Communications Correction

We apologize, but there there was a mistake in our recent communications.   Please know, the district office will be  OPEN March 30, 2026 - April 3, 2026.   The district office will be closed on Monday, April 6, 2026.  We apologize for any confusion.  Thank you and have a great spring break.

Friday, Mar 27 2026

Spring Break and Event Reminders

Darien 61 Spring Break and Event Reminders Have a Great Break! Darien 61 Community, we hope you have a wonderful spring break and are able to take some time to relax and recharge. There will be no school from Monday, March 30 through Monday, April 6. School will resume on Tuesday, April 7. We know that the weeks after spring break move quickly and are full of important opportunities to learn and grow. Let's get ready to end the year on a high note!   Event Reminders   Registration Night is Thursday, April 9 Registration for the 2026-27 school year is open and it's time get ready for next school year! We are holding another Registration Night on Thursday, April 9 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Lace School. Staff from all three schools will be on hand to help anyone with registering their child for next school year.  This registration help is not just for new students, but for returning students as well! Maybe you need to bring on your updated residency information, maybe you need help accessing and navigating Skyward, or maybe you just have some questions about next year.  Take advantage of this opportunity to be all set for next year!  Lace and Mark DeLay Paret Fair - Thursday, April 9 Darien 61 will also be hosting an event intended to support your child (and you) this summer with fun and engaging activities, or just making important connections with organizations within our Darien community. The free event will take place on Thursday, April 9 from 4:30-6 p.m. at Lace School We will have a variety of vendors as well as great resources from our very own D61 staff.  Come join us!

Friday, Mar 27 2026

Next Lace Assistant Principal Announced

New Lace Assistant Principal Announcement Welcome Mrs. Sarah Castaneda Dear Darien 61 Community, As we look forward to the next school year, we want to begin by sharing our deepest gratitude for our outgoing Assistant Principal, Mrs. Cross, who will be retiring at the conclusion of this year. We are incredibly thankful for the years of dedication, leadership, and care provided to our students and staff, and we wish her the very best in this well-deserved next chapter of her life. To continue this legacy of excellence, we are thrilled to announce that Mrs. Sarah Castaneda has been selected as our new Assistant Principal Mrs. Castaneda was chosen from a highly competitive pool of over 40 qualified applicants following a rigorous screening and interview process involving teachers, administrators, and district leaders. She is a dedicated, student-centered leader who will be a strong partner in our continued work to support academic growth, student well-being, and a positive school culture. Mrs. Castaneda brings over 18 years of experience in education to our community. For the past 16 years, she has worked closely with students in grades 3-8, transitioning from a classroom teacher to an instructional leader, and currently serves as a Junior High Assistant Principal. Her leadership is guided by a "relationships-first" philosophy, focusing on collaboration, trust, and creating safe, supportive environments where both students and staff can thrive. You can view a letter from Mrs. Castaneda sharing more about her professional and personal life by following this link. Welcome Mrs. Castaneda!

Thursday, Feb 26 2026

Friday Institute Day and No Late Start Tomorrow Remi...

Dear Families, We just want to remind you that this Friday, February 27, 2026 will be a full-day Institute Day. This means NO SCHOOL on Friday. Additionally, since we have an institute day this week, tomorrow, Wednesday, February 25, 2026 will be a normal school day.  NO LATE START TOMORROW,  WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2026.

Tuesday, Feb 24 2026

Darien 61 Community Update, BOE News, and BOE Regula...

