The 21 Ledger

Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open! We encourage all families to complete the process as soon as possible to help us plan for the year ahead and ensure a smooth start for every student. Families can log in to the Parent Portal to complete registration quickly and easily. If you need assistance at any point, our team is here to help.

Visit ccsd21.org/registration to get started today.

We are excited to celebrate Staff Appreciation Week from May 4-8, and we invite you to help us recognize the incredible individuals who make a difference in our students' lives every day.

Has a teacher, support staff member, or school employee made a positive impact on your child or your family? Take a moment to share your appreciation by completing our short form. Each staff member recognized will receive a certificate featuring your personal message of thanks. If you would like to recognize multiple staff members, please submit a separate form for each individual. There is no limit to the number of submissions. All entries are due by April 20.

As we head into the final months of the school year, consistent attendance remains essential for student success. Every school day provides valuable learning experiences, and being present helps students stay on track academically, build strong routines, and remain connected to their classroom community. Let’s finish the year strong by making attendance a priority every day!

The Board on March 19 approved the demolition of a home at 2836 Hintz Road in Wheeling, one of three properties acquired for our new Early Learning Center. Work is expected to begin this month. This is "an important milestone" in expanding opportunities for our youngest learners. Read the full story here.

Students can join District 21’s Reading Challenges by logging every minute they read in Beanstack—from picture books to chapter books. Students in grades 3–8 can also meet Benny the Bean, an AI reading buddy who helps set goals and celebrate progress. Tracking reading helps build strong habits and integrates reading into a daily routine. Families are encouraged to check in on their child’s progress and celebrate along the way.

Access Beanstack on your child’s Chromebook. Log-in directions are available in English, Spanish, and Russian.

Nominations are now open for the ParentSquare Teacher Appreciation Awards Program, a nationwide opportunity to recognize outstanding educators making a difference in their school communities. Parents, guardians, and school staff from districts using ParentSquare are invited to submit a nomination between April 1 and April 20, highlighting a teacher’s impact, dedication, and contributions. Up to five honorees will be selected and announced during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5–9), with recipients featured across ParentSquare’s website, social media, and newsletters. To participate, simply complete the official nomination form and share why your nominee deserves to be celebrated!

Every spring, our students take federally required assessments that help us understand how they are growing academically, compared to their peers across the state. The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), which assesses students in grades 3-8 in both English language arts and math, will run through April 17. The Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) is slated to be administered to all fifth and eighth grade students April 22. What can you do? Ensure your child arrives at school on time, have them eat a healthy breakfast at home or at school, ensure they get a good night of sleep, and gently encourage them to do their best! If you have questions, please feel free to contact your child’s principal.

Exciting news for families of future kindergartners: our Kindergarten Preview Nights are happening next month! These events give families a chance to meet teachers, explore classrooms, and get a feel for the kindergarten experience. For dates, times, and details, check our district calendar and your school's newsletter.

April is National Multilingual/Bilingual Advocacy Month! As the population of bilingual and multilingual learners continues to grow, we join the Office of English Language Acquisition in celebrating the accomplishments and affirming the assets that multilingual learners bring to the educational environment. Some schools will be celebrating by hosting Cultural Nights, reading books about different cultures and languages, and sharing about music, food, and traditions!

Today, April 2, also marks World Autism Acceptance Day, and April is World Autism Month—an opportunity to celebrate neurodiversity, promote understanding, and highlight the strengths of individuals on the autism spectrum.

Did You Know… As a district we are proud to celebrate the diversity of our learning community! These are some traditions, observances, and holidays celebrated and acknowledged in our community this month. This month we begin by celebrating April Fool’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Earth Day, Arab Heritage Month, Arbor Day, Pass Over. If you’d like to learn more, click on the links.

We encourage students to periodically refresh their Chromebooks and cases to ensure they stay in peak condition. Use these simple “spring cleaning” steps to help your students tidy up their tech:

1. Always turn off your Chromebook and unplug the charger before you start cleaning.

2. Use a dry, lint-free microfiber cloth or T-Shirt to wipe away fingerprints and dust from the screen.

3. Lightly mist your cloth with an electronics cleaner spray and wipe away stains. It’s best to avoid spraying the screen directly, and make sure the cloth isn’t too damp to avoid liquid damage.

