- Cass School District 63
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The Cass63 Connections is communicated to parents and published on Cass School District 63's website weekly throughout the school year.
Cass63 Connections
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Cass63 Connections - September 22, 2022
September 22, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Returning to the topic of school safety and security, this past week a team from our district visited two local high schools who maintain high level security systems. This is being done as part of our planning, and also after recent meetings with local law enforcement to work and plan together proactively.
When it comes to this issue, we are taking nothing for granted. We work very hard to keep our schools secure and safe, but it is our goal to take it to the highest level. This will also be discussed at next week’s Board of Education meeting, and we will share more details when we are ready to do so.
Addressing these needs is a big part of the ballot question for our referendum on November 8. Replacing our old and inefficient HVAC system gets the most attention because it’s the biggest part of the cost, but addressing our safety and security is absolutely critical.
In each Cass63 Connections, we are including a “facility fact” from our Facility Planning FAQs. In future weeks, safety and security will be among some of the items that are addressed. I’ll share more on this next week and your questions are always welcome
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Concord Patriotic Assembly
On September 9, Concord held its annual Patriotic Assembly. The assembly was wonderful and a great tribute. Please enjoy some pictures from the day.
Board Vacancy Deadline September 27
There is currently a vacancy on the Board of Education and here is the announcement and application. This includes the criteria and application timeline. The absolute deadline for interested citizens to submit an application is noon on Tuesday, September 27. Individuals with questions may contact Board Secretary Gayle Wilson at gwilson@cassd63.org or Superintendent Mark Cross at mcross@cassd63.org.
Trivia Night is back and it’s bigger than ever! This will be held on Friday, October 14 at Carriage Greens. Tickets can be purchased on the CARE Website. Reach out to care@cassd63.org with any questions. We hope to see you there!
Cass School District 63 has a vacancy for a teacher assistant at Cass Junior High School. This position could be full or part-time. For more information or to apply for the position, please click here.
Spirit Wear Available Now!
CARE is selling spirit wear! Go to www.d63swag.com to order, or it can be purchased on the CARE website under sprit wear.
6th, 7th and 8th Grade Novel Deadline September 23
Our 6th, 7th and 8th grade parents should have received letters from your child’s English Language Arts teacher regarding class novels. For our students to practice the skill of annotation and prepare for high school, they will need their own copies of the novels they will read, and students keep their novels after the end of the school year.
These novels will need to be purchased either on your own or through your MySchoolBucks account. Novels can also be purchased new or used at Amazon, other sites or at a local bookstore. If purchasing used, please do not purchase books with markings or any previous annotations.
The deadline to purchase books through MySchoolBucks is September Friday, September 23. Books should be in class by September 30. If making this purchase causes a financial burden or if you have any other questions, please contact Principal Christine Marcinkewicz at cmarcinkewicz@cassd63.org.
Girls Basketball Tryouts September 26 and 27
Basketball Tryouts for the 2022-23 school year will be held on September 26 and 27 from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm in the Cass Junior High gym. Please remember that your child must have an updated IHSA/IESA Pre-Participation Examination on file to tryout. The physical must be dated within the last 365 days of the tryout date of September 26. If you have any questions or if your child is interested in trying out, please contact Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org.
7th Grade Springfield Registration Deadline September 30
This year’s 7th grade field trip to the Illinois state capitol is scheduled for Friday, October 21 and the deadline to register is September 30. Here is more information on the annual trip. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Ken Kohnke at kkohnke@cassd63.org.
On Friday, October 21, the prekindergarten program will be hosting screenings for 3, 4 and 5 year old children. Please find more information at Prekindergarten Screening.
Our 8th Grade students have a wonderful opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. from May 22-May 24, 2023 and visit many historical places including the United States Capital, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon and so much more. For more information and to register, please visit www.academicexpeditions.com, click “GO TO MY TRIP” and enter the tour code: cssdc2023. If you have any questions, please contact Ken Kohnke at kkohnke@cassd63.org.
If the school district is able to implement the new geothermal system as planned, the energy savings are substantial. With conservative initial estimates of 35 percent, this is an estimated annual savings of $70,000 per year based on current energy costs. Particularly in a rising energy cost environment, the long-term savings could be in the millions over the course of the coming decades.
In addition to energy savings, life-cycle costs take into account the initial cost of the replacement system, expected maintenance costs, 20-year equipment replacement costs and residual value at the end of a 40-year cycle. Here is the life-cycle cost comparison of the three options studied by the district.
While the proposed geothermal system is about 13 percent more expensive up front, it is 39 percent less expensive in terms of total life-cycle costs, and 21 percent less expensive in total. Here is the replacement cost estimate summary, which shows additional detail about the options, costs, energy savings and other comparisons.
Want more information? Visit the Facility Facts and FAQs.
Focus on Mental and Emotional Health
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of DuPage County’s mission is to provide support, advocacy and education in order to improve the quality of life of individuals with mental illnesses and their families. This organization provides a wide range of resources and support to children and families in our area.
Our school lunch program page contains daily menus and information about pricing and payment. Lunch menus are subject to change, so please check back regularly for the most up to date information.
The Community Speak series presents Stixrud & Johnson: What Do You Say? How to Talk with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance and a Happy Home
Indian Prairie Public Library Write-On Writing Competition
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Tuesday, September 27
Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m.Friday, October 7
Early Release Day, Concord 11:15 and Cass 12:00Monday, October 10
No School, Columbus Day
Archives
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Cass63 Connections - September 15, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Let’s talk about something fun! Our Trivia Night is back, and it’s bigger and better than ever. The proof is in the numbers as we are approaching 200 participants, which is double from past years and our teachers and staff alone will fill three tables. Our CARE group has been working hard planning for this event, which will be held on Friday evening, October 14 at Carriage Greens. Today is the last day for the early bird discount and registration information is below. We hope to see you there!
On an equally fun but more academic note, we are very proud of our new Concord STEM lab. Teacher Jessica Ruiz and her inquisitive students are just getting started but check out the great pictures under the article and link below. We are passionate about making learning fun and providing engaging and hands-on activities for our students.
Last but not least, we have a vacancy on the Board of Education. Vice President Kent Absalonsen and his family are moving out of the area. Kent is one of the kindest and most supportive people and has contributed greatly to our ethical and positive governance. For those interested in being considered as a candidate, there is an application under the link below. The absolute deadline to submit an application is Tuesday, September 27 at noon.
As always, please reach out if you have any questions. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
After seven years of volunteer service, Vice President Kent Absalonsen is resigning from the Board of Education as he and his family are moving out of the area. As a result, there is a vacancy on the Board and here is the announcement and application from President Shelly Camden. This includes the criteria and application timeline. The absolute deadline for interested citizens to submit an application is Tuesday, September 27 at noon. After the deadline, the Board of Education will choose finalists to interview and ultimately select for appointment to the Board. Individuals with questions may contact Board Secretary Gayle Wilson at gwilson@cassd63.org or Superintendent Mark Cross at mcross@cassd63.org.
Trivia Night Tables Filling Fast!
September 15 is the last day to take advantage of the early bird registration for Trivia Night! Tickets can be purchased on the CARE Website. If you are the parent of young children and are still making connections, this is a great way to meet people! Trivia night organizers will help with this or any other questions, so please reach out to care@cassd63.org.
Important! 6th, 7th and 8th Grade English Language Arts Novels
By now, all 6th, 7th and 8th grade students and parents should have received letters from your child’s English Language Arts teacher. In an effort to prepare our students for high school English, we will be teaching the skill of annotation. For students to best practice this skill, they will need their own copies of the novels they will read, and students will keep their novels after the end of the school year.
These novels will can be purchased through your MySchoolBucks account or they may also be purchased new or used at Amazon, other sites or at a local bookstore. If purchasing used, please do not purchase books with markings or any previous annotations.
The deadline to purchase books through MySchoolBucks is September Friday, September 23. Books should be in class by September 30. If making this purchase causes a financial burden or if you have any other questions, please contact Principal Christine Marcinkewicz at cmarcinkewicz@cassd63.org.
Concord Elementary Dot Week - September 19-23
The week of September 19-23 is Concord Dot Week, which is inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' best selling book The Dot. Students will be participating in several dot-themed learning activities that promote creativity, courage, and collaboration.
7th Grade Springfield Registration Deadline September 30
This year’s 7th grade field trip to the Illinois state capitol is scheduled for Friday, October 21 and the deadline to register is September 30. Here is more information on the annual trip. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Ken Kohnke at kkohnke@cassd63.org.
Basketball Tryouts for the 2022-23 school year will be held on September 26 and 27 from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm in the Cass Junior High gym. Please remember that your child must have an updated IHSA/IESA Pre-Participation Examination on file to tryout. The physical must be dated within the last 365 days of the tryout date of September 26. If you have any questions or if your child is interested in trying out, please contact Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org.
Engaged Learning through STEM
It is still early in the school year, but our new STEM lab at Concord Elementary is in full swing. Under teacher Jessica Ruiz, our K-4 students are growing through a wide range of engaging, hands-on learning activities. Students have been building different structures while working with a partner and practicing different team building skills. Our 4th grade students have been studying the movement of water in plants with food dye, making observations and using microscopes to observe where the water traveled. Kindergarten students are working in teams to build and discuss the structure of apple trees with paper towel rolls, popsicle sticks and pom poms. Visit the Concord STEM page for pictures of several of the learning activities taking place so far.
Prekindergarten Family Day at Harvester Park
Our prekindergarten students and their families enjoyed their first family day of the school year at Harvester Park. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful way to get the school year underway for our youngest students!
For years, our school district has extended the life of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, but the ongoing maintenance and repairs are costly, inefficient and potentially unsafe. At Concord, 9 of the 11 zones are heated and cooled by HVAC systems that were installed in either 1996 or 1997 and have already exceeded their life expectancy. The remaining two were installed in 2000 and 2004. At Cass, 15 of the 19 zones are heated and cooled by HVAC systems that were installed in 2002 or prior, with the vast majority at or nearing the end of their life expectancy.
ASHRAE is the industry organization that sets standards and guidelines for most equipment and here is the ASHRAE HVAC Equipment Life Expectancy Chart. Based on age alone, approximately 80 percent of the district’s HVAC infrastructure needs to be replaced, but this does not take into account the cost of maintenance or lack of efficiency of the current systems. After much planning and research, it has been determined that the most cost-effective method is to replace the systems at once through a comprehensive plan and competitive bidding process.
Want more information? Visit the Facility Facts and FAQs.
The district is seeking substitute teachers. A Professional Educator License or a Substitute Teaching License is required. If you do not possess either of these but you do have a bachelors’ degree, it is not difficult to obtain your substitute license. You may contact Gayle Wilson at gwilson@cassd63.org for information on how to obtain your license. If you would like to apply, here is the application and information.
Community Conversations in District 86
This year, District 86 is hosting a series of Community Conversations to provide community members the opportunity to learn about and discuss topics related to the high school district. The next session will be held on Wednesday, October 19, from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Hinsdale South. This session will feature updates regarding the effort to determine if changes to schedules and practices can enhance instruction, foster the professional growth of staff, and support student learning. Here is an RSVP form is you wish to attend. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Dr. Chris Covino at ccovino@hinsdale86.org.
Focus on Mental and Emotional Health
Common Sense Media is a go-to site for a wide range of resources for keeping our kids cyber safe and cyber smart. From managing your child's screen time to providing safe and helpful sites on YouTube to providing mental health resources and bullying prevention, we highly recommend that all parents review the resources available to help their children and families.
Do kids need a smartphone? There are countless dangers and downsides to putting this kind of power in the hands of children and major carriers have phones that call and text without a data plan. To decrease the pressure felt by both kids and parents, the Wait Until 8th Pledge is worth a look! Even for parents who don’t take the pledge, there is great information under this link.
