Dear Parent and/or Guardian:
December is upon us, as is a change in weather and upcoming holidays! Please remember that students at Palombi participate in an outdoor recess three days per week when the wind chill is above 25 degrees. Students should be prepared with appropriate clothing to handle the inclement weather.
In addition to reminding students to dress for the weather, I wanted to share the information below, which outlines different weather predictions and district responses.
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.
Angela Sisi
Principal
Teacher Shout-Out
A Teacher Shout-Out is an unsolicited special recognition that acknowledges a Palombi staff member who has really helped you or your student or has been highly effective and motivating. Our staff takes great pride in helping students achieve their potential. Take a few minutes and let a staff member know how much you appreciate their work at the following link: https://forms.gle/frEKEExzJaVBHayA8
Palombi Alumni Wall
Palombi proudly recognizes alumni who have gone on to demonstrate leadership in their careers and beyond. Our “Leaders of Today and Tomorrow” Wall celebrates these individuals who have made a positive impact in various fields, showcasing their achievements as an inspiration to current students.
We are always looking to grow this recognition and would love your help! If you know a former Palombi student who has shown exceptional leadership—whether in their profession, community, or personal endeavors—please take a moment to share with us by submitting a nomination with this form.
Help us honor the incredible contributions of our alumni and inspire the next generation of leaders!
Leader in Me Habits
This month, our students are learning how trust grows when we make regular “deposits” into each other’s Emotional Bank Accounts. Families can help strengthen these habits at home with a few simple practices:
1. Make daily deposits.
Small moments matter! Offer genuine praise, listen without interrupting, and show appreciation for your child’s efforts. These positive interactions build trust and confidence.
2. Keep promises.
Follow through on commitments—big or small. When children see adults keep their word, they learn reliability and feel safe doing the same.
3. Practice “seek first to understand.”
Before jumping in with advice, try asking questions and really listening. This shows your child that their feelings and perspectives are important.
4. Apologize when needed.
Everyone makes mistakes. A sincere apology—without excuses—models humility and repairs trust quickly.
5. Celebrate progress, not perfection.
Recognize growth, effort, and improvement. This encourages resilience and keeps the Emotional Bank Account full.
Together, these habits help create a positive home environment where trust can grow and students feel supported to lead, learn, and thrive.
Notes from the Office
Forgotten Items
If your child forgets an item at home and you feel it is absolutely necessary to bring it to school, please know that we have a forgotten items rack in our office. Once you are in the office, please write your student’s full name on a label, place it on the correct grade level shelf, and we will try to deliver those items as soon as possible. Students aren’t able to use their phones during the day and shouldn’t be texted about missing items.
Honor Roll
First Trimester honor roll certificates are being created. They will be sent home within the next few weeks. Your student will receive a certificate if they earned a 4.0 GPA for High Honor Roll and 3.14 GPA for Honor Roll. Congratulations to all of the students who will receive a certificate and work hard to earn this honor. We look forward to more students reaching their Wildly Important Goals and earning this for the second trimester.
Activities
Cheerleading Competition
The Palombi Cheer team will be competing on Sunday, December 7th at Crystal Lake Central High School around 9:20 a.m. Admission is $10 and tickets can be purchased ahead of time through the GoFan link. We would love to see a great turn out at the competitions to support all the hard work the team has put in over the season!
Volleyball Tryouts
Volleyball season will be starting soon! We have 4 teams. There is a 6th/7th-grade team and an 8th-grade girls team, and a 6th/7th-grade team and an 8th-grade boys team.
Girls’ tryouts are Monday, January 12, and Tuesday, January 13 (possibly Wednesday, January 14, if needed).
Boys' tryouts are on Wednesday, January 14, and Thursday, January 15.
Please fill out the following forms if your student is interested
Girls Volleyball Tryout Form deadline Friday January 9 at 2:30pm
Boys Volleyball Tryout Form deadline Tuesday January 13 at 2:30pm
Students must have a current physical on file with the health office by the deadline of the tryout form.
It is the parents' responsibility to confirm with the health coordinator that your student is eligible to try out.
National Junior Honor Society
The selection process and induction ceremony for the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) will be postponed. During our review, we discovered that PowerSchool is not accurately calculating some GPAs. To ensure that all eligible students are considered fairly, we will need additional time to verify academic records and may need to invite more students to apply.
Please note that all students who were previously invited to apply remain eligible. We encourage everyone to continue preparing their applications, but a new submission deadline will be announced at a later date.
The selection process and induction ceremony will now take place after winter break. We will share updated timelines and details with students and families as soon as they are finalized.
We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to ensure a fair and accurate process for all students.
Library: Warm Up This Winter With Reading
As the days get colder, it’s the perfect season to grab a blanket, a warm drink, and a good book, ideally with your middle-schooler somewhere in the vicinity! Reading together (or simply reading side-by-side) boosts vocabulary, strengthens focus, sparks conversation, and, most importantly, keeps kids connected to stories that build understanding and confidence. Try creative winter ideas: a nightly “flashlight read,” a weekly “book + hot cocoa” date, or taking turns reading the funniest lines aloud. Even 10 minutes a day makes a difference.
Here’s to a cozy, curious winter!
After School Enrichments
Be on the lookout for an email with the sign-up form for session 3 of enrichments in January! It will also be available on the district website. If your student has an idea for a new club that they would like to have offered, please have them email Mrs. Rochford at emily.kaplan@district41.org.
Palombi Players
Palombi Players is excited to present “Mystery Club Ep. 3 & 4” on December 12th at 7 pm and 13th at 2 pm and 5 pm. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for Adults.
Friday - 7 pm Show Ticket Link
Saturday - 2 pm Show Ticket Link
Saturday - 5 pm Show Ticket Link
Jazz Band
The Jazz Band has been hard at work preparing for our upcoming performance on Tuesday, December 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium.
Spelling Bee
Palombi’s school spelling bee will be held on Tuesday, January 13th! All interested students must be signed up to participate. The sign-up form can be found on your student’s ELA teacher’s Google Classroom. The deadline to sign up is Monday, January 5th at 2:30 p.m. The top ten contestants from Tuesday's spelling bee will participate in the second and final school spelling bee on Tuesday, January 20th. These students’ families will be invited to attend the final spelling bee.
Yearbook
The 2025-2026 Yearbook is on sale for $35. Buy your yearbook now! Reserve your copy online at jostensyearbooks.com. Don't delay, order today! If you have any questions, please reach out to Hailey Kobeski (hailey.kobeski@district41.org) for more information.
IMPORTANT DATES
Links to all dates can be found here: Palombi Full Calendar of Events
Dec. 12 Palombi Players Program - 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 13 Palombi Players Program - 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 15 Lake Villa District 41 Board of Education Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
Dec 16 Winter Jazz Band Concert - 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 NJHS Induction Ceremony 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 22 Winter Break Begins
Jan. 5 School Resumes
Jan. 9 Girls Volleyball Sign Up & Physicals Deadline
Jan 12 Lake Villa District 41 Board of Education Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 12 Girls Volleyball Tryouts
Jan. 13 Girls Volleyball Tryouts
Jan 13 Boys Volleyball Sign Up & Physicals Deadline
Jan. 14 Boys Volleyball Tryouts
Jan. 15 Boys Volleyball Tryouts
Jan. 19 No, School, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Day
Jan. 28 8th Grade Graduation Picture Day (during school hours)