The District 25 Dish
January 8, 2026
what you'll find, as you scroll...
January 8, 2026
This edition of the District Dish features the following
- Superintendent Message
- Need 2 Know
- 2026-27 PRE-Registration Opens January 13
- District 25 Website Refresh
- Early Childhood Program | Lottery Form
- Calendar Updates
- 25-26 Calendar - UPDATED
- Calendario 25-26 - ACTUALIZADO
- Release of the 26-27 Calendar
- Safety & Supports
- Celebrate with Us!
- Community Events
Feel Good Story
- Help Needed | We are hiring!
Click here for positions! - Instagram | @ahsd25social
- Board of Education
- Strategic Plan Hub
- #d25ItsPersonal
Thank you! Click around and enjoy!
Back From Break | Strategic Plan Survey
Dear District 25 Parents and Guardians,
Welcome back, District 25! I hope you and your family enjoyed a relaxing and joyful winter break. It has been wonderful to welcome our students and staff back to our schools, reconnect as a community, and begin the new year with renewed energy and purpose. As always, there is so much to be proud of in District 25, and we are grateful for the strong partnership we share with our families.
Just a quick reminder that our Strategic Plan Refresh work is moving forward. On Tuesday afternoon, families received a brief survey inviting feedback on a draft SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats).
If you haven’t had a chance yet, we’d appreciate you taking a few minutes to share your thoughts. Knowing we can count on your input helps ensure our planning reflects the voices and priorities of our District 25 community as we move into the next stages of this important work.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support, and best wishes for a great start to the new year.
Together Today 2 Transform Tomorrow,
Dr. Brian Kaye
Superintendent
2026 - 2027 Kindergarten & New Student Pre-Registration
Pre-registration for the 2026–27 school year for incoming kindergarten students and new students to District 25 will begin January 13. Families can find details and next steps at www.sd25.org/Registration.
Please note: if you currently have a student enrolled in District 25, your registration process for the 2026–27 school year will begin May 1.
District 25 Website Refresh
Our new District 25 website launched on Monday, December 22, 2025 and is designed to enhance the user experience, especially when viewed on mobile devices.
As with any large transition, some links may not have transferred properly. If you experience any issues with the new site or would like to share feedback, please click the Website Feedback button at the top of any District page or email Adam Harris, Head of Communications & Storytelling, at aharris@sd25.org.
Thank you for your patience and partnership as we continue improving how we share information with our community.
Early Childhood Program | Lottery Form
Our District 25 Early Childhood Program offers preschool classes Monday - Thursday in the morning (9:10 am - 11:40 am) and afternoon (12:50 pm - 3:20 pm) at a tuition cost of $450/month (for 9 months) following the D25 school calendar. We offer a lottery for the open tuition spots. Click here to complete the 2026-27 Lottery Form. The lottery is open until 4:00 pm on February 12, 2026.
For more information please refer to our website SD25 Early Childhood, stop by our booth at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library Preschool Information Night on February 4th, or contact us at 847-398-4211.
Our Commitment to Every Child’s Right to Education
Last year, we shared a letter reaffirming District 25’s belief, aligned with the Illinois State Board of Education, that schools should be safe havens where students can learn without fear.
Earlier this year, we resent that guidance to our front office staff and building administrators on how to manage situations should Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other immigration representatives come to our schools. Our priority remains ensuring that every child and family feels safe, valued, and supported in District 25.
👉 Read Dr. Kaye’s full letter from last year, here.
🔗🔗 Updated Resources:
Illinois Immigration Information Hub:
- Know Your Rights Toolkit
- Free and Low-Cost Legal Services
- A family emergency plan template, with step-by-step guidance
- Organizational preparedness resources for businesses and employers
Upcoming Dates!
Superintendent Office Hours
- January 13, 2026, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
2nd Quarter Ends | Middle School
- January 16, 2026
Martin Luther King Jr. Day | All Schools Closed
- January 19, 2026
School Board Meeting
- January 20, 2026
Progress Reports Issued | Middle School
- January 23, 2026
Special Board Meeting | Strategic Plan Refresh
- January 27, 2026 at 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
School Calendars
Update to the 25-26 Calendar
At the Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Board of Education meeting, a change to the 2025-2026 school year calendar was approved. The School Improvement Day originally scheduled for Monday, April 6 was moved to Tuesday, March 17. This means:
March 17, 2026 → No school for students
April 6, 2026 → Students will attend school
For more details on the change, click here for a letter sent to our community on July 17, 2025.
📅 View the updated calendar here:
Release of the 26-27 Calendar
At the December 16, 2025 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved the 2026-2027 calendar. Check out the links below for more information:
Have you ever visited our SAFE25 page? We invite you to check it out!
Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We are committed to creating and maintaining secure environments where learning can thrive.
School safety is an ongoing process, and your input is invaluable. Share your feedback with us 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.
Community Camera Registration:
Residents can opt to register their security cameras with the AHPD to assist in investigations. More details: Connect Arlington Heights Camera Registration.