Our school lunch program page contains daily menus and information about pricing and payment. Lunch menus are subject to change, so please check back regularly for the most up to date information.
Following are great outside resources and opportunities that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community.
3rd Annual NAMI DuPage Octoberfest
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Tuesday, September 27
Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m.Friday, October 7
Early Release Day, Concord 11:15 and Cass 12:00Monday, October 10
No School, Columbus Day -
Cass63 Connections - September 8, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Two months from today, our citizens in Cass School District 63 will have the opportunity to determine the future trajectory of our school district. We have a referendum on the ballot for November 8 to address significant safety, security and HVAC needs. The work that needs to be done is well outside of the budget and our Facilities Committee and Board of Education have unanimously supported moving forward with these plans.
All of the details are provided under our Facility Facts and FAQs. As parents and community members, I would highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the issues. Our goal as a district is to be completely transparent and provide accurate, verifiable information.
There is also a grassroots committee organizing to support the referendum and people have asked how to get involved. To be clear, this effort and organization is and will be separate from the school district so if you are interested in learning more, the committee’s e-mail address is VoteYesD63@gmail.com. On the other hand, if you have questions regarding facts or details about our district’s facility plans or the FAQs above, please contact any Board member or me at mcross@cassd63.org.
Questions about our safety, security and facility plans are very welcome, and Board members and I will make ourselves available to meet with any group who is interested in learning more about these issues. In the meantime, I will continue to communicate and update you on this topic in the coming weeks. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
This is a reminder that there will be early dismissal on Friday, September 9. The school district will dismiss at 11:15 a.m. at Concord and 12:00 p.m. at Cass.
Need a Table for Trivia Night? Better Hurry!
Tables are filling fast and time is running out to take advantage of the early bird registration for Trivia Night! If you reserve by September 15, the cost is $425 for a table of 10 people. Get your team together and reserve your spot now! Tickets can be purchased on the CARE Website. Also, if you have young children in the district and have not yet connected with parents in your child’s age group, organizers will seat you at a K-2 table! Trivia night organizers will help you with this, so feel free to contact them at care@cassd63.org.
Cass School District 63 maintains the lowest operating expenditure per student of 10 area elementary districts and the second lowest of 29 districts in DuPage County. The district average of $13,383 per student is 15 percent lower than the area average. In fact, Cass 63's average operating expense is almost 10 percent below the state average, despite serving students in the state's second wealthiest county.
Want more information? Visit the Facility Facts and FAQs.
8th Grade AWARE Program Starts September 9
The AWARE (Adolescents with Awareness, Resources, and Education) Program will begin for all 8th grade students on Friday, September 9, unless parents choose to opt their child out by emailing Principal Christine Marcinkewicz. Please take a moment to review this information on the AWARE program.
The planned dates for the AWARE program will coincide with our half-day programs. These dates are September 9 (Healthy Decision Making), October 7 (Dating Violence & Sexual Assault Prevention), October 28 (Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention), December 16 (Teen Pregnancy Prevention).
Next CARE Meeting September 12
Mark your calendars for the next CARE meeting to be held on Monday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the District Community Room in Cass Junior High School.
8th Grade Washington, DC Trip Meeting September 14
The first informational Zoom meeting for the 2023 8th grade field trip to Washington D.C. is scheduled for Wednesday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m. A meeting link will be sent out and questions can be directed to Mr. Ken Kohnke at kkohnke@cassd63.org.
Concord Picture Day September 15
Picture day is coming on September 15. Informational flyers were sent home on Monday, August 29. On Monday, September 12 order forms will be sent home with your child or you may order online at www.mylifetouch.com using the specific Concord Picture Day ID: EVTVJDCF8.
Focus on Mental and Emotional Health
The 988 three-digit dialing code for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining custom local care and resources with national standards and best practices. The Lifeline website also includes information and resources for getting help, and providing resources to help spread awareness and promote prevention.
For the safety of all of our students and staff, this is a reminder that parents are not to utilize school parking lots during pick up and drop off times. Following the correct times and procedures will help ensure the safety of our younger students in particular. If you have a time issue on a given day, please make other arrangements. Thank you for your cooperation in prioritizing the safety of our students.
The district is seeking substitute teachers. A Professional Educator License or a Substitute Teaching License is required. If you do not possess either of these but you do have a bachelors’ degree, it is not difficult to obtain your substitute license. You may contact Gayle Wilson at gwilson@cassd63.org for information on how to obtain your license. If you would like to apply, here is the application and information.
Earlier this week, we rolled out our new Cass 63 family directory. We hope you find this helpful. Please contact Gayle Wilson at gwilson@cassd63.org if you have any questions.
7th Grade Springfield Trip Reminder
This year’s 7th grade field trip to the Illinois state capitol is scheduled for Friday, October 21 and the deadline to register is September 30. Here is more information on the annual trip. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Ken Kohnke at kkohnke@cassd63.org. .
CARE Dine to Donate September 14
If you would like a night off in the kitchen, CARE is holding its first Dine to Donate event on September 14 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Portillos. Please be sure to have this flyer handy to ensure that 20% of your purchase gets donated back to CARE.
Following our great outside resources and opportunities that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community.
American Youth Symphony Orchestra
Updated Lunch MenusOur school lunch program page contains daily menus and information about pricing and payment. Lunch menus are subject to change so please check back regularly for the most up to date information.
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Friday, September 9
Prekindergarten Family Day
Early Release Day - Concord 11:15, Cass 12:00Monday, September 12
CARE Meeting, 7:00 p.m. -
Cass63 Connections - September 1, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
I apologize in advance for the longer message, but we would like to share several important safety updates and reminders with you. The safety of our students is an ongoing topic of conversation here within the district and always will be with you as well.
Safety and Security – Today we held our annual crisis planning meeting with local law enforcement, the two fire departments that serve our district, as well as representatives of our staff, parents and Board of Education. Besides just meeting the normal requirements of a meeting of this nature, we had excellent dialogue about things we can do to improve in the area of safety and security. In addition to talking about procedures, this meeting reiterated the importance of finding a way to improve and upgrade the safety and security equipment and technology in our schools. I can’t emphasize enough how important this topic is and it is something that we will continue to plan for and talk about here.
A Regular Police Presence – Last week, Dr. Anderson, Mrs. Marcinkewicz and I met with Darien Police Chief Greg Thomas and Deputy Chief Jason Norton. This was something we initiated as a proactive measure to maintain open dialogue, work with each other outside of crisis situations, encourage police presence in our schools, and build a strong working relationship. As a result, one of the things you can expect to see is more police presence in our schools. Our police officers know how welcome they are in our schools anytime, particularly during the school day and when students are present. As a result, don’t be alarmed when you see a police car or other emergency vehicles at the schools more frequently than in the past.
Communicating Safety Concerns – There are times in which we have a safety situation that involves law enforcement, the fire department, or other emergency services. As a staff, our first priority will be managing the situation. The second priority will be communicating what we can with you as parents, as soon as we are able to do so.
We understand how important it is to you to receive important information quickly, however we ask for your patience and understanding during moments like these as we will always prioritize student safety. With this in mind, we respectfully request that you refrain from calling the school offices so that we can focus on the situation at hand and keeping all of our students safe. We further request that during emergency situations that you do not come to the school unless you have been asked to do so. If we are in a lockdown situation, we are keeping the kids safe and in place, and you would not be permitted in the school in that situation.
We will communicate with you as soon as possible if there’s anything parents need to know. This has certainly happened several times over the last few years and it’s likely it will happen at some point again. Hopefully you know by now how much we value good communication, but that will come after we first resolve any safety concerns that require our attention. There is nothing in this world more important to us then the health and safety of our students.
Last but not least, I would also remind you again that in addition to reaching out to any of us on the leadership team, you can also contact your child’s guidance counselor, social worker or teacher if there is anything you need. We ask both our parents and students to remain vigilant and report any safety concerns or threats immediately to either the police or appropriate school personnel. Please don't wait or hesitate, just let us know. We also have a safety tip email address which is staysafe@cassd63.org.
Also related to safety, below are also a couple of reminders about required safety drills, as well as pick up and drop off procedures at Concord. Thank you for working with us to keep our students and staff safe here at school! We appreciate the open dialogue and always welcome any questions or concerns you may have.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
A Great Start!
What a great start to the new school year! Students are learning, sports are happening, clubs have started and we are having fun. One of those events was the CARE Ice Cream Social held at Concord Elementary last Friday evening. Thank you to CARE and our supportive parents for organizing such a great night!
Updated 2022-23 Bus Routes
As we wrap up the second week of the school year, adjustments to some bus routes are necessary as we add new students. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school office.
Students are already in the full academic swing of things and that includes the new Concord STEM Lab. We are just getting started and this will continue to develop but cannot wait to see what teacher Jessica Ruiz has in store for our students this year. Many exciting opportunities are coming for our kids! 
School Safety Drills Are Underway
Each school is required to complete certain safety drills each year, something our school district embraces as part of our safety planning. Included in these drills are two lockdown drills, one of which involves the police department. We would like to make families aware of the dates for these drills so you may discuss them with your children either in advance or following the drills.
At Concord Elementary the first lockdown drill was held on August 24 and the second will be held on September 2. At Cass Junior High the first lockdown drill was held on August 23 and the second will be held on September 9. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school office.
Concord Drop Off and Pick Up Procedure Reminder
For the safety of all of our students and staff, we ask that all parents follow the procedures shared with families at the start of the school year. Specifically, we have had some parents parking in the school parking lots and waiting there to pick children up at the end of the school day. This is a reminder that parents are not to utilize school parking lots during pick up and drop off times. Following the correct times and procedures will help ensure that we keep everyone safe. If you have a time issue on a given day, please make other arrangements. Thank you for your cooperation in prioritizing the safety of our students!
8th Grade AWARE Program
Next week the AWARE (Adolescents with Awareness, Resources, and Education) Program will begin for all 8th grade students on Friday, September 9 unless parents choose to opt their child out. Please take a moment to review this information on the AWARE program.
Attention 8th Grade Parents! DC Trip Meeting September 14
Principal Christine Marcinkewicz is announcing to parents that the first informational Zoom meeting for the 2023 8th grade field trip to Washington D.C. is scheduled for Wednesday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m. A meeting link will be sent out soon. Information on the trip can be found here and any questions can be directed to Mr. Ken Kohnke at kkohnke@cassd63.org.
Concord Picture Day September 15
Picture day is coming on September 15. Informational flyers were sent home on Monday, August 29. On Monday, September 12 order forms will be sent home with your child or you may order online at www.mylifetouch.com using the specific Concord Picture Day ID: EVTVJDCF8.
Cass School District 63 is seeking bus drivers with a starting rate of $20.00 per hour. Here is the online application and anyone interested can contact Superintendent Mark Cross at mcross@cassd63.org for additional information.
7th Grade Springfield Trip Reminder
This year’s 7th grade field trip to the Illinois state capitol is scheduled for Friday, October 21 and the deadline to register is September 30. Here is more information on the annual trip and if you have any questions, please contact Mr. Ken Kohnke at kkohnke@cassd63.org. .
Tables are filling fast and time is running out to take advantage of the early bird registration for Trivia Night! If you reserve by September 15, the cost is $425 for a table of 10 people. Get your team together and reserve your spot now! Tickets can be purchased on the CARE Website.
Next CARE Meeting September 12
Mark your calendars for the next CARE meeting to be held on Monday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the District Community Room in Cass Junior High School.
Following our great outside resources and opportunities that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community.
