Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 -

🐾 Big welcome to our four newly graduated therapy dog teams! 🐶🎓 With these fresh faces (and furry friends), we now have 18 certified D102 therapy dog teams! You'll see them bright and early at the start of each summer school session, ready to greet students with wagging tails and warm smiles. 🐕☀️💛 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🚨 We’re Hiring: Special Education Teacher 🚨 Join our amazing team and make a difference every day! 💙 We’re looking for a compassionate, student-focused educator to support learners with diverse needs through individualized instruction and collaboration. 📍 Location: Meridian School 📅 Start Date: August 19, 2025 🎓 Required: PEL with LBS1 endorsement 💼 Benefits Include: ✔️ Medical, dental, life & disability insurance (employee premiums paid by D102) ✔️ Paid sick, personal & bereavement days ✔️ Salary range per the Collective Bargaining Agreement 📧 Apply Now: https://tinyurl.com/46tnzumw Help shape brighter futures in a supportive and inclusive school community.

🌟 Celebrating Our Retirees 🌟 As summer kicks off, we want to take a moment to celebrate and thank our incredible D102 staff members who retired this year. Each one of them has left a lasting mark on our district, dedicating their time, passion, and care to generations of students and families. Some of these remarkable individuals began their careers right here in District 102, growing with us over the years and shaping the very heart of our schools. 💛 Thank you to Tom Ivarson, Laurie Friman, Stacy Lipshutz, Cheri Brill, Gina Perovic, Tracy Ticknell, Sherrie Cummins, Sue Wolf, and Beth Berger. Your legacy of kindness, dedication, and excellence will continue to inspire our community for years to come. We wish you a joyful and well-deserved retirement full of new adventures, rest, and plenty of time to enjoy the things you love. 💐 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎉 The Meridian Ambassadors have been hard at work creating a special exhibit, Celebrating Meridian School, now open at the Raupp Museum in Buffalo Grove! This exhibit honors the history of D102 and Meridian School since it opened in 1994, spotlighting our incredible staff and administrators through the years. You'll find familiar faces like Ms. Zucker, Mrs. Podeschi, and Mr. Teplinsky, along with a heartfelt tribute to Mrs. Brill, Mrs. Cummins, and Mrs. Lipshutz — the “final three” original teachers who are now retiring. 💙 On display: the original blueprint, the groundbreaking shovel, a modern time capsule, and so much more! 🏫✨ Thank you to everyone who joined us for the opening celebration. We invite all community members and students to stop by and explore Meridian’s rich history. Don’t miss it! 📍 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

📬💙 Pen pals turned real pals! First graders at Tripp and fifth graders at Meridian spent the school year writing letters to each other—and they finally met in person for the first time! Their special meetup was filled with smiles, laughter, and fun “get to know you” activities as they connected face-to-face with the friends they’ve been writing to all year. ✉️🤝 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

It’s the last day of school and the start of retirement for Meridian teachers Mrs. Brill, Mrs. Cummins, Mrs. Lupshutz, and Mrs. Tincknell! 🎉📚 We’re sending them—and all our amazing staff—off into summer with big smiles and even bigger gratitude. ☀️ While school is out, we’re still in (just at a slower pace)! Follow along all summer for behind-the-scenes construction updates, exciting progress, and stories you won’t want to miss.

🏗️ AJHS Gymnasium Construction Update We’re in the home stretch! 👟✨ Inside the new AJHS gymnasium, the floors are fully installed and are now being sanded and finished—bringing us one step closer to game time! 🏀 In the locker rooms, doors and hardware are in place, adding the final touches to the space. Outside, a brand-new track has been laid, and fresh landscaping is taking shape around the gym and track, transforming the look of the campus. 🔧 Now that summer has begun, the next phase of construction will kick off with mechanical upgrades, casework installation, and a full roof replacement. None of this would be possible without the support of our community and the approved referendum. Thank you for investing in the future of our students! 💛 We can’t wait to welcome everyone into this beautiful, upgraded space! 🎉🎉 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent #BrightFuture #BuilD102

