Illinois Lutheran Schools
Charger Summer News
8/7/2025
Please take a moment to read our CHARGER EXPECTATIONS.
First Day of School – Tuesday, August 19
The first day of school is this coming Tuesday, August 19 and this will be an early release day.
- Students in grades kindergarten – 6th will be released at 11:15 AM.
- Students in junior high and high school will be released at 11:30 AM.
- Preschool students will be released at 11:30 AM.
- Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be full days of school.
Illinois Lutheran Schools – Weekly News
This will be the last issue of the 2025 Charger Summer News. Beginning next week, the Charger News (for grades PreK – 6th) and the Charger News & Notes (for grades 7th – 12th) will be be emailed weekly. Please be sure that you are registered to receive these emails, as they contain important information!
Register for Charger News (PreK-6th Grade)
Register for News & Notes (7th-12th Grade)
Upcoming Events
- Monday, August 11 @ 4:30 – 7:00 PM – Elementary School Backpack Night (PreK – 4th Grade) @ elementary campus
- Monday, August 11 @ 4:30 – 5:00 PM OR 6:15 – 6:45 PM – 5th & 6th Grade Orientation @ elementary campus
- Monday, August 11 @ 6:30 PM – Parent, Player & Coach Meeting (High School Soccer, Volleyball & Golf) @ high school campus
- Wednesday, August 13 @ 6:30 PM – Junior High Family Orientation @ high school campus
- Thursday, August 14 @ 9:00 – 11:30 AM – Freshman & New High School Student Orientation (lunch will be provided) @ high school campus
- Tuesday, August 19 – FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL – EARLY RELEASE
- Kindergarten – 6th Grade released @ 11:15 AM
- Junior High & High School released at 11:30 AM
- Preschool released at 11:30 AM
- Thursday, August 21 @ 2:45 PM – Sport Photos for High School Golf, Soccer & Volleyball @ high school campus
- Monday, August 25 @ 5:00 PM – Parent, Player & Coach Meeting (5th – 8th Grade Soccer) @ high school campus, room 103 (Mr. Lash’s room)
- Friday, August 29 – Junior High/High School Student Back-to-School BBQ @ lunchtime
- Monday, September 1 – NO SCHOOL ALL GRADES (Labor Day)
- Friday, September 5 @ 2:45 PM – Sport Photos for Elementary/Junior High Baseball, Soccer & Softball (elementary students do not need to arrive at 2:45, but should come to the high school campus when school is dismissed)
Activities & Athletics Calendar
Fall Sports Registration
ILS Families,
As the beginning of the school year nears, our athletic teams are getting underway! Please see below for a very important registration update, along with information for summer/fall teams.
Beginning in 2025-26, ILS is using EventLink for our athletic calendar and sport registration system.
One key advantage of EventLink is a highly customizable experience. You will be able to track the practices, games and events for your student(s) and limit the other activities shown on your calendar.
Now, what we need from you.
Head to EventLink and follow the “Sign Up” option. Search for “Illinois Lutheran” to select our school. (Non-HS families: It may initially show up as Illinois Lutheran High School in the EventLink system. Choose it anyway.)
Once you have an account, hover the “Registrations” tab to find “My Students” and choose the “Add Student +” option to add your student(s).
Once that’s completed, hover the “Registrations” tab to “Available Items” and follow the “Athlete Registration” group to the appropriate form (ES/JH or HS) for your student(s).
You may select multiple sports on your initial registration. For example, if your student fully intends on playing a sport in the winter and/or spring, all of those activities may be included right away.
The online registration form has no cost. Appropriate fees for sport participation, as detailed in the ILS Handbooks, will be applied to your family’s FACTS account.
The following summer/fall sports are available:
- ES/JH Girls Softball (Grades 5-8): First practice is July 28
- ES/JH Boys Baseball (Grades 5-8): Aug. 4
- ES/JH Soccer (Grades 5-8): Aug. 25
- ES/JH Girls Basketball (Grades 4-8): Sep. 15
Note: Baseball and softball both are located at Heritage Park in Crete.
- HS Boys/Girls Golf: First practice is Aug. 11
- HS Boys Soccer: Aug. 11
- HS Girls Volleyball (JV and V): Aug. 11
Note: Cardinal Creek in Beecher hosts the ILHS golf teams.
Practice and game schedules are still being finalized. Your prompt registration greatly helps in formalizing our calendars!
Please remember to provide an updated Illinois state or Illinois sport physical to the school office prior to the first day of practice.
With sport questions—including any about dual-sport participation—contact Activities Director David Kenyon (ad@ilhs.org).
