“I’m so grateful for the wonderful education I received and the endless opportunities,” said Emerson 8th grader Noemi G. in her student welcome address at the Emerson Middle School 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony. “Emerson became not just a school but a community.”

Around 280 Emerson students walked across the Maine East High School stage to receive their middle school diplomas. It was the end of their time in D64 schools but the beginning of an exciting high school chapter. 

“You may no longer be a student of Emerson, but you will always be an Eagle,” said Emerson Principal Tessa Shulman. “We are extremely proud of them and wish them nothing but the best as they leave Emerson to tackle high school and the next steps in their lives.”

“Dream big, work hard, and have fun along the way,” said 8th grader Madelyn G. as she addressed the crowd at Maine East High School for Lincoln Middle School’s 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony. 

With pride and a touch of nostalgia, nearly 250 students walked across the stage to receive their middle school diplomas, marking the end of their education journey in D64 schools as they prepare to embark on the next chapter of high school. 

Lincoln Principal David Szwed shared some reminders as students enter their new schools. “Be kind to everyone. There’s nothing more to say on that one, and there are no exceptions ever...Lastly, make sure you find time to laugh,” added Szwed. “There’s enough stress in this world already, and laughing at them only makes them smaller in comparison. To our graduates, I want to thank you for an outstanding career at Lincoln. We wish you the best of luck.”

"Preschool was a blast! Kindergarten, get ready for us!"

Jefferson families gathered on the last day of school to cheer on their little ones as they prepared for their next big step. The playground and courtyard were open for one last fun playtime for the preschoolers. And to make it even more special, everyone enjoyed tasty snowcones from a cool snowcone machine!

You can find more photos from the celebration on our website.

To inform the community about the critical work needed in our buildings and the 2024 Proposal, we have sent out another mailer to all registered voters in our District. If you would like a digital copy, you can download it by clicking on this link.

For comprehensive information about the 2024 Proposal, you can find answers by visiting d64.org/2024proposal.

Upcoming Board Meetings

The following are the next Board meetings:

• June 27, 2024 - 7 p.m. - Hendee Rooms at Jefferson
• August 15, 2024 - 7 p.m. - Hendee Rooms at Jefferson

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.

We invite you to the Park Ridge Library to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Summer Reading with us! Kids can win prizes for every 10 days of reading and earn a prize book for every 30 days of reading. To learn more, visit the Park Ridge Library's website.

Sign up for summer reading and check out the Niles-Maine District Library's Summer Programs. You can sign up at the Library or on their website.

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

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