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Cass63 Connections - January 30, 2025
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
In the January 9 Connections, I shared that PowerSchool had a data breach that potentially compromised personal student information. Of course, we find this completely unacceptable, but I wanted to do our very best to keep you informed regarding everything that we know as this has developed.
In case you missed previous communications, this was a nationwide breach and we were informed that the actor was identified, and PowerSchool assured us that the incident is contained. They also stated that there is no evidence of malware or continued unauthorized activity. PowerSchool also said they do not anticipate the data being shared or made public, and they believe it has been deleted without any further replication or dissemination.
As a school district, we put together a PowerSchool Data Breach Information page so we can update information as we learn more. It also includes some FAQs of what we understand, as well as any recent communications from PowerSchool at the bottom of the page.
On January 29, we received an update from PowerSchool, which is included at the bottom of our information page. The communication states in part that PowerSchool has “initiated the process of notifying involved individuals about the resources now available to them. As part of this process, we have posted a notice to our website. Credit monitoring and identity protection services are now activated and available.”
According to PowerSchool, a direct email notification will be distributed by Experian on behalf of PowerSchool in the coming weeks “to applicable current and former students (or their parents / guardians as applicable) and educators for whom we have sufficient contact information.”
It is good to know that they will be attempting to contact impacted families directly. We will continue to share any updates as they become available. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, and thank you for your patience as we continue to learn all that we can.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Our Cass Junior High Spelling Bee participants.
There is an early dismissal scheduled for this Friday, January 31. Concord students will be released at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00.
Cass Spelling Bee Crowns a Winner
Congratulations to 6th grader Sai Sundaram who won the Cass Junior High Spelling Bee last week. After an incredible 27 rounds with 52 students, Sai was victorious, with our runner up and last year’s winner 6th grader Dhruv Rao battling until the very end. Even after three-and-a-half hours, five students representing all four grades remained.
Congratulations to Sai, Dhruv, and all 52 students who participated in the spelling bee this year, as they were remarkable competitors. We also wish Sai the best as she advances to the DuPage County Spelling Bee with 4,000 words to study! Congratulations to Sai, Dhruv, and all of our participants this year.
Concord Welcomes Author Ada Ari
Author Ada Ari recently visited Concord, and our students and staff were amazed by her presentations and interactions with the students throughout the day. Ms. Ari and our students engaged in an interactive cultural program that held everyone’s attention from start to finish. We hope you enjoy these pictures from a great day!
Kindergarten Round Up February 20
If you or someone you know has a child who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2025 and lives in Cass School District 63, it is time to register for kindergarten. Please contact Amy Perez at either aperez@cassd63.org or at 331-481-4000 (x1) and she will send the information needed to get started on the Fall 2025 registration process. Kindergarten round up will be held on Thursday, February 20 at 6:00 p.m. at Concord.
Trivia Night is Coming...Don't Miss Out!
Our annual Trivia Night is on Friday, February 7, and there are two great ways to participate If you have not yet done so, it's not too late to register as a table or individual for the biggest night of the year so don’t miss out on this great night and purchase your tickets on the CARE website.
You can also purchase tickets to give your student a chance to win the coveted teacher raffle prizes, whether you attend trivia night or not! Raffle items are now available on the CARE website, so head over and see what our teachers and staff have lined up!
Online sales will close on February 5. All online ticket purchases and in-person ticket purchases at Trivia Night will be combined and randomly selected at Trivia Night. Winners will be notified via email and do not have to be present at Trivia Night to win.
We love to share the good news about our incredible D63 staff, and in honor of National School Counseling Week, we are recognizing school counselors Helen Park at Concord Elementary and Lia Lamb at Cass Junior High. Our counselors meet with students individually, in large groups, and in classrooms helping students learn healthy social and emotional skills both in and out of school. Thank you Ms. Park and Mrs. Lamb!
Several staff members have nominated District School Psychologist Sara Zimmerman for recognition. Sara is a vital part of our student services team, and is always friendly and helpful to staff, students, and parents. Sara is always willing to assist and is respectful and compassionate in all of her interactions. District administrative assistant Amy Underhill said, "Sara has helped get many new staff members acquainted with our systems. She is a great resource for any parents who are new to the programs involved in student services. Her calm and friendly nature helps put people at ease in stressful situations."
ESports are Coming to Cass Junior High
ESports are coming to Cass for our 6th through 8th students. Tryouts are February 3 and 4. Please see this flyer with more information about this new program. If you have any questions, please contact STEAM teacher and ESports sponsor Matt Etherington at metherington@cassd63.org.
8th Grade Picture Retakes February 13
Picture retake day for 8th grade students is February 13. If your child did not have their 8th grade photo taken yet, or if they want to retake the ones they have, please send them to school ready for pictures on February 13. Students may change after pictures if they wish. Please contact the Cass Junior High office with questions.
Spirit Wear is Back!
Show your school pride with our new spirit wear! Spirit wear will be on sale for a limited time from January 30 to February 19. Spirit wear orders will be delivered by the first week in March via your child’s classroom teacher. All proceeds go to CARE and D63 schools!
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations and good luck to Olivia Ruffalo and the Hinsdale South Varsity Dance team that qualified for the state competition this weekend. Other Cass graduates include Junior Varsity Dance team members Lily Balsamo, Tatiana Beard, Kerri Hagen, Cate Johnson, and Alixandra Smith.Lunch menus from our partner Just A Dash Catering are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks, and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
1st Grade Girl Scout Troop 56482 Looking for Members. Please complete this form if you are interested.
GPS Parent Series: Positioning Students for the Changing Tide of Work
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.January 31
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.February 14
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.February 17
No School – Presidents Day -
Cass63 Connections - January 23, 2025
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
As a school district, we do not accept the status quo and we continue to push forward toward meaningful improvement and change. This is all part of a growth mindset, as no organization is truly thriving unless it has clear direction toward common goals, and remains focused on growth and measurable progress toward that vision. Certainly not all, but a good part of that vision is included as part of our Strategic Plan.
Two of those areas of focus are continued long-term facility planning, as well as our work to develop and build systems and support for student services and multi-tiered systems of support. Today I will share an update on our facility planning, and sometime soon an update in the area of student services.
Earlier this week, the Board of Education greenlighted the pursuit of Phase II of our facility planning, which we expect to complete this summer. While hopefully less disruptive than the Phase I geothermal HVAC, safety, and security projects of 2024, we are also excited about this phase, which
The preliminary cost estimate totals approximately $1.9 million, and we expect to pay for this through a federal energy tax credit resulting from the geothermal project. Some of the larger project items include completion of ceiling replacement and LED lighting installation at Cass, renovation of the Cass gymnasium, renovation of Concord restrooms, and updates to music rooms in both schools.
In addition to this, we are separately pursuing a community fundraising effort to replace the Concord playground. On behalf of our Concord students and generations of kids to follow, please consider looking at this and sharing the opportunity as we work in collaboration with our CARE organization to make this incredible opportunity happen. We will also be sharing more about the playground with our kids soon!
I will share more details as both the facilities and playground project develops. In the meantime, please reach out if you have any questions. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
3rd grade students receiving dictionaries from the Darien Rotary Club.
The 2025-26 District Calendar has been approved and Parent-Student Orientation will take place on Tuesday, August 19 and the first day for K-8 students will be Thursday, August 21. Orientation Day will be held later in the day and with a slightly different format to better accommodate our families. More details will be shared later in the spring, but please plan accordingly with the calendar dates for next school year.
Kindergarten Round Up February 20
If you or someone you know has a child who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2025 and lives in Cass School District 63, it is time to register for kindergarten. Please contact Amy Perez at either aperez@cassd63.org or at 331-481-4000 (x1) and she will send the information needed to get started on the Fall 2025 registration process. Kindergarten round up will be held on Thursday, February 20 at 6:00 p.m. at Concord.
At our most recent meeting, the Board of Education reviewed progress on the Vision 2025 Strategic Plan, heard about progress with our student academic growth, and also authorized moving forward with Phase II facility plans to prepare for bidding. Here are the Board Briefs for more information on what was discussed and acted upon at the meeting.
Concord Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention
It is estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the time they turn eighteen years old. It is also estimated that around 90 percent of the abusers are people the child knows. In response to these startling statistics, and the hard work of Erin Merryn, who took a personal tragedy and created positive change across America, including Erin’s Law.
Beginning the last week in February, Concord will commence with our mandated, age-appropriate child sexual abuse awareness and prevention education program for our students at Concord. Erin’s Law will be taught during Skills for Learning lessons in the last week of February and the first week of March. Here is additional information and links regarding Erin’s Law and sexual abuse prevention.
If you have questions about this program, please contact school counselor Helen Park at hpark@cassd63.org. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please place your request in writing to Dr. Laura Anderson at landerson@cassd63.org.
Cass Band and Chorus Visit Concord
The Cass Junior High Band and Chorus recently visited Concord Elementary to perform for our youngest students. Concord enjoyed a wonderful concert and were also given a preview of the things that they will have an opportunity to be a part at the junior high music program.
Rotary Delivers Dictionaries to Third Grade Students
Superintendent Mark Cross welcomed his fellow Darien Rotary Club members to 3rd grade last week. Rotary is always looking for great ways to support our schools and the community at large, and one of the charitable things they do is donate dictionaries to every student in the 3rd grade in area schools. Several Rotarians delivered the dictionaries and talked to our kids, and we thank them for their generosity!
New ESports Program at Cass Junior High School
ESports are coming to Cass for our 6th through 8th students. Tryouts are February 3 and 4. Please see this flyer with more information about this new program. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Etherington at metherington@cassd63.org.
Cass Wax Museum Open January 31
Students in Ms. Musil and Mr. Kondraschow’s English Language Arts classes have created a wax museum, which will be open for parents to visit on January 31 from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. Here is more information on parking and building access.
Time to Register for Trivia Night
Our annual Trivia Night is on Friday, February 7, at 6:00 p.m. Trivia Night Teacher raffles are now available on the CARE website! Head over and see what our teachers and staff have lined up! Online sales will close on February 5. All online ticket purchases and in-person ticket purchases will be combined and randomly selected at Trivia Night. Winners will be notified via email and do not need to be present to win.
CARE Seeking Donations for New Playground
CARE has prioritized fundraising for a new Concord playground, and would love your support! This playground will provide a safe, fun space for kids to play, grow, and build lasting memories. All donations are tax-deductible, making it not only a meaningful gift to the community but also a great opportunity to give back. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to creating a space where our children can thrive and our community can come together. Here is information on how to contribute. Thank you for helping us make this dream a reality!
Concord Staff Taking the Plunge for Special Olympics
On March 22, Concord team members Bryann Poskonka, Krista Jamrose, Katy Modglin, Katie Summers, and Katie Paljetak will be participating in the Chicago Polar Plunge supporting the Special Olympics. Please visit the Concord team fundraising page for and help them raise money for this great cause!
Front Row Seats for the Second Grade Music Program
Enter the front row seat raffle for the upcoming 2nd grade music program. Three winners will receive four seats. Visit the CARE Shop to purchase raffle tickets for your chance to win!
Girls Volleyball Tryouts January 27 and 28
Cass Junior High will be holding tryouts for girls volleyball on January 27 and 28 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Interested students must have a current sports physical on file in the Cass office prior to the start of tryouts. Please contact Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org with any questions.
BAM Theater is Coming to Concord
CARE has partnered with BAM Theater to come to Concord for the first time this spring to offer musical theater training on Thursdays from 2:45-3:45 p.m. after school. The program is for kindergarten through 4th grade students and the dates are March 20 and 27, April 10, 17, and 24 and May 8, 15 and 22. There will be a final performance after class at 4:00 p.m. on May 29 to which parents and families are invited to attend. Spots are filling up so don’t miss out and be sure to register soon.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program. Lunch menus are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. If you choose to provide feedback on a menu item through the menu program on the District’s website, please be sure to reference the school your child attends.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series: The Changing Landscape of the Drug Epidemic
GPS Parent Series: The Way of Play
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page .January 31
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.February 14
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.February 17
No School – Presidents Day -
Cass63 Connections - January 16, 2025
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
On Monday, we have an important holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and his great legacy. As a school district, it is important to honor the legacy of Dr. King and the dedication of his life to racial equality and justice. “The time is always right to do what is right.” I’ve always loved this quote from Dr. King and like so many of his words, this message is as important today as it has ever been.
Our annual Trivia Night is the evening of February 7. CARE is planning a great event, which will be held at the Chateau Orleans in Darien. Registration information is below and early bird pricing ends Monday. I hope you will join many of our D63 teachers and staff for a fun night!
I hope you and your family have a good long weekend. Stay warm!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Students getting their ROAR awards from Dr. Anderson.
In honor of the legacy and holiday in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, there is no school on Monday, January 20.
Time to Register for Trivia Night
Our annual Trivia Night is on Friday, February 7, at 6:00 p.m. at the Chateau Orleans. Come dressed as your favorite decade for a fun night of trivia, dinner and fun. Early bird pricing has been extended until January 20, so grab your table before they are all gone! Check out the flyer for more details and purchase individual tickets or a table on the CARE website.
Concord Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention
It is estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the time they turn eighteen years old. It is also estimated that around 90 percent of the abusers are people the child knows. In response to these startling statistics, and the hard work of Erin Merryn, who took a personal tragedy and created positive change across America, including Erin’s Law.
Beginning the last week in February, Concord will commence with our mandated, age-appropriate child sexual abuse awareness and prevention education program for our students at Concord. Erin’s Law will be taught during Skills for Learning lessons in the last week of February and the first week of March. Here is additional information and links regarding Erin’s Law and sexual abuse prevention.
If you have questions about this program, please contact school counselor Helen Park at hpark@cassd63.org. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please place your request in writing to Dr. Laura Anderson at landerson@cassd63.org.
Visit the Cass Wax Museum January 31
Students in Ms. Musil and Mr. Kondraschow’s English Language Arts classes have created a wax museum, which will be open for parents to visit on January 31 from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. Here is more information on parking and building access.
This week we are highlighting two D63 employees in our Staff Recognition Spotlight. Cass Junior High custodian Donna Gerren was nominated by Buildings and Grounds Director Keith Monaco for being truly dedicated, always going above and beyond, and being top notch at her job. All of our junior high staff appreciates Donna’s work every day!
Assistant principal Michelle Roberts was nominated by STEAM teacher and 504 coordinator Matt Etherington for being so helpful with the 504 program at Cass Junior High. Mr. Etherington said that her dedication to ensuring that all students receive the support they need is truly commendable, and the results have made a significant difference for our students and families!
CARE Seeking Donations for New Playground
CARE has prioritized fundraising for a new Concord playground, and would love your support! This playground will provide a safe, fun space for kids to play, grow, and build lasting memories. All donations are tax-deductible, making it not only a meaningful gift to the community but also a great opportunity to give back. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to creating a space where our children can thrive and our community can come together. For more information and to learn how to help, please see this page. Thank you for helping us make this dream a reality!
Concord to Welcome Author Ada Ari
Author Ada Ari will be visiting Concord on January 23 and students have a great opportunity to pre-order one of her autographed books in advance of her visit. Orders must be in no later than January 19 so please be sure to place your order right away.
7th Grade Learns About Renewable Energy
In Mrs. Romaniszak’s 7th grade Environmental Studies class, students began learning about some of the various types of renewable energy including wind, hydro, and solar. Students worked with a partner to build different types of structures that harness the various types of energy being studied. This allowed students to better understand different ways that the energy can be harnessed, as well as understand how that energy is transferred and transformed into other forms of energy to do work. Some students also had the opportunity to combine projects to build more complex structures utilizing a combination of energy resources.
Girls Volleyball Tryouts January 27 and 28
Cass Junior High will be holding tryouts for girls volleyball on January 27 and 28 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Interested students must have a current sports physical on file in the Cass office prior to the start of tryouts. Please contact Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org with any questions.
BAM Theater is Coming to Concord
CARE has partnered with BAM Theater to come to Concord for the first time this spring to offer musical theater training on Thursdays from 2:45-3:45 p.m. after school. The program is for kindergarten through 4th grade students and the dates are March 20 and 27, April 10, 17, and 24 and May 8, 15 and 22. There will be a final performance after class at 4:00 p.m. on May 29 to which parents and families are invited to attend. Please see this flyer for information on how to register.
Cass School District 63 is seeking a teacher assistant for at least the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. For more information or to apply for current vacancies, here is the application and information.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program. Lunch menus are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. If you choose to provide feedback on a menu item through the menu program on the District’s website, please be sure to reference the school your child attends.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series: The Breakthrough Years
People’s Resource Center (PRC) Free Art Classes
People’s Resource Center (PRC) Free Computer Training Classes
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page .January 20
No School – Martin Luther King HolidayJanuary 31
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.February 14
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.February 17
No School – Presidents Day -
Cass63 Connections - January 9, 2025
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Earlier this week, we received a communication from PowerSchool about a recent data breach within the PowerSchool Student Information System. While we are working to learn as much as we can as quickly as we can, we are working under the assumption that some of our school district data was included in the breach.
According to PowerSchool, they learned in late December that compromised credentials at PowerSchool allowed an unauthorized party to access student data. We were informed that the actor was identified, and they have assured us that the incident is contained. PowerSchool also indicated that there is no evidence of malware or continued unauthorized activity. They do not anticipate the data being shared or made public, and they believe it has been deleted without any further replication or dissemination.
Although PowerSchool has shared this information, we are taking nothing for granted and will monitor this situation very carefully and ensure that our student and staff data remains protected. While PowerSchool continues a review of impacted customers, we have put together a PowerSchool Data Breach Information page that we will update as we learn more about this incident, and any impact on our student data as we learn more.
As an additional note, we have already made the decision prior to this incident to end our relationship with PowerSchool at the end of the current school year. Data breaches of this nature are unacceptable, and we are glad we had already made the decision to make this change.
In the meantime, we will share any updates as they become available, but I wanted to make you aware of the situation with as much accurate information as we can provide as soon as we reasonably could. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, and thank you for your understanding and patience as we work to stay on top of this.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass students enjoying spirit week before the holiday break!
Concord Holiday Celebrations
Concord held its annual holiday celebrations on December 20 and kids had a fun day. Thank you to our amazing staff and volunteers for making a great day for our kids!
Sign Up for February 7 Trivia Night
Trivia Night is on Friday, February 7, at 6:00 p.m. at the Chateau Orleans. We are only four weeks out, so grab your table before they are all gone! Come dressed as your favorite decade for a fun night of trivia, dinner and fun. Early bird pricing has been extended until January 20. Check out the flyer for more details and purchase individual tickets or a table on the CARE website!
Storm Science Presentation
Our 5th and 6th graders at Cass Junior High recently had an amazing assembly presented by Storm Science. They learned about different aspects of weather with an engaging and entertaining presentation. The students were mesmerized throughout the assembly as they learned about severe weather and weather preparedness. Storm Science’s Nick Bartholomew, a storm chaser, presented a cumulus cloud simulation and explained the entire process to the students. Please enjoy these pictures from the presentation, and thank you to CARE for funding this fun learning experience.
Come Visit the Cass Junior High Wax Museum
Students in Ms. Musil and Mr. Kondraschow’s English Language Arts classes have created a wax museum, which will be open for parents to visit on January 31 from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. Here is more information on parking and building access.
8th Grade Transition Meetings
On January 14, high school transition meetings will be held for 8th grade students to set class schedules for the 2025-26 school year. Students and parents will be meeting with Hinsdale South High School counselors via Zoom. Students will be joining the meeting from school and parents will be sent a Zoom link from the high school prior to the meeting date. Should you have any questions, please contact Hinsdale South High School.Hinsdale South IEP and 504 High School Transition Night
Hinsdale South is hosting a meeting for parents of 8th grade students with either a 504 or an IEP and who will be attending Hinsdale South in the fall. Here is more information for parents who are interested.
CARE Playground Fundraising Effort
CARE has prioritized fundraising for a new Concord playground, and would love your support! This playground will provide a safe, fun space for kids to play, grow, and build lasting memories. All donations are tax-deductible, making it not only a meaningful gift to the community but also a great opportunity to give back. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to creating a space where our children can thrive and our community can come together. For more information and to learn how to help, please see this page. Thank you for helping us make this dream a reality!
Cass School District 63 is seeking an assistant principal at Concord Elementary School for the 2025-26 school year, and a social worker and teacher assistant for at least the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. For more information or to apply for current vacancies, here is the application and information.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program. Lunch menus are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. If you choose to provide feedback on a menu item through the menu program on the District’s website, please be sure to reference the school your child attends.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series: What Happened to You; A Shift from “What is Wrong with You?”GPS Parent Series: The Adverse Childhood Experiences
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page .January 13
CARE Meeting – Cass Junior High Community Room, 7:00 p.m.January 20
No School – Martin Luther King HolidayJanuary 31
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m. -
Cass63 Connections - December 19, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
On behalf of the faculty, staff, administration, and Board of Education, I wish you and your family and loved ones a wonderful holiday season and school break. However you may spend your time together as a family, be sure to enjoy every minute with your kids because they grow up way too quickly.
Many of us also take time off over the break, so the school offices will mostly be closed. Should you need us for anything during this time, email is your best bet. Our weekly communications will also take a holiday break for the next two weeks, and we will resume regular district communications on January 9. A reminder on our winter break dates are provided below.
One additional note…please take a look below at the fundraising announcement for the new Concord playground! This is a wonderful collaborative effort between CARE and D63, contributions are tax deductible, and we couldn’t be more excited to make this project happen for our kids.
Have a wonderful holiday, and we will see you in 2025!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Early Release Day and Winter Break
Winter Break is here and there is an early release day on Friday, December 20. Concord will be released at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m. There is no school from Monday, December 23 until students return on Tuesday, January 7. We wish you and your family a wonderful break and a happy holiday season!
CARE Announces Playground Fundraising Effort
CARE is excited to announce that we’ve started fundraising for a new Concord playground, and we’d love your support! This playground will provide a safe, fun space for kids to play, grow, and build lasting memories. All donations are tax-deductible, making it not only a meaningful gift to the community but also a great opportunity to give back. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to creating a space where our children can thrive and our community can come together. Thank you for helping us make this dream a reality!
CARE is offering three tiers of giving to support our playground project, each with special recognition on our donor wall:
- Champions - Supporters who contribute $1,000+ will be prominently displayed at the top of the wall as key leaders of this initiative.
- Sustainers - Supporters who contribute $500+ will be recognized in a central position, highlighting their vital role in keeping this project moving forward.
- Builders - Supporters who contribute $250+ will be honored as foundational contributors helping to bring this vision to life.
To become a supporters, please visit the CARE site or email CARE@cassd63.org. As a special thank you, all donors - regardless of the amount - will be invited to join us for a ribbon-cutting ceremony once the playground is complete. This event will be a celebration of your generosity and the incredible impact you’ve made on our community. We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone together!
At the December 17 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved the 2024 Tax Levy, adopted a Resolution in Support of Illinois Vision 2030 and discussed 2025 facility planning. For more detailed information on the board meeting, please take a look at the Board Briefs.
We love to share the good news about our incredible staff, and this week we are recognizing three of our teachers who most recently completed huge professional growth milestones.
Jessica Cahill - Master’s Degree in Teacher Leadership
Jennifer Kirkpatrick - Director of Special Education Licensure
Kristyn McElligott - Master’s Degree in Teacher LeadershipTheir dedication and desire to be the best possible teachers they can be is highlighted by recognizing the tremendous undertaking it is to pursue this level of coursework while working full time. We are extremely proud of these three individuals, and all of our amazing teachers!
Attention 8th Grade Parents
8th Grade Picture Day is on Thursday, January 9. Students should come to school dressed up and ready for pictures. They may bring clothes to change into after pictures have been taken. No money is due at this time. Proofs will be sent to the school and sent home to parents for an opportunity to order pictures. If you have any questions, please contact the Cass Junior High office at 331-481-4000, extension 2.
Please mark your calendars for January 14 for 8th grade high school transition meetings to set class schedules for the 2025-26 school year. Students and parents will be meeting with Hinsdale South High School counselors via Zoom. Students will be joining the meeting from school. Parents will be sent a Zoom link from the high school prior to the meeting date. Should you have any questions, please contact Hinsdale South High School.
Second Grade Students Learn About La Befana
Concord teacher Mrs. DeChiara visits our second graders every year to teach the students about the Italian Christmas tradition of La Befana. The second graders love this annual presentation and enjoy learning a bit of the Italian language. Thank you, Mrs. DeChiara!
Cass Junior High Band Concert
Cass Junior High held its Winter Band Concert on December 12 and featured performances from the 5th Grade Beginning Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and the Combined Band. Thank you to band teacher Daniel Murphy and all of our gifted musicians for a wonderful evening of music!
4th Grade Clothes Hanger Book Reports
Students in Ms. Isaacson’s 4th grade class created a “Clothes Hanger Book Report” after reading a novel. Each clothing piece has information about their book's plot, setting, characters, theme, and a personal review. They turned out great! Please enjoy some pictures of their projects.
Cass Junior High Cheer
From cheer clinics with high school cheerleaders to cheering on our Warrior’s sports teams, our cheerleaders have been working hard this year. Thank you to coaches Amy Gorzkowski and Stacie Gray for all their hard work in coaching our cheerleaders and helping them to improve both individually and as a squad.
Holiday Fun at Concord
Our Junior Chorus gave a fabulous holiday performance lead by chorus teacher Kali Sheldon. Additionally, our Concord staff got in on the holiday fun and participated in a festive sweater contest. Enjoy these pictures from the concert and the contest.
Holiday Fun at Cass
Cass Advanced Ensemble members treated our students and staff to some great holiday music mixed with some classic tunes. Thank you to choral teacher Becky Kriz and to our advanced ensemble for giving us this festive send off into the holidays! Here are pictures of our carolers, as well as other fun from our Cass Spirit Week.
Save the Date - Trivia Night February 7
Save the Date! Get ready for a night of fun and friendly competition at the CARE Trivia Night Fundraiser is on Friday, February 7! Mark your calendars and gather your teams for an evening filled with brain-teasing questions, laughter, and community spirit! Which decade is your favorite?!
Follow CARE on Social Media
Follow CARE on socials to keep up with all the latest activities and learn how to get involved! Cass Resources for Enrichment / Facebook and @d63care / Instagram.
Cass School District 63 is seeking an assistant principal at Concord Elementary School for the 2025-26 school year, and a teacher assistant for at least the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. For more information or to apply for current vacancies, here is the application and information.
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Hinsdale South High School student of the quarter award recipients, Amanda Esposito, Amanda Chen, Anna Wilcox, Devin Casey, Katie Joseph, Erick Martinez, Casey Johnson, Rayyan Qureshi.
Kudos to Hinsdale South Art Honor Society members Amanda Esposito, Elliot Davis, Janina Kremper and Gracie Linarez who were tasked with creating and painting the art gallery entry way at Hinsdale South High School.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program. Lunch menus are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. If you choose to provide feedback on a menu item through the menu program on the District’s website, please be sure to reference the school your child attends.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series presents Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page .December 20
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m./Cass at 12:00 p.m.December 21 through January 6
No School – Winter BreakJanuary 6
No School – Staff Institute DayJanuary 7
School ResumesJanuary 20
No School – Martin Luther King Holiday -
Cass63 Connections - December 12, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
We talk here about the impact of smartphones and social media, and this week I wanted to share another recent Pew research study. According to this one, 72 percent of teens say they often or sometimes feel peaceful when they don’t have their smartphone, while 44 percent say it makes them feel anxious. It is incredibly telling that almost three-fourths of kids admit that they feel more peaceful without their phones! This study is interesting and worth a look for parents.
Common Sense Media research shows that teens spend an average of 4.5 hours per day on their phones, and some spend over 16 hours a day. That’s insane, and we aren’t even talking about young children and preteens, many of whom also spend considerable amounts of time on their phones. Of course, there are recommendations out there about when kids should have phones, as well as access to social media. Safety aside, there is absolutely no question that the heavy use of smartphones and social media is having a major impact on kids today.
Along those lines, I love a good book recommendation and wanted to pass this along to you. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt addresses this critical topic, and I look forward to reading it soon. If any of you have read it, please let me know your thoughts. If not, it might be worth a look. The book description is very compelling, and it is a top seller on Amazon.
As always, please reach out anytime with any questions, concerns, or comments. We are all here for you. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cheering on the Warriors!
With winter weather comes the possibility of the need to cancel school and hold an e-learning day. This is a decision that is not taken lightly. Not only are the weather and road conditions taken into consideration, but also the conditions of the buildings and parking lots, the operability and availability of buses and drivers, the ability of staff to make the commute, as well as the air temperature and wind chill.
For more details, please visit our School Closing Information page, which includes details on our District e-Learning Plan and schedule for virtual instruction. Please review the plan in advance to understand what the expectations are for our staff and your child. Thank you for your understanding as we head into winter, and please contact the school office or your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
An important parent responsibility is to contact the school first thing in the morning when your child will be absent. This is important not only for safety, but also to limit the need for us to locate parents to find this information. Parents can either call the attendance line and leave the necessary information, or send it via email, whichever works best for you.
