Half Day

Join us in recognizing the incredible work of our school leaders Jill Mau, Principal, and Laura Delagrange, Assistant Principal!

The Illinois Principals Association (IPA) marks Principal Appreciation Day on Friday, Oct. 25, and encourages everyone to #ThankAPrincipal throughout the week from Oct. 20–26.

Our principals are the heart of our schools, working tirelessly to ensure a nurturing, safe, and engaging environment for all. Their passion, dedication, and leadership shape not only our students' futures but the future of our community. We are grateful to have such outstanding leaders guiding us.

“District 103's principals and assistant principals are truly exceptional. Their commitment to our students, staff, and families creates an atmosphere of support, growth, and achievement. We’re fortunate to have leaders who inspire excellence at every level,” said Superintendent Scott Warren.

Let’s take a moment to celebrate these remarkable individuals who empower our students to excel and make a difference in a diverse, interconnected world. Thank you, principals, for your unwavering dedication!

• No School: Friday, Oct. 25, teacher conferences.
  

• Tim Hannig Pro-Kids Show: Monday, Oct. 28.

• 5:30 p.m. for students whose last name begins with A-K.
• 7:15 p.m. for students whose last name begins with L-Z.
• Picture Retake Day: Tuesday, Oct. 29.
• Harvest & Halloween Celebrations: Thursday, Oct. 31.

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.

All Week: Student Council is collecting items for Orphans of the Storm.

Honest Monday: Students are invited to dress in Half Day blue.

Accepting Tuesday: Students are invited to dress in space gear.

Willing Wednesday: Students are invited to dress in neon colors.
Kind-Hearted Kids Thursday: Students are invited to dress in orange or wear a Halloween costume.

HAWKS Friday: Students are invited to wear pajamas.

Thank you to our extraordinary bus drivers, and the rest of our transportation team, who ensure our D103 students make it to school and home safely! We extend our heartfelt appreciation on Bus Driver Appreciation Day, which District 103 recognizes today, Oct. 24. Thank you to our drivers; you are appreciated for your dedication and for always going the extra mile for our students! The district operates and maintains a fleet of 33 buses that travel the district's nearly 12 mile radius.

School Bus Drivers' Appreciation Day falls during National School Bus Safety Week, National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 21-25, which has been set aside to remind people about school bus safety. Please take this time to speak with your bus rider about bus safety precautions.

Half Day School invites families to the FREE Tim Hannig Pro-Kids Show on Monday, Oct. 28.

• 5:30 p.m. for students whose last name begins with A-K.
• 7:15 p.m. for students whose last name begins with L-Z.

The Pro-Kids Show makes connections to classroom learning through award-winning magic, comedy, music, puppets, and audience involvement. Siblings are welcome to attend the show. Tickets are not necessary.

Half Day will celebrate Halloween and Harvest Celebrations on Thursday, Oct. 31. Families whose students participate in the Halloween festivities are welcome to watch the outside parade, weather permitting. Students whose families do not celebrate Halloween are invited to participate in a Harvest Celebration by filling out this Google interest form. Please review the e-notice that was sent to families for details about the parade, parking, and costumes.

Students are invited to participate in Half Day's annual Veterans Day writing contest. Student essays or poems are 200 words or less on the topic, “What does a veteran mean to you?” Typed essays or poems are due to student's teacher no later than Friday, Nov. 1. Two winners will be selected from each grae level.

As part of our Veterans Day recognition, Half Day School is inviting students who have a connection to a veteran or active military member the chance to submit a video interview to be shared with our student body. Please complete this Google form indicating your interest in participating.

Please follow this interview format with video examples included. All video submissions must be received by NOON on Wednesday, Nov. 6, to the attention of teacher Gretchen McLelland at gmclelland@d103.org.

Students who are interested in joining the Yearbook Club should fill out the Google Form Application. Yearbook members are charged with picture taking, page designs, picture layouts, and the overall content of the yearbook. Applications are being accepted through Friday, Nov. 1. The club meets monthly beginning Tuesday, Nov. 19. Selected students will be contacted to register for the club.

Half Day students have the opportunity to participate in a statewide math contest sponsored by ICTM (Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics). Our school will be competing against other Illinois schools. There are individual and team competitions. There are no off-site competitions for ICTM. Scores are submitted virtually after each contest.

• Contests will take place after school until 4:30 p.m. staring the week of November 11 through the week of April 14 on select days below.

• Third- Grade will meet Thursdays on select dates.

• Fourth- Grade will meet Wednesdays on select dates.

• Fifth- Grade will meet Mondays on select dates.

