📢 New Family Resources Added to our Website!
We have been busy updating our Community Resources page to ensure Graham Elementary families have the most current support tools at their fingertips. Our F.A.C.E. team has organized these resources into new, easy-to-navigate categories so you can find exactly what you need, when you need it.
🌟 What’s New?
Illinois Benefit Hub: This digital "one-stop shop" helps you discover public benefits you may be eligible for. On average, families find $1,300 in monthly benefits in just a 6-minute anonymous screening!
Heartland Connect App: A new mobile tool from Heartland HOUSED that links individuals directly to housing outreach and emergency resources in real-time.
Summer EBT (SUN Bucks): We’ve added updated 2026 eligibility info and key dates (including the May 18th–23rd upload window) to help keep students nourished all summer.
Expanded Directories: We've added specific directories for Housing Needs, Food Programs, and Veteran Resources to help you connect with specialized local support.
Employment & Training: New links to Job Ready IL and Springfield Urban League's Workforce Development are now live to support your career growth.
📍 Where to Find Them
All of these resources are located under the Community Resources tab on our F.A.C.E. page. We’ve also added a "Directories" header at the top for quick access to the 2-1-1 line, the Sangamon County Resource Map, and more.
Questions? If you need help navigating these resources or applying for benefits, please contact our F.A.C.E. Liaison, Hope Pitts, at (217) 525-3220 or hpitts@sps186.org.
#GrahamElementary #FACE #CommunityResources
Great news! Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) is returning for 2026 to help families buy groceries during the summer break. Eligible students will receive $120 to ensure they stay nourished while school is out.
Who is Automatically Enrolled?
Most families don't even need to apply! Your child is likely already enrolled if:
Existing Benefits: Your household received SNAP, TANF, or income-eligible Medicaid between July 1, 2025, and August 14, 2026.
School Programs: Your child was approved for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) during this past school year.
Categorical Eligibility: Your child is identified as a youth in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or part of a migrant family.
What If I’m Not Automatically Enrolled?
Don't worry! If you have a child in school and could use the extra support, you can still apply online through the state portal.
Quick Tips:
Check Your Status: Use the Summer EBT Screener to verify your enrollment and mailing address.
Watch the Mail: Benefits are delivered via EBT card. Funds for 2026 will be uploaded the week of May 18th – May 23rd.
Use Them or Lose Them: These funds expire 122 days after they are issued.
For more details or help with your application, visit Wegotyouillinois.org or contact the Summer EBT Hotline at (833) 621-0737.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact Hope Pitts at hpitts@sps186.org or (217) 525-3220.
📚 BIG NEWS: Book Fair Updates!
Get ready for our Buy One, Get One FREE Summer Reading Sale! We’ve made some important changes to our schedule and location to make sure everyone has a chance to grab their favorite books.
Please note the updated details below:
🗓️ WHEN : May 11 – May 15, 2026
⏰ UPDATED HOURS
Monday, Tuesday, & Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Wednesday (Extended Hours!): 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 14th: 🛑 CLOSED
📍 NEW LOCATION
Graham Elementary, Room 214
💳 Set Up Your eWallet
Skip the cash and set up a Scholastic Book Fair eWallet. It’s the easiest way for students to shop independently. Any unspent funds can be used for future fairs or online!
Visit our homepage to get started: 🔗 Graham Elementary Book Fair Homepage
#GrahamElementary #ScholasticBookFair #SummerReading #BOGO
🎨 Paint, Plan, & Eat: RSVP for Chick-fil-A!
We are so excited for our upcoming Painting & Planning F.A.C.E. event on Thursday, May 21, 2026!
To make the evening even better, we have 50 Chick-fil-A sandwiches donated for our participants. We want to make sure everyone is fed and has enough supplies, so please let us know you're coming!
⏳ RSVP Deadline: Tuesday, May 12th
📅 Event Date: Thursday, May 21st
Ready to join? Scan the QR code on the flyer below or RSVP through our sign-up link to save your spot and your sandwich!
#FACE #ChickfilA #Community #PaintingAndPlanning
JOIN ONLINE - CAMP KHAN KIDS
Ready to keep the learning magic alive all summer long? ☀️ Over at Khan Academy Kids, they’re bringing back Camp Khan Kids—and it is completely FREE!
Starting in late June, your little explorers can dive into four weeks of themed adventures that mix digital play with hands-on, screen-free fun.
What’s in Store?
Each week features a new theme designed to spark curiosity and creativity:
Week 1: Backyard Safari 🦁
Week 2: Let’s Build It 🔨
Week 3: A World of Color 🎨
Week 4: From Seed to Table 🍎
How It Works
No Schedule, No Stress: Move at your own pace with activities that fit your summer rhythm.
