Board Highlights - March 2026

Board Meeting Highlights March 2026   Highlighting Innovation & Connection Takeaways from the most recent Board of Education meeting. John Schroder Early Childhood Center Principal Cathy Angelos shared that she has been a part of D44 early childhood education for 18 years and values the strong relationships built with staff, students, and families. This year around 100 students will be transitioning from John Schroder to kindergarten at many of our elementary schools. The center continues to focus on supporting students and families and building community connections. They do this by hosting family engagement days. The next one is coming up on April. 24th - Zoo to you.     Districtwide Events GEHS, GWMS, & Marquardt Invitational Concert at GEHS on March 12th Jazz Night at GWMS on March 13th Park View Pi Day on March 13th K-8 Early Release Day on March 19th Madison Family Olympics on March 19th Hammerschmidt PTA Talent Show on March 25th Manor Hill All School Field Trip on March 26th Pleasant Lane Open House on April 7th MPA Meeting at GWMS on April 9th D44 Pancake Day on April 11th Board of Education Meeting on April 14th   Meet the Lombard District 44 Board Lombard District 44 is governed by an all volunteer, seven-member Board of Education. These individuals are elected to serve the community. For more information, please click here. Note: This communication should not be viewed as a replacement to the minutes taken at each Board of Education meeting. While we aim to provide critical information about need-to-know topics, all of our stakeholders are encouraged to view the full agenda and minutes from each meeting in order to have a deeper understanding.

Wednesday, Mar 11 2026

Fresh Off the Press! Our February 2026 Newspaper is ...

Our February issue of Let's Connect , District 44's community newspaper, is now available! Every student will receive a copy of the newspaper to take home. You can also view the digital edition HERE , and past issues are available on our  district website . Bringing us all together, each issue has: Stories about students and staff Activities, challenges, games and polls with prizes News from schools and the community We encourage everyone to get involved! Participate in contests, tell us about acts of kindness, share your photos, and help make  Let’s Connect  a true celebration of our District 44 community. Instructions for submitting and participating are included in the newspaper, along with details about all the activities. Participation Opportunities in this Edition include:        (just a few examples!)   Coloring Contest Students can color the ice cream truck in the paper, then turn it in at their school newspaper mailbox. Forever Young - Prop Challenge View the submissions by students and Beacon Hill residents. Then vote for the most clever and creative use of each prop! In the Spotlight Shout out a featured current or alumni student after reading about what makes them shine! Family Photo Challenge  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! Join our parent/child look-alike contest by sharing a picture of you and your child. Let's Make Cents Together Students can complete the activity (primary, intermediate, or advanced) in the paper, then turn it in digitally or in their school newspaper mailbox! STEAM Challenge Design and build something amazing, then submit a photo to see how your creation stacks up against others.

Tuesday, Feb 17 2026

You May Notice New Phone Numbers for ParentSquare Texts

ParentSquare is making a small change to how text messages are delivered. As part of this system-wide update, school text messages will now come from regular 10-digit phone numbers instead of the 5-digit number you may be used to seeing. School messages (teachers, classrooms, and school posts) will come from new 10-digit numbers. District-wide messages and alerts will continue to come from the same 5-digit number. No action is required. You may wish to save new numbers to your contacts when you receive them so you can easily recognize future messages. Thank you for staying connected with us!

