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  • Cass63 Connections 1.15.26

    Cass63 Connections Thursday, January 15, 2026 Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, The safety of our children is our biggest priority, and nothing matters more to our Board of Education, administration, and staff. In fact, the first of our six Core Beliefs and Values is the health, safety and welfare of our students and staff must never be compromised and will always come first. Those are powerful words that we obviously take seriously, and our goal is having safety and security fully embedded in not only our procedures, but our school and district culture. As part of this effort when it comes to proactive violence prevention, our Board has invested significant resources into the physical security of our buildings. Our administrators are trained as trainers for both educators and law enforcement in a program designed for a high level crisis response. And of course, the most important part of this is our close working relationship with the Darien Police Department. In a crisis, they will be here and ready to take any action necessary to keep our students and staff safe as well. As part of that ongoing relationship and team effort, Deputy Chief Austin Jump joined me and our building administrators at the January 5 Institute Day for training our staff to proactively respond to a threat or crisis. The details of this is something we keep internal, but as I share with the staff, there is nothing more important than everyone always being aware and vigilant at all times. If anyone - students, parents, or staff - sees (or feels) something, then you have to say something. We don't care what it is, but if there is a potential or implied threat, then we will address it, every time without exception. My purpose in sharing this is to remind everyone of the shared responsibility that we all have in knowing what is taking place in our schools and greater community, as well as in our own households, on social media, and on the web. In hindsight, a high percentage of acts of mass violence were found to be preventable had the person(s) with knowledge shared this before it was too late. With everyone remaining aware and vigilant, we have a much better chance of addressing a threat, before it becomes a crisis. As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns, and thank you for doing your part to help keep our children, schools, and community safe. Mark R. Cross, Superintendent   Early Release Day January 16 Friday, January 16 is an early release day for school improvement. Concord will be released at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m. Also, there is no school on Monday, January 19 in honor of Martin Luther King's birthday.   The school district has received complaints about speeding through our school neighborhoods during drop off and pick up times. We have students who are walking to school, and some of those routes don't have sidewalks. Out of respect for our neighbors, and for the safety of our children, please remember to adhere to posted speed limit laws. Everyone appreciates your assistance and cooperation.   Cass Wax Museum Open January 16 The second annual Wax Museum will be open for parents of students involved at Cass Junior High School on January 16 from 11:00-11:45 a.m. Don't miss our kids brining history to life!   Save the date! Kindergarten Round Up is Thursday, April 9, at 6:00 p.m. If you have a child turning five on or before September 1, 2026 and live within the boundaries of Cass School District 63, please see this flyer for important information regarding Kindergarten registration.   As part of Concord Elementary’s social-emotional learning curriculum, students will be participating in Erin’s Law lessons. Erin’s Law is a state-mandated, age-appropriate child safety education program designed to help students understand personal boundaries, recognize safe and unsafe situations, and identify trusted adults to whom they can turn for help. Please review this letter from Concord Principal Katie Doyle for more information on this important program.   Girls Volleyball Tryouts Cass Junior High is holding girls volleyball tryouts on January 26 and 28. See the link for more details, and contact Coach Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org with questions.   Congratulations to Hinsdale South student Boston Desmond for being named an All State Musician for percussion.   Lunch menus from our partner Just A Dash Catering are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks, and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Please note that no pork products are ever served in our schools. Even pepperoni and ham is made from turkey. Please contact us if have any questions.   Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or courtesy to interested families. Darien Garden Club Sprouts Reptile Show Darien Woman's Club Creative Youth Art Fair GPS Parent Series: A Parent's Guide for Flourishing Families GPS Parent Series: Empowered Athletes - Fostering Confidence for Peak Performance   Important Dates to Remember For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar. January 16 Early Release Day - Concord at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00 January 19 No School - Martin Luther King Holiday   Cass School District 63 • 8502 Bailey Road • Darien, Illinois 60561 331-481-4000 • www.cassd63.org Follow us at 

