The District 25 Dish

This edition of the District Dish features the following

• Superintendent Message
• UPDATED RESOURCES: D25's Commitment to Every Child's Right to Education
• Need 2 Know
• SNAP Impacts in District 25
• Want to help?
• Calendar Updates 🔔 (UPDATE TO THE 25-26 CALENDAR) 🔔
  25-26 Calendar - UPDATED
• Calendario 25-26 - ACTUALIZADO
• Safety & Supports
  Community Supports Page - Food Supports
• Celebrate with Us!
  
• Community Events
  

• Feel Good Story
  Learning About Fall at Westgate! 🍁

• Help Needed | We are hiring!
  Click here for positions!
• Instagram | @ahsd25social
  
• Board of Education
  Congratulations to our Board of Education!
• Strategic Plan 21-25, Dashboard
• #d25ItsPersonal

Thank you! Click around and enjoy!

Dear District 25 Families,

It’s that time of year as Halloween is TOMORROW! As we enjoy the crisp fall air and the excitement of costumes, and community festivities, I want to take a moment to celebrate the fun and joy this season brings to our schools and neighborhoods.

A big thank you to everyone who came out to the Trunk or Treat event last Saturday to our Board members! We had a blast connecting with so many families and seeing the creativity of our students on full display (pic to the right).

Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and delightfully spooky Halloween!

Together Today to Transform Tomorrow!

Dr. Brian Kaye
Superintendent

I have one last message and it serves as a reminder. Last year, we shared a letter reaffirming District 25’s belief, aligned with the Illinois State Board of Education, that schools should be safe havens where students can learn without fear.

I wanted to touch base again on this and let our community know that we have resent that guidance to our front office staff and building administrators on how to manage situations should Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other immigration representatives come to our schools. Our priority remains ensuring that every child and family feels safe, valued, and supported in District 25.

👉 Read Dr. Kaye’s full letter from last year, here.

🔗🔗 Updated Resources:
Illinois Immigration Information Hub:

• Know Your Rights Toolkit
• Free and Low-Cost Legal Services
• A family emergency plan template, with step-by-step guidance
• Organizational preparedness resources for businesses and employers

In an immigration emergency, call the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Right's Family Support Network Hotline to get support in English, Spanish, Korean, and Polish (1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY/1-855-435-7693).

It has been reported by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) that SNAP benefits in Illinois will be delayed due to the federal shutdown starting on November 1st. For more information visit snapfederalimpact.illinois.gov.

These changes do NOT affect our Arlington Heights School District 25 free and reduced meals at school for eligible children. We will continue to provide meal support to our students. More information on AHSD25 meal programs can be found on our Food & Nutrition Services website.

If you and your family are in need of additional support during this time, please make an appointment to visit our local food pantry, Wheeling Township Food Pantry by calling (847)259-7730. Additional food pantry information can be found at Northern Illinois Food Bank and Greater Chicago Food Depository.

As SNAP benefits change, we want our families to know that support is available. Visit our Community Supports page to find local food pantries and resources ready to help.

Our Village of Arlington Heights families rely on SNAP benefits which will be impacted starting November 1. Your donations will directly help neighbors in our community meet their basic food needs.

All donations can be made to the Wheeling Township Food Pantry but there is a high need for:

• Canned fruits
• Canned soups (other than chicken or tomato)
• Canned vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, etc.)
• Canned beans (other than green or black beans)
• Canned meats (spam, chicken, chili, etc.)
• Monetary donations made payable to “Wheeling Township Emergency Fund, Inc.”
• Jewel or Aldi gift cards in amounts of $25 or less

The Wheeling Township Food Pantry is located at 1616 N Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004

Progress Reports Issued | Middle School

• October 31, 2025

Superintendent Office Hours

• November 4, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

School Board Meeting

• November 11, 2025

First Trimester Ends

• November 14, 2025

At the Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Board of Education meeting, a change to the 2025-2026 school year calendar was approved. The School Improvement Day originally scheduled for Monday, April 6 was moved to Tuesday, March 17. This means:

• March 17, 2026 → No school for students

• April 6, 2026 → Students will attend school

For more details on the change, click here for a letter sent to our community on July 17, 2025.

