First Semester Report Cards Now Available

First Semester Report Cards Now Available Dear District 99 Families, Your student’s first semester final grades from the 2025-26 school year are now available. To download a PDF copy of the first semester report card, please: Log in to the  Infinite Campus Parent Portal Select  Documents  on the left side of the screen  If you have multiple students, use the student selector in the top right corner to switch between students Click on  Student Grade Report Sem. 1  You can also view your student’s first semester grades by selecting the Grades screen on the left and filtering by Sem 1. NOTE:  We will publish the first semester honor rolls on Friday, January 23, recognizing students who earned a 4.0 and above and a 3.4-3.99 grade point average. As we begin the second semester, remember that every day in school helps your student grow.   Prioritize attendance every day. Monitor your student’s grades, and encourage them to use supports like teacher office hours if they are struggling. Your student’s teachers are always available if you have specific concerns. Thank you, District 99 Community High School District 99     |      www.csd99.org      |     630-795-7100 Administrative Service Center 6301 Springside Avenue, Downers Grove, Illinois 60516

Friday, Jan 16 2026

D99 Connection: Keeping families informed and connected

Hello District 99 community! As winter weather approaches, I want to remind families of how District 99 makes decisions regarding school closures. If conditions become unsafe, I will determine whether to close school by 6 a.m. after reviewing building operations, road conditions, bus safety and factors such as extreme temperatures and wind chill. If we do need to close, students will participate in an e-Learning day following our established schedule. Families will be notified immediately by phone, email and text, so please ensure your contact information is current in Infinite Campus. Unless an emergency announcement is issued, schools will remain open. Our district continues to prioritize strong student attendance. So far this year, our average daily attendance rate is 93.43%, an improvement from last year’s rate of 92.4%. Consistent attendance is closely tied to academic success, and we appreciate your partnership in helping your student attend school every day. As we enter the Thanksgiving season, we remain grateful for our supportive and engaged District 99 community. Happy Thanksgiving, Dr. Hank Thiele D99 Superintendent   Attendance Matters As the year moves forward, consistent attendance remains one of the strongest predictors of student success—academically, socially, and emotionally. When students are here, they stay connected, build positive routines and contribute to a strong school community. Please continue helping your student make attendance a priority by keeping routines consistent, planning appointments outside the school day when possible and contacting us if challenges arise. We’re here to help every student stay engaged and supported.   💜 DGN Donates to FISH Pantry DGN students from the new Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) Club, collected 511 pounds of food to donate to local families through the local FISH Pantry. HOSA supports students in exploring a variety of medical careers. Thanks to everyone who donated!   💙 DGS Donates to West Suburban Community Pantry As part of a holiday food drive led by the DGS Social Studies Department, the school filled bins and then a bus to fill the shelves of the West Suburban Community Pantry. Thank you to everyone who donated!   🦃 T99 Celebrates Friendsgiving Transition 99 students celebrated Thanksgiving early by holding a Friendsgiving luncheon. Students in the hospitality class prepared the traditional fare of turkey, green beans, stuffing, gravy, pie and more to serve to fellow students and staff. The event was funded by T99's in-house microbusiness!   D99 Showcases Skill-Building Courses Educators from across the region visited DGN and DGS to hear about our Project Lead the Way (PLTW) classes. They met with students in the Biomedical and Engineering pathways, toured classrooms and saw hands-on learning in action, including a cow elbow dissection! The educators plan to take back what they've learned to their own schools.   🎃 DGS Holds Annual Halloween Event DGS held its annual Halloween Trunk or Treat last month. The community came out in full costume for an evening of food, games, and candy galore. Student groups decorated their trunks, dressed up and made the night a fun one for the community.   ♻️ DGN Hosts a Smashing Sustainability Event The DGN Science and Outdoor Environmental Club hosted the annual Pumpkin Smash, allowing the community to give their pumpkins a green goodbye by composting instead of tossing them in the trash. The effort from everyone kept hundreds of pumpkins out of landfills and helped nurture healthier soil for our planet. 🌱   🍎 DGS Hosts Teacher Appreciation Breakfast The DGS College and Career Center celebrated the teachers who go above and beyond to support students by writing college recommendation letters. Students surprised their teachers with handwritten thank-you cards, sharing messages of gratitude for the time that goes into every letter of support.   🪪 Mobile DMV Day at Transition 99 To help our Transition 99 students obtain their state ID cards, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office rolled up to T99 and offered a Mobile DMV event. The event made the process more accessible for our students!   🧑‍⚖️ Real-World Lessons in Government DGS student members of the Politics Club received a real-world lesson in leadership by attending the Youth Advisory Council meeting, hosted by State Senator John Curran. Students heard from Darien Mayor Joe Marchese and DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin, and collaborated with peers from other area high schools to brainstorm ideas for potential bills. They will meet again in the spring for a mock legislative session.   👮 Exploring Careers in Law Enforcement As part of DGN’s Friday Career Speaker Series in the AVID program, students had the opportunity to hear from DGN's own school resource officer, Eric Mason. He shared his career journey, life lessons and what it means to serve our school and community.   🏆 DGN Boys Cross Country Wins Second in State Congratulations to the DGN Boys Cross Country Team for placing second at state! Also congratulations to Phil Cupial who took home first place in the boys’ race and Macy Ermitage who took home third in the girls’ race. Crave more sports news? Sign up for "Beyond the Scoreboard" to be "in the know" about our student athletic programs! DGN Newsletter Sign Up DGS Newsletter Sign Up   Mark Your Calendar! Our calendars have everything you need—all in one place. Simply visit our websites and hit “subscribe” to sync events directly to your phone or computer.  D99 Calendar DGN Calendar DGS Calendar  