    Thursday, Jan 15 2026

  • Cass63 Connections 1.8.26

    Cass63 Connections Thursday, January 8, 2026 Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, Happy New Year! First, I would like to share some incredible news about our D63 graduates. Illinois State Scholars were recently announced and for those of you not familiar, it is basically the top 10 percent of all high school seniors who "demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and strong potential for college success." Students are selected based on a combination of ACT or SAT scores, unweighted grade point average, and class rank at the conclusion of their junior year. Our Cass Junior High School Class of 2022 had 77 total graduates and of those, we had an incredible 17 current seniors at Hinsdale South earn the Illinois State Scholar distinction. This is 22 percent of our graduates in this year's senior class, which is more than double what is expected in a given year. There are likely more as this does not account for our graduates who attend other public or private high schools who may also be Illinois State Scholars. The names of ours at Hinsdale South are shared below under Alumni Accolades. Congratulations to our graduates, their parents, and our D63 teachers and staff! Now, some sad news. The Illinois Department of Public Health recently announced the first pediatric death of the current flu season in Illinois. Illinois is one of at least 45 states reporting "high or very high" flu levels. As of this past week, 9 child deaths had been reported nationally. The only thing more tragic than the loss of a child is when the death was preventable, and there is no more effective tool to prevent influenza-related illness, hospitalization, and death than proper vaccinations. Anyone can become ill, but outcomes are overwhelmingly better when vaccinated. Of course this is up to any parent to decide what is best for your child, but if you have not yet discussed this with your child's pediatrician or family physician, please do so. As long as this is a potential seasonal risk, we will monitor our absence rates and welcome any insight from parents as to any symptoms or a diagnosis you think would be helpful for us to know. Our goal is always to be as proactive as we can possibly be when it comes to the health and safety of our children. Thank you! Mark R. Cross, Superintendent   8th Grade Information Night January 8 On January 8, there is an 8th Grade Information Night at Hinsdale South High School for families of incoming freshmen for the 2026-2027 school year. The night begins at 6:00 pm at the Activities and Athletic Fair (Fieldhouse), followed by a high school presentation in the Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Please park in the Elm Street lot and enter through Door 9 near the gymnasium. On January 13, meetings for course selection will be conducted via Zoom for all 8th graders attending Hinsdale South. Parent will receive email notification from Hinsdale South to join remotely. Students will join the meeting from school.   As part of Concord Elementary’s social-emotional learning curriculum, students will again participate in Erin’s Law lessons this year. Erin’s Law is a state-mandated, age-appropriate child safety education program designed to help students understand personal boundaries, recognize safe and unsafe situations, and identify trusted adults to whom they can turn for help. Please review this letter for more information on the program.   8th Grade Graduation Picture Day January 12 8th Grade Graduation Picture Day is on Monday, January 12. Students should come to school dressed up and ready for pictures. They may bring clothes to change into after pictures have been taken. No money is due at this time. Proofs will be sent to the school and sent home to parents for an opportunity to order pictures. If you have any questions, please contact the Cass Junior High office at 331-481-4000, extension 2.   Cass Wax Museum January 16 The second annual Wax Museum will be open for parents of students involved at Cass Junior High School on January 16 from 11:00-11:45 a.m. Don't miss out on this wonderful event!   Trivia Night Tickets on Sale! Trivia Night tickets now on sale! Visit the CARE Shop so you don’t miss out on the biggest night of the year. So much fun and all proceeds go back to our schools!   We currently have a teacher assistant position available at Concord Elementary School. For more information or to apply for current vacancies, here is the application and information.   New Instagram Page is Here! Cass 63 has a new Instagram page, which joins our Facebook as the other half of our social media communications. If you don't already, please be sure to give them both a follow!   Concord Hosting After School Theater Program Ready to defeat the darkness and own the spotlight? 🎶⚔️ BAMtheatre is heading to Concord this spring with an after-school adventure that’s bursting with K-pop energy and unstoppable heroes! Step into the world of K-pop Demon Hunters, where music meets magic and courage shines brighter than any spotlight. In this session, students will sing, dance, and act through thrilling numbers inspired by the hit story, mixing bold choreography, epic showdowns, and warrior-worthy confidence! Classes begin on Thursday, March 19, and each week features exciting theatre games, performance training, and rehearsals—leading up to a final showcase for friends and family to enjoy. Spots disappear faster than a beat drop—so don’t wait to join the squad! 💜 Registration opens February 2nd for this after school program at Concord. Please see this flyer for more details.    Congratulations to Hinsdale South students recently named Illinois State Scholars for the 2026-27 academic year: Syed Ali, Jenna Alkhudari, Gerald Bauer, Jackson Bauer, Jacob Borowski, Antonio Bosiljanov, Elliot Davis, Boston Desmond, Casey Johnson, Eva Joseph, Teressa Jane Louis, Taylor Mazur, Ayman Najjar, Asmitha Pallath, Rayyan Qureshi, Cody Splingaire, and Anna Wilcox. We are so proud of these Cass 63 alums on this prestigious achievement!   Lunch menus from our partner Just A Dash Catering are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks, and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Please note that no pork products are ever served in our schools. Even pepperoni and ham is made from turkey. Please contact us if have any questions.   Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or courtesy to interested families. GPS Parent Series: Guiding Teens to Develop Independence and Coping Skills Rotary Club of Darien Trivia Night   Important Dates to Remember For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar. January 16 Early Release Day - Concord at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00 January 19 No School - Martin Luther King Holiday   Cass School District 63 • 8502 Bailey Road • Darien, Illinois 60561 331-481-4000 • www.cassd63.org Follow us at 

