Dear Parents, Guardians, and Palombi Students,
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! We hope you had a wonderful and relaxing summer and we cannot begin to tell you how much we are looking forward to seeing all of our students on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 20th, which is a half day of school for all students. Classes start at 7:32am and will end at 10:30am. Regular middle school hours Monday through Thursday are from 7:32am-2:17pm. Every Friday the schedule is 7:32am - 1:00pm
Please continue reading for important information and updates and also we would love it if you would follow our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Palombi.Middle.School/.
As was always the practice, all staff will be required to wear their id badges. In addition classroom doors will be locked at all times, and new staff will continue to be retrained on ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) procedures.
Curiosity Day
August is a big month for our staff and students! We can’t wait to see everyone on Curiosity Day, Tuesday August 19, 2025. Curiosity Day (Hour) is a time for students to pick up their locker combination, try their locker and walk their schedule. Teachers for each grade level will be available to assist students and say hello. Parking can be found in our activity entrance lot and in our bus parking lot, as well as in adjacent side streets. The schedule is as follows:
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. - 6th grade students
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - 7th/8th grade students
We will have multiple entrances open for you to enter the building. Once you are in the building please take note of the guidelines below:
Please print out a new schedule to bring, as changes may have been made to balance classes. If you forget your child’s schedule, please see your first period teacher.
ALL locker numbers and combinations can be picked up in your first period class where you will also drop off your common supplies (kleenex, paper towels, wipes, etc). If you can’t make it, students will receive their lockers and combinations on another day.
You will get your locker combination from your first period teacher, but your locker will be located near your advisory classroom.
Please do not affix any stickers to the outside or inside of the lockers.
If you have a problem with your locker please seek out a teacher who can assist you.
Finally, please return to your car promptly at the end of your time so that the next grade level has enough parking.
If you ordered First Day School Supply Kits, they will be available in the cafeteria for pickup.
Cell Phones and Airpods/wireless headsets
Just like last year, cell phones will not be allowed during the school day. Students are required to leave their cell phones in their lockers. If a student has their phone out in class, the student will bring the phone to the office, and the student will pick up the phone at the end of the school day. In addition, earbuds/airpods are also NOT allowed in classes and will be brought to the office as well. If your student needs headphones, please send them with a wired set. Please see the detailed Student Handbook by clicking here!
Report a Concern
We are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment. The Report a Concern form offers students and parents a confidential way to report any issues or concerns. Submissions are reviewed by the appropriate school staff, who will investigate and respond as needed.
This process helps ensure all reports are taken seriously, documented properly, and addressed promptly. It also allows the school to identify behavior patterns and take preventive action when necessary.
Bus Changes
Durham Bus Service will be sending out bus routes and stops directly to families. If you are in need of information please call Durham at 847.356.6990
Reminder: Except in emergency situations, and with prior approval of the district office, students are not allowed to take a different bus to school or to another location after school. Temporary bus route changes are not allowed.
Student Schedules
All schedules will be available the week of August 11th, via the desktop version of the PowerSchool Parent Portal, the app will be live on the first day of school. For those who are not registered, you may not be able to see your schedule until you are registered. Please contact Kaitlin Koenig at kaitlin.koenig@district41.org with any schedule questions.
Gym Uniform
If you haven't already done so, please visit Brooks-Allan and purchase a PE shirt. Brooks-Allan information can be found at the following website: www.brooks-allan.com
Gym Locks
Both hallway locks and p.e. locks are supplied by Lake Villa SD 41. If a student loses a p.e. lock, the charge for a new lock will be $10.00.
Looking for a Job?
Palombi is looking for a psychologist and a 7th grade Cross Categorical teacher. If you have any interest please send an email to Mrs. Julie Pozezinski, Dean of Student Services, at jpozezinski@district41.org.
School Lunch and Breakfast
Reminder that the District provides free and reduced meals for students who qualify.
To apply for Free/Reduced Lunch visit our website under Food Service. Click here for information on how to create an account for food purchases.
Paid Lunch is $3.65 and reduced lunch is $.40.
Paid breakfast is $2.00 and reduced rate breakfast is $0.30.
Registration and Fees
School Registration Fees are now due. The fees will increase after August 31. Payments can be made electronically through MySchoolBucks, via regular mail, or in- person at the school building.
Supplemental Insurance
The district offers Voluntary Supplemental Student Accident Insurance. To enroll, please see information by clicking here. For more information on our accident insurance coverage, click here.
Inclement Weather
District 41 puts students and staff first. Our goal is always to have students at school, when we can do so safely. Therefore, the district considers several factors when determining whether to close schools due to extreme weather, including data provided by the National Weather Service, including the temperature, windchill, and warnings. Although we strive each and every time to make the best decision regarding in-person or remote learning, oftentimes, no perfect decision exists. If school is not canceled and a parent and/or guardian feels their child is safer at home, they may reserve the right to keep them home. Keeping a child home due to weather will be recorded as an excused absence on the student's record as long as the parent and/or guardian report the absence to the school. Additionally, parents/guardians may choose to drop off/pick up their child from school.
The following are some criteria that are used when making school closure decisions. Invariably, there will be situations that do not fit into these guidelines, in which case the administration will do its best to provide cancellation information to families as soon as possible.
COLD DAYS - The National Weather Service predicts wind chills below -30 degrees, with other conditions considered.
SNOW DAYS - Heavy snow or icy conditions overnight or that worsen during the day.
