The 21 Ledger

Don’t wait…register your student today! Completing registration early helps ensure a smooth start to the school year. It allows us to plan for staffing, finalize class placements, and make sure your child is ready with everything they need on day one. Delaying registration can lead to last-minute issues or limited availability in certain programs. Get started now at ccsd21.org/registration and check one more thing off your list for the fall!

We’re excited to once again offer free meals for children throughout the summer months. With multiple convenient locations across the community, families can count on easy access to nutritious meals all summer long. Please note that children must be present to receive a meal. Meals may not be picked up on behalf of a child who is not at the meal site. Visit our dedicated webpage to view this year’s full list of locations and schedules, as well as printable flyers!

Congratulations again to our Class of 2026 eighth-grade graduates! We are so proud of all you have accomplished during your time in District 21 and wish you the very best as you begin the next chapter of your educational journey. Your hard work, growth, and achievements have prepared you well for high school and beyond. Families who attended promotion ceremonies can look forward to full photo albums from each event, which will be shared soon. Once the albums are available, they will be posted on our dedicated web page. Please also keep an eye on ParentSquare, as we will communicate when they go live.

As we wrap up another successful school year, we invite you to share your feedback through our end-of-year communications survey. Your input helps us better understand what communication efforts worked well this year and where we can improve to better serve our families and community in the future.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey using the links below:

• English
• Spanish
• Russian
• Ukrainian

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us strengthen our communication efforts and continue building strong connections with our school community.

Join D21 and Advocate Children’s Health for a meaningful day on the course in support of the District 21 Health Center. Proceeds from the golf outing help expand vital healthcare access for students and staff across our community. The event will take place Wednesday, June 17, at Chevy Chase Country Club. Registration closes on Sunday, June 7!

This summer, we will invest more than $28.4 million in construction and facility improvement projects across our schools. These projects will focus on modernizing learning environments, addressing long-term infrastructure needs, and ensuring our facilities continue to serve students for generations to come. We invite you to follow along with the progress throughout the summer on our social media channels. Links to all District 21 and school social media accounts (including our new Instagram accounts) can be found here!

Please note that the District 21 Administrative Office and Health Center will operate on a modified summer schedule from Wednesday, June 3, through Friday, July 31. During this time, office hours will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition, the building will be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth, as well as all Fridays in July. If your family needs to complete school physicals, immunization forms, or speak with the health team about any health concerns for the upcoming school year, schedule your appointment now! We appreciate your understanding and wish everyone a wonderful summer.

Mark your calendars for two exciting District 21 summer events! Families with children entering preschool through second grade are invited to attend the Second Annual Literacy on the Lawn on Tuesday, July 14, from 2–4 p.m. at Horizon Park, hosted in partnership with the Indian Trails Public Library. Then, kick off the new school year at the Back-to-School Bash on Saturday, August 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Heritage Park, immediately following the Family Fun 5K (more details on the 5K can be found further down!). Additional details for both events will be shared soon.

Get ready for a summer filled with reading, imagination and adventure! All District 21 students are invited to participate in any local library summer reading program, where they can explore great books, earn incentives and discover exciting activities throughout the season. District 21 has also partnered with Beanstack to allow students to link their school and library accounts, making it easier to participate in both school and community reading challenges. Check out the library flyers and Beanstack account-linking information below to get started on your summer reading journey.

Helpful Links:

• Beanstack Linking Instructions: English | Spanish | Russian
• Library Flyers: Arlington Heights | Prospect Heights | Indian Trails | Mount Prospect

Did You Know… As a district, we are proud to celebrate the diversity of our learning community! These are some observances, traditions and holidays celebrated and acknowledged in our community during the month of June: Father’s Day, Flag Day, Juneteenth, Caribbean American Heritage, LGBTQ+ Pride, and Immigrant Heritage. If you’d like to learn more, click on the links!

As we continue to evolve our middle school leadership model, we are excited to announce that Laura Nasello will be joining Holmes as its newest assistant principal, and Kari Thicksten will join Cooper’s leadership team as assistant principal. A big District 21 welcome to Laura and Kari! Get to know them better here.

As we wrap up another awesome school year and head into summer break, we want to share some quick tips regarding student technology. Here are a few ideas to help your family navigate screen time over break:

• Set up a central "tech charging station" in a common area overnight to ensure devices stay out of bedrooms and everyone gets a full night's rest.

• Try introducing a "First ___, Then Tech" rule, requiring a set amount of time for reading, outdoor play, or chores before recreational screen time begins.

• Leverage free tools like Google Family Link or Apple Screen Time to set daily limits on personal devices.

• Guide your children toward "digital creation" rather than passive consumption by encouraging them to try coding, graphic arts, or video editing.

• Establish dedicated screen-free zones, like family dinners, to help everyone disconnect and enjoy summer together!

Attention, Longfellow families! The Buffalo Grove Park District is exploring plans to redevelop the park and playground adjacent to Longfellow, and they want to hear from you! Community members are invited to attend one of two input meetings from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, and Thursday, July 9, at Longfellow to share ideas, priorities and feedback that will help guide the project. We hope to see you there!

Saturday, June 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | All ages

Stomp on over to the library for a t-rexcellent summer. Track 15 days of reading and three activities to earn prizes. Open to all ages; no residency or registration required! (However, registration is required for the SLA Kickoff Food Trucks)

Wednesday, June 17, from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.

Challenge your skills in this exhibition. International Chess Master Arjun Vishnuvardhan of Glenview Chess will compete against all attendees simultaneously. Suggested for advanced students. TR - Limit: 20. Free tickets distributed 30 minutes before the program on a first-come, first-served basis at the Youth Services Desk. TR = Ticket registration.

Wednesday, June 17, from 7 to 7:45 p.m.

Challenge your skills in this exhibition. International Chess Master Arjun Vishnuvardhan of Glenview Chess will compete against all attendees simultaneously. Suggested for advanced students. TR - Limit: 20. Free tickets distributed 30 minutes before the program on a first-come, first-served basis at the Youth Services Desk. TR = Ticket registration.

ITPLD cardholders have access to free or discounted admissions to area cultural attractions in Illinois, including museums, cultural centers, zoos, aquariums, gardens, historical societies, park districts and more. Click here to learn more and access tickets.

Indian Trails has many events and workshops for students and their families. Check out the calendar of events for specific activities and times this month.

OMNI’s Summer Camp is returning this summer, offering a free, supportive, and engaging experience for students in Grades 1–5 with Medicaid insurance. The camp runs Monday to Thursday from June 15 through August 6 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Tarkington (310 Scott Street, Wheeling). Students will participate in team-building games, creative crafts, and active play, all supervised by professional counselors. The program is bilingual (English and Spanish), and participants are encouraged to bring a snack and a water bottle.

Please register by June 10. For more information or questions, visit OMNI4ALL.org, email info@omni4all.org, or call (847) 353-1500.