Springfield Public Schools - District 186

Notice of Special Board of Education Meeting - The Board of Education, Springfield School District No. 186, will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 4:30 p.m., in the Lions’ Conference Room of the District’s Administrative Center, 3063 Fiat Avenue, Springfield, Illinois. Upon convening the meeting, the Board will adjourn into Executive Session to conduct professional development, as allowed per 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(16), which section provides for closed session to consider the following: self-evaluation, practices and procedures or professional ethics, when meeting with a representative of a statewide association of which the public body is a member. It is not anticipated that the Board will take any action. For additional information, contact Julie Hammers, Board Secretary, 217/525-4406 or jhammers@sps186.org.

Jefferson Middle School Jaguars Bring Cheer to Harvard Park Elementary! 📚✨ JMS students took a trip over to Harvard Park yesterday to interact with the elementary students through activities & reading! 🌟📖 These heartwarming photos showcase the beautiful connections our middle schoolers are creating with their elementary school peers during this festive season. 🎄📚 The magic of sharing stories and building friendships - captured in every snapshot! 📸❤️ Let's celebrate these wonderful moments that truly define our school community. 🙌

🌟✨🎮 We're thrilled to share the incredible journey our Springfield Capitols esports team has been on this year! 🎉 Last night, our JV & Varsity Splatoon 3 squads went head-to-head with Charleston High School in an electrifying match that showcased the dedication and skill of our talented students. 🕹️🏆 What makes this team so special? It's the unity of students from all three high schools coming together, pouring their hearts into practice sessions twice a week, sometimes spending up to 4 hours honing their craft! 💪🌟 Under the guidance of their coaches, our players don't just play games—they build confidence, master communication, and coordinate seamlessly to achieve success both on and off the screen. 🌟🤝 It's more than esports; it's a platform for growth, where every player discovers their potential and learns invaluable life skills that extend far beyond the game. Go Capitols ! 🎮💙

🎁🌟 Tis' the season of giving, and our friends at Springfield Lucky Horseshoes just added an extra sprinkle of joy to our Lanphier High School building and trades team! 🏠🔨🧡🖤 In the spirit of community, our talented building and trades crew crafted hat racks and bat racks for the Shoes' facility. 🧢⚾️✨ We're incredibly grateful for these moments that highlight the power of partnership and goodwill! 🙌💫🧡🖤 We appreciate our community partners!! ❤🧡🖤

🎭🌟 Step into the enchanting world of Graham Elementary where the stars of tomorrow shone brightly in their dazzling performance of Annie Jr.! From the heartwarming melodies of "N.Y.C" to the iconic anthem "Tomorrow," and the spirited rendition of "It's a Hard Knock Life," our third to fifth graders lit up the stage with their talent and passion! 🎶🌟 But wait, the spotlight belongs to Tilynn, who stole the hearts of the audience with her performance of Annie ! Each child, a true star, showcased their incredible singing and acting skills! 🌟 Under the expert guidance of Mrs. Jennifer McFadden, these young performers embarked on a magnificent journey, learning the art of theater and embracing the magic of the stage! 🎭🌟 At Graham Elementary, we know that theater isn't just about performances—it's about building confidence, fostering creativity, and honing valuable life skills. From boosting self-expression to enhancing communication, theater empowers our kids in remarkable ways, both on and off the stage. 🌟✨

🐸 Owen Marsh Elementary's 4th graders in Mrs. Midiri's class are acing their iPad lessons! But here's a vital reminder: attendance matters! ⭐️Regular school attendance is the secret ingredient to academic success. Missing even a few days can significantly impact a child's learning journey. It's not just about being physically present; it's about seizing every opportunity to learn, engage, and grow. When these young minds show up consistently, they build essential skills, grasp complex concepts, and set the stage for lifelong achievement.🎉🎉 Let's cheer for these diligent students and remember, every school day counts! 📚 ✨ WE ARE 186!!!🐸