For Concord absence reporting, call 331-481-4000, choose option 1 and then option 5, or email concordattendance@cassd63.org. For Cass absence reporting, call 331-481-4000, choose option 2 and then option 7, or email cassattendance@cassd63.org.
For both calls or emails, please leave your child's name, grade level (and teacher for Concord), date of absence, reason for absence, parent name, and phone number. Please note that should you email an absence, the email must come from a parent email that is noted in PowerSchool.
Girls Basketball Season Comes to an End
The girls' basketball season ended strong! In the playoffs, the team made it past the first round beating higher seed Gower to advance to play the number two seed Old Quarry where their season ended. The girls learned a lot of skills and strategies throughout the season, most importantly, coming together as a team. Congrats to coaches Landon Mitchell and Bryan Koh and all the players on a successful season!
Cass Junior High has three 5th graders, two 6th graders, and five 7th graders participate in the Noetic Learning Fall Math Contest. Chi Vu was the 5th grade team winner and also earned Honorable Mention for her score. Angus Woodbury was the 6th grade team winner. Jimmy Hetue was the 7th grade team winner and also earned a National Honor Roll award for his score. A.J. Akin Akintayo, Calvin Tanouye, Matteo Vitagliano, and Ryan Gallagher all earned an Honorable Mention award. Congratulations to all of our participants!
District 86 Seeks Parent Teacher Advisory Committee Members
Hinsdale Township High School District 86 is seeking parents/guardians of students in Grades 6-8 to serve as representatives on the District's Parent Teacher Advisory Committee (PTAC). The committee is charged with helping to develop student behavior policy/procedures, and provides the D86 Board of Education with information and recommendations as needed. If interested, please use the following link to submit an application by Thursday, December 19 at 4:00 PM.
8th Grade Picture Day January 9
8th Grade Picture Day is on Thursday, January 9. Students should come to school dressed up and ready for pictures. They may bring clothes to change into after pictures have been taken. No money is due at this time. Proofs will be sent to the school and sent home to parents for an opportunity to order pictures. If you have any questions, please contact the Cass Junior High office at 331-481-4000, extension 2.
Dinner Tonight at Culvers!
This month's Dine to Donate is at Culvers on Thursday, December 12. Stop by for dinner and dessert after the Band concert.
Enter to Win Front Row Seats
Enter to win front row seats at next week’s junior chorus concert, and other upcoming music concerts as well!
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Vishnu Chakroborty for being chosen to this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his startup Glide.
Congratulations to Hinsdale South student Collin Caldwell for being named Best Delegate – Russian Federation National Security Council at this year’s Model UN Conference.
Congratulations to Hinsdale South students Jacob Borowski, Antonio Bosiljanov, Eva Joseph, Rayyan Qureshi, Cash Hipskind, Eli Carder and Shahmeer Ali on earning medals at the Neuqua Valley Invitations Science Olympiad.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program. Lunch menus are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. If you choose to provide feedback on a menu item through the menu program on the District’s website, please be sure to reference the school your child attends.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Darien Woman’s Club Holiday Soap Collection
Indian Prairie Public Library Upcoming Events
GPS Parent Series presents Strengthening T(w)een Socialization Skills
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.December 16
CARE Meeting - Community Room at Cass Junior High, 7:00 p.m.December 20
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m./Cass at 12:00 p.m.December 21 through January 6
No School – Winter BreakJanuary 6
No School – Staff Institute DayJanuary 7
School Resumes -
Cass63 Connections - December 5, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Normally I enjoy sharing positive comments with you here, but this week the tone is going to reflect a harsh reality that is quite different. Unfortunately, racism is that reality, and sometimes issues come up in which we also see it among our own students. While we have wonderful and supportive families and as a district we have absolutely no tolerance for bigotry, hatred, or racism, I am not going to sugarcoat it or pretend that it can't or doesn't happen.
I don't care how young or old a child may be, there are hateful behaviors and disgusting terms that will never be tolerated if used about or toward our students, staff, or families in District 63. This is particularly true when what amounts to severe bullying or harassment targets a particular child in our schools, regardless of whether the actual bullying or harassment takes place at school or not. If it ultimately impacts them at school, we will take action to protect that child from this kind of behavior.
How we respond to any incident will obviously depend on the specifics of the situation, the age of the students involved, and any other facts of the case. That said, the important thing for everyone to understand is that we can and will deal with this type of behavior in the most serious terms, particularly when it impacts a child's mental or physical health, or is a threat to any student.
Again, just to make sure everyone hears this loud and clear, the actual behavior does not have to manifest itself at school and in today's world it often doesn't. In fact, in our experience, that is almost always the case since so much of this kind of behavior takes place via messaging, social media, and other means. But sometimes, kids actually do just come right out and say it directly to a person. Either way, it is absolutely unacceptable.
So let me be very clear. If your child engages in this kind of behavior and it impacts one or more of our students, just know that it is going to be dealt with and handled fairly, but very seriously. We have an absolute duty to protect every one of our students and keep them safe at all times, including and especially blatant bigotry, hatred, and racism. This is true for every individual from our Board of Education to our administrators, teachers, and staff in D63.
On behalf of all our students, families, and staff, I greatly appreciate your support in joining the effort to combat racism both here in our community and beyond. Thank you.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass Junior High students hard at work.
Cass Junior High Perfect Attendance
Being at school every day is one of the most important ways to ensure a student’s success and with this in mind, we want to congratulate the following students on their perfect attendance during the first trimester at Cass Junior High: Jakylah Adams, Naya Alraghib, Matthew Archaga, Annosha Arif, Geno Arnold, Madison Bailey, Brady Bobinski, Manoela Bosiljanova, Ian Chavez, Ibrahim Diab, Lucas Duggan, Violet Duggan, Daniella Faye, Julianna Gonzalez, Alicia Huang, Chris Huang, Madelyn Jason, Jyoti Kapur, Sarina Kapur, Victoria Kirov, Lucy Krenn, Nikolas Leon, Shinaika Lewen, Mariano Mantucca, Athena Monroe, Zara Monroe, Abby Nunez, Veyden Patel, Angela Perez, Riyashree Ravikumar, Hannah Rouw, Emilia Straczek, Calvin Tanouye, Maya Thompson, Ana Vujovic, and Jay Vyas.
Congratulations to our perfect attendance students!
5th Grade Visits Field Museum
As a culminating activity to the study of Ancient Egypt, our 5th grade students enjoyed a field trip to the Field Museum yesterday. The students participated in an Ancient Egypt artifact class as well as a guided tour.
Bowling Night December 7 - Live Auction is Open!
Hey team! CARE’s Bowling Night fundraiser is this Saturday, December 7! Register here as a team player, an individual standout, or a cheerleader! Can’t attend but still want to support CARE? The on-line auction link is live! You do not have to be present to win!
Click here to check out and bid on tickets to Ravinia, Legoland, Drury Lane, and more! Help us make this event a home run!
Other Important CARE Events!
In addition to the Bowling Night this coming weekend, CARE has a lot of great things coming our way. Please check out all the great opportunities.
- Chess is coming back to Concord this year for our 2nd through 4th grade students through a partnership with Elite Chess! Here are more details and registration information for winter sessions.
- Enter to win front row seats at next week’s junior high band concert, and other upcoming concerts!
- This month's Dine to Donate is at Culvers on Thursday, December 12. Stop by for dinner and dessert after the Band concert.
Concord students are learning to help others through service and donations. This year, the service project is to hold a Sports Equipment Drive, which is November 25 through December 12. Please see this flyer for information on what items are being collected. Thank for your helping others, while teaching our students the importance of service.
Chess Team Tryouts December 9 and 10
Cass Junior High Chess Team will be holding tryouts on December 9 and 10. Please see this flyer for more information.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program. Lunch menus are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. If you choose to provide feedback on a menu item through the menu program on the District’s website, please be sure to reference the school your child attends.
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Hinsdale South student and D63 graduate Andrea Crisp for earning a role in this year's All State Theatre Festival!
District 86 Seeks Parent Teacher Advisory Committee Members
Hinsdale Township High School District 86 is seeking parents/guardians of students in Grades 6-8 to serve as representatives on the District's Parent Teacher Advisory Committee (PTAC). The committee is charged with helping to develop student behavior policy/procedures, and provides the D86 Board of Education with information and recommendations as needed. If interested, please use the following link to submit an application by Thursday, December 19 at 4:00 PM.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Indian Prairie Public Library Upcoming Events
GPS Parent Series presents
The New Blueprint and Essential Skills to Thrive in School, Career and Life
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.December 16
CARE Meeting - Community Room at Cass Junior High, 7:00 p.m.December 20
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m./Cass at 12:00 p.m.December 21 through January 6
No School – Winter BreakJanuary 6
No School – Staff Institute DayJanuary 7
School Resumes -
Cass63 Connections - November 21, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
We had an important Board of Education meeting earlier this week, with the presentation of the local tax levy, the appointment of Katie Doyle as the next Concord principal, and taking the next steps with our Phase II Facilities Plan. More information on our facility planning is provided in the Board Briefs below, and I will also share more on this in the coming weeks.
However, a very exciting component to this planning is the potential replacement of the Concord playground. This is long overdue, but top notch playgrounds are costly and will require some fundraising so the district can focus our resources on the infrastructure and facility needs that are most critical to resolve.
Fortunately for our kids and school district, our wonderful CARE parent organization is stepping up big time, and has already pledged $50,000 toward making this happen! This is absolutely awesome, but CARE does not want to stop there as they are also working on ideas for potential higher level fundraising, including recognizing large donors for their contributions.
This is also a good time to remind everyone that CARE is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and donations are therefore subject to federal tax deductions. More details will be provided regarding both the playground project and corresponding fundraising effort, but I wanted to share the great news!
There will be no Connections next week as we celebrate Thanksgiving! Our weekly communications will resume on December 5. On behalf of all of us in Cass School District 63, travel safely and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Concord students working on a book project.
No School Next Week!
Due to Parent Teacher Conferences on November 25 and 26 and the Thanksgiving holiday, there is no school for students the week of November 25. School will resume on Monday, December 2. We wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
1st Trimester Progress in PowerSchool November 22
The end of the first trimester is November 22 and parents will be able to view a complete summary of your child’s progress through the trimester. Please remember that you can review your child’s academic progress and other information in PowerSchool at any time by following these instructions. Please contact the school office with any questions.
At the November 19 meeting, the Board of Education approved the tentative tax levy for fiscal year 2024, approved a three-year contract for Katie Doyle as the next principal at Concord, and reviewed the proposed Phase II Facilities Plan items that were recently reviewed and reprioritized by the Facilities Committee with the school district architects.
As a result of the committee’s work, the Board agreed to move forward with the updated Phase II Facilities Plan for work expected to be completed in the summer of 2025. Mr. Cross also reviewed potential plans for updating the Concord playground through a partnership and fundraising with CARE. For more information on the meeting, please see the Board Briefs.
Indian Prairie Library Writing Competition
Three Cass Junior High students swept the entire fourth through sixth grade poetry category of the annual Indian Prairie Write-On Competition. The winners were treated to a dinner with award-winning young adult author Misa Siguera (Momo Arashima series and It's Not Like It's a Secret) where they spoke with her one-on-one about the writing process. This was followed up by a presentation where Siguera spoke about writing and her path to becoming a published author followed by the announcement of the contest winners. Our Cass winners were fifth graders Dexter Gawel and Ada Shields and sixth grader Hridhan Jasrotia. They were each given a signed copy of the author's latest book and a cash prize. Congratulations, students!
Recognizing Our Staff - Sharon Chacko
We love to share the good news about our incredible D63 staff, and this week we are recognizing Sharon Chacko. Ms. Chacko is a speech pathologist in D63, and we share her services two days a week with our neighbors in Center Cass School District 66. As a result, Ms. Chacko works at four different schools in two districts, requiring far more than usual planning, scheduling, preparation, and communication to ensure that all student needs are being met.
Ms. Chacko shared that her teams in both school districts make her job easier by always offering to lend a hand. “They make teamwork and collaboration very easy because everyone shares the same goal and is so welcoming.” The leadership and student services teams in both districts greatly appreciate Ms. Chacko’s professionalism, communication, and teamwork. Congratulations and thank you, Ms. Chacko!
Bowling Night December 7 - Don't Miss Out on the Fun!
Calling all Superfans, Cheeseheads, and Bleacher Creatures! Join us Saturday, December 7 for CARE’s Bowling Night Fundraiser. There will be darts, billiards, raffles, a caricature artist, an on-line auction, and more! This year’s theme is Sports Legends. Join us for an evening of fun, fandom, and friendly competition to help CARE reach its fundraising gooooooooooal!
Concord Underground Spirit Week
Concord Teachers had some secret fun last week by participating in a staff-only Underground Spirit Week! Throughout the week teachers secretly dressed in all black, wore flannel and holiday wear along with partaking in crazy hair day and anything-but-a-cup day! It was so exciting to see the students use their quick observation skills to catch our teachers participating in such an engaging and clever activity.
Concord is holding a Sports Equipment Drive November 25 through December 12. Please see this flyer for information on what items are being collected.
Chess Team Tryouts December 9 and 10
Cass Junior High Chess Team will be holding tryouts on December 9 and 10. Please see this flyer for more information.
Last Chance to Claim Lost and Found
The lost and found at Concord Elementary and Cass Junior High are getting full. If your child is missing anything, please have them come and check to see if it is in the lost and found. Any unclaimed items will be donated at the end of the school day on November 22.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program. Lunch menus are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. If you choose to provide feedback on a menu item through the menu program on the District’s website, please be sure to reference the school your child attends.
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Hinsdale South student Ryder McMurray for being named to the Red Grange All DuPage County Football team!Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Darien Woman’s Club Holiday Soap Collection
GPS Parent Series presents
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.November 25-26
No School – Parent Teacher ConferencesNovember 27-29
No School – Thanksgiving BreakDecember 2
School ResumesDecember 20
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m./Cass at 12:00 p.m.December 23 to January 3
No School – Winter BreakJanuary 6
No School – Staff Institute DayJanuary 7
School Resumes -
Cass63 Connections - November 14, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Earlier this week, we celebrated Veterans Day with an assembly at Cass Junior High School. It is always an honor having some of our veterans visit for this special day, and of course it doubles as a great learning experience for our students. To all the veterans in our community, thank you for your service to our country.
On November 15, we celebrate School Board Members Day. Board members are volunteers who serve a critical role in our community, not only with their commitment to education and our children, but to our taxpayers as well. I’ve had a school board as my boss for well over 20 years, and ours is the best. We are so fortunate to have these seven outstanding people serve in this role.
Also, next week is American Education Week and we always use this occasion to recognize and thank our teachers and staff for their professionalism and commitment to the education of our students. Our dedicated and child-centered people in District 63 are second to none, and we could not be any more grateful for their great work with the children in our community.
Concord parents, don’t forget the Book Fair next week, including family shopping night on November 20. We hope to see you there!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Thank you to our D63 faculty and staff for all that you do!
Cass Students Honor Our Veterans
In observation of Veterans Day, our 7th grade students hosted an assembly this week for some of our local family and friends who are veterans. The assembly was held to honor these true heroes, recognize their invaluable contributions, their courage, and their dedication, and show our deep appreciation for their sacrifices. The 7th grade students wrote and recited heartfelt letters of appreciation to the veterans in attendance with help from the symphonic band, advanced ensemble, and the advanced art class. With the addition of the Darien VFW Color Guard 2838 and our local Boy Scouts, the assembly was truly a group effort to show appreciation for the individuals who have fiercely defended our freedoms and secured our democracy.
Celebrating Our School Board Members
November 15 is School Board Members Day and in honor of this, we want to recognize our Board of Education members Lana Johnson, Rinku Patel, Urszula Tanouye, Steve Wyent, Chris Green, Katie Marinelli, and Liz Mitha. Please join us in thanking this incredible group of people for their leadership and dedication to the students, staff, and community of Cass School District 63.
Concord Book Fair is approaching! Students can shop November 18-22. Parents can shop online or at the family shopping night on Wednesday, November 20 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Please see this flyer for more information.
CARE Bowling Night December 7
Calling all Superfans, Cheeseheads, and Bleacher Creatures! Join us Saturday, December 7 for CARE’s Bowling Night Fundraiser. There will be darts, billiards, raffles, a caricature artist, an on-line auction, and more! This year’s theme is Sports Legends. Join us for an evening of fun, fandom, and friendly competition to help CARE reach its fundraising gooooooooooal!
Concord Students Visit with an Author
Last week, Concord welcomed local resident, author, and illustrator Laura Smetana to share one of her published books, Little Squiggle's Lake Adventure, with students and to discuss the book making process and how she finds inspiration for her stories. During the visits she also taught the students how to draw Little Squiggle. Some students completed their drawings and hung them on their lockers.
Concord is holding a Sports Equipment Drive November 25 through December 12. Please see this flyer for information on what items are being collected.
Chess Team Tryouts December 9 and 10
Cass Junior High Chess Team will be holding tryouts on December 9 and 10. Please see this flyer for more information.
Boys Basketball Tryouts November 20 and 21
Boys Basketball tryouts are November 20 and 21. Please see the flyer for times as the tryouts will be before school on both days. Students must have a current sports physical on file to try out.
With winter weather comes the possibility of the need to cancel school and move to e-learning due to severe weather conditions. This is a decision that is not taken lightly. Not only are the weather and road conditions taken into consideration, but also the conditions of the buildings and parking lots, the operability and availability of buses and drivers, the ability of staff to make the commute, as well as the air temperature and wind chill.
Timing of Announcements – A decision to cancel will be announced to the school community either the day prior or the morning of the cancellation. If the decision is made in the morning, it will be announced no later than 6:00 a.m. whenever possible.
Communication – The district does not utilize the media for these announcements and instead messages information directly to parents and staff. Once the decision is made, the school community will be notified through email, text messaging, and through a posting on the district's website and Facebook page.
District e-Learning Plan – While in person learning may be cancelled, the district will follow our e-Learning Plan for virtual instruction. Please review the plan in advance to understand what the expectations are for our staff and your child.
Early Dismissals and Late Starts – While some districts may choose to do so, District 63 does not plan to utilize early dismissals or late starts. Both can be a moving target with a very narrow window for decision making, which can result in much greater disruption to parents and families, as well as teaching and learning. In the event either would ever be necessary, announcements will be made immediately after a decision to do so.
Thank you for your understanding as we head into winter, and please contact the district or school office or your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
Junior High Yearbook Orders Due December 1
If you did not order your Cass Junior High yearbook when you registered your child for the 2024-25 school year, now is your last chance to do so. All orders must be submitted by December 1 in order to receive a yearbook at the end of the school year. If you are interested in ordering a yearbook, please pay through MySchoolBucks or send a check in the amount of $28 made payable to Cass Junior High, put ”yearbook” on the memo line, and send it to the Cass Junior High office. Please contact the school office with any questions.
The lost and found at Concord Elementary and Cass Junior High are getting full. If your child is missing anything, please have them come and check to see if it is in the lost and found. Any unclaimed items will be donated at the end of the school day on November 22.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program. Lunch menus are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75.
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Kaydence Burton, Teona Gavatski and Floriano Garro for being name Hinsdale South social studies students of the month.Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series Presents Understanding and Preventing Addiction
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.November 18
CARE Meeting, District Community Room, 7:00 p.m.November 25-26
No School – Parent Teacher ConferencesNovember 27-29
No School – Thanksgiving BreakDecember 2
School Resumes -
Cass63 Connections - November 7, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
In District 63, we stress the importance of excellent attendance because we know that students as a whole perform better when they are at school. A colleague recently passed along some excellent data on the impact of student attendance, and I thought it was worth sharing with our parents and staff.
- Kindergarten and 1st grade students who are chronically absent have an 81 percent chance of reading below grade level in 3rd grade.
- In 4th grade, chronically absent students score an average of 12 points lower on the NAEP assessments than students who demonstrated good attendance.
- By 8th grade, the gap between the chronically absent students and those with good attendance widens to 18 points on the NAEP.
- By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
- By high school, a chronically absent student is 7.4 times more likely to drop out.
By definition for the above research data, “chronic absence” means missing an average of two days per month, which is a total of 18 days, or 10 percent of the school year. “Good attendance” is missing nine days or less, or no more than five percent. The test data referenced above is based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Is this true for every child? No, of course there are exceptions and this data does not control for other factors. However, this clearly demonstrates the importance of school attendance. Not only is it important for their learning and academic growth, but it also teaches good habits and a strong work ethic.
Thank you for doing your best to make sure your children are here at school!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Our 8th grade students put on a great science fair!
Parent-teacher conferences are November 25 and 26 and registration is open. The conference schedule is from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, and from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26. Concord teachers sent out emails to parents with instructions on how to sign up for a conference, and here is a letter from Principal Christine Marcinkewicz with the details and links for registration which is open through November 15. If you have not already signed up, please be sure to do so as soon as possible.
Cass Junior High Yearbooks
If you did not order your Cass Junior High yearbook when you registered your child for the 2024-25 school year, now is your last chance to do so. All orders must be submitted by December 1 in order to receive a yearbook at the end of the school year. If you are interested in ordering a yearbook, please pay through MySchoolBucks or send a check in the amount of $28 made payable to Cass Junior High, put ”yearbook” on the memo line, and send it to the Cass Junior High office. Please contact the school office with any questions.
Cass Students Participate in Mock Election
Students in Ms. Pollitz’s 6th grade civics classes have been learning about the election process since the start of the school year. To help connect their learning to the real world, a mock presidential election was held at Cass Junior High on November 4, in which all students participated in their social studies classes. Student voters were required to have a registered district email to vote. Students voted in an individual booth and received an “I Voted” sticker to commemorate the occasion.
8th Grade Science Fair
From studying how music affects mood to how smells affect taste to testing reaction time and so many projects in between, our 8th grade students did a tremendous job at the recent science fair! Thank you to our 8th graders for their hard work and to our parents and students for visiting the science fair.
Recognizing Our Staff – Sara Zimmerman and Kristyn McElligott
We love to share the good news about our incredible D63 staff, and this week we are recognizing Sara Zimmerman and Kristyn McElligott.
This coming week is School Psychology Awareness Week, and Sara Zimmerman is our dedicated, hardworking, and professional school psychologist. Her plate is very full as she is involved in so many aspects of student services, and meeting the needs of our students. Much of Sara’s work is behind the scenes, but all that she does is greatly appreciated respected by all of us, as well as our parents in D63!
Concord 2nd grade teacher Kristyn McElligott was nominated by teacher Katy Modglin for her dedication as well. Mrs. Modglin said, “Kristyn is an exemplary teacher and even a more exemplary team member. She goes above and beyond for not only her students but also her fellow staff members. She is inclusive of all students and staff and works hard to make Concord an enjoyable place to work. She is AMAZING in all aspects!”
Thank you to both Sara Zimmerman and Kristyn McElligott!
Boys Basketball Tryouts November 20 and 21
Boys Basketball tryouts are November 20 and 21. Please see the flyer for times as the tryouts will be before school on both days. Students must have a current sports physical on file to try out.
Midwest Sheltor for Homeless Veterans DonationsIn honor of the brave veterans who served our country, Cass Junior High students completed a donation drive for The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans (MSHV) in Wheaton. Between the students and staff, we collected over 500 basic necessities of need and donated them to MSHV. The staff at MSHV was extremely grateful as their shelves were relatively bare, and they were in great need of many items. Kudos to the students in Ms. Musil’s, Mrs. Vaci’s, Mrs. Callahan’s, and Mr. Grand’s classes for meeting the goal of one item per student.
Cass Junior High Spirit Week
Thank you to Cass Junior School student council for planning a fabulous Spirit Week! From TV Show/Movie Day to PJ Day and everything in between, the students and staff had a great time showing their school spirit.
CARE Bowling Night December 7Calling all Superfans, Cheeseheads, and Bleacher Creatures! Join us Saturday, December 7 for CARE’s Bowling Night Fundraiser. There will be darts, billiards, raffles, a caricature artist, an on-line auction, and more! This year’s theme is Sports Legends. Join us for an evening of fun, fandom, and friendly competition to help CARE reach its fundraising gooooooooooal!
Front Row Ticket Raffle - Cass Fall Choral Concert
Would you like front row seats to your student’s fine arts events? CARE is raffling off front row seats to select band, choir and grade level music performances. Purchase at any time on the CARE website. The next event is the Cass Fall Choral Concert on November 14. Tickets are $1 and will be available until November 11.
November Dine to Donate at Wayback Burger - November 12
Save the Date for this month's Dine to Donate at Wayback Burgers on Tuesday, November 12th!
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Hinsdale South cross country runners Wojtek Gilarski and Anna Wilcox for qualifying to compete at the IHSA cross country state meet. We wish them the best of luck!
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program. Lunch menus are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75.
The lost and founds at Concord Elementary and Cass Junior High are getting full. If your child is missing anything, please have them come and check to see if it is in the lost and found. Any unclaimed items remaining at the end of the school day on November 22 will be donated to a local charity.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series presents
An Evening with Best Buddies (Friendship Program for People with Special Needs)
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.November 25-26
No School – Parent Teacher ConferencesNovember 27-29
No School – Thanksgiving Break -
Cass63 Connections - October 31, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
It was a fun week for the kids and staff with the Halloween dance, festivities, and parties. Not all schools do so anymore, but we love celebrating and sharing the joy of Halloween with our kids in D63.
Incredibly, it is already November, which means parent-teacher conferences are around the corner. Concord teachers have already emailed registration information, and the conference registration portal for Cass Junior High opens at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, November 1. More details on conferences are provided below.
As a reminder, since election day is a mandated state holiday this year, there is no school on Tuesday, November 5. Also, don’t forget to set your clocks back this weekend and get that extra hour of sleep.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass students ready for the Halloween dance and Concord staff ready for Halloween!
Sunday, November 3, ends Daylight Savings Time. Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour!
No School on Election Day
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 is Election Day and there is no school.
Recognizing Our Staff – Sarah Leganski and Amy Gorzkowski
We love to share the good news about our incredible D63 staff, and nominations are always welcome! This week we are recognizing Sarah Leganski and Amy Gorzkowski.
It was recently World Occupational Therapy Day, and Sarah Leganski plays a key role providing excellent services as an occupational therapist. She is so professional with our students, staff, and parents at both schools. Ms. Leganski is also a graduate of District 63 and is one of our awesome cross country and soccer coaches!
Cass Junior High English Language Arts teacher Amy Gorzkowski was recently nominated by fellow teacher Matt Etherington for her outstanding job in organizing the recent 7th grade field trip to Springfield. “Everything was seamless, from the logistics to the activities. The students had a fantastic time, and it was clear how much effort she put into making the trip both educational and fun,” Mr. Etherington shared. Thank you to Mrs. Gorzkowski for her part in giving our students an awesome experience!
Parent-teacher conferences are November 25 and 26 and the schedule is from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, and from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26. We want to provide conferences in a format that allows for maximizing the time available, is appropriate for the grade level served, and is as parent-friendly as possible. Following are the details and registration procedures for each school.
Concord Elementary - All grade levels at Concord have both virtual and in-person conferences. Virtual conferences are available as a convenience to parents if that is your preference, but we also have an in-person option at Concord. Teachers from preschool through 4th grade sent out a conference registration email to all parents on October 24. Please contact the Concord school office if you did not receive an email.
Cass Junior High School - Due to the number of conferences and tighter schedule for each teacher as well as the age levels of the students, conferences for parents of students in 5th through 8th grades are virtual. Beginning on November 1, junior high conferences will be scheduled online through the Meet the Teacher platform. Here is a letter from Principal Christine Marcinkewicz with the details and links for registration for when the portal opens.
Please contact your child’s school office with any questions. Thank you!
Multicultural Celebration Survey Deadline November 1
Cass School District 63 will be hosting a multicultural celebration and we are looking for feedback from our families and assembling volunteers to help organize the event. To assist in our planning, we are asking parents to complete this survey. If you think you might be able to participate or even if you just have ideas to share, please respond by November 1.
8th Grade Parents - Hinsdale South Enrollment Open
8th grade parents, the enrollment website is now open in District 86 for Hinsdale South High School. Submitting information through this website is required for every incoming student planning to attend Hinsdale South in the Fall of 2025. Please submit initial registration information soon to District 86 via their registration website to avoid missing important information about high school course selection. Registration closes on November 8.
Boys Basketball Tryouts November 20 and 21
Boys Basketball tryouts are November 20 and 21. Please see the flyer for times as the tryouts will be before school on both days. Students must have a current sports physical on file to try out.
Celebrating Halloween in D63!We celebrate the fun of Halloween in our schools, with Cass students dressing up during the school day on Wednesday to be ready for their after school dance, and Concord kids dressed up for an assembly and class parties on Thursday. Please enjoy the pictures from these fun events!
