KSD111 Monthly Newsletter
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Dear Families,
Three weeks into the new school year and it has been an absolute delight to see our once quiet hallways and empty buses filled with vibrant student energy. Although some of our students may have wished for just a few more days of summer, we were all very excited for their return. In this month’s edition of our district-wide newsletter, I will address three things: new administration, proposed boundary and school configuration changes, and new after school programs as our entire staff and I work intentionally and with a shared commitment to become a Destination District.
First, a number of our campuses welcomed new leadership. Taft Primary School, for welcomed Principal Abe Mobley alongside Assistant Principal Britini Servant-Broughton. Additionally, Carl Scott joined our high school as an assistant principal, while Dr. Wilsando Seegars and Ms. Tracey Carter stepped into assistant principal roles at Kennedy and LCC Montessori, respectively. We also welcomed a new Director of Special Education, Ms. Katie Stachura. Ms. Stachura is already working with our People Services Department to secure additional special education staffing while creating robust systems for student learning and support services.
Second, at the end of last school year, we engaged in a partnership with MGT, a consulting group that reviewed and provided an analysis of our school facilities’ capacities. The key finding from MGT's presentation was a clear indication that, due to the trend of declining student enrollment, many of our facilities are currently underutilized. In response to those findings, we formed a steering committee focused on restructuring our K-8 programming and school configurations. Early in my tenure, the Superintendent’s Transition Advisory Committee recommended minimizing school-to-school moves; by rethinking our school configurations, we aim to decrease student transitions between kindergarten and sixth grade while optimizing the use of our facilities.
We are now at the phase where we would like to share our recommendations with all staff and the broader community to solicit input before presenting our final recommendation to the Board of Education. If you are interested in learning more about our proposed recommendations, I encourage you to join us at LCC Montessori Auditorium, 240 Warren Avenue, on September 22nd from 5:30pm-7:00pm.
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Third, plans are currently being finalized to provide after-school programs across all of our school campuses this year starting in early October. Through our collaborations with Scouting of America and the Kankakee Valley Park District, along with innovative proposals submitted by our own school staff, we are committed to offering our students robust academic support and engaging enrichment opportunities directly at each of their schools. Please be on the lookout for more information directly through Parent Square in the next couple of weeks.
Finally, thank you for your continued support as we strive to create a meaningful school year as evidenced by increased academic progress, deep school and district pride, and the promise that every student is known by name, safe, challenged, supported, and prepared for the future of their choice.
Remember, Hope Starts Here, but More Importantly Hope Starts with You!
Educationally Yours,
Dr. Teresa A. Lance
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Welcome back! We count it a privilege to transport the students of Kankakee School District and are excited about the new school year. Please slow down in School Zones and stop at all buses with flashing red lights. Our students are counting on you to follow the traffic rules as they board on and off the buses.
As always, please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns about your child's transportation at 815-802-4200.
A few things to keep in mind:
- If you need to change anything concerning your child’s transportation (home address, pick up address, drop off address), please reach out to your students building.
- My Ride is the best way to see your students' bus route information. Please register or login with the following link.
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Menus will be updated each month, so families can check the Food Services webpage regularly for the latest breakfast and lunch options.
Remember, every student receives a free breakfast and a free lunch each school day. All of our meals meet USDA requirements for an approved school meal, and K–8 students can choose from at least three entrée options each day at lunch.
At Kankakee High School, we look forward to opening another food station this year, giving students even more choices at lunchtime. We’re also planning several special lunchroom giveaways throughout the school year to add a little extra fun to the cafeteria experience.
Most importantly, we want to hear from our students. This year, we look forward to meeting with student food action committees to listen to their ideas, learn what they enjoy, and better understand how we can serve them in the cafeteria.
We’re also proud to serve local products whenever possible, including Prairie Farms dairy products made with Illinois milk and products from USDA-approved local farms.
Our Food Services team looks forward to welcoming students in the cafeteria each day and serving meals that help fuel them for learning, connection, and success.
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Is It a Cold or Seasonal Allergies?
A Parent Guide for School-Age Children
As the school year gets underway, children may experience runny noses, sneezing, coughing, and congestion. But how can you tell if your child has a cold or seasonal allergies? Knowing the difference can help families determine how to support their child and when to contact a healthcare provider.
Colds
A cold is caused by a virus and is contagious. Symptoms typically last 3–14 days and may include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Body aches
- Tiredness or feeling generally unwell
- Sometimes a fever
- Mucus that may become thicker and range from clear to light yellow
Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies are triggered by airborne allergens, such as pollen, and are not contagious. Symptoms may last three weeks or longer, especially during allergy season.
Common allergy symptoms include:
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Frequent sneezing
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Clear, thin mucus
Fever, body aches, and sore throat are not typical symptoms of seasonal allergies.
Help Keep Your Child Healthy at School
Good hand hygiene is one of the easiest ways to help prevent the spread of illness.
