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KSD140 Connection
September 2023
Stay Connected!
It’s hard to believe that a month of school has come and gone already! It’s been great to see teachers and students back in action. The buildings are full of energy, and our students are ready and eager to learn. Thank you for your partnership as we strive to create positive and productive relationships with our students and their families.
We are committed to celebrating and informing our school communities about the engaged learning and student-centered activities happening throughout the District.
ParentSquare
KSD 140 uses ParentSquare for all school communication, primarily with email, text, and app notifications.
ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each parent, using their preferred email address and phone number. We encourage parents to access their accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences on when and how they are notified.
Please visit ParentSquare.com to register or download the app today.
Website and Social Media
Please visit our website or follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest from KSD 140!
Website: ksd140.org
Facebook: @ksd140
Twitter: @KirbySD140
Instagram: @kirbysd140
National Walk & Roll to School Day - Wednesday, October 4
Gather your family, put on your walking shoes or biking gear, and celebrate National Walk & Roll to School Day with us on Wednesday, October 4, 2023!
D140 families are encouraged to walk or bike to school together using our Safe Route to School guides linked below.
- Bannes Elementary
- Fernway Elementary
- Keller Elementary
- McAuliffe Elementary
- Millennium Elementary
- Grissom Middle School
- Prairie View Middle School
Our hope is that by encouraging participation in this event, more students will choose to walk or bike to school on a regular basis.
For pedestrian and bike safety information, please check out these tips from the Tinley Park Police Department.
D140 Launches Writer’s Workshop Initiative
Curriculum Facilitators Megan Klozik and Kerry Shilkaitis presented information on D140’s new writing initiative at the September Board of Education meeting.
This year, teachers and District facilitators will work as a team to implement and support writing workshops for Kindergarten and fifth-grade students. The goal of the program is to build a community of motivated writers by boosting students’ communication skills, critical thinking, creativity, confidence, social-emotional learning, and academic growth. The District will implement year-long writing workshops with select grade levels each year through 2027 until all grades have implemented the program.
“This will be a flexible process,” stated Shilkaitis. “Our hope is that with feedback from participating teachers and evidence of student growth, we will be able to adapt it as needed in the upcoming years.”
“Writing is an essential life skill,” Klozik added. “No matter what path a student chooses in life, it’s really important for them to be able to write in a way that others can easily understand.”
D140 Middle School Sports
Fall sports are wrapping up at Grissom and Prairie View, and winter sports are right around the corner! Come out and support our student-athletes at one of their next competitions. #KirbyONE40
Fire Department Gives Fire Safety Tips to D140 Students
As part of their National Fire Prevention Week campaign, our local fire departments visit KSD 140 elementary schools in September and October to educate our students about all aspects of fire safety and prevention. This year's theme is "Cooking Safety Starts with You." The campaign educates everyone about simple yet important actions to keep themselves and those around them safe from home fires. The ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning.
Upcoming Events and Activities
- Thursday, September 28 - Special Olympics Parent Meeting - 6 pm at Prairie View Middle School
- Wednesday, October 4 - Walk & Roll to School Day
- Monday, October 9 - Columbus Day - No School
- Wednesday, October 11 - D140 Jazz Band performs at North & Maple located at 18401 N. Creek Dr., Tinley Park, IL @ 6:30 pm
- Wednesday, October 18 - Unity Day - Students and staff are encouraged to wear orange on Unity Day to show they care about safe and supportive schools and communities.
- Wednesday, October 18 - Cadet Band Fall Concert - 7:30 pm at Grissom
- Thursday, October 19 - Board of Education Meeting @ 7 pm in the Administration Center located at - 16931 Grissom Drive, Tinley Park
- Monday, October 23 - Friday, October 27 - Red Ribbon Week
- Friday, October 27 - Last Day of First Quarter
- Tuesday, October 31 - Half Day - Early Dismissal - Elementary schools will be dismissed at 11:10 am and middle schools will be dismissed at 12 noon.
Kirby School District 140
16931 Grissom Drive, Tinley Park, IL 60477
Phone: 708-532-6462
Website: ksd140.org