Math is Great!! ✨⭐️✨ Black Hawk Elementary had a special visitor on Friday! Their 2nd grade math unit involves math problems having to do with working in a tire shop, and their math lesson came to life! Jeremiah Hart, manager of Firestone Tires came to talk to our 2nd grade classes about what it means to actually work in a tire shop! 🛞🛞🛞 Students loved learning about Mr. Hart's job duties , and the different types of tires and tools! We love our community partners 💛!! #connect186 #clearmath #math

Members of our staff are wearing purple today to help spread awareness of youth homelessness in our community! #connect186

We were notified by First Student that due to a higher than normal shortage of bus drivers today, there will be buses ruing late to their scheduled bus stop. Please monitor your student's bus stops. Also, all changes to buses have been entered into the First View App. You can use this app to track your student's bus and be informed of any bus number changes. We appreciate your patience and cooperation this morning.

SHS National Honor Society is once again making a difference in our community. Today, they dedicated their time to rake leaves for our local veterans, a heartfelt annual tradition that speaks volumes about their commitment to giving back. Happy Veterans Day! #connect186

SSHS Drama Club is participating in #Enough on Monday, November 6th. #Enough is a nationwide effort to bring awareness to gun violence through theater. On the same night across the country, groups will stage readings of 6 new 10-min. plays by teen writers confronting gun violence. Get Tickets here : https://shorturl.at/EGU06

LMS is hosting an information open house for incoming 6th grade families for the 2024-25 school year. The event kicks off at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 2, 2023. See the flyer for more information.

Springfield Police Department & The City of Springfield are hosting a Halloween Safety Event on Monday, October 30th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Please see the flyer for more information!

The SHS National Honor Society will continue their annual tradition of raking leaves for Veterans on Veterans Day. This year, the SHS NHS will be out on the Friday, observed Veterans Day, November 10. Please see attached flyer for more information, please feel free to share. If you know a veteran who could use our service that day, please pass along this information to them. If you would like to donate yard waste bags or funds to the cause, please reach out to Ben Kramer at bkramer@sps186.org.

We invite our high school students to attend the 5th Annual Central Illinois HBCU/State College Fair at Union Baptist Church, 1405 E Monroe Street, Springfield, Il 62703 from 4pm to 7pm Transportation will be available to transport students from each high school to the event at 4:30pm. The bus will leave the event at 5:45pm and return to school. Students can be picked up at school or they may ride the activity bus home from school at 6:15pm, if needed. If your student is interested, please fill out the Google form & permission slip. Students must have the permission slip with them before they board the bus at school. We are looking forward to seeing you there! Form - https://forms.gle/5j15bLpLHh9e4NG58 Permission Slip - https://drive.google.com/file/d/12U2g1ZeuIZEnizBx9u6e66qJFFn-Z5HZ/view

We Are Proud Of You! 🎉The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced its list of semifinalists & commended high school students. Congratulations to Springfield High School's Bella, who is a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. Also receiving honors from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation are Springfield High's John, Abhinav & Will, who each received letters of commendation for their outstanding academic achievements. #connect186 #nationalmerit

Lincoln Memorial Garden is hosting their Fall Harvest Festival - October 7-8th . See the flyer for more details!

District 186 is excited to offer begin an after school Beginning Band Program for 5th grade students. Interested families will need to attend an information meeting for an opportunity to sign up and sign student/ parent contract. Meeting Location: Springfield High School Band room When : Thursday, Oct. 5 6-6:30pm Email Amy Minch with any questions - amuir@sps186.org

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. 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 this week. Students failing to provide required health information will be excluded from school starting October 1st.

Congratulations to our students that have received the following National Recognition from the College Board. Lanphier : • Gladys Anima: National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA) • Olivia Menendez: National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA) • Robin Pitts: National African American Recognition Award (NAARA) Springfield: • Ayla Acakpo-Satchivi: National African American Recognition Award (NAARA) • Gabriel White: National African American Recognition Award (NAARA) • Gabriel Villegas: National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA) • Jasmine Hamilton: National African American Recognition Award (NAARA) Springfield Southeast • Akeyla Chandler-Henry: National African American Recognition Award (NAARA) • Ashton Davis: National African American Recognition Award (NAARA) • Jada Jackson: National African American Recognition Award (NAARA) Congratulations on your accomplishments!