CARE Bowling Night December 7Calling all Superfans, Cheeseheads, and Bleacher Creatures! Join us Saturday, December 7 for CARE’s Bowling Night Fundraiser. There will be darts, billiards, raffles, a caricature artist, an on-line auction, and more! This year’s theme is Sports Legends. Join us for an evening of fun, fandom, and friendly competition to help CARE reach its fundraising gooooooooooal!
November Dine to Donate at Wayback Burger
Save the Date for this month's Dine to Donate at Wayback Burgers on Tuesday, November 12th!
An important parent responsibility is to contact the school first thing in the morning when your child will be absent. This is important not only for safety, but also to limit the need for us to locate parents to find this information. Parents can either call the attendance line and leave the necessary information, or send it via email, whichever works best for you.
For Concord absence reporting, call 331-481-4000, choose option 1 and then option 5, or email concordattendance@cassd63.org
For Cass absence reporting, call 331-481-4000, choose option 2 and then option 7, or email cassattendance@cassd63.org
For both calls or emails, please leave your child's name, grade level (and teacher for Concord), date of absence, reason for absence, parent name, and phone number. Please note that should you email an absence, the email must come from a parent email that is noted in PowerSchool.
The lost and founds at Concord Elementary and Cass Junior High are getting full. If your child is missing anything, please have them come and check to see if it is in the lost and found. Any unclaimed items remaining at the end of the school day on November 22 will be donated to a local charity.Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program. Lunch menus are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series presents The Price You Pay for College
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.November 5
No School – Election DayNovember 25-26
No School – Parent Teacher ConferencesNovember 27-29
No School – Thanksgiving Break -
Cass63 Connections - October 24, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
As most of you know, our parent organization CARE takes an active role in supporting our students, teachers, and school district. This is something that we all greatly appreciate, especially the volunteer parents who make so many good things happen!
This includes the recent DASH Fun Run at Concord, which was a huge success and raised approximately $7,500. Thank you to our students, parents, teachers, and especially our organizers! This was a great event and a beautiful day. Our Cass book fair in September was also a success, and we look forward to the Concord book fair coming up in November. Along those lines, there are a couple of CARE events coming up, including the annual Bowling Night Fundraiser on December 7. Registration details for bowling night are coming soon, and our annual Trivia Night is scheduled for February 7. Mark your calendars for both events!
Sometimes I get asked about fundraising and we all agree that it is important to connect fundraising efforts to good outcomes. CARE funds many great opportunities for our students and teachers. Sometimes these are smaller things that are impactful at a particular classroom or grade level, but we also look at larger things opportunities that might be funded in the future. It is always exciting when we can align fundraising to larger goals that can be so impactful for our kids.
If any group can make it happen, it is our CARE volunteers, and we thank them and all of you for your support of our kids, teachers, and schools!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Dodgeball fun at Cass Junior High!
Halloween Early Dismissal, Parties, and Costumes
Thursday, October 31 is an early release day for school improvement activities, as well as an early start on the costumes and Halloween activities for our families! Concord students will be released at 11:15 a.m. and Cass students at 12:00 p.m.
Concord Halloween and fall festival parties are being held on October 31. In order to assist in your planning, here are Concord Elementary’s guidelines. Cass Junior High is holding a Halloween Dance on October 30. Please review Cass Junior High’s guidelines for the dance and costumes.
Happy Halloween!
Cass School District 63 will be hosting a multicultural celebration and we are looking for feedback from our families and assembling volunteers to help organize the event. To assist in our planning, we are asking parents to complete this survey. If you think you might be able to participate or even if you just have ideas to share, please respond by November 1.
Parent-teacher conferences are November 25 and 26 and registration for conferences is coming very soon. The general conference schedule is from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, and from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26. We want to provide conferences in a format that allows for maximizing the time available, is appropriate for the grade level served, and is as parent-friendly as possible. Following are the details and registration procedures for each school.
Concord Elementary - All grade levels at Concord have both virtual and in-person conferences. Virtual conferences are available as a convenience to parents if that is your preference, but we also have an in-person option at Concord. On October 24, teachers from preschool through 4th grade will be sending parents the registration instructions and a link to the Google Calendar Scheduler. When you select your time with your child’s teacher, there will also be an opportunity to choose an in-person or virtual conference via Google Meet.
Cass Junior High School - Due to the number of conferences and tighter schedule for each teacher as well as the age levels of the students, conferences for parents of students in 5th through 8th grades will be all virtual. Beginning on November 1, junior high conferences will be scheduled online through the Meet the Teacher platform. Here is a letter from Principal Christine Marcinkewicz with the details and links for registration for when the portal opens. Reminders will be sent prior to registration opening.
We will continue to provide reminders, but please contact your child’s school office with any questions. Thank you!
Cass Junior High Spirit Week October 28-31
Cass Junior High spirit week is next week with different opportunities every day for students to participate. Please take a look to see how Cass students can join in the fun!
Parents Invited! 8th Grade Science Fair October 31
The 8th Grade Science Fair is October 31 and 8th grade parents are invited to attend. Please see this invitation for information on time, location and parking.
5th Grade Studies Ancient EgyptOur 5th grade students recently had an amazing time kicking off their study of Ancient Egypt. This hands-on project combined knowledge, creativity, and teamwork. Many of our student-created sarcophagi are displayed throughout the school for all grades to admire and enjoy.
Recognizing Our Staff – Principals, Custodians, and IT ProfessionalsWe love to recognize our wonderful staff in D63, and this week we will catch up on some special people and days that we let slip past earlier this year!
IT Professionals Day – This day was September 17 and we think our information technology staff Mike Van De North of SinglePath Technology Support who keeps our network and systems running smoothly, and Technology Assistant Mark Pragides who supports our staff and students with day to day technology and support needs at Concord.
National Custodian Day – This special day is held on October 2 every year, and we appreciate the hard work and dedication of Pete Alt, Dan Farias, and Tina Milutinovic at Concord Elementary, and Donna Gerren, Steve Boutet, and Pete Pauley at Cass Junior High. Additionally, while they are not custodians, we are grateful for Director of Buildings, Grounds, and Transportation Keith Monaco who works nonstop, as well as Wayne Ostrowski who is our jack of all trades.
Principal Appreciation Day – Dr. Laura Anderson and Mrs. Christine Marcinkewicz are two dedicated and experienced principals who we recognize for Illinois Principal Appreciation Day, which is October 25 this year. The job of a principal is always challenging and both Dr. Anderson and Mrs. Marcinkewicz maintain high standards and a strong commitment to student growth and academic excellence at Concord and Cass.
Homeless Veteran Donations Deadline October 28One way we honor our veterans is by coordinating donations to the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans Freedom Commissary. The MSHV accepts your donations and provides to veterans and their families in need. Please see this flyer for information on what and where to donate.
Cass School District 63 is seeking a teacher assistant at Cass Junior High School, as well as drivers and substitute custodians. For more information or to apply for current vacancies, here is the application and information.
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Hinsdale South High School class of 2025 students Collin Caldwell, Elias Carder, Andrea Crisp, Amanda Esposito, Jeremy Fung, Jane Gallagher, Eva Gurklys, Katherine Joseph, Hailey Linarez, Langston Love, and Elizabeth Martin on being named National Merit College Board Scholars. This is a very impressive achievement and we are proud that eleven of our D63 graduates have attained this honor.Also, congratulations to Hinsdale South students of the quarter Sam Rallo, Jeremy Fung, Emma Glashin, and Molly Severus.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program. Lunch menus are updated regularly and payment information, preschool snacks and other details are available under the lunch program. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Hinsdale South Holiday Artisan Fair
GPS Parent Series presents Great Read with College of DuPage – “Gods of Jade and Shadow”
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.October 31
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pmNovember 5
No School – Election DayNovember 25-26
No School – Parent Teacher ConferencesNovember 27-29
No School – Thanksgiving Break -
Cass63 Connections - October 17, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
As a school district, we want to celebrate our families and their diverse backgrounds and cultures. As part of our Vision 2025 Strategic Plan, Cass School District 63 is hosting a Multicultural Celebration the evening of April 11, 2025. This is something we have talked about for some time, and we are excited to make it happen.
We are assembling volunteers to help organize the event, but first we would like to gauge interest and get some ideas. To assist in our planning, we are asking parents to complete this survey and respond to the questions, each as they apply to you. If you think you might be able to participate or even if you just have ideas to share, please respond by Friday, November 1st. If you have any questions, please email me at mcross@cassd63.org.
Your responses will help us develop this into something meaningful for our students, families, and community. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Concord students having a great time during the DASH Fun Run.
Parent-teacher conferences are November 25 and 26 and registration for conferences is coming very soon. The general conference schedule is from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, and from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26. We want to provide conferences in a format that allows for maximizing the time available, is appropriate for the grade level served, and is as parent-friendly as possible. Following are the details and registration procedures for each school.
Concord Elementary - All grade levels at Concord have both virtual and in-person conferences. Virtual conferences are available as a convenience to parents if that is your preference, but we also have an in-person option at Concord. On October 24, teachers from preschool through 4th grade will be sending parents the registration instructions and a link to the Google Calendar Scheduler. When you select your time with your child’s teacher, there will also be an opportunity to choose an in-person or virtual conference via Google Meet.
Cass Junior High School - Due to the number of conferences and tighter schedule for each teacher as well as the age levels of the students, conferences for parents of students in 5th through 8th grades will be all virtual. Beginning on November 1, junior high conferences will be scheduled online through the Meet the Teacher platform. Here is a letter from Principal Christine Marcinkewicz with the details and links for registration for when the portal opens. Reminders will be sent prior to registration opening.
We will continue to provide reminders, but please contact your child’s school office with any questions. Thank you!
At the Board meeting held on October 15, the Board welcomed students Skylar Herbert and Decker Kuntz to recognize their outstanding performance during the cross country season. The Board also recognized the preschool team, Pam Worth, Lauren Grochowski, and Kara Blatt for achieving Gold Circle recognition. The Board also reviewed the fiscal year 2024 financial audit and discussed phase two facility planning. For more information on the October 15 meeting, please see the Board Briefs.
Red Ribbon and Spirit Week is October 21-25 at Concord Elementary, and many fun activities have been planned. Here is the schedule of events as well as all the spirit themed days for students and staff.
Supporting Our VeteransOne way we honor our veterans is by coordinating donations to the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans Freedom Commissary. The MSHV accepts your donations and provides to veterans and their families in need. Please see this flyer for information on what and where to donate.
CARE DASH Fun Run Success
CARE, our parent-teacher organization, coordinated and hosted the DASH Fun Run at Concord last week. This is a walking and running event that promotes school spirit, physical fitness, and healthy living, all while raising money to support our schools! The Concord students had an amazing time participating in all of the activities on such a beautiful fall morning. Thank you to CARE and our parents and families for supporting this fantastic event!
Dodgeball Fun at Cass Junior High
We had a great turnout for the first-ever dodgeball tournament at Cass Junior High last week! With 24 teams and over 140 students participating, the students showed team spirit and outstanding sportsmanship.
Cass Junior High Math Team is starting on Monday, October 21 and is open to all interested students. Please see this flyer for more information. Contact Ms. Mosquera with questions at kmosquera@cassd63.org.
Halloween Festivities and Guidelines
Concord Halloween and fall festival parties are coming up at the end of October and we know that parents want to know what Halloween costumes may be worn. In order to assist in your planning, here are Concord Elementary’s guidelines, particularly as it relates to events taking place at school the morning of October 31.
Cass Junior High is holding a Halloween Dance on October 30. Please review Cass Junior High’s guidelines for the dance and costumes.
CARE Bowling NightCARE is hosting its annual Bowling Night Fundraiser on Saturday, December 7. This year’s theme is Sports Legends! Be like Mike and save the date! Registration details coming are soon.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program and lunch menus and other information are available under the link. The menus include nutritional and allergen information, as well as a detailed listing of ingredients and an option for rating food items. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Preschool snack menus can be found here.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series presents Teen Anxiety and School Anxiety
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.October 31
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pm -
Cass63 Connections - October 10, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Earlier today I spoke with a few junior high students and was quickly reminded how kind and friendly so many of our kids are in District 63. Of course, this totally starts at home with you as parents because while some people are naturally friendly, it can also be taught. It might take some years to stick, but I think this is important, particularly when today it is so easy to allow a child to have their eyes on a device without ever having to acknowledge another person.
Personally, I was an old school parent who taught my kids to look people in the eye, be respectful, and always acknowledge another person's kindness. It wasn't always easy, especially when they were at an awkward age, but that was all the more reason to teach them the importance of this. I knew if they could do it as kids, these habits would carry over into adulthood.
Clearly, so many of you teach these same values, and it shows here at school. Not only do I see it, but our teachers, staff, and administrators do as well and we all talk about it. Kids are kids and they aren't always perfect, but we appreciate their good manners, kindness, and respect, and will do whatever we can to reinforce those habits and teach them the same thing here at school.
Thank you for sharing your awesome kids with us, and we will do whatever we can to help them reach their potential not only academically, but as good human beings as well!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass 7th grade students exploring Springfield, Illinois.
Friday, October 11 is an early release day for school improvement activities. Concord students will be released at 11:15 a.m. and Cass students at 12:00 p.m. Additionally, there is no school on Monday in honor of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day. Enjoy your long weekend!
Help Us Honor Our VeteransVeterans Day is approaching and our 7th grade students are participating in a special letter writing project and this is your last chance to include your family and friends who are military veterans or on active duty. Please see this letter for more information on helping us honor the veterans you care most about.
Another way to honor our veterans is by making a donation to the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans Freedom Commissary (MSHV) who take your donations and gives them to veterans and their families in need. Please see this flyer for information on what and where to donate.
Social Emotional Learning at Cass Junior High School
We are working hard to meet the needs of our students both academically, as well as socially and emotionally. As part of that work, we use the MySAEBRS assessment in grades 5 through 8. The purpose of this brief, norm-referenced screener is to be proactive and work with parents and students to address any concerns as we prepare your children for high school. Here is more information on the SEL Screener and Opt Out Form that must be returned to the school office by October 15 if you do not want your child to participate. If you are fine with your child participating, there is nothing you need to do. Please contact Principal Marcinkewicz at cmarcinkewicz@cassd63.org with any questions.
Preschool Playground Closed Temporarily
The Concord Preschool playground will be closed for no more than two weeks beginning on October 14. Concord successfully applied for and received a grant that will lead to some great improvements for our youngest students. Our kids will still be outdoors for play and recess, and we look forward to offering a great new play space for our students.
Cass Junior High Math Team is starting on Monday, October 21 and is open to all interested students. Please see this flyer for more information. Contact Ms. Mosquera with questions at kmosquera@cassd63.org.
Concord and Cass Halloween Festivities and Guidelines
Concord Halloween and fall festival parties are coming up at the end of October and we know that parents want to know what Halloween costumes may be worn. In order to assist in your planning, here are Concord Elementary’s guidelines, particularly as it relates to events taking place at school the morning of October 31.Cass Junior High is holding a Halloween Dance on October 30. Please review Cass Junior High’s guidelines for the dance and costumes.
Concord Picture Retake Day October 16Concord picture retake day is October 16. Students who did not have their pictures taken already or who would like to have their pictures retaken may participate. Order forms are available in the Concord Elementary Office or you may order online at www.mylifetouch.com using the Picture ID code EVTCPTFMQ. Students who are retaking their pictures must return the original photos on picture retake day so that new photos may be taken.
7th Grade Springfield Trip
Last Friday, our 7th grade students enjoyed a full day of authentic learning in Springfield. This field trip brought the social studies curriculum to life as students explored the Illinois State Capitol, President Lincoln’s home, the Lincoln Museum, and other historical attractions. Please enjoy these pictures from this annual trip.
Congratulations to Kaleia Pang
Congratulations to Cass Junior High student Kaleia Pang and her teammate who took 6th place overall in the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) held this past summer in Puerto Rico. Awesome!
Music Concert Front Row Raffle
Would you like front row seats to your student’s fine arts events? CARE is raffling off front row seats to select band, choir and grade level music performances. Purchase at any time on the CARE website. The first event is the Cass Junior High Jazz Band & Advanced Vocal Ensemble Performance on October 17. Raffle tickets are $1 and will be available until October 11.Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program and lunch menus and other information are available under the link. The menus include nutritional and allergen information, as well as a detailed listing of ingredients and an option for rating food items. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Preschool snack menus can be found here.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series presents Supporting Our Teens in Challenging Times
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.October 11
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pmOctober 14
No School – Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day -
Cass63 Connections - October 3, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
There is nothing more important or sacred than doing whatever we can to help keep our students safe and healthy. The Healthy Kids, Safe Schools section of our website includes information that could potentially be helpful to our parents and kids. This includes people you can contact at school if you need help. There are links to resources for talking to kids about a variety of topics, references for counseling, as well as information on bullying, sex abuse prevention, suicide prevention, and crisis support.
We also include resources for keeping kids safe online, something we talk about here from time to time. Smart phones and devices in the hands of kids are very powerful tools that need to be monitored carefully by parents, with full awareness of the risks of certain social media tools in particular. Under the Social Media Safety Tips section below, we highlight some things parents should be aware of regarding Snapchat. I welcome any suggestions on other resources that we can share.
Changing topics, CARE is planning some awesome activities this year, including the Concord DASH Fun Run on our early dismissal morning of October 11. The goal this year is to raise $5,500, with 100 percent of the donations directly benefiting students. At Cass, kids have the opportunity to have fun in a dodgeball tournament that same morning as part of their activities. No fundraiser, just fun!
Lastly, I would like to thank our fall athletic coaches who put in many hours for our student-athletes at Cass Junior High School. We are very grateful to have baseball coach Craig Damrow, softball coach Danielle Hosman, and cross country coaches Scott Kondraschow and Sarah Leganski coaching our kids and running these programs. Not only are they extremely knowledgeable and excellent coaches, but they are just great human beings and amazing role models for our kids. They also teach the importance of teamwork, sacrifice, and the value of putting in the time and effort to improve.
Thank you to our coaches, and congratulations to our kids on their successful seasons so far!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Concord students performing at a recent school assembly.
Bus Route Updates Effective October 7
The district posted updates to several bus routes that will go into effect on Monday, October 7 with the morning routes. Please be sure to check your child’s route to be sure that you have the correct stop and time. As a reminder, parents should contact Sunrise Transportation dispatch directly at 630-541-3414 should your child’s bus be late, appears to have missed your stop, or if your child did not arrive home on the bus. Please contact transportation director Keith Monaco at kmonaco@cassd63.org should you have any questions about your child’s bus stop.
Veterans Day is approaching and our 7th grade students are once again participating in a special letter writing project. We need your help in finding family and friends who are military veterans or on active duty. Please see this letter for more information on helping us honor the veterans you care most about. We will honor veterans on November 12, and we ask that names are submitted by October 11 on the form.
Preschool Playground Closed Temporarily
The Concord Preschool playground will be closed for no more than two weeks beginning on October 14. Concord successfully applied for and received a grant that will lead to some great improvements for our youngest students. Our kids will still be outdoors for play and recess, and we look forward to offering a great new play space for our students.
The DASH Fun Run is October 11, and all Concord students are invited to help raise funds for CARE. Concord students will participate in running or walking laps and enjoying outdoor activities, regardless of dollars contributed. Our goal this year is to raise $5,500, with 100 percent of the donations directly benefiting students. See the flyer for more details, and pledge sheets will be sent home on September 30.
Preschool Family Day and DASH Run
Preschool families are invited to come to Concord Elementary on Friday, October 11, from 8:15 - 9:00 a.m. to participate in the DASH Fun Run! All preschoolers will be able to participate with their families and friends in this CARE sponsored activity, and fundraising is not necessary to attend. To make the event more age appropriate, we will participate in playground games and activities in lieu of running laps. Make sure to wear gym shoes so everyone can enjoy playing on our playground! This family day will be tons of fun and helps to support our parent organization. A google form was recently sent to all preschool families.
Girls Softball Finishes Strong
The softball team had a great season, finishing as the 5th seed going into the conference tournament. The girls grew together and played together as a team all season, improving each and every game. There was great leadership and each player showed a lot of heart and effort throughout the season. They played each opponent tough and made them work for their wins. It was a memorable season that we will be looking to grow upon moving into next year, but we will definitely miss our three 8th graders! Congratulations on a great season to Coach Hosman and the team!
Congratulations to Vincent ChenCass Junior High student Vincent Chen competed in the XXXII Pan Am Junior Badminton Championships this past summer in Mexico taking 2nd place for U15 singles and 3rd place for U15 doubles! Congratulations and great job Vincent!
As a school district, we share information from time to time regarding social media with parents to help keep our children safe. Please always remember no child under the age of 13 should be on any form of social media, including and especially Snapchat. Snapchat is popular with young people and while the premise behind the app seems innocent, it can lead to serious problems if used inappropriately.
Snapchat offers extra protections for 13 to 17 year olds, including requiring teens to be mutually connected or in their respective phone contacts before they can start communicating. Snap has a set of in-app parental tools called Family Center to help parents get insight into how their teens are using Snapchat, including who they are communicating with and what public content they are viewing. Kids and parents can easily report concerning accounts to Snap’s 24/7 Trust and Safety Team.
Here is a list of important actions to help protect your teens on Snapchat:
- Family and Friends Only – Tell your teen to only invite and accept Friends on Snapchat if they are friends in real life or family members. Encourage them to check their Friends List regularly to make sure they still want to be in touch with each friend.
- Location and Privacy Settings – Talk to your teen about their location and privacy settings. At Snapchat, privacy settings are turned on by default, so people can only see the things you want to share, for as long as you want to share them.
- In-App Reporting – Make sure your teen knows how to use the in-app reporting tools, and Snapchatters do not know who reported them. These reports go directly to the 24/7 Trust and Safety team to investigate and take appropriate action. There are also reporting tools for those who don’t use Snapchat, which any parent can easily use.
- Think Before You Send – Remind your teen that, as with sharing anything online, it’s important to be really careful about sending anyone – even a partner or close friend – personal or sensitive images and information. Snaps and Chats may delete by default, but there are ways to capture images from a phone or other device without a person’s consent. This is true despite Snapchat sending a notification in some instances when a screenshot is taken.
- Join Family Center – Make sure you and your teen are signed up for Snapchat’s Family Center.
Girls Cheer Tryouts October 7-9Cass Junior High cheer clinic and tryouts are October 7, 8 and 10. Please see this flyer for more important information. Please contact Mrs. Gorzkowski at agorzkowski@cassd63.org or Mrs. Gray at agray@cassd63.org with questions.
Girls Basketball Tryouts October 7 and 8Girls basketball tryouts are on October 7 and 8 in the Cass Junior High gym from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Students must have an IHSA Pre-participation Examination dated within the last year on file in order to try out. Please contact Coach Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org with questions.
Concord Picture Retake Day October 16Concord picture retake day is October 16. Students who did not have their pictures taken already or who would like to have their pictures retaken may participate. Order forms are available in the Concord Elementary Office or you may order online at www.mylifetouch.com using the Picture ID code EVTCPTFMQ. Students who are retaking their pictures must return the original photos on picture retake day so that new photos may be taken.
Music Concert Front Row Raffle
Would you like front row seats to your student’s fine arts events? CARE is raffling off front row seats to select band, choir and grade level music performances. Purchase at any time on the CARE website. The first event is the Cass Junior High Jazz Band & Advanced Vocal Ensemble Performance on October 17. Raffle tickets are $1 and will be available until October 11.
Cass School District 63 is seeking a permanent substitute teacher and teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year. For more information or to apply for current vacancies, here is the application and information.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program and lunch menus and other information are available under the link. The menus include nutritional and allergen information, as well as a detailed listing of ingredients and an option for rating food items. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Preschool snack menus can be found here.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series presents Who Gets In And Why: A Year Inside College Admissions
D86 Parent Series - Dr. Aliza Pressman The 5 Principles of Parenting
Indian Prairie Public Library Write-On Competition
Darien Garden Club Sprouts Potato Palooza
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.October 11
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pmOctober 14
No School – Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day -
Cass63 Connections - September 26, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
This week, I just want to express our gratitude for the support you as parents show our children, teachers, staff, and schools. I believe that a great partnership between home and school is a very important piece of providing our kids with a great education, and your assistance and support is an essential component of that partnership.
Over this past week as part of my professional work, I have spoken with school superintendents from different parts of Illinois, and across the country as well. To put it kindly, some of them have some very “interesting” stories that would demonstrate quite the opposite of anything resembling parental support.
While we are far from perfect and no parent is either, by communicating and working together we can achieve so many great outcomes for our kids. They are totally worth that effort, as they are why we are all here. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Concord students excited about Dot Day activities.
Honoring Our Veteran Family and FriendsVeterans Day is approaching and our 7th grade students are once again participating in a special letter writing project. We need your help in finding family and friends who are military veterans or on active duty. Please see this letter for more information on helping us honor the veterans you care most about. We will honor veterans on November 12, and we ask that names are submitted by October 11 on the form.
Concord Fun Run T-Shirt Orders Due September 30The DASH Fun Run is October 11, and all Concord students are invited to help raise funds for CARE. Concord students will participate in running or walking laps and enjoying outdoor activities, regardless of dollars contributed. Our goal this year is to raise $5,500, with 100 percent of the donations directly benefiting students. See the flyer for more details, and pledge sheets will be sent home on September 30.
Also, if you have not already purchased a DASH t-shirt for your child and wish to do so, you can send in your DASH t-shirt order form or purchase online by Monday, September 30. Students will be welcome to wear their shirts on the day of the event.
Preschool Family Day and DASH Run
Preschool families are invited to come to Concord Elementary on Friday, October 11, from 8:15 - 9:00 a.m. to participate in the DASH Fun Run! All preschoolers will be able to participate with their families and friends in this CARE sponsored activity, and fundraising is not necessary to attend. To make the event more age appropriate, we will participate in playground games and activities in lieu of running laps. Make sure to wear gym shoes so everyone can enjoy playing on our playground! This family day will be tons of fun and helps to support our parent organization. A google form was recently sent to all preschool families.
Junior High Picture Retake Day October 3
Cass Junior High Picture retake Day is Thursday, October 3. Students who did not have pictures taken on Orientation Day or who would like to have their pictures retaken may participate. Order forms are available in the Cass Junior High Office or you may order online at mylifetouch.com using the Picture ID Code EVT7KF9CF. Students who are retaking their pictures must return the original photos on picture retake day so that new photos may be taken.
Cass Junior High Elects Leadership TeamCongratulations to our newly elected Cass Junior High Student Council Leadership Team! We look forward to Maya H., Rhett H., Grace T., and Addison W. leading our student leaders this year. Student Council as a whole meets once a month after school until 5:00 p.m. Meeting dates are shown on the district calendar and the next general assembly meeting will be October 8. Student Council sponsors this year are Amy Pollitz, Marie Musil, and Susan Paszkowski.
Concord Celebrates Dot Day
Last week, students and teachers at Concord School recently celebrated International Dot Day by designing dots for a collaborative mural and creating other pieces of art, as well as completing dot themed STEM activities and learning growth mindset in Skills For Learning. Dot Week celebrates creativity, art, and recognizes the ability to “connect the dots” to celebrate community and human potential. Dot Day is inspired by Peter Reynolds' picture book, The Dot.
6th Grade MAP Students Study ArchitectureOur 6th grade MAP students recently completed their study of architecture with a field trip to the Chicago Architecture Center. The walking tour challenged our students to view our beautiful city through the lens of architecture and history. In addition, parent Chris Jackson, spoke to our class about his career as an architect. We thank him for his time in explaining the education required and responsibilities of an architect.
Girls Basketball Tryouts October 7 and 8Girls basketball tryouts are on October 7 and 8 in the Cass Junior High gym from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Students must have an IHSA Pre-participation Examination dated within the last year on file in order to try out. Please contact Coach Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org with questions.
Concord Fall Festival and Halloween Costume GuidelinesConcord Halloween and fall festival parties are coming up at the end of October and we know that parents want to know what Halloween costumes may be worn. In order to assist in your planning, Dr. Anderson is sharing our school guidelines, particularly as it relates to events taking place at school the morning of October 31.
Music Concert Front Row Raffle
Would you like front row seats to your student’s fine arts events? CARE is raffling off front row seats to select band, choir and grade level music performances. Purchase at any time on the CARE website. The first event is the Cass Junior High Jazz Band & Advanced Vocal Ensemble Performance on October 17. Raffle tickets are $1 and will be available until October 11.
Cass School District 63 is seeking a permanent substitute teacher and teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year. For more information or to apply for current vacancies, here is the application and information.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program and lunch menus and other information are available under the link. The menus include nutritional and allergen information, as well as a detailed listing of ingredients and an option for rating food items. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Preschool snack menus can be found here.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
The Community Speaker Series presented by Districts 86 and 181
GPS Parent Series presents The New Science to Shift from Deficits to Strengths
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.October 11
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pmOctober 14
No School – Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day -
Cass63 Connections - September 19, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Last Friday, there was an incident at Hinsdale South High School that involved social media posts similar to others that have recently been spread, resulting in the district taking cautionary action to ensure the safety of students and staff. The district handled the situation quickly, worked closely with the police department, enacted their safety procedures, and determined that it was not a credible threat.
