The 21 Ledger

The D21 Board of Education approved the 2026-27 academic calendar at its January 15 meeting. This year, School Improvement Days will shift from Fridays to midweek to improve attendance and professional learning effectiveness. The calendar also aligns key breaks with Township High School District 214 to support families. View the full calendar here.

We're excited to announce that registration for incoming kindergarten and new students for the 2026-27 school year is now available! Children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2026, are eligible to register for kindergarten, and families new to the district with children entering any grade level are also invited to complete their registration! Visit ccsd21.org/registration to start your journey with us today!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 21, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a Health Fair at the Wheeling Park District's Community Recreation Center! Explore and learn about a variety of health and wellness resources, enjoy free admission, and connect with local businesses and organizations focused on well-being and community health.

We'll have a table at the event, so come see us, say hello, and learn more about what we're up to!

CCSD21 will administer a climate and culture (Panorama) survey to third through eighth graders in February and March to gather student feedback and guide school improvement. Parents can also share their perspectives, and responses are kept confidential. The survey is open through March 21. Complete the parent survey here. Separate surveys are also recommended for each child's school.

We're excited to once again offer engaging summer programs for current K-7 students! Registration opens February 6 for the Performing Music Academy and February 20 for Mind, Motion & Maker Sessions in June (details of which can be found in ParentSquare)! Space is limited—register early to secure your spot!

June 8-12:

• Art & Design Academy (half-day, grades 1-8)
• STEM Camp (full-day, grades 1-8, in partnership with Wheeling High School)
• Sports & Fitness Academy (half-day, grades 1-8)

August 10-14:

• Performing Music Academy for band, orchestra, and chorus students (grades 4-7)

Keep your child reading this winter with District 21’s School Reading Challenges on Beanstack! Students in all grades can log minutes for books, articles, and more, and grades 3–8 can meet Benny the Bean, an AI reading buddy who helps set goals and celebrate progress. Tracking reading builds habits, stamina, and growth, and students can link school and library accounts for extra options. Families are encouraged to celebrate reading minutes each month!

• English Log-in Directions
• Spanish Log-in Directions
• Russian Log-in Directions

Regular school attendance matters because every day in class builds learning, routines, and strong connections with teachers and peers. When students show up consistently, they’re more confident, more engaged, and better prepared for long-term success—both in school and beyond.

Did You Know… As a district, we are proud to celebrate the diversity of our learning community! Some of the observances & celebrations taking place during the month of February include: Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Chinese New Year, Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, Ash Wednesday/Lent Begins, Valentine’s Day, George Washington’s Birthday, Ramadan Begins, Mardi Gras, President’s Day. If you’d like to learn more, click on the links.

February is often associated with love and friendship, making it a great time to talk with pre-teens about healthy relationships. Middle school is when many students begin experiencing crushes, dating, and deeper friendships—important opportunities to build skills like communication, emotional awareness, and setting boundaries.

Healthy relationships help students feel safe and respected, both in person and online. “Green flags” include kindness, honesty, respect for boundaries, and encouragement to maintain friendships outside the relationship. “Red flags” may include pressure, controlling behavior, jealousy of friends, or being asked to keep secrets from trusted adults. While strong emotions are normal at this age, families can support students through open conversations about boundaries, consent, and digital behavior—and by reminding them it’s always okay to talk to a trusted adult if something feels uncomfortable.

If you're encountering any "red flags" and need a little support, the District 21 Health Center is available for counseling appointments.

The Google Translate app is now installed on all district iPhones, Chromebooks (staff & student), and Chromeboxes. It can provide conversation translation using both text and spoken responses. Coupled with headphones, it can now even act as a live interpreter.

Try it out and get acquainted with its features so you’re ready when you need it. Fluency is a superpower, but this is the next best thing and can come in handy in a pinch.

In today’s digital age, media literacy is one of the most essential skills we can teach our students. As they begin to explore social media, distinguishing between fact and fiction can be incredibly difficult. To help them navigate this landscape safely, we recommend practicing the SIFT method—a simple, four-step process for verifying information before they hit "share" or react to a post.

• Stop: Before reacting, pause and identify any strong emotions you feel. It's always a good idea to take a technology break and talk to a trusted adult if a post is upsetting.

