Cougar Connection
July 2024
Principal's Message - November 2026
Dear Keller Families,
What an October we had here at Keller! Keller's 36th annual Pumpkin Chase and Ghostbuster Race took place on October 21st and was a huge success. The day was filled with sunshine and Keller spirit and was the perfect kick off to our Halloween festivities. Thank you to Mrs. Maurer and the Pumpkin Chase Club for planning such an amazing event! The week ended with the Keller PTO's wonderful Trunk or Treat event. Thank you to all of the students, families and staff who attended and thank you to our Keller PTO for planning and running the event!
The following week, Keller students had the opportunity to show off their creative abilities through Keller's annual pumpkin decorating contest. There were so many amazing designs, great job students and families! Then, October concluded with Keller's annual Halloween parade and classroom parties. Thank you to all of our staff and parents who made the day so special and thank you to our Keller students for your spirit and wonderful costumes!
As we move into November, I want to take a moment to celebrate an incredible accomplishment for our Keller community. I am excited to share that on October 30, the Illinois State Board of Education released its annual School Report Cards, and I am proud to share that Helen Keller Elementary has earned an Exemplary designation, the highest rating a school can receive in Illinois! I am incredibly proud of our students and staff for the hard work they put in each day, and grateful to our families for the support and partnership you provide along the way. While our work is never finished, this recognition is an important milestone, and we look forward to building on this progress as we continue helping every student learn, grow, and succeed.
There is plenty to look forward to in the month of November at Keller! We are looking forward to honoring those who have served our country at our Veterans Day assembly on November 11. If your family has a veteran who is planning on attending the assembly, the form sent home with your child must be returned by this Friday, November 6. We are also looking forward to meeting our Keller families at Parent Teacher Conferences on November 23rd and 24th. Please see additional information about Parent Teacher Conferences below.
Keller Renovation Project
We are thrilled that the majority of the Keller renovation project is complete! Students have been enjoying the new playground and blacktop during recess for the past few weeks and we thank everyone who attended our ribbon cutting ceremony prior to Trunk or Treat!
Arrival and Dismissal
As the Keller Renovation Project comes to a close, please be on the lookout for updated Arrival and Dismissal procedures. These updated procedures will be communicated via ParentSquare in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please continue to follow the policies below as they are intended to ensure our Arrival and Dismissal procedures are as safe as possible for our students, staff, and families.
- Student drop off/pick up is not allowed on the side of Everdon Rd. furthest from the building (west side of the street). There are signs posted indicating that there is no student drop off/pick up allowed on that side.
- Student arrival begins at 7:45 AM each day. We must insist that students are not dropped off earlier as adult supervision does not begin until 7:45.
- At morning drop off, please pull as far ahead as you can before dropping off your student and remain in your car. This allows for more cars to come into the lot, ensuring that our students are in the building on time.
- Please continue to drive slow around the school and if you are crossing the street with your child, cross carefully to ensure everyone is dismissing safely.
Thank you to all of our Keller families for helping us keep arrival and dismissal safe and efficient!
Attendance Matters
As we settle into our routine for the school year, I wanted to take a moment to remind families about the importance of regular school attendance. While we understand that some absences are unavoidable, regular school attendance is critical to keep students on track academically. We thank you for partnering with us to ensure that our students are at school, on time and ready to learn!
Please see below for more important updates and upcoming dates throughout the rest of the newsletter!
Warmly,
Alex Weinberg
The Words We Use Shape Culture
Children learn about kindness and respect by watching the adults around them.
The conversations we have at home and at school help shape how children see themselves and others. When we model empathy, encouragement, and respectful communication, we help build a stronger school community.
Thank you for partnering with us in creating a culture where every child feels valued.
Remember: You Matter. We All Belong.
Parent-Teacher Conference Appointment Sign-Up Links Available November 2 - 19
Families can begin scheduling Parent-Teacher Conferences on Monday, November 2, at 9:00 am. Appointment sign-up links will be shared through ParentSquare and will remain available through Thursday, November 19.
Conferences will be offered both virtually through Google Meet and in person:
Google Meet: Monday, November 23, from 1 - 4 pm
In person: Monday, November 23, from 5 - 8 pm and Tuesday, November 24, from 8 am - 3 pm
For more information, visit the Parent-Teacher Conference section of the District website.
First Trimester Reports Issued Friday, November 20
First-trimester report cards will be available on Friday, November 20. Families will receive them directly through ParentSquare and can also view them in their Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
How to Access Student Report Cards in Infinite Campus:
Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
Select Documents in the menu.