Unfortunately, these kinds of threats have become way too common. The one bit of good news is law enforcement is holding both children and their parents accountable for these posts, threats, and also in other extreme cases, the actual acts of violence.
The events also lead to rumors and questions about how and when the school districts communicate. I will be sharing more on this soon, but what I want you to know is that in the event we would have such an emergency, our first priorities are (1) the immediate safety and security of our students and staff; (2) investigating the issue and making certain we have all of the necessary information; and (3) communicating to parents and the school community.
We will always communicate, but it may not be the minute that it happens or in real time. If we are in a full lockdown, that also means you will not be able to come to the school, as we cannot and will not open any doors. In this highly unlikely scenario, our focus will always be on the safety of everyone here first, and you can be certain we will communicate with you as soon as possible.
But first, let’s do what we can to make sure that is never necessary. Keep an eye on your kids and their social media, and please share with us immediately if you have any concerns at all. Students and families can also confidentially contact the Safe2Help tip line by calling (844) 4-SAFE-IL, which is (844) 472-3345, texting SAFE2 which is 72332 or by emailing Help@Safe2HelpIL.com. By all means, if you see something, definitely say something. We will always take it seriously. Our kids and their safety is worth it.
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns and I will continue to share more on this topic. Thank you!Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Our students recently celebrated Patriot Day at Concord.
Preschool Program Achieves Gold Circle StatusWe are excited to announce that our Concord preschool program has achieved Gold Circle of Quality Status through ExcelRate Illinois. The Gold Circle of Quality recognizes programs which have demonstrated quality on a set of standards that focus on early learning and development and places a high priority on instructional excellence, family services, staff qualifications, professional development, and program administration.
We appreciate the hard work of our preschool team and coordinator Pam Worth, teachers Kara Blatt and Lauren Grochowski, speech pathologist Jane York, and all of our dedicated preschool teacher assistants, as well as the support of Principal Laura Anderson and Assistant Principal Katie Doyle. Their hard work and commitment to providing the best possible education to our youngest learners is the reason we have once again earned this honor. We are very proud of this achievement!
Concord Honors Patriot DayConcord Elementary School recently honored the United States of America and our many heroes in various ways, including a whole school patriotic assembly. This program of beautiful patriotic music from our students was led by music teacher Kali Sheldon. Please enjoy these pictures from the week.
We Need Our Veteran Family and Friends
Veterans Day is approaching and our 7th grade students are once again participating in a special letter writing project, and we need your help in finding family and friends who are military veterans or on active duty. Please see this letter for more information on helping us honor the veterans you care most about.
At the meeting held on September 17, the Board of Education met our new staff, held a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget, and reviewed updates related to the facility improvement projects. The Board Briefs include more details about the meeting.
Fast Start to Cross CountryOur cross country team got off to a fast start, kicking off the season with a weeklong summer training before the start of the school year. We had a strong showing at our first meet, where Sky Herbert took 1st place overall in the girls race, a first at Jefferson in a long time. Sky is one of six 8th grade girls on our team, which means that we have a deep lineup of leadership this season.
Decker Kuntz has been leading the way for our boys team as a 6th grader with a strong start to the season, taking 3rd place and 4th place overall in his first two races. Our boys team is young with a lot of room to grow, but we are learning how to work together and motivate each other to make the most out of practices, meets, and invitationals.
The Cross Country teams are coached by Scott Kondraschow and Sarah Leganski. Go Warriors!
Girls Basketball Tryouts October 7 and 8Girls basketball tryouts are on October 7 and 8 in the Cass Junior High gym from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Students must have an IHSA Pre-participation Examination dated within the last year on file in order to try out. Please contact Coach Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org with questions.
8th Grade DC TripOur 8th Grade Class will be traveling to Washington, DC from May 19 to 21, 2025. An informational meeting will be held via Zoom on September 25 at 6:30 p.m. Please contact Mr. Kondraschow at skondraschow@cassd63.org with any questions.
Save the Date 10-11-24 for our DASH Fun Run! CARE is still looking for sponsors or any type of donation. Be a DASH sponsor for $300 and CARE will advertise your business on our social media. Click the link to learn more!
The next CARE meeting is this Monday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the District Community Room located at Cass Junior High. We hope to see you there!
Cass Junior High book fair is coming up next week from September 24-26. Please see the link for more information.
You have one more week to get your spirit wear! Make sure your kids are decked out in Concord and Cass spirit wear during the 2024-25 school year. The spirit wear store is open from September 12 through September 27. Don’t miss out!
Cass School District 63 is seeking a permanent substitute teacher and teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year. For more information or to apply for current vacancies, here is the application and information. Also, our new lunch program partner Just a Dash Catering is also looking for potential food service workers right here in District 63. Here is more information on the positions and how to apply.
Just A Dash Catering is our partner for the school lunch program and lunch menus and other information are available under the link. The menus include nutritional and allergen information, as well as a detailed listing of ingredients and an option for rating food items. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. Preschool snack menus can be found here.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series: The Many Ways of Unconditional Love and Acceptance
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.September 23
CARE Meeting, Cass Junior High Community Room, 7:00 p.m.October 11
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pmOctober 14
No School – Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day -
Cass63 Connections - September 12, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
This week I would like to address two important safety matters, the first on a more national scale and the second right here close to home and school.
Last week I shared with you the Safe Firearm Storage Guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health. This is timely not only as good reminders for parents and citizens who are responsible gun owners, but also in light of last week’s tragedy at Apalachee High School in Georgia. Tragedies such as this always bring stark reminders to the surface, and gun safety includes not only handling, but safe storage as well.
Related to this, I will always remind parents to be very mindful of what your children are watching, hearing, and talking about on social media. You can never be sure, and you can never be too safe. As with guns, with smartphones and social media come great responsibility.
Bringing this much closer to home in terms of the safety of our littles ones in particular, we need the assistance and cooperation of our parents to make certain that it is safe at drop off time, particularly at Concord. The information below under “important notice” is outlined very clearly.
Also, if you are in the car line, you have to go through it just like everyone else. No U-turns in school traffic, or we will involve the police. Please exercise patience and care at all times, and pay attention to your surroundings and not your phone. This is the law in school traffic zones.
We appreciate your assistance and cooperation with these important matters. Your questions are welcome at any time. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
All of our Cass students coming together on the first day of school.
Just a reminder that Friday, September 13 is an early release day for school improvement planning. Concord will be released at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.
Concord Curriculum Night September 12
The final curriculum night for Concord will be held on the evening of September 12. The scheduled times are kindergarten at 6:00, 1st Grade 6:30, and 2nd Grade at 7:00 p.m.
Important Morning Concord Traffic Reminders
To assist in making certain all Concord Elementary children are safe during the morning drop off in particular, parents absolutely must follow these important procedures:
- Children are not allowed to exit cars until 7:45 a.m. This is when staff supervision begins and the school doors open.
- Parents may not get out of cars to unbuckle students in the car line. If that is necessary, then cars must be parked in the lot and children walked to the school entrance.
- Children must exit the vehicles from the passenger side by the curb. This allows them to step safely on the sidewalk and not in the area where cars are passing.
For parents who walk their children to school or allow older children to walk on their own, children must either be supervised by parents or not arrive until 7:45 when supervision from the staff begins. Parents of students left unsupervised outside of these hours before or after school may have their children added to the Ivy League Kids program and charged accordingly.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation with this important matter and additional details and guidelines for each school can be found at the bottom of the page under Bus Routes, Pick Up, and Drop Off.
Cass Junior High Remembers September 11On Patriot Day, Mrs. Jemin’s class at Cass Junior High School released balloons in honor of those lost on September 11, 2001. On September 13, each grade level will participate in a different activity surrounding 9/11. Grade 5 will view a photo essay which demonstrates the basics around what took place. Students discuss a video called ‘what would you do’ which commemorates a person who led people to safety during the attacks. Grade 6 reads and discusses a prologue that Mayor Guiliani wrote for a book produced by Life Magazine about 9/11. 6th graders also learn about Gander, Canada and its significance during 9/11. Grade 7 views and discusses a timeline activity from the 9-11 Memorial Museum, which includes many photos and video clips that the class discusses as a group. Grade 8 will view a video entitled “9/11 Heroes: Surviving the Biggest Attack on US Soil.” Students will then participate in a “Days of Infamy” activity which compares and contrasts the speeches from President Roosevelt after Pearl Harbor and President Bush after the respective attacks. Teachers and students read both of the speeches, watch videos of both speeches, discuss in groups and complete a related activity.
Cass Conference Golf MatchOn September 10, the Cass Warriors dusted the golf clubs off and showed up to swing away at Twin Lakes Golf Club for the annual Southeast DuPage Elementary Athletic Association golf meet. The students representing the Warriors were Eddy Kasprowicz, Beckett Kuntz, Rian Green, and Ethan Alavi. The boys competed against five other schools in the conference and were able to find their rhythm and shoot well. They had some great tee shots, fancy chips, and sinking putts to finish up the round with competitive scores. Congratulations, and go Warriors!
Just A Dash Lunch ProgramTo celebrate our new lunch program partnership, Just A Dash Catering brought in fun balloons for our students to enjoy, which led to some great pictures. We are still working through details and building the program, but we truly appreciate the freshly prepared food and professionalism of our people at Just A Dash. They are still looking for help, so if you know of anyone interested in a part time job that corresponds to your child’s school schedule, here is more information on how to apply.
Concord Dot Week September 16-20Get ready to make a mark and have a blast during Dot Week! Inspired by the book “The Dot” written by Peter H. Reynolds, we’re celebrating creativity and self-expression with a series of fun, dot-themed activities. From Art and Library to STEM, dot week will be filled with exciting projects and learning opportunities.
To add to the fun, we invite all students and staff to join in by wearing outfits in different colors each day, including red on Monday, orange on Tuesday, yellow on Wednesday, green on Thursday, and blue on Friday.
Let's fill our school with color and creativity as we explore the magic of making our mark! We can't wait to see all the vibrant outfits and dot-inspired projects.
F.A.C.T.S. Assembly
Last week, Concord students participated in the F.A.C.T.S. (Friendship, Art, Caring, Trust and Sharing) Assembly which focuses on the principle that effective communication and positive interactions are essential for building friendships. Students engaged in games specifically designed to encourage them to interact with one another, improve their communication skills, and foster the idea of friendship.
Preschool Screening September 20
Cass School District 63 is holding a Preschool Screening on September 20 for children who live in our district and are 3-5 years old. Your child must be preregistered to participate. Please see under the link for more information and how to register.
8th Grade DC TripOur 8th Grade Class will be traveling to Washington, DC from May 19 to 21, 2025. An informational meeting will be held via Zoom on September 25 at 6:30 p.m. Please contact Mr. Kondraschow at skondraschow@cassd63.org with any questions.
Cass School District 63 is seeking a permanent substitute teacher and teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year. For more information or to apply for current vacancies, here is the application and information.
CARE Updates
CARE Dine to Donate is back and to kick things off is Melt n Dip in Willowbrook on September 18. Enjoy a wonderful after dinner treat and bring this flyer with you to ensure that 15 percent of your purchases are donated back to our schools.Make sure your kids are decked out in Concord and Cass spirit wear during the 2024-25 school year. The spirit wear store is open from September 12 through September 27. Don’t miss out!
Through our new school lunch program partner Just A Dash Catering, our new online lunch menus for both Concord and Cass are now available. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. To start the school year, there is one regular and one vegetarian option each day. If you click on a menu item, it pulls up the nutritional information, and if you scroll beneath that information you will see “How would you rate this item?”. Once you give the food a basic rating, it will open a window that allows for more feedback. At the junior high there will also be a la carte options offered soon and those are listed under the menu link along with the prices. Preschool snack menus can be found here.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.September 12
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
1st Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 13
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pmOctober 11
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pmOctober 14
No School – Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day -
Cass63 Connections - September 5, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Politics is a topic we rarely address here, but I think it is important to share some thoughts so that our parents are aware of where we come from and how we handle related discussions. This is particularly important with the presidential campaigns leading up to the election exactly two months from today.
On the evening of September 10, the debate between Vice President Harris and former President Trump will be broadcast live. I started watching these debates many years ago as a kid at home with my parents. I won’t age myself as to which elections those were, but it was certainly a different era in terms of the discourse surrounding elections. Today we live in times that are much more politically divided.
What I want you to know is that what our district, teachers, and staff will never intentionally do is contribute to that divide. If a teacher has a curriculum-based reason for discussing the presidential election at an age-appropriate level, they will do so as they should. Teaching civics, history, social studies, and discussing current events is as important as ever, particularly as we get into the upper grade levels of the students we are preparing for high school and beyond.
What we don’t do is teach political views, as we believe that parents should decide what you discuss as a family. Our guidance for teachers is that they should be able to facilitate an age-appropriate discussion with their students and at the end of that discussion, the kids don’t really know where the teacher stands. Teachers are human and of course have their own individual opinions, but the kids in any classroom reflect a wide range of beliefs and opinions, which is something we respect.
Obviously this isn’t going to be an issue at school for our younger ones, but if appropriate to the curriculum and the age level of the students involved, teachers will handle any related discussions with sensitivity and common sense. We are not here to teach your child what to think, but we will certainly teach them to think critically, and elections are a great opportunity to do just that.
That said, some kids may express views or political speech as part of a greater discussion, or in other ways at school. This is fine, so long as opinions are expressed appropriately, free of insults or inappropriate language, and are not disruptive to the teaching and learning environment. We are not here to get involved with or facilitate political debates, but simply want to teach our students what they need to know to be informed citizens.
I hope this approach comes across as reasonable and common sense as it is intended. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, and thank you for your incredible support of our students, teachers, and schools in District 63!Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Concord Curriculum Nights
Our annual curriculum nights at Concord are scheduled for the following dates and times.September 5, 2024
Prekindergarten Curriculum Night, Concord, 6:00 p.m.
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord, 6:30 p.m.
4th Grade Curriculum Night, Concord, 7:00 p.m.September 12, 2024
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, Concord, 6:00 p.m.
1st Grade Curriculum Night, Concord, 6:30 p.m.
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord, 7:00 p.m.
IDPH Safe Firearm Storage Guidelines
In light of another school tragedy this week in Georgia, it is imperative that households with guns practice safe firearm storage. Firearm safety is not only about the handling of a firearm, but that responsibility also extends to secure storage. Safe storage consists of keeping firearms locked and unloaded, and separating firearms and ammunition when not in use. It also involves making sure household members understand the safety guidelines concerning firearms. Here is more information on this critical and timely topic.
Wear Red, White, and Blue on 9-11 and 9-13 at Concord
On 9-11 and 9-13, Concord Elementary students should wear red, white, and/or blue to school in honor of Patriot Day and for the Patriotic Assembly. If you have any questions, please contact the Concord school office.
An important parent responsibility is to contact the school first thing in the morning when your child will be absent. This is important not only for safety, but also to limit the need for us to locate parents to find this information. Parents can either call the attendance line and leave the necessary information, or send it via email, whichever works best for you.
For Concord absence reporting, call 331-481-4000, choose option 1 and then option 5, or email concordattendance@cassd63.org.
For Cass absence reporting, call 331-481-4000, choose option 2 and then option 7, or email cassattendance@cassd63.org.
For both calls or emails, please leave your child's name, grade level (and teacher for Concord), date of absence, reason for absence, parent name, and phone number. Please note that should you email an absence, the email must come from a parent email that is noted in PowerSchool.
Annual Ice Cream Social September 6
CARE is hosting the annual Ice Cream Social beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 6 at Concord Elementary School. This is a great opportunity for our students and parents from the entire district to celebrate the beginning of a new school year. We hope to see everyone there!
8th Grade DC Trip
Our 8th Grade Class will be traveling to Washington, DC from May 19 to 21, 2025. An informational meeting will be held via Zoom on September 25 at 6:30 p.m. Please contact Mr. Kondraschow at skondraschow@cassd63.org with any questions.
7th Grade Springfield Trip
The 7th grade annual visit to Springfield, Illinois is scheduled for Friday, October 4. This is a one-day trip that includes visits to many historic sites, including Abraham Lincoln’s home and the Lincoln Presidential Museum. This trip coincides with the 7th grade social studies curriculum. Please see this flyer for registration information and contact Mrs. Gorzkowski at agorzkowski@cassd63.org with any questions.
Junior High Baseball Season Underway
This is the inaugural year for Cass Junior High baseball and we couldn’t be prouder of our team! These young men come ready to work hard and improve their skills at each practice and every game. Thank you to Coach Craig Damrow on leading the team in our first season and we look forward to watching how much these players grow both individually and as a team.
Concord Dot Week September 16-20
Get ready to make a mark and have a blast during Dot Week! Inspired by the book “The Dot” written by Peter H. Reynolds, we’re celebrating creativity and self-expression with a series of fun, dot-themed activities. From Art and Library to STEM, dot week will be filled with exciting projects and learning opportunities.
To add to the fun, we invite all students and staff to join in by wearing outfits in different colors each day:
Monday - Red
Tuesday - Orange
Wednesday - Yellow
Thursday - Green
Friday - BlueLet’s fill our school with color and creativity as we explore the magic of making our mark! We can't wait to see all the vibrant outfits and dot-inspired projects.
Concord Picture Day September 12
Picture day is coming to Concord on September 12. Order forms were sent home with your child or you may order online at www.mylifetouch.com using the specific Concord Picture Day ID: EVTCPTFMQ.
Cass School District 63 is holding a Preschool Screening on September 20 for children who live in our district and are 3-5 years old. Your child must be preregistered to participate. Please see under the link for more information and how to register.
Vision and Hearing Screenings
Vision and hearing screenings will be conducted in September at Cass Junior High and Concord Elementary School. Please review this information for dates, times and which students will be participating in which screenings.Part-Time Kitchen Help Needed at Concord
Just a Dash Catering is looking for part-time kitchen help during the school day, right here in District 63. Here is more information on how to apply, or contact Superintendent Mark Cross at mcross@cassd63.org with any questions. The school district is also seeking a permanent substitute teacher and teacher assistants. For more information or to apply for this or other current vacancies, here is the application and information.
Through our new school lunch program partner Just A Dash Catering, our new online lunch menus for both Concord and Cass are now available. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. To start the school year, there is one regular and one vegetarian option each day. If you click on a menu item, it pulls up the nutritional information, and if you scroll beneath that information you will see “How would you rate this item?”. Once you give the food a basic rating, it will open a window that allows for more feedback. At the junior high there will also be a la carte options offered soon and those are listed under the menu link along with the prices. Preschool snack menus can be found here.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Youth Admission to Hinsdale South Football Games
GPS Parent Series presents Anxiety and Stress Reduction for Teens and Adults
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.September 5
Preschool Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
4th Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 6
CARE Ice Cream SocialSeptember 12
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
1st Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 13
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pm -
Cass63 Connections - August 29, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
What a joyful day having our kids back to school! Today was an awesome day and if you don't believe me, just take a look at their smiling faces! After a long summer and some big changes in our district, it really was a day to enjoy and behold.
Outside of a couple stops we will get corrected, our bus routes ran very well. Any updates or changes will be posted on the bus route page by the end of the day on Friday, August 30, and this will include the preschool midday routes. Our new lunch program also got off to a good start and we'll certainly take some time to scale up, but it was fun seeing our students enjoy some freshly prepared food! Menu information and details are included below. And yes, the air conditioning feels good! We have a few rooms left to get balanced out and perfectly comfortable, but wow, what a difference!
This afternoon, we are looking forward to seeing the debut of the Cass Junior High baseball team! Under the leadership of Coach Craig Damrow, the Warriors will take on the Lakeview Spartans in our first baseball game in school history. Our cross country and softball seasons are also underway. Go Warriors!
Most importantly and as always, our focus throughout the year will be on the safety and academic growth of our students. We are so glad to have them back, and will do whatever we can to ensure their growth this coming year.
Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass Junior High students arriving for their first day of school.
In observance of Labor Day, there is no school on Monday, September 2. Enjoy your holiday weekend!
Our annual curriculum nights will be held beginning next week. Please mark your calendars for the following evenings and times for each grade level.
September 4, 2024
Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, 6:30 p.m.September 5, 2024
Prekindergarten Curriculum Night, Concord, 6:00 p.m.
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord, 6:30 p.m.
4th Grade Curriculum Night, Concord, 7:00 p.m.September 12, 2024
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, Concord, 6:00 p.m.
1st Grade Curriculum Night, Concord, 6:30 p.m.
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord, 7:00 p.m.
Reporting Student Absences
An important parent responsibility is to contact the school first thing in the morning when your child will be absent. This is important not only for safety, but also to limit the need for us to locate parents to find this information. Parents can either call the attendance line and leave the necessary information, or send it via email, whichever works best for you.
For Concord absence reporting, call 331-481-4000, choose option 1 and then option 5, or email concordattendance@cassd63.org.
For Cass absence reporting, call 331-481-4000, choose option 2 and then option 7, or email cassattendance@cassd63.org.
For both calls or emails, please leave your child's name, grade level (and teacher for Concord), date of absence, reason for absence, parent name, and phone number. Please note that should you email an absence, the email must come from a parent email that is noted in PowerSchool.
Important Pick Up and Drop Off Reminders
To assist in making certain your children are safe during drop off times, children at Concord will not be allowed to exit cars until 7:45 a.m. when staff supervision begins and the doors open. Please do not have students arrive unsupervised before this time. At Concord, the school day starts at 8:00 and ends at 2:45, while direct staff supervision is from 7:45 to 3:00. Parents of students left unsupervised outside of these hours before or after school may have their children added to the Ivy League Kids program and charged accordingly.At Cass Junior High School, students cannot exit cars until 8:30 a.m. when the school doors open and staff supervision begins. With the exception of Encore, which starts earlier, the Cass school day starts at 8:45 a.m. and dismissal is at 3:30 p.m. Junior high parents are not able to use the Carmelite Spiritual Center and St. Therese National Shrine parking lot to pick up or drop off your children at school. This is private property and their parking lot should not be used for this purpose. Please use the traffic line for pick up and drop off at school.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation with this important matter. Additional details on drop off and pick up procedures and times is available under Bus Routes, Pick Up, and Drop Off.
Bus Route Updates Posted August 30
With a couple of exceptions that will be corrected, our bus routes ran very well on the first day of school. The district will post updates to several routes no later than the end of the day on Friday, August 30. This update will include the preschool midday routes, for the first day of preschool which begins on September 3.
As a reminder, parents should contact Sunrise Transportation dispatch directly at 630-541-3414 should your child’s bus be late, appears to have missed your stop, or if your child did not arrive home on the bus. Please contact transportation director Keith Monaco at kmonaco@cassd63.org should you have any questions about your child’s bus stop. We ask that parents and students carefully review our Bus Procedures and Guidelines. We appreciate your assistance and cooperation in keeping our kids safe!
D63 Family Directory Opens August 30
Our school district partners with DirectorySpot, an app that houses a directory to help our families to connect. The online directory of families can be sorted by classroom or grade, and unless parents opt out, the directory will include names, addresses, emails and phone numbers for parents and students. Emails will be sent informing families that the app is open and available to families on Friday, August 30.
7th Grade Springfield Trip
The 7th grade annual visit to Springfield, Illinois is scheduled for Friday, October 4. This is a one-day trip that includes visits to many historic sites, including Abraham Lincoln’s home and the Lincoln Presidential Museum. This trip coincides with the 7th grade social studies curriculum. Please see this flyer for registration information and contact Mrs. Gorzkowski at agorzkowski@cassd63.org with any questions.
Cass School District 63 is holding a Preschool Screening on September 20 for children who live in our district and are 3-5 years old. Your child must be preregistered to participate. Please see under the link for more information and how to register.
Vision and Hearing Screenings
Vision and hearing screenings will be conducted in September at Cass Junior High and Concord Elementary School. Please review this information for dates, times and which students will be participating in which screenings.
Cass School District 63 is seeking a permanent substitute teacher and teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year. For more information or to apply for this or other current vacancies, here is the application and information. Also, our new lunch program partner Just a Dash Catering is also looking for potential food service workers right here in District 63. Here is more information on the positions and how to apply.
Don't Miss the Ice Cream Social on September 6!
CARE is hosting the annual Ice Cream Social on the evening of September 6 at Concord Elementary. This is a great opportunity for our students and parents from the entire district to celebrate the beginning of a new school year. We hope to see everyone there!
Through our new school lunch program partner Just A Dash Catering, our new online lunch menus for both Concord and Cass are now available. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. To start the school year, there is one regular and one vegetarian option each day. If you click on a menu item, it pulls up the nutritional information, and if you scroll beneath that information you will see “How would you rate this item?”. Once you give the food a basic rating, it will open a window that allows for more feedback. At the junior high there will also be a la carte options offered soon and those are listed under the menu link along with the prices. Preschool snack menus can be found here.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series Presents A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be
Indian Prairie Public Library Back to School Information
Darien Garden Club Sprouts September Meeting
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.September 2, 2024
No School – Labor DaySeptember 3, 2024
First Day for PreschoolSeptember 4
Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, 6:30 pmSeptember 5
Preschool Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
4th Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 6
CARE Ice Cream SocialSeptember 12
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
1st Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 13
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pm -
Cass63 Connections - August 22, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
The kids are back one week from today and the offices are open, teachers are working hard preparing, and our maintenance staff is busy cleaning and getting ready. Even though school hasn’t officially started for students, it has for many of our staff and as we finalize preparations for another great year!
This is an ideal time to emphasize the importance of safety as it relates to drop off procedures and buses. Details on student drop off and pick up are provided below and the times and procedures are very important, particularly at Concord with the little ones. At times, we have had concerns with parents leaving their children at school before 7:45 a.m. when staff supervision begins at Concord. This year, parents who leave their children unsupervised outside of the specified staffed hours of 7:45 to 3:00 may have their children added to the Ivy League Kids program and charged accordingly. Of course we would rather not do that, so please plan accordingly with these times.We also ask that bus parents carefully review our Bus Procedures and Guidelines both for you and with your children and discuss the rules as appropriate for their age. Also, please keep in mind that pick up and drop off locations are neighborhood stops, and not likely to be immediately adjacent to or near your particular home. We are planning to communicate bus stop and route information by the end of the day on Monday, August 26.
We appreciate your assistance and cooperation in keeping all of our kids safe. Please contact your child’s school office with any questions, and we will see you on Tuesday for Parent Student Orientation!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass Junior High students having a great time this week at band camp.
Welcome New D63 Staff!
We are excited to welcome 15 new staff members to our faculty and staff! The district recently held orientation and training and all new teachers are part of our mentoring program with an experienced D63 teacher and mentor. Following are our new employees, some of whom started the latter half of last school year.
Front Row, from left:
Megan Newton, Cass Science Teacher
Jenny Kirkpatrick, Concord Special Education Teacher
Lauren Slomski, Concord Teacher Assistant
Sally Oakes, Concord Permanent Substitute Teacher
Alex Gula, 4th Grade Teacher
Jeanne Erickson, Cass Language Arts & Social Studies Teacher
Sarah Acitelli, Cass Junior High Nurse
Sharon Chacko, Cass Speech Pathologist
Bryan Koh, Cass Teacher AssistantBack Row, from left:
Kali Sheldon, Concord Music Teacher
Claire Monroe, Cass Math Teacher
Julia Holbert, Concord Special Education Teacher
Monica Rothbard, Kindergarten Teacher
Bridget Berger, 4th Grade Teacher
Cathy Fisher, Director of Student Services
Back to school is right around the corner and we look forward to welcoming our students back! Following are some important dates for the start of the school year:
August 24 Popsicles in the Park – Kindergarten Meet and Greet
August 27 Parent Student Orientation Day*
*Please check for the suggested time you and your children should plan to attend. Registration must be completed and fees paid prior to participation in orientation.
August 29 First Day of School (Kindergarten-8th Grade)
September 3 First Day of Preschool
September 4 Cass Junior High Curriculum Night
September 5 Preschool, 3rd Grade and 4th Grade Curriculum Night
September 6 CARE Ice Cream Social
September 12 Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade Curriculum Night
Following are the school supply lists for the 2024-25 school year at Concord Elementary School and Cass Junior High School. School supply lists are also always available on the district website.2024-25 Bus Routes Coming SoonRegular bus routes, pick up, and drop off times through Sunrise Transportation are being finalized for the start of the 2024-25 school year and will be distributed via email by August 26. Parents should contact Sunrise Transportation dispatch directly at 630-541-3414 should your child’s bus be late, appears to have missed your stop, or if your child did not arrive home on the bus. Please contact transportation director Keith Monaco at kmonaco@cassd63.org should you have any questions about your child’s bus stop.
We ask that parents and students carefully review our Bus Procedures and Guidelines. Keep in mind that it is the responsibility of parents to get children safely to and from the bus stop, and it is the district's responsibility to get children safely from the bus stop to school. Also, pick up and drop off locations are neighborhood stops, and not likely to be immediately adjacent to or near a particular student’s home. Students should be waiting for the bus several minutes before the designated stop time. We appreciate your assistance and cooperation in keeping our kids safe!