Hands-on Fun: Use printable activity packets and crafts made from everyday household items.
Guided Learning: Receive weekly emails with curated stories, games, and lessons delivered to your inbox.
Get Started in 3 Steps:
Download the App: Get the Khan Academy Kids app for free on the Apple, Google Play, or Amazon app stores.
Register: Sign up at khanacademy.org/kids/camp to get your weekly activity packets.
Explore: Open the app each week to follow along with the new theme!
Let’s make this a summer of play and discovery. Tag your photos with #CampKhanKids to show us what you’re building and finding!
#SummerLearning #CampKhanKids #FreeResources
🌸 Spring Gratitude & Community Action 🌸
We are rolling into spring with a huge heart and even bigger thanks!
The Graham Weekend Food Bag program is growing every day, and it’s all thanks to the incredible support of our community partners.
A special shout-out to the Central Illinois Food Bank for their generous donation of pork boxes! Their contribution was the star of our meat and veggie skillet dinner last week, helping us provide nutritious, delicious meals to our families.
It is this kind of community action and kindness that keeps us moving forward.
#CommunityStrong #GrahamWeekendFoodBag #SpringGratitude
🎨 Pintura y planificación: ¡Demos forma a nuestro futuro!
¡Acompáñenos en una velada de creatividad y colaboración en la Escuela Primaria Graham! Reuniremos a familias, maestros y socios comunitarios para dar rienda suelta a la creatividad con divertidos kits de pintura, mientras nos ayudan a dar forma al año escolar 2026–2027.
¡Su voz es fundamental! Revisaremos y actualizaremos nuestro Pacto entre el Hogar y la Escuela: el acuerdo de colaboración que respalda el éxito de nuestros estudiantes.
📅 Detalles del evento:
Cuándo: Jueves, 21 de mayo de 2026
Hora: 6:00 p. m. – 7:30 p. m.
Dónde: Cafetería de la Escuela Primaria Graham (900 W Edwards St., Springfield IL, 62704)
🍽️ Cena y confirmación de asistencia:
¡Actualmente estamos gestionando la donación de una comida caliente para todos los asistentes!
Importante: Por favor, confirme su asistencia a más tardar el martes 12 de mayo. Las comidas solo estarán disponibles para aquellas personas que confirmen su asistencia antes de la fecha límite.
¡HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA CONFIRMAR SU ASISTENCIA HOY MISMO!
📞 ¿Preguntas?
Comuníquese con Hope Pitts al (217) 525-3220 o envíe un correo electrónico a hpitts@sps186.org.
🎨 Painting & Planning: Shape Our Future!
Join us for an evening of creativity and collaboration at Graham Elementary! We are bringing families, teachers, and community partners together to get creative with fun painting kits while helping us shape the 2026–2027 school year.
Your voice is vital! We’ll be reviewing and updating our Home and School Compact—the partnership agreement that supports our students' success.
📅 Event Details:
When: Thursday, May 21, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Where: Graham Elementary Cafeteria (900 W Edwards St. Springfield IL, 62704)
🍽️ Dinner & RSVP:
We are currently working to arrange a donated warm meal for all attendees!
Important: Please RSVP by Tuesday, May 12th. Meals will only be available for those who confirm their attendance by the deadline.
📞 Questions?
Contact Hope Pitts at (217) 525-3220 or email hpitts@sps186.org.
We can’t wait to see your masterpieces and hear your ideas! 🖌️✨
#GrahamElementary #SPS186 #PaintingAndPlanning #FamilyEngagement #StudentSuccess
☀️ Summer 2026 Programs Now Open!
Attention District 186 families! It’s time to plan for a summer of growth, fun, and learning. Registration is now officially open for our elementary summer acceleration and enrichment programs.
District 186 Student Programs
Camp Kindergarten: A high-quality, developmentally appropriate program designed for incoming Pre-K learners. Through active, purposeful play and discovery time, children develop the speech, language, and social skills necessary for a successful transition into the school environment.
Summer SCOPE: A long-running childcare and enrichment program for students who have completed grades K-5. Operating from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., it provides a safe and engaging environment throughout the summer months.
Extended School Year (ESY): Specialized instructional support and services provided to eligible students with disabilities (PreK-12) to maintain progress on IEP goals and prevent significant regression during the summer break.
District 186 Hosted Programs
Camp Invention: An all-new 2026 STEM adventure for children entering grades 1-6 that builds confidence through hands-on creative challenges. This year’s "Spark" program features four unique experiences where campers solve mysteries with a robotic capybara in Fur-ensics, design floating billboard boats in Make Waves, launch rocket missions in Space Morphers, and protect their genius ideas from "Infringers" using wearable cryptography. This program will be held at Lincoln Magnet School from July 6-10, 2026.
