Families Across the District Attend Open House Events

Each District 401 school hosted an Open House event this September, inviting families to explore their school, get to know staff, and learn more about their student’s experience.

Starting on Sept. 4, Elm Middle School kicked things off with Curriculum Night. The evening started in the gymnasium, where attendees received some important updates before heading to individual classrooms to walk their student’s schedule. The night ended with everyone gathering to check out Elm’s elective course offerings—including art, band, music, Spanish, and technology.

The next Open House was on Sept. 9 at Elmwood Park High School. Similar to Elm, the evening began with a presentation in the auditorium. Afterwards, families walked through their student’s bell schedule, stopping in each classroom to meet with teachers and learn more about expectations for each class. Support teams were in the cafeteria providing useful information, and raffle prizes gave the night some excitement. There was even a grand prize of a $100 Jewel-Osco gift card!

The last two events took place on Sept. 10 at the elementary schools. John Mills Elementary School had a theme of taking flight to the stars, where students received their own “galactic star map.” As they made their way through the school, students collected stamps for their maps at nine different locations. Along the way, parents and guardians had the chance to talk with teachers, staff, and PTA volunteers.

Over at Elmwood Elementary School, families visited with their child’s teacher, as well as their specials teachers, to get a preview of what they were working on in class. They also got to purchase spirit gear, grab a temporary tattoo, and connect with a variety of community resources. The event saw families exploring the hallways with big smiles on their faces!

Across the schools, students were eager to show their families what they had been up to. Attendees got an inside peek into their students’ experiences, connected with teachers and staff, and learned more about what makes District 401 unique. It was a great way to start the school year feeling connected to the community.

This year, our team followed a different family at each Open House event. Watch the videos below for a behind-the-scenes look!