The District 25 Dish
August 20, 2026
A New Year Begins!
August 20, 2026
Dear District 25 Community,
There is something about the first day of school that never gets old.
After weeks of quiet hallways and empty classrooms, our students walk through the doors and everything changes. In an instant, our classrooms and buildings come to vibrant life. The energy, the excitement, the laughter…it is an undeniable 180-degree shift, and it lights us up.
This is why we are here.
As we begin a new school year, I am grateful for the opportunity to welcome our students back and for the trust our families place in District 25 each day. There is so much to look forward to this year.
This year, we will begin implementing our new Strategic Plan 2026-2031, providing a shared direction for the years ahead. We will welcome our first Superintendent Student Advisory Council, giving students an opportunity to share their perspectives and help inform our work. And our Instructional Program has expanded and is now open at Patton, creating new opportunities for our students and staff.
Most importantly, I want every family in District 25 to know this:
We are here on purpose.
We are here for your children. Every decision we make, every initiative we pursue, and every challenge we work through has our students front of mind. They are the reason we are here, and they deserve our very best each and every day.
Thank you for trusting us with what matters most to you.
Welcome back, District 25. The buildings are alive again, and we could not be more excited for the year ahead.
Dr. Brian Kaye
Superintendent
Cell Phones & Electronic Devices
As we begin the new school year, we want to remind families of our expectations regarding cell phones and other electronic devices at school, including wearables. These expectations are designed to help students stay focused on learning, minimize distractions, and support a positive school environment.
Middle school students are expected to turn off electronics and store devices in their middle school locker during the school day.
Elementary students are expected to leave electronics in the “off” position and in their backpacks throughout the school day.
A supervising teacher may grant permission for them to be used or if needed during an emergency.
They may not be used in any manner that will cause disruption to the educational environment or will otherwise violate student conduct rules.
The District will provide access to students who do not own a mobile learning device in circumstances when its use is required for instructional purposes during the day. Electronic devices may be used during the school day if:
Use of the device is provided in the student’s IEP, or
Permission is received from the student’s teacher with administrator approval
We appreciate your partnership in helping our students be present, engaged, and ready to learn each day. Please take a moment to review the flyer to the right, along with the full policy in the Parent/Student Handbook.
Each year, District 25 administers several state and local assessments to our students to inform instructional planning, determine who may need additional instruction, and obtain a general snapshot of students’ academic strengths and needs. The 2026-2027 assessment calendar, including information about the assessments and testing windows, can be found below:
Please note that classrooms will participate in these assessments at different times throughout the testing window, so be attentive to the dates and times provided by your child’s school. If you have questions regarding these assessments, please contact your child’s teacher or school principal.
August 24, 2026
August 26, 2026
Make Your Own Shadow Puppet Show
Heritage Fest
Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff with Hunter Clarke-Fields
Dopamine Kids: Understand Addictive Triggers and Rewire Young Brains
When: August 27 @ Noon & 7 pm CST
Where: Virtual
Dr. Richie Davidson & Dr. Courtland Dahl
Born to Flourish: Science and Ancient Wisdom Reveal a Simple Path to Thrive
When: August 26 @ Noon & 7 pm CST
Where: Virtual
The first day of school is right around the corner, and our Food & Nutrition Services Department would like to welcome you all back as well as provide updated information for the 2026-2027 school year.
Please click HERE for the Food & Nutrition Services Welcome Back flyer, which includes information on how to access the menu, how to order lunch, meal pricing, and more!
Paying for school meals is EASY. Create a My Mealtime online account through the website or app using your student's name and ID number to view your student's meal account and/or deposit money.
If you need assistance with locating your student's ID number, contact the Food & Nutrition Services office (847-398-4883 or FoodService@sd25.org) or your school office.
NEW Calendar Sync Process
Due to our recent website update, the process for syncing district and school calendars has changed. The previous calendar link will no longer provide updated information.
Please remove the old calendar feed and add the new one to ensure you continue receiving accurate events. This takes just a minute—see the short how-to video below:
Have you visited our SAFE25 page? We invite you to take a look.
Ensuring the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. We are committed to creating secure environments where learning can thrive.
School safety is an ongoing effort, and your input matters. Share your feedback at safe25@sd25.org. Together, we can build a safer future for our students.
Standard Response Protocol
The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is our district’s approach to managing all types of hazards or emergencies that may occur on school property. It provides a clear, consistent framework for how we communicate and respond to keep everyone safe.
E-Bikes and Motorized Devices
Arlington Heights regulates e-bikes and scooters to help keep our community safe. Parents and residents are encouraged to review the rules and be aware of the risks.
Link Together Coalition
Link Together Coalition Mission: Promote healthy youth and communities by reducing teen substance use through education, advocacy, resources, and policy action.
Working with D25: South and Thomas Middle Schools provide targeted prevention programs that empower students to stay substance-free.
For more information and resources, visit our Parent Academy page.
District 25 is committed to supporting the whole child and their family. We’ve created a new webpage to share community resources that offer assistance with food, housing, health services, and more. Visit the community supports page by clicking here to explore support options.
Click HERE for support.
Care Solace is a free, confidential 24/7/365 Mental Health Care Coordination Service.
Call (888) 515 - 0595, or go to caresolace.com/site/northcook.
District 214 Community Education
Learn more about adult education offered by District 214!
Click here to learn more: https://www.ce.d214.org/
What: School Board Meeting
When: Tuesday, September 29, 2026*
Where: Dunton Administration Building, 1200 South Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights, IL 60005
*The meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m. at which time the Board will move into Closed Session until approximately 7:00 p.m. Following Closed session, the Regular Open meeting will begin.*
At the April 2026 Board Meeting, our Superintendent, Dr. Brian Kaye, along with Strategic Plan Refresh Team participants District 25 Director of Student Learning Andrea Luessow, student Graham McGann, constituents Suchi Joshi and Ilinca Wallace, and David Nienhueser, presented the team’s recommended Strategic Plan Refresh following a collaborative, yearlong process (detailed below).
The recommendation outlined five strategic goals focused on student learning and growth, well-being and belonging, staff excellence, community partnership, and organizational effectiveness. It also introduced a Portrait of a Learner framework to define the skills and dispositions District 25 aims to cultivate in every student.
The Board reviewed the proposed plan, and adopted it in May 2026. The district is now moving into implementation phases, including defining success metrics, aligning improvement efforts, and providing regular progress updates.
- For a PDF of the presentation, click here.
- To watch this portion of the meeting, click here.
Visit our Strategic Plan page for more information: www.sd25.org/StrategicPlan.
Arlington Heights School District 25
Website: www.sd25.org
Location: 1200 South Dunton Avenue
Phone: (847) 758.4900
Facebook: facebook.com/ahsd25
Twitter: @ahsd25
Instagram: @ahsd25social