E-LEARNING DAYS - An E-Learning Day may be an alternative to being fully closed. These days do not need to be made up at the end of the year. Students and staff would be notified before the end of the preceding day to bring their Chromebooks home. The e-Learning Plan is available on the District website under ‘Parents and Guardians Resources.’
Other Considerations
Multiple conditions that may include blowing snow, winds greater than 20 mph, heavy snow accumulations during travel times, hazardous driving conditions, ice accumulation, the ability of buses to start due to extreme cold, and power or phone outages.
A district-wide alert will be sent out via phone and email as early as possible. Parents can also check the district’s website. If schools are open due to weather, parents may keep a child home. They will be marked as excused.
If schools are closed...
District 41 Administration will do its best to provide cancellation information to families as soon as possible. District 41 will notify parents by 1:00 PM the previous school day of an e-Learning Day due to extreme weather. Parents will be notified with a target by 5:30 AM if schools need to close entirely for the day. The district makes every effort to inform parents as soon as possible. If schools are closed for the day, all after-school activities in the district, including sports and evening events, will be canceled unless otherwise communicated.
If schools are not closed…
If school is not canceled and a parent and/or guardian feels their child is safer at home, they may reserve the right to keep them home. Keeping a child home due to weather will be recorded as an excused absence on the student's record as long as the parent and/or guardian report the absence to the school in a timely manner. If school is already in session and conditions begin to worsen, the district will decide by 1:00 PM whether after-school activities will be canceled for that afternoon.
How is the decision to cancel school made?
Superintendents from area districts start communicating with each other as soon as the weather reports start to look threatening. District 41 collaborates with the Millburn, Emmons, Grass Lake, Lakes High School, Woodland, Grayslake Elementary, Grayslake High School, Gavin, Big Hollow, Fox Lake, and Grant High School superintendents. The superintendents generally attempt to reach a consensus on school closures. When area school districts make various decisions, the full District 41 administrative team finalizes the decision.
Hearing and Vision Screenings
During the school year, vision and/or hearing screenings are conducted for students. Please see the student/parent handbook for further information.
Palombi Parent Panel
The Palombi Parent Panel held its first meeting last April. This panel focuses on school culture and climate. After reviewing current initiatives, parents shared valuable ideas for enhancing the school environment by boosting student, parent, and community involvement in events. Stay tuned—several of these ideas may be put into action during the 2025–2026 school year! Our next meetings will be held on:
Thursday, September 11th from 4:30-5:30 PM - PROCEDURES & COMMUNICATION
Monday, January 12th from 4:30-5:30 PM - MID YEAR CHECK IN
Tuesday, April 14th from 4:30-5:30 PM - PREPARING FOR NEXT YEAR
Sports & Activities
A reminder for those students that plan to participate in Boys and Girls Soccer, Girls Softball, and/or Coed Cross Country: an up-to-date physical must be on file in the Health Coordinator’s office by August 25 at 2:30 pm for a student will be allowed to try out/participate for any fall sport. Click here to register for tryouts for fall sports or participate in cross country. You must register by August 25th at 2:30pm. Tryouts for soccer and softball will be taking place as follows:
Boys Soccer: August 26, 27, 28, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Girls Soccer: August 26, 27, 28, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Girls Softball: August 26, 27, 28, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Coed Cross Country (no cut sport): practice begins August 26, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Student Celebrations
Just as we celebrate student accomplishments for school activities, we would love to celebrate our students for accomplishments outside of school. Please complete this google form if you would like the school to know about something amazing your child has accomplished (winning club/sport STATE championships, etc). We will add this information to our morning announcements. Also send a photo of the accomplishment to Kaitlin Koenig (Kaitlin.koenig@district41.org), and we will post the photo on our bulletin board.
We look forward to beginning the new school year with you and your child/ren on August 20th. If any of us can be of any assistance, please reach out.
It is going to be an exciting new school year! Please feel free to call us with any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Angela Sisi - Principal 847-356-2118 x51006
Kaitlin Koenig - Dean of Students 847-356-2118 x51007
Julie Pozezinski (Poe) - Dean of Student Services 847-356-2118 x51005
Melissa Rhodes - Dean of Culture 847-356-2118 x53220
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, August 18th - Board Meeting 7pm
Tuesday, August 19th - Curiosity Day
Curiosity Day is divided by grade levels:
6th grade - 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
7th/8th grade - 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 20th - First Day of School - 7:32a.m. - 10:30a.m.
The first day is a half day of school. The students are to arrive by 7:32 a.m. and go directly to first period
Thursday, August 21st - Curriculum Night - 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Curriculum nights provide teachers an opportunity to talk with parents about the upcoming school year. Daily routines, classroom management systems, and class requirements are just a few items that can help parent-teacher communication at the start of the year. The schedule for the evening is below. If you cannot make it, teachers will have their presentation up on Google classroom the morning of Friday, August 22nd.
5:40-5:55
New families to the district meet with administration
This is the same presentation that incoming 6th grade families saw in May.
Period 1: 6:00-6:07
Period 2: 6:09-6:16
Period 3: 6:18-6:25
Period 4: 6:27-6:34
Period 5: 6:36-6:43
Period 6: 6:45-6:52
Period 7: 6:54-7:01
Period 8: 7:03-7:10
Period 9: 7:12-7:19
Period 10: 7:21-7:28
August 26th-28th - Fall Sports Tryouts 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
September 1st - Labor Day - No School
September 8th - Board Meeting 7pm