Thursday, Nov 20 2025

D99 Board of Education Highlights for November 17, 2025

Highlights of the November 17, 2025 Meeting   Board of Education Recognized In honor of School Board Members Day in Illinois, District 99's Board of Education members were recognized for all that they do for our school community. Members are elected volunteers who serve a 4-year term: (front row, l-r): Michael Riske, Christopher Espinoza, Vice President Kara Casten, Katie Courtney (back row, l-r): President Don Renner, Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele, April Finan and Ken Dawson.   Review of Surveys In addition to the mandated state survey the district issues annually, District 99 also administers other surveys to collect feedback from students, staff and families. Director of Student Experiences Ryan Doherty provided an overview of the annual surveys issued since 2022, and how the feedback was used to shape key adjustments in the school schedule as well as procedures pertaining to attendance, behavior and cell phone use. Proposed topics for the March 2026 survey include effectiveness of the focus on attendance and tardies as well as personal electronic devices. Director of Staff Experiences Dr. Kelly Zuerner reviewed the internal surveys the district has used to measure morale. Results since the 2023–24 school year show that staff feel an increasing sense of ownership and that their opinions are more valued by leaders. “I think this is all trending in the right direction,” said Board President Don Renner, who credited the collection of staff feedback for helping focus the district and move its goals forward.   School Report Card In a continuation from the previous Board meeting, Associate Superintendent Gina Ziccardi reviewed key areas of the Illinois Report Card: While the five-year graduation rate remains higher than DuPage County and state averages, the district's 2025 graduation rate was 91.5%, a drop from last year. D99 will continue to monitor interventions to support students. 9th grade on track, which means a student earns a minimum of 5 credits and cannot fail more than one semester of a core course, is a key indicator of student success. D99's rate is 95.8%, higher than both the state and DuPage County. Last year, the state shifted from the SAT to ACT. Data from the state-issued PreACT/ACT in 2025 show D99 students have higher proficiency levels in ELA (English Language Arts), math and science than both DuPage County and state averages and benchmarks. Daily attendance rates are higher than both DuPage County and state averages and are similar to last year at 92.6%. The district's chronic absenteeism, defined as a student missing 10% or more of the school year (whether excused or unexcused), is lower than DuPage County and state averages at 23.3%, down from 23.7% last year.   Weighted Credit for Dual Credit Courses Associate Superintendent for Student Learning Gina Ziccardi shared that by taking a dual credit course (which aligns with college curriculum), students can earn both high school and college credit. Ziccardi proposed these courses, like Advanced Placement courses, be awarded weighted grades to account for the level of rigor they offer. The Board approved awarding weighted grades in all existing and future District 99 dual credit courses, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.   Board Approvals In addition to the consent agenda and weighted grades in dual credit courses, the Board unanimously approved the following action items: Applying for a $50,000 school maintenance project grant from the Illinois State Board of Education in order to support the LED stadium retrofit project at North High. If received, the funding will offset a portion of the district's operating budget and reduce the local financial impact. Authorizing the issuance of bonds, not to exceed $4,573,366, to fund required life safety projects throughout the district. The tentative 2025 tax levy of $119,202,971; the Board will vote to adopt the final 2025 tax levy at its meeting on December 15. After its closed session, the Board unanimously authorized the settlement of two lawsuits brought against the district.   Click to Watch Meeting Video Agenda and supporting Board of Education documentation   Upcoming Board of Education Meetings Board of Education meetings take place on Monday evenings, typically on the first and third Monday of each month, and are livestreamed at www.csd99.org/csd99media. Please check www.csd99.org for meeting times and locations, as they may change. District 99 Board of Education District 99 Board of Education (front row, l-r): Michael Riske, Christopher Espinoza, Vice President Kara Casten, Katie Courtney (back row, l-r): President Don Renner, Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele, April Finan and Ken Dawson More Board of Education Information Copyright © 2025-26 Community High School District 99, All rights reserved.

