Sept. 4, 2024

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Stay tuned for upcoming events with our District website calendar available here.

• Friday, Sept. 6, and Saturday, Sept. 7: U-46 Job Fair. Details here.

• Monday, Sept. 9: U-46 Board of Education meeting. Details here.
  

• Wednesday, Sept. 11: High School Early Release Day. Details here.

• Tuesday, Sept. 17: Community Advisory Council’s Specialized Student Services Committee meeting. Details here.

• Monday, Sept. 23: U-46 Board of Education meeting. Details here.

• Monday, Sept. 30: Unite U-46 session. Details here.

During the school year, U-46 holds what it calls “Safety Tuesday” every month to test the phones and silent alarm systems located in the main offices of each school building. We schedule these tests for 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of the month, to coincide with the tests of emergency sirens conducted by our local communities.

As part of our commitment to making sure our buildings are a safe and welcoming space for all, we’ll be featuring a safety-related topic in the U-46 Engage newsletter on the first Wednesday of the month. If you have a topic you’d like to see addressed, please send it to our Safety Director via Let’s Talk.

For this month, we are asking parents and guardians to sit down and talk with your children about school safety and expectations in School District U-46. Please stress to them that any threats or inappropriate content shared on social media platforms that affect the school community will be taken very seriously. Whether they write it, text it, snap it, or share it, making a threat of violence has real and serious consequences under the Student Code of Conduct. Potential criminal charges for intentional school safety threats may also include felony charges, according to the Illinois Criminal Statutes

Our school district has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to weapons of any kind on school premises, including lookalike weapons. We also will not tolerate inappropriate behavior such as fights. Our school district is committed to a safe learning environment for all our students and staff.

Come be part of our team at U-46! Discover our employment opportunities this Friday, Sept. 6, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 7, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the U-46 Welcome Center, 1019 E. Chicago St., Elgin.

Find a position that is just right for you and make an impact. U-46 offers full-time and part-time positions with competitive wages, professional development, and opportunities for growth. Here at U-46 we have a place for all.

On-site interviews will be conducted. Direct any questions to humanresources@u-46.org.

Next Wednesday, Sept. 11, will be the first early release day for students in our five comprehensive high schools - Bartlett, Elgin, Larkin, South Elgin, and Streamwood. High schoolers will be dismissed at 1:59 p.m. to allow teachers time for planning and collaboration.

Please note that this schedule change does not apply to elementary or middle school students as well as Dream Academy and Central School students - they will follow their regular dismissal times.

High school students who rely on bus transportation or participate in after-school activities are expected to remain at school until the regular dismissal time of 2:55 p.m. They will be supervised during this period. Students may use this time to complete homework, study, or explore other options offered in the building.

A copy of the 2024-25 school year calendar with all high school early release dates is available at u-46.org/calendar.

The first meeting of the African American Advisory Council this school year is being held in person at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12. The meeting will be in Room 240 of the Educational Services Center, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin.

The theme will be “Parent Empowerment Night,” and attendees will learn about how to connect with their child’s school, the District’s ongoing facilities work, and opportunities such as mentoring programs and the Magnet Academies.

More than 2,000 8th graders and teachers in School District U-46 will participate on Thursday, Sept. 26, in Explore 2024 at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates during the school day. Explore is the District’s annual expo designed to expose 8th grade students to various careers and demonstrate the connection between academic curriculum and future careers.

Parents and guardians of both freshmen and 8th graders are invited to attend the Explore Parent and Family Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25. This event, also at the NOW Arena, will showcase opportunities such as AVID, the Magnet Academies, Dual Credit, Career and Technical Education courses, and more.

We have an update as part of the Unite U-46 process and invite our entire community to join us on Monday, Sept. 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the U-46 Welcome Center, 1019 E. Chicago St., Elgin.

Topics to be discussed include construction of the new middle schools in Bartlett and Elgin, renovations and additions to existing middle schools, and the start of elementary construction projects recently approved by the Board of Education. Attendees will also get a preview of work ahead for this school year, including adjustments to attendance boundaries. Registration is not required, but RSVPing here will be helpful for planning.

Individual and team registration is now open for the upcoming family-friendly 5K being hosted by the U-46 Educational Foundation and the Gail Borden Public Library District Foundation. Together, these two community partners will hold the first ever El Trote De Las Calacas (the Skeleton Trot) as a cultural collaboration and celebration, and you can be part of it!

Team registration allows for a group of four or more to take advantage of a discounted registration price - $25 per person (that’s a $20 discount per registrant). When team members are entered under the multi-person section of the registration form, the discount is applied at checkout.

This 5K event will take place the morning of Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. The starting line will be at the library (270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin), and participants will make their way through the historic northeast neighborhood and along the scenic Fox River.

The race kicks off the Day of the Dead Festival at the library, which will feature a bilingual story time, a presentation of ofrenda elements, face painting, a Mexican lottery, live music, a costume contest, music, food and more.

More details, including the registration form and a route map, are available at gailborden.info/trote.

Calling all high school photographers! The Kane County Student Photography Contest is a 10-week competition hosted by the Kane County Regional Office of Education. This event is designed to recognize and celebrate the talent within the art departments in local high schools as well as the knowledge and support handed down by instructors.

Each week, submitted photos will be reviewed by the Photography Review Committee at the ROE. The top 10 photos will be selected and published on the ROE’s website and social media pages. Interested high school students should talk to an art teacher at their school; teachers have to submit the photos and verify the authenticity of the work.

Each week, Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Johnson shares a message with U-46 employees and community members. You can read the latest message here.

The Board of Education meetings are streamed on the District’s YouTube channel and via Zoom. Written highlights from the meetings, as well as presentations delivered to the Board, can be found here.

Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential service provided by School District U-46 to help locate a provider for mental health care or substance use treatment. It’s available to U-46 students, staff, and their family members. Learn more here.

Visit our U-46 Online Backpack to find information on community events, activities, and resources for our U-46 families and students.