eNews Nov 13, 2026

November 13, 2026 Issue

Bell Graham 5th Graders Connect with Local Heroes

On October 29, the St. Charles Veterans Center hosted a truly unforgettable evening as four Bell Graham 5th graders and their families came together with local heroes for a special Pre-Veterans Day project.

The evening kicked off with a shared dinner, where warm conversations quickly turned into extraordinary exchanges of living history. Three student interviewers put their thoughtful questions to an incredible group of service members: 102-year-old World War II Navy veteran Al Centofante; Vietnam Air Force veteran Mike Johns; and Navy Submarine veteran Trent Martin, who completed two missions to the North Pole. Capturing every story and memory behind the camera, a fourth 5th-grader led the video recording and production for the project.

It was a wonderful night filled with inspiring stories, deep connections, and memories that our students will cherish for a lifetime.

Celebrating Our Distinguished Alumni: Class of 2026

Thank you to everyone who made our Distinguished Alumni celebration such an unforgettable success last week!

We had a fantastic turnout for Thursday evening's community event and dinner at Lincoln Center, where we celebrated the incredible achievements of our honorees. St. Charles North High School student Milan Sanchala was also recognized as the recipient of the St. Charles Distinguished Alumni Empowerment Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to a St. Charles high school student to help fund an educational, entrepreneurial, vocational, or other life-empowering experience that the student might not otherwise have the opportunity to complete. The Empowerment Scholarship is funded by St. Charles Distinguished Alumni recipients and powered by STC L.E.A.R.N.

The excitement continued on Friday with a wonderful opportunity for our students across both North and East campuses to connect directly with the alumni during their classroom visits.

We were thrilled to welcome back four inspiring alumni:

Chris Witaske (Class of 2001): An actor, writer, comedian, and producer known for his role on the FX series The Bear and for Tom Pritchard in Progressive’s popular “turning into your parents” campaign.
Dr. Melissa Byrne (Class of 2002): A dedicated educator, foster parent, and former D303 administrator who currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for Barrington 220.
Dr. Jessica Cohen (Class of 2006): A multi-certified physical therapist and athletic trainer who serves as the Director of Health and Human Performance for the Chicago Sky.
Jordan Jones (Class of 2008): A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and best-selling author who founded the lifestyle brand Packed Party, which was recently acquired to expand its global presence.

Thank you to our alumni for giving back to D303 and inspiring the next generation!

3rd Graders Enjoy Special Author Visit with Dav Pilkey

More than 836 third graders, along with staff from all 11 elementary schools across District 303, gathered at the Norris Cultural Arts Center on November 6 for an unforgettable morning with Dav Pilkey, the #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the Dog Man, Captain Underpants, and Cat Kid Comic Club series.

Students filled the auditorium with tremendous excitement ahead of the presentation, enthusiastically chanting "Let’s go, Dog Man!" as they awaited the iconic creator's arrival on stage. During his presentation, Mr. Pilkey shared an uplifting and encouraging message centered around his "Four P’s" for success and creativity: Positivity, Practice, Perseverance, and Purpose. The interactive morning also featured fun trivia and exciting giveaways, leaving students and staff alike deeply inspired by his personal story and creative journey.

This incredible, free district-wide event was made possible through a wonderful partnership with Anderson's Bookshop. "I was thrilled when I received the email asking us if we would be interested in hosting Dav Pilkey at our schools. Mr. Nassis and I knew with such a large figure in the children's literature world, we had to have as many students as possible see him," said Shannon Drew, LRC Director at Wild Rose Elementary.

“We’ve worked with Dav for a very long time, and we know that a school visit with him is a life-changing opportunity for students and educators. Anderson’s was thrilled to work with District 303 on this event,” said Becky Anderson, owner of Anderson’s Bookshops.

Drew added, "The excitement and enthusiasm for those students to see an author who has written some of their favorite books made all the behind-the-scenes work all worthwhile."

"I was amazed to see all of the different stakeholders and departments of D303 come together to make this event so memorable for our students and staff alike," noted George Nassis, LRC Director at Fox Ridge Elementary. "D303's strong capabilities provided all the logistical pieces of the puzzle to make this type of experience a reality."

Special thanks go to Fox Ridge Elementary LRC Director George Nassis, Wild Rose Elementary LRC Director Shannon Drew, Elementary Principals Theresa Solomon and Kristina McKnight, as well as the administrative teams and staff at District 303 and the Norris Cultural Arts Center for their tireless efforts in coordinating transportation, logistics, and scheduling to bring this memorable experience to District 303 third-grade students.

Honoring Veterans in District 303

Veterans Day 2026 was marked with heartfelt tributes from students, families, and staff all across District 303. School communities hosted welcoming receptions, breakfasts, coffee gatherings, and all-school assemblies attended by dozens of veterans and their families. Many schools created tribute videos featuring photos of honored veterans, which were shared during assemblies or in classrooms.

Students also found meaningful ways to express their gratitude—designing posters, writing personal notes and letters, visiting the local VFW, reading poems, and performing music to show their appreciation for those who have served. The social studies national honors societies from both high schools placed flags in front of the high schools and learned about the importance of Veterans Day in their classrooms.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this a meaningful day for the veterans in our community! And to all the veterans, thank you for your service, courage, and sacrifice!

Fall Festival and Open House at Compass Academy

On November 4th, 2026, Compass Academy welcomed students, families, staff, and community members to their annual Fall Festival and Open House event. The evening was filled with seasonal fun, including activities like pumpkin painting, games, an exciting raffle, and a scavenger hunt. Guests also enjoyed sweet treats from Crumbl Cookies and delicious food from Inches Tacos. In addition to the festivities, guests had the opportunity to explore Compass Academy’s learning spaces, connect with staff, and get a closer look at project-based learning. Students were able to share their projects around the classrooms, giving everyone a glimpse into the engaging, hands-on learning experience Compass Academy has to offer.

Planning is well underway for the Seventh Annual D303 March Book Madness!

Hosted by the St. Charles Public Library on Friday, October 23, the D303 Elementary LRC Directors collaborated with their partners at SCPL and Townhouse Books to choose the 12 nominees for the 2027 March Book Madness contest. For students and staff alike, this event is a spring highlight at our elementary schools and at St. Charles Public Library. Through spirited debate and discernment, twelve titles...and a few honorable mentions...were chosen from dozens of suggestions from D303 teachers and librarians and SCPL Staff. While these titles are now known to the committee, the community will just have to wonder until the titles are revealed in late February.