Hooper Happenings

Achieve excellence by empowering independent problem-solvers who are empathetic and respectful.

Back by popular demand--Hooper's 4th Annual career Day! We need your experiences--whether you are a nurse, mechanic, astronaut, custodian, athlete, firefighter, arborist, or business owner- we need you! We are looking for a variety of people interested in spending a morning talking to our students about their career.

Many of our students are unaware of the career opportunities available to them and this is a fantastic way to provide them with first hand knowledge of potential career paths--and this is also a great opportunity to make a positive impact in our students’ lives!

Save the Date: 6th Grade Orientation Night at Palombi Middle School on April 27th 6p-7p.

We invite all incoming 6th graders and their parents to attend our annual 6th Grade Orientation Night at Palombi Middle School. To help with scheduling and flow, families are asked to attend based on their student’s last name:

• Last names A–L:
  Please arrive at 6:00 PM to attend a brief presentation by Mrs. Sisi, our Principal, and the Deans. Following the presentation, families are welcome to enjoy a self-guided tour of the building and visit the activities and athletics fair.

• Last names M–Z:
  Please arrive at 6:00 PM to participate in the self-guided tour and activities/athletics fair from 6:00–6:30 PM. Families will then join the administration in the gym for a brief presentation beginning at 6:30 PM.

Parking: Available in both school parking lots and on side streets. Please do not park on McKinley Avenue.

Please be sure to check out the approved 2026-2027 school calendar here!

Our BJ Hooper Student Lighthouse Leadership Team (on behalf of all our Hooper Student Leaders!) are looking to do something special for our wonderful Hooper Staff as part of our Staff Appreciation Week (the week of May 4th-8th)! They want to put together Teacher Goodie Bags, and we could use your help! Please click here to view our Amazon Wishlist, and thank you in advance for your contribution!

Want to know more about Standards Based Grading. Check out District 41's Website for more information.

Sick Day Guidelines

If you have sent in your child's Dental Exam, THANK YOU!

Dental exams for Kindergarten and 2nd grade are due May 15th. The exam must have taken place between November 15, 2024 through May 15, 2026.

Illinois law requires students in Kindergarten, 2nd, 6th, and 9th grades to have a dental exam performed by a licensed dentist. The Proof of School Dental Examination form must be submitted to the school by May 15th of the school year. Failure to submit this documentation can result in schools withholding a student's report card.

Shorewood Family Dental Care +2

Key Requirements & Details:

• Grade Levels: Kindergarten, 2nd, 6th, and 9th grades.
• Deadline: May 15th of the current school year.
• Provider: A licensed dentist must complete and sign the form.
• Exam Validity: The exam must have been completed within 18 months prior to the May 15th deadline.
• Exemptions: Children who show proof of a scheduled exam within 60 days of May 15th may be granted an extension. Waivers exist for families with free/reduced lunch, Medicaid, or lack of access to dental care.

  Manus Dental +3

For students who do not submit the required documentation by the deadline, schools are authorized to withhold report cards.

Congratulations to our March Leader in Me award winners! This month, we are celebrating students who consistently Learn by example.

Seeing our students take ownership of their learning and practice the 7 Habits isn’t just about school—it’s about building character for life. From "Being Proactive" to "Thinking Win-Win," these young leaders are proving that everyone has a light to shine.

The "Securly Home" app provides parents with a suite of features to monitor and manage their student's online activity on school-issued devices when they are at home. To get started, check your inbox for an email containing app login information from Securly.

Check out more information on Securly on our website.

Let's Celebrate All Things Hooper!

Accessing the Family Support Hub:

Illustrative

UFLI

Please take a moment to review the Lake Villa 41 Parent/Guardian Student Handbook, linked below. Important information about school policies and procedures can be found inside.

Click here for a copy!

We are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment. The Report a Concern form offers students and parents a confidential way to report any issues or concerns. Submissions are reviewed by the appropriate school staff, who will investigate and respond as needed.

This process helps ensure all reports are taken seriously, documented properly, and addressed promptly. It also allows the school to identify behavior patterns and take preventive action when necessary.

District 41 puts students and staff first. Our goal is always to have students at school, when we can do so safely. Therefore, the district considers several factors when determining whether to close schools due to extreme weather, including data provided by the National Weather Service, including the temperature, windchill, and warnings. Although we strive each and every time to make the best decision regarding in-person or remote learning, oftentimes, no perfect decision exists. If school is not canceled and a parent and/or guardian feels their child is safer at home, they may reserve the right to keep them home. Keeping a child home due to weather will be recorded as an excused absence on the student's record as long as the parent and/or guardian report the absence to the school. Additionally, parents/guardians may choose to drop off/pick up their child from school.

The following are some criteria that are used when making school closure decisions. Invariably, there will be situations that do not fit into these guidelines, in which case the administration will do its best to provide cancellation information to families as soon as possible.

COLD DAYS - The National Weather Service predicts wind chills below -30 degrees, with other conditions considered.

SNOW DAYS - Heavy snow or icy conditions overnight or that worsen during the day.

E-LEARNING DAYS - An E-Learning Day may be an alternative to being fully closed. These days do not need to be made up at the end of the year. Students and staff would be notified before the end of the preceding day to bring their Chromebooks home. The e-Learning Plan is available on the District website under ‘Parents and Guardians Resources.’

Other Considerations

Multiple conditions that may include blowing snow, winds greater than 20 mph, heavy snow accumulations during travel times, hazardous driving conditions, ice accumulation, the ability of buses to start due to extreme cold, and power or phone outages.

A district-wide alert will be sent out via phone and email as early as possible. Parents can also check the district’s website. If schools are open due to weather, parents may keep a child home. They will be marked as excused.

If schools are closed...

District 41 Administration will do its best to provide cancellation information to families as soon as possible. District 41 will notify parents by 1:00 PM the previous school day of an e-Learning Day due to extreme weather. Parents will be notified with a target by 5:30 AM if schools need to close entirely for the day. The district makes every effort to inform parents as soon as possible. If schools are closed for the day, all after-school activities in the district, including sports and evening events, will be canceled unless otherwise communicated.

If schools are not closed…

If school is not canceled and a parent and/or guardian feels their child is safer at home, they may reserve the right to keep them home. Keeping a child home due to weather will be recorded as an excused absence on the student's record as long as the parent and/or guardian report the absence to the school in a timely manner. If school is already in session and conditions begin to worsen, the district will decide by 1:00 PM whether after-school activities will be canceled for that afternoon.

How is the decision to cancel school made?

Superintendents from area districts start communicating with each other as soon as the weather reports start to look threatening. District 41 collaborates with the Millburn, Emmons, Grass Lake, Lakes High School, Woodland, Grayslake Elementary, Grayslake High School, Gavin, Big Hollow, Fox Lake, and Grant High School superintendents. The superintendents generally attempt to reach a consensus on school closures. When area school districts make various decisions, the full District 41 administrative team finalizes the decision.

April 6- No School

April 7- 9- 5th Grade ISA Testing

April 9- 1st Grade Music Concert 6:00 doors open 5:45

April 14- Family Night K-3 Intervention 6:00-7:00

April 20-24- Spring MAP Testing

April 23 Parent Advisory 4:30-5:30

April 23- Kindergarten Music Concert 6:00 doors open 5:45

April 28- Open House E.C.-2nd Grade

April 30- Open House 3rd and 4th Grade 6:00-7:00

May 1- School Lunch Hero Day

May 4-8 - Staff Appreciation Week

Check out our website calendar for all the dates.

2026 -2027 School Year Calendar