Focus on 47

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I hope everyone is enjoying summer break! While school is out, this is a reminder that support and resources are still available to District 47 families. Here are some available opportunities:

• Daybreak Health provides free teletherapy at no cost to District 47 families. Submit a Care Request.

• Free Summer Lunches are available for all kids 18 and under at Ladd Park, Devonshire Lane, Crystal Lake (Monday-Friday June 2 - Aug. 15 11:30-12:30 pm) and First Church, 236 W. Crystal Lake Ave, Crystal Lake (Mondays, June 9 - August 11). More information is available below.

• The District 47 Back to School Resource Fair is Saturday, August 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at The Evangelical Free Church of Crystal Lake. District 47 families in need can access free school supplies, haircuts, physicals, dental exams, mental health resources, and more. Click here to sign up for services.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kathy J. Hinz

Superintendent

Click the District 47 calendar below for more information on these events.

June

• June 19: No Summer School & District office closed (Juneteenth)
• June 2-August 15: Free Summer Lunch Program: Ladd Park
• June 9-August 11: Free Summer Lunch Program: First Church

August

• August 1: Transportation (TJA) Open House for incoming 2025-26 Kindergarten/PreK students
• August 7: National Night Out
• August 9: District 47 Resource Fair 9 am - 12 pm. Click here for more information
• August 18: First Day of School (Grades 1-8)
• August 19: First Day of School (PreK & Kindergarten)
• August 27: Early Release Day
• Dismissal is 2pm (grades K-5); 1pm (grades 6-8); no attendance for PreK

Is your child starting Kindergarten or PreK in the 2025–26 school year? Join us on Friday, August 1st at the Transportation Joint Agreement (TJA) building (1204 S. McHenry Ave., Crystal Lake) for a fun and informative event! Families will get to meet our transportation staff, explore safety equipment, and enjoy some snacks as we get ready for an exciting new school year. See below for the schedule based on last name:

• A–F: 9–10 a.m.

• G–L: 10–11 a.m.

• M–R: 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

• S–Z: 12–1 p.m.

Click here for more information

We’re excited to have our Principals READ program at the library again this summer! All nine elementary schools are joining us in August. Please see below for what day your school's principal's are reading! Programs will be in the Youth Services Program Room.

• Friday, Aug. 1
• 2-2:30 pm Indian Prairie Elementary
• Monday, Aug. 4
• 11-11:30 am Canterbury Elementary
• 2-2:30 pm North Elementary
• Tuesday, Aug. 5
• 11-11:30 am West Elementary
• 2-2:30 pm Glacier Ridge Elementary
• Wednesday, Aug. 6
• 2-2:30 pm Coventry Elementary
• Thursday, Aug. 7
• 2-2:30 pm Woods Creek Elementary
• Friday, Aug. 8
• 11-11:30 am South Elementary
• 2-2:30 pm Husmann Elementary

Our youngest learners wrapped up the year with smiles, songs, and plenty of excitement as they celebrated the end of their PreK and Kindergarten journeys. From graduation caps to classroom walks, these milestone moments marked the beginning of many more to come. We are so proud of all they’ve accomplished this year!

We are so proud of our 8th grade students as they wrapped up their middle school journey and celebrated this important milestone at Honors Night. To view and download all the photos taken that night, click here.

What happens when students begin their day with engaging, hands-on math? You get Number Corner — a 20-minute daily routine that builds skills, confidence, and mathematical thinking. From calendar grids to coordinate maps, students aren’t just building number sense — they’re building community, confidence, and a love for learning that adds up day after day.

As part of our ongoing efforts to make information more accessible for families, we’ve partnered with TeacherLists to improve how school supply lists are shared. Supply lists are now available on our website in a digital, interactive format, with convenient shopping links to major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Staples. There is no cost to the district or families — TeacherLists earns revenue through its retailer partnerships, so there are no fees or markups. Families can also download or print the lists if they prefer to shop in person. Prices remain the same whether shopping online or in-store.

Last month, we honored our 2025 retirees for their years of dedication, passion, and service to District 47. These incredible staff members have made a lasting impact on students, families, and colleagues throughout their careers. We wish them all the best as they embark on this exciting new chapter!

We are excited to share that Stacy Graff has been named the new Director of Literacy for District 47, effective July 1, 2025. With over 20 years of experience, including 11 years as principal of Canterbury Elementary, Ms. Graff brings a wealth of knowledge to this new role. District 47 will seek to fill the Canterbury Elementary principalship this summer. Click here to read more.

District 47 is proud to announce that Kristin Schmidt, Director of Social Emotional Learning, has been recognized by Shaw Media as a 2025 Women of Distinction honoree. This award celebrates women in McHenry County who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, serve as role models and mentors, advocate for positive social change, and generously give back to their communities. Click here to read more!

Calling All Crystal Lake students in 3rd - 5th Grade! Do your kids dream of riding in a police car to school? Want their artwork featured on a t-shirt? If you answered yes, keep reading! National Night Out is coming up on Thursday, August 7th, and the Crystal Lake Police Department is hosting another t-shirt design contest. This exclusive t-shirt will be given out for free to attendees (limited quantity). Please submit designs to Officer Kelci at kmcgrath@crystallake.org by July 4th!

Save the date for the District 47 Back to School Resource Fair! This event, aimed at preparing District 47 students and families in need for the upcoming school year, will take place on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at The Evangelical Free Church of Crystal Lake, 575 E. Crystal Lake Ave, Crystal Lake. Churches and community organizations throughout Crystal Lake will gather to provide school supplies, haircuts, dental exams, school physicals, mental health resources, and more to District 47 students and families in need. This is a FREE event for ALL District 47 families! Click here to sign up now for these services!

Ladd Park: Free summer lunches are available to ALL children 18 years and younger this summer—11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at Ladd Park, 556 Coventry Lane, Crystal Lake. Provided by the Northern Illinois Food Bank, a member of the Feeding America network, this program runs from Monday, June 2 to Friday, August 15. No registration necessary.

First Church: In conjunction with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, the First Church, 236 West Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake, will be offering free lunches and games/activities on Mondays this summer from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. outside. In inclement weather, we will move inside. This program is for kids 18 and younger and will run from June 9 - August 11. Click here for more information.

Want to see the impact in action? Watch this short video to learn how the Free Summer Lunch Program helps nourish kids all summer long and hear from some of our very own staff members! Click here for more information.

Catch up on all the progress made on our summer projects through the District 47 Facebook page. View the video below to see the latest update on projects over at the middle schools, West, and Canterbury!

Board of Education Meeting- June 16

View Meeting Agenda

Meeting Highlights

• Each year, the student handbook is reviewed and changes are made to ensure the information is up to date and compliant with the School Code. View the agenda for a list of changes made for the upcoming year.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at CORE Center (300 Commerce Dr., Crystal Lake) and virtually via Zoom.

This board update is a summary that includes brief highlights of selected topics and items from the meeting. This summary is not meant to replace minutes. The minutes for each meeting are approved and posted after the next regularly scheduled meeting. The complete Board packet of information, including presentations and reports, is available online.