Half Day

Some 95 Half Day 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.

• Monday, May 26: No School, Memorial Day.
• Friday, May 30: Early Dismissal Day.
• 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 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.

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 spend more time with family. Others look forward to new hobbies; perhaps Indie research and writing for one individual and fishing for another. But each leaves behind a legacy woven into the fabric of District 103.

At Half Day School, physical education teacher Jeffrey Helstad began his career after spotting a job ad in the Lincolnshire Review. That was 34 years ago. Since then, he’s spent 33 years teaching in the same gym and leading fundraisers that brought in hundreds of thousands for the American Heart Association. “I’ll miss the eager faces that walk through those gym doors,” he said.

Retirees from other schools include Science Teacher Cheryl Cheifetz, Learning Behavior Specialist Karina Richter, Math Teacher Kirsten Frantom, STEM Teacher Eric Rexer, Associate Renee Greene, and Associate Brenda Wade.

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

25 Years: Human Resources Coordinator Carey Murphy

15 Years: Custodian William Skaggs, Payroll Coordinator Chris Erickson, Bus Driver Aurora Colin, Bus Driver George Martin

10 Years: 5th-Grade Teacher Eliisa Capstick, Psychologist Nicole Walker

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.

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

You are invited to Fifth-Grade Fly-Up! Students will learn about clubs and activities while parents learn about academic programs, daily schedules, and more.

Destination: Daniel Wright Junior High School
Flight: Fifth-Grade Fly-Up Night
Date: Tuesday, May 27
Boarding Time: 6:30 p.m.
Terminal: DWJH Cafeteria
Address: 1370 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire

Students Are Invited Too: Register your fifth-grader for Night Flight. Registration closes at 6 p.m. today, May 22. This year’s student leaders want to give back to other students in other communities by hosting a raffle during Night Flight to support After-School Allstars. This non-profit organization strives to provide free all-encompassing after school and summer programs in Chicago that keep students safe and help them succeed in school and life. DW students will also be selling bowls they painted for the Hungry Bowls projects. All donations for bowls will be donated to a children's hunger and food insecurity charity.

Over the summer, incoming sixth-grade students are being asked to read a book that they will discuss in class when they start at Daniel Wright in August. Please take a moment to review the summer reading lists created by the English Language Arts teachers.

Why does Summer Reading matter? Research shows that students who read consistently over the summer are stronger students during the school year. District 103 is committed to developing strong reading, writing, and thinking skills. We also recommend that students read a variety of material during the summer.

Books are due back to the library no later than Tuesday, May 27.

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

• 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.

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.

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!

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.

Inspirit AI is offering a summer initiative where students collaborate with Ivy League graduates to develop AI projects in robotics, engineering, and computer science. Please visit the Inspirit website to learn more about the program. Students will build research projects such as adapting autonomous vehicles to new environments. Applications for summer are due Friday, May 30.

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.

This summer, lace up your sneakers and get ready to level up your game at BG Hoopers Basketball Skills Camp for boys and girls in fourth- through eighth-grade.

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.

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Principals

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