Sharing Our Story and Looking Ahead Darien 61 Community, the school year is going by quickly and there is a lot going on in our buildings. We are excited about all of the incredible work that our staff and students are doing each day and wanted to give a few reminders and updates about upcoming items to note. Calendar Reminders This week has a few dates to be aware of: Wednesday, Feb. 25 - is a No Late Start Wednesday so we will see students at regular start times Thursday, Feb. 26 - We will be holding Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday, Feb. 26. Get more information on Winter Conferences Friday, Feb. 27 - There will be no school for students on Friday, Feb. 27 for a staff Institute Day Looking ahead to March, we will be holding IAR testing from March 16-27 for all students in grades 3-8. Spring Break will begin on Monday, March 30 with students returning on Tuesday, April 7. The 2026-27 School Calendar is also approved and available for your future planning purposes! Things will be moving quickly in the coming months and we look forward to more amazing moments happening in our schools. We will be focusing more on sharing the stories of the staff, students, and special connections that happen in Darien 61, and we look forward to creating strong connections Sincerely, Robert Langman Superintendent   Darien 61 BOE Meeting Agenda and BOE News Darien 61 Regular BOE Meeting Agendas The Darien 61 Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The meeting will be held at Mark DeLay School and begin at 7:00 PM. Please use the link below to view the agenda for the upcoming Darien 61 Board of Education meetings. Daren #61 Board of Education ​ Karen Buckels, President Allyson Renell, Vice-President Travis Myers, Secretary Gabriela Ceferin, Member Katherine Fujiura, Member Dana Pavlu, Member Dr. Anthony Ramos, Member Dr. Robert Langman, Superintendent Dr. Kateri Quinonez, Director of Special Education Frank Brendlinger, Chief School Business Official February 24, 2026 Board of Education Regular Meeting Agenda View the Agenda   BOE News from the January 27, 2026 Regular BOE Meeting Click Here for the Agenda   Audience Participation, Communications, Notice, and Announcements Student Spotlight - Lace Student Council Lace Student Council Gives Students a Chance to Serve and Shine At the January Board of Education meeting, the board heard a brief presentation from members of the Lace Student Council. The Lace Student Council, sponsored by Jessica Blessman and Jenny Kirk, has made a meaningful impact on the school community this year through service, leadership, and school spirit. "Being in something like student council is a great opportunity for elementary aged students to develop leadership skills, gain confidence, develop responsibility, and help their community," said Blessman. Students who want to be a part of the council have to put together a speech of the qualities that make them the best candidate and tell how they will be a Lace leader. Candidates practice at home and deliver the speech to class before students hold an election to vote for their class representative. "I wanted to be on Student Council because we do fun things like plant plants, fundraisers like pop tabs, and plan spirit weeks," said council member Ivan Avram. "Last year we got to see a pug and this year if we do well, we can maybe read to students at Mark Delay. These are good things because we are helping the world. Like when we grow plants, we then give them out to the teachers!" Student Council members have organized a food drive to support those in need, read poems at the Veterans Day Assembly, written "Thankful Turkeys" for every Lace staff member, created a Winter Wellness Board, collected pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, and planned engaging school spirit days for students and staff. They also help with assemblies, take part in teacher appreciation activities, hold a sock drive, and find ways to support the community in and outside of the school build. “Student council members are role models by following the 3 we are’s and make sure we are safe, responsible, and kind,” said council member Tyler Hohl. “We help plan fun things for kids to do at school and it's really fun!" Students currently serving on the Lace Student Council are Ivan Avram, Charlie Banks, Sam Barabe, Fiona Berry, Susana Enriquez, Olayinka Faly, Edith Gillmann, Rex Henning, Beckett Hiner, Tyler Hohl, Lorelai Kroll, Victoria Lapczinski, Natalie Loehman, Rylan McNulty, Emma Ramos, Milana Sikka, Olivia Slotwinski, and Alani Welton.   The BOE Approved: Consent Agenda Approval of the Consent Agenda including payment of bills totaling $1,087,708 from the following funds: Education Fund: $179,167.27 Operations and Maintenance Fund: $70,568.13 Debt Service: $825,450.00 Transportation Fund: $12,523.00 The BOE then approved the following: Approval of the 2026-27 School Calendar Approval of a Proposal from CESO Communications Approval of the 2025-26 School Maintenance Project Grant Approval of the First Reading of Suggested Policy Revisions. Closed Session- The Board of Education then moved to Closed Session for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals... 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1).  