Please Review! Student Drop Off and Pick Up
To assist in making certain your children are safe during drop off times, children at Concord will not be allowed to exit cars until 7:45 a.m. when staff supervision begins and the doors open. Please do not have students arrive unsupervised before this time. At Concord, the school day starts at 8:00 and ends at 2:45, while direct staff supervision is from 7:45 to 3:00. Parents of students left unsupervised outside of these hours before or after school may have their children added to the Ivy League Kids program and charged accordingly.At Cass Junior High School, students cannot exit cars until 8:30 a.m. when the school doors open and staff supervision begins. With the exception of Encore which starts earlier, the Cass school day starts at 8:45 a.m. and dismissal is at 3:30 p.m.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation with this important matter. Additional details on drop off and pick up procedures and times is available under Bus Routes, Pick Up, and Drop Off.
Important! Bus Stop Arm Reminder
The new school year is a great time for a reminder of the need to stop for school buses. Simply put, the only time a vehicle is not required to stop for a bus with red flashing lights on is when both vehicles are on a four (or more) lane roadway and the bus is stopped in the opposite direction from which the driver is traveling. Any other time you must stop, even if on private property like a parking lot. The following guide may be helpful. Violations will be reported immediately to the Darien Police Department.Upcoming CARE Meetings and EventsCARE is our parent organization that does wonderful work to help support our students and staff through fundraising, and by organizing some great events throughout the year for our families to enjoy. CARE is holding its first meeting on Monday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the District Community Room at Cass Junior High. This is a great opportunity to learn more about CARE, and you can always email CARE@cass63.org to volunteer or learn how you can get more involved.
To start off the school year, CARE is hosting Popsicles in the Park for our incoming kindergarten families on August 24, the annual Ice Cream Social on September 6, and the Cass63 Dash on October 11. We hope to see you at these awesome events!
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, the link above includes their registration portal and click on Register Now under Before/After School to complete the registration form online. Please note that each child will need a separate registration packet. Fee information is also included, and Ivy League Kids accepts Illinois Action for Children Child Care Assistance Program. If you have any questions, please contact the main Ivy League Kids office at 815-464-1265 or email contact@ivyleaguekids.org.
Cass School District 63 is seeking teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year. For more information or to apply for this or other current vacancies, here is the application and information. Also, our new lunch program partner Just a Dash Catering is also looking for potential food service workers right here in District 63. Here is more information on the positions and how to apply.
Cass Junior High Picture Day August 27Cass Junior High will hold their picture day on Orientation Day, including our 8th grade students. There will be a more formal 8th grade picture day later in the school year, but all students need to have their pictures taken at the beginning of the school year. Here is more information on how to order your child’s pictures.
Fee Waiver and Free and Reduced Lunch
If you believe your family may qualify for fee waivers and/or free or reduced lunch and you have not already been notified that your family was approved for these benefits, please complete the following forms. Please note that if you wish to apply for both benefits, you must complete both forms in their entirety. Once completed, contact Amy Underhill at aunderhill@cassd63.org to arrange a time, or drop the forms off in the drop box at the main entrance of Concord Elementary School.In the Cass63 Connections, you will see information about programs that GPS Parent Series (GPS) is hosting under our Community Connections. Cass School District 63 is partnered with GPS to provide these helpful and informative programs. Please take a moment to read more about GPS and their goals to help families thrive.Through our new school lunch program partner Just A Dash Catering, our new online lunch menus for both Concord and Cass are now available. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. To start the school year, there is one regular and one vegetarian option each day. If you click on a menu item, it pulls up the nutritional information, and if you scroll beneath that information you will see “How would you rate this item?”. Once you give the food a basic rating, it will open a window that allows for more feedback. At the junior high there will also be a la carte options offered and we will have a list of those available soon.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series Presents:
How to Raise a Healthy Gamer
Using Body Language and the Mind to Boost Confidence
Solutions for Fear, Worry and Anxiety in Young ChildrenImportant Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.August 27, 2024
Parent-Student Orientation Day (see schedule for details)August 29, 2024
First Day for Kindergarten - 8th GradeSeptember 2, 2024
No School – Labor DaySeptember 3, 2024
First Day for PreschoolSeptember 4
Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, 6:30 pmSeptember 5
Preschool Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
4th Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 6
CARE Ice Cream SocialSeptember 12
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
1st Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 13
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pm -
Cass63 Connections - August 15, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Two more weeks until summer is officially in the books and the school year is started! We are excited to get rolling, and following are a few timely reminders, each with more details in the Connections below.
- Next week we have band camp and some of our fall sports getting started at Cass Junior High School. This includes the introduction of boys’ baseball this year, which we are very excited about!
- Parent Student Orientation Day is August 27. Assuming registration is complete and fees are paid, Concord teachers will email parents of their students in the afternoon next Friday, August 23, while Cass parents and students will get their class schedules at Orientation Day.
- School supply lists and other important back to school dates are also provided below.
- The lunch menu through our new partner Just A Dash Catering is available for the start of the school year.
- Ivy League Kids is our partner for before and after school care and registration and fee information is provided for parents who need it.
- The deadline for opting out of our DirectorySpot family directory is tomorrow.
- Keep an eye out for a back to school communication from our parent organization CARE.
- Next week, we will provide details on bus routes and stops, as well as details and drop off and pick up procedures.
On Monday, August 19, all offices will be back open and available to you. As always, feel free to call 331-481-4000 to arrange visits in advance. Otherwise, please don’t hesitate to contact us if there is anything you need!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Back to school is right around the corner and we look forward to welcoming our students back! Following are some important dates for the start of the school year:
August 24 Popsicles in the Park – Kindergarten Meet and Greet
August 27 Parent Student Orientation Day*
*Please check for the suggested time you and your children should plan to attend. Registration must be completed and fees paid prior to participation in orientation.August 29 First Day of School (Kindergarten-8th Grade)
September 3 First Day of Preschool
September 4 Cass Junior High Curriculum Night
September 5 Preschool, 3rd Grade and 4th Grade Curriculum Night
September 6 CARE Ice Cream Social
September 12 Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade Curriculum Night
Family Directory Opt Out Deadline August 16Our school district partners with DirectorySpot, an app that houses a directory to help our families to connect. The online directory of families can be sorted by classroom or grade, and unless parents opt out, the directory will include names, addresses, emails and phone numbers for parents and students.
The deadline to fully opt out of the initial roll out is Friday, August 16. If you plan to have your family information included in the initial rollout of the 2024-25 directory (including if you are already in the current one), there is nothing you need to do. 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 under the link above by August 16.
Following are the 2024-25 school supply lists for Concord Elementary School, as well as Cass Junior High School. School supply lists are also always available on the district website.
Cass Junior High Picture Day August 27Cass Junior High will hold their picture day on Orientation Day, including our 8th grade students. There will be a more formal 8th grade picture day later in the school year, but all students need to have their pictures taken at the beginning of the school year. Here is more information on how to order your child’s pictures.
Through our new school lunch program partner Just A Dash Catering, our new online lunch menus for both Concord and Cass are now available. Lunches are $4.00 and milk is $0.75. To start the school year, there is one regular and one vegetarian option each day. If you click on a menu item, it pulls up the nutritional information, and if you scroll beneath that information you will see “How would you rate this item?”. Once you give the food a basic rating, it will open a window that allows for more feedback. At the junior high there will also be a la carte options offered and we will have a list of those available soon.
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, the link above includes their registration portal and click on Register Now under Before/After School to complete the registration form online. Please note that each child will need a separate registration packet. Fee information is also included, and Ivy League Kids accepts Illinois Action for Children Child Care Assistance Program. If you have any questions, please contact the main Ivy League Kids office at 815-464-1265 or email contact@ivyleaguekids.org.
Fall sports season is coming at Cass Junior High School, and the seasons commence before the official start of the school year. All students who wish to tryout and participate in any of the sports, must have a sports physical on file dated no more than 12 months prior to the first day of practice. Please reach out to the coach of the sport you are interested in with any questions.
Boys and Girls Cross Country – August 19 is the first day of practice at Cass Junior High
Boys Baseball – August 15 and 16 are tryouts at the Eisenhower Pony Field
Girls Softball – August 19 and 20 are tryouts at the Cass Junior High Softball Field
Junior High Band Camp Starts Monday!
Cass Junior High Band Camp is next week and here is the schedule and details! For those unfamiliar with Band Camp, it is essentially a few practices before the school year starts. It gives the beginners a chance to get a head start on learning their instruments and for the returning band students to dust them off. Band Camp is not required, but if you are in town it is strongly recommended that you attend. Please contact Mr. Murphy at dmurphy@cassd63.org with any questions. We hope to see all of our band students there!
The Board of Education held its monthly meeting on August and reviewed the tentative fiscal year 2025 budget, and Superintendent Mark Cross reviewed progress with the final details of the geothermal HVAC, safety, and security project. More meeting details and action can be found in the most recent Board Briefs.
Cass School District 63 is holding a Preschool Screening on Tuesday, September 20 for children who live in our district and are 3-5 years old. Your child must be preregistered to participate. Please see under the link for information and how to register.
Fee Waiver and Free and Reduced Lunch
If you believe your family may qualify for fee waivers and/or free or reduced lunch and you have not already been notified that your family was approved for these benefits, please complete the following forms. Please note that if you wish to apply for both benefits, you must complete both forms in their entirety. Once completed, contact Amy Underhill at aunderhill@cassd63.org to arrange a time, or drop the forms off in the drop box at the main entrance of Concord Elementary School.2024-25 Fee Waiver Application
2024-25 Free and Reduced Lunch Application
Vision and hearing screenings will be conducted in September at Cass Junior High and Concord Elementary School. Please review this information for dates, times and which students will be participating in which screenings.
Cass School District 63 is seeking a preschool teacher assistant for the 2024-25 school year. For more information or to apply for this or other current vacancies, here is the application and information. Also, our new lunch program partner Just a Dash Catering is also looking for potential food service workers right here in District 63. Here is more information on the positions and how to apply.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.August 27, 2024
Parent-Student Orientation Day (see schedule for details)August 29, 2024
First Day for Kindergarten - 8th GradeSeptember 2, 2024
No School – Labor DaySeptember 3, 2024
First Day for PreschoolSeptember 4
Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, 6:30 pmSeptember 5
Preschool Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
4th Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 6
CARE Ice Cream SocialSeptember 12
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
1st Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 13
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pm -
Cass63 Connections - August 8, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
We are officially three weeks from our first official day with kids! The geothermal project is coming together beautifully and we have transitioned many classrooms to moving, cleaning and preparation for the school year. We are pulling this together for a successful start and most importantly, we all look forward to welcoming our students and families back in our safer and healthier schools.
While we have reopened the Concord office with limited hours, the Cass Junior High and District offices are still not available. As a result, and regardless of the location, we ask that you continue to arrange any visits in advance by emailing the person you wish to contact, or calling 331-481-4000. Office staff will return any messages and we will arrange any necessary meetings in our temporary office space at Concord.
We are also working on bus routes, but those will not be shared until right before the start of the school year. I promise we are working as fast as we can, but thank you for your patience until those are released. Also, Concord parents will receive emails from teachers around 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 23 regarding your child’s classroom assignments for the school year. Assuming registration is complete and fees are paid, Cass students will receive their class schedules at Parent-Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 27.
More details on orientation are provided below, as well as other reminders and important dates for your calendars. Please also note that we have a couple of positions to fill in the district, including a preschool teacher assistant, and jobs in our kitchens with our new lunch program partner Just A Dash Catering.
We will continue to share more updates here each week, but please contact us with questions at any time.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass Junior High students waiting for the 2024-25 school year to start.
Family Directory Opt Out Deadline August 16Our school district partners with DirectorySpot, an app that houses a directory to help our families to connect. The online directory of families can be sorted by classroom or grade, and unless parents opt out, the directory will include names, addresses, emails and phone numbers for parents and students.
The deadline to fully opt out of the initial roll out is Friday, August 16. If you plan to have your family information included in the initial rollout of the 2024-25 directory (including if you are already in the current one), there is nothing you need to do. 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 under the link above by August 16.
Back to school is right around the corner and we look forward to welcoming our students back! Following are some important dates for the start of the school year:
August 27 Parent Student Orientation Day*
*Please check for the suggested time you and your children should plan to attend. Registration must be completed and fees paid prior to participation in orientation.August 29 First Day of School (Kindergarten-8th Grade)
September 3 First Day of Preschool
September 4 Cass Junior High Curriculum Night
September 5 Preschool, 3rd Grade and 4th Grade Curriculum Night
September 6 CARE Ice Cream Social
September 12 Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade Curriculum Night
Cass Junior High Picture Day August 27Cass Junior High will hold their picture day on Orientation Day, including our 8th grade students. There will be a more formal 8th grade picture day later in the school year, but all students need to have their pictures taken at the beginning of the school year. Here is more information on how to order your child’s pictures.
Fall sports season is coming at Cass Junior High School, and the seasons commence before the official start of the school year. All students who wish to tryout and participate in any of the sports, must have a sports physical on file dated no more than 12 months prior to the first day of practice. Please reach out to the coach of the sport you are interested in with any questions.
Boys and Girls Cross Country – August 19 is the first day of practice at Cass Junior High
Boys Baseball – August 15 and 16 are tryouts at the Eisenhower Pony Field
Girls Softball – August 19 and 20 are tryouts at the Cass Junior High Softball Field
Cass Junior High Band Camp is coming soon! For those of unfamiliar with Band Camp, it is essentially a few practices before the school year starts. It gives the beginners a chance to get a head start on learning their instruments and for the returning band students to dust them off. Exact times and procedures for Band Camp will be shared in the coming weeks, but the dates are noted below so you can plan accordingly. Band Camp is not required, but if you are in town it is strongly recommended that you attend. Please contact Mr. Murphy at dmurphy@cassd63.org with any questions.
Beginning Band (5th Graders)
Mon Aug 19 & Tues Aug 20 - 1 hour sectional (time TBD)
Weds Aug 21 & Thurs Aug 22 - 2 hour morning rehearsalConcert Band (6th Graders)
Weds Aug 21 & Thurs Aug 22 - 2 hour afternoon rehearsalSymphonic Band (7th & 8th Graders)
Weds Aug 21 - 2 hour afternoon rehearsal
Cass School District 63 is seeking a preschool teacher assistant for the 2024-25 school year. For more information or to apply for this or other current vacancies, here is the application and information. Also, our new lunch program partner Just a Dash Catering is also looking for potential food service workers right here in District 63. Here is more information on the positions and how to apply.
August Board Meeting Location
Due to the construction project, the Board of Education meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, at 7:00 p.m. will be held at the Indian Prairie Public Library, located at 401 Plainfield Road in Darien. The meeting will take place in the board room on the 2nd floor.
Upcoming CARE Events
CARE is our parent organization that does wonderful work to help support our students and staff through fundraising, and by organizing some great events throughout the year for our families to enjoy. We hope you will consider supporting CARE by volunteering, supporting a fundraiser, or simply by enjoying the many events they offer. To start off the school year, CARE is hosting Popsicles in the Park for our incoming kindergarten families on August 24, the annual Ice Cream Social on September 6, and the Cass63 Dash on October 11. We hope to see you at these awesome events!
Fee Waiver and Free and Reduced Lunch
If you believe your family may qualify for fee waivers and/or free or reduced lunch and you have not already been notified that your family was approved for these benefits, please complete the following forms. Please note that if you wish to apply for both benefits, you must complete both forms in their entirety. Once completed, contact Amy Underhill at aunderhill@cassd63.org to arrange a time, or drop the forms off in the drop box at the main entrance of Concord Elementary School.2024-25 Fee Waiver Application
2024-25 Free and Reduced Lunch Application
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
GPS Parent Series 2024-25 Calendar
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.August 27, 2024
Parent-Student Orientation Day (see schedule for details)August 29, 2024
First Day for Kindergarten - 8th GradeSeptember 2, 2024
No School – Labor DaySeptember 3, 2024
First Day for PreschoolSeptember 4
Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, 6:30 pmSeptember 5
Preschool Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
4th Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 6
CARE Ice Cream SocialSeptember 12
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
1st Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 13
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pm -
Cass63 Connections - August 1, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Welcome back! Four weeks from today, students officially return for the first day of school. We aren’t ready yet, but we will be as the geothermal project begins to wrap up and we clean and prepare our schools for the new year. We are excited to finalize this important step in our facility planning, and get the kids back in school!
For parents who may be new to our school district, welcome to D63! Every week starting now and through the school year, we will share important information, calendars, school events, and lunch menus through the Cass63 Connections. Other information will obviously be provided from our principals and teachers when needed, but this is the central source for our regular communications as a district. Not only will it show up in your inbox, but it is always available on our website under the link above.
We will open the 2024-25 school year with Parent-Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 27, and the first day for our K-8 students on Thursday, August 29. Please review the orientation day schedule below for details, including the suggested time you and your children should plan to attend. As a reminder, registration must be completed and fees paid prior to participation in orientation.
Lastly, due to the construction project our offices are not open to the public, so please continue to arrange any visits in advance by emailing the person you wish to contact, or calling 331-481-4000. Office staff will return any messages and I will share once the offices are officially back open for in person business.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Concord students celebrating the end of one school and looking forward to the next!
August 27 Parent Student Orientation Day*
*Please check for the suggested time you and your children should plan to attend. Registration must be completed and
fees paid prior to participation in orientation.August 29 First Day of School (Kindergarten-8th Grade)
September 3 First Day of Preschool
September 4 Cass Junior High Curriculum Night
September 5 Preschool, 3rd Grade and 4th Grade Curriculum Night
September 6 CARE Ice Cream Social
September 12 Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade Curriculum Night
Fall sports season is coming at Cass Junior High School, and the seasons commence before the official start of the school year. All students who wish to tryout and participate in any of the sports, must have a sports physical on file dated no more than 12 months prior to the first day of practice. Please reach out to the coach of the sport you are interested in with any questions.
Boys and Girls Cross Country – August 19 is the first day of practice at Cass Junior High
Boys Baseball – August 15 and 16 are tryouts at the Eisenhower Pony Field
Girls Softball – August 19 and 20 are tryouts at the Cass Junior High Softball Field
We are less than one month away from the Cass Junior High Band Camp! For those of you unfamiliar with Band Camp, it is essentially a few practices before the school year starts. It gives the beginners a chance to get a head start on learning their instruments and for the returning band students to dust them off. Exact times and procedures for Band Camp will be shared in the coming weeks, but the dates are noted below so you can plan accordingly. Band Camp is not required, but if you are in town it is strongly recommended that you attend. Please contact Mr. Murphy at dmurphy@cassd63.org with any questions.
Beginning Band (5th Graders)
Mon Aug 19 & Tues Aug 20 - 1 hour sectional (time TBD)
Weds Aug 21 & Thurs Aug 22 - 2 hour morning rehearsalConcert Band (6th Graders)
Weds Aug 21 & Thurs Aug 22 - 2 hour afternoon rehearsalSymphonic Band (7th & 8th Graders)
Weds Aug 21 - 2 hour afternoon rehearsal
August Board Meeting Location
Due to the construction project, the Board of Education meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, at 7:00 p.m. will be held at the Indian Prairie Public Library, located at 401 Plainfield Road in Darien. The meeting will take place in the board room on the 2nd floor.
Upcoming CARE Events
CARE is our parent organization that does wonderful work to help support our students and staff through fundraising, and by organizing some great events throughout the year for our families to enjoy. We hope you will consider supporting CARE by volunteering, supporting a fundraiser, or simply by enjoying the many events they offer. To start off the school year, CARE is hosting Popsicles in the Park for our incoming kindergarten families on August 24, the annual Ice Cream Social on September 6, and the Cass63 Dash on October 11. We hope to see you at these awesome events!
Accessing Your Child’s Report Card
We have had requests over this summer for parents needing access to their child’s report card for their sports teams. Here are instructions on how to access your these reports for your student. Please note that there is a “Standards Grades” tab and the top line is the overall grade for that class. There is also a spot where you can expand the class to see the individual assignments. Please double-check the school year on the top right of your PowerSchool page to make certain it references 2023-24 to access reports from last year.
New Lunch Program Partnership
We are pleased to announce that Just A Dash Catering will be our new lunch program partner beginning with the 2024-25 school year. Just A Dash offers a different approach including allowing our students and families an opportunity to provide feedback on the food options that will be available to them, as well as online menu that is updated automatically with any changes and which provides nutritional information for our families. We hope the focus on increasing quality and nutritional value will be a positive improvement for our students.
Just a Dash is also looking for potential food service workers, cooks, and drivers in D63. Here is more information on the positions and how to apply.
Fee Waiver and Free and Reduced Lunch
If you believe your family may qualify for fee waivers and/or free or reduced lunch and you have not already been notified that your family was approved for these benefits, please complete the following forms. Please note that if you wish to apply for both benefits, you must complete both forms in their entirety. Once completed, contact Amy Underhill at aunderhill@cassd63.org to arrange a time, or drop the forms off in the drop box at the main entrance of Concord Elementary School.2024-25 Fee Waiver Application
2024-25 Free and Reduced Lunch Application
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the district does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Glenbard Parent Series presents Start The Year Off Strong
American Music Institute LessonsImportant Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.August 27, 2024
Parent-Student Orientation Day (see schedule for details)August 29, 2024
First Day for Kindergarten - 8th GradeSeptember 2, 2024
No School – Labor DaySeptember 3, 2024
First Day for PreschoolSeptember 4
Cass Junior High Curriculum Night, 6:30 pmSeptember 5
Preschool Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
3rd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
4th Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 6
CARE Ice Cream SocialSeptember 12
Kindergarten Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:00 pm
1st Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 6:30 pm
2nd Grade Curriculum Night, Concord Elementary, 7:00 pmSeptember 13
Early Release School Improvement Day - Concord 11:15 am and Cass 12:00 pm -
Cass63 Connections - May 30, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
We wrapped up a busy but successful school year with so many wonderful, field trips, and student activities. It was so joyful celebrating our 8th grade graduates with their commencement moving on to high school, our 4th graders with their clap out moving on to junior high, as well as congratulating our retirees as they move on to the next phase of life. Mostly we celebrate the incredible academic and social growth that your children have made over the course of another great school year.
Personally, I get very reflective when a school year concludes, not only here at school but also in part because it reminds me so much of my own when they were so young. Kids grow and change so quickly, something I know most of you with older children in particular can already appreciate.
So be sure to enjoy every minute that you have your kids at home or together as a family. In the big scheme of life, your time together outside of work, school, activities, and life in general is relatively brief. And knowing how busy life is, remember to just take time and do simple things together as a family. It doesn’t have to be perfectly planned or an Instagram worthy photo op.
Instead, just breathe in that moment with a little one who still sits on your lap. Savor the time playing catch in the backyard. Make time for and enjoy the bike ride, the walk on a trail, or the picnic in a park. Sometimes, it is the simplest things that are the most memorable to you, and probably the most meaningful for your children as well. You only have one “Summer of 2024”, so make the best of it!
This will conclude our weekly district communications until August 1, and we will share any necessary updates between now and then. As always, thank you for your support of our teachers, staff, and schools. Have a wonderful summer! .
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Summer Office Staff Access
Both of our buildings and offices will be closed to the public, and administrators and 12- month office staff will mostly be working remotely during the project. However, to ensure we can take care of our families that need in person assistance, we will have a workspace and pre-arranged business hours for all school and district offices in the Ivy League Kids room at Concord. Please arrange any visits in advance by emailing the person you wish to contact, or calling 331-481-4000. Office staff will return any calls if you leave a voicemail, but we recommend that you reach out to us by email to ensure the quickest response time.
June Board Meeting Location
Due to the summer HVAC project, the Board of Education meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, at 7:00 p.m. will be held at the Indian Prairie Public Library located at 401 Plainfield Road in Darien. The meeting will take place in meeting room two on the 2nd floor.
For your convenience, here is a one-page calendar for the 2024-25 school year. To be sure you have the most current information as the school year gets closer, please be sure to double-check this month-by-month calendar that is updated in real time if there are any necessary changes. Both calendars are always available on the District website.
End of the Year Activities
Leading up to and including the last day of school, there were so many fun activities for all of our students including 4th grade clap out, Cass all school field trips and Cass field days. Please enjoy these pictures from a perfect end to the school year.
Spring Sports Success
The Spring sports season came to an end shortly before our last day of school. Our students participating in soccer, volleyball, and track & field showed great improvement both individually and as teams. Thank you to soccer coaches Ken Kohnke and Sarah Leganski, volleyball coaches Landon Mitchell and AJ Petigo and track & field coaches Matt Etherington, Danielle Hosman, and Scott Kondraschow for their great leadership and coaching. Most of all, congratulations to our student athletes on a job well done!
Academic Recognition Night
The culmination of the year at Cass Junior High School is Recognition Night and 8th Grade Graduation. On Recognition Night select students from all four grade levels and their families are invited to be recognized for their varying achievements throughout the year. 8th grade graduation follows the next night to celebrate all of the hard work our graduating students have done to get to this important moment. Congratulations to all of these students and best of luck to our 8th graders as they take this next step in their academic journey.
Goodbye and Thank You D63 Staff!
Thank you and best wishes to our staff members who are retiring or leaving District 63 this spring. This includes our congratulations to retiring teachers Ken Kohnke, Anya Schlottmann and Angela Zurawski. We also want to thank outgoing staff members Tim Stangarone, Danielle Christiano, Courtney Mathis, Isa Sagat, and Maison Tollas who are moving on to new opportunities as well. We wish all of you the very best!
Please be sure to mark your calendar for the start dates for any fall sports your child may be interested in. These sports all start before the official start of the school year. Please reach out to the coach of the sport you are interested in with any questions. All students who wish to tryout and participate in any of the sports, must have a sports physical on file dated no more than 12 months prior to the first day of practice.
Boys Baseball – August 15 and 16 are tryouts at the Eisenhower Pony Field
Girls Softball – August 19 and 20 are tryouts at the Cass Junior High Softball Field
Boys and Girls Cross Country – August 19 is the first day of practice at Cass Junior High
Kindergarten Popsicles in the Park August 24CARE invites all of our incoming Kindergarten students and their families to enjoy Popsicles in the Park on Saturday, August 24!
Chess is Coming to Concord
Thank you CARE for helping bring Chess to Concord this fall for our 2nd through 4th grade students through a partnership with Elite Chess! Here are more details and registration information for fall sessions.
Important Dates to RememberFor many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
August 27, 2024
Parent-Student Orientation Day (see schedule for details)August 29, 2024
First Day for Kindergarten - 8th GradeSeptember 2, 2024
No School – Labor DaySeptember 3, 2024
First Day for Preschool -
Cass63 Connections - May 23, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Last night, we held our commencement ceremonies for the Cass Junior High School Class of 2024. This is an incredible group of young ladies and gentlemen who are ready to take this step, and we could not be more proud of them! As Board President Lana Johnson shared in her remarks, their growth and development over many years in District 63 far exceeds the time they will spend in high school and probably college as well. In other words, we aren’t just building the foundation together with you as parents, but we are truly getting them most of the way there. There is no limit to what this group of young people can do!
As a reminder to the special message sent earlier this week, we will be sending technology devices home with students this summer, with the exception of our 4th and obviously 8th graders, as well as any students we know of who may be moving out of the district. These will need to return with your students when school resumes on August 29. If this is a particular issue for your family, please contact your child's school and if we don't hear from you, we will be sending the devices home tomorrow.
Also, don’t forget that our offices will be out of commission during the summer renovation project. Information on how best to contact us is provided below. The final Cass63 Connections of the 2024-25 school year will run next Thursday. At that point, we will communicate with you as needed over the course of the summer and the Connections will resume every Thursday beginning in early August.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Friday, May 24 is the last day of school and it is also an early release day. Concord students will be released for the summer at 11:15 a.m. and Cass students at 12:00 p.m. Have a wonderful summer with your families!
Summer Office Staff Access
Both of our buildings and offices will be closed to the public, and administrators and 12- month office staff will mostly be working remotely during the project. However, to ensure we can take care of our families that need in person assistance, we will have a workspace and pre-arranged business hours for all school and district offices in the Ivy League Kids room at Concord. Please arrange any visits in advance by emailing the person you wish to contact, or calling 331-481-4000. Office staff will return any calls if you leave a voicemail, but we recommend that you reach out to us by email to ensure the quickest response time.
June Board Meeting Location
Due to the summer HVAC project, the Board of Education meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, at 7:00 p.m. will be held at the Indian Prairie Public Library located at 401 Plainfield Road in Darien. The meeting will take place in meeting room two on the 2nd floor.
Spring Choral Concert
At the Annual Spring Choral Concert at Cass Junior High, our students did an amazing job putting on a performance worthy of Broadway. Countless highlights from the greatest show tunes in musical history were performed. Some of these songs are extremely challenging, but under the direction of teacher Becky Kriz, our talented students did an amazing job!
Concord Field Days
Concord Elementary students enjoyed their field days this week. The weather cooperated on both days and the kids had an awesome time!
