Dear Palombi families,
As we enter the final two months of the school year, our focus remains on providing meaningful and engaging learning experiences for every student. This season is always an exciting one, filled with end-of-year projects, field trips, and celebrations that showcase our students’ hard work and accomplishments.
We encourage all students to stay focused, give their best effort, and finish the year strong.
Please be sure to review the important dates and upcoming events listed at the end of this newsletter. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, let’s make these final months both productive and memorable for our students!
Sincerely,
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 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!
6th Grade Orientation
Save the Date: 6th Grade Orientation Night at Palombi Middle School on April 27th 6p-7p.
We invite all incoming 6th graders and their parents to attend our annual 6th Grade Orientation Night at Palombi Middle School.To help with scheduling and flow, families are asked to attend based on their student’s last name:
Last names A–L:
Please arrive at 6:00 PM to attend a brief presentation by Mrs. Sisi, our Principal, and the Deans. Following the presentation, families are welcome to enjoy a self-guided tour of the building and visit the activities and athletics fair.
Last names M–Z:
Please arrive at 6:00 PM to participate in the self-guided tour and activities/athletics fair from 6:00–6:30 PM. Families will then join the administration in the gym for a brief presentation beginning at 6:30 PM.
🚗 Parking: Available in both school parking lots and on side streets. Please do not park on McKinley Avenue.
8th-grade upcoming events
May 19- NJHS 8th-grade students receive their gold tassels 2:30pm
May 22 - 8th Grade Awards Ceremony 8:00 am-9:15 am ( invite only)
May 26- Chromebook/Charger turn-in 8:00 am-11:30 am
May 26 -Gown and ticket pick-up 8:00 am-11:30 am. Students with paid graduation fees will receive their cap, gown, and tassel (or tassel only) AND their 6 graduation tickets. This will be in a sealed package, and students will be instructed NOT to open packages until they are home. Students will be signing for their packages, and emails will be sent home confirming they have received their graduation items. No extra tickets will be given out. LOST ITEMS CANNOT BE REPLACED
May 26 - 8th Grade Dinner Dance 6:00 pm
May 27 - 8th Grade Picnic time TBD
May 28- Graduation Practice at Lakes High School in the morning
May 28- 8th Grade Ice Cream Truck time TBD
May 28- Graduation Ceremony 7:00 pm
Graduation will take place at the Lakes High School Fieldhouse on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 7:00 pm.
Graduates will need to arrive and meet in the Lakes common area at 6:00 pm
Each graduate received 6 wristband tickets for their family. The wristband must be worn to receive entry to the event.
Anyone over the age of 4 is required to wear a wristband ticket
If anyone needs accessible accommodations, please contact Angela Sisi at angela.sisi@district41.org.
For graduates with family members out of state who would like to see the ceremony, we will set up a live-streaming event available on our website.
Please do not bring balloons to the graduation ceremony, as they may interfere with our cameras and viewing for other families.
Students will pick up their diplomas after the ceremony behind the stage.
Notes from the Office
From the Dean’s Desk
Trimester 3 is officially underway! As we look forward to our end-of-year celebrations, we 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
April Mental Health Minute 🌼
April is a great time to focus on growth—not just in nature, but in ourselves. Middle school students experience many changes, and learning healthy ways to handle stress is an important life skill.
One helpful strategy is called a “Brain Break.” When schoolwork or emotions feel overwhelming, taking a short pause can help the brain reset. Encourage students to try a quick brain break by:
Taking a short walk
Stretching or moving their body
Drinking some water
Taking five slow, deep breaths
Just 2–5 minutes can help improve focus, mood, and energy. Families can support this by encouraging balance between school, activities, rest, and time outdoors.
Small breaks can make a big difference in helping students return to learning feeling calm and ready to succeed.
Habit of the Month
This month, students are learning about Habit 7, which focuses on taking care of their body, mind, and emotions so they can do their best each day.
How families can help at home:
Encourage a healthy balance of school, activities, and rest
Support good sleep routines
Make time for physical activity
Unplug and connect as a family
Check in on your child’s feelings
Building these habits helps students stay healthy, focused, and ready to learn!
6th Grade Field Trip
The 6th grade team is planning a field trip to Just For Fun Roller Rink in Mundelein, IL for the end of May. More details will follow soon!
7th Grade Field Trip
The 7th grade team is planning a field trip to the Milwaukee Zoo for April! We are working to finalize details and will share more soon!
8th Grade Field Trip
The 8th grade team is planning a field trip to Action Territory May 18th! We are working to finalize details and will share more within the next few weeks.
