Tomorrow we begin our Read Across America Week, and also kick off our March Madness! Students can participate in our spirit days, and families can listen to our daily story together by clicking the link below. It’s going to be a great day, a great week, and a great month!
https://padlet.com/plainfieldschool1/read-across-america-week-2026-5f8z1n6q21v1w7ih

1 day ago, Kris Bruno
Read across America poster.

We loved welcoming families into our school for our Snuggle Up & Read + STEM morning! Families spent time reading together, exploring STEM activities, and enjoying a few tasty snacks. Thank you to everyone who joined us to make this such a cozy and meaningful start to the day!

5 days ago, Kris Bruno
A mom and son sitting in a library on a couch reading
A grandma and her grandchildren sitting on a couch in a library reading
A mom and her two sons in a library using stem building materials
A mom and son sitting in a library on a couch reading
A student using a car robot and colored floor tiles.
A father and daughter sitting on a couch in a library reading.
And her two daughters in a library looking at activity kits
Public schools are the heart of our communities. Join us in celebrating Public Schools Week 2026, Feb. 23-27, and help showcase the amazing work happening in public schools across the country. #PSW26 #PublicSchoolProud #202proud
7 days ago, District 202
We are #publicschoolproud Public Schools Week 2026. February 23-27 #PSW26. . publicschoolproud.org blue ribbon sticker. Public Schools Week February 23 - 27, 2026. #PSW26
After reading Ricky, the Rock That Couldn’t Roll, our kindergartners put their learning into action in the media center!

Using what they discovered about force and motion in the classroom, students experimented to see if they could help a rock roll as easily as a marble. With a rock, a marble, Play-Doh, foil, and lots of creativity (plus some amazing encouragement from our fourth grade helpers!), they tested ideas, made adjustments, and learned that sometimes a little teamwork and problem-solving can make all the difference.
So much hands-on learning and so many proud smiles!
7 days ago, Kris Bruno
Students experiment with clay and rocks to test force and motion.
Students experiment with clay and rocks to test force and motion.
Students experiment with clay and rocks to test force and motion.
Students experiment with clay and rocks to test force and motion.
Students experiment with clay and rocks to test force and motion.
Students experiment with clay and rocks to test force and motion.
A student wraps a rock in dough to make it round.
With the excitement of the Olympics in the air, our P.E. classes have also been celebrating with Winter Olympic inspired games this week! From teamwork challenges to winter-themed events, students showed determination, sportsmanship, and lots of school spirit.
9 days ago, Kris Bruno
Students in a school gym playing an Olympic themed event.
Students in a school gym playing an Olympic themed event.
Students in a school gym playing an Olympic themed event.
Students in a school gym playing an Olympic themed event.
A school gym set up for an Olympic themed event.
Students in a school gym playing an Olympic themed event.
Students in a school gym playing an Olympic themed event.
Students and families enjoyed a night of dancing and desserts at our Sweetheart Dance!
10 days ago, Vicky Foster
Sweetheart Dance
Sweetheart Dance
Sweetheart Dance
Sweetheart Dance
Sweetheart Dance
Sweetheart Dance
Sweetheart Dance
Sweetheart Dance
Sweetheart Dance
Over the last two weeks, 5th grade students have been tracking the 2026 Olympics. Yesterday, they completed a set of STEM challenges and a virtual escape room. They built a bobsled, a magnetic ice skating rink, and tried their hand at curling!
10 days ago, Kris Bruno
Two students creating a paper bob sled.
Two students holding a paper bobsleigh.
Two students working on a project on a laptop.
Students watch a scooter slide on top of a circle on the floor.
Students sitting at a desk.
Two students working on a project with a magnet
Students cutting paper.
Students watch a scooter slide on top of a circle on the floor.
A wall in a school hallway, displaying Olympic medals.
A wall in a school hallway, displaying Olympic medals
💗 Empathy Week Spirit Days start TODAY! 💗

Join us in spreading kindness all week with daily spirit day. Wear red, cozy PJs, tie-dye, and TJ spirit wear! Let’s celebrate empathy, kindness, and community together! 💕
14 days ago, Kris Bruno
A flyer showing empathy week spirit days
💕Hearts everywhere! Artist’s in Ms. Molitor’s art classes created amazing heart inspired art for our art hallway and our lobby for Valentine’s Day, American Heart month and Kindness/Empathy month! (KDG: Handprint art, artists 1st grade Chris Uphues and 3rd grade Jim Dine inspired ❤️’s, 5th grade mosaic, 4th grade weaving, and 2nd grade monsters from “The Love Monster” book.) Great job to all!
17 days ago, Kris Bruno
Student's heart artwork displayed in a school hallway.
Student's heart artwork displayed in a school hallway.
Student's heart artwork displayed in a school hallway.
Student's heart artwork displayed in a school hallway.
Student's heart artwork displayed in a school hallway.
Student's heart artwork displayed in a school hallway.
Student's heart artwork displayed in a school hallway.
Student's heart artwork displayed in a school hallway.
Student's heart artwork displayed in a school hallway.
Student's heart artwork displayed in a school hallway.

