Springfield Public Schools - District 186

The best way to start the morning? With curious minds, happy hearts and plenty of opportunities to learn through play!

This morning, our Early Learning Center students were busy building skills, exploring new ideas and growing together. In one classroom, an interactive read-aloud brought a story about a bus ride to life! Students listened for their characters, brought them up when they appeared in the story and helped the adventure unfold. When young learners get to participate in a story, they do more than listen. They practice paying attention, following along, building language skills and making connections that help learning stick!

In another classroom, students explored Mouse Paint with their own little copies of the book, saying color names aloud and practicing pronunciation as they followed along. Every new word, shared answer and turn of the page was another opportunity to grow. 🖍️

And before heading outside, students took a moment to sing a song about calming their bodies and getting focused. These little routines help young learners practice recognizing their feelings, managing their energy and getting ready for what's next.

Then it was time for some playground fun! From swings and hula hoops to the rock station and imaginative play, students had room to explore, connect with friends and build important social skills. And our amazing teachers and staff were right there alongside them, pushing swings, joining pretend-play adventures and helping little learners discover new things.

At the ELC, learning happens everywhere: in the classroom, on the playground, through a shared story and in every little moment in between. Here, we play together, learn together and grow together!

Walk through the doors of Lindsay Elementary this week and you’ll see it immediately: big grins, happy faces and a whole lot of excitement. 📚✨

And the welcoming environment starts before students even walk through the doors. As they arrive at school, students head out to the playground to stretch their legs, catch up with friends and enjoy a little time together before the school day begins. It’s a simple part of the morning, but those moments of connection help students start their day feeling welcomed, comfortable and ready to learn.

It's Book Fair week! And what better way to celebrate a love of learning than by putting books in the hands of our students? The Book Fair gives students a chance to discover new stories, explore new interests and build a love of reading that can last a lifetime.

But down the halls, the learning was happening everywhere!

🎶 In music, students were moving, singing and making music together as they learned a new fall-themed tune. They practiced Part A and Part B, played instruments to the beat and worked on rhythm while having a whole lot of fun.

📖 In kindergarten, students were building foundational literacy skills with Benchmark. They sang through the alphabet, listened to a read-aloud and answered questions about the story. They even learned that verbs are action words and eagerly raised their hands to share examples as the teacher read the story.

🍕 And in fourth grade, it was Ag in the Classroom day! Students were all ears as they learned something we can all get excited about: PIZZA!

They explored how pizza is made, where the ingredients come from and the important role farms play in getting those ingredients from the field to our tables. Students broke down all the different pieces that go into making a pizza and then put their learning into action with a hands-on activity. Working together, they spelled out words connected to the ingredients and agriculture.This is what engaged learning looks like. Students listening, moving, asking questions, working together and connecting what they learn to the world around them.

We love the opportunities that PROJECT SEARCH provides for our students! ❤️😊❤️

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which celebrates the positive contributions people with disabilities make to the American workforce. This year, IATP is spotlighting Project SEARCH. This program offers education and training to young adults with intellectual disabilities through a career development model that supports participants, workplaces, and the community.

The program serves District 186 students with disabilities ages 18–21 who have completed their high school graduation requirements and are preparing to transition from school into the workforce.

Interested in the program? Join us for in-person info night on Wednesday, December 9th from 5 to 7 pm at the Memorial Learning Center Auditorium. Pizza and drinks will be provided.

To RSVP, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHwQ2pqA4sGJTLM7gmlAszb5lFQ3-NwFfi9oindCkJ1fHDqw/viewform

Can’t make it in person?

Join virtually from 5 to 7 pm on Tuesday, December 15th at

https://meet.google.com/hze-ofsv-jwi?pli=1 or on Thursday, January 14th from 5 to 7 pm at https://meet.google.com/vev-jeti-dfv

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which celebrates the positive contributions people with disabilities make to the American workforce. This year, IATP is spotlighting Project SEARCH. This program offers education and training to young adults with intellectual disabilities through a career development model that supports participants, workplaces, and the community.

Project SEARCH is a partnership between Springfield Public Schools District 186, Memorial Health, SPARC, and the Illinois Department of Human Services. The program serves District 186 students with disabilities ages 18–21 who have completed their high school graduation requirements and are preparing to transition from school into the workforce.

