The Porcupine Post
August 21ST, 2026
From the Principal
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! The students had a great 1st day of school. We are so happy to have everyone back and to welcome our new students!
Weekly Family Newsletter
Every Friday (or the last school day of the week), we will send home our Family Smore Newsletter. Please take a few minutes to read it each week, as it will include a recap of what students are learning, upcoming events and important dates, and other information related to our school and district. We hope this will be a helpful way to keep families informed and connected throughout the school year.
A Note About Our Early Childhood Program
Our early childhood program is unique in that it is partially grant-funded and follows the requirements and expectations of the Preschool For All (PFA) grant. As part of this program, we continually monitor enrollment and make adjustments as needed to best meet the needs of our students and families.
At times throughout the school year, enrollment changes may require us to move students between classrooms or, if needed, add an additional classroom. We want to be transparent with families about this possibility as we begin the school year.
If a classroom change or student move becomes necessary, I will communicate directly with the family before any changes are made and provide as much information as possible.
We truly appreciate your understanding, flexibility, and partnership as we work to provide the best possible experience for all of our students and families. We are looking forward to a wonderful school year together!
Sincerely,
Dr. Sheryl Pauwels
Celebrations 🙌
Happy 1st Day of School!
Week At A Glance đź“…
August 27th - CMPTA Back to School Bash (information below)
September 7th - No school District Wide
September 22nd - No school ECC ONLY - Parent Education Day (information coming soon)
Home / School Connection 🏡
COMING SOON
Announcements & Reminders 📣
🚨 Changes to Your Child’s Dismissal Plan
If you are changing the way your child will be going home for the day, please make sure to call the front office at 847-659-5400. Teachers do not typically check email during the school day, so emailing your child’s teacher may not ensure that the change is received in time. Calling the front office helps us make sure we have the most up-to-date information and that your child gets home safely.
🚌 Bus Route Change Reminder
Please allow up to 72 hours for your student to be routed after a bus change is requested. Thank you for your patience as we work with transportation to make sure your student’s route is updated.
PTA News 👪
Check out the CMPTA Website for details on all the activities they have planned
Membership
This year’s dues:
Parents/Guardians: $12 (less than 3 fancy coffees!)
Staff: $8 (you’re already superheroes—we’re just making it official)
Feeling generous? You can also sponsor a teacher and earn yourself a gold star in kindness!
Becoming a member doesn’t mean you’ll be voluntold to run a carnival (unless you want to—then we love you even more). It just means you’re helping support the school, the students, and all the fun stuff we do!
https://cmpta158.givebacks.com/store to join today and become part of the magic!
Thanks for being the amazing village that helps raise even more amazing kids.
District News 🪧
Please visit the 2026-2027 Back-to-School-Hub here for important information on the upcoming school year.