8th Grade Trip and Activities
The Cass Junior High School Class of 2024 has been enjoying some great activities outside of the classroom. Some were just fun, but things like the Washington, DC trip provide an incredible educational experience as well. Among many other things, this included the laying of the wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, a somber but incredible experience for our students.
Rotary Literacy Project
Last week our preschool students were presented with literacy bags that contain books and manipulatives to help keep them learning in their academic journey. Thank you to the Darien Rotary Club who partnered with Cass District 63, Center Cass 66 and Darien District 61 to create and distribute these bags to our youngest learners, as well as Mr. Cross for coordinating the project as both our superintendent and a Rotarian.
This fall, we will be offering three sports for interested students at Cass Junior High School. All students who wish to tryout and participate in any of the sports, must have a sports physical on file dated no more than 12 months prior to the first day of practice. Please see link for each sport for specific information on times and dates of tryouts and practices as well as the coaches contact information.
Boys Baseball – August 15 and 16 are tryouts at the Eisenhower Pony Field
Girls Softball – August 19 and 20 are tryouts at the Cass Junior High Softball Field
Boys and Girls Cross Country – August 19 is the first day of practice at Cass Junior High
Dine to Donate the Last Day of School!
CARE is hosting is last Dine to Donate for the 2023-24 school year and they saved the sweetest for last! Take your kids for a last day of school treat at the Willowbrook Dairy Queen and be sure to present this flyer and 15 percent sales go back to our schools.
Incoming Kindergarten Get Together
CARE invites all of our incoming Kindergarten students and their families to enjoy Popsicles in the Park on Saturday, August 24!
Chess is Coming to Concord
Thank you CARE for helping bring Chess to Concord this fall for our 2nd through 4th grade students through a partnership with Elite Chess! Here are more details and registration information for fall sessions.
Alumni AccoladesCongratulations to Hinsdale South student Parth Joshi on being awarded the Fermilab Science Award!
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Glenbard Parent Series Fall Programs
Fishing Derby hosted by Senator Curran and Representative La Ha’s
Knight’s Basketball 3 on 3 Tournament
Important Dates to RememberFor many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
May 24, 2024
Last Day of School – Kindergarten-8th Grade
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.August 27, 2024
Parent-Student Orientation DayAugust 29, 2024
First Day for Kindergarten - 8th GradeSeptember 2, 2024
No School – Labor DaySeptember 3, 2024
First Day for Preschool -
Cass63 Connections - May 16, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
We are taking the biggest step in our geothermal HVAC replacement project starting immediately after student dismissal next Friday, May 24. The interior phase of the project will begin to impact classrooms the last week of school as we prepare to clear out spaces and turn the buildings over to our general contractor almost immediately.
The main impact will be the removal of some electronic and audio visual equipment in most classrooms. The vast majority of classrooms at Cass Junior High School, and about half at Concord Elementary are directly impacted. Also, our teachers and staff have been both discarding and packing up items in preparation for areas in which we need to move, so some of our classrooms may no longer look like they normally do as we get ready for this phase of the project. Particularly at Cass Junior High School where the project is the most involved, we will also begin moving some items safely and in a manner that doesn’t impact students any more than necessary the last day and a half of school.
So your kids may talk about things no longer being on the walls, or storage bins stacked to the side in classrooms. Next week they might see us teaching like it is 1995! Our wonderful staff is keeping the impact to a minimum and they’re engaging the students with it as appropriate for their age. We are approaching all of this with a growth mindset and making the best of it, but I wanted to acknowledge some of this with you. We will also make sure everything is safe this entire time.
As a result of the project, we will also have a later start than usual this fall, with Parent-Student Orientation Day on August 27, and the first day for students in grades K-8 on August 29. Here is the 2024-25 calendar, which includes events scheduled so far, as well as a link to the scheduled days of the school year. I will acknowledge that it is possible this could change, but we have been planning for months to pull this off and be ready for the new year without any major disruptions.
I am very proud of the planning and vision from our district and Board of Education, the support of our taxpayers and community, and the hard work of our teachers, administrators, and staff as we go through some major inconveniences to get this job done right. It is our hope that it provides healthier, safer, and highly energy efficient schools for many years to come.
As always, I welcome any questions or concerns, and we will keep you updated as this progresses. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Board President Lana Johnson (left), Superintendent Mark Cross (right), and the Board of Education recently honored retiring teachers Angela Zurawski, Anya Schlottmann, and Ken Kohnke (not pictured).
At the Board of Education meeting held on May 14, the Board recognized our retiring staff members, 4th grade teacher Anya Schlottmann after 36 years, Concord music teacher Angela Zurawski after 32 years, and junior high social studies and STEM teacher Ken Kohnke after 20 years of service in the district. The Board also recognized staff reaching milestone years of service.
The Board also heard a presentation on the new STEAM program coming to Cass Junior High School. A full list of those recognized, more details on the STEAM program, and other items discussed at the meeting can be found in the Board Briefs.
Students Excel at Noetic Learning Math Contest
Some of our 6th grade students participated in the Noetic Learning Math Contest this school year. We are proud to announce that Jimmy Hetue scored 90 percent, which was a top four score for 6th grade in Illinois and also the team winner. Calvin Tanouye, Matteo Vittagliano and Ryan Gallagher all earned honorable mentions. Congratulations to these talented students!
This fall, we will be offering three sports for interested students at Cass Junior High School. All students who wish to tryout and participate in any of the sports, must have a sports physical on file dated no more than 12 months prior to the first day of practice. Please see link for each sport for specific information on times and dates of tryouts and practices as well as the coaches contact information.
Boys Baseball – August 15 and 16 are tryouts at the Eisenhower Pony Field
Girls Softball – August 19 and 20 are tryouts at the Cass Junior High Softball Field
Boys and Girls Cross Country – August 19 is the first day of practice at Cass Junior High
4th Grade Music Program
For the last music performance of the year at Concord Elementary and music teacher Angela Zurawski’s last production, our 4th grade students put on an outstanding show with a jazz and blues theme, as well as reliving their kindergarten concert from 2020 that never was. Thank you to Mrs. Zurawski for working to highlight the many talents of our children and helping to instill a love of music in generations of students!
8th Grade Celebrates with Annual Dance
Our Cass 8th grade students enjoyed an amazing Friday night last week at the annual 8th grade dance. Congratulations to the Class of 2024!
8th Grade Graduation Seat Raffle
CARE is raffling off four sets of eight seats for graduation in the 1st and 2nd rows! If you are interested, please see this flyer for information on how to enter. Good luck!
Some Important Spring DatesThe end of the school year brings a lot of activities and following are dates that may be important for your family. Some of these dates and events are as follows:
May 17 Last Day of Preschool
May 20 3rd and 4th Grade Field Day
May 20 8th Grade Bowling Trip
May 21 Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Field Day
May 21 Cass Junior High Recognition Night (invitation only)
May 22 4th Grade Step Up Day at Cass Junior High School
May 22 8th Grade Graduation Practice (students will be released at approximately 10:00 a.m.)
May 22 8th Grade Graduation, 7:00 p.m.
May 23 All School Field Trip at Cass Junior High
May 24 4th Grade Clap Out, Early Dismissal, and Last Day of school
Ivy League Kids Ends Morning of May 24
Please be aware that the Ivy League Kids program will not be available after school on the last day for students on Friday, May 24. Ivy League Kids will be available that morning as usual, but will not be offered in the afternoon due to the immediate need to move equipment and shut down our schools in preparation for summer construction. This is a half day of school, so please arrange to have your children picked up at the end of the school day. Dismissal is at 11:15 a.m. at Concord Elementary and 12:00 p.m. at Cass Junior High. Thank you for your understanding!
If your child is missing any items that you think may have been left behind in school, please be sure to have them check the lost and found prior to Thursday, May 23. All items still unclaimed by the end of the school day on May 23 will be donated. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school office.
Alumni AccoladesCongratulations to Hinsdale South student Eli Carder for taking 2nd place in the nation for Python Programming at the Business Professionals America Nationals!We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Hinsdale South High School Soccer Camp Indian Prairie Summer Reading Program 2024
Important Dates to RememberFor many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
May 17, 2024
Last Day of PreschoolMay 24, 2024
Last Day of School – Kindergarten-8th Grade
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.August 27, 2024
Parent-Student Orientation DayAugust 29, 2024
First Day for Kindergarten - 8th GradeSeptember 2, 2024
No School – Labor DaySeptember 3, 2024
First Day for Preschool -
Cass63 Connections - May 9, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
As you know from the many messages and reminders, registration closes tomorrow. This year is quite different with the construction plans and our summer schedule and accessibility, so please complete registration if you have not yet done so and reach out if you need any help!
Next week I will share more on our construction schedule and the impact on the last week of school, as well as our summer availability and office access. Along these lines and for those impacted, our Ivy League kids program will be available before school on May 24, but not after our last day early dismissal. I apologize for any inconvenience, but this is absolutely necessary. Please reach out with any questions on this.
On behalf of all of us in District 63, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to our wonderful parents who have organized some really nice treats for our staff for Teacher Appreciation Week. You know who you are and I know none of you are looking for recognition, but it means more than you know. I would also like to thank our parent volunteers who have organized another very successful book fair at Concord last week. It was a huge success and more information is below.
Please take a look at the important spring dates below. There is something going on just about every day!
Finally, I would just like to say Happy Mother's Day to all of our Moms among both parents and staff in D63! Any child with a great Mom is so blessed, and we appreciate you. Enjoy your special day, and make sure they spoil you. Happy Mother's Day!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Early Dismissal May 10
Just a reminder that Friday, May 10, is a school improvement day and students will be released early. Concord will be released at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.
2024-25 Registration Closes May 10
Registration for the 2024-25 school year closes Friday, May 10. Here are the registration instructions and we appreciate getting your children registered so that we can assign teachers and establish bus routes for this fall. Please contact your child’s school office or email us at cassd63registration@cassd63.org if you have any questions.
Swim Team Success
The Cass Junior High swim team competed at Downers Grove South last week and did very well. Our girls’ team ended in 4th place and the boys ended in 9th place. We had some great swims and the kids competed well against their friends from other schools. Thank you to Coach Landon Mitchell for putting together a great addition to our athletic program and to Coach Mitchell and Kristen Kaplan for coaching our kids. Go Warriors!
Kindergartners Learn to Grow Plants
Every year Kindergarten does three different planting projects with the students. They plant lima bean plants in five different planting conditions to see what the plants need to grow. The five conditions are too much water, soil only, no water, no sunlight, and sunlight, soil, and water. Students created a hypothesis about which plant they thought would grow the best. The second experiment was planting onions, radishes, and carrots. This experiment was in a special container so the kids can see how the roots grow and how the seeds germinate. Students also kept a science journal, in which they wrote down what was happening each time there was a new development in our vegetable garden. The third experiment is a secret surprise in honor of a very special day coming up this weekend. Shhh!
Kindergarten received a grant from CARE to access a new set of grow lights for our spring projects. Thank you to CARE for supporting our students, which allowed our Kindergarten teachers the opportunity to create this wonderful learning experience for our kids!
5th Grade Celebrates Arbor Day
Our 5th grade students enjoyed taking part in Darien’s 25th Arbor Day celebration. Our students joined children from area schools and participated by raising and then releasing butterflies at the event. The annual event is special to our 5th graders as it brings together so many different members of our community each year.
Some Important Spring DatesThe end of the school year brings a lot of activities and following are dates that may be important for your family. Some of these dates and events are as follows:
May 10 Early dismissal and 8th Grade Dance
May 13-15 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip
May 17 Last Day of Preschool
May 20 3rd and 4th Grade Field Day
May 20 8th Grade Bowling Trip
May 21 Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Field Day
May 21 Cass Junior High Recognition Night (invitation only)
May 22 4th Grade Step Up Day at Cass Junior High School
May 22 8th Grade Graduation
May 23 All School Field Trip at Cass Junior High
May 24 Early dismissal and last day of school
8th Grade Graduation and CelebrationsThe time for our students in 8th grade is coming to a close and we are celebrating our soon to be graduates, culminating with graduation ceremonies on Wednesday, May 22, at 7:00 p.m. Here is a newsletter outlining all information our 8th grade families need to know for the end of their time in Cass School District 63. Also for any families interested, here is information on how to order a graduation video or an individual graduation photo.
8th Grade Graduation Seat Raffle
CARE is raffling off four sets of eight seats for graduation in the 1st and 2nd rows! If you are interested, please see this flyer for information on how to enter. Good luck!
This fall, we will be offering three sports for interested students at Cass Junior High School. All students who wish to tryout and participate in any of the sports, must have a sports physical on file dated no more than 12 months prior to the first day of practice. Please see link for each sport for specific information on times and dates of tryouts and practices as well as the coaches contact information.
Boys and Girls Cross Country – August 19 is the first day of practice at Cass Junior High
Boys Baseball – August 15 and 16 are tryouts at the Eisenhower Pony Field
Girls Softball – August 19 and 20 are tryouts at the Cass Junior High Softball Field
Ivy League Kids Ends Morning of May 24
Please be aware that the Ivy League Kids program will not be available after school on the last day for students on Friday, May 24. Ivy League Kids will be available that morning as usual, but will not be offered in the afternoon due to the immediate need to move equipment and shut down our schools in preparation for summer construction. This is a half day of school, so please arrange to have your children picked up at the end of the school day. Dismissal is at 11:15 a.m. at Concord Elementary and 12:00 p.m. at Cass Junior High. Thank you for your understanding!
If your child is missing any items that you think may have been left behind in school, please be sure to have them check the lost and found prior to Thursday, May 23. All items still unclaimed by the end of the school day on May 23 will be donated. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school office.
Concord Book Fair Thank You!
CARE announced that with just over $11,200 in sales, they will receive $2,123.89 in Scholastic dollars for Concord Elementary and $2,400 for CARE to go toward their fundraising goal. We want to thank super volunteer Julie Ghrist who leads the organization of our book fairs, as well as our other parent volunteers, and of course all of you for supporting our students and staff in District 63!
Cass School District 63 is seeking a school nurse and teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year, and evening shift substitute custodians immediately. For more information or if you are interested in applying, here is the application and information.
Does Your Family Need Summer Food Options?
If you are looking for available options to help feed your family this summer, there are several possibilities to help you. Free Summer Meals are available for children 18 and under. Click under the link for more information and where to find the meals.
For families, Find Food Illinois is a community food map where eligible families interested in food assistance may locate local food pantries, identify locations that accept SNAP and/or WIC, senior food resources etc. during the summer months. The Northern Illinois Food Bank also has great resources to help your family find food banks, summer lunch options, as well as assistance and resources.
In addition to these programs, the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), or SUN Bucks, is a new nutrition program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. SUN Bucks 2024 will provide a $120 annual benefit to eligible children via an EBT issuance by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) later this summer. More basic information on the new federal program is available on the USDA website. Your children are automatically eligible if they have been directly certified or approved through application for free meals during the 2023-24 school year. If your family is not currently receiving free lunch, but you believe you would be eligible, please compete and return this application to the District office no later than May 23. Beginning on May 24 this application is no longer applicable and a state application will be released. We will share that application when it becomes available.
Please be aware that this application is not for the 2024-25 school year. It is specific to the summer 2024 EBT program only. Applications for the 2024-25 school year will be released around August 1. Please contact Amy Underhill at aunderhill@cassd63.org or Gayle Wilson at gwilson@cassd63.org with any questions.
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Hinsdale South senior Adrian Folfas for being accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)!
Congratulations to Hinsdale South students Affan Haque and Mason Griskell for their top 5 showing in the Special Olympics softball throw!
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Hinsdale South Environmental Concerns Organization Native Plant Sale
Important Dates to RememberFor many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
May 10, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.May 17, 2024
Last Day of PreschoolMay 24, 2024
Last Day of School – Kindergarten-8th Grade
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m. -
Cass63 Connections - May 2, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
The end of the school year is just three weeks away, and next Friday, May 10, is the deadline for registration for next school year. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to get your children registered by the deadline so that we can determine enrollments and assign teachers, courses, and bus stops, among other things. If you have not yet done so, the registration link is below, or please contact your child’s school or email cassd63registration@cassd63.org if you have any questions. We truly appreciate your help with this!
This timeline is even more important this year, because we will all be moving out of our offices for the geothermal HVAC work that will commence immediately when students leave for the summer. Of course our administrators and office staff will be working hard as always, but we will mostly have to do so offsite this year while this important work gets done. In an upcoming communication, I will share more on the summer construction project and related end of the school year logistics as we prepare.
Last but not least, next week is Teacher Appreciation Week and I want to take this opportunity to recognize and thank our educators and staff in Cass School District 63. I love to share the good word about what a great school district this is, and the first thing I always mention is our wonderful staff. We have incredible people and they are the ones who have such an impact on our children and our future. If you want to contribute to CARE’s effort to spoil our teachers and staff next week, more details are below.
Thank you to our teachers, staff, administrators, and school board members in D63. We are so grateful for all of you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Important Reminder! Registration Closes May 10
Registration for the 2024-25 school year is open through May 10, and here are the registration details and instructions. We appreciate your taking a few minutes to register your child so that we can assign teachers and establish bus routes for this fall. Please contact your child's school office or email cassd63registration@cassd63.org if you have any questions.
Some Important Spring Dates
The end of the school year brings a lot of activities and following are dates that may be important for your family. Some of these dates and events are as follows:
May 2 Washington D.C. Parent Meeting directly following Choral Concert
May 10 Early dismissal and 8th Grade Dance
May 13-15 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip
May 20 3rd and 4th Grade Field Day
May 20 8th Grade Bowling Trip
May 21 Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Field Day
May 21 Cass Junior High Recognition Night (invitation only)
May 22 4th Grade Step Up Day at Cass Junior High School
May 22 8th Grade Graduation
May 23 All School Field Trip at Cass Junior High
May 24 Early dismissal and last day of school
Want to Help with Teacher Appreciation Week?
Teacher Appreciation Week is approaching quickly and we are in need of supplies and volunteers. Please consider donating for Teacher Appreciation Day by signing up on the Sign Up Genius. Please contact CARE@cassd63.org with any questions.
Concord Book Fair This Week!
The Concord Elementary book fair is Monday, April 29 through Friday, May 3. There is a family shopping night on May 1 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. or you can even shop from home. Please see the flyer under the link for more information.
Advanced Vocal Ensemble Auditions
Any student who will be in 7th or 8th grade next year, and is planning on being in the choir, is eligible to audition for a place in the Advanced Vocal Ensemble. Auditions for the 2024-25 school year are as follows:Incoming 8th (current 7th) Grade Students –May 6 at 7:30 a.m.
Incoming 7th (current 6th) Grade Students –May 7 and May 9 at 7:30 a.m.Please contact Ms. Kriz at rkriz@cassd63.org if you have any questions.
Cass Junior High Scholastic Bowl
The Cass Scholastic Bowl team entered the SDEAA Conference Tournament this year as the defending champions and in first place in the regular season. After beating Eisenhower, we faced a strong Westview Hills team and narrowly lost at the very end. The entire team of Warriors showed grit, determination, and epic team support throughout the season, and will return next year to show our skills again. Congratulations to all team members on a great season!
F is for Flashlight
Our kindergarten students in Mrs. Jamrose’s class did a heart word hunt on their F is for Flashlight day!
DuPage ROE Stem Squad
Thank you to the DuPage ROE Stem Squad, who worked with our 7th and 8th grade students in a competition to build catapults with PVC pipes. Take a look at how our students displayed their keen creativity and engineering aptitude in creating the catapults.
8th Grade Science Class Project
While working on an 8th grade science class unit, students recently used the chemical reaction process to make chalk. Hands-on learning at its best!
8th Grade Graduation and Celebrations
The time for our students in 8th grade is coming to a close and we are celebrating our soon to be graduates, culminating with graduation ceremonies on Wednesday, May 22, at 7:00 p.m. Here is a newsletter outlining all information our 8th grade families need to know for the end of their time in Cass School District 63. Also for any families interested, here is information on how to order a graduation video or an individual graduation photo.
Summer Food Options
If you are looking for available options to help feed your family this summer, there are some great possibilities to help you. Free Summer Meals are available for children 18 and under. Click under the link for more information and where to find the meals.For families, Find Food Illinois is a community food map where eligible families interested in food assistance may locate local food pantries, identify locations that accept SNAP and/or WIC, senior food resources etc. during the summer months. And the Northern Illinois Food Bank has great resources to help your family find food banks, summer lunch options as well as assistance and resources.
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Darien Swarm Football and Cheer Showcase
Glenbard Parent Suggested Reading List for Parents
Mighty Oak Athletic Summer Strength Camp
Yoga Instructor Training
Important Dates to RememberFor many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
May 10, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.May 17, 2024
Last Day of School – PreschoolMay 24, 2024
Last Day of School – Kindergarten-8th Grade
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m. -
Cass63 Connections - April 25, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
For the third time this school year, one of our own family in D63 is battling cancer, and we are all together to support her in her fight. Cass Junior High teacher assistant Elona Hitaj was recently diagnosed and had surgery this past Monday. It sounds like she is doing very well, which is the most wonderful news to hear. Last Friday, her coworkers at the junior high supported her with a special breakfast, while donning our “Fight Like A Warrior” shirts.
Please join us in wishing Elona a fast recovery. Both her and her family will be in our prayers, and we can’t wait to have her healthy and back with us at school!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Some of our Cass Junior High staff showing support for Elona Hitaj.
Early Dismissal Friday, April 26
There is an Early Dismissal on Friday for a staff institute day. Concord will be released at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.
Important Reminder! Registration Closes May 10
Registration for the 2024-25 school year is open through May 10, and here are the registration details and instructions. We appreciate your taking a few minutes to register your child so that we can assign teachers and establish bus routes for this fall. Please contact your child's school office or email cassd63registration@cassd63.org if you have any questions.
4th Grade Parent Night on May 1
There is a 4th grade parent night at Cass Junior High on May 1 at 6:30 p.m. to talk about the transition to Cass Junior High for the 2024-25 school year. For those interested, there is also a beginning band meeting immediately following. We hope to see all of our 4th grade parents there!
3rd Annual Art & Jazz Show
Thank you to art teachers Matt Etherington and Belle Marien, along with band teacher Daniel Murphy for planning and presenting another successful event showcasing artwork and music from our students. Here are some samples of the amazing artwork from our talented students, and those present enjoyed great music from our Jazz Band.
Junior Chorus Spring Concert
Concord Elementary held their Junior Chorus Spring Concert last week. Thank you to teacher Angela Zurawski for creating such a wonderful performance and congratulations to our talented students on a great evening. Here are some pictures from the evening.
2nd Grade Biography Projects
Our Concord second grade students combined their reading, writing, and artistic talents to create incredible biography projects! From Albert Einstein to Dwyane Wade to Dolly Parton, and so many in between, the second graders truly shined with this amazing project.
Rotary Literacy Project Begins
The Rotary Club of Darien has partnered with Cass School District 63, the Indian Prairie Public Library, as well as neighboring school districts Center Cass 66, and Darien 61 on a preschool literacy project to provide area children entering school for the first time with a head start in early literacy through a gift of books, manipulatives, and interactive resources. The Rotary Literacy Project will impact approximately 250 children this spring, and going forward over 150 children annually.
Earlier this week, we hosted our local Rotarians as the first 250 literacy bags were put together to distribute to our youngest learners this spring. Superintendent Mark Cross helped lead the project, and expresses gratitude for the support of our local Rotary Club, the Indian Prairie Public Library, our friends in Districts 61 and 66, and especially some of our area preschool teachers and staff who were instrumental in developing the content that our youngest learners need most.
Specifically to District 63, thank you to Pam Worth, Gayle Wilson, Monique Bell, Deb Dolehide and volunteers Katie Marinelli, Urszula Tanouye, and Julie Ghrist for the time and effort in making this project happen!
Some Important Spring Dates
The end of the school year brings a lot of activities and following are dates that may be important for your family. Some of these dates and events are as follows:
May 1 4th Grade Parent Night at Cass Junior High School
May 2 Washington D.C. Parent Meeting directly following Choral Concert
May 10 Early dismissal and 8th Grade Dance
May 13-15 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip
May 20 3rd and 4th Grade Field Day
May 20 8th Grade Bowling Trip
May 21 Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Field Day
May 21 Cass Junior High Recognition Night (invitation only)
May 22 4th Grade Step Up Day at Cass Junior High School
May 22 8th Grade Graduation
May 23 All School Field Trip at Cass Junior High
May 24 Early dismissal and last day of school
8th Grade Graduation and Celebrations
The time for our students in 8th grade is coming to a close and we are celebrating our soon to be graduates, culminating with graduation ceremonies on Wednesday, May 22, at 7:00 p.m. Here is a newsletter outlining all information our 8th grade families need to know for the end of their time in Cass School District 63. Also for any families interested, here is information on how to order a graduation video or an individual graduation photo.
Concord Book Fair
The Concord Elementary book fair is Monday, April 29 through Friday, May 3. There is a family shopping night on May 1 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. or you can even shop from home. Please see the flyer under the link for more information.
Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is approaching quickly and we are in need of supplies and volunteers. Please consider donating for Teacher Appreciation Day by signing up on the Sign Up Genius. Please contact CARE@cassd63.org with any questions.
CARE is hosting the 8th Grade Dance on Friday, May 10. Tickets are on sale through April 30. For more information and to purchase tickets please look under the link.
Cass School District 63 is seeking a school nurse and teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year, and evening shift substitute custodians immediately. For more information or if you are interested in applying, here is the application and information.
Alumni AccoladesCongratulations to Janelle Lewis for being named Hinsdale South athlete of the week for her stellar performances on the Track & Field team.
Congratulations to the following Hinsdale South students for placing in the top 10 in the state at the recent Science Olympiad:
Rayyan Qureshi and Eva Louis, 3rd in Optics
Ann Valiathara, 7th place in Experimental Design
Rayyan Qureshi and Jacob Borowski, 9th in Wind PowerWe partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Glenbard Parent Series presents And Then They Stopped Talking to Me
Important Dates to RememberFor many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
April 26, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.May 10, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.May 17, 2024
Last Day of School – PreschoolMay 24, 2024
Last Day of School – Kindergarten-8th Grade
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m. -
Cass63 Connections - April 18, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
We are entering the last stretch of the school year, with days and evenings filled with concerts, dances, spring sports, field trips, and graduation. We have some of the dates highlighted in the list below if you are interested, and you can always review our district calendar and watch for information from your child’s teachers as well. With the earlier end to the school year, the last day is just five weeks away!
Another important date that is coming quickly is the 2024-25 registration deadline of Friday, May 10. This is very important as we make plans for next year with assigning teachers and classes, building bus routes, and many other things over the summer. We are making good progress, but please see the registration links and information below if you have not yet done so.
As we approach the final weeks of the year, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teachers, building administrators, or office staff if there is anything you need. We are here for you. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass Advanced Art students at the Art Institute of Chicago.
The 3rd Annual Art & Jazz Show April 24
Cass School District 63 is proudly hosting our 3rd Annual Art and Jazz Show on Wednesday, April 24, D63 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Cass Junior High. This show will feature works from both Concord and Cass students, and will be accompanied by a special performance from the Cass Junior High Jazz band. Submissions are due April 19. If you are interested in submitting artwork for this event, please contact Ms. Marien at bmarien@cassd63.org or Mr. Etherington at metherington@cassd63.org. We hope to see you there!
2024-25 Registration Closes May 10
Registration for the 2024-25 school year is open through May 10, and here are the registration details and instructions. We appreciate your taking a few minutes to register your child so that we can assign teachers and establish bus routes for this fall. Please contact your child's school office or email cassd63registration@cassd63.org if you have any questions.
At the April 16 meeting, the Board of Education approved social studies curriculum and resource material recommendations, discussed requests for proposals for the lunch program, and reviewed progress with the planning and coordination for the summer geothermal HVAC project, as well as hired four new staff members for the 2024-25 school year. More information on the most recent meeting is included in the Board Briefs.
Jazz Band Performs at Rotary Club's 50th Celebration
Under the direction of Mr. Daniel Murphy, our Jazz Band students put on a great performance at the Darien Rotary Club’s 50th Celebration. Our students sounded amazing and set the tone for a nice evening, while also giving them the chance to perform in a different venue at Ruth Lake Country Club. Compliments on their performance were shared all evening, including from special guest Gordon R. McInally of Scotland, the President of Rotary International.
Advanced Art Students Visit the Art Institute
The Cass Junior High Advanced Art students had an incredible time bringing art to life at The Art Institute of Chicago earlier this week.
CARE is hosting the 8th Grade Dance on Friday, May 10. Tickets are on sale through April 30. Please see this flyer for more information and how to purchase tickets.