Community Partners
Link Together Coalition
Working with D25: South and Thomas Middle Schools are provided with prevention initiatives that are targeted at youth to empower them to be drug and alcohol free.
Lets Talk More: In the past year, 52% of Wheeling Township high school students answered YES that their parent/guardians have talked to them about not using alcohol. See attached PDF below to learn more.
For more information and resources, visit our Parent Academy page.
District 25 is a partner in the Link Together Coalition, which gives our community access to the Glenbard Parent Series. Please check out the various Glenbard Parent Series presentations that work to engage top experts, parents, and school staff to become proactive and informed in pursuit of the mutual goal of strengthening our communities. Programs are free and open to the public. No registration required.
Community Supports 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.
Mental Health Supports | Free
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 to complete a brief screening to be matched with a provider. Available for students, families and staff.
For more resources, visit our parent academy page: www.sd25.org/ParentAcademy.
BEACON (Behavioral Health Care and Ongoing Navigation) is a centralized resource for Illinois youth and families seeking services for behavioral health needs. It’s common for young people to struggle with behavioral and/or mental health challenges. Please know you are not alone, and neither is your child. Click HERE for support.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19
A federal holiday that observes the birthday of the Civil Rights leader, minister and winner of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.
(Dr. king’s Actual birthday is January 15. This holiday is celebrated on third Monday in January, each year.)
Arlington Heights Park District
Totally Tubular Teen Night
Middle Schoolers – get ready to party like it’s 1985! We’re opening the Arlington Ridge Center for an epic night just for you! Join us for open swim, open gym, Za, and snacks!!! Need to chill out? We’re also screening E.T. the Extraterrestrial. Rock your best neon gear, scrunchies, and retro vibes for a blast from the past that’s out of this world!
Space is limited, and pre-registration is open until Thursday, February 19, for $16 per participant. Register at the door (Arlington Ridge Center only) starting at 6:50PM, while space is available, for $18 per participant.
When: February 20, 2026 | 7:00 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
Where: Arlington Ridge Center (ARC)
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
Tall Tales & Silly Songs
Everyone loves tall tales! Todd Downing tells some real whoppers and weaves them into lively songs for the whole family. Move, groove, and laugh as we listen and dance to some silly songs together. Make sure to stay for the grand finale where we’ll dance with bubbles and bubble wrap!
Ages 2-10. Siblings welcome. Caregiver required for children under the age of 9.
When: January 17, 2026 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Where: Full Hendrickson Room
Who: Ages 2 years - 5th grade
District 214 Community Education
Learn more about adult education offered by District 214!
Click here to learn more: https://www.ce.d214.org/
Feel Good Story!
Out and about with Olivia, our school-loving gator! 🐊✨
Hello, 2026!
#d25ItsPersonal
Looking to make a difference?
District 25 is a great place to work — with opportunities to inspire, support, and impact students in a variety of roles. Whether you're in the classroom, behind the scenes, or on the front lines of support, there's a place for you here.
Explore opportunities at www.sd25.org/apply and see how you can make a difference in our schools and community!
Olivia’s excitement is contagious, and she’s pretty sure school is the best place to be.
Hello, 2026!
#d25ItsPersonal
Board Agendas
Our Board Agendas are made public 48 hours before each Board meeting and can be accessed via our BoardDocs online program. To access Diligent Community, visit our website: www.sd25.org/BoardAgenda or click here.
Upcoming Board Events
Regular Board Meeting
What: School Board Meeting
When: Tuesday, January 20, 2026*
Where: Dunton Administration Building, 1200 S. Dunton Avenue, Arlington Heights
*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.*
Description
This meeting will be live streamed via YouTube. The link for this can be found on the Board Agenda page (www.sd25.org/school-board/attendameeting#BOELivestream) the week of the meeting.
This meeting will allow audience members in the room. Notice: We’ve switched from BoardDocs to Diligent Community for board meeting management. All future agendas, packets, and board materials will now be available through Diligent Community.
Public Comments:
Anyone who wishes to make a public comment can do so, in person, at our Board of Education meetings. The Board hosts two public comment opportunities on their agenda: 1) at the beginning of the meeting, prior to any agenda items; 2) at the end of the meeting after the agenda items have been discussed/presented.
The Board can be reached outside of Board meeting hours by emailing boardfeedback@sd25.org.
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Special Board Meeting | Strategic Plan Refresh
What: Special Board Meeting
When: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Where: Dunton Administration Building, 1200 S. Dunton Avenue, Arlington Heights
This is the third of five Strategic Planning Refresh Team meetings. This is the Vision retreat. To catch up on the progress of the Strategic Plan Refresh, visit www.sd25.org/StrategicPlan.
Keep Up with Our Progress!
Our Strategic Plan Refresh is underway! To keep track of our progress, or to look back on our previous plan, please visit our Strategic Plan Hub on our website.
- The Journey (Recap of the 21-25 Strategic Plan)
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