🎉 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
4 months ago, District 102
Student standing in front of project.
Superintendent, Dr. Jessica McIntyre looking at a project with a student.
Dr. Sostak looking at a project with a student.
Teacher looking at a project with a student.
Student holding her project.
Students standing by their project.
Students standing together with their new project.
Poster project.
🚗💥 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
4 months ago, District 102
Students pushing a car down a ramp.
Student getting ready to load the egg into their car.
Students with their homemade car.
🎓 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
5 months ago, District 102
Student giving a speech.
Students holding their diplomas.
Students getting ready to walk for graduation. 2 holding flags.
Students preparing to walk for graduation.
choir students singing.
students walking for graduation.
students playing instruments.
Family standing together to celebrate.
Friends standing together.
🎶 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
5 months ago, District 102
Students playing music in all ages. Photo montage.
🎨 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
5 months ago, District 102
Students holding up their painted artwork.
Student painting an instrument.
Student painting an instrument.
🌲 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
5 months ago, District 102
Students sitting together on a bench.
Student rock climbing.
Students smiling in a selfie with a teacher.
Student rock climbing.
STudents tie dying at a table.
Student shooting an arrow.
Students climbing on playground equipment.
Teachers posing together.
💙 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
5 months ago, District 102
Students holding up their plarn.
STudents holding up the plarn.
Students with their kona ice.
Students eating their Kona ice.
Kona ice truck with students.
🔍🌱 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
5 months ago, District 102
Boy cutting grass cup with scissors
Student journal with illustration.
Student exploring grass.
Student journal with writing and drawing.
Student holding up her grass cup.
🎉 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
5 months ago, District 102
Student standing next to her project.
Students posing by bracelets.
Student sitting next to his project about cars.
Teacher and student looking at a project together.
Superintendent looking at a project with a student.
Students looking at a project.
Student holding her project about bookmarks.
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
5 months ago, District 102
Students standing at the front of the classroom.
🎨 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
5 months ago, District 102
Student sitting at a table with art.
Student making a color wheel.
Student blowing into a straw with paint.
Student painting at an easle.
Student painting at an easle.
🎉 This Sunday, we celebrate Speech Pathologist Day and the incredible SLPs here in D102! Our speech-language pathologists are dedicated professionals who help our students find their voice—literally and figuratively. 💬💙 They create fun, welcoming spaces where students feel supported, confident, and empowered to grow. From building communication skills to collaborating with teachers and families, our SLPs are essential partners in student success. Thank you for all you do! 🙌 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent
5 months ago, District 102
speech pathologists
⭐ New Board Members Sworn In! ⭐ At the May 12 D102 Board of Education meeting, we welcomed new Board members Laurie Kuriakose and Anthony Q. Lee, along with re-elected members Jordan Sklansky and Pelleg Graupe. The Honorable Marnie Slavin — a proud D102 alum — officiated the swearing-in. We were also honored to have State Representative Daniel Didech in attendance to thank outgoing Board members Deepa Ajmire and Vera Gaskill for their dedicated service. Following the ceremony, the Board selected its officers: ⭐ Jordan Sklansky – Board President ⭐ Pelleg Graupe – Board Vice President ⭐ Melissa Rose – Board Secretary It was a night of celebration, gratitude, and a strong commitment to the future of D102 students!
5 months ago, District 102
Board members standing together.
🎉 The Meridian Ambassadors have been hard at work on a special project — "Celebrating Meridian School" — an exhibit opening soon at the Raupp Museum in Buffalo Grove! This unique showcase highlights the legacy of D102 and Meridian School since opening its doors in 1994. It honors beloved staff members, past and present, including: 🍎 Lindsay Zucker, Priscilla Podeschi & AJ Teplinsky — former Meridian students who are now teachers at the school! 🎓 Cheri Brill, Sherrie Cummins & Stacy Lipshutz — the final three original staff members retiring after helping open the school 30 years ago. You'll also find historic items on display like the original blueprint, groundbreaking shovel, and more! 📅 Join us for the exhibit opening: 🗓 Monday, May 19 🕔 5:00–7:00 PM 📍 Raupp Museum, Buffalo Grove Come celebrate Meridian’s incredible journey with us!
5 months ago, District 102
Meridian School Logo
🎤✨ The 7th & 8th Grade Choir Concert was an unforgettable celebration of talent, creativity, and compassion! With 20 soloists, 18 narrators, 10 costumed characters, and stunning student artwork on display, the performance truly wowed the audience. 🎶🎭🖼️ Students even shared original mosaic poetry written in chorus and led a food drive inspired by the concert’s theme, "Be Our Guest." 💛 Three full boxes of food and generous cash donations were collected for the Vernon Area Food Pantry — a beautiful reminder of the power of music and community. Bravo to all, and a huge shoutout to Mrs. Simon for her incredible leadership! 👏 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent
5 months ago, District 102
Students posing with Mrs. Simon.
Students singing on stage.
Student singing into a microphone on stage.
🎶 Musical Magic in D102! 🎶 Our talented 5th–8th grade band and orchestra students wowed the crowd with two epic, back-to-back concerts! Performances ranged from James Bond to Guardians of the Galaxy to Final Countdown. The performances were bursting with energy, passion, and talent. 💥🎻🎷 A round of applause goes to Mrs. Rakickas, Ms. Strauss, and Mr. Jenkin for their incredible leadership and dedication. Their guidance helped bring the music to life! 👏🎶 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent
5 months ago, District 102
Teacher on a microphone with students behind her with instruments.
Students playing instruments on a stage.
Conductor in front of students playing instruments.
💡 Engineering in Action! Mrs. Cummings, our assistant principal, stopped by Mrs. Pingel’s 3rd-grade Technology/STEM class with a real-world challenge: How can we keep traffic cones from blowing away on windy dismissal days? 🌬️🟠 Using the engineering design process, students brainstormed, sketched, and pitched creative solutions. One design was selected—and students are now helping bring it to life! 🔧📐 This hands-on project let students apply their STEM skills to a real-life problem, proving that even young engineers can make a big impact! 👷‍♂️🧠💥 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent
5 months ago, District 102
Mrs. Cummings looking at students working at tables.
Students working on ipads.
Screen projecting the essential question.
Students working on ipads.
🎨💙 Nothing says "thank you" like a message from the heart. In this case, the sidewalk! Our amazing students surprised staff this week with beautiful chalk art across campus to kick off Teacher Appreciation Week. #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent #TeacherAppreciationWeek
5 months ago, District 102
Chalk art photo montage.
🌱 From Seeds to Science! 🐛🌸 Tripp students are getting their hands dirty as they explore plant life cycles. They've planted brassica seeds, recorded detailed observations, and are now pollinating flowers with Q-tips, mimicking how it happens in nature! 🧪🌼 They’re also studying the life cycles of caterpillars and mealworms, comparing how different living things grow and change over time. 🐛🪱✨ Soon, they’ll take their plants home to keep the science going beyond the classroom! 🏡📚 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent
5 months ago, District 102
Students smiling near their seedlings.
🎉 Budgeting + Birthday Bash = Real-World Learning! 🧮🎈 Meridian students recently tackled a fun and practical challenge: planning the perfect birthday party all on a $200 budget! 💸🎂 Students chose stores and calculated totals (sales tax included!) and even made sure quantities matched their guest lists. Students put their math, organization, and problem-solving skills to the test. One proud planner shared, “Our total is $92, which means we are under budget!” 🙌 Smart choices + real-world learning = success! #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent
5 months ago, District 102
Students holding up their research packets.
Students working together with a packet.
Students looking happy with their small group.
Student working on his research.