Dear D15 Community,

February–wow! We are officially more than halfway through the school year. Preparation is in full swing preparing for the 2025-2026 school year, but learning, connection and memory making are still front and center in our schools. Registration will open tomorrow, please read more information on how to register below as the process has changed from the past few years.

Our elementary schools are gearing up for Valentine’s Day celebrations and I’d like to take this time to reiterate how much I love our District 15 community. We have such amazing students, deeply dedicated staff, involved families, and engaged communities that support our work to educate every student we are entrusted with. We take that commitment seriously and know when we work together, the possibilities are limitless.

It has been a real pleasure visiting schools as part of my Hang with Heinz initiative, interacting with students via my Middle School Student Advisory groups, talking to student leaders as part of the clubs they participate in at school and most recently, cheering our students on at the D15 Spelling Bee. Students are making great strides academically, emotionally, and socially and it’s a magical thing to be a part of! We have so many talented students that are enthusiastic about making their school fun, inclusive and exciting places to learn. What a pleasure they are to have in District 15. Thank you for all you do to make this the best school district around.

Honoring Women in Sports Day with a girl's volleyball game at Walter R. Sundling vs. Plum Grove.

Visiting the Self over Service Club at Kimball Hill.

Reading with buddies in other grades on World Real Aloud Day at Lake Louise.

Attendance Helps Boost Learning Outcomes!

Did you know? Students who attend school regularly show greater gains in reading and math compared to their peers with frequent absences.

Tip: Be a role model for your child by demonstrating the importance of commitment and responsibility. Encourage them to show up every day, just as you do for your own work and responsibilities. Keep absences to fewer than 9 days!

Help our Families affected by the fire at Country Glen

As you may know, several D15 families were affected by a large fire in the Country Glen Apartments last week, which is located on the north-east edge of our district boundary. Partners for our Communities (POC) is working with those displaced to help families find temporary housing, food, and clothing, as many fled with none of their personal belongings. At this point the POC is not asking for donations of clothing. The immediate need is financial donations to help people pay new rent and recover their lives. Please consider making a donation here to help support families in need.

Kinder iPad Rollout— in Progress!

Beginning this fall, we started the process of converting our general education kindergarten classes to iPads from Chromebooks. We are a 1:1 District, meaning there is one device for one student. As part of a committee last spring we reviewed devices, visited other districts, and identified our core beliefs for technology for some of our youngest learners. The result of this work was the implementation of these iPads.

Our teachers and students are using these valuable tools to think, question, and create, and are growing their tech skills every week.

New Tool Coming: PowerSchool

We are thrilled to announce the implementation of a new and improved student information system for District 15 – PowerSchool SIS. This will replace our current student information system, Infinite Campus, which will remain in place through the end of this school year 2024-25. PowerSchool SIS, a leading-edge system, will enhance how we manage student data, streamline communication, access records, and enhance the overall educational experience for all students.

What does this mean for you?

Starting with Online Registration for the 2025-26 school year which begins on February 11, PowerSchool SIS will be your one-stop for managing your student’s educational career in District 15. More features will be revealed later this calendar year when PowerSchool SIS will fully launch in July.

Our current system, Infinite Campus, will remain in place through the end of this school year 2024-25.

On February 11th, parents who already have Campus Parent accounts will be sent an email with their new PowerSchool Parent Portal account access information. Please check your email and login to the PowerSchool Parent Portal to begin the registration process for the 2025-2026 school year. Contact your school secretary with any questions.

McKinney-Vento Children

McKinney-Vento children are those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime abode.

This includes, but is not limited to the following groups:

Doubled-up Children: Living with another family due to lack of a permanent residence
Children in shelters: Including transitional living programs
Children living in motels: Due to lack of alternative adequate living situation
Migratory children: If accommodations are not fit for habitation
Runaways*: Children who left home and live in a shelter or inadequate accommodations, even if parents are willing to provide a home
Lockouts*: Children whose parents or guardians will not permit them to live at home

*These two categories are unaccompanied homeless youth.These children are not in the physical custody of their parents or court-ordered guardians and lack a fixed, regular, and adequate adobe.

These children have support and rights available to them. If you think you might qualify for McKinney-Vento services, please contact Dr. Shari Lazor at lazors@ccsd15.net for more information.

