Principal's Message
Dear Addams Families,
It is hard to believe, but today represents the mid-point of the 1st trimester. If you have not done so recently, this would be a great time to log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and check on the progress of your child. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if support is needed as we collaborate in the success of our students. We had an extremely successful Pink Out Day Tuesday at Jane Addams Junior High. Our students "amazed" us by supporting the Fight Against Breast Cancer along with showing their school spirit! We had athletes from Addams and Mead dressed for the event, as well as hundreds of students. Thank you to all that participated and helped support our basketball and cross country teams.
Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns as we work together to ensure that our students maximize their learning potential.
Regards,
Bill Musselman, Principal
Stefanie Veit, Assistant Principal
School News
Pictures are in!
Today, all students received their pictures. Even if you did not order photos, a proof should have been sent home with your child. Please check with your child to make sure your 26-27 photos arrived safely. Reminder: picture retakes are October 23.
Boys Basketball / Cheerleading / Poms Online Registration
The registration process is now open for Boys Basketball, Cheerleading, and Poms. Registration and concussion protocols will now be completed online through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
HERE are step by step procedures for families to outline the registration process for winter sports through Infinite Campus. Please complete ALL steps in order to finalize the registration process for either sport.
Cheerleading clinics will begin on Thursday, October 15, with tryouts being on Monday October 19.
Boys Basketball tryouts begin on Monday October 19.
Poms clinics will be on Tuesday, October 20 with tryouts taking place on Thursday, October 22.
All students planning to participate in winter sports must have a current physical on file with the school nurse. Please note that physical examinations are good for 13 months from the date of the exam. If you have any additional questions about your child’s physical, please contact our school nurse at 847-357-5873.
If you have any questions regarding the fall sports registration process, please contact our main office at 847-357-5900.
District 211 HS Placement Testing: 8th grade only
District 211’s comprehensive guide for the Class of 2031 provides families of current 8th-grade students with key information, including details about placement testing. Each high school has its own version of the guidebook, which is also available on the District 211 webpage for incoming freshmen. Printed copies of the Class of 2031 Guidebook will be mailed to families on Friday, September 25.
The incoming freshman placement test will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Starting with the Class of 2031, students will be administered a paper version of Pre-ACT. If you are interested in learning more about the PreACT, please visit the ACT website. Students will receive more information from our guidance department in the upcoming weeks.
Crusader School Store
Our students are working hard to earn Crusader Cash, and we are excited to see how motivated they are to demonstrate positive behaviors throughout our school! We are reaching out to ask for your help in stocking our Crusader Cash Store with fun and meaningful rewards for students to purchase with the cash they earn.
The Crusader Cash Store is an important part of our school-wide PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) framework. PBIS focuses on recognizing and reinforcing positive behaviors, encouraging students to make good choices, demonstrate our school expectations, and contribute to a positive school environment. The store gives students a tangible way to see that their hard work and positive choices are noticed and valued.
Every donation, big or small, helps us recognize our students and keep the Crusader Cash Store a motivating part of our PBIS program. Thank you for supporting our students and helping us celebrate their hard work, positive choices, and success!
View Our Amazon Wishlist
Sports Intramurals
Intramurals is open for student sign-up! Intramurals are a "drop-in" basis, meaning students can choose when they want to attend--no commitment is required. A variety of activities will be offered including team sports, net games, large group games, and fitness. Intramurals are from 2:30-4pm after school on selected dates. Students must have a permission slip and current sports physical on file with the nurse to participate. Students may join at any time. We will begin with soccer on Monday, August 31. All skill levels are welcome! Click HERE for a calendar of intramurals.
Register for Intramurals
Erin's Law
Again this year, we will be implementing a child sexual abuse prevention program in our schools as a result of the passage of Public Act 097-1147, also known as Erin’s Law, which requires child sexual abuse prevention education for children beginning in pre-kindergarten and continuing through all grade levels.
To ensure we are providing the highest standard of education on this important topic, District 54 has officially adopted the new curriculum created by the Erin's Law Foundation to replace our previous materials starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This modernized, comprehensive program is designed to give students the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves through active, engaging lessons.
The lessons at each grade level will be taught during PE classes on October 20 and 21. Junior high lessons will be guided by our social workers, with the classroom teacher present, to ensure appropriate and safe discussions and to empower students with the knowledge to recognize boundary violations, while upholding our district's strict prohibition against teen dating violence. For more information regarding Erin’s Law, please refer to their website: https://www.erinslawfoundation.org/
Our newly adopted curriculum transitions students from general safety directly into personal body safety by focusing on three unified, easy-to-remember rules:
My body belongs to me, and I am the boss of my body.
Body secrets are never okay.
Always tell a trusted adult if someone doesn't respect your boundaries, and trust your "gut feeling" if a situation feels uncomfortable.
National statistics tell us that one in three girls and one in seven boys will be sexually abused at some point in their lives. We want to do all that we can, in partnership with you, to make our children as safe as possible. For more information, please refer to the ISBE Sexual Abuse Response and Prevention Resource Guide in your handbook.