Click 26-27 School Name under Report Card, and a pop-up window displaying your student’s report card will open in a new browser. If you cannot view your student’s report card, please ensure pop-up windows are enabled in your web browser.
If you need assistance accessing your portal or viewing grades, please contact your school office.
Parent-Teacher Conferences and Fall Break - November 23 - 27
During our Fall Break, there is NO SCHOOL Monday, November 23, through Friday, November 27.
Parent-Teacher conferences are on Monday, November 23, and Tuesday, November 24. School resumes on Monday, November 30.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Looking Ahead: Key Dates in November 2026
Important November dates to mark on your calendar:
Wednesday, November 11 - Veterans' Day Assembly - 9:00
Thursday, November 12 - Choir Concert - 6:00
Friday, November 13 - End of 1st Trimester
Saturday, November 14 - PTO Mother/Son Bowling (see more info below) - 5:00
Monday November 16 - No School - Teacher Institute Day
Wednesday, November 18 - 3rd and 4th Grade Music Concert - 6:00
Thursday, November 19 - PTO Meeting - 9:00 AM in the Keller Commons
Monday, November 23 - Parent Teacher Conferences - 1:00-8:00
Tuesday, November 24 - Parent Teacher Conferences - 8:00-3:00
November 23 - November 27 - Thanksgiving Break
Monday, November 30 - School Resumes
The entire school year calendar can be viewed on our website at 2026-27 School Year Calendar.
Stay Connected with ParentSquare!
KSD 140 uses the ParentSquare messaging platform to keep parents and guardians informed and engaged with our schools and the District.
- Receive messages from the school via email, text, or app notification
- Choose to receive information as it comes or all at once with a daily digest at 6 p.m.
- Communicate in your preferred language
- Direct message teachers and staff
- Sign up for parent-teacher conferences
- Sign forms & permission slips, sign up to volunteer, and more all from your desktop or mobile device
We encourage parents to access their accounts by visiting parentsquare.com/signin and REGISTERING using the email or phone number listed in Infinite Campus.
For even greater convenience, please download the ParentSquare app (available free for iOS and Android devices).
PTO Update - November 2026
Mother/Son Bowling Event happening on November 14th 5-7pm at Thunderbowl in Mokena
- We will be hosting a Mother/Son Bowling event at Thunderbowl in Mokena with 2 hours of bowling, shoes, pizza, pop, and mother/son fun time! Info on tickets will be available sometime in October. Space will be limited for this event to be sure to get your tickets early. Sales end November 7th.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/mother-son-bowling-night--2026
Spirit Wear Sales
Spirit wear sales continue through 1st Place Spirit wear for direct to home shipping! They are running a Black Friday Sale all throughout November. Families can save up to 20% sitewide and get free shipping on orders over $85. There will also be weekly flash sales with deeper discounts up to 35% so be sure to keep an eye out and get that holiday shopping done.
Trimester 2 Hot Lunch Volunteer Sign up is open:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084EAEA82DA0F85-66145846-20262027
- December 16-18 Holiday Shop in Keller Commons
- We will be continuing with Fun Services for our Holiday Shop during school hours. Students will be given the opportunity to purchase gifts for family and friends for the holiday season. Shop is cash only. The Holiday Shop helps students learn the value of money as well as the joy of gift giving. Be on the lookout for info about how to volunteer to help us run the holiday shop around the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Student Council Collections
Used Flag Collection - Help us show respect to our nation's flag! The Keller Student Council is collection used and worn flags for proper disposal. If you have a used or worn flag that is no longer suitable for display, please bring it to the Keller office during school hours during the month of November so our Student Council can dispose of it properly.
Bag-a-Meal Food Drive - Student Council is collecting items for our annual Holiday Bag-a-Meal Food Drive. The food items will be donated to families from our Keller School Community. Any donations you are able to make are greatly appreciated.
Health and Wellness
D140 prioritizes comprehensive strategies to support students' mental, emotional, and physical health. Please click Health Information to review our resources. Together, we can create a nurturing environment where every student can thrive.
Follow us on Social Media
Follow us:
Please follow us on Facebook at Helen Keller Elementary School and Instagram at kellercougars! We post updates throughout the week about what’s happening in our classrooms, so you can stay connected with all the exciting activities and learning moments.
Thank you for your support!
Follow us:
IG - kellercougars.
Helen Keller Elementary School
7846 W. 163rd Street, Tinley Park, IL 60477
Phone: 708-532-2144
Website: ksd140.org/keller
Principal: Alex Weinberg aweinberg@ksd140.org