The end of the school year brings a lot of activities and following are dates that may be important for your family. Some of these dates and events are as follows:
May 1 4th Grade Parent Night at Cass Junior High School
May 10 Early dismissal and 8th Grade Dance
May 17 Last day of preschool
May 20 3rd and 4th Grade Field Day
May 20 8th Grade Bowling Trip
May 21 Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Field Day
May 22 4th Grade Step Up Day at Cass Junior High School
May 23 All School Field Trip at Cass Junior High
May 24 Early dismissal and last day of schoolCass School District 63 is seeking a school nurse and teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year, and evening shift substitute custodians immediately. For more information or if you are interested in applying, here is the application and information.
Remaining IAR Testing Schedule
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness testing is complete at Concord and is wrapping up next week at Cass. On April 22, 23, and 24 students in 5th through 8th grade will test in science. During IAR testing, students are not allowed to arrive late to class or to leave early, so please plan accordingly. We ask that students have earbuds or headphones each day of testing. Please contact Principal Christine Marcinkewicz with any questions.
Alumni AccoladesCongratulations to Hinsdale South student Collin Caldwell who recently attended the Northwestern University Model UN Conference and was awarded Best Delegate Nigerian Biafra War: Biafra
Congratulations to Cass School District 63 alumni who competed and earned medals in the Special Olympics Swimming: Nicholas Ebreo, 1st place in 25M backstroke and 3rd in 25M freestyle; Affan Haque, 2nd place in 25M freestyle and 3rd for 25M backstroke; and Charlie Nilles, 1st place in both 200M individual medley and 400M freestyle.
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Glenbard Parent Series presents How to Talk to Kids About Anything
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
April 26, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.May 10, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.May 17, 2024
Last Day of School – PreschoolMay 24, 2024
Last Day of School – Kindergarten-8th Grade
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m. -
Cass63 Connections - April 11, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
About one month ago, I shared that we were watching the rise in measles cases in the Chicago area. At the time, there were 10 documented cases in the city, but as of today there are approximately 60 cases in greater Chicago, including several in the suburbs.
While there are no known cases in DuPage County at this time, I feel it is important to make you aware of this. The majority of cases are in children under 5 years of age, and over two-thirds are in children 17 and under. Given the danger of this disease particularly in unvaccinated children, awareness and understanding is very important.
As a school district, we have reviewed our records and contacted parents of children who are not up to date with their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines. If you fall into this category, we strongly recommend that you reach out to your pediatrician or family physician to determine if your child(ren) should receive the vaccination series.
As shared previously, here is current information from the CDC, including the signs and symptoms, which include fever, runny nose, red watery eyes, and rash. Please be aware of this and if you see symptoms in your children, you must keep them home and contact your family physician or pediatrician immediately.
Please contact us if you have any questions and feel free to email school district nurse Katie Beringer at kberinger@cassd63.org. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass Junior High students watching the solar eclipse.
Registration for the 2024-25 school year is open through May 10, and here are the registration details and instructions. We appreciate your taking a few minutes to register your child so that we can assign teachers and establish bus routes for this fall. Please contact your child's school office or email cassd63registration@cassd63.org if you have any questions.
5th Graders Demonstrate Their Skills
Our 5th grade students in Ms. Pollitz’s class showed off their skills and knowledge while presenting “how to” speeches this week. Our students proved to have a wide range of interests and expertise. It was a great project and a wonderful opportunity for our students to share some of their interests and talents outside of school.
2024 Eclipse Viewing at Cass Junior High
Our Cass Junior High School students enjoyed observing the recent solar eclipse. The weather was perfect and our students learned how bright the day still was, despite the moon’s 94 percent coverage of the sun in our area. This authentic learning experience will not happen again until 2044, so it was a great opportunity to experience this celestial event.
The 3rd Annual Art & Jazz Show April 24
On Wednesday, April 24, D63 is proudly hosting our 3rd Annual Art and Jazz Show from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Cass Junior High. This show will feature works from both Concord and Cass students, and will be accompanied by a special performance from members of the Cass Junior High Jazz band. Submissions are due April 19. If you are interested in submitting artwork for this event, please contact Ms. Marien at bmarien@cassd63.org or Mr. Etherington at metherington@cassd63.org. We hope to see you there!
Advanced ELA for Incoming 7th Grade StudentsParents of 6th grade students who would like their child to be considered for advanced/accelerated English Language Arts class for 7th grade, please take a moment to read this letter for more information about the class, the criteria for consideration, and a registration link.
High Math for Incoming 5th Grade Students
Parents of 4th grade students who would like their child to be considered for high math for 5th grade, please take a moment to read this letter for more information about the class, the criteria for consideration, and a registration link.
Vincent Chen to Represent U.S.A. Badminton Team
Please join us in congratulating 7th Grade student Vincent Chen who recently qualified to represent the U.S.A. Badminton Team at the PanAm championship in Mexico this July. Congratulations and best of luck to Vincent!
D63 Superintendent Named Finalist for Leadership Recognition
Cass School District 63 Superintendent Mark Cross was recently named one of three finalists for the “Superintendent of Distinction” recognition for DuPage County. Nominations for this honor are made from superintendent colleagues, and Mr. Cross was recognized for his leadership in District 63 as well as among superintendents in DuPage County, and for his leadership as the Board of Directors chairperson for SASED, our special education cooperative made up of 18 school districts.
This year’s finalists were Indian Prairie School District 204 Superintendent Dr. Adrian Talley and Downers Grove School District 58 Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell, who was also this year’s DuPage County Superintendent of Distinction. Congratulations, Mr. Cross!
Concord Yearbook Delivery and Raffle
Concord yearbooks were delivered to any students who had ordered and paid for them today. If your child did not receive a yearbook and you believe they should have, please contact Helen Park at hpark@cassd63.org no later than April 15. Please note that we cannot replace damaged yearbooks after they have been distributed.
If you did not order a yearbook for your child and wish you had, a few extra yearbooks were ordered and will be raffled off on Wednesday, April 17. If you are interested in participating in the raffle, please complete this form and return it with your money by Tuesday, April 16.
8th Grade Yard Sign Orders Due April 14
CARE is now offering personalized yard signs to help you celebrate your Class of 2024 8th grade graduate. These 18" x 24" weatherproof plastic signs come with a metal stand for $20.00 per sign. (They can be personalized with your graduate's first name if you don't want to use your child's name, they will say "Graduate.") All orders are due by Sunday, April 14. Signs will be available for pick up at Cass Junior High on April 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. Place your order here! All proceeds will help fund the 8th grade dance, which is being held on Friday, May 10. Get your tickets for the dance in the CARE shop while you’re there!
Cass School District 63 is seeking a school nurse and teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year, and evening shift substitute custodians immediately. For more information or if you are interested in applying, here is the application and information.
Dine to Donate April 17, 2024CARE is partnering with Culver’s for the April Dine to Donate on April 17 from 5-9 p.m. Please be sure to show this flyer and mention CARE/D63 when ordering.
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Hinsdale South presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Wheaton Recycling Extravaganza & Paper Shredding Event
Glenbard Parent Series presents Raising Successful Kids Who Feel Safe, Seen & Secure
Darien Garden Club Sprouts presents Composting STARTS Now!
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
April 26, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.May 10, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m. -
Cass63 Connections - April 4, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
As I am sure you are all aware, a solar eclipse will take place from 12:51 to 3:21 p.m. on Monday, April 8. The peak of the eclipse at 2:07 p.m. will be about 85 to 90 percent locally. This means that a partial eclipse will still be taking place when the Concord students dismiss at 2:45 p.m. We plan to handle this in a common sense manner that is age appropriate for each building and we will do our best to make this a memorable educational experience for our kids, while not compromising safety.
At Concord Elementary, we plan to keep the students indoors until the time of dismissal. Dr. Anderson, Ms. Doyle, and the teachers and staff will determine how best to handle communicating safety to the students during dismissal, and we would encourage you as parents to do the same. There are legitimate safety concerns with looking at the sun at any time, and this can be harder to control with our little ones. This is why our elementary teachers will make the eclipse a great learning experience by watching it on the internet through some great online resources which allow students to see the effect of the eclipse with the darkness outside, while learning and also observing what is taking place inside.
Weather permitting, our Cass Junior High School students will get the chance to at least briefly view the eclipse outside at various times through appropriate safety glasses that we acquired last fall, unless parents choose to opt your student out of this activity. If so, we will keep your child inside during this time. This opt out will also be provided through a separate message and reminder from Mrs. Marcinkewicz.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or principal. I also welcome your questions, and we appreciate your support. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
1st grade students enjoying their own version of March Madness.
Registration for the 2024-25 school year is open through May 10, and here are the registration details and instructions. We appreciate your taking a few minutes to register your child so that we can assign teachers and establish bus routes for this fall. Please contact your child's school office or email cassd63registration@cassd63.org if you have any questions.
Advanced ELA for Incoming 7th Grade Students
Parents of 6th grade students who would like their child to be considered for advanced/accelerated English Language Arts class for 7th grade, please take a moment to read this letter for more information about the class, the criteria for consideration, and a registration link.
High Math for Incoming 5th Grade Students
Parents of 4th grade students who would like their child to be considered for high math for 5th grade, please take a moment to read this letter for more information about the class, the criteria for consideration, and a registration link.
Cass School District 63 is seeking a speech pathologist, school nurse, and teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year, and evening shift substitute custodians immediately. For more information or if you are interested in applying, here is the application and information.
Remaining IAR Testing Schedule
Our students in grades 3 through 8 will continue with Illinois Assessment of Readiness testing. During IAR testing, students are not allowed to arrive late to class or to leave early, so please review the schedule below and plan accordingly. We ask that students have earbuds or headphones each day of testing. The remaining schedule for each school is as follows:
Concord Elementary School
April 3, 4, and 5 4th Grade MathCass Junior High School
Please contact your child’s teacher or Principals Christine Marcinkewicz or Laura Anderson with any questions.
April 8, 9, and 10 5th-8th Grade Math
April 22, 23, and 24 5th and 8th Grade Science
Cass Junior High Swim Team TryoutsCass Warrior Swimming is coming up in April and is open to all Cass Junior High students to try out at the first practice on April 10. This is a very short “season”, with five practices and one meet. More information is under the link and parents can reach out to Coach Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org with any questions. If your child is interested in participating, please be sure that they have a current sports physical on file prior to the first day of practice.
A Heartfelt Thank You!
Please take a moment to read this letter from the American Heart Association which was recently sent to teachers Greg Kirchen and Craig Damrow, who organize this event for our Concord students.
On behalf of the American Heart Association, thank you very much for raising $6,523.99 with your school's recent Kids Heart Challenge /American Heart Challenge program. Families and schools are critical links in providing the foundation for cardiovascular wellness in our country. Your support and participation in the Kids Heart Challenge/American Heart Challenge makes a tremendous impact in helping millions of Americans through increased awareness of cardiovascular disease, lifesaving scientific research and critically needed education efforts.
The American Heart Association’s grant program offers participating schools grants of $250 up to $2,500 for health and wellness initiatives including physical activity equipment. Eligibility requirements can be found here. Additionally, we offer monthly Learning Series webinars for educators, which may qualify for professional development hours. You can view all our school and teacher benefits that we offer.
Together, we are fierce — a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our mission.
Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer
American Heart Association
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Hinsdale South students, Wesley Davis, Lily Levine, Quinn Isberg, and Annina Garro for being part of the cast that recently took 3rd place in the IHSA State Tournament with their Musical Theatre Review piece The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
District 86 and 181 Community Speaker Series
Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College AdmissionsGlenbard Parent Series
You and Your Almost Adult Child
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
April 26, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m. -
Cass63 Connections - March 21, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Where is this year going? With spring break already here, we are well into our planning for next school year! Online registration is open, we have already hired eight new staff for this fall, and many other plans are under way for 2024-25, including the introduction of boys’ baseball as an interscholastic activity this fall.
An incredible amount of time has gone into our facility planning, and we are talking as a Board of Education about plans for more transformative work to take place over the course of the next two to three years after the HVAC project. In the meantime, the outside geothermal well project is complete. Sod is to be installed here over the break as we prepare to return these areas to usable spaces for our kids later in the spring.
Also part of this project, we have final asbestos removal taking place in both schools over the spring break. Just as I shared for the work at winter break, there are no safety concerns as we work with our abatement consultant and contractors to ensure that we are in compliance with all health and safety requirements. This is a necessary and important step in our work, but questions are always welcome.
We have early dismissal on Friday, March 22, and there will be no Cass63 Connections next week while students are on spring break. Weekly district communications will resume on April 4, and we will see your kids back in school on Tuesday, April 2. If you are traveling, please do so safely. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Kindergarten students performing at their recent music program.
Early Dismissal and Spring Break Schedule
Spring Break is here! On Friday, March 22, we have an early release day with Concord releasing at 11:15 and Cass at 12:00 p.m. There will be no school from Monday, March 25 through Monday, April 1 with classes resuming on Tuesday, April 2. We hope you have a wonderful break with your families!
Asbestos Abatement Notification
As part of our geothermal HVAC project, both schools will be undergoing the second and final round of asbestos abatement in certain areas of each building over the spring break. Here are the official notices to parents and staff for Cass Junior High and Concord Elementary.
Registration for the 2024-25 school year is open from now through May 10. Here are the registration details and instructions. Please contact your child's school office or email cassd63registration@
cassd63.org if you have any questions.
At the Tuesday, March 19 meeting, the Board of Education discussed requests for proposals for the food service program, approved the addition of boys’ baseball as an interscholastic activity for the 2024-25 school year, and discussed potential Phase II facility projects. More information on the most recent meeting is included in the Board Briefs.
Cass School District 63 is seeking a school nurse and teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year, and evening shift substitute custodians immediately. For more information or if you are interested in applying, here is the application and information.
Remaining IAR Testing Schedule
Our students in grades 3 through 8 will continue with Illinois Assessment of Readiness testing in April. The IAR assesses the progress of our students in meeting the Illinois Learning Standards in English language arts and mathematics, while the Illinois Science Assessment assesses student progress in grades 5 and 8 in meeting both state and Next Generation Science Standards.During state testing, students are not allowed to arrive late to class or to leave early, so please review the schedule below and plan accordingly. We ask that students have earbuds or headphones each day of testing. The schedule for each school is as follows:
Concord Elementary School
April 3, 4, and 5 4th Grade MathCass Junior High School
Please contact your child’s teacher or Principals Christine Marcinkewicz or Laura Anderson with any questions.
April 8, 9, and 10 5th-8th Grade Math
April 22, 23, and 24 5th and 8th Grade Science
A Word on Smart Watches
Like smart phones, smart watches are very convenient. Unfortunately, they are also a serious distraction for students. Principal Christine Marcinkewicz recently shared with parents that the use of smartwatches among students during school hours is becoming increasingly prevalent. We ask that parents review this communication, as well as the expectations and guidelines that personal electronic devices are expected to be turned off and stay in the locker during instructional hours. We truly appreciate your support in minimizing disruptions in the teaching and learning environment.
Boys Volleyball Team Tryouts
Cass Junior High boys volleyball tryouts are scheduled for Wednesday, April 3 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Cass gym. If your child is interested, please have them sign up in the gym and be sure that they have a current sports physical on file prior to the first day of tryouts.
Cass Junior High Swim Team Tryouts
Cass Warrior Swimming is coming up in April and is open to all Cass Junior High students to try out at the first practice on April 10. This is a very short “season”, with five practices and one meet. More information is under the link and parents can reach out to Coach Landon Mitchell at lmitchell@cassd63.org with any questions. If your child is interested in participating, please be sure that they have a current sports physical on file prior to the first day of practice.
Kindergarten Music Program
Our kindergarten students did a wonderful job at their music program last week. Thank you to teacher Angela Zurawski for helping our kids create such a great and entertaining evening!
Advanced ELA Enjoys Performance of Romeo & Juliet
Our 7th and 8th grade Advanced English Language Arts students enjoyed an amazing performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier recently. Having read Romeo and Juliet in class, seeing the play come to life on stage was fascinating and entertaining for our students.
1st Grade March Madness
Our 1st grade students and teachers recently held their own version of March Madness. Starting with the Sweet 16 most favorite books, the competition began for the champion to be named the 2024 Book of the Year. The students all had a great time, competition was fierce, and the winner was Unicorns Are The Worst! By Alex Willan.
McTeacher Night a Success!
McTeacher Night was a great success earning CARE and our schools just over $1,700. It was wonderful to see so many district families come to support our schools and to hang out with our staff in such a unique and fun way!
Kids and Teachers Basketball Game
At a CARE event earlier this year, parents bid on the chance to have their child play 5 on 5 basketball with teachers. This week, teachers Danielle Hosman, Scott Kondraschow, and Landon Mitchell played a great game of basketball with a 5th grade vs. 7th grade team. A great time was had by all!
Polar Plunge Participants Say Thank You
Concord team members Bryann Poskonka, Katie Summers, Mitchell Schwarzkopf, Katy Modglin, Kerri Soriano, and Katie Paljetak all participated in last weekend’s Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. They wanted to say thank you to everyone who supported them as they raised over $1,500. Congratulations to the Concord team for braving the cold water and raising over three times their original goal!
Listen and Learn with Dr. Lach
Hinsdale High School District 86 has hired Dr. Michael Lach as their new superintendent effective July 1, 2024. District 86 is offering listen and learn sessions with Dr. Lach on April 24, and they have asked us to share this invitation with parents and community members who may be interested.
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Hinsdale South students, Faith Lawler, Math and Elizabeth Martin, World Languages, who recently received the Breakfast Club award (student of the quarter).
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Hinsdale South High School presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Hinsdale South Danceline Tryout Information & Permission Form
Glenbard Parent Series presents:
Understanding Social Anxiety & the Complexity of Teen Relationships
You and Your Almost Adult Child
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
March 22, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.March 25 - April 1, 2024
No School – Spring BreakApril 2, 2024
School Resumes -
Cass63 Connections - March 14, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
We are keeping a close eye on the recent measles cases in the Chicago area. As of Wednesday of this week, Chicago had a citywide total of 10 documented cases. I do not have any specific public health guidance to share at this time, but we will monitor this carefully and I will share more information if needed.
Here is current information from the CDC, including the signs and symptoms, which include fever, runny nose, red watery eyes, and rash. Please be aware of this and if you see symptoms in your children, keep them home and contact your family physician or pediatrician immediately. The CDC also states the best preventive measure at this time would be to make sure your children are up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns, and feel free to email school district nurse Katie Beringer at kberinger@cassd63.org.
Registration for the 2024-25 school year opens on Wednesday, and I wanted to share some information about fees. While fees are never a popular topic, we have not raised ours for four straight years, which remain $325 at Cass Junior High and $275 at Concord Elementary. I am aware that there is a perception that our fees are high, which is one reason we stopped raising our fees, even through a period of very high inflation.
The reason I say “perception” is not to diminish the cost for you as a family, but to acknowledge that the total cost all depends on what you include. Our registration fees include everything outside of lunch and transportation. We do not charge additional fees for technology, music, activities, or athletics, as many districts do on top of their normal fees. When it is all put together, it is clear what you are paying and that is the final cost. This is something we take seriously, while trying to be fiscally responsible and reasonable.
Any questions are very welcome, and our 2024-25 registration information is provided below. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Our talented Jazz Band students putting on a great show.
Registration for the 2024-25 school year opens on Wednesday, March 20. We will send an email and text message when the portal officially opens, and the deadline for registration is May 10. Here are the registration details and instructions. Please contact your child's school office or email cassd63registration@
cassd63.org if you have any questions.
IAR Testing Begins Next Week
Our students in grades 3 through 8 began the Illinois Assessment of Readiness testing this week and will continue testing into April. During IAR testing, students are not allowed to arrive late to class or to leave early, so please review the schedule below and plan accordingly. We ask that students have earbuds or headphones each day of testing. The schedule for each school is as follows:
Concord Elementary School
March 15 4th Grade Reading
March 18, 20, and 21 3rd Grade Math
April 3, 4, and 5 4th Grade MathCass Junior High School
April 8, 9, and 10 5th-8th Grade Math
April 22, 23, and 24 5th and 8th Grade SciencePlease contact your child’s teacher or Principals Christine Marcinkewicz or Laura Anderson with any questions.
Join us for McTeacher Night Next Week
Mark your calendars for McTeacher Night at McDonald’s in Darien on Wednesday, March 20. Teachers and staff will be there selling apple pies and 20 percent of the proceeds go to CARE. We looking forward to seeing our kids and families there!
Boys Volleyball Tryouts Coming Soon
Cass Junior High boys volleyball tryouts are scheduled for Wednesday, April 3 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Cass gym. If your child is interested, please have them sign up in the gym and be sure that they have a current sports physical on file prior to the first day of tryouts.
Track & Field is open to all Cass Junior High students, but in order to participate, all students must have a current sports physical on file in the Cass Junior High Office prior to the first day of practice.
Concord Staff Taking Plunge for Special Olympics
This Saturday, March 16, Concord team members Bryann Poskonka, Katie Summers, Mitchell Schwarzkopf, Katy Modglin, Kerri Soriano, and Katie Paljetak will be participating in the Chicago Polar Plunge supporting the Special Olympics. Please visit the Concord team fundraising page for information and to help them raise money for this great cause!
Cass School District 63 is seeking teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year, and evening shift substitute custodians immediately. For more information or if you are interested in applying, here is the application and information.
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Hinsdale South student Collin Caldwell for winning Outstanding Position Paper and Outstanding Delegate-National Unity Government of Myamar at the Model UN Berkley Conference.
Congratulations to Hinsdale South Varsity Science Olympiad team members Eva Louis, Ann Valiathara, Sophia Zakar, Rayyan Qureshi, Jacob Borowski who qualified for the state competition and individually medaled at the regional competition.
Congratulations to Hinsdale South JV Science Olympiad team members Shahmeer Ali, and Eva Joseph who both medaled in the Junior Varsity Regional Competition.
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Summer Reading Skills Programs
Glenbard Parent Series presents:
Motivational Interviewing for Better Conversations and Stronger RelationshipsThe Parent Child Relationship: Balancing Love and Authority
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
March 22, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.March 25 - April 1, 2024
No School – Spring BreakApril 2, 2024
School Resumes -
Cass63 Connections - March 7, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Next week we begin testing on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) for our 3rd through 8th grade students. The schedule and details are provided below so that you can help make sure your children are ready with everything that they need. Please contact your child's teacher or building principal with any questions regarding our assessments.
In addition to IAR testing, following are a few other reminders and upcoming deadlines:
- Prekindergarten screening will be held on March 15
- Registration for the 2024-25 school year opens March 18
- 5Essentials Survey responses are due from parents on March 29
- McTeacher Night at the Darien McDonald's is from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on March 20
- CARE is planning some great events for next year and always needs volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved, please email care@cassd63.org.
- Don’t forget to spring forward this weekend!
Please reach out if you have any questions or need anything at all.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
1st grade students sharing their singing talents during their recent music program.
IAR Testing Begins Next Week
Our students in grades 3 through 8 will be participating in the Illinois Assessment of Readiness in March and April. The IAR assesses the progress of our students in meeting the Illinois Learning Standards in English language arts and mathematics, while the Illinois Science Assessment assesses student progress in grades 5 and 8 in meeting both state and Next Generation Science Standards.
During state testing, students are not allowed to arrive late to class or to leave early, so please review the schedule below and plan accordingly. We ask that students have earbuds or headphones each day of testing. The schedule for each school is as follows:
Concord Elementary School
March 13 and 14 3rd Grade Reading
March 13 and 15 4th Grade Reading
March 18, 20, and 21 3rd Grade Math
April 3, 4, and 5 4th Grade MathCass Junior High School
March 12, and 13 5th-8th Grade Reading
April 8, 9, and 10 5th-8th Grade Math
April 22, 23, and 24 5th and 8th Grade SciencePlease contact your child’s teacher or Principals Christine Marcinkewicz or Laura Anderson with any questions.
The geothermal project is continuing on the south side of Concord Elementary School, and will impact recess on certain days for some of our students. Earlier this week, Dr. Anderson emailed a communication with more explanation. Please contact the school or district office if you did not receive this communication, or if you have any questions. Thank you!
Rotary Delivers Dictionaries to 3rd Graders
The Darien Rotary Club is running the Dictionary Project, which provides a dictionary to every 3rd grade student in area schools. This is part of a nationwide initiative that has delivered dictionaries to millions of students across the country. Four members of the Darien Rotary Club, including Superintendent Mark Cross, delivered dictionaries to our 3rd grade students at Concord this week. The dictionaries also include an encyclopedia with history, scientific facts, and a full copy of the United States Constitution. Thank you to our Darien Rotary for providing the dictionaries to our students!
Cass School District 63 is seeking teacher assistants for the 2024-25 school year. For more information or if you are interested in applying, here is the application and information.
Registration for the 2024-25 school year is opening on March 18. Look for information on how to register in the March 14 Cass63 Connections.
The 5Essentials Parent Survey is now open. Administered by the University of Chicago on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, this survey generates data that districts can use to guide continuous efforts to improve our schools and inform our parents and school community about our learning environment. The link to the survey was provided via email to parents and closes March 29.
Concord Study Buddies
Ms. Schlottmann’s and Mrs. Hyder’s classes meet weekly for study buddies. This month the students gathered together in the library with a collection of books selected by Mrs. Dooley. After reading a book, they filled out a heart to put on our Friendship and Kindness Tree. The books inspired ideas about friendship and being kind to one another. Here are some of the things our third and fourth graders had to say about their time together:
“It’s fun working and reading with a friend.” “I like reading together. My friend is really nice and we share great ideas together.”
“It is really fun reading together and we share ideas and my partner is interesting and funny.” “I like reading and getting to know my friend from 4th grade.”
“The books we read this week are about friendships, meeting new people, and starting new friendships.”
“The books taught us about showing kindness to everyone.” “It is fun to be together, reading and talking about books and learning.”
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Hinsdale South students who did extremely well in the Business Professionals of America State Competition: Anna Meng, 3rd place in Global Marking Team, Elias Carder, 4th Place in Java Programming and Python Programming, Sam Johnson and Brendan Savage 9th Place in Presentation Team. Additional congratulations to Elias Carder and Anna Meng who are both National Qualifiers!
Congratulations to Elias Carder and Collin Caldwell who were part of the Hinsdale South Hivemind Robotics team who recently took 3rd place out of 40 teams in the Vex Robotics Competition.
Congratulations to Hinsdale South student Elizabeth Martin who won a scholarship through American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese to travel abroad this summer in Costa Rica. Students can only apply if they performed well on their National Spanish Exam and then are subjected to a rigorous interview process including an oral interview and written essay in Spanish.
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Darien Garden Club Sprouts presents Forcing Spring
Glenbard Parent Series presents:
Why We’re Socially Awkward and Why That’s Awesome
Don’t forget to move those clocks ahead one hour this weekend!
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
March 10, 2024
Daylight Savings Time – Turn Your Clocks Ahead One HourMarch 22, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.March 25 - April 1, 2024
No School – Spring BreakApril 2, 2024
School Resumes -
Cass63 Connections - February 29, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
We are always working to improve as a school district, and one of our targeted areas for growth is how we meet the needs of our students with disabilities, as well as work with and support our parents as partners. If you have a student with a 504 or individualized education plan, you should have received a survey in your email earlier this week. Thank you for taking the time to respond by the March 4 deadline!
As a reminder, there is no school for students on Friday, March 1. Like many DuPage County schools, this is due to our scheduled staff institute day. Happy Leap Day and have a great weekend!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Concord students participating in this year's Kid's Heart Challenge!
Due to a scheduled staff institute day, there is no school on Friday, March 1.
Our students in grades 3 through 8 will be participating in the Illinois Assessment of Readiness in March and April. The IAR assesses the progress of our students in meeting the Illinois Learning Standards in English language arts and mathematics, while the Illinois Science Assessment assesses student progress in grades 5 and 8 in meeting both state and Next Generation Science Standards.
During state testing, students are not allowed to arrive late to class or to leave early, so please review the schedule below and plan accordingly. We ask that students have earbuds or headphones each day of testing. The schedule for each school is as follows:
Concord Elementary School
March 13 and 14 3rd Grade Reading
March 13 and 15 4th Grade Reading
March 18, 20, and 21 3rd Grade Math
April 3, 4, and 5 4th Grade MathCass Junior High School
March 12, and 13 5th-8th Grade Reading
April 8, 9, and 10 5th-8th Grade Math
April 22, 23, and 24 5th and 8th Grade SciencePlease contact your child’s teacher or Principals Christine Marcinkewicz or Laura Anderson with any questions.
Cass Students Excel in Mock Newbery Challenge
For the last ten years, the Mock Newbery program at Cass Junior High has continued to help our students grow into lifelong readers. With over 100 students having read at least five books, we also had 28 students who each read twelve or more books (an increase of 10 students this year) within a window of fewer than four months. Also, 5th grader Aroush Qureshi and 7th grader Celina Tai read all 25 titles. After reading and voting on various literary elements, 28 students were invited to the Mock Newbery presentation, discussion, and pizza party.
We appreciate CARE’s support of the Mock Newbery program; a tradition at Cass Junior High School. In addition to providing students with the opportunity to read some of the best middle school literature of the year, another benefit to the Mock Newbery program is CARE’s generosity in purchasing two copies of each title. These books then remain in the Cass Learning Center so that students can continue to enjoy the best middle school literature for years to come.
