KSD140 Connection

Wow, I can’t believe we’re already in the third quarter! Together, we've successfully navigated challenges and celebrated numerous accomplishments, and I couldn't be prouder of our collective efforts.

Looking ahead, the remainder of the school year promises fresh opportunities and adventures for us all. Let's embrace each day enthusiastically and be determined to make the most of every moment.

Mark your calendars, as online registration for the upcoming school year opens on April 2. Please keep an eye out for further details and make sure your contact information is up-to-date in Infinite Campus.

In the meantime, the Illinois 5Essentials survey is open until March 29. Survey feedback from parents, staff, and students in grades 4 through 8 offers invaluable insights into the strengths and areas for improvement within our District. Your participation is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your continued support. Together, we're building a stronger and more vibrant school community.

Respectfully,

Dr. Dan Callaghan

Superintendent

At the February 15 Board of Education meeting, Kirby School District 140 officially dedicated their newly renovated board room in memory of former school board member John Mirecki. Mirecki was celebrated for his unwavering dedication and leadership during his 24 years of service to the District.

“Every once in a while, someone special comes along that faithfully serves your community for a long time. That was John,” stated Board President Tom Martelli. “He served with professionalism. He was always fair. He cared about his community and was a guiding light and a mentor to many on the Board.”

A special thanks goes out to the family and friends of Mr. Mirecki, who joined with District administrators, school board members, and staff at the meeting to remember and honor his enduring legacy of service, community engagement, and commitment to education.

D140 parents are invited to an Empowering Parents: Safeguarding Our Kids Online and Offline presentation at Grissom Middle School on Wednesday, February 21, at 6:30 pm.

This parents-only event equips parents with knowledge of the ever-changing digital landscape, emphasizing the need for their guidance in addressing cyberbullying, ensuring internet safety, and tackling the risks associated with smoking and vaping.

A question and answer session with Tinley Park Police officers Detective Rzeszutko, Detective Van Schouwen, and School Resource Officer Sonny London will round out the evening.

Grissom Middle School is located at 17000 S. 80th Avenue, Tinley Park.

Please join us!

Over the upcoming weeks, D140 students, staff, and parents will be given the opportunity to weigh in on school climate and learning conditions by taking the twelfth annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey.

Please click here to take the Illinois 5Essentials parent survey.

This survey assesses a school’s culture and climate and provides insight into strengths and weaknesses on the five key factors that research shows are predictive of school success - effective leaders, collaborative teachers, involved families, supportive environment, and ambitious instruction.

Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child. We must get a 20% parent response rate for our results to be reported.

Thanks for your support!

The D140 Board of Education approved the 2024-25 School Year Calendar at their February 15 meeting.

Highlights include:

• The 2024-25 School Year begins with a Teacher Institute Day on Tuesday, August 20.
• The first day of student attendance for all grades is Wednesday, August 21, 2024.
• Winter Break will begin at the close of school on Friday, December 20, 2024 (Half-Day). Teachers will return for an Institute Day on Monday, January 6, 2025. Students will return on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
• Spring Break will begin at the close of school on Friday, March 21, 2025. Teachers will return for an Institute Day on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Students will return on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
• If no emergency days are used, the last student attendance day will be a Half-Day on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

The school board recognized District 140 Spelling Bee champion Adnan E and finalists Chehada Q. and Cody H. at the February 15 board meeting. Adnan, a seventh-grader from Prairie View Middle School, clinched victory by correctly spelling “jeopardy” at the districtwide competition on January 23. Fourth-grader Chehada Q. from Fernway Park Elementary School came in second, while third-place honors went to Bannes Elementary's fifth-grader Cody H.

Best of luck to Adnan as he represents D140 in the 14th Annual Suburban Cook County ISC Scripps Spelling Bee at Southland Preparatory Charter High School in Richton Park on Wednesday, March 6.

Congratulations to our band and chorus students who participated in Saturday's Illinois Grade School Music Association's (IGSMA) Solo and Ensemble Contest at Liberty Junior High School in New Lenox. Grissom and Prairie View students participated in 87 solo and 21 ensemble events.