Since its launch, the program has provided students with meaningful opportunities to learn and develop skills in real-world workplace settings. Through a combination of classroom instruction, career development, and hands-on internships, Project SEARCH supports students as they explore career interests, develop workplace skills, build confidence, and prepare for employment. The program also supports participating workplaces and helps strengthen connections between students, employers, and the community.

Project SEARCH is one example of what can happen when schools, employers, and community partners work together to create meaningful pathways for young adults transitioning from high school into the workforce.

For more information about Project SEARCH, join them for an in-person info night on Wednesday, December 9th from 5 to 7 pm at the Memorial Learning Center Auditorium. Pizza and drinks will be provided. To RSVP, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHwQ2pqA4sGJTLM7gmlAszb5lFQ3-NwFfi9oindCkJ1fHDqw/viewform

Can’t make it in person? Join them virtually from 5 to 7 pm on Tuesday, December 15th at https://meet.google.com/hze-ofsv-jwi?pli=1 or on Thursday, January 14th from 5 to 7 pm at https://meet.google.com/vev-jeti-dfv

We are so excited for this opportunity for our students! 🎶🎼🎤

The Springfield High School - Illinois Senators wrapped up an incredible Homecoming Week with a night full of school spirit, community and plenty of Senator pride as SHS took on the Quincy Notre Dame Raiders at Memorial Stadium.The Homecoming Tailgate was a success, bringing our school community together to support local clubs, organizations and events before kickoff.

Then it was time for the main event! The cheerleaders, band, Scarlet Line, 7, Senators and Student Council leaders brought their talents and energy to the field, while our Senator Spirit Section was delivering all night long, cheering loud and showing their support from start to finish!

The Senators came ready to compete and gave it their all. While the win wasn't ours tonight, the spirit, pride and support from SHS was strong!



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The Springfield High School - Illinois Senators brought the Solon Fever to thier new Duey gym for a Homecoming Pep Rally packed with school spirit, energy and plenty of fun!

The cheerleaders, band, Scarlet Line, 7 & Senators, Student Council leaders and the entire student body came together to make it a pep rally to remember. From the school song and dance performances to the games that had everyone cheering, the energy in the gym was NEXT LEVEL! And of course, we have to give a special shoutout to the senior class, who took home the win in the Hallway Decorating Contest! 🏆

It was the perfect way to wrap up an incredible Homecoming Week filled with spirit, creativity and plenty of Senator pride.

Springfield Southeast High School Spartans showed up, gave back and made a BIG impact!

SSHS students and staff came together for a blood drive, and the Spartan community absolutely delivered! Check out these numbers:

- 46 donors registered
- 35 units of blood collected
- 28 first-time donors
- 35+ students enrolled in the Student Impact Award

That means an estimated 105 lives can be impacted because our Spartans chose to give. And we have to give a special shoutout to those 28 first-time donors! What an incredible way to step up, serve others and make a difference in our community.

Students participating in the ImpactLife Student Impact Award are also on track to earn a graduation cord in recognition of their commitment to giving back.

Way to go, Spartans! We are so proud of you!

Yesterday, we kicked off Real Men Read across the district, and the excitement was felt in classrooms, hallways and on the faces of our students and volunteer readers.

Through this special program, we open our school doors to local men in our community who volunteer their time to read with our 1st and 3rd grade students. But Real Men Read is about so much more than a book.It’s about connection. Community. Relationships. And the joy of reading.

When a community member steps into a classroom and shares a story with a student, it sends a powerful message: You matter. Your community believes in you. And reading is something worth celebrating.

Programs like Real Men Read help make reading feel exciting and meaningful while giving our students the opportunity to build connections with adults who are investing their time in them. It also creates a bridge between our schools and the communities we serve.

And honestly, the smiles say it all. The joy on our students’ faces as they welcomed their readers, and the excitement on our volunteers’ faces as they shared a story, was something special. ❤️

We are incredibly proud to offer Real Men Read to our students and grateful for the community members who continue to show up, open a book and make a difference.

This is what community looks like. This is what connection feels like.