Firebird Flash

We had a successful first full week of school and are now in full swing! Students completed two days of iReady testing, which will help guide seminar placement in the weeks ahead. We also had Picture Day and capped off the week with our grade-level assemblies.

During the assemblies, we reviewed key expectations such as:

Wearing IDs daily
Using 5 Star to check in/out
Attendance, from arriving to school on time to getting to class on time
Earning privileges through positive choices

We also mixed in some fun games and incentives to celebrate the exciting start of our school year together!

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor Responses:

No New Questions

Weekly Grade Level Updates

Each week, our grade-level core teams will share updates to help you stay connected. These updates may include:

Assessment information
Grade-level news such as field trips or special events
Classroom and curriculum highlights

Be sure to check your child’s grade-level weekly notice—it’s the best place to see what’s happening in their classrooms.

Mark Your Calendars

Tuesday, September 16: First PTO Meeting 6:30 PM in the LRC

Additional Resources:

Clubs and Sports Have Officially Started

Check out a couple of them here.

Activity Buses Have Started

Activity buses have started! Please note these do not stop at the regular bus stops.
- 4:10 PM Routes: One bus for Mount Prospect and one for Des Plaines. These two routes cover all nine normal routes, so stops are consolidated. Runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.
- 4:55 PM Route: One bus that covers all nine routes. Stops may be farther from home but serve fewer students. Runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday.
- Travel time is longer due to more stops and greater distance.

Parents, please clarify with your student what they are staying after school for and which bus they are taking. Staff will assist students with identifying their stop, but confusion often arises if students and parents haven’t communicated.

Attendance

We’re excited for a new school year of learning and growing together! Getting into the habit of daily attendance is more important than ever. It helps to:

Reduce stress
Make it easier to connect with friends and teachers
Support learning

Please reach out to our office if you need help with attendance. We’re here to support and partner with you as best as possible so that our students have a successful year.

New Student Device Update

ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THEIR NEW DEVICE!

Optional Device Protection Plan: Optional Device Protection Plan: Covers accidental damage to the device or accessories if the student used it responsibly. The plan form (Spanish) explains what isn’t covered and lists repair costs if the plan doesn’t cover them or if the plan fee hasn’t been paid. Enrollment is due no later than September 26, 2025.

Non-Refundable Plan Fee: $20, or $10 for families who qualify for free or reduced lunch.
How to Pay:

Cash or Check: Fill out the form and turn it in to our school office with payment.
Online Payment: Go to your Skyward Family Access and pay through e~Funds for Schools (no form needed).

Securly Home: The primary family contact for your child (based on your Skyward preferences) will get a link to sign up for this new parental controls app. More details will be shared next week.

Resources: How-to videos on device operation can be found on our YouTube channel.

8th GRADERS: From D214

Testing will take place from 8:00 a.m. to approximately 11:30 a.m.

Below are the testing dates at the different high schools:

Elk Grove and Prospect and Rolling Meadows High Schools Exam Dates:

Saturday, October 25
Makeup, Saturday, November 8

D214 8th grade information on our website HERE.

More information will be added as 214 finalizes decisions.

D214 Football Game Visitor Policy

Elk Grove High School and Prospect High School are excited to welcome our communities and future Grenadiers and Knights to Friday night football games. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, please review the following visitor guidelines:

Non-high school-aged students will only be admitted when accompanied by their parent(s) or guardian(s) at the gate.
Patrons may not bring in groups of students and claim them as their own.
Students must sit with their parent(s) or guardian(s) during the game and leave when their parent(s)/guardian(s) leave.

Spectators may not:

Play pick-up games in or around the stadium
Bring sporting equipment into the stadium
Carry backpacks into the stadium
Re-enter after leaving the stadium

This policy is in place due to ongoing discipline concerns involving unsupervised non-high school-aged students. Thank you for your support and partnership in creating a safe and positive game day atmosphere at both Elk Grove High School and Prospect High School.

Grade Level Assemblies

Check out some of the highlights!

Firebirds—Stay on Track for Honor Society!

As we begin the new school year, remember: good grades, great behavior, and completed service hours are the keys to Honor Society induction.

Start earning service hours now by volunteering, helping neighbors, or joining community projects. Use the official Service Hour Form and turn it in when we return in the fall.

Lead, serve, and shine—let’s make this year count!

Honors Society Service Hour Form

If you're interested in joining the PTO or want to learn more about how you can contribute, please reach out to friendshippto550@gmail.com. We wholeheartedly welcome your involvement and look forward to working together to create an exceptional middle school journey for our students.