District 86 Community Speaker Series
Glenbard District 87 Community Speaker Series
Indian Prairie Library Presents Families Dealing with Feelings
Updated Lunch MenusOur School Lunch Program page has regularly updated menus and detailed information about pricing and payment. Please be sure to check this page regularly for the most up to date menu information.
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Thursday, September 1
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
1st Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, 7:00 p.m.Monday, September 5
No School - Labor DayFriday, September 9
Early Release Day - Concord 11:15, Cass 12:00 -
Cass63 Connections - August 25, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
The school year couldn’t be off to a better start! It’s truly wonderful seeing the smiling faces and our schools alive again with kids and activities every day. Thank you for entrusting them to our care.
The first of our three curriculum nights kick off tonight with Prekindergarten, 3rd and 4th grade this evening at Concord Elementary School. The schedule and details are below. Cass Junior High School parents, please pay extra attention to the documents that are included below for next Wednesday evening.
I would also like to draw your attention to the new Healthy Kids, Safe Schools section of our website that is explained more below. We are constantly adding resources and will continue to do so to help with the various needs of our students and families. Please reach out to us if you need any assistance.
This section also includes our current school health guidance. As referenced in that section, we are no longer providing school wide low-risk notifications, so please contact me or your child’s school office if you’d like to be notified if there is a positive case in your child’s classroom. We are more than happy to accommodate this request.
I look forward to seeing many of you at one or more of our curriculum nights, as well as the CARE ice cream social Friday evening! As always, please reach out if you have any questions or need anything at all.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
As we start the school year, we invite you to attend curriculum nights which begin tonight for our Prekindergarten, 3rd and 4th grade parents. Please be sure to mark your calendars for the following evenings and times for the respective grade levels. We hope to see all you there!
Thursday, August 25 – Concord Grades PreK, 3 and 4
Prekindergarten – 6:00 p.m.
3rd Grade – 6:30 p.m.
4th Grade – 7:00 p.m.Wednesday, August 31 – Cass Junior High Grades 5 – 8
5th through 8th Grades – 6:30 p.m.All parents attending the Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, please bring this document with you. You will need your student’s schedule to participate in the
activities. 8th Grade parents are also invited to this special meeting immediately following Open House.Thursday, September 1 – Concord Grades 1 and 2
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
1st Grade – 6:30 p.m.
2nd Grade – 7:00 p.m.
Healthy Kids, Safe Schools
We are happy to introduce the new Healthy Kids, Safe Schools section of our website, which includes contact information for our school service personnel under the I need help. Who can I contact? section, in the event you need to reach someone. This section also includes our school health guidance, but our greater goal is to provide resources to help maintain the physical, emotional and mental health of our students and families. There is information related to bullying, cyber safety, mental health, suicide prevention, school safety, prevention of sexual abuse and help for families who may be struggling or in need of assistance.
CARE Back to School Ice Cream Social Friday Night
The CARE Back to School Ice Cream Social is Friday, August 26, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Concord for all students, families and staff at both Concord and Cass. There will also be a photo station, DJ, and other fun as well. An optional $5 donation per family to help offset expenses is greatly appreciated, but up to you. We hope to see you there!
Bus Stop Arm Reminder
This is a reminder to please be mindful of our children who may be walking, as well as when buses stop to pick up or drop off students. Local police will enforce fines when drivers pass when the stop arm is extended and lights are flashing. The diagram below explains the requirements. When in doubt, stop! And please keep the phones put away when driving in and around our schools or when children are present.
Glenbard Parent Series
Our friends in both Glenbard High School District 87 and Hinsdale High School District 86 provide a wide variety of programs that can be helpful to parents. Whenever these opportunities present themselves, we will share information under the Community Connections section below. Here is the Glenbard Parent Series 2022-23 Calendar of Events.
Cross Country Begins August 30!
Cass Junior High’s Cross Country season begins on August 30. Any students interested are welcome to join. Please remember that your child must have an updated IHSA/IESA Pre-Participation Examination on file to join the team. The physical must be dated within the last 365 days of the first date of practice on August 30.
Our School Lunch Program page has regularly updated menus and detailed information about pricing and payment. Menus will be updated as soon as we know of a change. This will greatly improve the accuracy of our menus and you can always double check when planning for your child’s lunches.
School Safety Drills Are Underway
Each school is required to complete certain safety drills each year, something our school district embraces as part of our safety planning. Included in these drills are two lockdown drills, one of which involves the police department. We would like to make families aware of the dates for these drills so you may discuss them with your children either in advance or following the drills.
At Concord Elementary the first lockdown drill was held on August 24 and the second will be held on September 2. At Cass Junior High the first lockdown drill was held on August 23 and the second will be held on September 9. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school office.
Trivia Night is back! Mark your calendars for Friday, October 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Carriage Greens Country Club. Registration is open and the early bird special is $425 for a table of 10 people if you reserve by September 15! Get your team together and reserve your spot now! Tickets can be purchased on the CARE Website.
Community Connections
SunCloud Health for Adolescents and Adults
Glenbard Parent Series 2022-23 Calendar of Events
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Thursday, August 25
Prekindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
4th Grade Curriculum Night, 7:00 p.m.Friday, August 26
CARE Ice Cream Social, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.Monday, August 29
First Day of Prekindergarten AttendanceWednesday, August 31
Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.Thursday, September 1
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
1st Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, 7:00 p.m.Monday, September 5
No School - Labor DayFriday, September 9
Early Release Day - Concord 11:15, Cass 12:00 -
Cass63 Connections - August 18, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
It’s time to kick off the new year and we are very excited to welcome your children back to school! This week’s communication includes very important information that parents need to know to get started, including the following:
- For parents who registered in advance, 2022-23 bus route information is provided via email. To streamline and simplify the process, we are no longer directly emailing specific route and stop information. With the new method, parents who have registered and paid can determine their pickup and drop off locations based on the locations and times provided. Please contact us if you have any questions.
- Parent-Student Orientation Day is Friday and the schedule is under the link. Earlier this week, Concord parents received an email from your child’s teacher with details and links to the information needed, and our Cass Junior High parents received detailed information from Principal Christine Marcinkewicz. If you ordered school supply kits, please be sure to stop by the CARE table at the schools during Orientation Day to pick yours up. This is also school picture day for our Cass Junior High students, so please plan accordingly!
- Since the national school lunch program is no longer subsidizing lunches for all, lunch and milk fees have returned and details are provided below. Also, supply chain issues are impacting our food service provider’s ability to always fulfill the menu. As a result, we have an updated school lunch page with menus that will be updated as soon as we know of a change. This will greatly improve the accuracy of our menus and you can always double check when planning for your child’s lunches.
- I had previously shared with you that we are going to place a greater emphasis on student health and safety in our communications to parents this year. Along those lines, I’m happy to introduce the new Healthy Kids, Safe Schools site. In addition to listing our wonderful school service personnel under "I need help. Who can I contact?" section, this is now a central resource for school health guidance, medical requirements and forms, information on bullying prevention, suicide prevention and crisis support, prevention of sexual abuse and help for families who may be struggling financially among other things. This is just a start, but I wanted to share it with you.
- Speaking of health guidance, the CDC recently updated this information and we have aligned our COVID-19 School Health Guidance with this information. As always, please reach out with any questions or if you need any additional information.
We will see you on Friday at orientation and your kids back at school on Tuesday! Please reach out anytime.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
2022-23 Bus Routes Released
The Cass School District 63 bus routes, pick up and drop off times have been established for the start of the 2022-23 school year. If your family has signed up for a bus route, please review the information that was provided via email to locate the appropriate pick up and/or drop off location adjacent to your home and determine which route and stop your child will utilize.
If you have not registered and paid fees for the bus, your child is not permitted to utilize these services. If you decide bus services are needed for your child, please contact your child's school office. Please note that if an existing stop is not available to you, we will need time to make adjustments to the route. No further adjustments will be made until after Labor Day.
Parents of prekindergarten through 2nd grade students need to make certain that an adult is at the bus stop at the time of drop-off at the end of the school day or the student will not be dropped off. Older siblings accompanying the younger child may allow for some exceptions. If you have any questions, please contact the Concord Elementary School office at 331-481-4000 option 1.
Welcome New Cass 63 Staff!
For the opening of the new school year, we welcome 16 new staff members to the Cass 63 faculty and staff! All of our positions were filled with highly qualified individuals who will do a tremendous job for our students. All of the new staff are pictured above, with the exception of Katie Beringer and Samantha Cerven. Following are our new employees for the 2022-23 school term:
Katie Beringer, District Nurse
Kayla Briant, Teacher Assistant
Samantha Cerven, Occupational Therapist
Lisa Daly, Special Education Teacher
Taylor Dazzo, English Language Arts Teacher
Amy Gorzkowski, English Language Arts Teacher
Joanne Groh, Teacher Assistant
Caitlyn Isaacson, 4th Grade Teacher
Djola Jemin, Special Education Teacher
Karen Lampl, Custodian
Kathy Mensik, Resource Center Assistant
Katy Modglin, Special Education Teacher
Carolyn Rundell, Teacher Assistant
Kerri Soriano, Teacher Assistant
Tim Stangarone, Math and Science Teacher
Sara Zimmerman, School PsychologistIn addition to the new staff, Daniel Murphy will serve as a long-term substitute for Stacie Gray at the beginning of the school year, and Megan Legan later in the fall at Cass Junior High School. Also, Nancy Betker will serve in a similar role for social worker Kathryn Marks while she is on leave for the first part of the school year
The Board of Education held its most recent meeting on August 16. The biggest action at the meeting was placing a referendum on the ballot at the November 8th general election. Similar to the previous effort, the purpose is to resolve the districts safety, security and HVAC replacement needs. More information will be provided soon, but please see the latest Board Briefs for more information.
School Lunch and Milk Fees Return
We want to ensure that parents are aware that school lunches are no longer automatically free for the 2022-23 school year. Lunch fees for the 2022-23 school year are $3.50 and milk prices are $0.50. If your child will be taking advantage of school lunches, you will need to add money onto your child’s lunch account through My School Bucks or by bringing a check to your child’s school office prior to the first day of school on August 23.
Here is school lunch program information, including menus for the first several days of school and the payment portal for My School Bucks. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Underhill at aunderhill@cassd63.org.
Back to school for your children means our annual curriculum nights are around the corner for parents. Please be sure to mark your calendars for the following evenings and times for the respective grade levels.
Thursday, August 25 – Concord Grades PreK, 3 and 4
Prekindergarten – 6:00 p.m.
3rd Grade – 6:30 p.m.
4th Grade – 7:00 p.m.Wednesday, August 31 – Cass Junior High Grades 5 – 8
5th through 8th Grades – 6:30 p.m.Thursday, September 1 – Concord Grades 1 and 2
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
1st Grade – 6:30 p.m.
2nd Grade – 7:00 p.m.
CARE Back to School Ice Cream Social August 26
The CARE Back to School Ice Cream Social is next Friday, August 26, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Concord for all students, families and staff at both Concord and Cass. There will also be a photo station, DJ, and other fun as well. We hope to see you there!
Cross Country Begins August 30!
Cass Junior High’s Cross Country season begins on August 30. Any students interested are welcome to join. Please remember that your child must have an updated IHSA/IESA Pre-Participation Examination on file to join the team. The physical must be dated within the last 365 days of the first date of practice on August 30.
Need Before or After School Child Care?
Cass 63 has a partnership with Ivy League Kids to provide our kindergarten through 8th grade parents with before and after school childcare. To register for the program, go to this registration portal and click on Register Now under Before/After School. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact the main Ivy League Kids office at 815-464-1265 or email contact@ivyleaguekids.org.