If you have any questions or concerns about the new curriculum or the schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Signs of Suicide
This year school staff are working to teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. We are using a program called SOS Signs of Suicide. The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help. SOS has been used by thousands of schools for over 20 years. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts. Through the program, students learn:
that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help
how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend
to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend
who they can turn to at school for help
On October 22, Students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend. At the end of class, students will complete an exit slip which asks whether they would like to talk to an adult about any concerns. School staff will conduct brief meetings with any student asking to talk. We encourage you to visit www.mindwise.org/parents for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn. If you have any questions or concerns about your student’s participation in this program please contact me at 847-357-5900 or williammusselman@sd54.org or any of our school counselors.
Student Drop-off/Pick-up
The following procedures have been established because student safety is our primary concern. We understand that some arrival/dismissal procedures may be an inconvenience, but as stated above, safety is our top priority. A community map is attached, and I highlighted the two appropriate areas to drop off students. To ensure student safety, cars are not allowed in the Addams parking lot from 7:20 - 7:40.
There is no adult supervision prior to the 7:30 am bell. Therefore, students should arrive at school no earlier than 7:25 am. (unless coming early for morning math support or study hall)
All big bus riders will enter the building through Doors 1 and 5
All small bus riders should enter the building through the cafeteria doors
Students who walk or are dropped off from the Atcher Pool and Dartmouth Lane directions should enter the building through door 5 (YELLOW pathway on map)
Students who walk or are dropped off from the Norwell and Westover Lanes should enter the building through door 21 after utilizing the crosswalk in our parking lot (BLUE pathway on map)
Parking on Norwell Lane in front of Addams is prohibited
Dropping students off on Springinsguth Road is strictly prohibited
School Hours & Office Hours
School hours are 7:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. with first period beginning at 7:40 am. Please note: beginning Wednesday, August 19, every Wednesday is designated for staff development. Students are dismissed 30 minutes early at 1:45 p.m.
Addams office hours are Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Please note that our student absence line (847-357-5902) is available 24 hours a day. If your child will be absent from school, please call before 7:30 AM to report an absence.
PTA News
Join the PTA!
We are excited to announce our PTA Executive Board for the 26-27 School Year:
President - Amanda Whelan
1st V.P. - Ranzie Wilson
2nd V.P. - Sophia Arikenbi
Treasurer - Zara Ajdari
Secretary - Michelle Tunquist
PTA Fun Lunch
We work with Marlas Lunch to offer:
Fun Lunch options available every Friday, starting September
Fresh, daily deliveries from both national and local restaurants
Great vendor rotation and a wide menu variety
Convenient online ordering, making it easy to shop, order, and pay
Flexibility to order weekly, monthly, or for the entire session
Registration and ordering for the upcoming session will open in early August. For more information, please visit our website or call our office.
Order Fun Lunch - Code: HMSA352
District 54 News
Personal Assessment of Core Competency (PACC)
In District 54, we are dedicated to supporting the academic and social-emotional growth of every student. Your perspective as a parent or guardian plays a vital role in helping us build a complete understanding of your student’s strengths and areas for growth. To gather your valuable input, families of students in grades K–8 will receive an email on Monday, September 28, containing a unique link to complete the District 54 Personal Assessment of Core Competency for your student(s). The survey will be open through Friday, October 16. We sincerely appreciate your participation, as strong collaboration between home and school is essential in supporting your student's overall well-being.
U.S. McKinney-Vento Assistance Act
The U.S. McKinney-Vento Assistance Act defines homeless children as those who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime abode. In general, children or youth living in motels, transitional housing, shelters, the street, cars, parks, bus or train stations, abandoned buildings and other inadequate accommodations may be considered eligible for McKinney-Vento services. Visit our McKinney-Vento web page for more information.
D54 Virtual Backpack
District 54 shares information about community events with our students and families through our Virtual Backpack. We know that parents are interested in extracurricular activities. At the same time, we don’t want the homework, letters from the teachers, school news and other important district information to get lost among the countless other pieces of paper in our students’ backpacks. Please click here for additional information.
Motorized Bikes, Scooters, etc. Prohibited
Electric bikes, scooters and skateboards are not permitted on District 54 property, due to safety concerns including the potential for accidents and the possibility of fire associated with such devices. This applies to students, as well as to family members and friends who may be picking up or dropping off students at school.
No Food Deliveries Allowed
With a focus on student and staff safety, District 54 will not allow food delivery services (including, but not limited to, GrubHub, DoorDash, and local restaurants) to our schools. We will continue to have hot lunch days, which are planned events, organized and supervised by school or PTA volunteers. However, we will no longer accept other outside food deliveries to keep our schools secure.
Save the Dates:
October 12: No School
October 17: HS Pre-ACT Placement Testing
October 19: Boys Basketball / Cheer / Poms begins
October 21: PTA Culver's Night Out
October 23: Picture Day Retakes
October 30: Halloween Dance 5-7pm (more details to come)
November 6: Half-day - early dismissal
November 6: End of Trimester 1