Springfield Public Schools - District 186

Looking for a new opportunity? Come to our Career Fair tomorrow, January 9th! We have two time slots for you to stop by our District office - 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. Join District 186! #LevelUp186 #sps186 #weare186

📣 Springfield Ball Charter School Lottery Applications Now Open! Applications are open now through January 31, 2025. 🔹 The lottery will take place in February, and families of kindergarteners and 6th graders will be notified of acceptance in March 2025. 🔹 Students in grades K-8 not placed through the lottery will be added to our waitlist and notified when a spot becomes available. Apply : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc25Afqry3LSA2WoI7tppBe3DmaMyK5ZzdAco46Nc3XyCqP0g/viewform

PROJECT SCOPE: As you know District 186 regular calendar students do not return to school until Tuesday, January 7 (Balanced Calendar students return January 14th). However, our SCOPE program for SCOPE students will still be in operation as scheduled for Monday, January 6, but run condensed hours and locations: Tomorrow Monday, January 6, 2025 - Scope will be open from 7:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. Locations: Addams, Enos, Fairview, McClernand, Ridgely and Wilcox - report to Ridgely Elementary Butler, Dubois, and Graham - report to Dubois Elementary Black Hawk, Feitshans, Harvard Park, Hazel Dell, Iles, Laketown, Lee, Matheny and Southern View- report to Iles School Lindsay, Marsh and Sandburg- report to Lindsay Elementary

FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is your chance to level up and make college more affordable! It determines your eligibility for grants, loans, and work-study programs that can ease the cost of higher education. Calling all District 186 seniors and their families! Join us for FAFSA Night on Wednesday, December 18th, from 5:30–7:00 PM at Southeast High School. Here’s why you should attend: ✅ Expert help to confidently complete your FAFSA application. ✅ Answers to your financial aid questions from experienced professionals. ✅ Step-by-step guidance to maximize your aid opportunities. ✅ A stress-free way to tackle this important step toward your future! This event is open to all District 186 seniors—don’t miss this opportunity to secure the financial aid you deserve. Let’s level up together

Gratitude in Action! We’re incredibly grateful for the many community members and organizations that support our students and families—not just during this time of year, but all year long. A special thank you to Robert Gordon & Associates, Inc. for their generosity and continued partnership with our Office of Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.)! Together with their clients, they collected food and household supplies to support District 186 families. These thoughtful donations have been distributed to care closets across our district and programs, ensuring essential items are available for families during winter break. Your kindness makes a real difference in our community. Thank you for helping us take care of our families this season! ❤️

Today, our Superintendent's Student Roundtable—a group of high school student leaders from all three District 186 high schools—took their annual trip to our middle schools! Their mission? To help middle schoolers LEVEL UP and get ready for the next big chapter: high school! From chatting about classes and courses , to tackling social experiences , and answering those all-important questions, these high school leaders shared valuable peer-to-peer advice to empower our future high schoolers! Why does this matter? When students hear from their peers, it creates a real connection. These open, honest conversations help build trust, ease concerns, and inspire confidence—all while strengthening our 186 community. Shoutout to our amazing high school leaders for helping our middle schoolers LEVEL UP! Have a middle schooler who attended? Drop their biggest takeaway below!

Please note that the 2024-2025 student’s fees have been uploaded and are able to be viewed on your student’s cumulative folder. It is important to pay these fees in a timely manner to help us continue providing high-quality programs and support for all students. There are three ways in which these student fees can be paid. Online using the SchoolPay website, through a check in the mail, or in person!

🌟 Join Us for the 2024 Springfield Public Schools Empower All Abilities (EAA) Conference! Saturday, November 16th Registration 8:00 a.m. Program runs 8:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. For over 16 years, the EAA Conference has supported families, educators, and professionals to empower students with exceptionalities. This year, we're back in person on Saturday, November 16th at Lanphier High School! We’re excited to welcome social media influencer Jordan Toma, author of I’m Just a Kid with an IEP, as our keynote speaker! 🙌 His inspiring journey will set the tone for a day filled with practical insights and strategies to support our students. 💡 Breakout sessions cover key topics like Autism, ADHD, transition services, and long-term planning. Plus, check out our exhibitor hall with amazing resources from local and national vendors! 📅 Don’t miss out! This is your chance to connect, learn, and grow in a supportive community. BONUS: Childcare is available for kids ages 3+! 👉 Sign up today: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdiPlvLcELfv.../viewform

Lincoln Magnet School is hosting their informational open house for all 5th grade families this Thursday, November 7th from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The Springfield High School National Honor Society is continuing our yearly tradition of cleaning yards of Veterans in the Springfield area community. If you know a veteran who would benefit from our students helping rake and clear their yard, please either pass on their information and contact info or have them contact Ben Kramer at (217)525-3100 or at bkramer@sps186.org If anyone would like to donate resources, we are always in need of bags, or financial assistance would go towards bags and/or we also place a small flag in each yard.