School Safety Drills Schedule
Each school is required to complete certain safety drills each year, something our school district embraces as part of our safety planning. Included in these drills are two lockdown drills, one of which involves the police department. We would like to make families aware of the dates for these drills so you may discuss them with your children either in advance or following the drills.
At Concord Elementary the first lockdown drill will be held on August 24 and the second will be held on September 2. At Cass Junior High the first lockdown drill will be held on August 23 and the second will be held on September 9. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school office.
7th Grade Springfield Trip
This year’s 7th grade field trip to the Illinois state capitol is scheduled for Friday, October 21. Here is more information and the deadline for registration is Friday, September 30.
Trivia Night is back! Mark your calendars for Friday, October 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Carriage Greens Country Club. Registration is open and the early bird special is $425 for a table of 10 people if you reserve by September 15! Get your team together and reserve your spot now! Tickets can be purchased on the CARE Website.
Community Connections
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Friday, August 19
District Parent Student Orientation Day (see schedule)
CARE School Supply Kit Pick Up
Cass Junior High Picture DayTuesday, August 23
First Day of K-8 Student AttendanceThursday, August 25
Prekindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
4th Grade Curriculum Night, 7:00 p.m.Monday, August 29
First Day of Prekindergarten AttendanceWednesday, August 31
Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.Thursday, September 1
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
1st Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, 7:00 p.m.Monday, September 5
No School - Labor Day -
Cass63 Connections - August 11, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Our traditional Parent-Student Orientation Day is next Friday, August 19, and we are very excited to welcome our students and parents back to school! The Orientation Day Schedule truly helps with managing the flow of traffic and people, so we appreciate your cooperation with that as much as possible. Please also note that the schools and offices will be closed between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on that day.
Concord Elementary parents will receive an email from their child’s teacher right before orientation with details and links to the information needed. Our junior high students have a number of teachers, so all information will be provided on site the day of orientation at Cass Junior High. Please keep in mind that outstanding fees are required to be paid prior to receiving your child’s teacher assignments or schedule. Also, this is picture day for our Cass Junior High students, so please plan accordingly!
We are very excited to get this school year started and off to a great start. Please reach out if you have any questions at all!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
School Starts August 23!
Students return to school on Tuesday, August 23 (prekindergarten starts on August 29) and we can’t wait to have them back! The 2022-23 school year calendar includes all students attendance dates for the new school year, including orientation day, school holidays, parent-teacher conferences and early dismissal days. Here is our electronic district calendar, which includes all currently scheduled school events and details that you can sync with your personal calendar.
Family Directory Opt Out Deadline August 15
Cass School District 63 is rolling out DirectorySpot this fall as our new application for providing an electronic family directory. Earlier this week, we sent out a communication giving parents an opportunity to opt-out of being included in the Directory. If you plan to have your family information included in the initial rollout of the directory, there is nothing you need to do at this time. However, if you wish to opt all of your family information out of inclusion in the initial roll out of the directory, then please respond here no later than Monday, August 15, 2022.
Softball Tryouts for the 2022-23 school year will be held on August 15 and 16 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at the softball field behind Cass Junior High School. All girls trying out are expected to bring their own equipment. Please remember that your child must have an updated IHSA/IESA Pre-Participation Examination on file to tryout. The physical must be dated within the last 365 days of the tryout date of August 15. If you have any questions or if your child is interested in trying out, please contact Coach Danielle Trezzo at dtrezzo@cassd63.org.
Ivy League Kids Before and After Care Registration
Cass School District 63 partners with Ivy League Kids to provide our kindergarten through 8th grade parents with before and after school childcare. To register for the program, go to this registration portal and click on Register Now under Before/After School to fill out the before and after school program registration form online. Please note that each child will need a separate registration packet.
Here is information regarding fees for the 2022-23 school year. Ivy League Kids accepts Illinois Action for Children Child Care Assistance Program. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact the main Ivy League Kids office at 815-464-1265 or email contact@ivyleaguekids.org.
2022-23 Fee Waiver and Free & Reduced Lunch Application
The Fee Waiver and Free and Reduced Lunch Applications for the 2022-23 school are now available. If you have not been notified through mail that your family has been direct certified but you feel you would qualify for free fees or lunches, please be sure to complete these applications as soon as possible and return them to the District office. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Underhill at aunderhill@cassd63.org.
School Safety Drills Scheduled
Each school is required to complete certain safety drills each year, something our school district embraces as part of our safety planning. Included in these drills are two lockdown drills, one of which involves the police department. We would like to make families aware of the dates for these drills so you may discuss them with your children either in advance or following the drills.
At Concord Elementary the first lockdown drill will be held on August 24 and the second will be held on September 2. At Cass Junior High the first lockdown drill will be held on August 23 and the second will be held on September 9. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school office.
CARE is holding its first meeting of the year via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 15. Following is the information on joining the meeting:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84606113098?pwd=MjNBVDVnUUZDditqVDJISUVERDI5dz09
Meeting ID: 846 0611 3098
Passcode: CARE8/22Save the Dates!
The Back to School Ice Cream Social is Friday, August 26, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Concord Elementary School. We hope to see you there!
Trivia Night is back! Mark your calendars for Friday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m. Registration is open so please be sure to gather your team and reserve your spot!
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Friday, August 19
District Parent Student Orientation Day (see schedule)
Cass Junior High Picture DayTuesday, August 23
First Day of K-8 Student AttendanceThursday, August 25
Prekindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
4th Grade Curriculum Night, 7:00 p.m.Monday, August 29
First Day of Prekindergarten AttendanceWednesday, August 31
Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.Thursday, September 1
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
1st Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, 7:00 p.m.Monday, September 5
No School - Labor Day -
Cass63 Connections - August 4, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Some of you did not receive the first Cass63 Connections of the school year that was distributed last week. This was due to an issue with the Blackboard system on their end, and I apologize for those who did not receive the message. As a result, we are repeating much of last week’s communication. Of course, you can always access our weekly communications under the link above and at www.cassd63.org.
A major emphasis in our planning for the new school year is the health and safety of our students and staff. Not only is student safety one of the three pillars of our Vision 2025 Strategic Plan, but recent tragedies continue to raise the importance of this issue, both in our society and in our schools. We will do whatever we can to be proactive in our planning so that we can do whatever we can to prevent anything of this nature happening in our schools. Required school safety drills are just one aspect of our safety planning, and some information on that is included below.
Another part of student health and safety is providing parents, as well as our students when it is age and developmentally appropriate, with good information. Throughout this year, we will develop and share information with you about things like the new national 988 three-digit dialing code for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The Lifeline provides free and confidential support to people in crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the Lifeline website includes information and resources as well.
Closer to the start of the school year, we will unveil the Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools section of our website. This will include updated health guidance, as well as medical and physical forms, immunization information, nutrition information and other health resources for parents and families. Keep an eye out for that!
As always, please let us know if you have any questions or need anything at all. We are looking forward to the start of a great school year!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Parent-Student Orientation Day August 19
As a reminder, Parent-Student Orientation is scheduled for Friday, August 19. As much as possible, we ask that families follow the Orientation Day Schedule to limit crowds and maximize the opportunity to interact with teachers and staff. Please contact your child’s school office with any questions!
Concord Elementary parents will receive an email from their child’s teacher right before Orientation Day with details and links to the information needed. At Cass Junior High School, students have a number of teachers so all information will be provided on site the day of orientation. More information will be provided, but please contact your child’s school office with any questions!
Students Return Tuesday, August 23!
Students return to school on Tuesday, August 23 (prekindergarten starts on August 29) and we can’t wait to have them back! The 2022-23 school year calendar includes all students attendance dates for the new school year, including orientation day, school holidays, parent-teacher conferences and early dismissal days. As a reminder, early dismissal days take place approximately once per month, with dismissal times of 11:15 a.m. at Concord and 12:00 p.m. at Cass.
Here is the 2022-23 District Calendar, which includes all currently scheduled school events, as well as a one-page calendar summary of all breaks, holidays and early dismissal days.
Still need the school supply list? Here are the lists for Concord Elementary, and here they are for Cass Junior High!
Cass School District 63 is implementing a new grading system that will go into effect with the 2022-23 school year. We developed a unique system for grades 1 through 8 that maintains the strengths of standards-based grading, provides clarity about how your child is performing, and facilitates a smoother transition to high school.
When you click on the performance indicators under the link or at www.cassd63.org, you will see a traditional letter grade and percentage, along with a performance-based descriptor. Rather than using the letter grades D or F at this age level, we provide a more accurate description of needs improvement or incomplete. Separately, we have also maintained our indicators for your child’s work habits.
Eventually, grades will be provided under the PowerSchool Login, but please contact your child's teacher or school office with any questions.
Reminder! Softball Tryouts August 15 and 16
Softball Tryouts for the 2022-23 school year will be held on August 15 and 16 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at the softball field behind Cass Junior High School. All girls trying out are expected to bring their own equipment. Please remember that your child must have an updated IHSA/IESA Pre-Participation Examination on file to tryout. The physical must be dated within the last 365 days of the tryout date of August 15. If you have any questions or if your child is interested in trying out, please contact Coach Danielle Trezzo at dtrezzo@cassd63.org.
Cass School District 63 is rolling out DirectorySpot this fall as our new application for providing an electronic family directory. Parents will have the ability to opt out of inclusion of the initial roll out via a mass email that will be sent out next week, but otherwise can always change their individual settings. The purpose is simply to keep our families connected and our school community close. Please watch for more details next week!
Cass School District 63 partners with Ivy League Kids to provide our kindergarten through 8th grade parents with before and after school childcare. To register for the program, go to this registration portal and click on Register Now under Before/After School to fill out the before and after school program registration form online. Please note that each child will need a separate registration packet.Here is information regarding fees for the 2022-23 school year. Ivy League Kids accepts Illinois Action for Children Child Care Assistance Program. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact the main Ivy League Kids office at 815-464-1265 or email contact@ivyleaguekids.org.
2022-23 Fee Waiver and Free & Reduced Lunch Application
The Fee Waiver and Free and Reduced Lunch Applications for the 2022-23 school are now available. If you have not been notified through mail that your family has been direct certified but you feel you would qualify for free fees or lunches, please be sure to complete these applications as soon as possible and return them to the District office. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Underhill at aunderhill@cassd63.org.
School Safety Drills Scheduled
Each school is required to complete certain safety drills each year, something our school district embraces as part of our safety planning. Included in these drills are two lockdown drills, one of which involves the police department. We would like to make families aware of the dates for these drills so you may discuss them with your children either in advance or following the drills.
At Concord Elementary the first lockdown drill will be held on August 24 and the second will be held on September 2. At Cass Junior High the first lockdown drill will be held on August 23 and the second will be held on September 9. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school office.
7th Grade Springfield Field Trip
This year’s 7th grade field trip to the Illinois state capitol is scheduled for Friday, October 21. Here is more information and the deadline for registration is Friday, September 30.
CARE is holding its first meeting of the year via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 15. Following is the information on joining the meeting:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84606113098?pwd=MjNBVDVnUUZDditqVDJISUVERDI5dz09
Meeting ID: 846 0611 3098
Passcode: CARE8/22
CARE is hosting a Back to School Ice Cream Social on August 26, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Concord Elementary School. We hope to see you there.
Our food service provider Aramark is hiring! If you are interested in a part time job when your children are in school, please take a look at Aramark's available positions and learn how to apply.
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Friday, August 19
District Parent Student Orientation Day (see schedule)
Cass Junior High Picture DayTuesday, August 23
First Day of K-8 Student AttendanceThursday, August 25
Prekindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
4th Grade Curriculum Night, 7:00 p.m.Monday, August 29
First Day of Prekindergarten AttendanceWednesday, August 31
Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.Thursday, September 1
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
1st Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, 7:00 p.m.Monday, September 5
No School - Labor Day -
Cass63 Connections - July 28, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
The start of the 2022-23 school year is just around the corner and it has been a busy summer preparing, hiring staff and getting our schools clean and ready. We will be very excited to welcome our students back on August 23!
