Thank you to last week's sponsors for weekend food bags:
B.O.N.E. LLC and Ruby Funeral Services & Chapel Inc.
Because of their generosity, we were able to serve 17 families with breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the entire weekend. We are so grateful for this community support!
🏫 Every Minute Counts!
Did you know that arriving just 20 minutes late or leaving 20 minutes early three times a week adds up to 19 hours of lost learning each year? That is the same as missing 3 full days of school!
We want to help our students stay on track for a bright future. Please remember:
School Hours: 8:00 AM - 3:15 PM ⏰
Grades K-1: Arriving after 9:59 AM counts as a full-day absence.
Grades 2-5: Arriving after 10:29 AM counts as a full-day absence.
Every day your student is in class, they are building strong habits for the future! 🌟
If your family needs support with transportation or attendance planning, please reach out to our F.A.C.E. Liaison, Hope Pitts, at (217) 525-3220 or hpitts@sps186.org.
#AttendanceMatters #EveryDayCounts #StayOnTrack
🗓️ Community Resource Alert:
We have several upcoming opportunities in Springfield for families. Whether you're looking for career advancement, tax help, or a fun family literary event, these local resources are here to support you. Save these dates!
Saturday, February 21 | Diaper Giveaway: Drive-thru at Laurel United Methodist Church (631 S. Grand Ave. West) from 10 AM – 12 PM.
Sunday, February 22 | Black Children's Book Week: Kick-off event at CAP 1908 (1100 E. Adams St.) from 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM. Free books for every child!
Thursday, February 26 | Career Fair & Free Tax Prep: Join us at Fresh Visions Community Church from 10 AM – 2 PM for a resource fair and IRS VITA tax assistance.
Saturday, March 14 | Record Clearing Event: Expungement & Sealing clinic at 1908 Innovation Center.
Note: You must register by March 7 at socialchange.site.
Questions? Check the flyer for specific location details or visit the registration link for the Expungement event.
#CommunityResources #BlackHistoryMonth #FamilySupport
🔔 REMINDER: Our F.A.C.E. Meeting is TOMORROW!
Don't forget! Join us tomorrow evening to learn how we can team up for your child's "Exam Excellence." We’ll be breaking down standardized testing and sending you home with fun tools to keep the learning going!
What’s Happening:
Test Deep Dive: Get the inside scoop on IAR and MAP scores—find out exactly what they mean for your child’s growth.
Stress-Free Success: Tips and strategies to help your student feel confident and prepared.
Free Math Games: Every family can take home math games to keep the practice fun!
Event Details:
📅 Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Graham Cafeteria, 900 W Edwards St., Springfield, IL
It’s not too late to join us! Please let Hope Pitts know if you'll be there:
📧 Email: hpitts@sps186.org | 📞 Phone: (217) 525-3220
CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR PIZZA
🍕 PIZZA & PROGRESS: Graham Elementary F.A.C.E. Meeting!
We’ve got a delicious update for our next F.A.C.E. Meeting on February 19th! Thanks to a generous donation, dinner is on us! We want to make sure there's enough pizza for every member of the Graham family, so we need your help with a quick headcount.
🗓️ Event Details:
Date: Thursday, February 19th
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Graham Elementary
🗳️ How to RSVP:
Please click the link below to let us know you’re coming and how many slices your crew will need! 👉 RSVP FOR PIZZA HERE!
We can't wait to see our Graham Stars there! 🌟
#GrahamElementary #GrahamStars #FACEMeeting #PizzaParty #SchoolCommunity
Thank you to this week's sponsors for weekend food bags: Little Lambs Therapy and PhysioTherapy Professionals!
Because of their generosity, we were able to serve 16 families with breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the entire weekend. We are so grateful for this community support!
🌟 Graham Elementary Families, We’re Here for You! 🌟
Have you visited the Graham Elementary Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) webpage lately? It’s a helpful hub designed to keep our families informed, supported, and connected.
On the site, you can find:
📚 Family and student resources
🤝 Information about engagement opportunities
📅 Updates on meetings and events
🏫 Details about district initiatives and community partnerships
Whether you’re looking for support, ways to get involved, or important information to help your student succeed, the F.A.C.E. page is a great place to start.