Thursday, Feb 12 2026

Board Highlights - February 2026

Board Meeting Highlights February 2026 Key Points Takeaways from the most recent Board of Education meeting. The Board of Education approved the student fees for the 2026-2027 school year. They were happy to share that the district did not increase the fees for next year. Amber Quirk, Regional Superintendent, shared insight into the many programs and services offered by the Regional Office of Education. Some of these services include: Bus Driver Education, Educator Licensing, Truancy Intervention, School Safety Training, Networking, and Collaborative Learning. She also highlighted many of the accomplishments of D44, specifically our partnership with the Dupage Credit Union to support students, staff and families with financial literacy.   Innovative Learning Opportunities Park View Principal Oscar Suarez and Instructional Facilitator Jen Buescher shared an update with the board about ROAR Days. At the start of the school year, students were asked to share which choice-based activities interested them the most. From that feedback, staff developed 22 activities. On early release days, students participate in ROAR Days by rotating through activity stations in grade-level groups (K-2 & 3-5). Fifth grade student leaders and GWMS alumni help guide and support students throughout the day. ROAR Days have created opportunities for student voice, leadership, and connection as well as bringing plenty of joy and smiles along the way.   2026-2027 Student Calendar After discussion at the December and January Board of Education meetings, the student calendar for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year has been approved and is available here on our website. An important item to note is that the school year will begin one week later than in recent years. This start date remains within the recommended window set by the Regional Office of Education and allows the district to accommodate planned summer construction projects. These projects will provide critical updates to multiple buildings and help ensure our facilities continue to support a safe, high-quality learning environment for all students and staff.     District 44's Let's Connect Newspaper Superintendent Stec shared the newest edition of the Let's Connect newspaper with the Board of Education. He highlighted several featured pages, including, "Cute & Cuddly Critters" sharing how fun it is to see the many pets that are a part of the District 44 family. He also previewed the "Forever Young" Prop Challenge, which is sure to bring plenty of laughs to the community. The February issue will be shared with students next week. Copies will also be available at Helen Plum Library and the District 44 Administration Center.   Districtwide Events Madison School Heritage Night on 2/11/2026 Pleasant Lane School Musical on 2/12/2026 Butterfield Open House on 2/12/2026 No School PM - 1/2 SIP Day on 2/13/2026 No School - Presidents Day on 2/16/2026 Park View Around the World on 2/20/2026 Manor Hill Trivia Night on 2/20/2026 GWMS Unified Basketball - Pack the Gym Night on 2/23/2026 Countywide Institute Day - No School for students on 2/27/2026 GWMS Musical - High School Musical Jr on 2/26-2/28/2026 PTA Council Meeting on 3/10/2026 Board of Education Meeting on 3/10/2026   Meet the Lombard District 44 Board Lombard District 44 is governed by an all volunteer, seven-member Board of Education. These individuals are elected to serve the community. For more information, please click here. Note: This communication should not be viewed as a replacement to the minutes taken at each Board of Education meeting. While we aim to provide critical information about need-to-know topics, all of our stakeholders are encouraged to view the full agenda and minutes from each meeting in order to have a deeper understanding.

Thursday, Feb 12 2026

Friday, Feb. 6 - Community Connections Fair! 🎉

Our first-ever District 44  Community Connections Fair is tonight, and we can’t wait to welcome students, families, and staff for an evening of learning, creativity, and connection! 📅 Friday, February 6 🕔 5:00–7:30 PM 📍 District 44 Connect Center This free, family-friendly event features hands-on a ctivities, live shows, community partners, and interactive experiences for all ages. Families can   discover ,   connect , create , and move together throughout the evening. Highlights Include: Live Shows from MAD Science: Fire & Ice and the Traveling World of Reptiles (5:30 & 6:30 PM) STEM challenges, robotics, drones, AI exploration, and engineering activities Art, t-shirt coloring, and creative building experiences Fitness challenges, dance demonstrations, and movement activities Community partners sharing resources, history, and connections 🍕  Order Ahead: Billy Bricks We’re excited to share that Billy Bricks will be at the event! Families can  order ahead of time using this link or scan the QR code pictured. Orders can be placed now and include a selected pickup time. Pickup will be just off the lobby, with volunteers available to help guide you.  Food deliveries will run through 6:30 PM.  The food truck will be on site weather permitting. We look forward to seeing you as we discover ,   connect , create , and move together at the Community Connections Fair! 📅 Friday, February 6 | 🕔 5:00–7:30 PM | 📍 D44 Connect Center

Friday, Jan 30 2026