This is the first of our 2022-23 Cass63 Connections, which is emailed to our parents and posted on our website each Thursday during the school year. This communication is how we share the vast majority of information from our district and schools. Many important details are shared here and as you will see below, this week is no exception.
While we are proud of our success, we will never stop working to make our school district the best it can be for our students. The opening of the new school year will see the birth of our new STEM program at Concord Elementary, a new math curriculum at both schools, the new grading system, the rollout of a family directory app and an increased focus on the health, safety and welfare of our students and staff.
Never hesitate to reach out with any questions or if we can help in any way. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Parent-Student Orientation Day August 19
Parent-Student Orientation Day is a Cass 63 tradition that provides both parents and students the opportunity to briefly connect together with their child’s school and teachers. This year’s Orientation Day is scheduled for Friday, August 19. As much as possible, we ask that families follow the Orientation Day Schedule to limit crowds and maximize the opportunity to interact with teachers and staff. All Cass Junior High School students will be taking their pictures on Orientation Day as well! More information will be provided, but please contact your child’s school office with questions.
Students Return Tuesday, August 23!
Students return to school on Tuesday, August 23 (prekindergarten starts on August 29) and we can’t wait to have them back! The 2022-23 District Calendar includes all student attendance dates for the new school year and all currently scheduled school events, as well as a one-page calendar summary of all breaks, holidays and early dismissal days. As a reminder, early dismissal days take place approximately once per month, with dismissal times of 11:15 a.m. at Concord and 12:00 p.m. at Cass.
Softball Tryouts August 15 and 16
Softball Tryouts for the 2022-23 school year will be held on August 15 and 16 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at the softball field behind Cass Junior High School. All girls trying out are expected to bring their own equipment. Please remember that your child must have an updated IHSA/IESA Pre-Participation Examination on file to tryout. The physical must be dated within the last 365 days of the tryout date of August 15. If you have any questions or if your child is interested in trying out, please contact Coach Danielle Trezzo at dtrezzo@cassd63.org.
New Family Directory Coming This Fall
With the opening of the new school year, Cass School District 63 will be providing a family directory through an app. Parents will have the ability to opt out of inclusion in the directory if that is preferred. More information and the ability to opt out will be provided prior to the start of the school year.
Cass School District 63 partners with Ivy League Kids to provide our kindergarten through 8th grade parents with the option of high quality before and after school childcare. Here is information regarding fees for the 2022-23 school year. To register for the program, go to this registration portal and click on Register Now under Before/After School to fill out the before and after school program registration form online. Please note that each child will need a separate registration packet.
Ivy League Kids accepts Illinois Action for Children Child Care Assistance Program. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact the main Ivy League Kids office at 815-464-1265 or email contact@ivyleaguekids.org.
Prekindergarten Screening August 1
On Monday, August 1, the prekindergarten program will be holding screenings for 3, 4 and 5-year old children. You can find more information at prekindergarten screenings.
Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools!
Closer to the start of the school year, we will unveil the Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools section of our website. This will include updated school health guidance, as well as medical and physical forms, immunization information, nutrition information and other health resources for parents and families.
2022-23 Fee Waiver and Free & Reduced Lunch Application
The Fee Waiver and Free and Reduced Lunch Applications for the 2022-23 school are now available. If you have not been notified through mail that your family has been direct certified but you feel you would qualify for free fees or lunches, please be sure to complete these applications as soon as possible and return them to the District office. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Underhill at aunderhill@cassd63.org.
The new 988 three-digit dialing code for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is now live. The Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining custom local care and resources with national standards and best practices.
In addition, the Lifeline website includes information and resources on getting help and getting involved, resources for learning and for providers and professionals, and promotional resources to help spread awareness and promote prevention.
Mark Your Calendars ... CARE Meeting! Ice Cream Social! Trivia Night!
CARE is holding its first meeting of the year via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. on August 15. A link to that meeting will be sent next week. The first event of the year is a Back to School Ice Cream Social on August 26, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Concord Elementary School. Also, CARE is bringing back Trivia Night! Get your teams ready for the big night on Friday, October 14, 6:30 p.m. at Carriage Greens Country Club.
Dick’s Sporting Goods has partnered with the IESA to provide a 20 percent discount from July 29 through August 1 to any students participating in school sports this fall. Just print this coupon and bring it with you to take advantage of this great offer.
Our food service provider Aramark is hiring! If you are interested in a part time job when your children are in school, please take a look at Aramark’s available positions and learn how to apply.
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Friday, August 19
District Parent Student Orientation Day (see schedule)
Cass Junior High Picture DayTuesday, August 23
First Day of K-8 Student AttendanceThursday, August 25
Prekindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
4th Grade Curriculum Night, 7:00 p.m.Monday, August 29
First Day of Prekindergarten AttendanceWednesday, August 31
Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.Thursday, September 1
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, 6:00 p.m.
1st Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, 7:00 p.m.Monday, September 5
No School - Labor Day -
Cass63 Connections - June 23, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
On Tuesday, June 28, the voters in our community will decide the future direction of Cass School District 63 as it relates to safety and security, as well as our HVAC systems, indoor air quality and future energy costs. Here is a recent news article covering the referendum. Our Facility Planning FAQs answer every question we have been asked and under this link is our video presentation and voting information.
Regardless of the outcome on June 28, we have had some awesome people contribute to our facilities and finance committees, including staff, parents and community members. We also have a highly ethical and supportive Board of Education who cares deeply about kids and represents our community so well in this critical volunteer role. Without them, we wouldn’t have the long-term vision and detailed plan that we do.
Despite all of the work and time involved with this planning, we remain future-focused in many areas. This includes our new STEM and science position at Concord, updated math curriculum and resources, our clarified academic grading system and our constant effort to improve our communication to you as parents, our culture will remain focused on growth, improvement and simply doing what is best for our kids.
This is our last weekly communication of the summer, and we will pick it up again beginning Thursday, July 28. We are always here in the district office and will keep parents updated with any important news or information as needed.
Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday! As always, thank you for your support of our children and our schools. Have a great summer!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass Junior High Softball Tryouts August 15 and 16
Softball Tryouts for the 2022-23 school year will be held on August 15 and 16 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at the softball field behind Cass Junior High School. All girls trying out are expected to bring their own equipment. Please remember that your child must have an updated IHSA/IESA Pre-Participation Examination on file to tryout. The physical must be dated within the last 365 days of the tryout date of August 15. If you have any questions or if your child is interested in trying out, please contact Coach Danielle Trezzo at dtrezzo@cassd63.org.
Family Directory Coming This Fall
Cass 63 will be providing a family directory this fall through an app that parents can use on their devices. Parents will have the ability to opt out of inclusion in the directory if that is preferred. More information will be provided prior to the start of the school year.
New Academic Grading System
As announced previously, we are implementing a new Academic Grading System that will go into effect with the 2022-23 school year. We developed a unique system that maintains the strengths of standards-based grading, provides clarity about how your child is performing, and facilitates a smoother transition to high school.
Expectations and percentages should be very clear for all students who want to achieve the next (or highest) academic level. As always, we will support all students at every step of the way and continue to establish high academic expectations. More on this will be shared as we open the new school year.
Cass School District 63 partners with Ivy League Kids to provide our kindergarten through 8th grade parents with the option of high quality before and after school childcare. Here is information regarding fees for the 2022-23 school year. To register for the program, go to this registration portal and click on Register Now under Before/After School to fill out the before and after school program registration form online. Please note that each child will need a separate registration packet.
Ivy League Kids accepts Illinois Action for Children Child Care Assistance Program. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact the main Ivy League Kids office at 815-464-1265 or email contact@ivyleaguekids.org.
June 21, 2022 Board Briefs
The Board of Education held its most recent meeting on June 21. The Board approved recommendations for several updated policies, reviewed recommended health and safety protocols, discussed the long-term facility plans and approved the recommended employment of several staff positions. Please see the Board Briefs for more information.
Prekindergarten Screening August 1
On Monday, August 1, the prekindergarten program will be holding screenings for 3, 4 and 5-year old children. You can find more information at prekindergarten screenings.
On Tuesday, June 28, the voters in our community will decide the future direction of Cass School District 63 as it relates to safety and security, as well as our HVAC systems, indoor air quality and future energy costs. The details, facts and rationale for our plans have been provided in every possible format, including our Facility Planning FAQs. Every question we have been asked and then some is provided under this link, along with our video presentation and voting information and timelines. Also, anyone can contact any Board of Education member or Superintendent Mark Cross with any questions at mcross@cassd63.org.
Does Your Child Really Need a Smartphone?
The more we learn and experience, smartphones are distracting, may impact brain development and physical health, and have proven in many cases to be dangerous for kids. The Wait Until 8th Pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay providing children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. By banding together, this will decrease the pressure felt by kids and parents to own a device that potentially may do far more harm than good. This is certainly something for all parents to consider.
Preparing for the 2022-23 School Year
For at least the 2022-23 school year, we are maintaining the traditional Parent-Student Orientation Day, which is scheduled for Friday, August 19. Please review the schedule and mark your calendars. The first day of the 2022-23 school year will be Tuesday, August 23, and the first day of school for blended prekindergarten will be Monday, August 29. Here is the 2022-23 District Calendar, which includes all currently scheduled school events, as well as a one-page summary of holidays, early dismissal days, etc. We will share reminders and updates about fall dates later in the summer.
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Tuesday, June 28
General Primary ElectionThursday, July 28
Cass63 Connections Back to School EditionFriday, August 19
Parent Student Orientation DayTuesday, August 23
First Day of Student Attendance (Kindergarten-8th Grade)Monday, August 29
First Day of Prekindergarten Attendance -
Cass63 Connections - June 16, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
We always strive to pursue positive change where it is needed. One priority that emerged from our strategic planning last fall was the opportunity to improve how we communicate the academic performance of our students. Standards-based grading has many merits, but feedback from our graduates and parents made it clear that we could do better with how this is communicated.
As a result, we are implementing a new Cass 63 Academic Grading System to go into effect with the 2022-23 school year. We developed a unique system that maintains the strengths of standards-based grading, provides clarity about how your child is performing, and facilitates a smoother transition to high school. Information about the new grading system can be found on our website and under each icon and performance category, you will see a traditional letter grade and percentage range plus a standards-based descriptor of your child’s progress. This consistent grading scale will apply for every subject and every year from 2nd through 8th grade.
We do not see merit in assigning D or F letter grades when our students struggle from time to time. There is no reason or benefit in labelling a child as a failure academically at this age. We want to implement something unique and focused on the long-term academic growth of our students. We are not de-emphasizing or “sugar coating” substandard performance. Our goals are quite the opposite, and you will see that we have separate grades for work habits for this very purpose.
Expectations and percentages are now very clear for all students who want to achieve the next (or highest) academic level. As always, we will support all students at every step of the way. We will also continue to establish high academic expectations. We are implementing this change in PowerSchool throughout the summer, and we will share an orientation on what you can expect to see as soon as we return to school in the fall.
Please reach out to Dr. Anderson, Mrs. Marcinkewicz or me if you have any specific questions in the meantime. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass Junior High Field Day
Our 5th, 6th and 7th grade students enjoyed an end of the year field day including fun activities such as softball, kickball, chalk art, dancing in the gym with a DJ, karaoke and a movie. With this great variety of choices, every student had multiple things that they enjoy to choose from and a great day was had by all!