    Friday, Jan 09 2026

  • Cass63 Connections 12.18.25

    Cass63 Connections Thursday, December 18, 2025 Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, As we shared with our school community earlier this week, the Board of Education approved Dr. Travis McGuire as our next superintendent. The Board ran an excellent search and found a fantastic human being to serve as the next leader of D63. Personally, I could not ask for a better person to collaborate on the transition, and eventually hand over the reins at the end of June. Dr. McGuire is a child-centered leader, an excellent communicator, and he checks every box of the characteristics the Board was seeking based on the feedback from our parents, staff, and community. While it is certainly bittersweet to leave a district, people, and role that I love, it helps knowing a great person will be here to take the district from here to the next level. Help us spread the word as we are looking for a teacher assistant at Concord! It is a parent friendly schedule for the right person. Also, be sure to sign up for Trivia Night! Registration information is below. It is hard to believe winter break is here. On behalf of all of us in D63, I wish you and your families safe travels, some wonderful time together, and a great holiday! Mark R. Cross, Superintendent   Friday, December 19 is an early release day with Concord being released at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00. The close of the school day marks the start of winter break. There is no school for students until Tuesday, January 6, and the next Connections will be sent out on January 8. We wish you a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends!   Holiday Week Happenings As we look forward to our upcoming winter break, classes are full of learning and a little extra fun. Please enjoy these pictures from this fun week and here is a fun holiday wishes video from the Cass Junior High staff. Please be sure to check back on the photo link as we will continue to add pictures through the end of the week.   At the December 16 meeting, the Board approved Dr. Travis McGuire as the next superintendent, reviewed the 2025 Illinois School Report Cards, and approved the 2025 tax levy. For more information on the meeting, here are the Board Briefs.   Kindergarten Travels Around the World Each year, kindergarten students create a paper passport, and we use the globe along with many Google Slides presentations to take pretend "trips" learn about families, holidays, and traditions around the world. Parents are invited in to show and share about their own cultures, including flags, locations, food, clothing, holidays, etc. We stress the importance of learning about other cultures even if they are different from our own, because that is how we can learn about and understand other people around us.   Teacher Assistant Needed at Concord We have a teacher assistant position available at Concord Elementary School. For more information or to apply for current vacancies, here is the application and information.   Winter weather is here, which brings up the potential need to cancel school and move to an e-learning day. This is a decision that is not taken lightly and if we do move to e-learning, parents will be notified via ParentSquare, on the district homepage, and on Facebook. If in-person instruction is canceled, the district will follow our e-Learning Plan for virtual instruction. Please review the plan in advance to understand the expectations, and more details are available at our school closing information center.   2nd Grade Advanced Math Finds an Escape Mrs. McElligott's 2nd grade advanced math students did a fantastic job solving logic riddles and math puzzles to escape the virtual Gingerbread Escape Room! They are some awesome mathematicians and smart cookies!   5th Grade Creates Musical Instruments Ms. Stanfa’s general music students are showing off the recycled instruments they built this week!   New Instagram Coming Soon! Cass 63 will have a new Instagram page starting on January 1. Please be sure to follow our page to get updates about what is happening in the District!   Second Annual Cass Junior High Wax Museum The second annual Cass Junior High Wax Museum will be be open for business on January 16 from 11:00-11:45 a.m. Don't miss out on this wonderful event!   8th Grade Graduation Picture Day January 12 8th Grade Graduation Picture Day is on Monday, January 12. Students should come to school dressed up and ready for pictures. They may bring clothes to change into after pictures have been taken. No money is due at this time. Proofs will be sent to the school and sent home to parents for an opportunity to order pictures. If you have any questions, please contact the Cass Junior High office at 331-481-4000, extension 2.   Trivia Night Tickets on Sale! Trivia Night tickets now on sale! Visit the CARE Shop so you don’t miss out on the biggest night of the year. So much fun and such a good cause!   Chess Classes at Concord Register now for Winter Chess for students in grades 2-4 before the class fills up. Class is held in the Concord multipurpose room from 2:45-3:45 pm starting on Thursday, January 8, and going through March 12.   Congratulations to Hinsdale South Science Olympiad students who medaled at the recent Neuqua Valley Invitational: Rayyan Qureshi, Shahmeer Ali, Jacob Borowski, Antonio Bosiljanov, Cash Hipskind, Eva Joseph, Yacine Ouchen, Amir Haque, Yunus Hussain, Nora Schaffer, and Ally Tagudar.   Lunch menus from our partner Just A Dash Catering are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks, and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Please note that no pork products are ever served in our schools. Even pepperoni and ham is made from turkey. Please contact us if have any questions.   Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or courtesy to interested families. GPS Parent Series: Simple Truths for Greater Happiness   Important Dates to Remember For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page. December 19 Early Release Day - Concord at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00 December 20 to January 5 Winter Break! No School for Students January 5 No School - Staff Institute Day January 6 School Resumes   Cass School District 63 • 8502 Bailey Road • Darien, Illinois 60561 331-481-4000 • www.cassd63.org Follow us at 

    Friday, Dec 19 2025

  • Cass SD 63 Welcomes Dr. Travis McGuire as Superinten...

    Cass School District 63 Dr. Travis McGuire Named Superintendent Message sent on behalf of President Lana Johnson and the Cass 63 Board of Education. Dear Cass School District 63 Community, The Cass School District 63 Board of Education is pleased to announce that on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the Board selected Dr. Travis L. McGuire as the next Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2026.   Dr. McGuire will succeed Mr. Mark R. Cross, who is retiring at the conclusion of the 2025–2026 school year after six years of dedicated service as Superintendent of Schools.   The Board of Education conducted a comprehensive and inclusive search process, engaging school families, staff, students, community leaders, and members of the broader community. Feedback gathered through this process informed the development of a leadership profile that guided the evaluation of nearly 70 applicants for the Superintendent position.   “The Board of Education is deeply grateful to the many individuals who contributed their time and perspectives throughout this important process,” said Lana Johnson, President of the Board of Education. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. McGuire to Cass School District 63. He brings significant experience, a strong instructional background, and a collaborative leadership style that will serve our District well.”   Dr. McGuire brings 27 years of experience as a highly effective educator and school leader. He served for ten years as Superintendent of Schools for Hinckley-Big Rock Community Unit School District 429 and most recently has spent three years as Assistant Superintendent in Downers Grove Community High School District 99.   Dr. McGuire earned his Bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and both his Master’s degree and Doctorate in Education from Western Illinois University. In addition to his leadership roles in K–12 education, he currently serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Aurora University, where he teaches school finance. "I am honored and humbled by the Board of Education’s confidence in me as the next Superintendent of Cass School District 63.” said Dr. McGuire. “I am grateful for the strong foundation and positive culture established under the leadership of Mark Cross, and I am excited to learn from the people who bring that culture to life each day. As I transition into this role, my priority will be to listen, learn, and understand the voices of students, staff, families, and the community, and then lead in a way that thoughtfully builds on that foundation. I look forward to leading with purpose and care as I officially begin serving the Cass School District 63 community on July 1, 2026." Cass School District 63 • 8502 Bailey Road • Darien, Illinois 60561 331-481-4000 • www.cassd63.org

