Focus on 47

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Click the District 47 calendar below for more information on these events.

January

• Jan. 29: Early Release Day
• Dismissal is 2 pm (grades K-5); 1 pm (grades 6-8); no attendance for PreK.
• Jan. 30: Informational Meeting on 2025-2026 Kindergarten Dual Language Registration
• 6:00-7:00 pm; click here for more details.

• Feb. 3: Kindergarten Registration Opens! Register by March 21 to get a free #KindyReady T-shirt!
• Feb.10: Informational Meeting on 2025-2026 Kindergarten Dual Language Registration
• 9:30-10:30 am; click here for more details.
• Feb. 17: No School; Presidents' Day
• Feb.18: Board of Education Meeting
• Feb. 26: Early Release Day
• Dismissal is 2 pm (grades K-5); 1 pm (grades 6-8); no attendance for PreK.

**The last day of school will be extended to June 2 due to the school closure on January 21. The official calendar will be updated in March to account for any additional school closures.

Kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year opens February 3! Before you register, take a moment to hear from current kindergartners Ella, Isaac, and Frida on the D47 podcast. They share their experiences so far and offer some advice for next year’s new kindergartners. Listen to the podcast, and visit d47.org/registration on February 3!

Attention young chefs! Students in grades 3-5, it’s your chance to submit your favorite main dish recipe for a spot in the 2025 Sodexo Future Chef Competition! Kindergarten-2nd graders, join the culinary fun by entering the coloring contest! Click here for more information.

This month’s Standards-Based Grading update focuses on how effective feedback can highlight progress, strengths, goals, and next steps. Click here for the full update, or visit the Standards-Based Grading page on our website for all communications, resources, and frequently asked questions.

In a separate update this month, the district announced that the full implementation of standards-based grading has been postponed until the 2026-2027 school year. Throughout this process, we have remained committed to taking the time necessary to ensure everyone is fully prepared for the transition. For more information, please refer to the letter emailed to all families last week.

A new page, Math Support & Resources, is available on the District 47 website to support families with information and resources about the new math programs, Bridges in Mathematics for elementary students and Illustrative Mathematics for middle school students. The page offers insights into these programs and provides helpful tools for parents and guardians. We will continue to add and update the page with more details and additional resources.

Looking for a meaningful career? Check out our LinkedIn job postings to discover exciting opportunities in District 47! Each posting includes quotes from our incredible staff, sharing why they love what they do. Hear their stories and see why District 47 is such a great place to work. Visit our LinkedIn today and find your future with us!

The purpose of Faces of D47 is to highlight any individual who serves District 47. We know we have a strong community in our district and want to learn more about the individuals who make District 47 a great place to work, learn, and volunteer. Be sure to check out our most recent posts!

Listen to our podcast episode on bringing multilingual resources to life and hear from Gina Stevens, a Multilingual Learner Teacher at Bernotas Middle School. Gina recently received a national grant to support her classroom and shares how it will empower her students and celebrate their diverse backgrounds!

We recognize the concerns our families and staff may have due to recent changes in immigration policies and the possibility of mass deportations. District 47 is dedicated to keeping our schools a safe, supportive space where all students and staff can focus on learning. Additional information and resources for families are available on the Family Supports page of our website.

View Meeting Agenda

Meeting Highlights

• The Board approved the Vision 2030 resolution
• Strategic Plan Update- The District would like to publicly thank the members of the Strategic Planning Committee. The team was comprised of parents/community members, staff/admin, board members, and middle school students. While the members were selected from those who applied to be on the Strategic Planning Committee from a survey conducted in the fall of 2024, measures were taken to have building representatives spread out across the different tables for diverse representation and conversation throughout the process. We would also like to thank everyone who responded to the surveys to provide feedback.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at CORE Center (300 Commerce Dr., Crystal Lake) and virtually via Zoom.

This board update is a summary that includes brief highlights of selected topics and items from the meeting. This summary is not meant to replace minutes. The minutes for each meeting are approved and posted after the next regularly scheduled meeting. The complete Board packet of information, including presentations and reports, is available online.