Dear Palombi Families,
We are thrilled to share some exciting news with our school community! 🎉
After reviewing our NWEA/MAP Winter assessment data, we are proud to announce that all grade levels demonstrated significant growth in both ELA and Math. Even more impressive, every grade level exceeded its winter growth goal in both subjects!
In addition, our students’ performance in ELA and Math across all grade levels surpassed the MAP national norms, meaning our students outperformed the national average reported by NWEA MAP. This outstanding achievement reflects the dedication, perseverance, and collaboration of our students, staff, families, and broader school community.
By setting meaningful individual goals and maintaining a strong focus on high-quality instruction and student learning, we continue to foster an environment where success thrives. As we look ahead to the IAR assessments in March, let’s build on this momentum and continue to showcase the incredible potential of our students.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support—we couldn’t do this without you!
Mrs. Angela Sisi
Principal
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.
Teacher Shout-Out
What is a 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 by clicking this link.
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!
February Habit of the Month
This month, our Friday Focus lessons are focused on Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, which is all about listening first and speaking with respect—and students can practice it every day at home! Encourage your child to try:
empathic listening by putting devices down, making eye contact, and really hearing what others are saying before responding.
respectful communication by sharing their own thoughts calmly, using “I” statements, and disagreeing without being rude.
building on their presentation skills—students can practice explaining their ideas clearly at the dinner table, during family meetings, or when asking for something they want.
These small moments help students grow into confident speakers, thoughtful listeners, and respectful communicators both in and out of school.
Leader In Me District-Wide Leadership Event!
Date: Thursday, February 19
Time: 6:00–7:30 PM
Location: Palombi Middle School, 133 McKinley Ave, Lake Villa
The evening will begin at 6:00 PM in the Palombi Middle School Gymnasium with a student-led presentation featuring leaders from across the district. Following the presentation, families are invited to enjoy a variety of interactive, family-friendly activities that highlight the 7 Habits and offer practical ways to apply them at home. Activities are designed for all ages, encouraging families to participate together. Each activity you complete as a family will earn you a square on your Bingo card. Once you get a Bingo, you’ll have the chance to enter drawings for a variety of raffle prizes!
We hope you’ll join us for an evening of inspiration, connection, and fun as we celebrate leadership and strengthen family bonds through the 7 Habits.
From the Dean’s Office: Trimester Three Behavioral Expectations
Trimester 3 is almost underway! As we look forward to our end-of-year celebrations, I want to emphasize that these activities are earned privileges intended for students who demonstrate academic responsibility and behavioral excellence. Our goal is for every student to participate; however, attendance in the end of the year activities is contingent upon maintaining good academic standing and appropriate conduct. Please take a moment to review the linked expectation document with your child to ensure a clear understanding of the requirements for participation.
Mental Health Minute
February recognizes Children’s Mental Health Week (Feb 9th-15th).
Children experience a wide range of feelings every day. Learning how to recognize emotions, manage stress, and ask for help are important life skills that support both learning and overall well-being.
You can support this learning at home by:
Checking in with your child about how they are feeling
Encouraging healthy coping skills (deep breathing, taking breaks, talking things through)
Reminding them that all feelings are okay and that help is always available when needed
Our goal is to help students build confidence in managing emotions and to remind them that they are supported both at school and at home. 🩷
Spring Conferences
Each year, Lake Villa 41 holds spring parent/teacher conferences based on invitation only. On March 12th, we will be holding conferences for parents that are sent an invite by a teacher. On this day, we operate on a Friday schedule. School lets out at 1:00 p.m. on March 12th.
Notes from the Office: Front Door Protocol
Our main entrance doors are locked for security reasons. There are two door bells: one for the Palombi Office and one for the District Office. Please ring the appropriate door bell and wait for the office staff to respond to you to determine the nature of your visit. You will then be buzzed into the foyer. Please do not let other visitors in while you are entering or exiting the foyer. This is to ensure the safety of our students and staff. We appreciate your cooperation with keeping our school safe.
Health Office
During the winter weather, please do your part to help our staff and students stay healthy by keeping your children home until they are fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea free for 24hrs, without the use of medications. Please remind your child that it is important for them to visit the nurse if they are not feeling well. Students should not be texting/calling parents to be picked up from school.
Reminder that students participating in sports and/or athletic enrichment clubs must have a current (within one year) physical on file to participate. Please contact the nurse’s office if you have questions!
Parents of 6th graders: Please remember to turn in your student’s current dental exam by May 15th.
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.
ACTIVITIES
2027 Washington, D.C Trip
7th Grade Families! If you would like to sign your current 7th grade student up for the 2027 Washington D.C trip, please enroll at this link here. Reach out to Ms. Gama at cecilia.gamamendoza@district41.org for more information or register here to attend our virtual informational meeting on February 4th at 7:00pm.
Advanced Art 2026-2027
Attention families of current 6th and 7th grade students! If your student has taken an introductory Art course at Palombi, loves Art, and would want to be challenged and further develop their artistic skills, they are encouraged to apply for Advanced Art - a year-long exploratory class! Interested students can pick up an information flyer outside Mrs. Broz-Andreou’s room 107, and submit their portfolio (per directions on the flyer) to Mrs. Broz-Andreou (natalia.brozandreou@district41.org) by February 20th, 2026, to be considered for the 2026-2027 Advanced Art class.