The BOE Discussed Finance Committee- PMA Bond Account Closed - Dr. Langman stated that this account is officially closed as the bond funds had been used for all proposed work Policy Committee The BOE discussed policy 2.150- Committees together as a whole. The suggested modifications to the policy will be completed and brought for action at the February BOE meeting. Community Engagement Committee- BOE members, Mrs. Buckels, Dr. Ramos and Mrs. Ceferin along with Dr. Langman, participated at the Darien 61 Board Candidate presentation prior to the BOE Regular meeting There were two community members at the presentation This presentation will be held again during the month of September BOE members requested to have another IASB workshop either in July or August Darien District #61 Educational Foundation - Mrs. Pavlu shared the following: Three mini grants were awarded to Mark DeLay and EJH staff Next meeting might be held during the month of February Mrs. Pavlu will stay on the foundation board as a community member Board Report - BOE members appreciate receiving the newsletters from all schools Great time at the Holiday concert held at EJH Music Boosters are holding different events to raise funds for the Nashville trip EJH Girls Volleyball games start on Monday, February 2nd EJH Cheers just finished their season 2nd Grade Musical will be held during the week of February 2nd Future BOE Meeting Considerations-  BOE member, Mrs. Pavlu, shared with the BOE and Dr. Langman that there is a former D61 student that is interested in recording some D61 events as a part time staff. The information will be shared with Dr. Langman Unfinished Business - Dr. Langman shared that the final candidate for the Assistant Principal position at Lace will be announced at the February BOE meeting BOE member, Mrs. Fujiura, asked for any updates in regards to the Administrative Professional position at Lace Dr. Langman will provide more information about the Administrative Professional position at Lace in the coming BOE meetings   Other Community Updates and Information   5Essentials Survey Open Now Share your thoughts! Darien 61 has chosen to provide the optional Parent Supplement survey as part of the 5Essentials Survey. If at least 20% of parents complete this survey, a parent supplement report will also be generated. The parent data will not be reported on the State Report Card. 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. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and select the appropriate survey to begin. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu. Assessment Season Is Here The start of the new year is also a busy time for schools, as it indicates the time of year when our students begin taking a combination of local and State assessments. From now through April of 2026, our students will be taking a variety of assessments in multiple areas. Below you will find the schedule for the State tests our students will be taking. Please reach out to your school office of child's teacher if you have any questions. January 3, 2026 - March 3, 2026- ACCESS Testing- Students in Grades K-8 who qualify for English Language Learning supports. March 16, 2026 - March 27, 2026- Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)- All students grades 3-8. April 7, 2026 - April 30, 2026- Illinois Science Assessment- All students in 5th & 8th Grades.   Updated Long-Term Facilities Plan and 10-Year Life Health Safety Review Planning for the Future of Our Schools Every 10 years, school districts are required to complete a Life-Safety Review. This comprehensive evaluation looks closely at all facilities to ensure our buildings meet current safety and building codes. The review places recommended work into three categories: Category A – Must be completed within 1 year Category B – Should be completed within 5 years Category C – Recommended upgrades that improve learning environments but are not required You can view the slide show that breaks down these costs further with this LINK. District 61 is already addressing items in Category A and planning for Category B improvements to ensure we continue to meet all necessary safety standards. At the same time, we are committed to maintaining high-quality learning spaces for our students and staff. While items in Category C are considered “recommended,” many represent important improvements our schools need — but current funding does not allow us to complete them. Examples include: Brighter, modern classroom lighting Reconfiguration of the Eisenhower entrance and office to enhance school safety Renovation of the Eisenhower locker rooms Playground improvements at Lace and Mark DeLay If the district were to complete all required Life-Safety work along with these recommended and desired projects, the total cost would approach $50 million — far beyond the funding currently available. Because of this, the Board of Education and district leadership are beginning long-term planning now. In the coming months, we will be seeking community input as we explore the best path forward. We value your voice. Together, we can ensure our schools remain safe, welcoming, and equipped to inspire and empower student learing for years to come.   Employment Opportunities in Darien 61 Are you looking for an opportunity to work for a great school district, and have a schedule that works with your child's schedule? From classroom aides, secretaries, bus drivers, or teachers, we are looking for some great people to join our team. Check out our employment opportunities on our website, or by clicking below: https://www.applitrack.com/darien61/onlineapp/ Darien School District 61 7414 Cass Avenue, Darien, IL 60561 630-968-7505 www.darien61.org Inspire and empower each child to realize their full potential.

