The District 25 Dish
October 15th, 2026
✍️Please note ✍️
The District Dish is organized in the following way:
- New to the Dish – What's new
- Back for Seconds – Worth another look
- Ongoing Classics – Ongoing information and reminders
October 15, 2026
Dear District 25 Community,
There’s something special about this time of year in our schools. The leaves are changing, Halloween is right around the corner, and our classrooms are full of learning, creativity and a little extra excitement. It’s always fun to see how our students and staff bring this season to life across District 25!
As we head further into fall, I have two quick reminders for you.
First, please keep an eye out for our annual weather letter, coming later this month. It will include important information about how we handle weather-related decisions and communicate with families when conditions change.
Second, I encourage you to take a few minutes to visit our Safe25 webpage at www.sd25.org/safe25. It’s a helpful resource for reviewing our district’s safety practices and learning more about how we work together to keep our schools safe.
I hope you and your family enjoy all the fun this time of year brings. Thank you, as always, for being part of our D25 community.
Together Today 2 Transform Tomorrow,
Dr. Brian Kaye
Superintendent
Upcoming Dates!
School Board Meeting
- October 20th
Middle School Quarter 1 Ends
- October 21st
Parent/Teacher Conferences | Staff Only
- October 22nd
Parent/Teacher Conferences | Staff Only
- October 23rd
Connection with the Board: Trunk or Treat
- October 24th (10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m) - Pioneer Parking Lot (Pioneer Park, 500 S. Fernandez Ave.)
Middle School Progress Reports
- October 30th
Happy Principal Appreciation 👏 🥳
Opportunity for Middle School Students! ⛄
Village of Arlington Heights (Hearts of Gold Award)
Hearts of Gold 2027 Nominations Are Open!
Do you know someone who lives or works in Arlington Heights and deserves a big thank you for everything they do to give back? Now’s your chance to shine a spotlight on those who go above and beyond to make our community a better place. Nominate a person, group, or local business for a 2027 Hearts of Gold Award and help us celebrate their positive contributions to our Village!
Please submit your nomination by Wednesday, November 4, 2025.
Holiday Supports
Thanks to generous community donations, Wheeling Township offers seasonal support programs for eligible local residents:
- Thanksgiving Meals: Food pantry recipients receive a complete Thanksgiving dinner in November, including turkey and all the traditional fixings.
- Adopt-A-Family Program: Each holiday season, donors are matched with low-income families using their wish lists to provide gifts of clothing and toys.
Financial eligibility requirements apply. To apply for assistance or become a donor, please reach out to the General Assistance Office at 847-259-7730 or email ksabbini@wheelingtownship.com.
Did You Know? It's National School Lunch Week!
Established in 1946, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) ensures every child gets the nutrition they need to succeed in and out of the classroom.
Local Impact: District 25 serves over 2,000 nutritious meals every day to our students! Across the country, over 30 million lunches are served daily through NSLP.
Balanced & Healthy: Designed around strict USDA guidelines, meals are packed with fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat milk, while limiting sodium and added sugars.
Academic Boost: School lunches help fuel minds—improving attendance, classroom focus, and test scores.
District 25 would love to have your student join us for breakfast or lunch! Explore what's on the menu through My School Menus and check your student's meal account balance or add funds here.
Reach out to the Food & Nutrition Services office with any questions at FoodService@sd25.org.
Celebrations & Observances
October, 2026
Staff Celebrations
October 12-16, 2026
October 16, 2026
October 19-23, 2026
Community Events & Parent Resources
Community Events
Below is a snapshot of upcoming local events that may be of interest to students and families. For a complete list of activities and details, please visit each organization’s website.
Halloween Fun
Trunk or Treat
Glenbard Parent Series (GPS)
District 25 is proud to partner with the GPS Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families — bringing families and professionals free access to nationally recognized experts who provide practical, research-based guidance on today’s most important topics. With over 50 programs annually, offered at noon and 7 p.m. CT in four languages, GPS supports families at every stage — from childhood through college and career.
Explore upcoming programs and resources at GPSParentSeries.org and join us in building stronger, healthier communities.
Dr. Katie Hurley
The New Bully: Confronting Online Conflict, Rumors, and Social Exclusion
When: October 20 @ Noon & 7 pm CST
Where: Virtual
Dr. Ellen Hendriksen
How to Be Enough: Social Anxiety, Perfectionism, and How to Quiet Your Inner Critic
When: November 10 @ Noon & 7 pm CST
Where: Virtual
Feel Good Story
How Powerful Is a River? 🌊
Just ask Mrs. Greazel’s 4th graders at Dryden! 🌊
Inspired by *Kitoto the Mighty*, students connected their reading to science, experimenting with how water flowing at different speeds changes the land around it. Three pours, plenty of observations, and a hands-on lesson in how rivers shape our world.
Because sometimes, the best way to learn is to get a little messy!
#d25ItsPersonal #TogetherToday2TransformTomorrow
Innovation & Technology Survey
We’re looking for your feedback on some of the technology-related topics that are on the minds of our District 25 families and community. Your responses to this survey will help our Technology Department better understand current concerns and priorities as we continue to think intentionally about technology across our schools.
Please share your feedback by completing the survey linked via the button below.
This survey will close at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026.
Interpreters Needed in D25
Food & Nutrition News
October Menu Available Now
The updated elementary school lunch menu for October is now available! Check out the full October schedule here to see what's cooking this month!
My School Menus Tutorial
What's on the menu today? District 25 uses My School Menus, an interactive app and website that puts breakfast and lunch options right at your fingertips. Easily view and print daily or monthly schedules, plus filter for specific dietary needs (like Halal or vegetarian) and allergens (like egg, gluten, and dairy).
Watch our quick video and visit the website to learn more!
Reach out to the Food & Nutrition Services office with any questions at FoodService@sd25.org.
Ongoing Celebrations & Observances
October 2026
October 2026
September 15 - October 15
Ongoing Staff Celebrations
October 2026
October, 2026
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 are safe havens where students can learn without fear.
Earlier this year, we re-shared guidance with staff and administrators on responding if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other immigration representatives come to our schools. Our priority remains ensuring every child and family feels safe, valued, and supported in District 25.
👉 UPDATED: Read Board President Greg Scapillato & Dr. Kaye's most recent update.
👉 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
Immigration emergency hotline (ICIRR Family Support Network): 1-855-435-7693 (English, Spanish, Korean, Polish)
2026-2027 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:
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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.
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
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.
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
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/
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!
For all Board of Education information, including how to attend meetings (in person or virtually), how to contact the Board, and how to view recent meetings, please visit the link above.
What: School Board Meeting
When: Tuesday, October 20, 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