• Investigate: Look at the source. Is it a credible outlet, or is the user just seeking attention through "ragebait"?

• Find better coverage: See if other reputable accounts are reporting the same news. If only one person says it, proceed with caution.

• Trace back: Find the original photo or video to ensure it hasn't been edited or taken out of context.

By practicing these steps at home, you can help your child spot misinformation and consume content wisely.

District 21’s fifth annual Spelling Bee brought a familiar result (and plenty of impressive wordsmithing) as students competed at the district's administrative offices on Feb. 4. After 21 rounds, Cooper eighth grader Ethan T. claimed the championship with the word “pacific,” followed by Aadvik K. of Tarkington in second and London’s Abigale L. in third — the same top-three finishers as last year. Revived five years ago to celebrate language skills and friendly academic competition, the Bee now includes elementary and middle school participants from across the district. Ethan will advance to the North Cook ISC Scripps Spelling Bee later this month. Read the full story for more highlights and details.

Three of our middle schoolers recently represented the district at the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) Junior High All-State performances in Peoria from January 29-30. Cooper's Cora W. performed with the All-State Junior High Choir, while Holmes' Ellie F. (cello) and Sebastian M. (violin) played with the inaugural All-State Junior High Orchestra. The students were selected from thousands of auditions across Illinois, highlighting their dedication and musical talent. Both the choir and orchestra experiences gave them a chance to perform alongside the state’s top young musicians, gain new skills, and bring inspiration back to their school ensembles. Read the full story here.

At the end of January, the Illinois Principals Association formally recognized Catherine Joy of Frost as the North Cook Elementary School Principal of the Year and Anastasia Netzel of London as the regional Herman Graves Award winner. These honors were celebrated at a recognition breakfast that also highlighted the achievements of several of our outstanding students.

Do you have a story, event, or accomplishment you’d like to share in our Community Corner? We’d love to hear from you! Please send submissions with details to comms@ccsd21.org.

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

Join us for fun literacy activities at the library this February!

• Kilmer: Thursday, February 12, 6-8 p.m.
• Field: Monday, February 23, 5-7 p.m.
• Longfellow: Thursday, February 26, 6-8 p.m.

Come read, explore, and enjoy!

Saturday, February 21, 11-11:50 a.m.

Ages 4 and older with a caregiver. Travel through 400 years of history with African drumming, dancing and stories of American heroes led by Kidworks. TR

TR = Ticketed Registration for 100. Free tickets distributed 30 minutes before the program on a first-come, first-served basis at the Youth Services Desk.

Sunday, February 1 through Saturday, February 28

Visit the Indian Trails Library to choose a mystery book from our display based on only a few descriptive words. Check out and read the book you choose to be entered into a prize drawing. For more information call the Youth Services Desk at 847.459.4100 extension 4.

Due to construction, the library return drop box will be removed on Friday, February 6. Please return all library materials to the Alcott Community Center (530 Bernard Dr., Buffalo Grove), main library or the Branch.

Sunday, March 8, 1-3 p.m.

Brought to you by The Foundation for The Indian Trails Library. All ages. $5. Bingo card (includes 10 games). Prizes are awarded for each winning game. All proceeds benefit the library. Registration is required through the library's website.

Get a sneak peek at the Summer Camp Guide and start planning your ultimate summer with Wheeling Park District!

• Resident registration opens February 11 at 8:00 AM

• Non-resident registration opens February 18 at 8:00 AM

Discover exciting spring programs and events with the Wheeling Park District. There’s something for everyone!

Click this link to explore the Spring Program Guide and see what’s happening this season.

Township High School District 214 is accepting submissions for the annual Daily Herald and District 214 Arts Unlimited Art and Writing Contest through February 13.

The contest is open to residents of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling. Artwork, poetry and prose of any genre or style are welcome. Winning entries will be published in the Daily Herald, and winners will be notified by March 17.

Entries must be original, AI-free works and submitted electronically to herald.contest@d214.org. Only one submission per category is allowed. Artwork should be submitted as a print-ready JPEG (300 dpi), and writing as a Word document (poetry up to 50 lines; prose up to 1,500 words).