    Wednesday, Dec 17 2025

  • Cass63 Connections 12.11.25

    Cass63 Connections Thursday, December 11, 2025 Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, We had a packed house tonight for our annual Winter Band Concert at Cass Junior High School, and it was incredible. Our kids are so talented and they could compete with any big high school band! Band teacher Daniel Murphy even stepped aside to let the amazing Jazz Band direct themselves and show the big crowd in attendance what they could do all on their own. Needless to say, they did not disappoint! Fine arts and our music program is actually one of the things that we are most proud of in District 63. Our kids also make up a huge part of the music and performing arts program at Hinsdale South, and that is no accident. Of course, this amazing sound would not happen without an amazing teacher, and Mr. Murphy is one of three on our staff who makes this magic happen, along with Concord Elementary music teacher Kali Sheldon and Cass Junior High chorus teacher Gretchen Stanfa. These three talented educators replaced three legends and the bar was set high. When we are hiring new teachers, we take this very seriously. So even though they have only been in the school district three, two, and one years respectively, I am 100 percent confident that we have landed the best three teachers to continue to take our music program to new heights. I'm so proud to work in a school district and community that values music and fine arts as ours does in Cass 63. As Mr. Murphy shared this evening, we truly appreciate our parents and the sacrifices you make to give your talented kids the opportunity to be part of such a positive program. Thank you! Mark R. Cross, Superintendent   Cass Students Excel in Indian Prairie Write-On Contest The Indian Prairie Library Write-On Contest received over 150 entries in its annual competition this year, and four Cass students were selected for various honors atop their respective categories! Matteo Vitagliano (8th grade) and Gaby Bastin (6th grade) won their grade level short story contests, and Zach Adams (7th grade) and Lukas Pazemeckas (5th grade) won their grade level poetry contests. We are so proud of their fantastic work and feel that these writers have a tremendous literary future!   Cass Junior High Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures The safety of our students and staff is a top priority. Lately we have noticed parents stopping along Bailey Road to drop their children off. We understand that you may be in a hurry, but please don't sacrifice safety by making this choice. Additionally, students are being dropped off and picked up in the parking lot of the Carmelite Village which is not ours and it is not public. Please be courteous of their space and do not use it for this purpose. To ensure the safety of all, we ask that you utilize the designated car rider line to drop off and pick up your students. Please contact the Cass Junior High Office with any questions.   8th Grade Graduation Picture Day January 12 8th Grade Graduation Picture Day is on Monday, January 12. Students should come to school dressed up and ready for pictures. They may bring clothes to change into after pictures have been taken. No money is due at this time. Proofs will be sent to the school and sent home to parents for an opportunity to order pictures. If you have any questions, please contact the Cass Junior High office at 331-481-4000, extension 2.   This week we are shining the spotlight on two of our district office staff members, Gayle Wilson and Deb Dolehide. These two professionals are an integral part of school district operations, and their jobs cover many roles that require multiple people in many other organizations. Gayle is the District Administrative Assistant, as well as the Recording Secretary for the Board of Education. Gayle is involved with many aspects of running the district office and involved with day to day operations as the right hand to the superintendent. Among many other things, Gayle is involved with district communications, web development, the lunch program, managing all school board files and records, is the liaison to multiple outside organizations, and serves as the district's FOIA officer. Gayle has served in this role for an incredible 22 years. Deb serves as the Director of Fiscal Services and also has a multi-faceted and comprehensive role. In addition to working closely with the superintendent on the day to day financial management and operations of the school district, she is also involved with the annual budget, financial audit, investment management, and human resources. She also oversees and is actively involved with payroll, accounts payable, employee insurance and benefits, as well as the district's property, casualty, and worker compensation program. Deb has served faithfully in this role for the past 21 years. Deb Dolehide and Gayle Wilson are a big part of why our school district runs so efficiently and effectively, and it could not operate without them. With 43 years of experience between these two individuals, Cass School District 63 is very fortunate to have their experience and dedication working for our students, staff, and community every day.   Junior Chorus Front Row Raffle Don't miss your chance at front row seats for the upcoming junior chorus concert! Visit the CARE Shop to purchase your raffle tickets soon.   Chess Classes at Concord Register now for Winter Chess for students in grades 2-4 before the class fills up. Class is held in the Concord multipurpose room from 2:45-3:45 pm starting on Thursday, January 8, and going through March 12.   Trivia Night Tickets on Sale! Trivia Night tickets now on sale! Visit the CARE Shop so you don’t miss out on the biggest night of the year. So much fun and such a good cause!   Congratulations to Hinsdale South student Elias Varesis for winning Best Delegate (Minister of Defense, USSR) at the 22nd Annual Chicago International Model UN Conference. Amazing!   If your child is missing any items that you think may have been left behind in school, please be sure to have them check the lost and found prior to Thursday, December 18. All items still unclaimed by the end of the school day on December 19 will be donated. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school office.   Lunch menus from our partner Just A Dash Catering are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks, and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Please note that no pork products are ever served in our schools. Even pepperoni and ham is made from turkey. Please contact us if have any questions.   Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or courtesy to interested families. GPS Parent Series: Supporting Your Child's Mental Health Journey   Important Dates to Remember For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page. December 19 Early Release Day - Concord at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00 December 20 to January 5 Winter Break! No School for Students January 5 No School - Staff Institute Day January 6 School Resumes   Cass School District 63 • 8502 Bailey Road • Darien, Illinois 60561 331-481-4000 • www.cassd63.org Follow us at 