For sign-up or other technical support, please contact Mr. Kenyon or Mrs. Kelly Henning (khenning@illinoislutheran.org).
Thanks for being a part of Illinois Lutheran athletics. Together, we build!
Fall Sport Spirit Wear: Orders Due Sunday, Aug. 17
The online store for baseball and softball spirit wear is ready to take your order! ILS has partnered with Lansing Sports to provide affordable fan gear. Simply click on this link to select your merchandise and place your order: https://lansingsportshop.chipply.com/illinoislutheranjrhs/store.aspx?action=viewall
The store is open until Sunday, Aug. 17. Deliveries will be made by Monday, Sep. 8.
Medical Forms – 2025-2026 School Year – DUE PRIOR TO FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Please read through THIS INFORMATION that was sent out. We would suggest that you schedule any appointments your child needs ASAP as many doctor’s offices fill up quickly during the summer months!
Elementary Back to School Night – August 11
We are excited to extend you an invitation to the 2024-2025 school year edition of “Back to School Backpack Night”. This event will be held on Monday, August 11 from 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM. This is an opportunity to bring your child’s school supplies and get their desk and locker situated prior to the first day of school.
STUDENTS & FAMILIES OF GRADES 5 & 6
There will be an orientation meeting in your classroom beginning at 4:30 PM and 6:15 PM on Tuesday, August 6. Please plan on attending one. If you are unable to attend, please contact your teacher directly: Grade 5 – Mr. Van Arnold (nvanarnold@illinoislutheran.org); Grade 6 – Mrs. Seeger (bseeger@illinoislutheran.org).
Junior High Student & Parent Orientation – August 13
7th Grade Orientation will be held in the high school gym on Wednesday, August 13 at 6:30 PM. New 8th grade students and their parents are also invited to attend. A presentation will be made by the ILS staff and students will receive their schedules. Students may then go to their homeroom to open their lockers and leave their school supplies.
Returning 8th graders are also welcome to come pick up their schedule and place their school supplies in their locker.
High School Freshmen & New Student Orientation – August 14
Freshmen and new high school students are invited to pick up their schedules, meet their teachers, find their lockers, bring their supplies and ask questions. Please plan for your student to join us on Thursday, August 14 from 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM. Lunch will be provided for the students.
New School Calendar
We’re excited to announce that ILS has a new calendar! You can click on this link or download “Eventlink” in your app store. Once you register, you can filter for specific events that you would like to see and set up notifications. Questions? Contact our Activities Director, Mr. David Kenyon, at ad@ilhs.org. For technical questions, contact Mrs. Kelly Henning at khenning@illinoislutheran.org.
Call News
The Illinois Lutheran Board of Directors was led to call Pastor Adam Mueller to serve as President. Pastor Mueller currently serves as the Pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tucson, Arizona . Please keep Pastor Mueller and his family in your prayers as he prayerfully considers his calls.
Bookstore Orders
Please read through THIS INFORMATION before placing your bookstore order. Orders were due August 1. Orders placed after August 1 are subject to an additional $10 fee since materials have already been ordered.
School Supply Lists
Zion Community Picnic – August 24
Get ready for some fun in the sun and fellowship! Zion Lutheran Church is excited to announce our upcoming church picnic, to be held right here on our church campus in the Ryan Ministry Center area.
Picnic on Sunday, August 24th at 11:30 AM
We’d love your help to make this picnic a success! If you’re able to lend a hand with setup, please plan to arrive at 9:00 AM on Saturday, August 23rd.
We’re also planning a delicious potluck, and we’re asking for your help to share some tasty dishes:
-
If your last name begins with A-M, please bring a side dish to share.
-
If your last name begins with N-Z, please bring a dessert to share.
Zion Lutheran Church is located in front of Illinois Lutheran High School (1610 Main Street in Crete, IL). We can’t wait to see you there for a wonderful day of community and good food!
Custodian
Illinois Lutheran Schools is currently seeking an energetic and highly motivated individual to join our team as a part-time custodian. The ideal candidate for this position is detail-oriented, flexible and willing to take on non-routine cleaning and special projects as the need arises. The custodian will be responsible for cleaning and sanitizing offices, classrooms, bathrooms, dining rooms and public areas. Please submit your Employment Application to jbushey@ilhs.org. If you have any questions, please contact the high school office at 708.672.3262.
Charger Booster Association Fall Mum Sale
The Charger Booster Association is kicking off the school year with a mums sale! Mums are 9-inch pots with 18-inch diameter heads. The cost is $13 each. Choose from orange, pink, purple, red, white and yellow!
Proceeds from every sale will go to support ILS programs for our children. Please complete the form below to place your order between now and September 15.
