Dear Diamond Lake Families,

We are so excited to welcome your child back into our building, and we cannot wait for all the learning, laughter, and growth that lies ahead! The first days of school are always filled with energy and anticipation, and we are thrilled to kick off this new school year together.

Please take a look at the important schedule and reminders for the upcoming week:

• Monday, August 17: Pre-K and Kindergarten Meet and Greet from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.

• Tuesday, August 18: 1st and 2nd Grade Meet and Greet from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.

  • Important Reminder: Please bring your student's backpack to Meet and Greet events so we can attach their bus tags prior to Thursday morning!

• Thursday, August 20: First Day of School! We are so eager to see our students arrive and start the year off strong.

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

To help our school days start and end safely, please keep our drop-off and pick-up routines in mind:

• Morning Arrival (7:25 AM – 7:40 AM): Students may enter the building starting at 7:25 AM. If you drop off your child, please wait in your vehicle in the front circle drive arrival line. Staff members will assist your child out of the car and lead them inside. Parents may not park and walk students into the building. Students arriving after 7:40 AM are marked tardy and must be signed in at the front office by an adult.

• Afternoon Dismissal (Starts at 2:25 PM): All buses are loaded and depart before any car pick-ups begin. Please stay in your vehicle. The parking lot will be closed to car pick-up visitors from 1:45 PM to 2:25 PM to allow space for buses to enter. If you need to make changes to your child's usual dismissal plans, please call the main office at 847-566-6601 before 1:00 PM. 

Every day at DLS matters!

Keep shining and #SparkleOn,

Mrs. Sunny Morley

Principal, Diamond Lake School

smorley@dist76.org

Dear District 76 Families,

As we welcome our students back for another exciting school year, we wanted to remind you you that Diamond Lake School District 76 participates in the ISBE Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, which means all students receive breakfast and lunch at no cost, every school day, regardless of household income. No application is required, every enrolled student is automatically eligible.

Also, our monthly food service menus, along with nutrition data, can be found on our district website.  For August, those menus can be found HERE.

We're also committed to supporting our students' overall health and wellbeing. Our District Wellness Policy outlines how we approach nutrition, physical activity, and healthy habits across our schools. You can read the full policy HERE.  

Thank you for being such an important part of the Diamond Lake community. We look forward to a great year ahead!

D76 CARES: At D76, the well-being of our students and families is our top priority. Understanding the critical role mental health plays in student success, we have launched D76 CARES - a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving access to quality mental health services across our community. D76 CARES stands for Community, Advocacy, Resilience, Engagement, and Support. Treatment services are initially provided free of charge to district families for up to 8 sessions. Click HERE for treatment request.

PTO Budget Meeting – Did you know that all parents, guardians, teachers, and staff are considered members of the PTO? We have no dues or membership fees!

You are invited to join us on Tuesday, August 25, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. for our budget meeting. We will introduce our officers, talk about ways you can be involved, and present and vote on our 2026–2027 budget.

This is a great time to jump in or bring a friend! Child care is not provided, but your children are welcome to attend. Interested in being involved but can’t make the meetings? Indicate the ways you’d like to volunteer on our interest form, and we’ll contact you when an opportunity that matches your interests becomes available.

Spirit Wear Store – Getting ready for the school year? Don’t forget your spirit wear! Our D76 Spirit Wear Store is open now through September 20.

Shop now: https://diamondlake26.itemorder.com/

Save the Date – The Back-to-School Bash will be held on Friday, September 25, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Weather permitting, this event will be held outdoors.

Interested in volunteering or donating a raffle prize? Contact us at dist76pto@gmail.com.