The Wait Until 8th Pledge
Do young kids really need a smartphone? The more we learn and experience, smartphones are distracting and potentially dangerous for children, and every major carrier has phones that simply call and text without a data plan.
The Wait Until 8th Pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. By banding together, this will decrease the pressure felt by kids and parents alike over the kids having a smartphone.
The school district has been providing factual information to our parents, taxpayers and community as part of our facility planning efforts. Unfortunately, there is information being distributed in our community about the June 28 referendum question that is factually incorrect. It is also anonymous with no ability to verify the source of information.
In contrast to that approach, here are our facility planning FAQs, which have been vetted by our 12-member Facilities Committee, our Board of Education, and our taxpayers and community from three public community meetings. We know not everyone who may have questions can attend those meetings, so if you are interested, here is our video presentation. More factual information is also being provided via mail to all households in the district this coming week.
For those interested, here are the voting details for the June 28 election. We welcome the questions as we simply want our community to have accurate and detailed information. Please reach out anytime to mcross@cassd63.org with any questions or concerns.
Summer Parent Communications
We will continue with our weekly Cass63 Connections through June 23 and will then resume weekly communications on July 28. We are always here in the district office and will keep parents updated over the summer with any important news or information as needed. Also, the Cass63 Connections never go away should you need to look back for any reason.
Prekindergarten Screening August 1
On Monday, August 1, the prekindergarten program will be holding screenings for 3, 4 and 5-year old children. You can find more information at prekindergarten screenings.
Preparing for the 2022-23 School Year
For at least the 2022-23 school year, we are maintaining the traditional Parent-Student Orientation Day, which is scheduled for Friday, August 19. Please review the schedule and mark your calendars. The first day of the 2022-23 school year will be Tuesday, August 23, and the first day of school for blended prekindergarten will be Monday, August 29. Here is the 2022-23 District Calendar, which includes all currently scheduled school events, as well as a one-page summary of holidays, early dismissal days, etc. We will share reminders and updates about fall dates later in the summer.
Alumni Corner
A huge congratulations to Cass 63 graduate Charlie Nilles who has returned home to Darien with three medals in swimming at the National USA Special Olympics recently held in Orlando, Florida. Charlie won Silver in his 500 Freestyle, Bronze in his 200 Individual Medley and Team Illinois took Bronze in the 4 x 50 Medley Relay. Congratulations, Charlie!
Community Connections
The American Music Institute is holding Music Camps and Lessons over the summer.
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Tuesday, June 28
General Primary ElectionThursday, July 28
Cass63 Connections Back to School EditionFriday, August 19
Parent Student Orientation DayTuesday, August 23
First Day of Student Attendance (Kindergarten-8th Grade)Monday, August 29
First Day of Prekindergarten Attendance -
Cass63 Connections - June 9, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
We are less than three weeks from the June 28 general primary election. Included on the ballot will be a question asking for voter approval to address our facility needs as it relates to safety, security, and our HVAC systems in Cass School District 63. As you know by now, the details are right here in our facility planning FAQs.
During April and May, we also held three public presentations that were well-received and appeared to answer the questions of those who were in attendance. For those who could not attend, here is our facilities planning video presentation.
We keep this topic in front of our community because we want people to have accurate and factual information. If you hear something that contradicts what we share as a district, please ask! We welcome the questions, even if it comes from unknown or anonymous sources.
Our Board of Education and staff is very proud of our long-term planning and effort to provide our students and community with safe, secure and healthy schools in the most cost-effective manner. We are equally proud of doing this with completely honest, transparent and factual details.
Please feel free to share this with anyone who may have questions on this topic. More voting information is also provided below. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Congratulations to the Cass Junior High School Class of 2022! Our 8th grade commencement ceremonies were held on June 2 as we celebrated 89 students who are ending their time at Cass School District 63 and moving onto the next step in their educational journey. We wish each and every graduate the very best of luck and we look forward to hearing about your continued successes in the future.
New 2022-23 Academic Grading System
Next week’s communication will include information about our new academic grading system that will go into effect with the 2022-23 school year.
4th Grade Clap Out and ACES (All Children Exercising Simultaneously)
Graduation is not the only celebration in Cass School District 63. On the last day of school at Concord, it is the tradition to send our 4th graders off to Cass Junior High for 5th grade with a clap out. On the same day, Concord participates in ACES as a way to come together as a school before school ends for the summer. These are great traditions for our students. Please take a look at these pictures to see the fun that was had by all.
Concord Elementary Field Day
Another great Concord Elementary end of the year activity is Field Day. Field Day is full of lots of different activities for students to enjoy. This time honored tradition is a favorite of all of our students and as you can see in these pictures, the kids all had a fantastic time.
June 28 Referendum Information
As part of an ongoing plan to improve safety, security, indoor air quality, energy efficiency and long-term savings, we have a referendum on the ballot for the June 28 general primary election. Under this link are voting deadlines and details, including the fact that June 12 is the last day for voters to register online to vote through the State Board of Elections website. June 13 is the first day of in-person early voting at permanent polling places other than the office of the election authority.
These and other voting details are also provided under Question #20 of our facility planning FAQs.
Summer Parent Communications
We will continue with our weekly Cass63 Connections through June 23 and will then resume weekly communications on July 28. We are always here in the district office and will keep parents updated over the summer with any important news or information as needed. Also, the Cass63 Connections never go away should you need to look back for any reason.
Prekindergarten Screening August 1
On Monday, August 1, the prekindergarten program will be holding screenings for 3, 4 and 5-year old children. You can find more information at prekindergarten screenings.
Preparing for the 2022-23 School Year
For at least the 2022-23 school year, we are maintaining the traditional Parent-Student Orientation Day, which is scheduled for Friday, August 19. Please review the schedule and mark your calendars. The first day of the 2022-23 school year will be Tuesday, August 23, and the first day of school for blended prekindergarten will be Monday, August 29. Here is the 2022-23 District Calendar, which includes all currently scheduled school events, as well as a one-page summary of holidays, early dismissal days, etc. We will share reminders and updates about fall dates later in the summer.
Community Connections
Mark your calendars for the DuPage County Back to School Fair on August 10, 2022. More information can be found here in English and in Spanish.
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Tuesday, June 28
General Primary ElectionThursday, July 28
Cass63 Connections Back to School EditionFriday, August 19
Parent Student Orientation DayTuesday, August 23
First Day of Student Attendance (Kindergarten-8th Grade)Monday, August 29
First Day of Prekindergarten Attendance -
Cass63 Connections - June 2, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Congratulations to the Cass Junior High School Class of 2022! This year's 89 graduates are ready to move forward with their education at the high school level, and we couldn't be more proud of them! The commencement ceremony is this evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Cass Junior High gymnasium. Doors open for parents and the public at 6:00 p.m. This ceremony culminates nine years of education in Cass School District 63, and even more for our graduates who started as preschoolers. The Class of 2022 is ready for the next big step.
Recognition Night was held Tuesday evening at Cass Junior High School, as our faculty, staff and administration honored over 200 students for their accomplishments. The evening includes a wide variety of memorial and departmental awards, as well as our academic award recipients from 5th through 8th grade. We made a huge mistake and sincerely apologize that all parents were not invited to the ceremony. This was a big error on our part and something for which we take total responsibility. In an effort to make sure our current students are appropriately recognized, we created a special page with a listing of all 2022 Recognition Night honorees. This is provided below and is also featured on our homepage at www.cassd63.org. I personally apologize to the parents who were not notified, as effective communication is something we pride ourselves on as a school district. We own the mistake and it won't happen again.
Congratulations to each of our graduates for their hard work and accomplishments so far. We wish you the best in high school and beyond! Also, congratulations to all of our students who earned the recognition for their academic achievements. We are proud of our kids and truly appreciate you as parents who love and support them. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass Junior High School Recognition Night
The faculty, staff and administration recently honored many of our Cass Junior High School students at Recognition Night for their accomplishments this year. To make certain that our students are recognized, we created a special page with a listing of all 2022 Recognition Night honorees. Please also enjoy these pictures from the evening. Congratulations to all of our students for their accomplishments!
Last Day, Early Dismissal and Final Grades Friday, June 3
Our final day of the school year is tomorrow, Friday, June 3. Concord will be released at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00.
We expect that final grades will largely be available tomorrow, although some tests and papers are still being graded. As a result, some grades may not be finalized until next week and will show up in PowerSchool as soon as they are complete. To access grades, please review How to Check Progress in PowerSchool (Report Cards).
Summer Parent Communications
We will continue with our weekly Cass63 Connections through June 23 and will then resume weekly communications on July 28. Of course we are always here in the district office and will keep parents updated over the summer with any important news or information as needed. Also, the Cass63 Connections never go away should you need to look back for any reason.
June 28 Referendum Information
As part of an ongoing plan to improve safety, security, indoor air quality, energy efficiency and long-term savings for both the district and our taxpayers, we have a referendum on the ballot for the June 28 general primary election. We have held three community meetings and will soon release a video summary of our presentation. Factual information for our community is provided in our facility planning FAQs, and a second informational flyer will soon be sent to all households in the district.
Parent-Student Orientation and the 2022-23 School Year
For at least the 2022-23 school year, we are maintaining the traditional Parent-Student Orientation Day, which is scheduled for Friday, August 19. Please review the schedule and mark your calendars. The first day of the 2022-23 school year will be Tuesday, August 23, and the first day of school for blended prekindergarten will be Monday, August 29. Here is the 2022-23 District Calendar, which includes all currently scheduled school events, as well as a one-page summary of holidays, early dismissal days, etc. We will share reminders and updates about fall dates later in the summer.
5th & 6th Grade MAP Field Trip
The Mind Adventure Program (MAP) serves students who have been formally identified for the gifted program. On May 24, our 5th and 6th grade MAP students had a phenomenal day learning about and experiencing Chicago architecture.
Kindergarten Learns About Bugs
Concord Elementary kindergarten students recently had a “Bugs Around” field trip at Morton Arboretum. The students had a wonderful time learning and exploring for bugs. Please enjoy more pictures from this exciting day of hands on learning.
Science Students Break Ground on Expanded Garden
Under the direction of Mrs. West, 7th grade students worked together to break ground for the expansion and redesign of the Cass Junior High garden. Using shovels and brute strength, students were able to remove several feet of grass along the edge of the existing garden. The vision is to develop this additional green space into a pollinator garden, a Monarch butterfly milkweed area and a section dedicated to the health and well-being of our students.
This green space will also create opportunities for leadership development, problem solving skills, working collaboratively with others, planning, mentoring, writing, speaking, observing and coordination of group efforts and goals creating an opportunity to educate all district students about the benefits of designing and maintaining a living garden classroom that also supports pollination efforts, citizen science and environmental stewardship.
We appreciate CARE’s support of the garden expansion project!
4th Grade Visits Cass Junior High School
Our 4th grade students are ending their time at Concord and looking forward to moving to Cass Junior High. To help with this transition, the 4th grade students were welcomed to the junior high by students and staff. Students arrived to welcoming messages outside of the school, heard from current junior high students and staff and took a tour around the school to help them be better prepared for 5th grade. Please take a look at some of these wonderful messages the students found when they arrived.
Prekindergarten Screening August 1
On Monday, August 1, the prekindergarten program will be holding screenings for 3, 4 and 5-year old children. You can find more information at prekindergarten screenings.
Schoolkitz for the 2022-23 school year are available to order now! Save money, save time, support our schools, and mark off a back-to-school task all in one when you purchase your back-to-school supplies through us!
This link will take you to the Concord Elementary School order site, and here is the link for the Cass Junior High School site. There is a $5 per toolkit savings for orders submitted by June 3. You can also go to www.schoolkitz.com for more information.
