Sprague School

Ninety-two Sprague students exhibited artwork at the 45th Annual Stevenson High School Consortium Art Fest. It is an amazing show that celebrates the exceptional artwork of so many students as seen in these photos.

• Friday, May 23: Health Moves Minds event.
• Monday, May 26: No School, Memorial Day.
• Friday, May 30: Early Dismissal Day, No school for early childhood.
• Friday, May 30: End of the Year School Bash from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP requested.
• Wednesday, June 4: Last Day of School for Early Childhood students.
• Thursday, June 5: Last Day of School for grades K-7, Early Dismissal Day.
• Monday, June 9: First day of summer school.

We encourage you to subscribe to the Sprague 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.

This year’s group of seven retirees has witnessed—and adapted to—decades of change. From chalkboards to iPads, and from spiral notebooks to sophisticated learning platforms, these educators have taught through some of the most transformative moments in education. They began their careers with textbooks and transparencies and now leave during an era shaped by artificial intelligence, virtual classrooms, and a digital-first approach to learning.

While their paths varied, these retirees share common threads: resilience, dedication, and a deep love for the students whose lives they’ve shaped. They’ll carry with them not only classroom memories, but also lifelong friendships of colleagues and the impact of a community they helped build.

And what’s next? Some individuals plan to travel and visit family. Others look forward to new hobbies; perhaps Indie research and writing for one teacher and fishing for Mrs. Wade. But each leaves behind a legacy woven into the fabric of District 103.

Retirees from other schools include Science Teacher Cheryl Cheifetz, Learning Behavior Specialist Karina Richter, Math Teacher Kirsten Frantom, STEM Teacher Eric Rexer, and PE Teacher Jeffrey Helstad.

During the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday the following individuals from Sprague were recognized for their years of service to District 103:

• 25 Years: Human Resources Coordinator Carey Murphy
• 20 Years: Kindergarten Teacher Stacy Binder, Speech Language Pathologist Laura Geller
• 15 Years: Learning Behavior Specialist Danielle Cicero, Payroll Coordinator Chris Erickson, Bus Driver Aurora Colin, Bus Driver George Martin
• 10 Years: Associate Brittany Budzon, Associate Jenny McKean

Last weekend marked the 14th annual PTO Run for D103 5k held at Daniel Wright. Along with a record breaking 659 total registrations, over 33 sponsors and 40 volunteers came together to help raise money to support our schools. Thank you to everyone who made this event a great success! Enjoy pictures of the event.

Please take 3-5 minutes to respond to our District 103 Communication Survey. As a district, we are examining the best methods to connect with families. Feedback from this survey will help us update our District 103 communication guidelines. Thank you.

Next week starts the summer countdown. Come join us!

• Wednesday, May 28: Spirit Day
• Thursday, May 29: Picnic Party
• Friday, May 30: Read-a-Thon
• Monday, June 2: Art Day
• Tuesday, June 3: Game Day
• Wednesday, June 4: Unique Talent Day
• Thursday, June 5: End-of-Year Celebration

Reports for MAP Reading and Math test results are scheduled to be emailed out as follows:

• Daniel Wright: Tuesday, May 27
• Half Day: Wednesday, May 28
• Laura B Sprague: Thursday, May 29

Yearbooks will go home in the next few weeks. Grade levels decide when to send them home as a team so they can choose when it works for the grades to do grade-level signings. If your children are in different grades and you ordered yearbooks for them, they may arrive home on a different day. Questions or concerns, please contact llenzini@d103.org.

Please stop by the nurse's office before Thursday, June 5, to pick up any of your child's medication that they take at school. Unclaimed medication will be disposed of after that date.

All student books are due no later than Friday, May 23, to the library. Please keep a close eye on your child’s home folder for any notices from the library. Thank you for your help!

With the warmer weather upon us, we want to alert you that tick season has arrived.

Please take a moment to:

• Check your child's clothing after outdoor activities.
• Conduct regular tick checks of your child's hair and skin.
• Common symptoms include redness, swelling, and a hard bump at the bite site.
• Consider appropriate insect repellent for outdoor play.
• If you find a tick, remove it promptly with tweezers, avoiding squeezing or twisting.

Thank you for your help in keeping our students healthy and tick-free!

Staff does not apply sunscreen on students as the weather warms and classes are outside more. Please apply sunscreen on your child before arriving at school. Students are also permitted to apply their own sunscreen.

Why Is My Child Acting Differently as the School Year Ends?

As the school year wraps up, you may notice your child showing more emotional reactions, testing boundaries, or regressing in behavior. These are all common responses during what experts call the “adjourning” stage of group development.

This stage was introduced by researchers Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen in their work on how groups grow and change. In the classroom, our students form a close-knit group over the year. As the year ends, they’re saying goodbye to routines, relationships, and the security of a familiar environment. That’s a big deal for young children!

What You Might See:

• Acting out or becoming more sensitive.
• Needing more comfort or reassurance.
• Sadness, excitement, or anxiety about next year.
• Disrupted sleep or more clinginess at home.