    Friday, Dec 12 2025

  • Cass63 Connections 12.4.25

    Cass63 Connections Thursday, December 4, 2025 Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, Cold weather is here! Please make sure your kids are bundled up, especially the little ones. We prefer to keep recess at Concord outside as much as possible so that children get fresh air and a chance to play. There is far less opportunity for meaningful activity for indoor recess, so we appreciate your assistance in planning accordingly. There are some big events coming up! This includes Trivia Night on February 20, and tickets go on sale next week. Also, our Second Annual Multicultural Celebration will be held on April 17. More details on both of these events will be coming soon. Stay warm! Mark R. Cross, Superintendent   Cass Students Selected to Perform with ILMEA On November 20, 8th grader Dexter Davis and 7th Grader Nina Calo were selected to participate in ILMEA District 1 Festival at Unity Junior High in Cicero. These two Cass students auditioned and were accepted into this honors band and represented our school with dignity and prestige. Congratulations, Dexter and Nina!   STEM, Bubbles, and 3D Printing Over the past few weeks, our first graders have been hard at work completing a 3D-printing bubble wand project in STEM class. There are pictures of the kids enjoying the fun from their learning under the link. Students tested different bubble wands, observing the sizes and shapes of the bubbles they created. Together, they identified the good design traits, including a large closed shape, connected parts, no coloring in holes, and a sturdy structure. Using what they learned, each student designed their own custom bubble wand, which was then 3D printed. Thank you to Miss Ruiz for leading such a fun and creative STEM experience for our students!   This week we are shining the spotlight on Sally Oakes, our permanent substitute at Concord. Sally truly embodies what it means to go above and beyond. She is amazing with both students and staff, always bringing a positive attitude, a warm smile, and an unwavering willingness to help wherever she’s needed. Sally’s selflessness and commitment shines through in everything she does. Recently, she took it upon herself to improve our school grounds by spending time after hours weeding an area that had become an eyesore. Without being asked, she brought her own tools and supplies to make our school beautiful. This simple but meaningful act perfectly captures who Sally is as a person who doesn’t just notice what needs to be done, but steps up to make things better for everyone. Sally’s kindness, initiative, and dedication make her an invaluable part of the Concord team. Thank you, Sally!   Chess Team Tryouts Cass Junior High Chess team tryouts are December 10 and 11. Please see this flyer for more information.   Spirit Wear Sale Through December 7 Last Call for new spirit wear just in time for the holidays! New Cass and Concord flannel pants and ornaments available for purchase through December 7.   Front Row Raffle Don't miss your chance at front row seats for the upcoming winter band and junior chorus concerts! Visit the CARE Shop to purchase your raffle tickets.   Dine to Donate at Culvers December 11 This month's Dine-to-Donate is Thursday, December 11 at Culvers. 15 percent of all dine-in or takeout orders come back to CARE and D63!   Save the Date - 2026 Trivia Night! Save the Date for Trivia Night, which is scheduled for February 20, 2026. Stay Tuned for more details. Tickets go on sale December 11!   Lunch menus from our partner Just A Dash Catering are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks, and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Please note that no pork products are ever served in our schools. Even pepperoni and ham is made from turkey. Please contact us if have any questions.   Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or courtesy to interested families. GPS Parent Series: Finding and Getting Into the College That's Right for You Darien Garden Club Winter Solstice Celebration Darien Garden Club Sprouts New Year Kick-Off Celebration   Important Dates to Remember For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page. December 19 Early Release Day - Concord at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00 December 20 to January 5 Winter Break! No School for Students January 5 No School - Staff Institute Day January 6 School Resumes   Cass School District 63 • 8502 Bailey Road • Darien, Illinois 60561 331-481-4000 • www.cassd63.org Follow us at 

    Thursday, Dec 04 2025

  • Cass63 Connections 11.20.25

    Cass63 Connections Thursday, November 20, 2025 Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, We will be hosting parent-teacher conferences on Monday and Tuesday, and our teachers look forward to meeting with you! You should be all set with the times with your child's teachers at both schools, and all we ask is for everyone to be mindful of the schedule since there are parents coming in (or online) right behind you for their conference time as well. Thank you! Winter weather is here, which brings up the potential need to cancel school and move to an e-learning day. This is a decision that is not taken lightly and if we do move to e-learning, this will be announced either the day prior or the morning of the cancellation. If the decision is made in the morning, it will be announced no later than 6:00 a.m. whenever possible. Parents will be notified via ParentSquare, on the district homepage, and on Facebook. If in-person instruction is canceled, the district will follow our e-Learning Plan for virtual instruction. Please review the plan in advance to understand the expectations, and more details are available at our school closing information center. Thank you for your understanding as we head into winter, and please contact the district or school office or your child’s teacher if you have any questions. There will be no Connections next week with the holiday. We have so much to be thankful for in D63! Travel safely, enjoy the time with your families and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Mark R. Cross, Superintendent   No School November 24 - November 28 There is no school next week due to Parent-Teacher Conferences on Monday and Tuesday and Thanksgiving Break Wednesday through Friday. We sincerely wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!   Cass Students Excel at Annual Write-On Competition Indian Prairie Public Library received over 150 entries in its annual Write-On competition this year, and four Cass students were selected for various honors atop their respective categories! Matteo Vitagliano (8th grade) and Gaby Bastin (6th grade) won their grade level short story contests, and Zach Adams (7th grade) and Lukas Pazemeckas (5th grade) won their grade level poetry contests. We are so proud of their fantastic work and feel that these writers have a tremendous literary future!   2nd Grade Puts on a Great Performance Our 2nd grade students put on a great show at their music concert last week. Led by music teacher Kali Sheldon, our students did an amazing job singing and performing!   At the November 18 meeting, the Board of Education recognized members of the boys' cross country team (pictured below with Board President Lana Johnson and coaches Scott Kondraschow and Sarah Leganski) for their excellent season, considered the tentative property tax levy, reviewed the fiscal year 2025 audit, and discussed school report card proficiency and benchmarks. Please review the Board Briefs for more details from the meeting.   Thank You for Supporting Our Veterans! Thank you for your participation in the donation drive for the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. Cass Junior High was able to donate over 500 items! Also, thank you for your help in providing information regarding veterans and their experiences. Our 7th grade students were able to engage in a meaningful learning experience with writing these letters. The support of our Veterans is greatly appreciated!   Save the Date - 2026 Trivia Night! Save the Date for Trivia Night, which is scheduled for February 20, 2026. Stay Tuned for more details. Tickets go on Sale December 8th!   Spirit Wear Sale Through December 7 Shop new spirit wear just in time for the holidays! New Cass and Concord flannel pants and ornaments available for purchase through December 7th.   Save the Date! Multicultural Celebration April 17 We will be hosting our second annual Multicultural Celebration on the evening of Friday, April 17, 2026. Like last year's very successful event, our purpose is to celebrate and learn about the diverse backgrounds and cultures of our families, to promote family engagement and involvement, and to foster appreciation for the diverse cultures that make up our incredible community. Please save the date to attend, and also consider ways that your family can participate. At a later date, we will send out a proposal submission for any family interested in sharing about their cultural heritage. One way or the other, we look forward to seeing you there!   Lunch menus from our partner Just A Dash Catering are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks, and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Please note that no pork products are ever served in our schools. Even pepperoni and ham is made from turkey. Please contact us if have any questions.   Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or courtesy to interested families. GPS Parent Series: The School-Parent Partnership GPS Parent Series: Managing Your Emotions So They Don't Manage You Free Thanksgiving Dinner at Parkview Community Church   Important Dates to Remember For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page. November 24 and 25 No School - Parent Teacher Conferences November 26-28 No School - Thanksgiving Break December 19 Early Release Day - Concord at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00 December 20 to January 5 Winter Break! No School for Students January 5 No School - Staff Institute Day January 6 School Resumes   Cass School District 63 • 8502 Bailey Road • Darien, Illinois 60561 331-481-4000 • www.cassd63.org Follow us at 

