Dear Diamond Lake Families,

Another Great Week at Diamond Lake!

It has been another busy and productive week at Diamond Lake School! Our students continue to work hard each day, showing what they know, growing as learners, and putting forth their best effort. We are proud of the way our students continue to demonstrate the Diamond Lake expectations!

🚨 Safety Drill: Practicing to Keep Our Students Safe

This week, we completed a successful law enforcement safety drill at Diamond Lake School. Our students and staff did an excellent job following directions and practicing the safety procedures we have established to help keep everyone safe.

We hope you were able to take a few minutes to review the drill with your child at home. Talking about these procedures with your child helps reinforce the importance of listening to trusted adults and knowing what to do when we practice our safety routines at school. Thank you for partnering with us to help our students feel prepared and safe.

📊 STAR & FastBridge Assessment Information Coming September 25

Families, please be on the lookout for STAR Assessment and FastBridge Assessment information on September 25. These assessments provide us with valuable information about your child's learning and growth.

We use assessment information as one piece of the larger picture to understand where students are successful and where they may need additional support or opportunities for enrichment. We look forward to sharing this information with you and continuing to partner with you in supporting your child's learning.

🩺 Health Requirements Reminder — October 15 Deadline

A reminder that October 15 is the exclusion date for students who have not completed the required health documentation. Please review the health requirements information below and make sure your child's required physicals, immunizations, and/or other documentation are submitted to the school by the deadline.

Thank you for taking care of these requirements and helping us ensure that all of our students are ready to learn and participate fully at school.

🥟 We Need Volunteers for a Student Food Taste Test September 23rd!

We are looking for parent/guardian volunteers to join us at DLS from 10:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m. to help with a special food taste test! Email smorley@dist76.org if you are interested in joining us. 

Students will have the opportunity to taste test dumplings that are being considered as a possible new lunch option on the school menu. We are excited to give our students a voice and let them help us explore new food choices!

If you are available to volunteer, we would love to have you join us. Thank you for helping us create fun and meaningful experiences for our students!

💙 Thank You, DLS Families!

Keep shining and #SparkleOn,

Mrs. Sunny Morley

Principal, Diamond Lake School

smorley@dist76.org

Fall STAR test scores for Reading, Math and Lectura (for Dual Language students) will be emailed to families with students in grades 1-8 next Friday, 9.25.  These initial benchmark scores provide us with an opportunity to set goals with students and ensure that we are adjusting our teachings, lessons, and practices to meet the needs of our students and establish a growth mindset .  Students will take STAR tests again in December to establish our winter benchmark.  This will provide us with data to compare to the fall benchmark scores and measure how much academic growth our students achieved.  Fall benchmark scores are an excellent tool to use as informative data that can assist in establishing academic routines and practices at home.  Additional academic support within the home can significantly impact student performance and growth.  If you have any questions about your child’s STAR score report, please contact your child’s Principal or teacher.

Students in Kindergarten and First Grade took the FastBridge fall benchmark in Reading and Math.  These tests will be sent home as a hard copy with student next Friday, 9.25.  These benchmark assessments will also be taken three times, and they provide feedback on specific skills for our early readers and mathematicians.  

ACCESS Testing:

If your child took the ACCESS English language proficiency assessment last winter, their score report will be sent home soon, along with an annual notification letter about English Learner services and programming, if applicable. If you need help understanding either document, please contact the Director of Multilingual Learning, Yolanda Roldan yroldan@dist76.org.

Sparkle and Shine Awards from this week! I am so proud of our DLS students demonstrating expectations. Be safe. Be respectful. Be responsible.

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!

Spirit Wear Store This weekend is your last chance to order gear for the 2026–2027 school year! The online store closes at the end of the day on Sunday, September 20th. Shop now at diamondlake26.itemorder.com.

Thank You! Our wish list for the Back to School Bash was filled in record time! Thank you so much to everyone who purchased items to support the work of our PTO.

Next PTO Meeting You are invited to join us for our monthly PTO meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Diamond Lake Elementary School Library. All are welcome to attend!

Volunteers Needed We still need a few more volunteers to help make the night a success. Please sign up for a shift on our SignUpGenius.

Back to School Bash The Back to School Bash will be held on Friday, September 25th, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Weather permitting, this event will be held outdoors. Tickets are $5 per person or $20 per family of 4 or more, and they may be purchased at the door. Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information about the event.

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.