📅 View the updated calendar here:

• 25-26 School Calendar | English
• Calendario escolar 25-26 | Español

Did you know you can feed the District and school calendars into your personal calendar? There are easy steps located on our website, and for a video tutorial watch the video above!

Email Adam Harris (aharris@sd25.org) if you have any questions!

Have you ever visited our SAFE25 page? We invite you to check it out!

Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We are committed to creating and maintaining secure environments where learning can thrive.

School safety is an ongoing process, and your input is invaluable. Share your feedback with us at safe25@sd25.org. Together, we can build a safer future for our students.

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is our district’s approach to managing all types of hazards or emergencies that may occur on school property. It provides a clear, consistent framework for how we communicate and respond to keep everyone safe.

Residents can opt to register their security cameras with the AHPD to assist in investigations. More details: Connect Arlington Heights Camera Registration.

Link Together Coalition Mission: Promote healthy youth, families, and communities by decreasing teen alcohol and drug use through education, advocacy, and access to community resources, and policy awareness, implementation, and change.

Working with D25: South and Thomas Middle Schools are provided with prevention initiatives that are targeted at youth to empower them to be drug and alcohol free.

Lets Talk More: In the past year, 52% of Wheeling Township high school students answered YES that their parent/guardians have talked to them about not using alcohol. See attached PDF below to learn more.

For more information and resources, visit our Parent Academy page.

District 25 is a partner in the Link Together Coalition, which gives our community access to the Glenbard Parent Series. Please check out the various Glenbard Parent Series presentations that work to engage top experts, parents, and school staff to become proactive and informed in pursuit of the mutual goal of strengthening our communities. Programs are free and open to the public. No registration required.

District 25 is committed to supporting the whole child and their family. We’ve created a new webpage to share community resources that offer assistance with food, housing, health services, and more. Visit the community supports page by clicking here to explore support options.

Care Solace is a free, confidential 24/7/365 Mental Health Care Coordination Service.

Call (888) 515 - 0595, or go to caresolace.com/site/northcook to complete a brief screening to be matched with a provider. Available for students, families and staff.

For more resources, visit our parent academy page: www.sd25.org/ParentAcademy.

BEACON (Behavioral Health Care and Ongoing Navigation) is a centralized resource for Illinois youth and families seeking services for behavioral health needs. It’s common for young people to struggle with behavioral and/or mental health challenges. Please know you are not alone, and neither is your child. Click HERE for support.

November is the month to remember the contributions of Native Americans and Alaska Natives and to honor the unique heritage of our continent’s first inhabitants.

Also known as “The Day of the Dead”. It is a two day holiday that originated in Mexico, where it is mostly observed. The days honor friends and family members that have died.

Federal holiday to celebrate the anniversary of the World War I agreement between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers.

We honor all military veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

A day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Celebrated the fourth Thursday in November, a federal holiday in all states.

Below you'll find a snapshot of upcoming events in the area that may be of interest to our students and families. This is just a sampling so be sure to visit each organization’s website for a full list of activities and details.

Did you…both recycling and victory gardens were popular ways people supported the war effort in the 1940’s?

Pumpkins are 90% water, which makes them bad for landfills but great for soil ang gardens! Bring your post-Halloween jack-o-lanterns, gourds, and pumpkins to Frontier Park on Saturday, November 1st, from 9am to noon, and help the Park District’s EnviroGroup smash and pitch them into compostable material.

When: November 1, 2025 | 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

Where: Frontier Park

Learn more here.

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The Arlington Heights Park District is excited to host an Indoor Triathlon at the Arlington Ridge Center on November 22! This fun, inclusive event gives participants of all fitness levels the chance to try swimming, biking, and running — all indoors and in a supportive, community-focused environment.

Students, families, and staff are welcome to join as it is an event for preteen to seniors! Please see the attached flyer for all event details, and help us spread the word throughout our community!

When: November 22, 2025 | 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

Where: Arlington Ridge Center (ARC)

Learn more here.

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Join the AHML on the first floor of the library to enjoy activities for all ages and learn about the traditional Mexican Day of the Dead! Make paper flowers, play Loteria, and visit our artist-designed Ofrenda.

Families can drop into the Lindsey Room in Kids' World from 1:30-2:30 p.m. for additional crafts designed for grades K-3 inspired by Día de los Muertos.

When: November 1, 2025 | 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Where: First Floor

Who: All Ages

Learn more here.

