London Middle School has, for the fifth time, been designated an “Illinois Horizon School to Watch.” The program, designed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, identifies high-performing middle schools that have proven academic excellence while being developmentally…

During its annual luncheon in late January, the Illinois chapter of the American String Teachers Association named CCSD21 Orchestra Director Heidi Flowers its Outstanding Classroom Teacher for 2023. The award is given to a “teacher in a school orchestra setting…

In partnership with the Villages of Buffalo Grove and Wheeling, school resource officers (SROs) will support Community Consolidated School District 21 (CCSD21) schools, beginning with the 2023-24 school year. Two Wheeling police officers will serve as SROs for CCSD21 with…

SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE Dear CCSD21 Parents and Community Members, Respectfully, Dr. Michael Connolly Superintendent of Schools UPCOMING EVENTS MARK YOUR CALENDAR WITH THESE IMPORTANT DATES Monday, March 27, 2023 - Spring Break Begins Monday, April 3, 2023 - Classes Resume Friday, April 7,…

Among the projects in consideration at CCSD21 are “finishing kitchens,” which would allow a foodservice site to receive fresh fresh food from a production kitchen so that it is able to finish the cooking process on site. Currently, the district…

  CCSD21 will soon officially start the rollout procedures for updated, “21st century” furniture in classrooms after the COVID-19 public health emergency shifted the ability to consider it. As defined by Micheal DeBartolo, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, “21st…

CCSD21 ended its fiscal year 2022 with the highest designation from the Illinois State Board of Education for its financial management, as well as a clean audit - that contained a surplus - prepared by consulting firm Baker Tilly. “By…

Following an announcement from the Illinois State Board of Education that certain school districts could apply for grant funds to provide students with high-impact tutoring opportunities, CCSD21 applied for and was awarded $138,444 to provide students with additional support and…

Two educators in CCSD21 were among the Illinois State Board of Education’s 2023 recipients for the Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year program. Lisa Warner, literacy instructional coach at Tarkington Elementary School, and Cecilia Franco, instructional specialist for…

One component of measuring school improvement in the State of Illinois is a comprehensive survey of staff members, parents, and 4th through 12th-grade students. This survey, the 5Essentials Survey, is produced by the University of Chicago and is used throughout…

Almost 40 local and state government officials descended upon the CCSD21 Community Service Center and Administrative Office on Saturday, Feb. 11, to learn about district initiatives from Superintendent Michael Connolly and other members of the administration. The roughly one-hour breakfast…

Despite the snowfall, all CCSD 21 after school activities remain as scheduled today, Thursday, February 16, 2023.

Sarah Mendoza gets to experience a glimpse into the life of her students that most teachers don’t see. She delights in being part of the connections that her students make at school. Sarah is a special education teacher in the…

Kassidy Lindholm loves to travel. In fact, she lived in Ecuador for two years after college. “I love to go to places that are very different from mine to see beyond my own life. It helps me understand others better,”…

As a young girl living in Peru, Gladys Erdmannsdorfer’s mother took godchildren into her home who were in need, helping them with groceries, babysitting, transporting their children to school, or whatever else she could do to assist. Gladys never forgot…

Kilmer teacher Katie Gore learned a lot from her parents. “My dad worked in sales but didn’t really care for his job. It was a way to make a living and support the family,” Katie says. “My mom was a…

A challenging math class in 6th grade and a teacher who spent the time working with Emily Ford sent her on a path to become a teacher. As with many who go into education as a profession, it takes a…

You’d be surprised to know that Octavio Alvarado, head custodian at Tarkington Elementary School, is afraid of heights… as he has to climb ladders, paint classrooms and ascend to the roof of the school to fix, clean and maintain the…

 As an Italian woman who loves to cook, one of Meagan Novara’s favorite things to do is have a big, crowded house with lots of people eating good food. Large gatherings are not a problem for Meagan as she is…

District 21’s physical therapist Mallory Rossi talks fast, walks fast and moves fast. She also has a “no excuses” attitude. So when she tore her ACL as a junior basketball player at St. Viator H.S. and spent nine months in…

 There’s a serene, Zen-like quality to Steve Hamann. When you meet him, he’s relaxed – his clothes, his hair, his manner. Even his classroom is calming. He plays soft music and sometimes dims the lights for a tranquil atmosphere. “I…

Friends and family members of Bari Bagby would say she is full of adventure. She has traveled the world, documenting her experiences with photos, itineraries, journals, lists of things to see and even better places to eat. She loves to…

As an alumnus of Longfellow and Cooper, it’s no surprise that Sam Fabrikant is back in the district, this time working as a teacher. “It’s home,” Sam says. “It’s where I had a fantastic experience on every level and I…

  You might be surprised to learn that about 50% of Community Consolidated School District 21 (CCSD21) students are considered “ELs” or English Language Learners, meaning students’ main language spoken at home is something other than English. Ania Figueroa is…

CCSD21 alumnus Noah Festenstein embraces life. Always has. “I like to take in new experiences, explore and embrace moments,” said Festenstein. As a child at Riley Elementary School, he participated in the homework club, which helped him do well in…