    Friday, Nov 21 2025

  • Cass63 Connections 11.13.25

    Cass63 Connections Thursday, November 13, 2025 Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, Next week is American Education Week, which is a perfect time to honor and recognize every member of our amazing faculty and staff. We are truly blessed to have some of the most dedicated and talented teachers, school service personnel, teacher assistants, custodians, administrative assistants, library staff, bus drivers, substitute staff, lunch program staff, and administrators. I love our staff, and could not be any more proud of the good work they do for our kids. Please join us in thanking them next week! Another special group in D63 is our Board of Education. This Saturday, we celebrate School Board Members Day, and they deserve an extra thank you for the countless hours they have spent recently working on securing the best candidate to serve as our next superintendent. They are not only a great school board, but they are just seven awesome human beings who mean more to me than they will ever know. Thank you to Lana Johnson, Rinku Patel, Urszula Tanouye, Steve Wyent, Chris Green, Katie Marinelli, and Fiyaz Khan for their leadership and dedication to the students, staff, and community of Cass School District 63. Last but not certainly not least, thank you to all of those in our school and local community who have served our country in the Armed Forces as we celebrated Veterans Day this week. We are grateful for your service in protecting our country and the freedoms we all too easily take for granted. Thank you! Mark R. Cross, Superintendent American Education week is the week of November 17. No matter their role, be sure to thank our educators next week. They are all amazing people!   Collection Drive for Veterans Cass Junior High is holding a school wide collection drive for the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans Freedom Commissary from November 3 - November 14. Please see this flyer for information on what donations they need. We appreciate anything you can do to help.   CARE Scholastic Book Fair is November 17-21 at Concord! Join us for Family Shopping Night on Wednesday November 19 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. View our homepage to set up an eWallet and/or volunteer.   Rotary Delivers Dictionaries to 3rd Grade Superintendent Mark Cross welcomed his fellow Darien Rotary Club members to 3rd grade earlier this week. Rotary is always looking for great ways to support our schools and the community at large, and one of the charitable things they do is donate dictionaries to every student in the 3rd grade in area schools. Several Rotarians delivered the dictionaries and talked to our kids, and we thank them for their generosity!   If you are looking for a way to get involved, CARE has the following opportunities available: Donate an item or two for our amazing District 63 staff for Parent Teacher conferences!  Sign up for a volunteer shift at next week's Concord Book fair!   How to View Your Child's Grades With the first trimester coming to a close on November 14, we wanted to remind parents on how you can review your child's grades in Skyward. Please be sure to take a moment to check your child's grades not just at the end of a trimester, but at anytime during the school year.   With winter weather comes the possibility of the need to cancel school and move to e-learning due to severe weather conditions. This is a decision that is not taken lightly. Not only are the weather and road conditions taken into consideration, but also the conditions of the buildings and parking lots, the operability and availability of buses and drivers, the ability of staff to make the commute, as well as the air temperature and wind chill. Timing of Announcements – A decision to cancel will be announced to the school community either the day prior or the morning of the cancellation. If the decision is made in the morning, it will be announced no later than 6:00 a.m. whenever possible. Communication – The district does not utilize the media for these announcements and instead messages information directly to parents and staff. Once the decision is made, the school community will be notified through email, text messaging, and through a posting on the district's website and Facebook page. District e-Learning Plan – While in person learning may be cancelled, the district will follow our e-Learning Plan for virtual instruction. Please review the plan in advance to understand what the expectations are for our staff and your child. Early Dismissals and Late Starts – While some districts may choose to do so, District 63 does not plan to utilize early dismissals or late starts. Both can be a moving target with a very narrow window for decision making, which can result in much greater disruption to parents and families, as well as teaching and learning. In the event either would ever be necessary, announcements will be made immediately after a decision to do so. Thank you for your understanding as we head into winter, and please contact the district or school office or your child’s teacher if you have any questions.   Hinsdale South Presents Mean Girls! The Hinsdale South High School Fine Arts Department is presenting the high school version of Mean Girls this weekend. Many of our former Cass students are performing in the show, which runs through Sunday. See the link for the schedule and ticket information!   Lunch menus from our partner Just A Dash Catering are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks, and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Please note that no pork products are ever served in our schools. Even pepperoni and ham is made from turkey. Please contact us if have any questions.   Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or courtesy to interested families. GPS Parent Series: Nourishing the Modern Brain: The Food-Mood Connections Hinsdale South High School presents Mean Girls Heritage Hockey League in Darien   Important Dates to Remember For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page. November 14 End of the First Trimester November 24 and 25 No School - Parent Teacher Conferences November 26-28 No School - Thanksgiving Break   Cass School District 63 • 8502 Bailey Road • Darien, Illinois 60561 331-481-4000 • www.cassd63.org Follow us at 

