KSD111 Monthly Newsletter
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Dear KSD 111 Families
As someone who journals regularly, I approach new months as new opportunities. March is no different. This new month invites us to reflect, to renew, and to recommit. As we approach spring break, with fewer than 30 days before a well-earned pause and with approximately 60 instructional days remaining before we conclude the school year on Monday, June 2nd, we stand at an important inflection point. March is also Women’s History Month, a national observance established in 1987 to recognize the contributions, courage, sacrifice, and leadership of women across generations. It is a time not only to study history, but to acknowledge the living legacy of women whose influence shapes our homes, our schools, our broader community, and perhaps us every single day.
When I think about sacrifice and leadership, I think first of my mother. Those who know me on a more intimate level understand the profound impact my mother had on my life. For more than a dozen years, she traveled to work from New York to Connecticut to ensure she had the resources so that I had access to an excellent education. I recall our dinner conversations, which were not centered on whether I would pursue higher education, but how I would prepare for it. My mother modeled discipline, high expectations, and an unwavering belief in the importance of education. My mom’s strength was not loud, but it was resolute. She taught me a valuable lesson: opportunities often stem from the sacrifices of others, and true excellence is achieved through persistence. That lesson continues to shape how I lead and how I view the responsibility we carry as educators.
I am equally inspired by the strong women leaders serving throughout Kankakee School District 111. Across our district, in every classroom, school, department, and office, women are demonstrating exceptional leadership and making significant contributions to help our Kankakee SD 111 become a destination district. These women serve as outstanding principals, assistant principals, directors, teachers, counselors, coaches, and dedicated support staff. They drive academic success, ensure the efficiency of complex systems, mentor students and colleagues, and consistently prioritize the well-being and learning of our students. These women are also analyzing data with an equity lens, strengthening instructional clarity, supporting multilingual learners and students with diverse needs, and building trusting relationships with families. Their leadership is steady, solutions-oriented, and student-centered. They do not simply hold positions; they lead!
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I mentioned earlier that we are at an inflection point. As we enter this final stretch of the school year, our focus remains forward facing. We will protect instructional time, intensify our attention to student attendance and learning, celebrate measurable growth, and ensure strong transitions for students at every grade level. Spring often brings a spirit of renewal and fresh starts, but in the context of the academic calendar, it signals a critical period demanding focused urgency. With only about 60 days remaining in the 2025-2026 school year, we must view each day not as a countdown to summer, but as a distinct, invaluable opportunity. This translates to 60 chances to critically examine and sharpen our instructional practices, to deepen student learning and understanding in profound ways, and to strengthen the vital sense of community that supports our entire school system.
The unwavering commitment and vision of the women who lead alongside me and the powerful legacy of those who have paved the way before us serve as a constant reminder of what is possible. They embody the truth that meaningful, sustainable progress is not the result of a single grand gesture, but is intentionally built, moment by moment and day by day, through relentless persistence and an unshakeable sense of purpose. We will approach the final weeks of this academic year with that exact same resolute determination.
Our primary mission remains crystal clear: to ensure that every single student within our care experiences a school system that not only believes wholeheartedly in their potential, but that also actively, purposefully prepares them for the diverse and challenging paths that lie ahead, whether that be the next grade level, future education, or entering the world beyond KSD 111. Let us seize these remaining days with energy, precision, and passion to make the most profound impact possible.
Hope Starts Here!
With Gratitude,
Teresa A. Lance, Superintendent
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Parents, we need your voice!
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is your opportunity to share your thoughts, experiences, and feedback about your child’s school. Your input truly matters—it helps the district understand its strengths and areas for growth, guides improvements, and can even increase opportunities, programs, and resources for students. Schools that receive high participation get valuable reports and insights that help create an even stronger, more supportive learning environment.
The survey is open February 3 – March 13.
Thank you for partnering with us and taking a few minutes to make a big impact!
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Showing Up Matters!
Your future is bright when you show up—and these Kankakee High School seniors prove it!
Meet Myair Thompson & Kenaz Jackson
Their dedication in the classroom and on the court has set them up for success. This fall, they’ll continue their education and basketball careers at Southwestern Michigan College.
This is just the start of our video series, featuring students, alumni, and community members sharing why showing up matters.
Hope starts here. Hope starts with YOU.
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We strongly encourage you to join us for our final Family & Community Forum with Performance Fact, where we will review district data, discuss needs, and work together to develop meaningful plans that support all of our students.
Your voice matters, and your partnership helps us make our district the very best it can be.
