Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 -

👷‍♀️ Hardhat Highlight #3 👷‍♂️
With strong community support, D102’s Building a Brighter Future referendum continues to bring exciting upgrades to our schools! 🏗️✨

This summer, crews have made big strides across the district:

🏫 At AJHS: Final touches on HVAC, lighting, and flooring are wrapping up. Bleachers are installed and the parking lot will be ready for Day 1!

🍎 At Pritchett: Ceiling work is nearly done, new HVAC systems are in place, and outdoor areas have been refreshed.

📚 At Tripp: Final phases of mechanical, lighting, and ceiling work are underway, with parking lot improvements in progress.

These improvements are more than just physical, they’re an investment in the future of D102 students.

📲 Follow along for more Hardhat Highlights as we build a brighter tomorrow! #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent #BrightFuture

📚✨ Collaboration in Action!
This week, our teachers came together, both in small teams and large groups. They dove into curriculum planning and explored new programs for the year ahead. Our staff can’t wait to put it all into action when the school year begins!
#D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🚨 We're hiring! 🚨

D102 is looking for a Mongolian Classroom Assistant to help support our incredible students! 💬📚

If you're fluent in Mongolian and English, love working with kids, and want to make a real difference in the classroom, we’d love to meet you. 💛

Help us build inclusive, supportive spaces where every student feels seen and heard.

📩 Apply today and join our D102 team of educators!

#EveryDayEveryStudent #D102

🦺 Hardhat Highlights Series: Episode 2

As we continue building a brighter future through our approved referendum, construction progress is moving full steam ahead across our schools:

✅ HVAC rooftop units have been delivered and installed.
🔨 Roofing work continues at both Pritchett and Tripp.
🧰 Inside, HVAC and ceiling upgrades are underway.
🛝 Playground parts have been delivered to Tripp, and installation will begin soon.
🚧 The AJHS parking lot project is well underway.
🧱 At Pritchett, the new retaining wall by the playground is now complete!

We’re grateful for our community’s support in making these vital improvements possible. Stay tuned for more updates as progress continues!
#D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent #BuilD102 #Bright Future

📚🐾 Summer Spotlight: Reading for a Cause! 🐾📚
Here’s a feel-good story to brighten your summer day: Meridian students from Ms. Suk, Mrs. Tewes, Mrs. Brill, and Mrs. Petrich's classes turned their love of reading into a way to give back!

In partnership with Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter, students raised money by reading books—earning $3 per book thanks to a generous sponsorship from Mr. Roof of Wheeling. Altogether, they raised an incredible $1,500 for the shelter!

To top it off, some special furry visitors from the shelter stopped by to join in the celebration. 🐶💛
Way to go, readers! You’ve made a real difference—one book and one wagging tail at a time.

#D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎶🏆 For the 11th year in a row, D102 has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education Award by the NAMM Foundation! At the June 23 Board of Education meeting, we proudly celebrated this achievement and the outstanding music educators who make it possible. 🎼👏 Thank you to our talented music teachers across the district for your dedication, passion, and commitment to excellence in music education. #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

☀️📚 Summer school is in full swing at Meridian—and it’s buzzing with energy and learning across all grade levels! Programs include: ✨ Extended School Year (ESY) 🗣️ VOICES Program (Grades K–2) 🎉 D102 Summer Camp (Grades 3–7) — featuring choice classes like Young Author’s Club, games, robotics, and PE! Students have been greeted by some fresh faces among our teaching staff, and the atmosphere has been nothing short of collaborative, fun, and inspiring. 💡👏 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🟡 Hardhat Highlights: Episode 1 🛠️ We’re excited to launch a new series showcasing summer construction progress happening across District 102, made possible by the incredible support of our community! Even though school’s out, the work is in full swing: 🏫 Tripp School is gearing up for a brand-new roof, updated playground, HVAC improvements, and more. 🏗️ Pritchett is seeing major demolition progress, especially in the parking lot and HVAC systems. 🏀 AJHS gym floors have been striped and sealed with the school mascot front and center—plus, locker room demolition is underway. Our buildings are getting the upgrades it needs to support student success today and into the future. We are not just renovating buildings, we’re building a bright future for all learners in our district. Stay tuned for more Hardhat Highlights as we continue making progress, one project at a time! #HardhatHighlights #BuilD102 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎒✨ If you haven’t registered yet for the 2025–2026 school year, now’s the time! Whether you're new to D102 or returning, make sure your child is ready for another amazing year of learning, discovery, and growth. 📅 Register soon — it helps us plan and prepare for the best possible start to the school year! Visit our website to begin the registration process. #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

School may be out, but we’re still reliving some of the amazing moments from this spring! 💙 Today, we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible work of the Meridian Student Council. During their final meeting of the year, they welcomed Village President Eric Smith, who shared valuable insights about leadership and his experience in local government. 👏🏽🏛️ Way to lead the way, Meridian reps! #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🐾 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