Come to Lanphier High School tomorrow , October 26th from 10 am - 1 p.m. to experience the guided tours to see the new Lanphier! We look forward to seeing you there!

As a reminder, Thursday, October 17th, will be a 60-minute early dismissal for all students to accommodate Parent-Teacher Conferences. Additionally, there will be no school on Friday, October 18th, as conferences will continue throughout the day. We value the opportunity to connect with you during these conferences to discuss your child’s academic progress and growth. Your involvement and partnership are essential to their success, and we appreciate your commitment to their educational journey. Please be sure to plan accordingly for the schedule changes for the remainder of the week. Thank you for your support and collaboration!

We want to remind you that we are fast approaching the deadline for students to have their physical and immunization information turned in per state guidelines and school district policy. Please make sure that you have contacted your school’s nurse with your child’s upcoming physical/immunization appointment or that you have turned in your physical and immunization paperwork! Students failing to provide required health information will be excluded from school starting October 1st.

We are excited to welcome you to Lanphier High School’s Open House on Saturday, October 26th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.! Ongoing guided tours will showcase our beautiful, newly-renovated building and stunning new spaces on Springfield’s north end. Drop in anytime during the event to experience the transformation made possible by our community’s support of the 1% sales tax referendum. This is truly a homecoming celebration, and we can’t wait to show off the space that now serves as a hub for learning and growth. Be sure to also join us for the Homecoming football game on Friday night, October 25th at 7 p.m.! We look forward to celebrating with you—see you there!

Calling All Readers: We’re Almost There! We’re just 20 Real Men Readers away from reaching our goal for the Real Men Read program! Help us bring the joy of reading to every 1st and 3rd grade classroom in District 186. Sign up today! https://tinyurl.com/bnv9thzw

🌱Level Up: The Power of Community Partners in District 186🌱 We are incredibly thankful to the Springfield Civic Garden Club for their donation of a couple hundred books to our students! The books, many of which focus on nature and gardens, will be shared among our elementary schools. 🧡Community partners like the Garden Club play a vital role in enriching the educational experience for our students and staff. We are so grateful for their support and all of the support of our many community partners! Thank you for helping us grow and learn together! 🌿📚 #levelup186

🌟 Join Us for the 2024 Springfield Public Schools Empower All Abilities (EAA) Conference! Saturday, November 16th Registration 8:00 a.m. Program runs 8:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. For over 16 years, the EAA Conference has supported families, educators, and professionals to empower students with exceptionalities. This year, we're back in person on Saturday, November 16th at Lanphier High School! We’re excited to welcome social media influencer Jordan Toma, author of I’m Just a Kid with an IEP, as our keynote speaker! 🙌 His inspiring journey will set the tone for a day filled with practical insights and strategies to support our students. 💡 Breakout sessions cover key topics like Autism, ADHD, transition services, and long-term planning. Plus, check out our exhibitor hall with amazing resources from local and national vendors! 📅 Don’t miss out! This is your chance to connect, learn, and grow in a supportive community. BONUS: Childcare is available for kids ages 3+! 👉 Sign up today: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdiPlvLcELfv.../viewform

🚨 Exciting News! Thanks to one of our amazing District 186 parents, Matheny Withrow Elementary is now part of the Look. It’s My Book! (LIMB) program! 🎉📚 K-4 students will receive 7 brand-new books every year, helping them build their own personal libraries at home. 😍✨ Students get to select from a table full of interesting titles to select their own book! LIMB has already handed out over half a million books and counting! Kids get to pick books that THEY love, sparking a passion for reading. 🙌📖

Join Us! All District 186 high school students are invited to attend the Superintendent's Roundtable , Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 11th from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the District 186 Administration Office - 3063 Fiat Ave.

Want to make a big impact in just one hour a month? Join our expanding Real Men Read program! Volunteer to read to our 1st or 3rd graders and inspire young minds. It’s easy—books and discussion ideas are provided, and your schedule is flexible! Why Join? Just 1 hour per month Read to 1st or 3rd graders Books & discussion ideas provided Interested? Join us for an optional informational meeting on Thursday, September 12th, from 5:30 - 6:30 PM at our District Office (3063 Fiat Ave, Springfield, IL), or sign up now here- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMFStGR44iaNCVw0q4WcmW9EtYVIulMqm6xwiZ8T51veywgQ/viewform