunteering or would like more information.

D124 Community Education has announced fall 2026 classes with two new classes focused on important health and safety topics.

Stop the Bleed will take place on Monday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Park Fire Department.

Severe bleeding can happen anywhere and at any time. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes can make a life-saving difference. The Stop the Bleed class teaches participants simple, practical techniques to recognize life-threatening bleeding and take immediate action while waiting for emergency medical services.

Registration fee is $50. Learn more and register today!

The other class, Introduction to Fire Extinguishers will also take place at the Evergreen Park Fire Department on Monday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m.

Fire extinguishers are important safety devices used to control and put out small fires before they spread and become more dangerous. The Evergreen Park Fire Department will teach you the different types of fires and you will then learn how to use a fire extinguisher.

Registration fee is $30.

Regarding Stop the Bleed, Introduction to Fire Extinguishers, CPR, or First Aid classes, please call the Evergreen Park Fire Department at (708) 422-2148 to register and make payment.

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• D124 Calendar
• Powerschool
• Parent and Student Handbook
• Lunch Menus