Half Day

Students explored multiple art sessions during the annual D103 PTO-sponsored Explore the Arts Day event at Half Day School last week as seen in these photos. Explore the Arts is a time dedicated to dance, drama, visual arts, and music. The morning was focused on students learning hands-on from artists. Thank you to the PTO representatives as well as Half Day teachers for organizing the event for students to enjoy!

• Friday, Feb. 28: No School for Teacher Institute Day.
• Monday, March 3: Deadline to sign up for the school musical.
• Thursday, March 6: Summer school registration opens at 6:00 p.m.
• Thursday, March 13: Late Start, students start at 10:30 a.m.
• Thursday, March 13: 4th & 5th grade orchestra concert starts at 6:30 p.m. at SHS.
• Thursday, March 13: 3rd, 4th & 5th grade chorus concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at SHS.
• Monday, March 24-Friday, March 28: Spring break, schools are closed.

We encourage you to subscribe to the Half Day calendar so meetings and events can automatically be added to your personal calendar. Copy the calendar. Right click the url to a new tab. Download the calendar to your personal calendar.

Fourth-graders as seen in these pictures worked with Board members at a meeting this week to help them program a robot ball called the Sphero. Making it a fun activity fourth-grade teacher Jami Reed and technology integration specialist Italy Wallace challenged the students and Board to play a football game with the robots. The lesson educated the Board about coding and showed how the activity aligns with computer literacy standards.

Last Sunday, our fourth-grade chorus had the wonderful opportunity to sing the National Anthem at the Windy City Bulls Basketball Game. The students truly enjoyed performing on the court in front of the entire stadium. It was an exciting experience for everyone involved!

Classroom placement is an important process for our students, and our teachers and staff invest significant time and effort to ensure the creation of healthy learning groups and environments. It is important to develop balanced classrooms by considering students’ gender, academic, social, and emotional needs. We strive to create an optimal learning environment for students in each of our teacher’s classrooms.

If you wish to share more specific information about your child's placement, please indicate your thoughts on this Optional Parent Input Form.

Please complete the form no later than midnight on Wednesday, April 30.

The input you provide will be reviewed and considered as we begin planning for your child for the 2025-2026 school year. While specific teacher requests cannot be accommodated, your insight is valued as we take many variables into consideration.

Please note, the input you share is not private between the Principal and parent and will be shared during the placement process. Please complete a form for each of your children, if desired.

We look forward to providing your child with continued learning excellence! Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts with our staff.

Parents, students, and teachers are invited to participate in giving feedback on school climate and learning conditions in District 103 through the state-administered, Illinois 5Essentials Survey.

This 20-minute survey is a great way for D103 parents to provide input into the five indicators from the survey that affect and predict school success:

• Effective Leaders

• Collaborative Teachers

• Involved Families

• Supportive Environments

• Ambitious Instruction

Each spring, our students at Half Day School and Daniel Wright Junior High School are required by the State of Illinois to take the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA). All Half Day students begin taking the IAR test starting Wednesday, March 5, and fifth-graders will take the ISA test on Friday, April 11. For more information about the tests, please read the D103 E-notice that was sent to families.

Argh!!!! This year's Half Day musical, “PIRATES”, will be performed on Wednesday May 14, and Thursday, May 15, on Half Day School’s stage. The cast of characters includes Pirates, Stowaways, Mates, and more! The musical is open to fourth- and fifth-grade students. Please see the Musical Information Packet to learn more about the musical and rehearsal schedule. If your child is interested in participating, please sign up by Monday, March 3, through the RevTrak Web Store. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Smidt at asmidt@d103.org.

D103’s vision is to create a learning environment where every student thrives academically, emotionally and socially. Take a moment to enjoy a brief video for Future-Ready Fridays: D103’s Portrait of a Graduate in Action! On our YouTube Channel are brief student voice videos where they demonstrate learning in the classroom.

On Thursday, April 24, Half Day School will host the fourth-grade Illinois State Fair. This is a fun, hands-on event where students explore Illinois' rich agricultural heritage, manufacturing processes, and local government. From an adorable baby chick exhibit to interactive displays showcasing key industries, this day is designed to spark curiosity and inspire learning.

The PTO is in need of Activity Leads to help organize and run specific stations. Your leadership will be key to making this event both memorable and educational for our students.

Sign up today at https://dub.sh/D103SignUp to lead an activity and play a vital role in bringing the Illinois State Fair to life!

The Run for D103 5K Run/Walk is a family-friendly, annual fundraising event held in the spring that enables the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) to provide District 103 with programs and equipment for the benefit of our children. This race is representative of our district's commitment to foster both healthy minds and healthy bodies in our children and to instill a lifelong passion for education and exercise.

Whether you're an experienced runner or just starting out, this is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself, meet new people, and have fun! We can't wait to see you at the starting line!

👉 Register today @ runford103.org

Join us on Tuesday, March 4, from 6:30–8:00 p.m. at the Vernon Area Public Library to learn about the many resources available to help your child with their homework! This program will introduce you to valuable library resources to support your child's academic success from kindergarten through eighth-grade. A librarian-led tour of the library will also be included.

This program is intended for adults, and childcare will be provided. Please note, childcare is not available for children under 3-years-old.

Please reach out to Jacqueline Niziolek, MLL Multilingual Coordinator, at jbever@d103.com.

Please register with for the program.

The Kiwanis Club of Buffalo Grove and Lincolnshire is rolling into action, and we've got an event that's right up your alley – quite literally! Join us for the second installment of our BOWL-for-KIDS Fundraiser event that promises an evening of strikes, spares, and all-around good times while raising money to benefit the youth in and around our community.

• Friday, March 7
• 6:30–8:30pm
• Bowlero (350 McHenry Rd. Buffalo Grove, IL 60089)
• Registration: $35 per individual or $200 per lane (for up to 6 bowlers)

Includes...

• Two hours of bowling fun
• Shoe rental
• Two slices of delicious cheese pizza
• Unlimited soft drinks

The LSA Recreational Baseball program is open to players 3-years-old through eighth-grade. The goal of this program is to give young players an introductory understanding of the game in an organized and fun setting. All divisions are coed. The season will run from April to July. For questions please reach out to lsahousebaseball@gmail.com.

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Principals

• Principal Jill Mau
• Assistant Principal Laura Delagrange
Reporting an Absence
• 847-634-1484
• Hd_attendance@d103.org