Advanced Guitar
Hello Palombi guitar student families! We began offering Advanced Guitar as a full-year class two years ago, and I am happy to tell you that we are offering this course again for the 2026-27 school year! This class is open to any student who has successfully completed the basic guitar course at Palombi. Students who did not take guitar at Palombi but have experience playing guitar or have taken private guitar lessons are also eligible to audition for the class. The course focuses on advanced guitar skills including chords, solo guitar, duets, music theory, and song writing. Additionally, there are performance opportunities, and exposure to the piano, bass guitar, and drums. Most important though, it's a ton of fun! Advanced Guitar class runs the entire school year. Course sign-up will take place later this school year and space is limited. If you have any questions, please have your student see me in school or send me an email at john.eifert@district41.org.
Track & Field Information
Questions? Email the head coach, Ms. Horn, at ashley.horn@district41.org
There will be a student & parent informational meeting on Monday, March 2 at 2:30 pm via Google Meet. Click here to join.
This year we’re starting Track & Field early with a 4 day clinic! Whether you’re new to the sport or returning for another season, this is the perfect time to explore events you’re interested in, practice ones you want to do, and begin conditioning before the season begins.
March 16-19 from 2:20 - 4:30 pm, pick up location TBD depending on the number of participants. If students are unable to be picked up by a parent/guardian at 4:30, they can take the 4 pm late bus.
A current physical is required to participate. Current physicals can be emailed to the nurse coordinator, Mrs. Taylor at francesca.taylor@district41.org.
The fee is $20 and can be paid via MySchoolBucks.
Sign ups open February 9. Click here to sign up.
The sign up and physical deadline is March 9- no late submissions will be accepted.
The signup for Track and Field will be open March 2! Track and Field is a no cut sport and is open to all 6th-8th grade students. The season begins Monday, March 30 when we return from spring break. Click here to sign up your student for the regular season (March 30-May 23).
A current physical is required in order to participate. Current physicals can be emailed to the nurse coordinator, Mrs. Taylor at francesca.taylor@district41.org.
The sign up and physical deadline is March 20- no late submissions will be accepted.
There is a $120 athletic fee that is due by Friday, April 3 and can be paid via MySchoolBucks.
Flag Football
We are excited to announce the launch of our Girls Flag Football intramural team for the upcoming spring season! This new program offers a fantastic opportunity for students to develop teamwork, confidence, and athletic skills while participating in one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. More information will be sent home soon! Please contact coach Matt Vannieuwenhoven (matt.vannieuwenhoven@district41.org) or Steve Johnson (sjohnson@district41.org) for more information.
Band & Choir
The 6th Grade Band and Choir students will be performing our joint concert on February 10th at 6:30pm in Palombi Gym. The Band & Choir Showcase is on February 24th at 6:30pm in the Palombi gym.
City Lights and Game Night Dance
Spring announcement: Get ready to have fun- our City Lights and Game Night Dance is March 6th from 5:30 - 7:00. Keep it cool and casual and have fun with your friends! We will have the gym for dancing, the cafeteria with board games, and concessions! We will also be giving away free raffle tickets throughout the night for the chance to win fun prizes like spirit wear, fidgets, and even a $50 gift certificate to Skate on Grand! Tickets go on sale on February 23 on MySchoolBucks for $5 until March 5th. Tickets will be sold at the door of the dance for $7. Students must be eligible to attend and be present for at least half of the day to attend the dance. If you have any questions please reach out to Ms. Kobeski or Ms. Broz.
February Spirit Days
*Please note that face/body paint is not allowed at school.
Super Bowl Spirit Day: On Friday, February 6, students are encouraged to wear a jersey or sports apparel to show support for your favorite team to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday!
Valentine’s Day Spirit Day: On Thursday, February 12, students are encouraged to wear pink, red, and white to celebrate Valentine's Day!
National Cancer Prevention Month: Since February is National Cancer Prevention Month, students will be invited to wear a different color each day from Monday, February 23 through Friday, February 27 to honor various cancer types and show support for patients and survivors. On Friday, February 27, students will be asked to wear lavender—the universal color for cancer awareness. Additional details will be shared soon.
School Supply Drive: Our S.O.S. (Save Our Supplies) student team is hosting a school supply drive as part of Leader in Me. Donation boxes will be in the library for unused items like pens, pencils, and folders. Please talk with your child about what they can donate.
IMPORTANT DATES
Links to all dates can be found here: Palombi Full Calendar of Events
Feb 9 Lake Villa 41 Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Feb 10 6th Grade Band and Choir Concert
Feb 12 8th Grade Graduation Fee Deadline
Feb 13 No School - Institute Day
Feb 16 President’s Day - No School
Feb 18 Graduation Picture Retake Day (during school)
Feb 19 District-Wide Leadership Event at Palombi 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m
Feb 24 Band & Choir Concert Showcase
Feb 27 End of 2nd Trimester
Mar 2 Lake Villa 41 Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Mar 6 2nd Trimester Grade Posted in PowerSchool
Mar 6 Spring Dance 5:30-7:00 pm
Mar 9,10,11 IAR (Illinois Assessment for Readiness) ELA Testing, 6th - 8th grades
Mar 12 Spring Conferences 1:45 - 7:00 p.m. (Invite only)
Mar 13 No School - Non-attendance Day
Mar 16 Lake Villa 41 Board of Education Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
Mar 17,18 IAR (Illinois Assessment for Readiness) Math Testing, 6th-8th grades
Mar 23 - 27 Spring Break - No School
March 31 ISA (Illinois Science Assessment) Testing, 8th Grade