The second trimester has come to an end and report cards will be available Tuesday afternoon! You can access grades on PowerSchool and will also receive a printed copy. We request you sign the envelope and return as soon as possible. We encourage you to take the time to review the report card with your child and use this opportunity to celebrate their successes and discuss any areas where they can improve. We believe that every student has the potential to succeed, and we are committed to providing a supportive and challenging learning environment. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's grades, please do not hesitate to contact their teacher. We encourage open communication and are here to support your child's academic journey.

School Social Workers are a hard-working group of professionals. They spend much of their work time advocating for others. A simple gesture of appreciation goes a long way to help them feel valued and appreciated. Regardless of how you decide to show thanks to our School Social Workers, the effort and sentiment will be deeply appreciated.

5th graders got to pie Mrs. Murray and Mrs. McNichols in the face for beating their point goal on Khan Academy Mastery Tower Challenge.

March is Women's History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary contributions of women throughout history and in our present day. At John Mills School, we believe it's essential to highlight the diverse achievements and impactful stories of women who have shaped our world. We are committed to providing our students with engaging and educational opportunities to learn about women's pivotal roles in various fields, including science, technology, arts, literature, and social justice.

Reminder: The first week of each month, you will receive a "postcard" like the one in the picture. You may also receive a notice about Chronic Absenteeism. Chronic Absenteeism is when a student misses 10 percent of more of the school year. This is an average of missing one day of school every other week. As you can imagine, missing that much dramatically impacts your child's learning. Please remember that it doesn't matter for what reason your child was absent, even excused absences count towards chronic absenteeism. If there are issues needing further attention, you will hear directly from Assistant Principal, Natalia Gomez, or our partners at West 40 Truancy.

We believe that every day counts. Being present in class allows students to actively participate, learn from their teachers and peers, and build strong academic foundations. We've set a goal of achieving a 95% attendance rate school-wide, and we need your help to reach it! We’ll be tracking attendance closely and celebrating our progress each month. Let's work together to make every day count and achieve our Strive for 95! goal.

The first two weeks of April, all our students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades are required to take the IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness). The Illinois Assessment of Readiness is a statewide assessment that measures students’ academic progress in reading and math. It is important for students to take the exam seriously and to do their best, as the results are used to inform instruction and help schools identify areas where students may need additional support. This is also the measure that is utilized for our Illinois State Report Card.

The tests have different times, but on average take an hour to an hour and a half to complete. There are three Math tests and two English Language Arts tests. We will alternate the content area tests each day, to avoid testing fatigue.

If you would like to learn more about the IAR, please reference this site for sample questions. These questions are arranged by content area and grade level. You are encouraged to visit this site to learn more and become familiar with the grade level expectations.

Daylight Saving Time is starting this weekend. Clocks will set forward an hour beginning at 2:00 a.m. this Sunday, March 9th.

April 1, 2025, is election day and John Mills School is a polling location. As a result, the day has been designated as an E-Learning Day. Please mark your calendars so you can plan accordingly.

This space will be reserved for newsletters crafted by the teachers to keep you informed about what's happening in the classrooms, upcoming events, important dates, learning opportunities, and highlights.

We continue to use this resource as a guide to determine outdoor or indoor recess. Should you have any questions on any given day, please email your student's teacher. Outdoor recess in winter offers valuable benefits for physical health when done safely and with proper preparation and teachers and staff will closely monitor children for signs of cold-related discomfort. Please be mindful of weather conditions when students leave for school in the morning such as: warm outerwear for insulation, hats, gloves/mittens, warm socks, and appropriate winter footwear.

1. Attendance phone number 708-583-6288

2. Attendance email millsattendance@epcusd401.org

Meal prices for the 2024-2025 school year: Breakfast is free; lunch is $3.10

Food service questions can be directed to Ms. Tara Canty at tcanty@questfms.com

Tuesday, March 11th

• Grade 5 Field Trip to Shedd Aquarium 8:45-2:00pm

• PTA Meeting 6:30pm in the Media Center

Wednesday, March 12th

• Popcorn Party for ELs in the cafeteria

• K-2 2:00-2:30

• 3-5 2:30-3:00

Thursday, March 13th

• Theme Thursday - Lucky Day! ShamROCK your Green

• Grades 4 and 5 to EPHS Play 11:50-2:50

Friday, March 14th

• Grade 1 Field Trip to Cernan Space Center 8:55-11:20

Wednesday, March 19th

• PTA Movie Night 6:00-8:30pm

Thursday, March 20th

• Music Concerts: 3rd grade at 4:30 and 4th grade at 5:30

SPRING BREAK MARCH 24th-28th

Phone: 708-452-3560

Email: millsinfo@epcusd401.org

2824 North 76th Avenue, Elmwood Park, IL 60707

School Website

School News & Virtual Backpack

Call: 1-844-4-SAFEIL

Website: Safe2HelpIL.com

Email: HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com