🎉 Field Day Fun Across D102! 🎉 Students at Pritchett, Tripp, and Meridian celebrated the end of the school year with one of our favorite traditions: Field Day! There were bounce houses and relay races to friendly contests and high-energy music. Schools were buzzing with excitement, teamwork, and pure joy. Thank you to our amazing staff and volunteers who helped create a day full of laughter, movement, and unforgettable memories. 🏃‍♂️🎶🎈 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎤 One Elective to Save… Which Would You Choose? 💻🍳🎶 During a recent persuasive writing unit, students tackled a tough challenge: save just one elective—computer science, cooking, or music! They researched, built persuasive pitches, and presented slideshow presentations to advocate for their choice. A great exercise in critical thinking, public speaking, and standing up for what they believe in! 💬👏 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎉 Real-World Learning in Action! 🛍💼 Second-grade EL students at Tripp wrapped up their economics unit with a fun and educational Market Day! They became producers and consumers while learning about needs vs. wants, goods and services, and persuasive selling. Meanwhile, AJHS 8th-grade students in the entrepreneurship encore rotation held a Business Fair, showcasing their creativity, business insight, and communication skills. Students presented unique products, services, and innovative ideas to peers, staff, teachers, and Dr. McIntyre, too. What a powerful display of future-ready skills at every level! 🌟 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🚗💥 Engineering in Action! Meridian students in Project Lead the Way took on a crash-test challenge: design a car that can protect an egg! 🥚 Using VEX kits, tape, straws & more, they built and tested their vehicles—only one egg cracked! #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎓 Our AJHS 8th graders graduated at Stevenson High School surrounded by proud families, heartfelt speeches, laughter, and special memories. Congratulations to the Class of 2025. Stevenson is lucky to have you next year! #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent #GoEagles

🎶 Big News! 🎶 We’re proud to share that Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 has once again been recognized with the Best Communities for Music Education Award by the NAMM Foundation! 🌟🎼 This national honor highlights our district’s deep commitment to providing exceptional music education for all students from kindergarten through 8th grade. From learning rhythms in kindergarten to performing in band, orchestra, or choir in junior high, our students are supported every step of the way by passionate, skilled music educators who inspire creativity and a lifelong love of the arts. 🎷🎻🎤 👏 Thank YOU for helping make D102 one of the best places for music education in the nation! #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎨 Turning Broken Instruments into Lasting Art 🎻 AJHS is proud to celebrate the creativity and talent of two incredible student artists! As part of the Studio Art Club, these students were selected to transform broken orchestra instruments into beautiful, original works of art. Their finished pieces will be permanently installed this summer in the Fine Arts Wing, joining the already beloved painted cello on display. 👏 Congratulations on this meaningful and lasting contribution to our school community! Your work adds both beauty and inspiration to our halls. #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🌲 Meridian’s 5th Graders Take on Camp Duncan! 🎯🧗‍♂️ Our students had an unforgettable extended day field trip filled with outdoor adventure, teamwork, and hands-on learning! From scaling rock walls and hitting bullseyes in archery to tie-dye creations and epic scavenger hunts, Camp Duncan delivered memories to last a lifetime. 💚 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

💙 Service Day 2024: Honoring a Legacy Through Kindness 💙 On May 23, AJHS 6th–8th grade students came together for a powerful and heartfelt Service Day filled with compassion, connection, and community spirit. From writing letters of gratitude to creating plarn for the homeless, our students truly embraced what it means to give back. This year’s Service Day carried even deeper meaning as we honored the memory of beloved teacher Mr. Craig Podolski. His passion and leadership were instrumental in shaping this event, and while his absence was deeply felt, his legacy lived on through every act of kindness. Huge thanks to Dana Tamez, Bob Auld, Carolyn Lewis, and all the dedicated staff who made this day possible. 💛 Activities included: ✉️ Letter writing to appreciate D102 staff 🧶 Making plarn for Gratitude Generation's effort to make waterproof sleeping mats 🎥 Watching volunteer stories & spreading kindness 🍧 Enjoying a Kona Ice treat 🎯 Dunk Tank fun, where all proceeds were donated to Mr. Podolski's family #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🔍🌱 Equipped with magnifying glasses and a whole lot of curiosity, Pritchett kindergartners are getting up close with science! They’re observing grass sprouts grow in their cups and documenting discoveries in their journals. As the green shoots emerge, so do their writing skills—describing what they see and learning what plants need to thrive! ✍️📒 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎉 Market Day at Tripp! Our 2nd grade EL students wrapped up their economics unit with a fun and hands-on Market Day! They became producers and consumers, selling handmade goods while learning about needs vs. wants, goods and services, and using their persuasive writing and speaking skills. A fantastic mix of creativity and real-world learning! 💰 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

39 AJHS Catalyst Club students returned to Meridian to help 5th graders prepare for junior high with a student-led “Glow Up in Junior High” presentation! With glow bracelets, great advice, and big smiles, they inspired confidence and excitement for what’s ahead. ✨ #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎨 AJHS Color Wheel Fun! 🌈 Students in the RISE art class dove into the world of color through hands-on, sensory-friendly activities! After mastering primary colors and creating their own tints and shades, they got creative mixing secondary and tertiary colors using straws, squeegees, and droppers. Each student even built and labeled their own color wheel to bring their learning to life! 🎨👏 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent