Tuesday Newsday

It is with great excitement and optimism that I welcome you to the 2026-2027 school year! Whether you are returning to our schools or joining our community for the first time, we are grateful to have you as part of our District 74 family.

Every school year brings with it a unique set of moments to take advantage of new opportunities, explore fresh starts, and map out a pathway for growth for every student. The District’s Strategic Plan, adopted in 2024, lists a series of Core Values that serve as an aspirational foundation for the work we do with our students daily and will serve as an area of focus and direction for this year. For more information about our Strategic Plan, please visit the District’s website.

We know that tomorrow brings a great deal of excitement about connecting with friends and meeting new teachers. We also know that for some, tomorrow may bring butterflies about new routines. Please know that our staff is here to aid in your child’s adjustment to their new grade in the hopes that we can create as smooth a transition into the new school year as possible.

It will be wonderful to have the majority of our students back on campus tomorrow! Welcome back, Jaguars!

In Educational Partnership,

David L. Russo, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

• First day of school for grades 1-8 - Aug. 26
• Kindergarten Meet and Greet - Aug. 26

• Last Names A-E:

  8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

  Last Names F-M:

  9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

  Last Names N-R:

  12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

  Last Names S-Z:

  1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

• Pre-K Meet and Greet - Aug. 26
• A.M. Pre-K - Last names A-M: 8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
• A.M. Pre-K - Last names N-Z: 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
• P.M. Pre-K - Last names A-M: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• P.M. Pre-K - Last names N-Z: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• First day of school for Kindergarten (Last names A-M) - Aug. 27, 8:25 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
• First day of school for Pre-K (Last names A-M) - Aug. 27
• A.M. Pre-K: 8:25 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.
• P.M. Pre-K: 12:10 p.m. - 2:55 p.m.
• First day of school for Kindergarten (Last names N-Z) - Aug. 28, 8:25 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
• First day of school for Pre-K (Last names N-Z) - Aug. 28
• A.M. Pre-K: 8:25 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.
• P.M. Pre-K: 12:10 p.m. - 2:55 p.m.
• Ice Cream Social - Aug. 28, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Today you should have received your PowerSchool Parent Portal login information via email. In the portal you will be able to see your child’s schedule, teachers, and report absences. Visit the District website for further instructions on how to use the new absence reporting feature.

Say cheese! Picture Day at all schools will take place on Sept. 8.

Students who are not fully registered at this point will not be able to enter their classrooms on the first day of school. Families will need to visit the Administration Building to complete registration.

Registration is not complete until the online registration form is submitted for each student, residency documents are submitted, and school fees are paid.

Safe Arrivals and Dismissals

The safe transportation of students each day is a top priority. In that spirit, we ask for everyone’s cooperation during arrival and dismissal. Please follow the directions of traffic supervisors and the traffic procedures below:

1. Do not drop off or pick up students on Crawford Avenue. This is unsafe, and vehicles may be ticketed. We have monitored our drop-off lines and found that the longest wait is only several minutes. Please follow the assigned traffic pattern every day.
2. Students who cross at Pratt Avenue and East Prairie Road should walk down East Prairie Road and continue past the front of Rutledge Hall. Students should not walk down Pratt Avenue to use the traffic island in the parking lot.
3. At dismissal time, please don’t park and wait for students on East Prairie Road adjacent to New Light Cemetery, as this impedes the flow of traffic. Please use the assigned pickup lines.

Your patience and understanding, especially during inclement weather, go a long way toward ensuring the safety of every student. For reference, please view the District's traffic procedures.

1. Please be at the bus stop 10 minutes before the posted time.
2. For safety reasons, parents/guardians are not allowed to board the bus at any time.
3. A parent/guardian over the age of 18 must be present at drop-offs. Students will not be allowed off the bus if the driver cannot identify an adult waiting. They will be returned to Todd Hall and a parent/guardian must pick them up in the main office.
4. If you know ahead of time that you'll be late to the bus, contact Todd Hall or the Administration Building by noon on the day of to make alternate arrangements. Call Jessica Tarnoff, Todd Hall secretary, at 847-675-8235, or Transportation Coordinator Jenny Tianis at 847-675-8234.

Illinois recently enacted a new statewide law requiring K–8 schools to implement bell-to-bell restrictions on student cell phone and personal device use beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.

At SD74, we already have policies limiting the use of personal devices, such as phones and smartwatches, during the school day. At Lincoln Hall, students are expected to keep their personal devices off and stored in their locker during the school day. At Rutledge Hall, students are expected to keep their personal devices off and in their backpacks. Our existing practices align closely with the goals of the new state law, which is designed to reduce distractions and help students stay focused on learning and connecting with one another.

As additional guidance becomes available from the Illinois State Board of Education, we will review our current policies and communicate any changes that may be needed.

For future planning, please review the 2026-2027 school year calendar.

Learn more about the People Active with Lincolnwood Schools (PALS) organization.

• PALS meeting - Sept. 14, 7 p.m. at Todd Hall library

• Kick off the new school year with sweet treats and great company! The Ice Cream Social is this Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Help PALS dish out the fun! If you are interested in volunteering to hand out ice cream and water, grab a 30-minute time slot and join in!

• Join PALS for a Back-to-School Giveback Bash on the outdoor patio at Une Année (6343 Gross Point in Niles) on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Enjoy homemade BBQ and more. Mention PALS74 and 15% of sales go to support PALS!

• Beginning Friday, Aug. 28, PALS is selling Domino’s BOGO cards for just $20! Each card unlocks unlimited Buy-One-Get-One-Free large pizzas at participating Domino's locations through June 30, 2027. Stop by the PALS table at the Ice Cream Social and pick up your flyer.

Be sure to check the Virtual Bulletin Board on the SD74 website regularly for special announcements from around the community.

• Summer Concert Series - 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Proesel Park.
• Aug. 27 - Totally Taylor
• Movie in the Park (Bad Guys 2) - Sept. 11, 7 p.m., at Proesel Park
• Touch-a-Truck - Sept. 13, 12:30 p.m. - 3 p.m., at Village Hall Parking Lot
• Flotsam River Circus - Sept. 18, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m., at North Shore Channel in Centennial Park



Learn about these events and more.

www.sd74.org

6950 N. East Prairie Road, Lincolnwood, IL 60712

847-675-8234

Questions about Tuesday Newsday? Contact:

Jackie McGoey, Director of Communications and Community Relations, at jmcgoey@sd74.org