• Team competition promotes cooperation among students.

• Contest questions reflect what students learn in class through the Common Core State Standards.

• The fee is $25 and should be paid on the RevTrak Web Store.

• Registration will close on Monday, Nov. 4. Late registrations cannot be accepted.

If you have any questions, please contact Jaime Gagamov, jgagamov@d103.org, Jami Reed jamireed@d103.org, or Dena Chemers dchemers@d103.org.

Get ready for an evening of thrills, chills, and Halloween fun at the Village of Lincolnshire’s annual Boo Bash! This family-friendly event will take place on Friday, Oct. 25 from 5 to 8 p.m. at North Park, 1025 Riverwoods Rd., Lincolnshire. It’s sure to be a night packed with exciting activities for all ages.

Highlights include a creepy creature presentation, an appearance and performance by the Lincolnshire Bolts, inflatables for kids to enjoy, and even a Haunted Trail for those brave enough to venture through. Families can vote for their favorite Trunk-or-Treat décor or even get creative with pumpkin decorating. Food and drinks will be available throughout the evening, and The Great Boodini will showcase performances as well.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help run our Bags game booth during the Boo Bash event. Volunteers can sign up for 30 minute time slots (or more if you really love games)!

• Sign up to volunteer @ https://bit.ly/D103SignUp

Join D103 PTO Parent Education and other consortium schools to learn specifics on what to do and say to improve family communication and teach your children (of all ages) essential skills for every day. The in-person event takes place from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, Twin Groves Middle School, 2600 Buffalo grove Rd., Buffalo Grove. Registration is not required for this event.

Are you new to the district and looking to connect with fellow parents? Or maybe you're just eager to expand your support circle? Join the PTO’s Newcomers Group for a casual meet-up at Panera Bread in Vernon Hills (447 N Milwaukee Ave Suite 100) on Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Whether you can stay for the entire time or just drop by for a quick chat, it’s a great opportunity to meet new faces and share experiences. We’re excited to welcome all D103 parents – new and returning!

Looking for a way to get involved with the PTO but unsure where to start? We're seeking strong, motivated leaders to chair two key programs—Explore the Arts Day and Grants Lead. These roles require attention to detail and a commitment to enhancing our students' classroom experience. You'll have the opportunity to learn alongside our current leaders, with the goal of taking on the role in the 2025-2026 school year. We'll provide guidance every step of the way!

Interested or have questions? Contact us at vp@d103pto.org today!

Sign up to volunteer ASAP and pick your favorite game or activity!

We rely on our awesome parent volunteers to run the games, hand out food/snacks, set up decorations, etc. Our parent volunteers LOVE this event, and we anticipate these volunteer spaces filling up quickly, so please take a minute to sign up for your preferred activity now.

The Learning Fund Foundation is proudly presenting two Science Shows, "The Magic of Science: Is it Magic or Science or Both?" and "The Weird & Wacky Show: Science Fun, Feats & Facts" performed by Educator, Author and Magician Dennis Reglin on Saturday, Nov. 9. Event registration requested.

Join your fellow costumed candy-lovers at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit on Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm., 30 Riverwoods Rd.

SHS Key Club is hosting its 3rd Annual community wide Trunk or Treat Celebration from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, Lot C.

Please join the Vernon Area Public Library in celebrating its 50th Anniversary on Friday, Nov. 22, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. This after hours, adults-only event is a fundraiser to support the expansion of our MakerSpace and Library of Things, giving us even more opportunities to engage with members of the community. We expect to have Appetizers, Drinks, Desserts, Raffles, Music, Trivia, Games, a Photo Booth and more! To donate or purchase tickets, please visit: VAPLD.info/foundation. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to Samantha Fahndrich at sfahndrich@fvapld.org.

Please take a few minutes to complete the Village of Lincolnshire housing survey. The Village of Lincolnshire, in partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, is undertaking a community survey as part of the Homes for a Changing Region housing planning program. Lincolnshire was selected, along with other local communities, to participate in this program to identify what policies, improvements, and investments may be needed for the Village's housing market. Only one person per household should complete the survey. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, Nov. 8.

Math Carnival is a fun and free event for families with students in grades 3 to 5. Details can be found on the Stevenson Math Team website.

For: Families with children, grades 3-5

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 29

Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Register: This event is free but registration is preferred.

Location: Stevenson High School, West Building

Parking: Lot B off of Half-Day Road (Route 22), Lot E off of Port Clinton Road.

Cost: $0

The Deerfield Family Theater and Park District present Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the weekends of November 15-17 and November 22-24. Tickets are on sale now.

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Principals

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