Focus on 47

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Congratulations to our 8th graders as they complete this important chapter and prepare for high school. We’re proud of all they’ve accomplished and look forward to seeing what lies ahead in this next step of their journey.

We know they will continue to GROW, EMPOWER and THRIVE in the years ahead!

Sincerely,

Dr. Kathy J. Hinz

Superintendent

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

May

• May 21 & 22: Daybreak Free Mental Health Webinar: Social Media, Technology, and Cyber-Bullying
• Class in English at 7 pm on May 21
• Class in Spanish at 7 pm on May 22
• May 26: No School; Memorial Day
• May 28: 8th Grade Honors/Promotion Night
• May 30: Last Day of School (PreK & Kindergarten)

June

• June 2: Last Day of School (Grades 1-7); Early Release
• Progress Reports Available on ParentVue at 12 pm
• June 2-August 15: Free Summer Lunch Program
• June 16: Board of Education Meeting

August

• August 1: Transportation (TJA) Open House for incoming 2025-26 Kindergarten/PreK students
• August 9: District 47 Resource Fair 9 am - 12 pm. Click here for more information.

**The last day of school has been extended due to the school closure on January 21. Click the link below to view the updated 2024-2025 school calendar.

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

Join us on Monday, September 30th, for an engaging session with Dr. Matt Townsley, a national expert on standards-based grading.As an associate professor of educational leadership at the University of Northern Iowa, Dr. Townsley brings a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience in grading reform. He’s worked with schools around the world and has authored more than 30 articles and books on assessment and grading. This is a chance to ask questions, gain insights, and better understand how standards-based grading supports student learning. Two sessions will be offered at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the CORE Center Board Room. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and ask questions!

The District 47 Art Show was a vibrant celebration of student creativity, bringing together families, staff, and the community to admire the incredible work of our young artists. A huge thank you to our dedicated art teachers for inspiring and supporting these talents every day—what a masterpiece of an event!

Bravo to the talented cast and crew from all three middle schools for delivering a trio of unforgettable performances! From Cinderella at Hannah Beardsley, to Bye Bye Birdie at Bernotas, and Alice in Wonderland Jr. at Lundahl, each show lit up the stage and wowed the audience.

Hannah Beardsley’s National Junior Honor Society turned miles into money with their first-ever Fund Run—raising an impressive $7,423 to fully fund the 8th grade end-of-year field trip. What started as a student-led idea grew into a schoolwide success. Read more about how they did it!

Congratulations!

• Lundahl Boys Track & Field - 7th grade boys sectional champions. State Qualifiers: Nolan 1st place (long jump), Liam 1st place (400), Amir 2nd place (800), BJ- 1st place (high jump), Amir, Nolan, Liam, Nolan- 1st place (4x1), Adam- (high jump), Matt- 3rd place (110 hurdles), Zach, Logan, Matt, Adam 2nd place (4x1), Kylee, Jojo, Makayla, Olivia 1st place (4x1), Logan (800)
• Hannah Beardsley Girls Track & Field - 2nd Place in Fox Valley Conference, 2nd Place in IESA 4A Sectional 1 (8th Grade Girls - 2nd place out of 16 schools). State Qualifiers: Eleanor (Discus), Ava (Discus), Jordyn (High Jump) Mya, Maddie, Jordyn, Maelyn, Annabelle, Addy (4x200 Relay). Fox Valley Conference - Boy's finished 4th out of 12 teams, Fox Valley Conference Champions - 4x200 Relay, Jordyn (High Jump), Ava (Discus); Conference Champions: Leo (High Jump), Eli (Long Jump), Joey (Shot Put), IESA 4A Sectional - 8th Grade Boy's 3rd place out of 16 Teams; 7th Grade Boy's 5th Place out of 16 Teams, State Qualifiers: Eli (High Jump), Leo (110 Hurdles), Chris (Discus)
• Bernotas Track & Field State Qualifiers: Alex (800 M & 1600 M), Anna (400 M), Kate (High Jump), Finley (400 M), Michael (100 M)
• Lundahl Wrestling State Competitors: Logan A. 5th place in the 105 lb category and Logan D. 4th place in the 155 lb category
• Bernotas Scholastic Bowl Team Took 4th Place
• Hannah Beardsley IPA Principals Award: Britin, Tierney
• Lundahl Cross Country State Qualifier: Logan
• Lundahl IPA Leadership Award: Marco and Viri and NJHS Outstanding National Achievement Award - Kinley
• Hannah Beardsley Science Olympiad Regional Competition: Max, Atticus (Tower-2nd place), Gabriella, Charli (Write It Do It- 4th place)

In celebration of Earth Day, Coventry kindergarteners dove into a hands-on project that combined science, social studies, and writing. They learned about living things, planted zinnias and grass seed in repurposed food containers, and connected their planters to a Social Studies unit on local businesses by creating “lawns” for model shops. Students also practiced opinion writing by sharing their favorite Crystal Lake businesses and explaining why they matter. This fun, cross-curricular experience sparked creativity, critical thinking, and environmental awareness!

After a year of writing back and forth, Hannah Beardsley Middle School 8th graders met their 4th grade pen pals for the very first time! This special connection was the idea of one thoughtful HBMS student, turning letters into lasting friendships and bringing their words off the page and into real life.

As part of our ongoing efforts to make information more accessible for families, we are partnering with TeacherLists to improve how we share school supply lists. This new platform will digitize our supply lists and create interactive, shoppable versions linked to major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Staples. The TeacherLists page will be branded on our website and can be translated into multiple languages, making it much more user-friendly than our current PDF-based process. There is no cost to the district or families, TeacherLists earns revenue through its partnerships with retailers, so there are no fees or markups. All lists can be downloaded/printed out for families that still want to shop in person. Prices will be the same online or in the store. All lists will be available online by the end of May.

During Staff Appreciation Week (May 5–9), District 47 families shared the love with over 170 heartfelt messages for our incredible staff! Thank you for taking the time to recognize the dedication and impact of our amazing team. Click here to see some fun shoutouts left on our Facebook post, where followers left comments about their favorite District 47 teachers!

An update was shared with staff and families on May 16 outlining the data and key factors the committee has been considering during their review. Click here to read the full communication, or visit the website for more information.

The purpose of Faces of D47 is to highlight any individual who serves District 47. We know we have a strong community in our district and want to learn more about the individuals who make District 47 a great place to work, learn, and volunteer. Be sure to check out our most recent posts!

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!

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, 2025. No registration necessary.

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.

District 47 recently celebrated 20 incredible years of its Dual Language Program with a vibrant Multicultural Night at North Elementary! From cultural read-alouds to bilingual music and food trucks, the evening was a true celebration of language, learning, and community. Read more about this milestone event!

Beginning this summer, the district will move forward with a range of capital improvement projects. Work will include updates like a new accessible playground at Glacier Ridge Elementary, air conditioning solutions at Canterbury, West, and areas within Bernotas, as well as facility maintenance in buildings throughout the district, including flooring, painting, card reader and security camera enhancements, casework, masonry, fencing, pavement, and landscaping. We will spotlight these summer projects on the District's Facebook page over the summer. Stay tuned!

Special Board of Education Meeting- May 12

View Meeting Agenda

Meeting Highlights

• New board members Lea Grover, Alena Hansen, and Maria Krause, along with current board member Debra Barton, were sworn in during a special board meeting on May 12.

Board of Education May 19 Update

View Meeting Agenda

Meeting Highlights

• First reading of updates to 26 policies
• Approval of building security cameras- external and internal

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 16, 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.