Tuesday, Nov 18 2025

District 99 Juniors: Prepare for the ACT with ExcelE...

PREPARE FOR THE ACT Hello District 99 Juniors and their Families The ACT has become a rite of passage for juniors and remains important for college planning, as it is used not only for admissions but also for placement and scholarship opportunities. To prepare its junior class, District 99 has invited ExcelEdge to offer ACT 36. Give yourself the Edge.  A leader in Midwest test preparation, ExcelEdge has meticulously analyzed the ACT to ensure students receive a highly specialized program tailored to the test. You can count on experienced instructors who are certified content specialists to teach you point-producing offensive and defensive strategies to navigate difficult items. Our teaching team will show you exactly what to expect on this test. We will teach you how to eliminate choices, answer items quickly, and maximize your score. To learn more about our program, please visit our website:  www.exceledgeinc.com .  Timing is everything.  We have deliberately scheduled ACT 36 to wrap up just before the April test date. By spring, students will have mastered the junior curriculum, which the exam targets. By completing the program in the weeks leading up to the ACT, students can master test content and strategies and put these skills to immediate use. Register for ACT 36.  To join our program, please visit the ExcelEdge website – www.exceledgeinc.com. Tuition is $385, which includes a textbook.  Registration is now open and closes on January 6th. A late fee will be applied after that date if the class is still available.  Other classes and locations are available on the website. Please make a selection and reserve these dates: DGS:  Wednesday -- 6:30-8:30pm– 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4 (Practice ACT 5:30-9:00pm), & 3/11 - DGN:  Thursday – 6:30-8:30pm – 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5 (Practice ACT 5:30-9:00pm), & 3/12 ***If school is canceled due to inclement weather or other circumstances, class will be postponed, and we will add an additional week. ***Enrollment for this course is limited. Once the class is full, you may join the waitlist. If enrollment is low, the class will be canceled, and you will have the option to take the course at another school or receive a refund. If you have any questions about ACT 36, please feel free to contact ExcelEdge at info@exceledgeinc.com / 219-838-0740.  We look forward to working with you! Sincerely, Marcy Paddock Director, ExcelEdge Community High School District 99     |      www.csd99.org      |     630-795-7100 Administrative Service Center 6301 Springside Avenue, Downers Grove, Illinois 60516

