☀️ Summer is here, but it's never too early to start prepping for the new school year!
🛑 Illinois law requires physical exams and up-to-date immunizations for students entering:
✅ Kindergarten
✅ 6th Grade
✅ 9th Grade
These health forms must be submitted by the first day of school! We are happy to partner with Chestnut and Carle to help ensure your student is ready for school in August!
📅 Back-to-School Physical & Immunization Clinics
👉 Chestnut Wellness Fair
📍 Chestnut Family Health Center, 702 W. Chestnut St., Bloomington, IL
📆 July 21, 2026 | ⏰ 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
⚡ Walk-ins welcome but appointments recommended.
👉 McLean Mobile Health Services Events
📍 Western Avenue Community Center, 600 N Western Ave, Bloomington, IL
📆 August 7, 2026 | ⏰ 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📆 August 8, 2026 | ⏰ 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
⚡ Schedule appointments via mcleanmobilehealth@carle.com or 309-604-9688.
Appointments fill up; book your student's appointment today!
#BackToSchoolPhysicals #CommunityPartners #WeAreD87
Last year, Morgan was studying Spanish in Malaga, Spain, and now she’s bringing her talents and enthusiasm to the D87 family. This year, she’s excited to gain experience in education and build connections with coworkers and students!
🎉Fun facts about Morgan: She has a sweet fur baby named Archie, a three-year-old ragdoll cat 😻 who’s her absolute world. In her free time, Morgan loves reading, playing games like The Sims, and experimenting with homemade coffee recipes, combining creativity with savings!
Welcome to D87 and BJHS, Morgan! We can’t wait to see the great things you’ll do this year! 💜
#WelcomeToD87 #WeAreD87
Last week, 58 students nominated from D87 and Unit 5 schools had the time of their lives at Camp Limberlost! 🏕️ From swimming and zip-lining to goat hiking, big swings, arts and crafts, and so much more, the memories made are sure to last a lifetime! 🐐🎨🌊
Huge thanks to Camp Limberlost for giving our students this incredible opportunity to explore, grow, and have fun! 💜💛
#CampMemories #CampLimberlost #UnforgettableSummer #WeAreD87
This week, D87 staff came together for learning, growth, and a whole lot of fun at The Feast! 🙌 The week-long professional development sessions ended on a high note, with staff presentations showcasing the incredible tips, tricks, and strategies they gained.
Now, they will be heading back to their classrooms armed with fresh ideas and inspiration! 🚀
Way to go, D87 team! 💜💛
#D87TheFeast #ProfessionalDevelopment #BackToSchoolReady #WeAreD87
📅 Save the Date: Back 2 School Alliance Event
This event is for eligible Unit 5 and District 87 students entering grades PK-8 who qualify for free/reduced lunch AND have completed all registration requirements for school.
📍Event Details:
Date: Thursday, August 13th
Time: 10 AM - 6 PM
Location: State Farm Corporate South: 3 State Farm Plaza, Bloomington - EAST parking deck
👧👦 Important Info:
Students must attend with an adult or guardian to receive supplies.
Eligible students will receive an email with a form in early August to confirm attendance at the event.
Mark your calendars and keep an eye on your email inbox for the confirmation form in August!
#Back2SchoolAlliance #SchoolSupplies #WeAreD87
BJHS Instructional Math Coach Kayla Smock and BHS Math Teacher Beth Warden traveled to Connecticut to present at this year’s Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) Conference! 🎉
Their session, titled Building Collaborative Learning Communities Across Grades and Content, focused on their approach to creating a district-wide learning community dedicated to implementing BTC practices. They shared both the successes and challenges of this journey, while participants in their session worked to develop practical strategies in their own districts.
Kayla and Beth loved showcasing the incredible work being done in D87 and are excited to bring their knowledge back to host their very own BTC Summer Workshop on July 20-21st! 💜
#BuildingThinkingClassrooms #D87Proud #TeachingWithPurpose #WeAreD87
From teamwork and meeting farm animals 🐐🐓 to giving back to the community, the day was all about learning, connection, and making Raider memories. 💜💛
#Raiders101 #RootsRanchFarm #WeAreD87
While Karen is already a familiar face in D87—having worked as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional—this year, she steps into a new role after completing her LBS1 endorsement and working toward her Master’s in Special Education at ISU.
Karen's journey: She earned her Elementary Education degree from ISU 20 years ago and spent time subbing before taking time off to focus on her family. Two years ago, she returned to education as a sub and paraprofessional. Inspired by her own kids with disabilities and their positive experiences in D87 schools, Karen decided to pursue her teaching dream in Special Education to give back to a community that has meant so much to her family.💜💚
This year, Karen looks forward to supporting her students’ learning and growth while continuing to grow in her own teaching journey.
Some fun facts about Karen: She and her husband of 18 years have six children and two sweet cockapoo pups. In her free time, she loves traveling, organizing, gardening, walking, spending time outside, and relaxing by the pool.
Welcome to Washington and D87 in your new position, Karen! 💚 💜
#WelcomeToD87 #WeAreD87
This will be a week packed with valuable takeaways for our teachers. Here's to innovation and improvement in the year ahead!🌟📚 It’s not just about learning; it's about enjoying the journey and sharing ideas!🙌
#TheFeastD87 #TechPD #D87Teachers #InnovationInEducation #WeAreD87
Today, BHS incoming 9th-graders kicked off their high school journeys in this weeklong program designed to give them a head start as BHS's newest Raiders! 💜💛💜💛
Principal Moore opened Raiders 101 with some helpful advice for high school success, and then students were introduced to BHS's newest assistant principals (welcome aboard, Hannah Boston and Eduardo Pimentel)!
