Dear Diamond Lake Families,

As we head into another week of learning, we have a few important dates and events to share with our DLS families. Please take a moment to review the reminders below and mark your calendars!

🍂 Reminder: No School Monday, October 12

There will be no school on Monday, October 12. We hope our families enjoy the long weekend and have an opportunity to spend some extra time together. We look forward to welcoming our Cubs back to school on Tuesday!

🧥 Winter Clothing Drive | October 19–November 6

Even though the weather has been warm, winter will be here before we know it! Our Winter Clothing Drive will run from October 19 through November 6. If you have gently used winter clothing that no longer fits your family, please consider donating it to help support others in our community. Thank you for helping us take care of one another!

📸 Picture Day | October 28

Picture Day is coming up on Wednesday, October 28! Get those smiles ready! We look forward to capturing memories of our Cubs as they continue to grow throughout the school year. More information about picture ordering is available below. Flyers will come home with students next week.

💀 Día de los Muertos | November 6

On November 6, we will recognize Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This meaningful cultural tradition honors and remembers loved ones who have passed away. We look forward to providing opportunities for our students to learn about and appreciate the traditions and cultures represented in our community.

📚 Attendance Matters!

Being at school every day makes a difference! Consistent attendance helps students build strong relationships, develop important academic skills, and stay connected to their classroom learning.

Our attendance goal at DLS is to help every student be present and ready to learn as often as possible. We encourage families to schedule appointments and vacations around school whenever possible and to make regular attendance a priority.

Student Attendance for the Week: 

Monday: 98% in attendance

Tuesday: 96% in attendance

Wednesday: 97% in attendance

Thursday: 97% in attendance

Friday: 94% in attendance

Every day of learning counts, and we appreciate your partnership in helping our Cubs attend school regularly!

💙 Thank You, DLS Families!

Keep shining and #SparkleOn,

Mrs. Sunny Morley

Principal, Diamond Lake School

smorley@dist76.org

Health Physical and Immunization Requirements – Exclusion Date October 15, 2026

As a reminder, all students entering Preschool, Kindergarten, 6th grade, and any student new to Illinois schools are required by Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/27-8.1) to have a current physical examination (must be completed within one year prior to the first day of school) and up-to-date immunization records on file.

• Deadline: October 15, 2026

Important: Students who do not submit a completed physical and proof of required immunizations by this date will be excluded from school. They will not be allowed to attend classes or participate in school activities until the required forms are received.

Please schedule any needed appointments as soon as possible and submit forms to the school office. If your child has an upcoming appointment, please provide written confirmation from your healthcare provider to the school nurse prior to October 15.

 If you have questions or need assistance accessing health services, please contact the school nurse or main office.

Thank you for helping us keep all students healthy, safe, and ready to learn!

Lunchtime Volunteers – Our food service company is providing monthly tastings of new menu items. If you would like to volunteer to help pass out samples during lunch, please sign up below. Please note that each school will have a different tasting day, and volunteers will be needed throughout all lunch periods.

Volunteer during food tasting lunches

Winter Clothing Drive – It may be warm this week, but winter will be here before we know it! If your family has gently used winter clothing that is no longer needed, please consider donating it to our Winter Clothing Drive, running October 19 through November 6. We are collecting new hats, gloves, and scarves, as well as gently used snow pants, coats, hoodies, and boots. Donations can be dropped off in the collection bins located at any school office.

Next PTO Meeting – You are invited to join us for our monthly PTO meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. in the Diamond Lake Elementary School Library. All are welcome to attend!

October 20 | 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Dine out at Luke’s! Mention Diamond Lake School District 76 or show the flyer, and 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the D76 PTO.

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.