COVID-19 Data Dashboard
Here is the current COVID-19 Data Dashboard for both the most recent two weeks, as well as cumulative totals for the 2021-22 school year.
CARE May Events
- Last Day of School Ice Cream Celebration – The Dairy Queen in Willowbrook is hosting an opportunity to both treat your kids to ice cream to celebrate the end of the year AND support CARE one last time this school year. Twenty percent of proceeds between noon and 10:00 p.m. on Friday, June 3 will go to CARE. We hope to see you there!
Alumni Corner
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Congratulations to Hinsdale South senior Elijah John who was one of two students who received the Fermi Award which is awarded to students who have shown outstanding dedication to and enthusiasm for science!
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Congratulations to Hinsdale South seniors Hunter Long and Gracie Wilcox who were awarded the American Legion Student Awards. These students were chosen for embodying the American Legion values of scholarship, courage, leadership and service.
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Congratulations to Maggie Chen for placing 5th in the Badminton IHSA State Finals and for being named Hinsdale South athlete of the week.
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Congratulations to Hinsdale South student Amari Alexander who was part of the all-conference 4x200 relay track team.
Community Connections
Mark your calendars for the DuPage County Back to School Fair on August 10, 2022. More information can be found here in English and in Spanish.
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Thursday, June 2
8th Grade Graduation, 7:00 p.m.Friday, June 3
Last Day of Student Attendance
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00Thursday, July 28
Cass63 Connections Back to School EditionFriday, August 19
Parent Student Orientation DayTuesday, August 23
First Day of Student Attendance (Kindergarten-8th Grade)Monday, August 29
First Day of Prekindergarten Attendance -
Cass63 Connections - May 26, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
We are down to the final few days of a phenomenal school year! This year has been a huge challenge on many levels, but I am so proud of our students and staff. Through it all, we have maintained our focus on the education and safety of our students, while making sure everything is "back to normal" for the kids. Here in Cass 63, we are ending the year on the highest note with more activities, trips and end of the year celebrations than we can count.
Sadly, the fun of wrapping up a great school year is also overshadowed by the tragedy of what took place in Texas earlier this week. I can assure you it weighs heavily on all of us here not only because we see the unnecessary pain and suffering of children, educators and their families, but also because of the great responsibility to do everything possible to keep our kids safe. While the odds are low and we believe that our schools are very safe, these tragedies have become far too common, and we can take nothing for granted. As a reminder, here are some resources from the letter I shared with parents yesterday and below we have information on Safe2Help.
Along these lines, over the last 48 hours I have been asked multiple times about our facility planning as it relates to safety and security. So much of the focus is on our HVAC improvements, because that is the costliest item as it relates to the ballot question for the June 28 referendum. However, it is absolutely true that we also have three related needs as explained in our facility planning FAQs. This includes replacing our old fire alarm systems, updating and modernizing the video surveillance systems, and purchasing an integrated intercom and communication system for extreme emergencies and safety situations. Without question, the investments in our video surveillance and internal communication systems are very important. These are equal needs at both of our schools and something that has been a huge priority in our facility planning, long before the most recent tragedy.
Any questions of this nature are very welcome. Last night was our third and final scheduled facility information meeting, and we appreciate those who were able to attend. For those who were not able to do so, by early next week we will share a recorded webcast of the presentation.
There is no school Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday. Enjoy the weekend as a family, and we will see your kids next week for the final four days of the school year!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Congratulations Class of 2022! 8th Grade Graduation June 2
We are excited to celebrate the Class of 2022 with 8th grade graduation in the Cass Junior High School gymnasium on Thursday, June 2, at 7:00 p.m. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and no tickets are necessary. Congratulations to our graduates and best of luck in high school! We cannot wait to see where this next road takes you.
When a trusted adult is not available, Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicide, bullying, school violence or other threats to child or school safety. This site is an incredible resource that also includes an anonymous tip line in the event children, parents or community members become aware of potential threats to safety.
There are also numbers to call or text for help. Parents are encouraged to review the resources available on the site, and this can also be downloaded as an app. Just look for “Safe2HelpIL” at the App Store or on Google Play.
Schoolkitz for the 2022-23 school year are available to order now! Save money, save time, support our schools, and mark off a back-to-school task all in one when you purchase your back-to-school supplies through us!
This link will take you to the Concord Elementary School order site, and here is the link for the Cass Junior High School site. There is a $5 per toolkit savings for orders submitted by June 3. You can also go to www.schoolkitz.com for more information.
Wojciech Gilarski Selected for All-Illinois Junior Band
Cass Junior High 8th grade trumpet player Wojciech Gilarski was selected to perform with the All-Illinois Junior Band and recently performed in the festival at the University of Illinois. Congratulations to Wojciech on this amazing accomplishment!
8th Grade Students Explore Locally
While some of the 8th grade class was in Washington, D.C., the 8th graders who remained behind had the chance to explore sites closer to home. From Cantigny to The Forge, the students had wonderful opportunities to learn and have fun right here. Please take a look at the pictures from the local 8th grade adventures.
Cass School District 63 provides facts and details on the facilities referendum to help voters make an informed decision at the upcoming election. This includes information to check if you are a registered voter and how to locate your polling place, as well as how to find an in-person voter registration location near you if you prefer to vote in person.
For all other information, please visit the DuPage County Election page. Following are several upcoming dates for the June 28, 2022 primary election:
May 19, 2022 First day for mailing or delivery of vote by mail ballot. First day for early voting at the office of the election authority and temporary locations designated by the election authority, which includes the DuPage County Fairgrounds.
June 12, 2022 Last day for voters to register online to vote through the State Board of Elections website.
June 13, 2022 First day of in-person early voting at permanent polling places other than the office of the election authority. Here is a PDF listing of early voting locations.
For more details, see #20 of our Facility Planning FAQs.
An Exothermic Reaction!
The Cass Junior High 8th grade science classes are studying exothermic reactions through hands-on learning!
Therapy Dogs Visit Concord
Therapy dogs Bodhi and Bane visited with the Concord 4th grade advanced math class recently as a culminating activity to celebrate their dog park projects. Here are more pictures of the students and their projects.
Cass Junior High will be hosting Summer Band Camps this summer. Please see this flyer for the dates and other information.
As the school year winds down, the lost and found at our schools has grown. If you think your child may have left something behind at Concord, a lost and found is set up in the Concord vestibule for parents to stop by to take a look at their convenience. At Cass, please have your child check the lost and found in the multipurpose room (lunch room). Anything remaining at the end of the school year will be donated.
COVID-19 Data Dashboard
Here is the current COVID-19 Data Dashboard for both the most recent two weeks, as well as cumulative totals for the 2021-22 school year.
CARE May Events
- 8th Grade Graduation Seat Auction - For families wanting the opportunity to secure the best seats in the house for graduation, the auction closes at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 27. Please be sure to place your bid!
- Last Day of School Ice Cream Celebration – This is a great opportunity to both treat your kids to ice cream to celebrate the end of the year and support CARE one last time this school year. We hope to see you there!
Alumni Corner
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Congratulations to College of DuPage student Megan Dooley who was part of the team that created posters for the League of Women Voters of Wheaton.
Community Connections
DuPage County Health Department Baby Formula Facts
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Monday, May 30
Memorial Day – No SchoolTuesday, May 31
Cass Junior High School Recognition Night, 7:00 p.m.Thursday, June 2
8th Grade Graduation, 7:00 p.m.Friday, June 3
Last Day of Student Attendance (Kindergarten-8th Grade) and
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00 -
Cass63 Connections - May 19, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
My apologies for the longer message, but we have some wonderful news to share! Last week I referenced some exciting things that are coming as a result of our Strategic Plan. Perhaps the most obvious will be significant changes to our grading system starting this fall. With the input of graduates and parents through our surveys and obviously our wonderful teachers here at school, Mrs. Marcinkewicz, Dr. Anderson and I worked to come up with a plan that maintains the strengths of standards-based grading, provides better clarity about how your child is performing academically, and helps make a smooth transition to high school. We reviewed this plan with the Board of Education earlier this week, and they are extremely supportive of the changes.
Once implemented, when you look at your child’s performance you will see a clear descriptor of your child’s progress, along with a traditional letter grade and percentage. This will be for every subject and with the same consistent scale from 2nd through 8th grade. We are not doing this the easy way, but we are going to do it the right way. As a result, we have much work to do over the summer, but I will share the details of our plan with you before the end of the school year. It will be posted prominently on our website as a permanent reference for you. Please watch for more information in the coming weeks!
Something we think is even more exciting is the planned addition of a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) facilitator/teacher at Concord Elementary School this fall! With the emphasis on reading, language arts and math in particular at the early grade levels, it is common that science sometimes gets pushed aside until junior high. We would rather find better ways to engage our students and ignite in them a passion for science early on, and I commend Dr. Anderson, Ms. Doyle and the staff at Concord for thinking outside the box on how we can achieve our goals and raise the bar in this area for our younger students! More on this will be shared, and I am so grateful for the Board of Education’s support of this exciting development.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the other exciting opportunity in Cass 63, which is proactively and cost-effectively resolving our safety, security and HVAC needs. This is on the ballot for June 28, and we will continue our efforts to keep our parents, community and taxpayers well informed with factual information. The district is hosting two more facility information meetings this coming week.
The next information meeting is completely virtual via Zoom on Monday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m. Just click on the link to access the meeting. We will then host another in person meeting on Wednesday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cass Junior High choral room (room 125). Details are also available under our Facility Planning FAQs, which we will continue to update until every single question is answered. Every effort is being made to be completely transparent with our plans, solutions and costs.
We have a lot of exciting things taking place in this amazing school district, and the support of our parents and community is appreciated more than you know. Never hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns at all. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Recognition of Staff Service and Retirements
The Board of Education and Mr. Cross recognized the following individuals for achieving milestones of dedicated service to the district, as well as one retiring staff member.
10 Years of Service – Beth Dooley, Katie Doyle and Mike McLean
15 Years of Service – Dr. Laura Anderson, Filomena Manna-DeChiara and Amy Underhill
20 Years of Service – Helen Park
25 Years of Service – Yvonne Ilko and Wayne Ostrowski
30 Years of Service – Jen Callahan, Karen Hyder, Kristen Orr and Angela Zurawski
Retiree Yvonne Ilko – In addition to reaching 25 years of service, Cass library assistant Yvonne Ilko is also retiring this year. We want to thank her for all that she has done for our students and wish her the very best as she begins this new chapter. Congratulations, Mrs. Ilko!
Collectively, these staff members have 265 years of service in our district!
2022-23 Registration Closes Tomorrow
Registration for the 2022-23 school is closing tomorrow. If you have not already done so, you must register your children. Even if you are not intending to pay for registration at this time, you are still required to register so that we can plan, schedule and assign for the coming school year. Please take a look at the 2022-23 registration information, which includes the details and information you need. Thank you!
4th Grade Parent Night May 24
Attention 4th grade parents! Please join us on Tuesday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Cass Junior High in Room 125 for our 4th Grade Parent Night. At this meeting, we will discuss what you and your child can expect as they transition to Cass Junior High and 5th grade in the fall..
8th Grade Visits D.C., Lays Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Our 8th grade students just returned from Washington, D.C. and had an incredible trip. Our students represented Cass School District 63 very well. One of the highlights was the honor of visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in which students Anna Wilcox and Elliot Davis were honored with the responsibility of laying the wreath before the tomb. It was a very moving moment for our students and staff. Thank you to Principal Christine Marcinkewicz and teacher Ken Kohnke for taking care of our students and providing our 8th graders with this incredible opportunity. For more highlights from the trip, please see the Washington, D.C. trip pictures.
7th Grade Visits Springfield
Our 7th grade students visited the Illinois state capitol last week, spending the day exploring Springfield and learning the history of Illinois. Here are pictures of some of the great experiences and fun things they were able to see and do.