Every student—new and returning—must register each year. Please plan to register early and take time to ensure your contact information and your child’s emergency contact information are correct and up to date.

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open tomorrow, on Tuesday, February 11. We encourage families to start preparing their documents as soon as possible. Learn more about the registration process on our website.

District 15 will be transitioning from Infinite Campus to PowerSchool in 2025-26. All families will need to create their PowerSchool account in order to register for school for next year. On February 11 families will receive an email to create your new PowerSchool Parent Portal account. Thank you for your timely action as we launch this new system. We are committed to making this transition as seamless as possible.

We ask that families register their child(ren) as early as possible. Doing so helps us solidify staffing for our schools, allows your child(ren) to be placed on a class list, and allows your child(ren) to ride a bus to and from school. Registration MUST be completed and student fees must be paid by July 15, 2025. With close to 12,000 students to place in a classroom and on bus routes, we ask that you please do your part and register on or before July 15.

Dual Language Kindergarten Information

Please join us to learn more about Dual Language Programming for potential incoming kindergarten students for 2025-26. Meetings will be held:

February 13, 2025, at Winston Campus, at 6:30 p.m.
February 20, 2025, at Kimball Hill School, at 6:30 p.m.

For detailed information about the Spanish Dual Language program for your Kindergarten student, please view the February 2024 Dual Language Presentation to Kindergarten Parents (English) | (Spanish)

D15 Spirit Wear Store is OPEN!

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new Spirit Wear Store through humanKIND! Now you can show your District 15 pride with a variety of stylish apparel items while making a meaningful impact. A percentage of the proceeds from every purchase will be donated to support efforts to help feed our students and families in need.

one-five Foundation's 50/50 Raffle is OPEN!

Purchase a ticket for the one-five Foundation's 50/50 Raffle for your chance to win up to $30,000! Proceeds benefit the Foundation's 2025 projects which support the entire District 15 community.

Each $100 ticket sold will earn one entry into the 50/50 raffle. Only 600 tickets will be sold. Half of the money raised through the raffle (up to $30,000) will be donated to the one-five Foundation. The other half of the funds raised (up to $30,000) will be issued to the raffle winner. The cash prize will depend on the number of tickets sold. Prize money will be issued in a check and is subject to taxation. Last year’s winner won $16,450!

The live drawing will take place on March 17, 2025, at 12 PM on District 15’s Facebook page.

The winner must be at least 18 years old. If a child's name is drawn as the winner, a parent or guardian must claim the prize. The prize winner will be notified by phone and email. The prize winner must come forward within seven (7) days of the raffle drawing date. If the prize winner does not come forward, another name will be drawn. Raffle tickets are tax-deductible for those not selected as the prize winner.

Interested in Joining the one-five Foundation?

Our one-five Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports all of the students, staff, and schools in District 15. They plan a 50/50 raffle, staff mini-grant, and staff tributes each year, and they're looking for more members! Are you interested in joining this exciting group of volunteers? Email Jen Dunkin at dunkinj@ccsd15.net for more information.

SPARK Event: Mental Health and Emotional Regulation Using a Play-Based Approach

Special Education Parents Accessing Resources and Knowledge (SPARK) serves families of children with disabilities in District 15. SPARK hosts monthly meetings providing parents information to help them in their current and future steps of the journey of parenting children with disabilities. Join SPARK for this virtual meeting on Monday, February 24 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. to discuss mental health and emotional regulation using a Play-Based Approach.

Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Key Dates

February 10: one-five Foundation 50/50 raffle opens
February 11: Registration Opens for 2025-2026 school year
February 11: BPAC Sesión Informativa Virtual
February 13: Spanish Dual Language Program for Kindergarten at WCE
February 17: No School, Teacher Plan Day
February 19: Board of Education Meeting
February 20: Spanish Dual Language Program for Kindergarten at WB
February 24: SPARK event: Mental Health and Emotional Regulation Using a Play-Based Approach
February 26: Virtual Author Visit with Duncan Tonatiuh

Board of Education Meetings and Dates

All meetings of the Board of Education are held at Walter R. Sundling Middle School, located at 1100 N. Smith Street, Palatine, unless otherwise posted. Regular meetings of the Board of Education begin at 7:00 pm. Dates for meetings are as follows:

2025 Board of Education Meeting Dates

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Tuesday, June 10, 2025

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