    Friday, Nov 14 2025

  • Cass63 Connections 11.6.25

    Cass63 Connections Thursday, November 6, 2025 Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, November is a fast and busy month as we celebrate our veterans, wrap up the first trimester, prepare for and hold parent-teacher conferences, and then end the month with a break to celebrate Thanksgiving. Some of these details are below, and if you have not yet registered for conferences, please be sure to do so. In the midst of this busy month, our dedicated Board of Education members are spending many hours interviewing finalists to serve as the next superintendent of schools. The final choice will be announced on December 16, after three long nights of interviews with an outstanding pool of finalists. The Board will make an excellent choice and we will make a smooth transition! Thank you for your support of our students, staff, and schools, and please let us know if there is anything you need! Mark R. Cross, Superintendent   Concord Halloween Festivities Our Concord students celebrated Halloween with a character assembly following by classroom parties. Please enjoy these pictures from a fun day for our students!   Cass Halloween Dance and 8th Grade Science Fair Cass Junior High culminated Halloween week with a dance on Thursday night and the annual 8th grade science fair on Friday. Our 8th grade students are always so clever with the projects that they undertake and they did an outstanding job! Please enjoy these pictures from both events.   Collection Drive for Veterans Cass Junior High is holding a school wide collection drive for the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans Freedom Commissary from November 3 - November 14. Please see this flyer for information on what donations they need. We appreciate anything you can do to help.   Parent Teacher Conferences November 24 and 25 Parent-teacher conferences are November 24 and 25 and information on how to register has been distributed to parents. The general conference schedule is from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. on November 24, and from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on November 25. All grade levels at Concord have both virtual and in-person conferences, while Cass Junior High conferences are all virtual due to the number of conferences and tighter schedule for each teacher as well as the age levels of the students. If you did not receive an email from your child's teacher at Concord, please reach out to that teacher. If you have not yet registered for conferences at Cass Junior High, here are the instructions. Please be aware that registration for conferences closes on at noon on Friday, November 14.   How to View Your Child's Grades With the first trimester coming to a close on November 14, we wanted to remind parents on how you can review your child's grades. Please be sure to take a moment to check your child's grades not just at the end of a trimester, but at anytime during the school year.   This week is School Psychology Awareness Week and in honor of that, we want to recognize school psychologist Sara Zimmerman. Mrs. Zimmerman works out of both buildings and does a wonderful job ensuring our students academic, social, and emotional needs are met. She is a top tier psychologist who serves our students, staff, schools, and families so well.   Boys Basketball Tryouts Boys basketball tryouts are at Cass Junior High on November 13 and 14 from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. In order to tryout your student must have a current sports physical on file. Please contact coach Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org with any questions.   2nd Grade Concert Front Row Raffle Don't forget to buy your raffle tickets at the CARE Shop for your chance at winning front row seats at the upcoming 2nd grade music program at Concord and the Fall Choral concert at Cass Junior High.    Let's Raise Some Dough! Let's Raise Some Dough: This month's Dine to Donate is at Home Run Inn Pizza on November 12th and 13th. Dine in or pick up either day from 11am to 8pm and mention CASS so 30% of what you spend comes back to our schools.   Congratulations to Hinsdale South girls cross country runners Anna Wilcox and Audrey Koepfle who both qualified for the IHSA state meet. Congratulations and best of luck at state!   Local Food Bank Information With the uncertainty looming about the continuation of SNAP benefits, we wanted to be sure our families were aware of where they can get food for their families if assistance is needed. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Food Pantry West Suburban Community Pantry  People’s Resource Center of Westmont  Downers Grove Area FISH Loaves & Fishes Community Services You may also go to Northern Illinois Food Bank where you can search for a local food pantry.   Lunch menus from our partner Just A Dash Catering are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks, and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Please note that no pork products are ever served in our schools. Even pepperoni and ham is made from turkey. Please contact us if have any questions.   Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or courtesy to interested families. Pumpkin Smash at Hinsdale South GPS Parent Series: Restoring Youth: Foster Communication, Conversation and Connections GPS Parent Series: The Power of Positive Parenting   Important Dates to Remember For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page. November 14 End of the First Trimester November 24 and 25 No School - Parent Teacher Conferences November 26-28 No School - Thanksgiving Break   Cass School District 63 • 8502 Bailey Road • Darien, Illinois 60561 331-481-4000 • www.cassd63.org Follow us at 

