BULLDOG BULLETIN

Dear Bulldog Families,

There are so many reasons I am proud to be the principal of Sarah Adams Elementary School—our amazing staff who go above and beyond to care for our students and empower them to be the best versions of themselves; our dedicated and supportive families who partner with us every step of the way; and, of course, our students, who bring joy, curiosity, and optimism to every day, demonstrating grit and perseverance in all that they do.

Friday, October 10, was an especially proud day for me, as Sarah Adams Elementary School was officially recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by Governor Pritzker! I view this recognition as a lifetime achievement award—our Grammy or Oscar moment—and one in which we can all take pride.

As mentioned in a recent message from Dr. Gallt, a team of dedicated staff members and district administrators spent many hours writing and articulating the ways in which we support our students academically, socially, and emotionally. Our collective work captured how we empower students to take ownership of their learning, their environment, and their role as advocates for themselves and others.

The small ceremony in Hickory Hills, IL, provided an opportunity for Blue Ribbon Schools to be honored through the newly established Governor’s Blue Ribbon Award. It was inspiring to hear Governor Pritzker speak so highly of Illinois schools and educators, and to feel his genuine support for the work we do each day.

There will be more to come later this year, but learning that Sarah Adams Elementary School is part of the inaugural Governor’s Blue Ribbon Award is a moment I will never forget. I could not be more proud of our school community and the collective effort that made this monumental achievement possible.

With pride and gratitude,

Dr. Colleen Conway

📌 October 24, Picture Retake Day 📸

📌 October 24, Trunk or Treat!

📌 October 31, Halloween Parade & Parties! 🎃

📌 November 3, PTO Meeting, 6:30 SA LIH

📌 November 10, Non Student Attendance Day

📌 November 13, Early Release, Parent/Teacher Conferences

📌 November 20, Parent Teacher Conferences

📌 November 21, Early Release, Parent/Teacher Conferences

We will celebrate Halloween as a school on Friday, October 31st. Students may come to school in their regular clothing, and will be provided time in the afternoon to change into their costumes. Please send your child(ren) to school in something that is easy to put their costume over (ex: leggings, t-shirt, etc).

• For the safety and well-being of every student, please select kid-friendly costumes that do not have full face masks or weapons of any kind. If your child's costume has a mask, they may wear it on top of their head. Weapons or weapon replicas of any kind will not be allowed.

  
  

  Please keep in mind the following:

  
  

  • Your child should be able to put on their costume by themselves (we can help with ties, snaps, buttons!)
  • Age appropriateness of the costume
  • Appropriate for the weather (as long as it is not raining, we will parade outside!)
  • Easy enough that students can go to the bathroom in their costumes by themselves

  
  

  Our Halloween schedule is posted below, please note the parade is open to all families!

  
  

  -PARADE- 1:30-1:45

  Families are invited to view our parade in the front circle of the school. Please park on the street as the lot will be closed for safety. You may stand on the grassy area on Old Mill Grove Road/circle drive but please do not block the sidewalk for our route. It is is raining we will parade only inside. Unfortunately parents will not be able to come in for the indoor parade.

  
  

  -PARTIES 1:45-2:30-

  All room representative need to have filled out the Parent Volunteer form and must check in the vestibule. Additionally, all volunteers must watch the Safety video prior to volunteering. If you are volunteering and have not filled out the form, please stop by the office before 10/31 to complete this step. We have a list of volunteers who are permitted into the building for that afternoon.

  
  

  As a reminder, no food or additional guests are permitted at out parties. Parents are welcome to wear costumes, however please do not wear a mask. Volunteers must sign out at the front office before leaving.

If you are traveling to/from school using the gates by the playground, we kindly ask that you keep the posts closed and 'locked' after going through the gate. This extra layer of security is helpful to keep students safe, and larger animals out of the playground area. Having the closed gate is especially important in our mornings. Thank you!

We’re excited to join schools across the district in raising awareness about online safety for our students, staff, and community. This month, our students are invited to become Cybersecurity Superheroes! They’ll complete four missions: Think Before You Click, Update Your Gear, Protect Your Secret Power Codes, and Tell a Trusted Adult if something online feels unusual. Part of their missions also includes sharing what they are learning with their families so we can all stay safer in today’s digital world.

Parents, you can help your young heroes practice these super skills at home—one mission at a time! - and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or X at LZdistrict95 as we highlight practical ways families can stay safe online.

Again this year, we are inviting families with children ages birth through five (5) to join us for drop-in reading and craft sessions at our Early Childhood program (located at May Whitney Elementary School, 200 Church St, Lake Zurich, IL 60047). Families will participate in a read-aloud with their child, followed by a craft and songs/play. Resources regarding developmental milestones will be made available to families, parents will have the opportunity to ask questions of our early childhood team regarding any unique needs for their child(ren), and all kids will get to take home a book!

Please see the flyer linked HERE for information on all session dates, as well as a link to pre-register for sessions. Parents/guardians are required to remain on site for the session (these are not drop-off events).

Join us for a fun day of shopping!

Support Local Transition Businesses (including the Young Adult Center’s “We Dip, You Dip” business.

Young adults ages 18-22 from 10 Lake County high schools are gaining real world job experience by creating and running their own district businesses.

Your support helps them build confidence, independence, and skills for their future!

Friday, November 7, 2025

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Open to the Public

The Chapel - 1966 W. Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060

As students travel to and from school, we want to remind everyone about the importance of safety. Please take a moment to review these tips with your child:

• Always wear a properly fitted helmet when riding scooters or bicycles.
  
  

• Stop, look, and listen before crossing streets or train tracks.
  
  

• Use crosswalks and follow all traffic signals.
  
  

• Stay alert — avoid headphones and phone use while riding or walking.
  
  

• Be cautious around buses, cars, and busy intersections

We also previously shared resources from the Village of Lake Zurich on E-Scooters, E-Bikes, and E-Dirt Bikes, which can be found [here]. Additional safety resources may be found on the District 95 Safety & Security Website.

Thank you for reinforcing these important safety practices with your student.

Joanie's Closet Snowpant and Snow Boot Collection

New or gently used, CLEAN boots/snowpants only

We cannot accept any other items at this time. PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT ACCEPT USED COATS.

October 1-31, 2025

DROP OFF LOCATION - D95 Administration Office, 832 S. Rand Rd. (next to Walmart)

Donation box will be right INSIDE the building. Please do not drop off anything outside.

CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE FLYER

As part of our ongoing commitment to student health and wellness, District 95 is partnering with the Ela Coalition Against Youth Substance Use to celebrate Red Ribbon Week. This week focuses on a variety of age-appropriate messages and activities related to healthy decision-making for students. Families can learn more about Red Ribbon Week and district activities in the parent letter HERE.