First graders at Holmes have been experimenting with light this fall. They’ve learned all about how light helps us to see and that opaque objects make shadows.

Students at Maercker School have been taking advantage of the Lunch with the Principal option to spend some time with Dr. Corona!

In Spanish class, students used Airbnb  to research potential places to stay and debated which option is the best—conducting the research and discussion entirely in Spanish!

As we near the end of the first trimester, there’s much to celebrate - our students’ hard work in the classroom, their accomplishments in athletics and activities, and our staff’s ongoing collaboration to provide the best learning opportunities for our Wildcats. The Maercker D60 community has much to be proud of, and because we value continuous improvement, we know our work is never done.

While we continue to make strides from prior years, one important area that continues to challenge us is daily attendance. Chronic absenteeism - missing 10% or more of school days, even for excused reasons - places students at serious risk of falling behind. Research shows that by third grade, students who are chronically absent often struggle with reading and math achievement.

Our chronic absenteeism rates are reflected in the charts below.

Maercker D60 is committed to supporting our families with attendance in order to give every Wildcat the tools they need to take their learning to new heights. Regular attendance allows for students to be involved in lessons, develop relationships with their peers, and make the most of their education. It also gives teachers the opportunity to assess each student and to plan for each learner.

As we move forward, I ask all families to make attendance a top priority and do what you can to support strong attendance for your students. Schedule dentist and doctor appointments outside of school hours or select appointments that do not require your child to be marked absent for the entire day. Avoid planning family trips, vacations or other special events during regularly-scheduled school days, and reach out to your child's school if you require additional support.

Together, we can ensure our Wildcats show up, stay engaged, and reach their full potential - each and every day.

Regards,

Dr. Sean Nugent
Superintendent

It's official, we have had our first hints of winter weather in Illinois so it's a good time to remind everyone of the procedures around E-Learning Days. 

D60 has the ability to implement E-Learning when inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances prevent us from safely opening school for in-person learning. As always, the District would communicate when an E-learning or emergency day is needed and remind families of the E-learning process. Whenever possible, the announcement of an in-person closure and transition to E-Learning is made the night before, and when it’s not possible to announce the night before, the call is made by 6 a.m.

Get more information and resources on the E-Learning Information Page

Starting a new job can be a challenge. You need to get to know the overall flow of the organization, start making connections with coworkers, and quickly learn the culture and mission of your new workplace, which can be stressful. At Maercker D60, a mentorship program that began in 2023 continues to grow and evolve, giving staff members who are new to the district a chance to get  deeply involved with support of a mentor staff member. 

What started as a discussion with the evaluation program committee around wanting to be more supportive of new teachers quickly became an established program with the overall direction of “let’s just make it happen.” Director of Teaching and Learning Dr. Susan Ejma is a driving force behind the structure and coordination of the program. 

“We outlined what our purpose and goals were and took it from not only the logistical standpoint of new teachers needing to find out logistics of the building and curriculum, to how can D60 intentionally support new staff better to ultimately grow and support student growth,” said Dr. Ejma. “The end goal is really about student growth for all kids!”

The district uses the Danielson Cluster Framework to guide instructional practices around important milestones like building relationships and establishing classroom routines. When a staff member joins the district, they are paired up with an experienced mentor staff member who has applied to be a part of the program. District and school leadership pairs mentors and mentees up based on fit, not just on grade level or similar job titles, which can result in some exciting learning experiences. 

We are excited to once again be partnering with Humanex Ventures® to administer surveys to our staff, students, and families to aid us in our commitment to continuous improvement. In the coming weeks, you will see more information about this survey and how to participate. The data collected will be used to measure our progress over the survey from the spring of 2025 and another survey in spring of 2026 will continue that measurement.

School-specific survey links were sent to families on Monday, Nov. 10. Reminders will be sent before the survey closes on Thursday, Nov. 20

November is a busy month! Here are a few dates to be aware of:

Food security is essential to student wellbeing and success. Changes to food access can greatly impact our community. Find a list of food pantry resources here.

From ISBE
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is exploring options to fund SNAP benefits after a federal decision and will keep recipients updated on  SNAPFederalImpact.illinois.gov with the latest developments and information on where to find free food programs in their communities. IDHS is also texting SNAP recipients with updates when they become available.

Once a student is determined eligible for free or reduced-price school meal benefits, those benefits remain for the entire school year, unless a mistake is found or verification efforts do not support the level of benefits provided.

Don't miss the next Parent Coffee events coming up!

On Thursday, Nov. 20, join all of the principals to learn all about how D60 uses data to support all learners through MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support). 

The event begins at 6 p.m. at Holmes School and will give families a closer look at how students are supported in our schools. 

Westview Hills Middle School, will be hosting a Parent presentation of "Keeping Our Kids Cyber Safe" presentation on December 3, 2025 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Westview Hills Middle School 630 65th St. Willowbrook, IL 60527

All parents, guardians, teachers and guests are welcome to attend as well. Detective Richard Wistocki, nationally recognized High Technology Cyber Crimes Specialist, will be presenting proactive strategies, expert insight, and invaluable resources designed to empower you to combat Cyber-Bullying Vaping and Sexting.

Presenting Information and Strategies on:

Your membership donation goes directly toward funding events and programs at all three schools. Simply joining helps make a difference for your child and their school experience.

👉 Join here!

Every autumn, Maercker PTA participates in the Reflections arts competition. This program offered by National PTA encourages our students to explore and express themselves through the arts. Our wildcats have the opportunity to create original works to show us their artistic ability and creativity in expressing a common theme.

The theme chosen for the 2025-26 school year is "I Belong!" 

Projects are due on Monday, Nov. 21

Get more information

The next meeting of the Maercker PTA takes place on Thursday, Nov. 13 at Maercker School from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Can't make it, you can join the meeting online! 

Get more information and RSVP

Has a member of the D60 team done something amazing? Tell us about it!

We make it easy for members of our community to recognize and celebrate the incredible teachers and support staff that make Maercker D60 a safe, inclusive community that empowers and inspires life-long curiosity for learning.

The Gold Standard is a way to show your appreciation and pride in members of our staff. Anyone in our community can submit a recognition for staff members which sends an instant message of appreciation to the staff member.

Maercker D60 isn't just a great place for students to begin their educational journey, it's also a great place to work!

We are always looking for substitute teachers, instructional assistants and recess supervisors to join our team right now.

Our mission is to foster a safe, inclusive community that empowers and inspires life-long curiosity for learning.environment. This can be seen throughout our schools as our talented staff go above and beyond on a daily basis.

Visit the Employment Page to learn more.

Don't forget to download the mobile app for Maercker D60!

With the app, you can access documents, events, news updates, and even emergency notifications.

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