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Scrub the backs of hands, between fingers, and under fingernails.
- Rinse and dry hands with a clean towel.
- When soap and water are unavailable, use hand sanitizer and rub hands thoroughly until completely dry.
- Remind children to cover coughs and sneezes and avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.
When in Doubt, Check It Out
If your child’s symptoms are severe, persistent, worsening, or interfering with school or daily activities, contact your child’s healthcare provider for guidance.
Kankakee School District Health Clinics
If your Kankakee School District student needs an appointment at one of our school-based health clinics, call 815-802-5730 to schedule an appointment.
Healthy children are ready to learn! Working together, families and schools can help keep students healthy, comfortable, and ready to learn.
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Learning, Growing, and Building Our Classroom Community!
We are off to a wonderful start! As we settle into the school year, our students are getting comfortable with classroom routines and procedures that help make our days run smoothly and create a positive, welcoming environment where everyone can learn and grow.
Students are also taking the STAR Assessment, which gives us valuable information about what they already know and what they are ready to learn next. This assessment is one of many tools we use to understand each student’s learning needs and celebrate their growth throughout the year.
Most importantly, we are beginning to build a classroom culture where students understand that learning is more than simply completing an assignment. We are encouraging them to regularly ask themselves three important questions:
What am I learning?
Why am I learning it?
How do I know I am successful?
These questions help students become more thoughtful and confident learners. They encourage children to understand the purpose behind their learning, recognize what success looks like, and reflect on their own progress.
We are excited to partner with families as we begin this journey together. Thank you for supporting your child, encouraging their curiosity, and helping us make this a successful and joyful school year!
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Athletics Off to a Strong Start!
Kankakee athletics are off to a strong start, with football leading the way! With the IHSA moving competition up one week, our football team hit the road to Edwardsville, Illinois, to take on EHS. The Kays returned home with a win, opening the season 1–0 and earning a current #3 ranking in the state for Class 5A. Between the JV and varsity teams, football has an impressive 57 student-athletes participating this season.
Volleyball also opened the season against a ranked opponent, Providence Catholic. While the result wasn’t what we hoped for, the fight and determination shown by our girls were evident throughout the match. With three teams, volleyball has approximately 45 student-athletes participating this season.
Flag football is growing, too! The program currently has 23 athletes, the highest participation we have seen at Kankakee High School.
Boys soccer is also underway with 37 student-athletes across three teams, giving the program a strong and fully stocked three-level structure.
As we head into September, competition will continue to pick up, and we look forward to seeing our Kays represent Kankakee with pride both on and off the field.
Schedules and rosters are available on our Athletic Website. Come out, cheer on our Kays, and show your support!
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At Taft Primary School, our vision for this school year is simple: we want every child to feel safe, supported, valued, and excited to come to school each day.
Our focus is on building a strong school community where relationships come first and high expectations follow. We are committed to creating welcoming classrooms, strengthening student attendance, supporting high-quality instruction, and ensuring that our students have the foundation they need to be successful both academically and socially.
What makes Taft special is our people. Our teachers and staff care deeply about our students, our families are important partners in the work, and our students bring energy, personality, and joy into our building every day. As a leadership team, we are committed to listening, learning, supporting our staff, and continuously improving the systems that serve our children.
We know that great schools are built together. We are excited about the work ahead and look forward to celebrating the growth, accomplishments, and special moments that will make this a great year at Taft.
At Taft, every child matters, every day matters, and together, we are building something special.
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Kankakee School District 111, in partnership with MGT, is reviewing school boundaries to help balance enrollment, make the best use of our school buildings,
and support our students and neighborhoods.
We invite families, staff, and community members to join us for an upcoming Community Engagement Meeting to learn more about the process, review potential boundary changes, and share your feedback.
Tuesday, September 22
5:30–7:00 PM
Lincoln Cultural Center Auditorium
240 Warren Avenue, Kankakee, IL 60901
Your input is an important part of planning for the future of Kankakee School District 111.
Interpretation will be available, and the meeting will also be livestreamed.
We hope you’ll join us and make your voice heard!
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KSD families and community members are encouraged to attend and stay connected
with the work of Kankakee School District 111.
All meetings begin at 7:00 PM
September 14 — Kankakee Junior High
September 28 — Proegler School
October 13 — Mark Twain Elementary
November 9 — Avis Huff
December 14 — Taft Elementary
We encourage families, staff, and community members to attend Board of Education meetings and
stay informed about our district and schools.
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Parents & Guardians – We encourage you to download the ParentSquare app! This will be our district’s main platform for communication with families and teachers.
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The Kays Mart Food Pantry is open and here for you!
Families across Kankakee County are welcome to stop by and pick up essential food items—completely free of charge.
Open Tuesday–Thursday
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Avis Huff Student Support Services Center
Please use Door 8 (located in the back)
If you or someone you know could use a little extra support, we’re here.
No cost, no judgment—just care for our community.
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