Monday, Nov 10 2025

D99 Connection: Keeping families informed and connected

October 2025 Hello District 99 community! Thank you for your continued partnership and engagement throughout October. It was wonderful to see so many of you during Teacher Conferences and other school events. Working together helps ensure every student feels supported and inspired to succeed. Please remember that our teachers and staff are always available; never hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns. This month, we also continued our focus on boosting student attendance. With students now scanning into buildings and classrooms each period, we have a clearer picture of attendance trends and areas for improvement. Your efforts to help students build strong daily routines make a real difference. Thank you for making attendance a priority! We’re also pleased to share that the Illinois State Board of Education released the 2024-25 School Report Card today, and both North High and South High earned the overall designation of Commendable. While we’re still reviewing the full data, we’re proud of this recognition and excited to build on our progress. In the coming weeks, we’ll share more insights and next steps at upcoming Board of Education meetings. Thank you, as always, for your support and involvement. Together, we’re creating outstanding opportunities for every District 99 student. Dr. Hank Thiele D99 Superintendent   Attendance Matters Family expectations are one of the strongest influences on student attendance. When parents talk about the importance of showing up, check attendance in Infinite Campus, and communicate early about challenges, students are more likely to be present and engaged.   D99 Students Nationally Recognized for Academic Achievement District 99 is proud to announce that 28 students have received recognition in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP). In addition, 119 students have been recognized by the College Board National Recognition Program. Our website lists details and the names of those who received recognition!   Mentors Share Journeys with DGN Students DGN students studying entrepreneurship learned some lessons from local business owners about what the "real world" is like. Thanks to Randy Riley of Carmel Music, Sara Funk, founder of Mud & Char, Will Cullen, founder of Empire Restaurants and Michelle Lytle of Lytle Photography and The Lytle Auditorium for sharing your time, insights and entrepreneurial journeys!   💚 DGS Students Turn Passion into Action For the first time, DGS students participated in "Sustainapalooza," a one-of-a-kind sustainability event at school. With support from Greener Grove, the Village of Downers Grove and SCARCE, students explored real ways to make a difference through conservation, advocacy, and sustainable living. (Many thanks to the Village of Downers Grove for the video coverage!)   T99 Alumni Reunion Transition 99 brought current and past students and staff together for their Alumni Oktoberfest at Doerhoefer Park for games, laughs, and ice cream treats. The bonds of friendships are strong at T99!   D99 Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Members of the Latino Student Unions at both North High and South High enjoyed lunch with representatives from the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) and motivational speaker Ernie G. The day was filled with powerful messages of pride, culture and leadership as the schools celebrated identity and the importance of believing in yourself.   💜 Heart Screenings a Success 💙 Our schools are grateful to Young Hearts for Life for providing life-saving heart screenings for 2,790 students. The free electrocardiogram (ECG) heart screenings are used to identify students at risk for sudden cardiac death.  In addition to the doctors and staff from YH4L, hundreds of volunteers from our community made the screenings possible. Many thanks to EKGs for EGK, Mark Crabtree Memorial Fund, just1mike and YH4L donors for funding these screenings!   Sign Up to Receive Athletic News! Did you know that every week, DGN and DGS issue a weekly newsletter dedicated to athletic updates? Sign up for "Beyond the Scoreboard" to be "in the know" about our student athletic programs! DGN Newsletter Sign Up DGS Newsletter Sign Up   New Board Policy, Procedures Related to Immigration Enforcement At its meeting on October 20, the Board of Education approved a new policy: 8.35 Immigration Enforcement Activities By Federal Agencies. Our rules and procedures related to immigration enforcement will now be enforced not only during the school day, but also any time events are held on school premises. The procedures apply to students and staff as well as their families.  As a resource on rights related to immigration issues, we are making the document "Information on Student and Employee Rights Regarding Immigration Issues" available.   Mark Your Calendar! Our calendars have everything you need—all in one place. Simply visit our websites and hit “subscribe” to sync events directly to your phone or computer.  D99 Calendar DGN Calendar DGS Calendar  

Thursday, Oct 30 2025