Camp Nkiru: hosted by the Springfield Urban League, is a transformative, free program designed to empower students in grades 9th through 12th. This academy provides a unique platform for high schoolers to sharpen their leadership skills, engage in meaningful community service, and receive academic enrichment that prepares them for future success. By fostering personal growth and encouraging positive life choices, Camp Nkiru aims to equip the next generation with the tools they need to thrive both in the classroom and as influential leaders in their communities
CDF Freedom Schools: Hosted by the Springfield Urban League, this six-week program provides a literacy-rich summer experience for children in grades K-8. It focuses on the "I Can Make a Difference" theme, fostering a love for reading and civic engagement through a research-based multicultural curriculum, social action, and parental involvement.
RYSE and Shine (YMCA): A program for students in grades K-12 that emphasizes academic excellence and social-emotional growth. Led by qualified educators, it provides structured reading instruction and large motor activities to ensure a well-rounded summer experience.
How to Register
Don't wait—spots fill up fast! For full program details, dates, and registration links, please visit the official Summer Acceleration Programs page.
Questions?
Contact Hope Pitts at hpitts@sps186.org or call (217) 525-3220
📚 Get Ready! BOGO Book Fair is Coming!
Double the books means double the fun! We are thrilled to announce that the Scholastic Summer Reading Sale is coming to Graham Elementary. This is a special Buy One, Get One FREE event to help our students stock up for their summer reading lists.
🗓️ Mark Your Calendars
Dates : May 11 – May 15
Location: Graham Elementary School, 900 W Edwards St
💳 Create your student's E-Wallet
Forget about sending loose change! You can set up a Book Fair eWallet, a secure digital payment account for your student. Students shop cash-free, and any leftover funds can be used at the next fair or online.
❤️ Share the Fair
Help us ensure every child goes home with a new story. Consider contributing to our Share the Fair program to benefit students who need help purchasing books.
Visit our Book Fair Homepage to set up your eWallet or start shopping on May 11th!
#ScholasticBookFair #SummerReading #BOGO
📚 ¡Prepárense! ¡Llega la Feria del Libro BOGO!
¡El doble de libros significa el doble de diversión! Nos entusiasma anunciar que la Venta de Lectura de Verano de Scholastic llegará a la Escuela Primaria Graham. Este es un evento especial de "Compra uno y llévate otro GRATIS" , diseñado para ayudar a nuestros estudiantes a abastecerse de libros para sus listas de lectura de verano.
🗓️ Marquen sus calendarios
Fechas: Del 11 al 15 de mayo
Ubicación: Escuela Primaria Graham, 900 W Edwards St
💳 Cree la Billetera Electrónica (eWallet) de su estudiante
¡Olvídese de enviar dinero suelto! Puede configurar una Billetera Electrónica para la Feria del Libro: una cuenta de pago digital segura para su estudiante. Los estudiantes pueden realizar sus compras sin necesidad de efectivo, y cualquier saldo restante podrá utilizarse en la próxima feria o en línea.
❤️ Comparta la Feria
Ayúdenos a asegurar que cada niño regrese a casa con una nueva historia. Considere contribuir a nuestro programa "Comparta la Feria" (Share the Fair) para beneficiar a aquellos estudiantes que necesiten ayuda para comprar sus libros.
¡Visite la página principal de nuestra Feria del Libro para configurar su Billetera Electrónica o para comenzar a comprar a partir del 11 de mayo!
#ScholasticBookFair #LecturaDeVerano #BOGO
Because of the generous support from members of the Central Baptist Church Study Group, we were able to send our students home for the break with fully stocked weekend food bags. A special thank you also goes out to our wonderful volunteer librarian, Ms. Linda, for her generous donation that made this distribution possible. Seeing our community come together to ensure no student went without is truly inspiring.
We are so grateful for these partnerships that help our students thrive!
📢 IMPORTANT COMMUNITY RESOURCE!
We know that everyone needs a little extra support sometimes, and we want to make sure no one in our community is "leaving money on the table." We are excited to share a helpful new resource: the Illinois Benefit Hub.
What is the Illinois Benefit Hub?
The Illinois Benefit Hub is a one-stop shop designed to help you discover public benefits you may be eligible for. On average, families using this tool find about $1,300 in monthly benefits and tax credits!
How It Works
Fast & Easy: The eligibility screener takes only about 6 minutes to complete.
Anonymous: You don’t need to create an account or provide personal identifiers to see your results.
Comprehensive: It checks your eligibility for 30 different programs across categories like:
🍎 Food & Nutrition (SNAP, WIC, etc.)
🩺 Health Care
🧸 Child Care & Education
⚡ Utilities & Transportation
💸 Cash Assistance & Tax Credits
How to Get Started
Visit the Illinois Benefit Hub Screener.