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the Arlington Heights Memorial Library is hosting an informative virtual program designed to provide resources and guidance for members of the immigrant community and those who support them?

In partnership with Hanul Family Alliance and the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, this safe and anonymous online event will cover helpful information and services available locally.

When: Tuesday, November 18 | 6:30 P.M.

Where: Online via Zoom

Learn more and get the Zoom link here.

Do you know someone who lives or works in Arlington Heights and deserves a big thank you for everything they do to give back? Now’s your chance to shine a spotlight on those who go above and beyond to make our community a better place. Nominate a person, group, or local business for a 2026 Hearts of Gold Award and help us celebrate their positive contributions to our Village!

Please submit your nomination by Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

👉 Submit your nomination here!

Learn more about adult education offered by District 214!

Click here to learn more: https://www.ce.d214.org/

☕🍁 Put down your pumpkin spice latte for this one! 🍁☕

This first grader KNOWS about fall! 🍂 He and his classmates at Westgate Elementary are diving into the science behind the season we all love so much — learning why the days get shorter 🌇, why the leaves change color 🍃🎨, and what animals do to get ready for the colder months 🦉🐿️🦊. It’s all part of their hands-on science fun at Westgate! 🍎📚

#d25ItsPersonal

District 25 is a great place to work — with opportunities to inspire, support, and impact students in a variety of roles. Whether you're in the classroom, behind the scenes, or on the front lines of support, there's a place for you here.

Explore opportunities at www.sd25.org/apply and see how you can make a difference in our schools and community!

Count the Xs and Os and what do you get?? 💕➕✨

Our kindergarteners are learning that math is everywhere — in patterns, numbers, and even a little game of Xs and Os! From counting to comparing, these little mathematicians are thinking big and having a blast doing it! 💡🎉

#D25ItsPersonal #KindergartenMath #LearningIsFun #ArlingtonHeights25

Thanks to her stepdad’s decades-long collection of wind-up toys, Corry greets students (and parents!) with little treasures that spark big smiles. 🪀😄 From zooming cars to dancing critters, the kids can’t get enough!

Moments like these show how administrative assistants enrich our school community and make every day brighter. ❤️

#PattonMagic #StaffSpotlight #MakingADifference #LittleJoysBigSmiles #d25ItsPersonal

Our Board Agendas are made public 48 hours before each Board meeting and can be accessed via our BoardDocs online program. To access BoardDocs, visit our website: www.sd25.org/BoardAgenda or click here.

What: School Board Meeting

When: Tuesday, November 11, 2025*

Where: Dunton Administration Building, 1200 S. Dunton Avenue, Arlington Heights

*The meeting will begin at 5:45 p.m. at which time the Board will move into Closed Session until approximately 7:00 p.m. Following Closed session, the Regular Open meeting will begin.*

Description

This meeting will be live streamed via YouTube. The link for this can be found on the Board Agenda page (www.sd25.org/BoardAgenda#Livestream) the week of the meeting.

This meeting will allow audience members in the room. Notice: We’ve switched from BoardDocs to Diligent Community for board meeting management. All future agendas, packets, and board materials will now be available through Diligent Community.

Public Comments:

Anyone who wishes to make a public comment can do so, in person, at our Board of Education meetings. The Board hosts two public comment opportunities on their agenda: 1) at the beginning of the meeting, prior to any agenda items; 2) at the end of the meeting after the agenda items have been discussed/presented.

The Board can be reached outside of Board meeting hours by emailing boardfeedback@sd25.org.

Follow along with our progress on the following goals within our Strategic Plan, 21-25:

• Student Achievement
• Family & Community
• Learning Environment
• High-Quality Staff
• Stewardship of Resources

You can stay up to date on the progress of our goals and strategies that guide us in our everyday work: www.sd25.org/StrategicPlan.

Our teachers teach from a personal place. #d25ItsPersonal has become a way for our teachers and staff to share daily occurrences, and reasons why they do what they do for a living, and why it's fulfilling, right here in District 25.

Together Today 2 Transform Tomorrow

Website: www.sd25.org
Location: 1200 South Dunton Avenue
Phone: (847) 758.4900
Facebook: facebook.com/ahsd25
Twitter: @ahsd25

Instagram: @ahsd25social