District March 2026 Newsletter

March 4, 2026

Dear District 31 Community,

Recent world and national events may bring uncertainty or strong emotions for some members of our school community. We recognize that families may have personal connections to impacted regions or loved ones serving in the military. As always, our schools strive to remain a place of stability, routine, and reassurance for students. If your child is experiencing worry or has questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your building principal or school social worker.

As we enter the final stretch of the 2025–2026 school year—with fewer than 60 days remaining—there is a wonderful sense of anticipation in our schools. Spring is always a busy and joyful time, filled with opportunities to connect and celebrate. We look forward to Spring Family Engagement Nights, the Spring Musical, PTO events, and, of course, Spring Break. Please note the last day of school for students before Spring Break begins is Thursday, March 19. There is no school on March 20 in recognition of Eid al-Fitr, and Spring Break will take place March 23–27, with students returning on Monday, March 30.

I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to our incredible Education Foundation for planning a spectacular Parent Gala. We are so appreciative of the time, energy, and generosity that went into putting this event together, and we can’t wait to join the fun on March 7. Your continued support makes a lasting impact on our students and schools.

Another heartfelt thank-you to our Parent-Teacher Organization for hosting the Glow Party this week. The kids had an absolute blast, and it was wonderful to see so much joy and connection in one space. We truly appreciate the way you bring our community together and create experiences that our students will remember.

If you have not yet completed the Panorama District Climate Survey, we kindly ask that you take a few moments to do so by March 10. Your feedback is invaluable and helps guide our ongoing efforts to strengthen our schools and community.

Finally, registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open. Thank you to the many families who have already begun the process. Please review the registration information below for important details.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of District 31. Wishing you a smooth close to winter and a vibrant, successful spring season ahead.

Warmly,

Dr. Erin Murphy
District 31 Superintendent 

Panorama Feedback Survey
Last chance! Our Panorama Family Feedback Survey closes March 10. If you haven’t yet participated, please take a few minutes to share your experience—your voice matters and helps shape our schools.

Take Survey.  If you have a student at Winkelman AND Field, you can take the survey twice — once for each school.

Thank you to the over 160 families that have already taken this survey. Your feedback and participation are appreciated.

This shorter survey replaces the traditional Illinois 5Essentials parent survey and focuses on school climate, supportive learning environments, and school–family communication. It also offers expanded translation options so every family’s voice can be heard. All responses are confidential. Your input helps guide our continuous improvement efforts and supports high-quality learning for every student. Thank you for your partnership and thoughtful feedback.

2026-2027 Registration
Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open for all students in grades PreK-8! Please plan to register early, as this helps with school planning.  Register today at www.district31.net/registration.
 

Along with registering, please plan ahead to ensure that you have all medical forms ready for the 2026-2027 school year. The required forms are listed below.

Summary of Medical Form Requirements

• Pre-K: Physical
• Kindergarten: Physical, Dental, and Eye
• 1st grade: No forms required
• 2nd grade: Dental
• 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade: No forms required
• 6th grade: Physical (exam also covers interscholastic sports physical) and Dental
• 7th & 8th grade: No forms required

Physical Exam and Immunization Record
A physical exam, with an updated immunization record on the “State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination” form, must be completed and signed by a licensed healthcare provider and parent/guardian. Proof of the exam must be submitted upon entering Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 6th grade and/or when transferring from out of state.

If you have any questions about medical forms, please reach out to Field/ District School Nurse Adriana Rivera at arivera@district31.net or 847-313-4454.

Field Spring Musical: Little Mermaid Jr.
Field Middle School is proud to present Little Mermaid Jr., directed by Mr. Case Carvell, Ms. Molly Principi, and Mr. James Kieliszewski, with Art Direction by Ms. Becca Weisz and Ms. Maddie Fagin. Ms. Heather Stodola serves as Sound Director, and Mr. Jon Damon serves as Lighting Director. There is no cost to attend, but donations will be accepted.

Dates and Times:
Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m.*
Saturday, March 14 at 1 p.m.*
*The door will open 30 minutes before each performance.

If you have any questions regarding the production, please contact the Field front office at 847-272-6884.

February Board of Education Recap
Board Meeting Highlights: 

• Presentations and Discussion Items:
  • The Board of Education reviewed the Mental Health Audit, with a focus on next steps.  Dr. Tim Dohrer was available for questions. 
  • The Board of Education reviewed a proposed amendment to an existing intergovernmental agreement with the Northbrook Public Library to ensure digital resources for all District 31 students. It will be presented for approval in March.
  • Director of Finance and Operations Nicole Schramm reviewed the December Financial Reports. 
  • Director of Finance and Operations Nicole Schramm reviewed the January Financial Reports and the 2025 Annual Financial Audit and Reports.
  • The Board of Education reviewed the Superintendent's Report.  

