Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 had 10 middle school student musicians selected to participate in the Illinois Music Educators Association Festival sponsored by the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA). Students spent months preparing their virtual auditions for submission. More than 1,000 of the finest band and orchestra students from more than 50 junior high schools in the North Suburban area auditioned for a position in these all-star groups. 

The event will bring together the top band and orchestra students for the ILMEA District 7 Festival on Saturday, November 4, at Glenbrook South High School. The jazz festival will be on Saturday, November 18, at Lake Zurich High School.

District 64 students selected to participate in the festivals include:  

• Emerson – Annie Bowles, flute; Sam D., trumpet; Jasmyn Knipping, tenor sax and jazz tenor sax; Isabella Roszko, violin
• Lincoln – Maxwell Chandler, bass; Emily Compton, flute; Beatrice Conroy, flute; Rose Hassman, viola; Elliott Poole, jazz trombone; Hannah S., viola.

Read more here

K-8 Families, 

We are offering an exciting opportunity for all K-8 parents/guardians that pertains to our new mathematics curricula. On November 28th, at 7pm, at Emerson Middle School, we invite parents/guardians to engage in a lesson simulation with a D64 grade-level teacher.

You will sit in the seats as a student and fully understand what it means to be part of a math class with our new curriculum resources (Eureka Squared: K-5, and Carnegie Math (6-8))!

A teacher will offer a brief introduction to the program and then teach an actual lesson your child would experience this year. Space is limited, so please RSVP using this form. Be sure to click the appropriate math placement for your child.

If you are not sure of your child’s placement, please call your school’s main office. We look forward to seeing you there!

*Note: Students in 7th or 8th Grade Channels of Challenge or 8th Grade Accelerated Math are not utilizing the Carnegie resources. Therefore, this opportunity is not available right now for those parents/guardians. 

Best, 

Samantha Alaimo

Assistant Superintendent of Student Learning

As District 64 continues to improve teaching and learning for all students, we know that parents and families are our most valuable partners. This is especially true as the District continues to communicate the appropriate standards and student achievement in each subject area and grade level. The Illinois Learning Standards, which will be on our report cards, set high expectations for our students, staff, and schools. 

This revised standards-based report card gives us a tool to accurately communicate your child’s achievement on the district-identified reporting standards for each grade level and subject area from first through fifth grades.

Here, you can find a Standards-Based Grading & Reporting Parent Handbook for Grades K-5 to help you understand and navigate your child’s report card. At the end of the SBG Parent Handbook, you will notice templates for grade-level report cards; the links have not been added for these but will be there soon. They will be included in next week’s District newsletter. 

You can also find more information on Standards-Based Grading and Reporting on our website. 

Franklin Elementary School's motto this year is Finding Your Joy and there was no shortage of it this week.

We'll start with the Rock Show N' Swap! Library Information Specialist Andrea Hetzke organized a rock swap after school once she noticed a lot of students were taking an interest in her collection. Dozens of families showed up with bags of their favorite rocks. It was a cool way to learn more about different rocks and fossils, as well as an opportunity to make some trades so others could enjoy the beauty of nature. Everyone walked away a winner!

Then on Friday, it was the Grand Opening for the Coffee Cart at Franklin. Some students in Nicole Golebiowski's class will be serving delicious beverages to staff every Friday. The drinks on the menu include hot coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, and Diet Coke. The money raised from each sale goes back into supplying more products.

This activity gives specific students a chance to work on different skills like math skills and social skills where it's appropriate. They did an awesome job today and put in a lot of work preparing for the big day.

More content is on the way from the Rock Show and the Coffee Cart!

More than 100 gourd-geous pumpkins are on display at the Roosevelt's library.115 to be exact, and the character pumpkin contest continues to impress all who walk up and down each aisle! Classes have been coming into the library all week to vote on which one is the best. But with all of these great submissions, how can you pick just one?! Thank you to the Roosevelt Librarians for the invite to see all of the creations up close!

Calling all D64 fourth and fifth graders! The Science Olympiad is on Saturday, February 10, 2024. What is the Science Olympiad?

It is a morning filled with science and engineering challenges in an Olympic-type format. Students in 4th and 5th grade work in teams to represent their schools. "Winning teams" receive first, second, or third place medals. All students receive a special Science Olympiad certificate and souvenir.

Registration is OPEN! You can find more info, as well as the online registration form, on the District 64 Science Olympiad webpage. The last day to sign up for this awesome event is Friday, October 27.

It’s Red Ribbon Week! Park Ridge PD stopped by Carpenter to play some four square with students and George the Cougar even joined in on the fun

~@district64news

"5th graders in Mrs. Knapp's Music classes at Roosevelt School held performances of "Frank was a Monster" for school peers this week. It was a ghoulishly good time!"

"Our Kindness rocks have brightened up the front entrance! Thanks Garden & Art Club for your help!"

~@JenAdamsEDU

"We had a great first 4th Grade Chorus rehearsal today! I'm excited to work with these talented and motivated singers this year!"

~@MrsKapustka

"⭐️ Look at this brave first grader!

She earned a reward and chose to read to her big sister’s 5th grade class! ⭐️ "

~@MrsDiMaso

"Enjoyed a visit to our classroom from the Park Ridge Police Department yesterday!"

~@MrsKomenda

Help us help those in need through the annual Kiwanis District 64 Holiday Food Basket Drive.

A child’s smile means everything to a parent, especially at holiday time. The Kiwanis Annual District 64 Holiday Food Basket Drive is designed to do just that.

This year, we have approximately 150 families in need. 100% of funds raised are used to provide a grocery gift card to help families keep holiday traditions alive and well.

Donations can be made online or by check from 10/18/2023 to 11/30/2023. Donate online at KiwanisPR.org or send a check to :

Kiwanis of Park Ridge, 19 North Seminary Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068-3037

Come join our awesome team in District 64! Some of the open positions include Substitute Teachers. Apply Online!

Substitute Teachers

• $150 PER DAY
• All grade levels and subjects
• Technology training provided
• Apply here

Upcoming Board Meetings

The following are the next regular Board meetings:

• November 16, 2023 - 7 p.m. - Jefferson School
• December 21, 2023 - 7 p.m. - Jefferson School

Looking to catch up on past meeting highlights? A summary of each meeting is available on our Current Board News webpage.

Please confirm meeting dates and times on the Board meetings webpage.

Comments and questions may always be directed to the Superintendent or Board members through these links:

Email Dr. Ben Collins, Superintendent or contact members of the Board of Education via email links.

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 | 847-318-4300 | news@d64.org

#engageD64