PreKindergarten Screening March 15
Cass School District 63 is holding a prekindergarten screening on March 15 for children who live in our district and are 3-5 years old. Your child must be preregistered to participate. Please see under the link for information and how to register.
Kids Heart Challenge a Success
Thank you to all of the Concord families who participated in this year’s Kids Heart Challenge. We raised a little over $5,000 with donations still coming in. This event helps us support our physical education program with students as they continue to exercise and have life-long fitness goals, as well as make donations to a great cause.
Stefani White with the American Heart Association said, “Thank you will never seem like enough to show how much we appreciate you, but from the bottom of my heart, and so many others who are impacted by what you've done to move the AHA mission forward.”
1st Grade Music Program
Concord presented the 1st grade music program last week. Enjoy the pictures, and thank you to music teacher Angela Zurawski and our talented kids for a wonderful evening!
Join us for McTeacher Night on March 20
Mark your calendars for McTeacher Night at McDonald’s in Darien on Wednesday, March 20. Teachers and staff will be there selling apple pies and 20 percent of the proceeds go to CARE. We looking forward to seeing our kids and families there!
Concord Staff Taking Plunge for Special Olympics
On March 16, Concord team members Bryann Poskonka, Katie Summers, Mitchell Schwarzkopf, Katy Modglin, Kerri Soriano, and Katie Paljetak will be participating in the Chicago Polar Plunge supporting the Special Olympics. Please visit the Concord team fundraising page for and help them raise money for this great cause!
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Cass School District 63 alum and Hinsdale South graduate, Charlie Nilles, who was asked to become an Outreach Ambassador for the Special Olympics. Charlie has completed his training and has begun his work in this new role. He will be a great ambassador. Congratulations, Charlie!
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Glenbard Parent Series presents:
Helping Teens Thrive in an Era of Increased Anxiety, Depression and Social Media
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
March 1, 2024
No School – Staff Institute DayMarch 22, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.March 25 - April 1, 2024
No School – Spring BreakApril 2, 2024
School Resumes -
Cass63 Connections - February 22, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
In December, I shared information on our performance with the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), as well as other information on our 2023 School Report Cards. At the time, I said that while all data can be useful, we mostly focus on individual student growth through the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment.
The reason for this is that while the IAR provides a lookback to the previous year, we use MAP data to measure individual and group academic progress in fall, winter, and spring for grades 1 through 8. We get the data in real time to inform instruction, provide interventions, and to identify needed academic support, among other things.
At our meeting earlier this week, Concord Assistant Principal Katie Doyle provided our Board of Education with an overview of the MAP assessment. More details are available in the Board Briefs below, and the good news is our students are showing growth far above the national average. We will continue to use this data to drive improvement and help each child grow as much as possible each year.
We will continue to provide good information on our academic progress, but please feel free to contact us with any questions. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Concord students enjoying Valentine’s Day friendship parties!
At the February 20, Board of Education Meeting, the Board heard a presentation on student academic growth from Concord Assistant Principal Katie Doyle, and they set the fees for the 2024-25 school year. Please review the Board Briefs for more information on these items as well as any other things discussed and acted on during this meeting.
Join us for McTeacher Night on March 20
Mark your calendars for McTeacher Night at McDonald’s in Darien on Wednesday, March 20. Teachers and staff will be there selling apple pies and 20 percent of the proceeds go to CARE. We hope to see everyone there!
The 5Essentials Parent Survey is now open. Administered by the University of Chicago on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, this survey generates data that districts can use to guide continuous efforts to improve our schools and inform our parents and school community about our learning environment. The link to the survey was provided via email to parents and closes March 29.
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day at Argonne
Amanda Chen, Shashi Murphy, Phuong Vu, Madison Hetue and Sara Delrugio were selected to attend Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day at Argonne on February 15. It is an honor for our students to be accepted to participate in this amazing opportunity.
SDEAA Conference Chess Meet
Cass Junior High recently hosted the SDEAA Conference Chess meet. Cass students took 5th place in the tournament and did a great job as conference hosts.
PreKindergarten Screening March 15
Cass School District 63 is holding a prekindergarten screening on March 15 for children who live in our district and are 3-5 years old. Your child must be preregistered to participate. Please see under the link for information and how to register.
Kids Heart Challenge at ConcordThe 15th Annual Kids Heart Challenge is kicking off at Concord Elementary through February 29. For information on how to register please go to Concord Kids Heart Challenge 2024.
Valentine's Day for SeniorsCass Junior High students participated in the Valentine’s Day for Senior’s hosted by State Representative Nicole LaHa. Students spent a recent team building day creating and sending valentines to seniors living in assisting living and long-term care facilities in the area.
Concord Friendship Parties
Concord Elementary students celebrated Valentine’s Day on February 16 with friendship parties. Please enjoy these pictures from a fun day!
In Memory of Ryan Mott
As you may have heard, the Hinsdale South community suffered a great loss last week when teacher Ryan Mott unexpectedly passed away after a medical emergency that occurred just before school began. Our thoughts are with his family, his students, and the entire school community as they navigate through this tragic loss.
Alumni Accolades
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Congratulations to Hinsdale South Student Kelsey Pettry who is the Girls Bowling State Champion in the Wheelchair Division!
Congratulations to Hinsdale South student Lukas Simkus for qualifying for state, swimming the 200 free.
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Indian Prairie Public Library March Events
Scout Troop #10 Pancake Breakfast
Hinsdale Water Polo Club Registration
Glenbard Parent Series presents: Listening Behind the Behaviors of Kids
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
March 1, 2024
No School – Staff Institute DayMarch 22, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.March 25 - April 1, 2024
No School – Spring Break -
Cass63 Connections - February 15, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Each year, Cass School District 63 participates in the 5Essentials Parent Survey. Administered by the University of Chicago on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, this survey goes to parents, staff, and our students in grades 4 through 8. Assuming we get a decent response, we can then use this data in our ongoing efforts to grow and improve as a school district.
Please consider participating in the survey, which closes on March 29. The link was provided via email to parents. As always, please reach out if you have any questions. Thank you!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Concord students celebrating the 100th day of school.
Early Release February 16, No School February 19
This is a reminder that Friday, February 16 is an early release day. Concord will be released at 11:15 a.m. and Cass will be released at 12:00 p.m. Please also note that there is no school on Monday, February 19 in honor of Presidents’ Day.
Important! Kindergarten Round Up February 21
If you or someone you know has a child who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2024 and lives in Cass School District 63, it is time to register for kindergarten. Please contact Amy Perez at either aperez@cassd63.org or at 331-481-4000 and she will send the information needed to get started on the Fall 2024 registration process. Kindergarten round up will be held on Wednesday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m. at Concord.
The 5Essentials Parent Survey is now open. Administered by the University of Chicago on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, this survey generates data that districts can use to guide continuous efforts to improve our schools and inform our parents and school community about our learning environment. The link to the survey was provided via email to parents and closes March 29.
An Important Message for Concord Parents
Beginning next week, we will commence with our legally mandated, age-appropriate child sexual abuse awareness and prevention education program for our students in grades kindergarten through 4 at Concord. Erin’s Law will be taught during Skills for Learning lessons in the last week of February and the first week of March. Here is additional information and links regarding Erin’s Law and sexual abuse prevention.
If you have questions about this program, please contact school counselor Helen Park at hpark@cassd63.org. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please place your request in writing to Dr. Laura Anderson at landerson@cassd63.org.
An Important Message for 5th and 6th Grade Parents
As part of our Health Growth and Development curriculum in 5th and 6th grades, presenters from Candor Health (Formerly Robert Crown) will be joining us on Friday, February 16. This includes the 5th grade Puberty I presentation. Program topics include: eight physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty, including changes to the reproductive system, male and female anatomy, and harassment and sexual harassment are introduced and defined using age appropriate scenarios.
6th grade will receive Human Reproduction and Embryology Presentation. Program topics include: a review of the physical and emotional changes that happen during puberty, female and male reproductive systems, the menstrual cycle of the female reproductive system, erection and ejaculation of the male reproductive system, embryology and the process of labor.
Here is a letter from Cass Junior High School health teacher A.J. Petigo, which includes links to all class standards and objectives from the Candor Health website. Also, please be advised that if you would not like your child to participate in the program, s/he will not be required to do so if the parents submits a written request to Principal Christine Marcinkewicz at cmarcinkewicz@cassd63.org. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Sticky Fingers Cooking Registration Opens
If your Kindergarten through 2nd grade child is interested in cooking, Sticky Fingers offers a great opportunity for them to learn more about it. Classes will be held right after school at Concord Elementary. Please see this flyer for more information and how to register. Classes fill up fast so please be sure to sign up quickly if you are interested.
Scholastic Bowl Season Starts February 20
The Cass Junior High Scholastic Bowl season is about to begin! If your 5th through 8th grade child is interested in joining, please encourage him or her to come to the first practices to see what the sport and team are all about. More information for the students will be broadcast in morning announcements.
Practices will be held Mondays through Thursdays, from 3:30 until 5:00, starting Tuesday, February 20. The meets start March 5 and can run as late as 5:30. The season ends April 16. We won the tournament last year, so it should be another great season!
Kids Heart Challenge at Concord
The 15th Annual Kids Heart Challenge is kicking off at Concord Elementary through February 29. For information on how to register please go to Concord Kids Heart Challenge 2024.
8th Grade Picture Retakes February 21If your 8th grader was absent on the original 8th grade picture day or if your student will be retaking their pictures, please make sure they come to school dressed and ready for the camera. If this is a retake, please return the original portrait packet to the photographer the day of the retakes. Please contact the Cass Junior High office with any questions.
Concord Yearbooks on Sale through February 22If you have not already done so, now is your chance to place your order for a Concord Elementary yearbook. Please print and complete this form and return it to school with your payment no later than February 22, 2024.
Concord Staff Taking Plunge for Special Olympics
On March 16, Concord team members Bryann Poskonka, Katie Summers, Kerri Soriano and Katy Modglin, Mitchell Schwarzkopf, and Katie Paljetak will be participating in the Chicago Polar Plunge supporting the Special Olympics. Please visit the Concord team fundraising page for and help them raise money for this great cause!
Symphonic and Concert Band Solo & Ensemble Nights
On February 8, Cass Junior High Symphonic Band and Concert Band held their Solo & Ensemble Nights. These talented musicians, led by band teacher Daniel Murphy, showcased their impressive talents both individually and in small groups. Please enjoy these pictures from a wonderful evening.
Kindergarten Learns About the Dentist
Our kindergarten students are smiling a bit more brightly after enjoying the Delta Dental Land of Smiles assembly where “Captain Super Grin” taught our students the importance of developing strong dental health habits!
8th Grade Science Learns About Compounds
Did you know that a flame test can determine the types of metals present in various compounds? Our 8th graders, including Sofia V., in Mrs. Paszkowski’s class, learned about the flame test, and then completed a hands-on activity using the bunsen burners to put the theory into practice this week.
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Scouts Troop 10 Recruiting Information
Glenbard Parent Series presents:
Motivating the Next Generation to Lead Boldly and Achieve Their Dreams
Parenting Your Young Child through Misbehavior, Meltdowns and Tantrums
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
February 16, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.February 19, 2024
No School – Presidents' DayMarch 1, 2024
No School – Staff Institute DayMarch 22, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.March 25 - April 1, 2024
No School – Spring Break -
Cass63 Connections - February 8, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
If you have not yet completed the school lunch survey, please click on the link in the article below. While any school lunch program has some natural limitations, we want to make sure we are able to offer the best quality lunches that we can for the price and that are in compliance with the national school lunch program. We truly appreciate your feedback and the deadline for responding is February 9.
Last week I shared the sad news that our bus driver Suzi Kopriva has passed away. Information about the arrangements are provided below. Ms. Suzi was a great human being and she is truly missed.
Thank you to CARE and our awesome parent organizers for putting on a successful Trivia Night last Friday! Over $16,000 was raised and it sounds like everyone had a wonderful time.
Other important information follows this week, including details on our puberty and related instruction at Cass Junior High, sexual abuse and prevention programs at Concord Elementary, along with kindergarten registration and preschool screenings. As always, please let us know if you have any questions!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
Cass 63 staff members (and Travis Kelce) ready for Trivia Night!
Parent School Lunch Survey Deadline February 9
If you have not already participated, we would appreciate your response to our Parent School Lunch Survey that will help inform decisions we are making about our K-8 hot lunch program in Cass School District 63. If you have children at both Concord and Cass, you are welcome to submit up to one survey response for each school. You are also welcome to take the survey if your child does not participate in the lunch program since your responses may help explain why. All survey responses are confidential, and we appreciate you taking the time to respond. The survey will close at the end of the day on Friday, February 9. Thank you!
Celebration of Life for Ms. Suzi
The Celebration of Life for Cass School District 63 bus driver Suzi Kopriva will be held on Saturday, February 24, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Lemont VFW, 15780 New Avenue, Lemont. Ms. Suzi passed away on January 25 after a long battle with cancer. Here is the obituary and here is the American Cancer Society donation portal for anyone who would like to contribute in her honor. Suzi was always kind, positive, and never quit doing what she loved doing here with our kids. Suzi will be missed by all of us who knew her.
Welcome New Bus 5 and 6 Drivers
Starting February 12, we have two new bus drivers through our transportation partner Sunrise. Sam will replace Krystal on Bus 5 and has already been on the route and training with her. Krystal left to take another position. William will be the new Bus 6 driver, replacing our own Keith Monaco who has been faithfully driving this route for us since adding it at the beginning of the school year. Keith will ride along with William until he is established with the route.
Important! Kindergarten Round Up February 21
If you or someone you know has a child who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2024 and lives in Cass School District 63, it is time to register for kindergarten. Please contact Amy Perez at either aperez@cassd63.org or at 331-481-4000 and she will send the information needed to get started on the Fall 2024 registration process. Kindergarten round up will be held on Wednesday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m. at Concord.
An Important Message for 5th and 6th Grade Parents
As part of our Health Growth and Development curriculum in 5th and 6th grades, presenters from Candor Health (Formerly Robert Crown) will be joining us on Friday, February 16. This includes the 5th grade Puberty I presentation. Program topics include: eight physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty, including changes to the reproductive system, male and female anatomy, and harassment and sexual harassment are introduced and defined using age appropriate scenarios.
6th grade will receive Human Reproduction and Embryology Presentation. Program topics include: a review of the physical and emotional changes that happen during puberty, female and male reproductive systems, the menstrual cycle of the female reproductive system, erection and ejaculation of the male reproductive system, embryology and the process of labor.
Here is a letter from Cass Junior High School health teacher A.J. Petigo, which includes links to all class standards and objectives from the Candor Health website. Also, please be advised that if you would not like your child to participate in the program, s/he will not be required to do so if the parents submits a written request to Principal Christine Marcinkewicz at cmarcinkewicz@cassd63.org. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
It is estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the time they turn eighteen years old. It is also estimated that around 90 percent of the abusers are people the child knows. In response to these startling statistics, and the hard work of Erin Merryn, who took a personal tragedy and created a positive change across America, Erin’s Law has been widely implemented across the country.
We will commence with our legally mandated, age-appropriate child sexual abuse awareness and prevention education program for our students at Concord. Erin’s Law will be taught during Skills for Learning lessons in the last week of February and the first week of March. Here is additional information and links regarding Erin’s Law and sexual abuse prevention.
If you have questions about this program, please contact school counselor Helen Park at hpark@cassd63.org. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please place your request in writing to Dr. Laura Anderson at landerson@cassd63.org.
The fifteenth annual Kids Heart Challenge is kicking off at Concord Elementary now through February 29. For information on how to register please go to Concord Kids Heart Challenge 2024.
8th Grade Picture Retakes February 21If your 8th grader was absent on the original 8th grade picture day or if your student will be retaking their pictures, please make sure they come to school dressed and ready for the camera. If this is a retake, please return the original portrait packet to the photographer the day of the retakes. Please contact the Cass Junior High office with any questions.
Prekindergarten Screening March 15
Cass School District 63 is holding a prekindergarten screening on March 15 for children who live in our district and are 3-5 years old. Your child must be preregistered to participate. Please see under the link for information and how to register.
Concord Yearbook on Sale through February 22
If you have not already done so, now is your chance to place your order for a Concord Elementary yearbook. Please print and complete this form and return it to school with your payment no later than February 22, 2024.
100th Day of School
Concord Elementary and some of our Cass students celebrated the 100th day of school last week with a variety of academic and fun activities that incorporated the number 100. Please enjoy these pictures from an eventful day.
Alumni Accolades
Congratulations to Hinsdale South student Annina Garro on qualifying for the speech sectionals in humorous interpretation.
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
Glenbard Parent Series presents:
Happiness in All Areas of Life: Enhancing Your Potential for JoyImportant Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
February 16, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.February 19, 2024
No School – Presidents' DayMarch 1, 2024
No School – Staff Institute Day -
Cass63 Connections - February 1, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Last week, we got the sad news that our bus driver Suzi Kopriva passed away. Suzi had been battling cancer for several years and while we knew this day would come, it sadly came much sooner than any of us expected. Due to her health condition, it’s been awhile since Suzi drove a regular route, but she filled in faithfully since that time and I wanted to share this with all of you. There is a message remembering Suzi below, and we will share more once we know about any arrangements.
On a much happier note, Kindergarten Roundup is February 21, and we need your help in finding all of our kindergartners for next year! Besides your own households, if you have friends, family, neighbors, or business associates who live in D63 and have children turning five years of age, please pass along the kindergarten registration article below, which is also on our homepage and Cass 63 Facebook page.
Parents, we are asking for your input on our lunch program. More information and a link to the survey is provided below. Whether your child eats school lunches or not, your opinion still matters if you are interested. Your feedback will help shape some of our decision-making and direction. The survey will close on Friday, February 9.
Last but not least, we have so much to celebrate with our students! Over this last week alone, our 2nd graders put on a Broadway worthy performance of epic Disney songs and scenes, our junior high spelling bee kids worked through dozens of rounds over several hours to eventually crown 5th grader Dhruv Rao our champion, Coach Landon Mitchell and the varsity boys basketball team finished the season strong, and so much more. See the details below!
I am so proud of our kids and their accomplishments, and love our teachers and staff who help them get there. We have so much to celebrate in Cass 63!
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
The Seven Dwarfs performing in the recent 2nd grade music performance.
Remembering Bus Driver Suzi Kopriva
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Suzi Kopriva, one of our awesome bus drivers since 2015, has passed away. Those of you who knew Suzi understand that she was always kind, always positive, and yet also the ultimate fighter.
Suzi has been battling cancer for a long time, but she never quit that fight, nor did she ever quit doing what she loved doing here with our kids. Proof of that is Suzi drove her final route the day before she passed, filling in faithfully as a sub driver as she has over the last year or so when she had to miss more work with her illness.
Despite these personal challenges, she never complained, always showed gratitude, and just wanted to come to work, see her kids, and drive them to and from school. Suzi Kopriva will be missed by all who knew her. Arrangements will be shared with our school community once they are finalized.
Parent School Lunch Survey Deadline February 9
We would appreciate your response to our Parent School Lunch Survey that will help inform decisions we are making about our K-8 hot lunch program in Cass School District 63. If you have children at both Concord and Cass, you are welcome to submit up to one survey response for each school. You are also welcome to take the survey if your child does not participate in the lunch program since your responses may help explain why. All survey responses are confidential, and we appreciate you taking the time to respond. The survey will close at the end of the day on Friday, February 9. Thank you!
Important! Kindergarten Round Up February 21
If you or someone you know has a child who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2024 and lives in Cass School District 63, it is time to register for kindergarten. Please contact Amy Perez at either aperez@cassd63.org or at 331-481-4000 and she will send the information needed to get started on the Fall 2024 registration process. Kindergarten round up will be held on Wednesday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m. at Concord.
5th Grader Dhruv Rao Wins Junior High Spelling Bee
Winner Dhruv Rao Mady Thomas, AJ Akin-Akintayo, Dhruv Rao, Maddie White, Floriano Garro
Congratulations to the 2024 Cass Junior High Spelling Bee winner, 5th grader Dhruv Rao! Dhruv will represent Cass Junior High in the DuPage County Spelling Bee scheduled for February 21 at the College of DuPage. Please wish him luck as he moves to the countywide bee! Placing as runner-up was 8th grader Floriano Garro, who won last year’s Spelling Bee.
With 42 students participating this year, our students in grades 5-8 showed exceptional spelling skills and talent in a 28-round,3 1/2 hour spelling competition! Congratulations to the following students who all competed at an extremely high level at this year’s Spelling Bee.
5th Grade – Zach Adams, David Anastasovski, Nina Calo, Connor Jackson, Aubrey Lyall, Nikolay Minchev, Aziz Mitha, Maya Muslmani, Rayan Najjar, Sulily Pacheco, Aroush Qureshi, Dhruv Rao, Sai Sundaram, Ana Vujovic
6th Grade – AJ Akin-Akintayo, Manoela Bosiljanova, Dexter Davis, Daniella Kmit, Mayar Rawda, Zain Suleiman, Matteo Vitagliano
7th Grade – Ethan Alavi, Aariz Amin, Ethan Cius, Skylar Herbert, Giada Hipskind, Teagan McClellan-Trujillo, Kaleia Pang, Ibrahim Shah, Celina Tai, Yusuf Truttling, Reagan Wirth
8th Grade – Amanda Chen, Floriano Garro, Jude Kennish, Sana Kubaisi, Lauren Menako, Veronika Nikolovski, Pavle Pavlovic, Alixandra Smith, Mady Thomas, Maddie White
Boys Basketball Season Comes to an End
The Cass Junior High boys basketball season came to an end last week after an incredible run in the SDEAA Conference tournament. The Warriors started the year off looking to harness the individual talent each player possessed, and the team started to click and got stronger throughout the month of January.
The boys ended the regular season with a record of 6 wins and 4 losses. The cohesion and growth of the team showed with the boys winning the last 3 games in a row to finish in 5th place. The boys played their hearts out. Congratulations to coaches Landon Mitchell and Tim Stangarone and their teams on a great season! Go Warriors!
Daycare Needed for Preschool Students
Are you an in home daycare provider, or do you know a good one? Our preschool staff is looking to connect some of our parents who need child care for part of the day when their kids are in our half day program. If you or someone you know is taking new kids, please email Prekindergarten Parent Coordinator Pam Worth at pworth@cassd63.org.
PreKindergarten Screening March 15
Cass School District 63 is holding a prekindergarten screening on March 15 for children who live in our district and are 3-5 years old. Your child must be preregistered to participate. Please see under the link for information and how to register.
An Important Message for 5th and 6th Grade Parents
As part of our Health Growth and Development curriculum in 5th and 6th grades, presenters from Candor Health (Formerly Robert Crown) will be joining us on Friday, February 16. This includes the 5th grade Puberty I presentation. Program topics include: eight physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty, including changes to the reproductive system, male and female anatomy, and harassment and sexual harassment are introduced and defined using age appropriate scenarios.
6th grade will receive Human Reproduction and Embryology Presentation. Program topics include: a review of the physical and emotional changes that happen during puberty, female and male reproductive systems, the menstrual cycle of the female reproductive system, erection and ejaculation of the male reproductive system, embryology and the process of labor.
Here is a letter from Cass Junior High School health teacher A.J. Petigo, which includes links to all class standards and objectives from the Candor Health website. Also, please be advised that if you would not like your child to participate in the program, s/he will not be required to do so if the parents submits a written request to Principal Christine Marcinkewicz at cmarcinkewicz@cassd63.org. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
2nd Grade Music Program
The 2nd grade students performed in their Disney-themed music program on January 25. Thank you to music teacher Angela Zurawski for creating and leading such an entertaining performance, and for all of the teachers and staff who contributed to this performance. Please enjoy these pictures from a great evening.
Team Building at Cass Junior High
Our 6th grader students had an amazing time designing domino chain reactions during their teambuilding time on January 26. Their creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills were on full display throughout the morning. Great work, 6th grade Warriors!
MAP Students Design Board GamesAfter working for many weeks designing their game boards named for the Egyptian deity Thoth, our 5th grade MAP students were able to play each other's games today. The students discovered that creating a game board is not a simple task; the creativity, strategy, clarity of directions, and cooperative nature of the activity provided an exciting yet challenging learning experience.
Registration Required! Family Bingo Night February 23
CARE is hosting a BINGO night at Concord Elementary on February 23. Don’t miss out on this fun family event! Space is limited so be sure to register your family soon.
We partner with Aramark to provide our school lunches. Lunches are $3.60 and milk is $0.75, and here are the menus and more details.
Following are resources and opportunities outside of the district that are available to our parents and families in or around our school community. Please be aware that the District does not endorse any outside organizations or activities, but is sharing this information as a courtesy to interested families.
American Youth Symphony Orchestra Auditions
Important Dates to Remember
For many more dates or to sync your calendar with ours, please visit the Cass 63 Calendar page.
February 16, 2024
Early Release Day – Concord at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.February 19, 2024
No School – Presidents Day -
Cass63 Connections - January 25, 2024
Dear Cass School District 63 Parents,
Some serious issues with social media (Snapchat, in this case) came to light this week. Unfortunately, the effect was a disruption at school, despite the fact that the social media interactions were outside of school, as they almost always are. This led to serious consequences for some, and a message from Mrs. Marcinkewicz to all parents for an entire grade level. For the benefit of all, I am going share part of our junior high principal’s wise words from her communication yesterday afternoon:
Please consider looking at your child’s device and reviewing his or her social media accounts carefully. As a parent myself, I found some of the conversations on this Snapchat very concerning. It is essential that we, as parents and school, take this opportunity to engage in candid conversations with our children about the responsible use of social media. These types of mistakes not only affect reputations, but also violate school rules and may lead to consequences with significant implications.
We are committed to partnering with you in preparing your children for a healthy transition into adulthood, without the burden of life-altering mistakes that can have lasting effects. I want to commend those individuals who brought this issue to my attention. These conversations are never easy, but early intervention is critical.
Both as a principal and a mother to teenagers, Mrs. Marcinkewicz is spot on. But as I have shared many times, this is a critical parent responsibility. Think about these words… ”without the burden of life-altering mistakes that can have lasting effects.” This is powerful and so very true. Situations like this, along with much research similar to what I have previously shared, reiterates my opinion that children younger than high school age should not have any access to social media.
That decision is up to you, and we respect the decisions you need to make as parents. With that said, just be prepared to talk openly with your child, carefully monitor what is going on, and accept the responsibility that comes with it. We are always here if you need us, and thank you for your attention to keeping our kids safe.
Mark R. Cross, Superintendent
The Cass Jazz Band performing for Concord students.
This is a reminder that there is an early release day on Friday, January 26. Concord will be released at 11:15 a.m. and Cass at 12:00 p.m.
The 2024-25 calendar has been approved and released, with a later start to the school year in August. If all goes as planned with the geothermal HVAC project and other facility improvements this summer, Parent-Student Orientation will take place on Tuesday, August 27, and the first day for K-8 students will be Thursday, August 29. Given the size and scope of the project, the start of the school year could be moved later but this is the plan! Any changes would be announced this summer.
It is estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the time they turn eighteen years old. It is also estimated that around 90 percent of the abusers are people the child knows. In response to these startling statistics, and the hard work of Erin Merryn, who took a personal tragedy and created a positive change across America, Erin’s Law has been widely implemented across the country, including Illinois.
Beginning next week, we will commence with our legally mandated, age-appropriate child sexual abuse awareness and prevention education program for our students at Concord. Erin’s Law will be taught during Skills for Learning lessons in the last week of February and the first week of March. Here is additional information and links regarding Erin’s Law and sexual abuse prevention.
If you have questions about this program, please contact school counselor Helen Park at hpark@cassd63.org. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please place your request in writing to Dr. Laura Anderson at landerson@cassd63.org.
Spread the Word on Kindergarten Registration!
If you have a child, or know someone who has a child, who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2024 and lives in Cass School District 63, it is time to register for kindergarten. Please contact Amy Perez at Concord Elementary School at either aperez@cassd63.org or at 331-481-4000 and she will send information and paperwork to any eligible families to help get started on the Fall 2024 registration process.
Kindergarten round up will be held on Wednesday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m. at Concord, so please help us round up our future kindergarteners!
At the January 23 meeting, the Board of Education reviewed progress on the Vision 2025 Strategic Plan, highlighting various areas of improvement and plans to keep moving the district forward toward our goals. The plan includes three pillars and 21 indicators of success to provide an overview of progress made since the last update in June 2023. For more information on what was discussed and acted on at the meeting, please review the Board Briefs.
Cass Band and Chorus Visit Concord
The Cass Junior High Band and Chorus visited Concord Elementary on January 19. Cass students enjoyed performing at their old school and Concord students loved the music and enjoyed learning about what they look forward to at Cass.
Fifth Grade Competes in the Spelling Bee