Mums will be ready for pick up on Saturday, September 27 from 11 AM – 3 PM. Payment is due with the order and must be placed online. Additional donations to the Charger Booster Association can also be made using the payment link. Thank you for your support!
2025-2026 FACTS Accounts
If you need to change your payment plan or any dates associated with your payments, contact Mrs. Jessica Bushey at jbushey@ilhs.org at least 10 business days before your first payment is due. Please do not set up a new account or payment plan in FACTS. Any changes to your schedule should be made by the office.
We recommend that you login to FACTS and make sure that your contact information is current.
Questions? Contact Mrs. Jessica Bushey at jbushey@ilhs.org or 708.672.3262, ext. 123.
Late Start Mondays – Junior High & High School Campus Only
Junior High and High School Parents,
Research shows that high-performing schools provide regular time for teachers and administrators to collaboratively reflect, discuss and problem-solve. Our goal is to have enough whole-faculty, campus faculty, department and administration meetings to collaboratively identify challenges and opportunities, gather input, research to make informed decisions and communicate and implement those decisions with clarity and transparency.
In addition, doctors and sleep specialists recommend that high school classes start after 8:30 AM.
“Delaying school start times is an effective countermeasure to chronic sleep loss and has a wide range of potential benefits to students with regard to physical and mental health, safety, and academic achievement.” American Academy of Pediatrics. You can read more about recommendations from the National Sleep Council here.
To address these two challenges, we will have late start Mondays this school year on our junior high and high school campus.
On Mondays, first period will begin at 9:08 instead of 8:15 and we will eliminate M-period. High school band will start at 8:15 on Mondays and first period classes will be moved to what is normally M-period.
The teachers will arrive by 7:00 AM for meetings for planning and to improve instruction. Students can still be dropped off starting at 7:00 AM. You can find a comparison of our regular schedule and late start schedule pasted below.
Thank you for your flexibility and support. Feel free to share your questions or concerns with Principal Moeller at mmoeller@ilhs.org.
Elementary School (PreK – 6th) Handbook Updates
The policies in the handbook are meant to support ILS in its goal to provide a quality, Christian education to the children entrusted to our care. Please familiarize yourself with the information in the handbook.
JH & HS Handbook Updates
The ILS Junior High & High School Student Handbook has been updated for the 2025-26 school year. Below are the major changes:
- A hyperlinked table of contents has been added. The first few sections are foundational information. The rest of the topics have been alphabetized.
- Attendance – Previously, students were marked tardy if they arrived for class within 15 minutes of the start time of all class periods. That time will be reduced to five minutes for all class periods other than first period.
- Backpack Policy – The goal is to reduce tripping hazards and to eliminate clutter in the event that an emergency exit is necessary. Language has been clarified to indicate that backpacks need to remain out of hallways and classroom aisles.
- Cheating Consequences – These have been modified to align with research regarding consequences that effectively modify behavior and prioritize student learning of required content and skills.
- Chromebooks – To make it easier to make needed repairs and manage student use, starting with the 25-26 seventh graders only and adding one grade over the following five years, JH/HS students will be required to purchase Chromebooks through the ILS Technology Coordinator.
- Detentions – Changes were made to provide teacher flexibility in using these to address behavioral or academic needs.
- Dress Code – The goal is that all students dress modestly. We have changed language for short and legging coverings to be “appropriately to show proper modesty” rather than “mid-thigh.”
- Drug Policy – Language was added on to include vapes and e-cigarettes in our drug, alcohol and tobacco policy and to indicate that Narcan is available from the front office (IL state law).
- Gender – An additional document was linked to provide additional clarification of God’s design for intimate relationships.
- Lunch – A policy was added prohibiting the use of Door Dash and similar services because of the challenges they create for our administrative assistants and teachers.
Hot Lunch Program – School Eatery
Illinois Lutheran Schools works with School Eatery to provide hot lunch to our students. School Eatery works with local restaurants to offer several options every day for your child. To set up your account, please click on these links and refer to the following instructions:
- Elementary School – School Eatery Instructions
- Junior High & High School – School Eatery Instructions
- Loyalty Program & Registration Fee
- Once you set up your account and place your child’s hot lunch order, you will make your payment directly to School Eatery.
- If you have any questions about ordering or the payment process, please contact School Eatery directly at 800.570.6755 or support@schooleatery.com.
- If you have children in both buildings, you will need to set up a separate account and login.
Family Devotions
A routine family devotion is essential for the Christian family. This could include reading the Bible, singing, and praying together. Do you need help creating a meaningful family devotional time? Here is a link to daily devotion ideas.