• The Board of Education made the following approvals:
  • The Board of Education approved the consent agenda, which included updating the following policies:
    • Approve Policy - Investment
    • Approve Policy - Board Member Oath and Conduct
    • Approve Policy - Search and Seizure
    • Approve Policy - Gifts to the District
    • Approve Policy - Suspension Procedures
    • Approve Policy - Revenues and Investments
    • Approve Policy - Accounting and Audits
    • Approve Policy - Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment
    • Approve Policy - Abused and Neglected Child Reporting
    • Approve Policy -Terms and Conditions of Employment and Dismissal
    • Approve Policy - Schedules and Employment Year
    • Approve Policy - Curriculum Development
    • Approve Policy - Curriculum Content
    • Approve Policy - Programs for the Gifted
    • Approve Policy - Agency and Law Enforcement Requests
    • Approve Policy - Prevention of and Response to Bullying, intimidation and Harassment
    • Approve Policy - Student Behavior
    • Approve Policy - Suicide and Depression Awareness and Prevention
    • Approve Policy - Student Records
    • Approve Policy - Employee Ethics; Conduct and Conflict of Interest
    • Approve Policy - Compensatory Time Off
    • Approve Policy - Temporary Illness or Temporary Incapacity
    • Approve Policy - Personnel Records
    • Approve Policy - Religious Holidays
    • Approve Policy - Evaluation
    • Approve Policy - Suspension
    • Approve Policy - Compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act
    • Approve Policy - Employment, Termination and Suspension
    • Approve Policy - Expenses
    • Approve Policy - Personal technology and Social Media; Usage and Conduct

The Board of Education meets monthly, usually on the last Thursday of the month, at 7 p.m. in the Field Middle School Learning Center. We welcome any member of our community to attend in person or virtually via our live stream. Agendas, minutes, and the link to the live stream can be found here. The District 31 Board of Education is composed of seven elected representatives from the District 31 attendance area. Each is elected for a four-year term. Meet the members of the District 31 Board of Education here.

March Board of Education Meeting 

The next regular Board of Education meeting is Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in the Field Learning Center at 7 p.m. The agenda is posted two days before the meeting here. The Finance Committee Meeting will take place before the Board of Education Meeting at 6 p.m., also in the Field Learning Center.

National School Social Work Week
March 2-8, 2025, is National School Social Work Week. Thank you to our incredible District 31 team Quincy Jenkins, MSW, LCSW; Sandi Newman, MSW, LSW; Amy Sack, MSW, LSW; Maria Skabardonis, MSW, LSW; Princess Maleeah, M.A., LSW; and Ari Spector, MSW, LCSW for the impactful work they do to support students, families, and their communities.

Under the leadership of the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA), this celebration emphasizes School Social Work contributions of focusing on the “whole child”, linking families to community resources, a valuable voice as part of the school’s multidisciplinary team, and advocating for the profession of School Social Work.

Curriculum Review Cycle Updates: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

SEL Curriculum Review Cycle Update

Our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum Review Committee is guided by our vision for social-emotional learning in District 31:

District 31 Social-Emotional Learning Vision Statement

In District 31, Social-Emotional Learning empowers our diverse community to thrive both in school and in life. Through a culturally responsive SEL framework, we cultivate competencies that encourage safe self-expression, meaningful connections, and collaborative relationships, fostering lifelong personal growth and collective well-being.

We are engaging in the SEL Resource/Program Review portion of our committee work, which includes piloting the updated version of our current SEL Program, Second Step. Teachers committed to teaching lessons from current and upcoming units, and noted feedback about the program using the indicators in our SEL Curriculum Evaluation Tool. 

In addition to the updated, digital Second Step program review, we are also continuing to review WayFinder & RULER. These programs (along with Second Step) received the highest rating from CASEL’s SEL Program Rating tool. The committee held vendor presentations from all 3 programs and is currently reflecting on potential future pilots.  

We are also continuing to embed additional opportunities to support adult SEL, which include offering sessions during the upcoming Spring Teacher Institute Days. These sessions will be facilitated by our consultants, Tim Dohrer and Thomas Golebiewski, the authors of The Schools We Need Now. 

Upcoming March 17 Teacher Institute Day 

At our next Teacher Institute Day on Tuesday, March 17, we look forward to a day of learning together focused on supporting student growth and achievement, and on professional development in our work. Below are a few presentations and learning opportunities that will be facilitated on March 17. PD sessions will be differentiated by building to ensure content and strategies are tailored to each building's needs. Our Institute Day is designed to ensure staff experience sessions that are crucial to their work, while also offering opportunities for team collaboration and application. 

Feature Sessions:

• Next Steps in Standards-Based Grading (Field Grades 6 & 7) facilitated by the Department of Curriculum & Instruction
• Foundations for Standards-Based Grading (Field Grade 8) with Garnet Hillman (Solution Tree Consultant)
• Supporting Multilingual Students - Practical Applications to Strengthen Oracy with Carly Spina (IRC Specialist and Author)
• Building Coherence: Aligning Skills, Standards, and Student Thinking through Vertical Articulation in ELA with Nicole McRee (PLC Consultant)
• Autism Evaluation Considerations Training with Jill Bose-Deakins (TrueNorth)
• Standards-Aligned IEP Development with Kaylee Wynkoop (REEF Consulting)
• Mindful Communication with Active Listening with Tim Dohrer & Tom Golebiewski (Mentally Healthy Schools Consultants)
• Building Our Mental Health Literacy with Practical Applications with Tim Dohrer & Tom Golebiewski (Mentally Healthy Schools Consultants) 

We are looking forward to sharing highlights from the upcoming Institute Day over the next few weeks!