    Friday, Nov 07 2025

  • Cass63 Connections 10.30.25

    Cass63 Connections Thursday, October 30, 2025 Dear Cass School District 63 Parents, We are always proud of the academic growth of our students and the collective effort of our teachers, administrators, staff, and of course you as our parents. That pride was punctuated recently with U.S. News and Word Report releasing their annual K-12 rankings of public schools. Concord and Cass ranked very high in the overall list and the details and links are provided below. Great news! While this is absolutely something to celebrate, we spend more of our time focused on the growth of our individual students. Along those lines, today the Illinois State Board of Education released the annual Illinois School Report Card, which is largely based on last year's data. While we have not had much of a chance to dive into the details, I wanted to go ahead and share it with you and we will provide more follow up on this in the coming weeks. On another topic, the federal government shut down continues with no end in sight at this time. I had intended to share more about the potential impact on our school district, but I am going to save this for next week, assuming the shut down continues at that time. More importantly, should anyone be in need at this time, SNAP benefits will end November 1 and that could have an impact on some of our families. Should this be an issue for your family, please do not hesitate to let us know. Included below are links to a number of local resources. If you are aware of anything we are missing, please let me know and I will pass the information along. We are here for you! Have a wonderful and safe Halloween, and don't forget to change your clocks this weekend!  Mark R. Cross, Superintendent   Early Release Day October 31 October 31 is an early release day. Concord will be dismissed at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m. Happy Halloween!   High Ranking for D63 Schools We are pleased to share that both Cass Junior High and Concord Elementary ranked exceptionally well in the U.S. World Report K-12 rankings. Among elementary schools, Concord Elementary ranked 150 out of 3,417 schools and Cass Junior High ranked 182 out of 2,574 middle schools. This places Concord in the top 5% of all elementary school in Illinois and Cass in the top 8% of all middle schools. We could not be more proud of the students, staff, and parents in our school district!   Veterans Day Letters - Last Chance to Participate As Veterans Day approaches, we are writing to ask for help regarding a special letter writing project that will be completed in the seventh grade ELA classes. We would like to honor those of you who may have parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, other relatives, and even friends who are military veterans or on active duty. Perhaps some of you are veterans as well! If you know of anyone who is a veteran or on active duty, please share the veteran's name and additional information on this Google Form. After this information is collected, all of our seventh grade students will be assigned at least one veteran and will write a personal letter of thanks to the individual for his or her service. Please complete the Google Form no later than Friday, October 31. In addition to honoring our veterans through letters, Cass Junior High is running a school wide collection drive for the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans Freedom Commissary from November 3 - November 14. Please see this flyer for information on what donations they need.   Concord Recognizes Shining Comets Last Friday, Concord kicked off a new tradition with the Shining Comet Award Ceremony. The first theme was Growth Mindset and Goal Setting, with Principal Katie Doyle and Assistant Principal Megan Conlin celebrating students who go above and beyond in setting goals, showing perseverance, and always striving to improve. As a surprise to our star students, parents were invited in and waiting for the beautiful little ceremony. Please enjoy these pictures which celebrate our amazing students and their families with well-deserved recognition!   Parent Teacher Conferences November 24 and 25 Parent-teacher conferences are November 24 and 25 and information on how to register has been distributed to parents. The general conference schedule is from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. on November 24, and from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on November 25. If you did not receive information on how to register for conferences, please contact your child’s school office with any questions.   8th Grade Science Fair October 31 This week, students are putting the final touches on their science projects for the 8th Grade Science Fair is the morning of October 31 at Cass Junior High. Please see this flyer for information on time, entry, and parking and here is a sneak peek at some of the projects you might see tomorrow. Please email Mrs. Paszkowski at spaszkowski@cassd63.org with any questions.   October 27 was World Occupational Therapist Day and because of this, we want to celebrate Sarah Leganski, our outstanding occupational therapist. Sarah works out of both buildings ensuring all of our students who need her services improve their fine and gross motor skills as well as their organizational and executive functioning. We are lucky to have someone with her skills working with our students! This week we also have a peer nomination for Ms. Jenny Kirkpatrick and her dedicated staff. Ms. Kirkpatrick is an awesome leader who provides an exceptional educational environment for some of our most vulnerable and high needs students. Her passion, commitment, and unwavering belief in every child's potential are evident in everything she does. She advocates fiercely for her students, ensuring their needs are not only met but truly understood and prioritized. Whether it is academic, emotional, or behavioral support, Ms. Kirkpatrick is always one step ahead, collaborating, problem solving, and finding creative solutions that set her students up for long term success. What sets Ms. Kirkpatrick apart is her genuine celebration of every victory, no matter how big or small. She understands that progress looks different for every child, and she honors each step forward with joy and encouragement. Her positivity creates a culture where students feel safe, valued, and motivated to keep trying. Ms. Kirkpatrick is a true advocate, leader, and inspiration. She and her team deserve the highest recognition for the transformative impact they make every single day!   Boys Basketball Tryouts Boys basketball tryouts are at Cass Junior High on November 13 and 14 from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. In order to tryout your student must have a current sports physical on file. Please contact coach Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org with any questions.   Cass Junior High Spirit Week Cass Junior High has had a great spirit week leading up to the Halloween Dance and as you can see from the picture, Principal Christine Marcinkewicz and Assistant Principal Michelle Roberts joined in on the fun. From twin day, to jersey day to anything but a backpack day, both students and staff have gotten into the spirit. Keep an eye out for next week's Connections which will feature more pictures from the Halloween festivities at both schools.   Halloween Festivities and Guidelines Concord Halloween and fall festival parties are on October 31 and here are Concord Elementary’s guidelines.     Show Your Spirit with Wayne the Warrior Mascot Wayne the Mascot has returned to Cass Junior High and now is your chance to celebrate his return. Cass Junior High is selling Wayne the Mascot tshirts so don't miss out on your chance to help your child show their school spirit.   2026-27 Registration at Hinsdale South Eighth grade families can now submit initial District 86 registration information. Please be sure to complete it soon to receive timely updates about high school course selection, 8th grade information nights and other important information about preparing for the transition to Hinsdale South next year.   Local Food Bank Information With the uncertainty looming about the continuation of SNAP benefits, we wanted to be sure our families were aware of where they can get food for their families if assistance is needed. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Food Pantry West Suburban Community Pantry  People’s Resource Center of Westmont  Downers Grove Area FISH Loaves & Fishes Community Services You may also go to Northern Illinois Food Bank where you can search for a local food pantry.   Lunch menus from our partner Just A Dash Catering are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks, and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Please note that no pork products are ever served in our schools. Even pepperoni and ham is made from turkey. Please contact us if have any questions.   Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or courtesy to interested families. Hinsdale South High School Holiday Artisan Fair Hinsdale South High School presents Mean Girls GPS Parent Series: The Seven Crucial Principles to Raise a Self-Driven Child Sleep Out Saturday November 1, 2025   Important Dates to Remember For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page. October 31 Happy Halloween! Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.  November 2 Daylight Saving Time - Fall Back One Hour! November 14 End of the First Trimester November 24 and 25 No School - Parent Teacher Conferences November 26-28 No School - Thanksgiving Break   Cass School District 63 • 8502 Bailey Road • Darien, Illinois 60561 331-481-4000 • www.cassd63.org Follow us at 

    Thursday, Oct 30 2025