District 140 had the highest number of participants, and the vast majority received Division One rankings. A special shout-out goes to Colin B., Sophia D., Alexis L., Gianna O., Katherine O., Ania R., and Ella W. for receiving perfect scores on their respective performances!

The Board also recognized D140's Business Department for winning the Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for the nineteenth consecutive year. The entire team - Michael Andreshak, Jenna Khalil, Tiffany Mullarkey, and Nancy Rittenbacher - was honored for their contributions.

The MBA promotes and recognizes excellence in school budget presentation and enhances school business officials’ skills in developing, analyzing, and presenting a school system budget. After a rigorous review by professional auditors, the award is bestowed only on school districts meeting or exceeding the program’s stringent criteria. Less than one percent of schools nationwide received this honor last year.

View the district’s award and supporting documentation.

More than 100 first and second-grade students at Fernway Park Elementary were surprised with brand-new scooters on Valentine's Day. The surprise came during a Buddy's Helpers presentation about helping others, which coincided with the school's celebration of Random Acts of Kindness Week. Buddy's Helpers is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of sport and teamwork to help people on and off the field. More …

KSD 140 attended the Preschool Fair held at the Tinley Park Public Library on Saturday, February 10. Ms. Nelson, Mrs. O’Malley, and Ms. Phillips met with District families to discuss the benefits of our program.

Preschool registration for the 2024-25 school year begins on Tuesday, April 2.

To learn more, please visit the preschool section of our website.

On Friday, February 9, 140 District 140 middle school students attended Breakthrough at Prairie View. Designed to bring youth, community professionals, and educators together for a fun evening retreat, the program focused on personal and social development, promoted healthy decision-making, and emphasized team building.

"We are so lucky to have the resources to provide retreats like Breakthrough that help the well-being of our students and address real challenges that these kids face,” said teacher Kristin Malinowski. “People of all ages came together to have fun and celebrate our power to make good choices."

"It was an amazing evening."

A special thanks to guest speaker Tim Hannig, “The Pro-Kids Show,” Andrew High School student volunteers, our Grissom and Prairie View students, and D140 teachers and administrators for making Breakthrough a huge success!

Keller, Grissom, and Prairie View Student Councils sponsored annual food drives to benefit the Tinley Park Food Pantry during January and February. Thanks to our students and families for their generous contributions.

• Wednesday, February 21 - Empowering Parents: Safeguarding Our Kids Online and Offline Presentation for D140 Parents - 6:30 pm @ Grissom Middle School
• Monday, March 4 - Casimir Pulaski Day - No School
• Wednesday, March 6 - Music in Our Schools - Concert Band and Chorus Performance - 7:30 pm @ Prairie View Middle School
• Saturday, March 9 - IGSMA Band District Contest - Cadet Band performs at 9:20 am, Concert Band at 10:40 am, and Symphonic Band at 12:00 pm @ Tinley Central Middle School. There is a $2.00 entrance fee.
• Wednesday, March 13 - SWIC Honor Band Rehearsal - 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm @ Conrady Jr. High, Hickory Hills, IL
• Thursday, March 14 - SWIC Honor Band Rehearsal/Concert - 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm @ Conrady Jr. High, Hickory Hills, IL. The concert begins at 7:00 pm.
• Monday, March 18 - Mathletes SWIC Competition - 4:30 pm @ Central Middle School, Tinley Park, IL
• Monday, March 18 - Band Parent Meeting - 7:00 pm @ Grissom Middle School - Band Room
• Tuesday, March 19 - Election Day/Teacher Institute Day - No School
• Wednesday, March 20 - SWIC Declamation Competition - 5:30 pm @ Palos South Middle School, Palos Park, IL
• WEDNESDAY, March 20 - Board of Education Meeting - 7:00 pm @ Administration Building - PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE OF OUR MARCH MEETING
• Monday, March 25 through Friday, March 29 - Spring Break - No School
• Monday, April 1 - Non-Attendance Day - No School

Kirby School District 140

16931 Grissom Drive, Tinley Park, IL 60477

Phone: 708-532-6462

Website: ksd140.org

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