Growing in our Understanding of Artificial Intelligence
District 31 administrators, along with Innovation and Technology Coach Kelli Lane, recently participated in an in-house AI professional development session facilitated by Eric Santos. The purpose of this Administrator Academy was to establish a shared foundational understanding of artificial intelligence and begin identifying the key actions and considerations necessary to develop an effective AI policy, process, and procedures aligned to the District’s strategic plan, goals, vision, and applicable laws.

This session focused on governance, ethical guardrails, instructional implications, and compliance considerations, ensuring that any future AI framework is thoughtful and mission-aligned rather than reactive. The administrative team will use this foundational learning to help establish a district Technology Team in the coming months. One of the primary focus areas for that team will be developing a clear and responsible approach to AI use in District 31.

Message from Glenbrook High School District 225

Register Now for an Athletic Summer Camp with Glenbrook High School District 225

Glenbrook High School District 225 is excited to bring back its youth summer camps this year! Online registration is now open. Athletic Camps are offered to incoming first through eighth grade and will run throughout the summer. They are held at Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South unless otherwise noted.  Please visit the summer camp website for summer athletic camp offerings and instructions on registering.

As a reminder:

• If you have questions about a specific camp, please contact the coach listed in the offerings document.
• All camps have minimum and maximum participant counts.  All participants will be notified if a camp is canceled due to low enrollment.
• Registration can only be completed online through the camp registration website.
• Registration fees can be paid:
  • Online using a credit card or e-check  (no additional fees applied to payment method)
• The school district does NOT pro-rate any camp fees.

For assistance with camp registration or cancellations, please contact the Summer Athletic Camp Office at  athleticcamp@glenbrook225.org or 847-486-4717.

GPS Parent Series: Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times - The Strengths to Survive and Thrive

Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. via Zoom

More Information

Winkelman Fifth Grade Music Concert 

Thursday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the Winkelman Commons

Winkelman Fourth Grade Music Concert 

Thursday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m. in the Winkelman Commons 

D31 Education Foundation: A Night at the Oscars

Saturday, March 7, at 7 p.m. at 2800 Patriot Blvd. Glenview

More Information

GPS Parent Series: HYBRID EVENT - Fireproof: Memoir of a Chef - Cooking Up Resilience

Wednesday, March 11 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.

More Information

PTO Presents K-5th STEM + Art

Saturday, March 14, from 10-11:15 a.m. at Winkelman

More Information

Field Musical: Little Mermaid Jr. 

Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m.
 

Field Musical: Little Mermaid Jr. 

Saturday, March 14 at 1 p.m.
 

Teacher Institute Day - No Students 

Tuesday, March 17

GPS Parent Series: The Balancing Act: Creating Healthy Connections Without Losing Yourself

Tuesday, March 17 from 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. via Zoom

More Information

Field Open House/ Student Showcase

Wednesday, March 18, from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
 

GPS Parent Series: IN PERSON B-PAC in Spanish: Inculcando hábitos financieros responsables y saludables en los jóvenes / Instilling Responsible and Healthy Financial Habits in Youth

Thursday, March 19 at 6 p.m.

More Information

Eid al Fitr - No School

Friday, March 20
 

Spring Break

Monday, March 23- Friday, March 27

Finance Committee Meeting

Tuesday, March 31, at 6 p.m. at Field Middle School 

Board of Education Meeting

Tuesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. at Field Middle School 

PTO Kindness Event: Bernie’s Book Bank (Rescheduled) 

Thursday, April 2 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. in Lake Bluff

Good Friday - No School 

Friday, April 3

GPS Parent Series: Parent Yourself First: Become The Parent You Want to Be

Wednesday, April 8 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. via Zoom

More Information

Orthodox Good Friday - No School 

Friday, April 10

Community Resources 

The Community Resources page on the District website includes several beneficial resources to help families on various topics. The page is divided into the District’s community partners, mental health and crisis resources, health and safety resources, and academic resources. 

Caring Corner: Groceries and Personal Care Products Available 

The District 31 Caring Corner is open every school day from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.  in the District 31 Admin Office outer lobby, 3131 Techy (adjacent to Field Middle School). Groceries, staples, personal care products, and other items are available for the taking to any family who might need the items. Ring the doorbell for entry. No need to check in with the office.  Take what you need.

Homeless Information
If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness or is a refugee, please contact Dr. Janine Gruhn, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, at jgruhn@district31.net or 847-313-4411 for assistance and information about District 31. The following links provide resources and a McKinney Vento Fact Sheet that describes homelessness and the rights of homeless students.