How You Can Help:

• Acknowledge their feelings – Let them know it’s okay to feel a mix of emotions.
• Stick to routines – Consistency at home helps them feel safe.
• Talk about the changes – Give them space to share what they’re thinking or wondering.
• Celebrate their growth – Remind them how far they’ve come this year!

We’re supporting your children through this transition at school, and your support at home means the world.

Other Resources:

• UNICEF – Childhood Regression: What it is and how to support your little one.

• Parents.com – The End-of-School-Year Struggle Is Real—How to Cope.

*Tuckman & Jensen Stages of Small-Group Development

Remind your student to look through the school's lost and found bins for missing items. All unclaimed items will be donated on Friday, June 6.

Returning student registration is now open for grades early childhood through seventh.

• During registration, Sprague parents can select if they would like to be a mentor or if they would like an opportunity to be a mentee next year. The goal of our mentoring program is to foster a community where individuals can connect, share their experiences, and learn from one another. By bringing together those individuals who are willing to share their knowledge and those individuals eager to learn, we create an environment of mutual growth, support, and meaningful connections.
• Please reach out to your child's school if you have questions about registration or email
  PowerSchool@d103.org.
• If your family is moving and not planning to return to District 103, kindly let your child’s school office know about your plans so that we do not bother you about registration and place your child in a 2025-2026 classroom.
• There are 397 students unregistered

Registration is now open to families whose students will attend D103 schools for the first time in August 2025.

• Families new to the district enrolling for the August 2025 through June 2026 school year should fill out the New Student Enrollment Intake Form.
• A school representative will reach out to you to complete the registration process.
• Save time with the process by verifying your residency before enrolling in a D103 school.
• Review the new student document checklist.

A 19-year-old college student from Worcester, Massachusetts, has agreed to plead guilty to a massive cyberattack on PowerSchool that extorted millions of dollars in exchange for not leaking the personal data of millions of students and teachers, according to the website bleepingcomputer.com. The website Justice.gov put out a similar press release.

Join us as we celebrate the end of a fantastic school year with an evening full of music, food, face painting, fun, and friends!

Back by popular demand: The Village of Lincolnshire and the Lincolnshire Police Department will return with their exciting "Touch-a-Truck" experience, featuring village vehicles and a police cruiser for kids to explore!

Details:

• Who: All Sprague School families – everyone is welcome!
• When: Friday, May 30, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Admission: FREE
• Supervision: This is not a drop-off event. Parents must supervise their children.
• RSVP: Please let us know by Wednesday, May 21, the total number of family members attending using the link below so we can plan accordingly.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

👉 RSVP today by visiting https://dub.sh/qw06PxT

👉 Sign up to volunteer today - https://dub.sh/D103SignUp

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Support the PTO by purchasing pre-packaged school supplies filled with everything a teacher has requested. Supplies are mailed directly to the student's home with the exception of kindergarten where kits will go directly to school.

• Laura B Sprague: http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/gs/33148
• Half Day: http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/gs/32424
• Daniel Wright: http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/gs/31663

Order your school supply kits by Tuesday, July 1, and receive a $10 gift certificate to 1st Place Spiritwear where you can find the perfect back to school T-shirt, sweatshirt, and more!

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Celebrate your graduating student with a meaningful gift that will last for generations—a Legacy Brick on the Daniel Wright walkway!

Personalize your brick with a heartfelt message, name, or memory that reflects your student’s journey in District 103. It’s a wonderful way to honor their accomplishments while supporting our schools through the Learning Fund Foundation.

💫 Order Deadline: Tuesday, June 10

🌟 Installation: Fall 2025

Create a lasting memory. Celebrate a milestone. Leave your mark.

The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has teamed up with LCROE Foundation to bring books to children aged birth to 5-years-old. Families should fill out the interest form. This is a book gifting program that mails a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book to all registered children at no cost to the family.

Why is this program offered?

• Because little learners become big dreamers when they have stories in their hands. 💫
• We’re all in for the Foundation’s mission: Every Student, Ready to Learn!
• Let’s turn the page on a new reading adventure! 🚀📖

Get ready to press start on an epic summer of reading! LEVEL UP at your library with this year's Summer Library Club for all ages. From June 1 to July 31, complete activities to earn rewards. It's that easy! To get started, pick up a checklist at the Vernon Area Public Library beginning Sunday, June 1. Students entering fifth-grade and younger will receive a free T-shirt when they sign up for Summer Library Club. Learn more at VAPLD.info/Summer.

Join the Summer Library Celebration on Sunday, June 8, from 1–3 p.m. at the library. There will be frozen treats, live music, a community art project, and a giant bubble show. No sign-up required.

The fair will offer many fun indoor and outdoor activities to teach children lessons about health and safety. The fair is from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 7, Northwestern Medicine Grayslake

Outpatient Center, 1475 East Belvidere Road, Grayslake.

• Calendar of School Events
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Principals

• Principal Ann Hofmeier
• Assistant Principal Jennifer Arroyo

Reporting a Student Absence

• 847-945-6686
• Ls_attendance@d103.org