Monday, Feb 23 2026

2025-2026 5 Essentials Survey

Dear Parent(s) and/or Guardian(s),   We are writing to inform you about a survey that will be administered at your child’s school called the Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.   On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are: Effective Leaders, Collaborative Teachers, Involved Families, Supportive Environments, Ambitious Instruction All teachers and 4th through 8th grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. The survey asks students and teachers about their experiences in school, giving school leaders critical student input to help develop school improvement plans Additionally, our district has chosen to provide the optional Parent Supplement survey. If at least 20 percent of parents complete this survey, a parent supplement report will also be generated. The parent data will not be reported on the State Report Card.   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.   The Illinois 5 Essentials Survey for students will be conducted through March 13, 2026 . The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same time frame. To take the survey please visit   https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/  and select the appropriate survey to begin.   For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit   https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois . If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or  impact-surveys@uchicago.edu .

Friday, Feb 13 2026

Winter Parent-Teacher Conferences

February, 2026 Every year District #61 offers Parent-Teacher Conferences in both the Fall and Winter of the school year. The importance of these conferences is that the home and school can share ideas so that together we can help your child achieve to the best of his/her abilities.  This year Winter conferences are scheduled for the evening of Thursday, February 26, 2026.  The following schedule will be used for all students: Winter Conferences will be held on an “as needed basis”.   If your child’s classroom teacher feels a conference is needed to review your child’s progress, they will reach out to you to set up a time no later than February 19, 2026. Conferences for all grades, Pre-Kindergarten/ECE through 8th-grade, will be held in the evening on Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM.   Lace and DeLay Pre-Kindergarten/ECE through 5th-grade appointments are scheduled every 20 minutes. Your child's teacher will be reaching out to you to schedule a time if they feel it is necessary to meet.  EJH At Eisenhower, parents will be invited to team conferences on an as-needed basis. Team conferences will be 15 minutes long. Please feel free to contact your child's teacher or school office if you have any questions regarding conferences.  

Friday, Feb 13 2026

URGENT: Modified Schedule for Yellow Bus Routes - To...

Dear Parents and Guardians, Due to a temporary staffing shortage, we will be operating on a modified schedule for all Yellow Bus routes tomorrow,  February 13, 2026 . To ensure all students still have a way to get to school, our team has coordinated 'double runs' for tomorrow. Several of our drivers will be covering the Yellow Bus routes immediately after finishing their regular routes. While the Yellow Bus itself will not be in service, your student will be picked up by a different bus at the delayed times listed below.  Please note the specific delays for each school below: Yellow Bus Morning Pick-Up Schedule Please look for the following buses at your stop. Pick-up times will be delayed by the following amounts: EJH Yellow Route: Picked up by the ORANGE BUS ( ~90-minute delay ) Lace Yellow Route: Picked up by the GREEN BUS ( ~60-minute delay ) DeLay Yellow Route: Picked up by the BLACK BUS ( ~30-minute delay ) Attendance Note:  Students arriving late to school due to these delays will not be marked tardy. If you choose to keep your student home due to this schedule change, the absence will be marked as excused . Afternoon Drop-Off Schedule Afternoon drop-offs for Yellow Bus students will also be delayed. Students will be supervised at their schools until the following buses arrive: EJH Yellow Route: ORANGE BUS returns to EJH to pick up students at approximately 3:45 PM  and begins the route. Lace Yellow Route:  GREEN BUS   returns to Lace to pick up students at approximately 4:00 PM and begins the route. DeLay Yellow Route: BLACK BUS returns to DeLay to pick up students at approximately 4:00 PM . and begins the route. Optional Parent Pick-Up/Drop-Off If you prefer to drive your student to or from school tomorrow to avoid these delays, you are welcome to do so.  Please notify the school office i f you choose to provide your own transportation . This is vital so we can update our records and ensure your student does not board the late bus. We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we work to get all students to school safely. Please feel free to contact me or the school office if you have any questions.   Sincerely, Robert Langman Superintendent

Thursday, Feb 12 2026

2026-2027 Approved School Calendar

Dear Darien 61 Community, On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the Darien 61 BOE approved the  2026-2027 School Year Calendar.   You can view the calendar on the district website using this link.   https://www.darien61.org/calendar1 ​

Friday, Jan 30 2026

Half Day SIP Day and No Late Start Reminder

Dear Families, We just want to remind you that this  Friday, January 30, 2026 will be a 1/2 day School Improvement Day (see schedule below) for all students.   As a reminder, since we have a 1/2 day this week, there will be  NO LATE START this Wednesday, January, 28, 2026.   1/2 Day School Hours Eisenhower-  ½ Day School Hours for 6th, 7th, and 8th Grades-  7:50 am - 10:55 am   Lace-   ½ Day School Hours for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grades-  8:20 am - 11:20 am Mark DeLay- ½ Day Hours for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades-  8:35 am - 11:35 am NO SCHOOL for Pre-School/Early Childhood on 1/2 days.  

Monday, Jan 26 2026