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Bill Horning, District Software Specialist, recently retired on January 16th after 14 years with Kankakee School District 111; he wasn’t just a technical expert, but a cornerstone of our daily operations in the department. Whether it was troubleshooting a highly-used instructional platform during the first weeks of the school year or patiently walking a first-year teacher through the process of logging into a new product, he approached every ticket with a blend of precision and empathy. His dedication was often completed behind the scenes and all times of day, assuring system updates didn't disrupt the instructional day and treating any minor glitch with the same urgency as a major outage. He didn’t just maintain our software; he empowered our staff and students to succeed.
We wish him the very best and well-deserved days of relaxation!
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Make This Summer Count: 2026 Summer Learning Programs!
It’s time to look ahead to a summer filled with growth, exploration, and academic success. Whether your child is just starting their educational journey or preparing for life after graduation, our district has a program designed to keep them engaged and on track.
All of the below programs are held Monday – Thursday from 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
K-5 Summer Learning
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Focus: Building foundational skills in literacy and math through engaging, hands-on activities.
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Location: LCC
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Student Dates: June 10th – July 9th
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Sign up here
6th-12th Grade
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Focus: Credit recovery, acceleration and enrichment.
- High School Acceleration Options: Financial Literacy, American Government, Health, English 4 (Note: Students must have successfully completed English 3 or its equivalent to enroll)
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Location: Kankakee High School
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Student Dates: June 10th – July 16th
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Sign up here
K-8 ESY (Extended School Year)
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Focus: Specialized support for students to maintain progress and prevent learning loss over the summer break.
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Location: Steuben
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Student Dates: June 10th – July 9th
- Sign up: Occurs during IEP Meetings
9-12 Transition Program
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Focus: Preparing older students for the next big step, focusing on life skills and post-secondary transitions.
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Location: Avis Huff
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Student Dates: June 10th – July 9th
- Sign up: Occurs during IEP Meetings
Important Reminders for Parents
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Professional Learning: Staff will be in training on June 8th and 9th to prepare for the student experience.
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Consistency is Key: To see the best results, we encourage students to attend every Monday through Thursday!
Upcoming Dates
Preparing for Success: State & College Readiness Assessments: Preparing for Success: State & College Readiness Assessments Preparation will continue for our upcoming assessments beginning in March.
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IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness): Math and English Language Arts for grades 3–8 (Week of March 23rd)
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ISA (Illinois Science Assessment): Science inquiry for grades 5 and 8 (Week of March 30th)
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PreAct and ACT: English, Math, Reading and Science for grades 9-11 (March 25th)
Your Voice Matters: The 5Essentials Survey: We are seeking family input through the 5Essentials Survey. This tool identifies five indicators that lead to improved school outcomes.
Take Survey Here! Hurry! The Survey Closes March 13th.
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February Highlights Across the District
February was a busy and exciting month for our Food Service team. In addition to serving meals every day, our kitchen staff helped support several special events that celebrated our students and brought extra energy into our schools. I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible effort that went into these moments across the district.
February 5 – VIP Experience at the High School
On February 5th, the High School hosted a VIP Experience to celebrate student honorees and their parents. Our Food Service team was proud to support this event and help create an atmosphere that made families feel welcomed and appreciated.
Events like this remind us that schools are not just about academics — they are also about recognizing hard work, character, and the support systems that help students succeed.
February 6 – Super Bowl Celebration: Battle of the Walking Tacos
On February 6th, kitchens across the district joined in the fun by celebrating the Super Bowl with a Battle of the Walking Tacos. This was a great way to bring some excitement into the cafeterias while serving a meal students could enjoy.
It was great to see students engaging with the theme, talking about the game, and having fun during lunch. Moments like this help make the cafeteria an even more positive and welcoming place for students.
February 13 – VIP Experience at the Junior High School
On February 13th, the Junior High School hosted its VIP Experience to celebrate student honorees and their parents.
Our Food Service kitchen staff worked incredibly hard preparing for this event. Many team members went above and beyond decorating and helping set the tone so that students truly felt seen, valued, and appreciated.
The Junior High and High School teams did an outstanding job collaborating with their school offices and Kay's Media to coordinate these special events and ensure that both students and their parents felt recognized.
Thank You to Our Food Service Team
I want to personally thank our Food Service kitchen staff across the district for the work they continue to do each day. Between preparing meals, supporting special events, decorating spaces, and creating welcoming environments for students, your effort does not go unnoticed.
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As we move through cold and flu season, we appreciate your partnership in keeping our school community healthy. Please keep your child home if they have a fever of 100.4°F or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, persistent cough, sore throat (specifically with fever), severe congestion, unusual fatigue, or any contagious rash. Please note, students should be fever-free for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication) before returning to school.
It’s also helpful to understand the differences between common illnesses. Colds often cause mild symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose, headache, sneezing, and mild cough. Seasonal allergies may look similar but typically include itchy eyes, clear nasal drainage (as opposed to yellow or green mucus), mild headache, or dry scratchy throat. The flu tends to come on quickly or suddenly and may include high fever, body aches, chills, headache, and extreme tiredness. When in doubt, consult your healthcare provider.
