I hope everyone had a relaxing and safe Spring Break! It was nice to enjoy some of the spring weather and take time off to prepare for the final stretch of the school year. April is a very busy month, with much to look forward to!
On Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., our elementary schools will host Kindergarten Orientation sessions for families who will have children starting Kindergarten in the fall. If you have a child who will be five years old by September 1, 2026, please plan on attending. For details, visit https://www.joliet86.org/article/2779174
Community Open Houses at Gompers and Hufford Junior High Schools will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. for former and current families, students, staff, and community members. Members of the Joliet Grade Schools Foundation of Educational Excellence will also be on site selling T-shirts and raffle tickets to raise money to help fund classroom grants and student scholarships. Please enter the main school entrances at Gompers, 1501 Copperfield Avenue, and Hufford, 1125 N. Larkin Avenue. We are also planning an Open House at A.O. Marshall Elementary School on May 27, 2026, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. All three schools will close in June.
Support our District’s 11th annual Autism Awareness 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The races begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. at Joliet Junior College by the Event Center. A limited number of T-shirts will be available to purchase for $25.00 at the event.
All Joliet Public Schools District 86 schools will have a two-hour delayed start on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Schools will begin two hours after their regular start times to allow teachers and staff to participate in morning school improvement meetings. Bus routes will also run two hours later than usual. Bus riders should arrive at their stops two hours after their regular pick-up times. Marycrest Early Childhood Center will not be in session. Dismissal times on Thursday, April 23, 2026, remain unchanged.
If you have a question, comment, concern, or compliment about one of our schools or the District, send us a Let’s Talk message by visiting our District website http://www.joliet86.org/ and clicking on “Let’s Talk” at the top of the page.