From enjoying refreshing drinks from the visiting drink cart to potting plants, Day 1 was packed with fun and exciting activities! 🪴🥤
Stay tuned for more updates as these future Raiders dive into the rest of the week!
#Raiders101 #BHSFamily #OnceARaiderAlwaysARaider #WeAreD87
Abigail completed her degree in Technology and Engineering Education at Illinois State University. She chose a career in teaching because she loves helping students develop problem-solving skills through design, drafting, and building experiences.
Abigail was drawn to D87 because of its strong support for teachers and its commitment to providing students with meaningful, future-ready learning experiences. This year, she’s especially excited to see her students develop their skills and bring their ideas to life through creative, hands-on projects.
Fun facts about Abigail: she enjoys woodworking, crafting, hiking, and spending time outdoors. She loves staying active and working on projects that let her design and build things.
Welcome to D87 and BHS, Abigail! We’re so excited to see the impact you’ll make with your students in the classroom and beyond! 💜
#WelcomeToD87 #WeAreD87
The Raiders competed at the National Speech & Debate Association National Tournament in Richmond, Virginia, this past June for the 10th consecutive year! 💪
Special shoutouts:
🏆 Gean Carter advanced to the semifinals in Original Spoken Word!
🌟 Issaria Jacobs and Jack Eddleman made their debut appearances at Nationals!
We’re so proud of our Raiders for representing BHS at Nationals! 👏 #BHSSpeechAndDebate #WeAreD87
Wishing all of our D87 community a safe and joyful Independence Day! May your day be filled with celebration, connection, and plenty of red, white, and blue! ❤️🤍💙
#Happy4thOfJuly #WeAreD87
We'll be back next week to assist with registration needs! 📝
Don't forget to check out one of our mobile stops next week — see attached flyers for details.
Thank you, and have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend! 🌟
Jessica will be teaching freshman and junior English at BHS! 📚✏️ Her journey to teaching started in 9th grade, but she took a unique path—earning a master’s degree from Illinois State University and spending five years working in higher education before reigniting her love for teaching. After earning her teaching license, Jessica is now entering her fourth year as a teacher, excited to focus fully on her students and the BHS community.
Jessica fell in love with Bloomington-Normal during her time at ISU and is excited to join the D87 community! She’s looking forward to building relationships with students and colleagues and supporting athletic and afterschool activities throughout the year.
Outside of work, Jessica enjoys creating art, listening to Taylor Swift 🎶, watching Cubs games ⚾, exploring trails, and grabbing a smoothie bowl from Nautical Bowls. She recently moved to Bloomington with her boyfriend, Brady, and her two cats, Beatrice and Meredith.
Welcome to BHS, Jessica! We’re so happy to have you as part of the D87 and Raider family! 💜
#WelcomeToD87 #WeAreD87
🎉📚 It's Time to Register for the 2026-27 School Year! 📚🎉
Don't wait—register today! 📝✨ Log into your Skyward account or head to 👉 https://www.district87.org/o/bps/page/registration to get started.
Let’s make it another amazing year together in #D87! 🙌
📢Share with your fellow D87 families to spread the word! 💜💛
#RegisterNow #WeAreD87
Alayna will be joining the Oakland Owls in August as a Special Education LBS1 teacher!
Her journey into teaching started back in high school while coaching K–2 cheerleading. She loved working with young kids and knew she wanted to teach more than just cheer. She was also inspired by her aunt, a teacher whose stories about her students encouraged Alayna to follow in her footsteps.
Alayna's journey to D87: as a freshman at ISU, she had a professor who taught in D87 and spoke very highly of the district. Alayna then completed her clinicals at Stevenson and Washington, and also served as a substitute teacher in D87 throughout college. After all of those experiences, she couldn’t imagine teaching anywhere else!
This year, Alayna is most looking forward to making strong connections with her students and helping foster a lifelong love of learning.
A few fun facts: Alayna has a dog named Astro, loves to spend her spare time reading, and is getting married this summer!
Welcome to Oakland, Alayna! We’re excited to see the impact you’ll make with our Owls! 🦉💚
#WelcomeToTheD87Family #WeAreD87
🌟 New Staff Highlight!
Today, we are happy to welcome Tori Hodge to the D87 family! Tori will be joining the Stevenson Tigers as a new 1st-grade teacher! 🐯📚
Tori is passionate about creating educational opportunities and lasting memories for her students. She’s dedicated to helping each and every student reach their personal goals and succeed in their own unique way.
What drew Tori to District 87? She immediately felt the welcoming, tight-knit community and could see how deeply the district values students and their education (we concur, Tori!).
This year, Tori is looking forward to meeting her very first group of students, making incredible memories with them, and bringing learning to life in creative and engaging ways!
A little about Tori: She loves going on walks, exploring new foods and coffee shops ☕🍴, and her favorite color is pink! 💖
Welcome to Stevenson and D87, Tori! We’re so excited for you and know you’ll make an incredible impact on your students!
#WelcomeToD87 #WeAreD87
Halle will be joining the BJHS Knights as the new 7th-grade math teacher! 📐 Last year, Halle was attending Illinois State University while also tutoring her peers in college mathematics—fueling her passion for teaching and helping others succeed.
Halle chose teaching because she loves working with young kids and wants to be a consistent source of support during a time in their lives when things can feel overwhelming. She’s committed to making a difference, even if it means helping just one student feel less alone or more confident.
Having already fallen in love with the supportive atmosphere of BJHS and the D87 community, Halle is excited to decorate her classroom, connect with staff, and meet her students this year!
A few fun facts about Halle: her favorite book and movie is Coraline, she enjoys reading and crocheting 📖🧶, and she loves playing pickleball! 🏓
Welcome to the D87 and Knights family, Halle! Your enthusiasm for teaching is sure to make a lasting impact! 💜
#WelcomeToTheD87Family #WeAreD87