Encouraging frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, staying up to date on recommended vaccinations, and getting plenty of rest are simple but effective ways to prevent the spread of illness. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe, healthy, and ready to learn!
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As we transition from winter to spring, our maintenance team is shifting gears right alongside the season. The colder months require a strong focus on heating, snow removal, and ensuring safe indoor conditions. Now, as temperatures begin to rise, we are wrapping up boiler season and gradually powering down our heating systems. Our team has been carefully monitoring the boilers to ensure a smooth shutdown process, while also preparing for preventative maintenance that will keep everything running efficiently when colder weather returns.
With spring comes the start of our outdoor athletic programs. As fields and facilities reopen for sports like baseball, softball, track, and soccer, we are inspecting bleachers, fencing, irrigation systems, and field surfaces to ensure they are safe and ready for students and spectators. Winter weather can be tough on outdoor equipment, so our crews are addressing any damage caused by snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. We take great pride in supporting our student-athletes by providing well-maintained, safe environments where they can practice and compete.
Another major focus this time of year is repairing the effects of winter on our parking lots and roadways. Freeze-thaw cycles often lead to potholes and surface cracking, which can create safety concerns for buses, staff, and families. Our maintenance staff is actively assessing and patching damaged areas to improve both safety and traffic flow across campus. In addition, we are inspecting sidewalks and entryways to address any trip hazards that may have developed over the winter months.
Spring is also a time for renewal across our entire campus. From landscaping clean-up and preparing flower beds to servicing HVAC systems for the upcoming cooling season, our team is working behind the scenes to ensure a smooth seasonal transition. While much of this work may go unnoticed, it plays a critical role in keeping our schools safe, comfortable, and welcoming. We appreciate the continued support of our school community as we move into this busy and exciting time of year.
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Greetings from the Kankakee Multilingual Department,
We are incredibly proud to announce the successful completion of the required testing season for our Multilingual Learners. This monumental task demonstrates the power of our community—parents, students, educators, and administrators—working together.
A significant effort from all involved ensured the smooth and accurate administration of these mandatory exams. We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support: thank you to our parents for student readiness, students for their focus, teachers for their flexibility, and our testing team for their meticulous work. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to all extended partners, including administrators and support staff; this accomplishment would not have been possible without your collective efforts.
While the ACCESS for ELLs exam is a crucial measure of English language proficiency, we recognize that true growth extends beyond any single test score. Moving forward, we remain committed to diligently utilizing the gathered data to strategically enhance personalized pathways to English language proficiency, ensuring our Multilingual Learners are equipped for success in all academic areas and beyond. We look forward to continuing this vital work.
Respectfully,
Multilingual Department
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February was a joyful and busy month in our Early Childhood programs! Across classrooms, children are learning and growing through our Frog Street curriculum, which supports the whole child through hands-on play, rich conversations, and meaningful exploration. Our youngest learners are building strong foundations in early literacy, math, social-emotional development, and independence—skills that prepare them for future success.
Last month, classrooms also celebrated Black History Month through age-appropriate activities that honored culture, kindness, and the contributions of Black leaders, artists, and everyday heroes. As we look ahead, we are excited to support families as students prepare for the transition to kindergarten and encourage families to stay connected to the many learning opportunities ahead.
As we continue this work, we are reminded that “strong foundations are built when we grow, learn, and lead together. When families, educators, and communities work stronger together, we create giant futures from tiny hands.
— Pamela J. Powell
Director of Early Childhood Education
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The Boys Varsity Basketball team at Kankakee High School had a season defined by hard work, discipline, and relentless determination. From daily practices to intense matchups on the court, these student-athletes committed themselves to getting better every day—pushing one another and playing for something bigger than themselves.
That dedication carried them all the way to the IHSA 3A Sectional Championship game last Friday. Throughout the season, they competed at a high level, showcasing not only their talent but also a remarkable story of teamwork, resilience, and pride for their school and community. While the final result didn’t go their way, their effort, determination, and the way they represented Kankakee made this a season to remember.
We are also proud that the photos capturing these moments were taken by Miles Yohnka, who is working with the Community and Public Relations Department through the AIM High Program. His work behind the camera helps highlight the dedication, energy, and spirit of our Kays both on and off the court.
On the court or behind the camera, the Kays have shown that when you show up, work hard, and believe in one another, great things can happen. The season may be over, but we are incredibly proud of everything this team accomplished.
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Spanish interpretation will be available on-site. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Parents & Guardians – We encourage you to download the ParentSquare app! This will be our district’s main platform for communication with families and teachers.
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