After School Enrichments
Palombi Middle School offers a variety of after school enrichment clubs for interested students during the school year! Enrichments run from 2:20 to 4:00 p.m. for six weeks. Session 4 enrichment sign-ups and payment are due by April 3rd! They will begin the week of April 6th and end the week of May 11th. Payments can be made on MySchoolBucks. If an enrichment activity is scheduled on a non-school day, it will be made up on that same day the following week. Late bus transportation is available for $5 per ride. Students who are not taking the late bus must be picked up at the activity entrance at 4:00 p.m.
Session 4 Enrichment Options:
- Mondays: Gaming Club, Garden Club
- Tuesdays: GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance) (every 1st and 3rd Tuesday), Poetry Club
- Wednesdays: Art Club, Chess Club, Guitar Club
- Thursdays: Mural Painting Club (only available to students in the Advanced Art class)
Health Office
Parents of 6th graders, please remember to turn in your student’s dental exam by May 15th.
Palombi Players
Palombi Players have been hard at work preparing for “Beauty and The Beast Jr.” on Friday, May 8th at 7 pm and Saturday, May 9th at 2 pm and 5 pm. Tickets will be available soon so be on the lookout for that information. Please reach out to Ms. Dahowski (emily.dahowski@district41.org) with any questions.
Music News
On March 6th, the 7th and 8th Grade Band and Choir students competed at the Northern Illinois Music Conference Contest. All four groups did a fantastic job, with the 7th and 8th grade choirs earning Division One rankings. Be on the look out for more information regarding our Spring Concerts!
Advanced Musical Theater Class
For the 2026-2027 school year, Palombi is offering a year-long class for Musical Theater. This class would require performance (both singing and acting) and expand on the knowledge learned in Musical Theater, including an end of the year performance for families and friends. You will expand your knowledge on acting, musical theater history, and stage crew. This class will be open to 7th and 8th grade students only. Please fill out this form if you are interested in joining Advanced Musical Theater. Must be in Palombi Players or have taken Musical Theater.
Advanced Guitar Class
We are happy to be offering Advanced Guitar again this year. Students must have successfully completed the Intro to Guitar (no audition required) or have prior experience playing guitar (audition is required). Students will learn advanced guitar techniques including chord memorization, scales, duets, electric guitar and bass, and playing a variety of different types of music including blues, rock, and classical guitar. Please email Mr. Eifert with any questions john.eifert@district41.org
8th Grade Dinner Dance
It’s time to celebrate our promotees! We are thrilled to announce that the Class of 2026 will be celebrating their milestone with an evening of food, music, and memories.
Please mark your calendars for this special tradition:
When: Tuesday, May 26th
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: Valley Ridge Golf Course
This is a wonderful opportunity for our 8th graders to come together one last time before heading off to high school.
Detailed information regarding tickets, dress code, and meal options will be sent out in the coming weeks. For now, just make sure to clear your schedules for a night to remember! There are a limited number of spots available so make sure to get your tickets early.
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 look at common questions here.
IMPORTANT DATES
Links to all dates can be found here: Palombi Full Calendar of Events
Apr 6 No School; School Board Meeting, 7:00pm
Apr 8 LEAD Day
Apr 14 Spring Picture Day for 6th and 7th Grade
Apr 15 7th Grade Field Trip - Milwaukee Zoo Part 1
Apr 16 7th Grade Field Trip - Milwaukee Zoo Part 2
Apr 20 School Board Meeting, 7:00pm
Apr 22 LEAD Day
Apr 27 Incoming 6th Grade Orientation - 6:00pm- 7:00pm
May 4 School Board Meeting, 7:00pm
May 8 Palombi Players Spring Play, 7:00pm
May 9 Palombi Players Spring Play, 2:00pm and 5:00pm
May 11 Spring Choir Concert 6:30pm-8:00pm
May 13 Spring Band Concert 6:30pm-8:00pm
May 18 8th Grade Field Trip
May 18 School Board Meeting, 7:00pm
May 19 Spring Pop Show 6:30pm-8pm
May 22 Awards Ceremony
May 25 Memorial Day - No School
May 26 8th Grade Dinner Dance 6:00pm-9:00pm
May 27 8th Grade Picnic
May 28 Graduation Practice @ Lakes H.S. 9:15am - 11:15am
May 28 Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony - 7:00 p.m. @ Lakes H.S.
May 28 6th Grade Skating Field Trip
May 29 6th Grade Picnic
May 29 Move-up Day
Jun 1 7th Grade Picnic
Jun 2 Last Day of School