4. Gently turn the Chromebook upside down and give it a tiny shake to dislodge crumbs.

5. To clean the fabric case, we suggest removing the Chromebook and using a bleach-free disinfectant wipe or damp cloth with mild soap to clean stains.

6. Remember to remove “digital clutter” by closing unused tabs and restarting!

Please be careful to only use cleaners that are intended for technology. Regular glass cleaners and bleach wipes may damage the devices.

We’d like to welcome several new leaders to District 21 following approval at the Board's March meeting! These appointments include key roles within our Educational Services Department, along with five instructional specialists who will support teaching and learning across our schools.

Please join us in welcoming Kate Flanagan as director of special education, Jen Foraker as special education coordinator and Tracy Heitman as student services coordinator. We’re also excited to welcome five instructional specialists who will partner with staff to strengthen instruction through coaching and collaboration.

Together, this team will help advance inclusive practices and high-quality learning experiences for all students. Leadership roles begin July 1, with instructional specialists starting August 17. Read more about all of them here.

We’re excited to share our 2024-2025 Year in Review, highlighting a year of student achievements, staff dedication and where our district stands to date. From academic successes to extracurricular highlights, this report showcases the moments that made last year special across our district.

🎉 Explore the full Year in Review:

• English
• Spanish
• Russian
• Ukrainian

We’re excited to announce the formation of our Map Design Committee, a key step in evaluating our district boundaries to best serve all students. With more than 100 applicants, 30 members were selected to represent communities across all school attendance areas and will begin meeting April 8.

This is a thoughtful, community-driven process with no predetermined outcomes, and there will be additional opportunities for input in the months ahead.

👉 Read the full message and learn more!

Join us in celebrating National Assistant Principal Week from April 6-10 as we recognize the incredible dedication and leadership of our assistant principals across D21.

Assistant principals play a vital role in our schools each and every day. They support students, guide staff, connect with families, and help create safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environments. Whether they’re problem-solving behind the scenes, cheering on students, or stepping in wherever they’re needed, their impact is felt throughout our entire school community.

We are grateful for their commitment, compassion, and tireless efforts to ensure every student has the support they need to succeed. Please join us in thanking our assistant principals for all they do!

We're celebrating 18 students from London who were selected for publication in "Fright Club: The Hidden Presence," a national student writing anthology. Students earned the honor by crafting 100-word spooky stories as part of a Halloween-themed writing challenge, combining creativity with on-demand writing practice. The opportunity to be published, and write for a real audience, proved to be a powerful motivator. Read more about that here.

London Middle School has been redesignated as an Illinois Horizon School to Watch for the sixth time, continuing a long tradition of excellence in academics, innovation and school culture. This statewide recognition highlights schools that demonstrate strong academic performance, student-centered practices and a commitment to continuous improvement. London has maintained the designation since 2009 through a rigorous review process conducted every three years. Read more about that here.

Saturday, April 18 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Ages 3 and older with a caregiver. Captain Curiosity teaches kids science through this theatre extravaganza. The performance features puppetry, physical comedy, audience participation and play. TR

Limit: 120. Free tickets distributed 30 minutes before the program on a first-come, first-served basis at the Youth Services Desk. TR = Ticket registration.

The Indian Trails Library has many events and workshops for students and their families. Check out the calendar of events for specific activities and times this month.

Join us for fun literacy activities at the library this month! Come read, explore, and enjoy!

• Twain: Wednesday, April 22, from 5-7 p.m.

Did you know that Indian Trails offers a lot of fun programs for middle school students? Join us!

• Tuesday, April 7, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. for Cooking 101
• Wednesday, April 15, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. to create an LED Cloud Light
• Tuesday, April 21, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. to make a DIY Bearded Plant

Register on the library's website at itpld.org/events.

Wheeling Park District Summer Camp registration is now open and spots are filling fast! Limited availability remains, so be sure to secure your spot today for an unforgettable summer!