Enjoy your holiday! See you Tuesday!

17 days ago, District 202
flag image across top District 202 is closed on Monday, February 16, 2026 in honor of Presidents Day
Our PTO has some great events coming up!
Heart Grams can be purchased all month, our Sweetheart dance is February 20, and the Chicago Wolves game is March 21.
21 days ago, Kris Bruno
A flyer for hockey tickets.
A flyer for a dance.
A flyer for heart grams.
Students learned about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and many other notable African Americans who have shaped our nation’s history through courage, innovation, and leadership. They collaborated on posters, learned why it is important to “stick with love,” and got creative after learning about some amazing inventors, musicians, and engineers.
24 days ago, Kris Bruno
A hallway display of hearts filled with small paper scraps.
A display of collaborative Martin Luther King posters
Students building with magnetic shapes in a library
Students building using straws and connectors in a library.
A student using stem building materials in a library.
A hallway display of Martin Luther King Jr. collaborative posters.
Thomas Jefferson Elementary PE staff hosted a "kick off" assembly with Zach from the American Heart Association. Students and Staff learn how important it is to have a healthy heart & how we can help support heart disease.
24 days ago, Kris Bruno
Students watching a presentation by the American Heart Association in a school gym.
Students and teachers standing in front of cardboard, cut outs in a school gym
Student standing in front of cardboard, cut outs in a school gym
Students standing in front of cardboard, cut outs in a school gym
Students watching a presentation by the American Heart Association in a school gym.
Students watching a presentation by the American Heart Association in a school gym.
Battle of the Books was huge success! Over 50,000 pages read by 164 participants answering 1,213 questions in 63 battles! The teamwork and friendly competition was inspiring. Way to go 4th and 5th grade!
27 days ago, Kris Bruno
Reading statistics.
Students in a library watching a reading competition.
Students in a library watching a reading competition.
Students in a library watching a reading competition.
Students in a library watching a reading competition.
Students in a library watching a reading competition.
Students in a library watching a reading competition.
Trophies and medals on a table.
A teacher asking students a question in the library.
🎉 Awesome job, TJ 4th and 5th Grade Mathletes! 🎉
Congratulations to our amazing students who made our TJ Math Bowl teams and will be representing TJ in the Blue House Math Bowl competition! We are so proud of your hard work, teamwork, and love of math.
30 days ago, Vicky Foster
Math Bowl Team
Math Bowl Team
Math Bowl Team
Way to go, students! 🎉 You did an amazing job in the Battle of the Books. Congratulations to our 4th and 5th-grade winning teams—fantastic work! Thank you to Ms. Bruno and all of our volunteers who helped make this event possible for our students.
about 1 month ago, Vicky Foster
BOB winners
BOB winners
Battle of the Books is underway! Students did a great job yesterday, and continue to battle today as we narrow the field for our finals that will take place tomorrow afternoon. Also big thanks to all of our parent helpers, we could not have done it without you!
about 1 month ago, Kris Bruno
Students are sitting at a table in a library, and an adult is asking a question.
Students are sitting in a classroom.
Students are sitting in a library and an adult is asking a question.
Students are sitting in a classroom.
Students are sitting in a classroom.
Students are standing in a classroom.
Students are sitting on a couch in the library.
Students are sitting in a library.
Students are sitting in a classroom.

Due to predicted frigid temperatures tomorrow, we will have an E-Learning day, Monday, January 26, 2026. Students should NOT report to school.

about 1 month ago, District 202
green background with laptop photo and E-Learning Day . District apple logo

It was all penguins all week in our media center! After a fun read aloud, students could draw penguins, build a shelter for a penguin, make an origami penguin, read about penguins, and see how they measure up against different types of penguins. They were also able to watch the a live Penguin cam! 🐧

about 1 month ago, Kris Bruno
A student is showing a small structure he built in the library.
Two students using a meter stick in the library.
Students in a library watching a live penguin cam.
A student is showing a small structure he built in the library.
A student holding an origami penguin.
A student is showing a small structure he built in the library.
Students looking at penguin pictures in a school hallway.
A small lego house with a 3D printed penguin.
Students are showing a small structure he built in the library.
A student drawing a penguin in a library.

We will have an E-Learning Day tomorrow, Friday, January 23, 2026, due to predicted frigid temperatures, particularly during school arrival times. Students will need their laptops to log into Google Classroom from home tomorrow. All other activities at our schools on Friday are also canceled.

about 1 month ago, District 202
green background with laptop photo and E-Learning Day . District apple logo