8th graders recently traveled to Washington D.C. They spent three days touring the nation's capitol, and four students participated in a wreath ceremony after the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery. #d60learns
We love these adorable and spooky submissions for our staff pumpkin decorating contest! Which one is your favorite? #d60halloween
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has updated the proficiency benchmarks for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) to better reflect students’ progress toward real college and career readiness expectations. These new benchmarks ensure that student scores more accurately represent what students know and can do.
Check out the latest issue of the D60 E-Newsletter for more information:
https://maerckersd60il.edurooms.com/engage/important-updates-from-maercker-school-district-60/newsletters/maercker-d60-news-notes-october-29-2025
Check out the latest issue of the D60 E-Newsletter for more information:
https://maerckersd60il.edurooms.com/engage/important-updates-from-maercker-school-district-60/newsletters/maercker-d60-news-notes-october-29-2025
🌟 Gold Standard Spotlight: Sarah Erwin 🌟
Sarah’s adaptability, data-driven leadership, and collaborative spirit inspire both staff and students. She empowers teachers, strengthens PLCs, and models resilience every day. Thank you, Sarah, for being The Gold Standard! 👏💛
Sarah’s adaptability, data-driven leadership, and collaborative spirit inspire both staff and students. She empowers teachers, strengthens PLCs, and models resilience every day. Thank you, Sarah, for being The Gold Standard! 👏💛
Thank you to everyone who joined D60 BPAC on Tuesday, Oct. 28 for the incredible Día de los Muertos event at Holmes! It was a wonderful celebration of family and culture that taught great lessons about the traditions of this important day. Families were able to get involved with crafts, visit ofrendas and hear some great live music!
Tell us what you think of our school nutrition program! Families are invited to take a short survey to share how our food service provider, Whitsons Culinary Group, can continue to make improvements to better serve our school community.
Take the survey today! https://xmp.insight-surveys.com/Interview/2d935949-52d0-440c-962e-7e91df4d7597
Take the survey today! https://xmp.insight-surveys.com/Interview/2d935949-52d0-440c-962e-7e91df4d7597
Westview clarinet and saxophone students experienced a clinic from professional jazz musician and VanDoren artist Shawn Maxwell. What a cool opportunity! Thank you for visiting with us! #d60learns
🌟 Gold Standard Spotlight: Julie Milos 🌟
Julie’s dedication, creativity, and collaborative leadership inspire both students and colleagues. From designing engaging lessons to building confidence in her students, she is a true role model and superhero teacher. Thank you, Julie, for being The Gold Standard! 👏💛
Julie’s dedication, creativity, and collaborative leadership inspire both students and colleagues. From designing engaging lessons to building confidence in her students, she is a true role model and superhero teacher. Thank you, Julie, for being The Gold Standard! 👏💛
Staff members made homemade tamales with Dr. Corona during Hispanic Heritage Month. ¡Que sabroso!
Join us for our special Dia de los Muertos event TOMORROW, Oct. 28, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Holmes School!
All families are welcome to:
-Visit the community ofrenda (altar) honoring family and culture
-Learn about the traditions of Día de los Muertos
-Enjoy craft stations for families
-Celebrate culture, memory and togetherness
We’ll see you there!
All families are welcome to:
-Visit the community ofrenda (altar) honoring family and culture
-Learn about the traditions of Día de los Muertos
-Enjoy craft stations for families
-Celebrate culture, memory and togetherness
We’ll see you there!
Throw kindness around like confetti! Club Lead at Holmes created posters all about spreading kindness in the building. #d60learns
We’re excited to share that the Maercker D60 PTA Family Trunk or Treat is coming up this weekend! Join in the spooktacular fun this Sunday, Oct. 26, from 3-5 p.m. at Westview Hills Middle School at 630 65th St. in Willowbrook. The free event is open to all families and students across the district and is organized and hosted by the PTA. Families are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate to the People's Resource Center Food Pantry.
Costumes are encouraged, but please note: no masks, weapons or backpacks.
To find more event details and to sign up to volunteer or donate items, visit the PTA website:
https://www.maerckerpta.org/trunk-or-treat
Costumes are encouraged, but please note: no masks, weapons or backpacks.
To find more event details and to sign up to volunteer or donate items, visit the PTA website:
https://www.maerckerpta.org/trunk-or-treat
Let’s spotlight our final principal, another new face to our district, Dr. Juan Corona!
Dr. Corona joined the district for the 2025-26 school year as principal of Maercker Intermediate School. He says that everything is going great so far and that he spends a lot of time getting to know staff and students, as well as the PTA. Some initiatives he is excited about include bringing more fun engagement opportunities for students and continuing to share his heritage with staff like when they recently made authentic tamales.
After 10 years of being a Bilingual Director, he wanted to find ways to reconnect with students and staff at the building level which led him to the Maercker Principal job. He says that he works closely with the other principals in the district and that they are just a phone call away.
“It is an amazing feeling to see our students learn and grow and see staff continue to further develop their craft,” said Dr. Corona. “My advice for anyone wanting to become a principal is to keep your passion for learning active with professional reading and networking. Set a goal every year and stay true to your vision. Always listen, ask clarifying questions and don't forget to reflect on your leadership and learn from the feedback you receive!”
Dr. Corona joined the district for the 2025-26 school year as principal of Maercker Intermediate School. He says that everything is going great so far and that he spends a lot of time getting to know staff and students, as well as the PTA. Some initiatives he is excited about include bringing more fun engagement opportunities for students and continuing to share his heritage with staff like when they recently made authentic tamales.
