Leyden Pride

It’s a big week for the Eagles! Leyden is getting ready to take center stage on ABC Chicago’s Friday Flyover, thanks to the incredible support of our students, staff, families, alumni and community. We’ll also recap the Little Eagle Cheer Clinic, share important information about testing and student health and immunization reminders.

Plus, don’t miss the updated date for the BPAC Meeting & Celebration of Cultures, upcoming community events, and an early look at Homecoming 2026. There’s a lot happening around Leyden and in our community, so catch up in this week’s Leyden Pride:

The Eagles are taking over the morning news! Leyden will be featured LIVE on ABC Chicago’s Friday Flyover on Friday, September 18. Students and staff will help showcase the energy and spirit of Leyden throughout the broadcast. Be sure to tune in and look for Leyden on Channel 7 between 5:00 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. See the full details in the story below.

The Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) invites multilingual learner families to join us for an evening celebrating the rich cultures and traditions that make our Leyden community so special.

The BPAC Meeting & Celebration of Cultures will take place Monday, September 21, (note the change in date) from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at East Leyden High School. Families can enjoy cultural performances, music, food and family engagement activities while connecting with other Leyden families and members of our school community.

Pre-ACT testing will take place Tuesday, September 22, and Wednesday, September 23. On Tuesday, September 22, 9th-grade students will begin the day with the Pre-ACT 9 before attending their regularly scheduled classes. On Wednesday, September 23, 10th- and 11th-grade students will take the Pre-ACT. Grab-and-go lunch will be available, and buses will run after the testing period. 9th- and 12th-grade students, LIFE High School and Transition Programs students will have no school on Wednesday, September 23. Students should be sure to get a good night’s sleep and arrive ready for testing.

State school code requires all ninth-grade and new students to provide proof of a physical examination and mandatory immunizations prior to October 15. Seniors are required to have their second meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) immunization after the age of 16. Students who do not meet these requirements before October 15 will be subject to exclusion from school.

We ask families to help ensure these requirements are addressed as soon as possible. The Ronald McDonald Caremobile is also available as a resource for families who need help completing physical exams, sports physicals or required immunizations. The Caremobile will be at West Leyden on Wednesday, September 16, and East Leyden on Thursday, September 17. For more information or to complete the required consent forms, please contact your student's nurse.

If you have questions about health requirements, contact the East Leyden Nurse’s Office at mcuevas@leyden212.org or the West Leyden Nurse’s Office at rkazmierczak@leyden212.org

Hey Eagles: You voted. We won! Leyden was selected to be featured in ABC Chicago’s morning news broadcast live on Friday, September 18! Leyden received the top number of votes of any suburban schools - so we need to get ready to show all of Chicagoland our Leyden Pride!

All students are encouraged to be a part of this special moment by arriving at the field at East Leyden no later than 6:30 a.m. (Come early and enjoy free Dunkin Donuts.) We will be making a live formation of a Leyden “L” on the field that morning, so please be prompt to ensure you are in the feature.

Participating students will receive Dunkin Donuts breakfast and coffee, a one-of-a-kind event tee shirt and a special lunch that day on their campus.

Transportation: We will provide two full bus runs for all students that morning, all stops/routes, at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. (10 minutes earlier for Rosemont). We will also run a shuttle bus from West to East at 5:10 and 6:10 for our walkers (Entrance 1). After the event, there will be a return bus to West at 7:20 for those students who need to get back (Entrance 18).

So get your friends and let’s make some memories!

Leyden Theatre presents Worlds Turned Upside Down: A Collection of One Acts, featuring three unique stories that take audiences from a mysterious small-town museum to an unusual AP class and a reunion after the end of the world.

Performances will be held this Thursday, September 17, Friday, September 18, and Saturday, September 19, at 7:00 p.m. in the West Leyden Auditorium.

Get Tickets

More than 70 future Eagles brought plenty of spirit to Leyden’s annual Little Eagle Cheer Clinic on Friday, September 4. Our youngest cheerleaders learned a fun cheer, dance and stunt sequence before putting their new skills on display for friends and family during Friday night’s football game against Willowbrook.

These little Eagles definitely showed us that school spirit starts early!

The West Leyden Class of 2027 kicked off their senior year with a special Senior Sunrise on Friday, September 4. Seniors gathered on the West Leyden football field to enjoy the morning together and celebrate the start of their final year as Leyden Eagles.

Leyden Student Services is pleased to continue its partnership with the GPS Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families. These free, public presentations feature award-winning authors and experts who share practical guidance on topics that matter to families, including motivation, resilience, relationships, college planning and career readiness.

View Upcoming Events

Need a little extra help getting caught up or staying on track? Leyden’s Saturday Success Academy (LSSA) is open to all students on select Saturdays from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. in the Library at East and the Eagle's Wing at West.

Students can get help completing missing work, studying for a test, preparing for a retake or simply finding a quiet place to work.

Bring your Chromebook, charger, class materials and questions — and stay for as much or as little of the session as you need.

Next session: Saturday, September 19

Gather your friends, family and neighbors for the Biondo Fall Fest Parade on Sunday, October 4. The parade will feature floats, marching bands, local schools and more as the community comes together to celebrate the heart of Franklin Park.

The parade will travel from the intersection of Grand Avenue and Scott Street, head east on Grand Avenue, then north on 25th Avenue (Rose Street) and finish at Addison and Scott Street (North Park).

The fun doesn’t stop when the parade ends - Be sure to stick around for the annual Pumpkin Fest at North Park.

Fall Fest Parade Information

The fun isn’t over after the Eddie Biondo Fall Fest Parade - continue celebrating at North Park with Pumpkin Fest on Sunday, October 4, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

There will be plenty of bright orange pumpkins waiting to be decorated and taken home. The pumpkin patch is available for children ages 12 and under, with an afternoon filled with family fun, inflatables, games and more!

Sep 18 - ABC 7 Friday Flyover

Sept 21 - Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) - East

Sept 22/23 - PreACT Testing

Sept 28 - Homecoming Week

Oct 15 - School Physical/Immunization Deadline

Email: pr@leyden212.org
Website: www.leyden212.org
Location: 3400 Rose Street, Franklin Park, IL, USA
Phone: 847-451-3000
Facebook: leydenpride212
Twitter: @leydenpride212

Instagram: leydenpride212

YouTube: leydenpride212

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