Click "Get Started" to answer a few simple questions.
Review your personalized results to see what help is available and how to apply.
Don’t miss out on support that could help your family thrive. Check your eligibility today!
📢 Quick Update: Book Fair Hours for Family Reading Night
Please note a quick change to our schedule: The Scholastic Book Fair will be open for a limited window tomorrow, Thursday, March 19th, from 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM during our Red Carpet Readers Family Reading Night.
Make sure to stop by the cafeteria early to help your student find their next favorite book before the reading stations and activities begin!
All-day shopping will resume on Friday, March 20th, which is the final day of the book fair.
Reminder: You can still set up your child’s Book Fair eWallet for a quick, cash-free checkout: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/grahamelementaryschool7
We can’t wait to see you all on the Red Carpet! 🎬📚
Today is the last day to RSVP!
Roll Out the Red Carpet for Family Reading Night! 🎬📚
Join us for a blockbuster evening where books take center stage! Our Red Carpet Readers Family Reading Night is next Thursday!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🗓️ EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Graham Elementary Cafeteria
900 W Edwards St, Springfield, IL
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📖 WHAT TO EXPECT
Literacy Baskets
Families can receive a literacy basket filled with materials to support reading at home.
(Limited number available—first come, first served.)
Free Books
Every family will have the opportunity to take a book home.
Scholastic Book Fair
The book fair will be open during the event for those looking to add more to their home library.
Dinner
IHOP has sponsored a meal for this event! Please RSVP today!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Starring Activities:
Teacher-Led Reader Stations: Enjoy stories that have made the leap from the page to the big screen!
Sight Word Popcorn (Grades K-2): A "tasty" way to practice foundational reading skills.
Word Family & Sound Match Games: Interactive phonics fun for our younger readers.
Prefix Connect 4 (Grades 3-5): A strategic game to build vocabulary skills.
Popcorn Comprehension Challenge: Draw questions to test your knowledge—just watch out for the "POP" card!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
✉️ RSVP REQUIRED
To help us plan for the meal and materials, please RSVP by contacting:
Hope Pitts at hpitts@sps186.org OR complete this google form: RSVP FOR FAMILY READING NIGHT
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Don't miss out on this premiere event! We can't wait to see you there. 🍿⭐
#FamilyReadingNight #RedCarpetReaders #LiteracyMatters
Create your child’s Book Fair eWallet so they can shop cash-free, worry-free, and independently! It’s easy to set up and easy for others to contribute funds! Start here: Graham Elementary Book Fair Homepage.
#ScholasticBookFairs
Genere la eWallet de la Feria del Libro para que su nino o nina pueda comprar sin usar efectivo, sin preocupaciones y de manera independiente! Es facil de configurar y otras personas pueden enviar fondos con facilidad! Comience aqui: Graham Elementary Book Fair Homepage.
#ScholasticBookFairs
Roll Out the Red Carpet for Family Reading Night! 🎬📚
Join us for a blockbuster evening where books take center stage! Our Red Carpet Readers Family Reading Night is next Thursday!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🗓️ EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Graham Elementary Cafeteria
900 W Edwards St, Springfield, IL
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 WHAT TO EXPECT
Literacy Baskets
Families can receive a literacy basket filled with materials to support reading at home.
(Limited number available—first come, first served.)
Free Books
Every family will have the opportunity to take a book home.
Scholastic Book Fair
The book fair will be open during the event for those looking to add more to their home library.
Dinner
IHOP has sponsored a meal for this event! Please RSVP as soon as possible!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Starring Activities:
Teacher-Led Reader Stations: Enjoy stories that have made the leap from the page to the big screen!
Sight Word Popcorn (Grades K-2): A "tasty" way to practice foundational reading skills.
Word Family & Sound Match Games: Interactive phonics fun for our younger readers.
Prefix Connect 4 (Grades 3-5): A strategic game to build vocabulary skills.
Popcorn Comprehension Challenge: Draw questions to test your knowledge—just watch out for the "POP" card!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
✉️ RSVP REQUIRED
To help us plan for the meal and materials, please RSVP by contacting:
Hope Pitts at hpitts@sps186.org OR complete this google form: RSVP FOR FAMILY READING NIGHT
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Don't miss out on this premiere event! We can't wait to see you there. 🍿⭐
#FamilyReadingNight #RedCarpetReaders #LiteracyMatters
Making a Difference, One Bag at a Time!
Every week, our mission to support students continues, and it’s all thanks to our dedicated food bag sponsors. Your ongoing generosity provides more than just food; it provides peace of mind for our families.
A special shout out goes to our community sponsors Central Baptist Church, Maureen, Tara, Kendra, Diane, Tressa, Rhonda, and Barb.
Thank you for being a vital part of our school community!