May 17, 2022 Board Briefs
The Board of Education held its most recent meeting on May 17. The Board recognized staff members for their years of service and retirement, reviewed progress with our strategic plan, discussed the adjusted grading system that will go into effect at the start of the 2022-23 school year, and approving the recommended employment of several key staffing positions and the addition of a full-time school district nurse and occupational therapist. Please see the Board Briefs for more information.
Facility Planning Update Meetings Next Week
The school district is hosting two facility information meetings next week. The next information meeting is completely virtual via Zoom on Monday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m. A final in person meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cass Junior High choral room (room 125).
This information is very important and these meetings are an opportunity to learn about the plans, solutions and costs, as well as to ask any questions. More information is also available under our Facility Planning FAQs. We hope to see you there!
Early Voting Starts Today
DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek has announced that voters can now submit their paper ballots for the General Primary Election beginning Thursday, May 19 at the county’s early voting site at the DuPage County Fairgrounds (Building 2), 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton. Here are the details and hours for on-site early voting.
For more information, including to see if you are a registered voter, how to locate your polling place, as well as how to find an in-person voter registration location near you if you prefer to vote in person, please visit the DuPage County Election page.
Successful Soccer Seasons
The girls and boys soccer seasons have come to a close for Cass Junior High. They had a great season of growth and a few good wins! Thank you to coaches AJ Petigo and Ken Kohnke for leading these athletes through a fantastic season.
Boys Volleyball Wraps Up
The boys volleyball season came to a close and they should be proud of how hard they worked and how much they have grown in their sport. Congratulations to Coach Landon Mitchell and the boys on a great season!
4th Grade Band Recruitment Night
Cass Junior High is proud to have an award-winning band. On Thursday, May 26, there will be a band recruitment night for all incoming 5th grade students. Please see this letter from Mrs. Legan, and this flyer with more information about this upcoming meeting and how and when you can attend. We hope your soon-to-be 5th grade students take advantage of this wonderful program.
Save the Date - Summer Band Camp
Cass Junior High will be hosting Summer Band Camps this summer. Please see this flyer for more information.
2022-23 School Supply Kits
Schoolkitz for the 2022-23 school year are available to order now! Save money, save time, support our schools, and mark off a back-to-school task all in one when you purchase your back-to-school supplies through us!
This link will take you to the Concord Elementary School order site, and here is the link for the Cass Junior High School site. There is a $5 per toolkit savings for orders submitted by June 3. You can also go to www.schoolkitz.com for more information.
Welcome Class of 1966!
Last week, Principal Christine Marcinkewicz welcomed the Class of 1966 who came to tour the building before their high school reunion. The Class of 1966 consisted of 19 students and the building was roughly a third of the size it is now. It was great hearing their memories!
Lost and Found
As the school year winds down, the lost and found at our schools has grown. If you think your child may have left something behind at Concord, a lost and found will be set up in the Concord vestibule for parents to stop by to take a look at their convenience. At Cass, please have your child check the lost and found in the multipurpose room (lunch room). Anything remaining at the end of the school year will be donated.
COVID-19 Data Dashboard
Here is the current COVID-19 Data Dashboard for both the most recent two weeks, as well as cumulative totals for the 2021-22 school year.
CARE May Events
- 8th Grade Graduation Seat Auction - For families wanting the opportunity to secure the best seats in the house for graduation, here is your chance to try to take care of that before graduation day.
- Last Day of School Ice Cream Celebration – This is a great opportunity to both treat your kids to ice cream to celebrate the end of the year and support CARE one last time this school year. We hope to see you there!
Alumni Corner
- Congratulations to Hinsdale South student Dimitrije Gujanicic for placing 24th in C++ Programming at the BPA Nationals held in Dallas, Texas.
- Congratulations to Hinsdale South World Language Honors Society Inductees Alexandra Cima, Veanka Francisco, Tyler Hallman, Parth Joshi, Yumi Li, Nicole Pacasova and Ellen Mulgrew.
- Congratulations to Makena Camden who will be the 2022-23 District 86 Board Liaison from Hinsdale South.
- Congratulations to Hinsdale South’s Connor Wyent who placed 9th on the high bar and 10th in the all-around and floor exercise at the Boys Gymnastics sectional tournament.
- Congratulations to Katie Joseph who is the Hinsdale South Female Athlete of the Week.
Community Connections
Ike’s Fish for Fun – A Free Youth Fishing Event
DePaul Basketball Camps for kids Age 5 through 17
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Friday, May 20
2022-23 Registration DeadlineMonday, May 23
Facility Information Meeting (virtual) 6:30 p.m.Wednesday, May 25
Facility Information Meeting, 6:30 p.m.Monday, May 30
Memorial Day – No SchoolTuesday, May 31
Cass Junior High School Recognition Night, 7:00 p.m.Thursday, June 2
8th Grade Graduation, 7:00 p.m.Friday, June 3
Last Day of Student Attendance (Kindergarten-8th Grade) and
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00 -
Cass63 Connections - May 12, 2022
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
I love our school district. Our parents are so supportive and the staff is simply second to none. Getting to see our awesome kids perform so well in their spring activities has been so much fun. We have so many positive things taking place and even though the school year is about to end, you can feel the momentum as we move toward fulfilling the goals of our Vision 2025 Strategic Plan. Next week, we expect to announce some things that will emerge from that vision and plan.
In the meantime, we continue to work on plans to address our needs as it relates to safety, security and our heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. We have two upcoming community information meetings that will be held via Zoom on Monday, May 23 and in person on Tuesday, May 25 at Cass Junior High, both starting at 6:30 p.m.
Addressing this is a critical need and at these meetings, we will present the information and answer every question. This is on the June 28 general primary election ballot and we want everyone to be aware of the issues, needs and costs as it relates to the future of our facilities. We will be sharing more on this over the next six weeks, as we want everyone to be well-informed. I would highly recommend that everyone in our school community review the Facility Planning FAQs, which we continue to update as questions arise.
If you are interested in learning more or helping share factual information with the community, please let me know. As always, please reach out anytime with any questions. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Important! 2022-23 Registration Deadline Next Friday
The deadline for 2022-23 registration is next Friday. To assign teachers, courses, bus stops and other necessary work in the offices, registration will be turned off after this date. Please take a look at the 2022-23 registration information, which includes the details and information you need. Please be sure you have completed the registration for each child. This is not completed until you have reached and submitted the “Finishing Step to Registration Process.” Thank you!
Spring Band Concert
The Spring Band Concert was held recently at Cass Junior High. The evening was full of wonderful music performed by talented musicians under the direction of Megan Duffy-Legan.
4th Grade Band Recruitment Night
Cass Junior High is proud to have an award-winning band. On Thursday, May 26, there will be a band recruitment night for all incoming 5th grade students. Please see this letter from Mrs. Legan, and this flyer with more information about this upcoming meeting and how and when you can attend. We hope your soon-to-be 5th grade students take advantage of this wonderful program.
6th Grade Learns About Lewis and Clark Expedition
As 6th grade students wrapped up their study of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Mrs. Patrey, they acted as explorers who were sent by the United States government to find a new species. While enjoying the beautiful outdoors, students took a journey to explore and collect information about a new species on the grounds of Cass Junior High. They also had the option of using their imaginations by creating their own species. Students then presented their new discovery to the class by explaining its characteristics, behaviors, and usefulness to the United States.
Concord Yearbook Information
The 2021-22 school year yearbooks have arrived and were delivered today to all students who ordered and paid for them. Please see this flyer for more information on the yearbook delivery.
If you did not order a yearbook for your child, there is still a chance to get one for them for this year. There will be a yearbook raffle on Wednesday, May 18. Please review this important information on how to enter the raffle.
National Nurses Day
On Friday, May 6 we celebrated National Nurses Day with nurses Katie Robinson and Katie Beringer. We appreciate these two outstanding nurses that have shared the responsibility of taking care of our Concord students this school year!
Scholastic Bowl Season Wraps Up
The Scholastic Bowl season has come to a close, and the Cass Warriors came in second place after a hard-fought season filled with many ups and downs. After a year of remote competition, it was extra enjoyable to return to in-person meets and the students had a great time preparing and competing against their peers at other schools. Thank you to CARE and the Wirth family for their generosity in helping the team celebrate its achievement. We look forward to next year, working hard to uphold our school's reputation as a great competitor!
Track and Field Teams Enjoy Success!
This week, our Cass Track and Field team wrapped up an outstanding 2022 season. The students braved the cold, rain and snow over the past six weeks as they practiced both short and long-distance running events as well as throwing and jumping events. After setting many personal records, we were proud to qualify six athletes for the SDEAA Conference Track Meet. Congratulations to everyone on the team, and we hope to see you out again next spring!
Community Information Meeting Scheduled for May 23 and 25
The Board of Education and Superintendent Mark Cross recently hosted the first of three community information meetings. This lead to great discussion and dialogue with the community members present, but we hope to have more participation at the next two opportunities. The meetings are being held to provide detailed information and respond to any questions about the June 28 ballot question to address safety and security concerns, as well as replacement of the district’s HVAC systems with a highly efficient geothermal system.
The remaining meetings are scheduled for the following dates, times and locations:
Monday, May 23, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom (link posted prior to the meeting)
Wednesday, May 25, 6:30 p.m. at Cass Junior High School
Details and information regarding the school district’s plans can be found on the district’s website under Facility Planning Frequently Asked Questions.
Lost and Found
As the school year winds down, the lost and found at Concord and Cass has grown. If you think your child may have left something behind at Concord, a lost and found will be set up in the Concord vestibule for parents to stop by to take a look at their convenience. If you think your child may have left something behind at Cass, please have your child check the lost and found in the multipurpose room (lunch room). Anything still left at the end of the school year will be donated.
Summer Food Service Programs
For any families interested, there are opportunities to obtain meal assistance over the summer. If you would like more information on the summer food service programs, please contact the Northern Illinois Food Bank at 630-443-6910 or Summer Meals Illinois at 800-359-2163.
COVID-19 Data Dashboard
Here is the current COVID-19 Data Dashboard for both the most recent two weeks, as well as cumulative totals for the 2021-22 school year.
2022-23 School Supply Kits
Schoolkitz for the 2022-23 school year are available to order now! Save money, save time, support our schools, and mark off a back-to-school task all in one when you purchase your back-to-school supplies through us!
This link will take you to the Concord Elementary School order site, and here is the link for the Cass Junior High School site. There is a $5 per toolkit savings for orders submitted by June 3. You can also go to www.schoolkitz.com for more information.
CARE May Events
- Let’s Get Pampered! - Last chance to sign up for this fun opportunity taking place this Sunday, May 15.
- Last Day of School Ice Cream Celebration – This is a great opportunity to both treat your kids to ice cream to celebrate the end of the year and support CARE one last time this school year. We hope to see you there!
Alumni Corner
Congratulations to Eli Carder, Elijah John, Eva Marie Louis, Jaitin Pallath and Ann Valiathara who were all part of the Hinsdale South math team who collective placed 16th overall at the ICTM State Competition.
Congratulations to Maggie Chen, Megan Tai and Rachele Cameli on winning the IHSA Badminton Sectional for Hinsdale South Varsity badminton. Best of luck to them as they compete in the IHSA state finals next week.
Community Connections
Junior Hornet Summer Dance Camp
Avery Coonley School Summer Program
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
Friday, May 13
Early Release Day – Concord 11:15/Cass 12:00Friday, May 20
2022-23 Registration DeadlineMonday, May 23
Facility Information Meeting (virtual) 6:30 p.m.Wednesday, May 25
Facility Information Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