We encourage all Graham families to take a few minutes to explore what’s available!
🔗 Visit here: Family and Community Engagement Webpage
Together, we can continue strengthening the connection between school, family, and community. 💛
📚 Upcoming F.A.C.E. Meeting: Exam Excellence
Join us for our next F.A.C.E. Meeting as we dive into how families can support student success during upcoming standardized testing! This is a great opportunity to get informed and take home some fun resources.
What to Expect:
Test Deep Dive: Learn about the IAR and MAP tests—how they are scored and why they matter for your child’s progress.
Success Strategies: Discover how families and schools can work together to prepare students for a stress-free testing experience.
Math Games: We will have a variety of math games available for families to take home and enjoy!
Event Details:
📅 Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Graham Cafeteria, 900 W Edwards St., Springfield, IL
Please let us know if you can make it! To RSVP, contact Hope Pitts at:
📧 Email: hpitts@sps186.org 📞 Phone: (217) 525-3220
Important Changes to SNAP Benefits Effective February 1st
Attention Families: Significant federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are now in effect. These updates may impact your household's eligibility or require action to maintain benefits.
What is changing?
Expanded Age Range: Work requirements now apply to "Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents" (ABAWDs) ages 18–64 (previously 18–54).
Household Changes: Adults with children in the home who are 14 or older are now included in the ABAWD definition.
Eliminated Exemptions: Previous exemptions for individuals experiencing homelessness, Veterans, and youth aging out of foster care have been removed.
How does this affect you? Impacted individuals who do not meet work requirements or qualify for a new exemption may only receive SNAP for 3 months in a 3-year period. In Illinois, benefits for those not meeting requirements could begin to be lost as early as May 1, 2026.
What should you do?
Check your status: Use the ABE SNAP Work Requirements Screener to see if these requirements apply to you.
Watch your mail: IDHS has mailed notices and exemption forms to impacted customers.
Stay informed: Visit snapfederalimpact.illinois.gov for the latest updates and detailed information.
Our goal is to ensure every family in our community stays informed and fed. Please review these changes today to prevent any loss of coverage.
#SPS186 #CommunityResources #SNAPUpdates #FamilySupport
Your input is vital to the success of our school!
From February 3 to March 13, 2026, we invite all parents and guardians to participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey.
Why Your Participation Matters:
Predicts Student Success: Research shows that schools strong in the "5Essentials"—including Involved
Families— are 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading.
Guides School Improvement: Your feedback helps us understand the unique conditions at your child’s school and directly guides our improvement plans.
Confidential and Secure: Your identity and individual responses are completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
Reach Our Goal: We need at least 20% parent participation to receive a parent report, which provides our leadership with critical data to better serve our families.
For your voice to be heard CLICK HERE : 5Essential Survey For Parents
Together, we can create the best possible learning environment for our students!
#5Essentials #SchoolImprovement #ParentVoice #SPS186
Upcoming Mobile DMV Event at the Salvation Army!
The Illinois Secretary of State’s office will be hosting a Mobile DMV Event this Friday, January 30th for community members to access essential DMV services.
Event Details:
Location: The Salvation Army at 1600 E Clearlake Ave, Springfield, IL
Date: Friday, January 30, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Services Available:
Obtain a REAL ID
Renew Driver’s Licenses
Renew State IDs
Purchase Vehicle Stickers
Appointments:
If you require an appointment, please contact Juan Huerta, Deputy Director of Public Engagement, at 217-782-8895 or 217-900-0429.
Our Lost and Found is currently full! We have many items waiting to be reunited with their owners. Please take a moment during drop-off or dismissal to look through our collection—it is located just through the foyer doorways. We want to make sure these important items find their way back to you!
My name is Hope Pitts, and I’m honored to serve as your Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) Liaison. I am here to bridge the gap between school and home by connecting you with tools and resources that help your student succeed. Whether you need help with learning tools, connecting with local resources, or just want to get involved, I’m here for you. Check out my full introduction letter below to learn more about my background and how I can support your family this year!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qUDrgN2Z6NwgTJWL6
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/grahamelementaryschool10
