Fall 2025 Newsletter

FALL 2025

SD81ENGAGE NEWS FROM OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY

A MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT KARTSIMAS Dear SD81 Learning Community, As we reach the end of the first trimester, I want to thank our families for their ongoing partnership in making this a wonderful start to the school year. Your support, involvement, and collaboration play a crucial role in our students’ success. We are truly grateful.

Fall also signifies the end of our first trimester. We are so proud of the way our school community has worked together to provide the very best for our students. An important component of our success is the strong partnership between home and school. As a way to strengthen our connection, please attend parent-teacher conferences. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to celebrate student growth, discuss progress, and collaborate to support each child’s learning journey. We look forward to connecting with our families and continuing the meaningful collaboration that defines our district.

Written By : Avery Davis I am excited for the many educational opportunities planned for our students as we continue to nurture curiosity, growth, and a love of learning across all of our schools.

As we head into the holiday season, we would like to express our appreciation for the support you provide to your children and our staff.

District 81 is truly a special place, and I am deeply grateful each and every day to be a part of it.

Sincerely, Dr. Melissa Kartsimas

A MESSAGE FROM BOARD PRESIDENT, TINA EWANIO Thank you for taking the time to read about all the exciting things happening in District 81! The Board of Education is incredibly proud of the accomplishments of our students, staff, and administrators, and we are equally proud of the community that stands behind them.

Schiller Park continues to show what is possible when a village comes together to create a warm, supportive, and inspiring place for children to live and learn.

The Board of Education has been participating in meaningful professional development and learning opportunities with our new superintendent, Dr. Kartsimas. These experiences have strengthened us as a governance team and helped us grow together in service to our students and taxpayers. The Board is excited to see the continued growth and positive direction of the District under Dr. Kartsimas’ leadership!

Thank you again for your trust and partnership. It is an honor to serve this community, and we look forward to all that we will accomplish together.

Tina Ewanio, Allison Downs, Andrea Del Zotti

Stephanie Fiore, Enas Saada, Jen Ziegler

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SD81engage Newsletter FALL 2025

SD81 HONORS OUR U.S. VETERANS School District 81 is proud of our long-standing tradition of keeping students in school on Veterans Day—a decision rooted in our belief that students gain far more from meaningful engagement than from a day away from the classroom. By celebrating together, our students have the opportunity to honor our United States Veterans in ways that deepen their understanding, gratitude, and sense of civic responsibility. Our third and fourth grade students celebrated our veterans with a concert honoring their bravery and sacrifice. Thank you to the many veterans in attendance who chose to spend their special day with us.

Kennedy School 3rd graders with members of American Legion Post 104 Schiller Park

3rd and 4th Grade Veterans Day Performance

We are especially grateful for the strong presence of American Legion Post 104 in our schools. The members generously share their time and stories with our students, bringing history to life through personal experiences and heartfelt lessons. Their visits help instill pride in our country, spark curiosity about what it means to be an American, and open conversations about service, sacrifice, and community. Lincoln Middle School’s Rising Leaders spent time with members of Post 104 after the concert on Veterans Day, giving these eighth graders an opportunity to connect and learn from these revered members of our community.

This partnership enriches our schools and strengthens the bonds between generations. We thank American Legion Post 104 for their continued dedication to our students. We are proud to honor our veterans in a way that is both authentic and impactful.

District 81 proudly honors our nation’s veterans through art, reflection, song, and messages of gratitude – helping our students understand the true significance of this day.

SD81 proudly honors our nation’s veterans for their courage, dedication, and selfless services to our country.

8th Grade Rising Leaders hosting breakfast for our veterans.

Washington School 4th Graders with American Legion Post 104 Schiller Park

CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY We are thrilled to see our school district and the Schiller Park community come together in ways that have such a positive impact on our students. When our schools and community unite, children benefit in countless ways—they feel a stronger sense of belonging, see role models in action, and experience a supportive environment that nurtures both academic and personal growth.

We are also deeply grateful to our dedicated educators and administrators, who continually strengthen these connections through their presence in the community, whether at school events, local programs, or moments that extend beyond the school day. Their commitment to going the extra mile enriches the lives of every child in District 81.

On this page, you’ll find a few highlights of SD81's community involvement. Together, we are building a vibrant, connected community where our students can truly thrive!

Dr. Kartsimas and Autumn Leaves Club members

Village of Schiller Park Charity Softball Game

SD81 Trunk or Treat

SD81 Literacy Night at Kennedy

Fire Safety Education with Chief Hatcher & the Schiller Park Fire Department

CREATING A LOVE OF READING THROUGH AUTHOR VISTS Author visits offer students a unique and inspiring opportunity to connect with the world of books and the creators behind them.

Meeting an author gives students a firsthand look at the writing process and shows how reading and writing can spark imagination. These experiences can ignite a love of reading, strengthen literacy skills, and motivate students to explore new genres and ideas.

Author visits also bring excitement and a sense of community to our schools. Seeing a real-life writer helps students engage more deeply in literacy, build confidence in their own writing, and view learning as a creative, rewarding journey.

Author Matt Eicheldinger signing books for Washington students

Kennedy students drawing their own illustrations

Author Renee Galvin

Author Jacob Grant

This school year, SD81 has welcomed several popular children’s authors, including Renee Galvin, Matt Eicheldinger, and Jacob Grant, who shared read-alouds, live illustration lessons, and book signings with our students.

Our SD81 faculty and administration remain committed to finding engaging, meaningful ways to celebrate the joy of reading with our students.

SD81engage Newsletter FALL 2025

School District 81 9760 Soreng Avenue Schiller Park, IL 60176

Non-Profit Org US Postage PAID Franklin Park IL Permit No 198

CELEBRATING A NEW SD81 TRADITION: HIGH-5 FRIDAY! School District 81 kicked off a joyful new tradition this fall—High-5 Friday—and it was an incredible success! Students were greeted with cheers, smiles, and high-fives from community partners, including the Schiller Park Fire and Police Departments, Mayor Chad Meyers, Village Trustees, SD81 Board of Education members, and our very own teachers, administrators, and mascots.

The excitement was contagious as students arrived, surrounded by people who believe in them and want to see them thrive. High-5 Friday builds strong, positive connections, helps students start their day with enthusiasm, and strengthens the bond between our schools and community.

We’re thrilled to share that High-5 Friday will return in the spring, and we can’t wait to continue this uplifting tradition. Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a success—SD81 is stronger because of you!

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