After 10 years of being a Bilingual Director, he wanted to find ways to reconnect with students and staff at the building level which led him to the Maercker Principal job. He says that he works closely with the other principals in the district and that they are just a phone call away.
“It is an amazing feeling to see our students learn and grow and see staff continue to further develop their craft,” said Dr. Corona. “My advice for anyone wanting to become a principal is to keep your passion for learning active with professional reading and networking. Set a goal every year and stay true to your vision. Always listen, ask clarifying questions and don't forget to reflect on your leadership and learn from the feedback you receive!”
🌟 Gold Standard Spotlight: Kierstyn Setter 🌟
Kierstyn’s positivity, creativity, and collaboration inspire both staff and students every day. She builds trust, empowers teachers, and goes above and beyond to support our Wildcats. A true lighthouse in our building, she is The Gold Standard! 👏💛
Kierstyn’s positivity, creativity, and collaboration inspire both staff and students every day. She builds trust, empowers teachers, and goes above and beyond to support our Wildcats. A true lighthouse in our building, she is The Gold Standard! 👏💛
In 8th‑grade science, students are learning about the roles of macromolecules in the human body. One way they explore this is by burning each type of molecule to observe how energy is released from it! #d60learns
Let’s celebrate another one of our incredible principals during Principal Appreciation Week!
Elisa Maldonado is new to the district this year and is leading the team at Holmes Primary School. She has elementary teaching experience in a variety of suburban districts and CPS and has 14 years of school leadership experience as an assistant principal and principal in Minnesota and Illinois.
She says that she loves the diversity of the community and the students at Holmes and that she is really enjoying spending time with the young learners at such a fun age. A typical day for her is starting the day with arrival and ending it with dismissal but in between those, you will see her visiting classrooms, sitting in on meetings, and expecting the unexpected.
“Some days the schedule may look light but we are always moving and working to support staff and respond to student and family needs,” said Maldonado. “The first day of school this year went by really fast and I don’t know if I sat down all day. It was exciting to see the kids and get to be a part of their day.”
She was drawn to administration because she loved the impact that she could have on students as a teacher, but wanted to do that at a larger scale. She collaborates a lot with the other principals in the district and says that the team works well together because they have different strengths and support each other through guidance and collaboration.
“I don’t think there’s a more rewarding job at the end of the day,” she said. “We are in the people business so it’s all about supporting the people connected to our school. You may not see an immediate impact, but we really do help to make an impact. There is no training that you can really receive to prepare you for being a principal because you have to be open and be a listener and mostly be willing to learn and grow as you go!”
Elisa Maldonado is new to the district this year and is leading the team at Holmes Primary School. She has elementary teaching experience in a variety of suburban districts and CPS and has 14 years of school leadership experience as an assistant principal and principal in Minnesota and Illinois.
She says that she loves the diversity of the community and the students at Holmes and that she is really enjoying spending time with the young learners at such a fun age. A typical day for her is starting the day with arrival and ending it with dismissal but in between those, you will see her visiting classrooms, sitting in on meetings, and expecting the unexpected.
“Some days the schedule may look light but we are always moving and working to support staff and respond to student and family needs,” said Maldonado. “The first day of school this year went by really fast and I don’t know if I sat down all day. It was exciting to see the kids and get to be a part of their day.”
She was drawn to administration because she loved the impact that she could have on students as a teacher, but wanted to do that at a larger scale. She collaborates a lot with the other principals in the district and says that the team works well together because they have different strengths and support each other through guidance and collaboration.
“I don’t think there’s a more rewarding job at the end of the day,” she said. “We are in the people business so it’s all about supporting the people connected to our school. You may not see an immediate impact, but we really do help to make an impact. There is no training that you can really receive to prepare you for being a principal because you have to be open and be a listener and mostly be willing to learn and grow as you go!”
Our Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) is hosting an event for all District 60 families next week! Join us for a special Dia de los Muertos event on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Holmes School at 5800 S. Holmes Ave. in Clarendon Hills.
All families are welcome to:
-Visit the community ofrenda (altar) honoring family and culture
-Learn about the traditions of Día de los Muertos
-Enjoy craft stations for families
-Celebrate culture, memory and togetherness
We hope to see you there!
All families are welcome to:
-Visit the community ofrenda (altar) honoring family and culture
-Learn about the traditions of Día de los Muertos
-Enjoy craft stations for families
-Celebrate culture, memory and togetherness
We hope to see you there!
Beginning Band is in full swing at Maercker School! This fall, 106 eager students are studying band instruments! #d60learns
🌟 Gold Standard Spotlight: Rose Ortiz 🌟
From welcoming new families with warmth and empathy to jumping in on day one to communicate bus delays, Rose goes above and beyond to keep our students and families supported. Her positivity, adaptability, and student-first spirit make her a true MVP. Thank you, Rose! 👏💛
From welcoming new families with warmth and empathy to jumping in on day one to communicate bus delays, Rose goes above and beyond to keep our students and families supported. Her positivity, adaptability, and student-first spirit make her a true MVP. Thank you, Rose! 👏💛
Over the weekend, the girls cross country team competed at the state meet and finished in 14th place. The boys cross country team competed at the IESA State meet on Saturday and finished in second place, and Yebby earned second place in the state race and all state honors, as well as second place in the 8th grade hall of fame. Awesome work, everyone! #d60runs
