
The wait is almost over! We are so excited to welcome our Hazel Dell students and families back for the 2026–2027 School Year!
📚 School begins Monday, August 24!
🚪 Doors open at 8:40 AM.
Our classrooms are ready, our teachers are excited, and we cannot wait to see our students walking through the doors with their smiling faces! Get ready for a year filled with learning, growth, leadership, and Hornet pride! ❤️💛🖤
🍎 Meet the Teacher Night
Families, please join us for Meet the Teacher Night on:
📅 Tuesday, August 25, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM
Come meet your child’s teacher, visit the classroom, learn more about the school year, and help us kick off another amazing year at Hazel Dell!
🐝 Hornets, get ready — it’s time to learn, grow, and make 2026–2027 our best year yet!
Welcome Back, Hazel Dell! We can’t wait to see you Monday morning! ❤️💛🖤

The Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) is proud to call Springfield home for its inaugural season, and we’re excited to help our families experience the action!
As part of a special partnership with District 186, District 186 families have the opportunity to receive FREE tickets to select Thursday night WPBL games this season.
📅 Available Games:
Thursday, August 20
Thursday, August 27
Thursday, September 3
🎟️ Up to six tickets per family are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
To claim your tickets, simply complete this form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSejd0rCj5WQU_SUHXfI1t2l0zOP95D7dnobbj3gVVJN6TH_AA/viewform?usp=dialog
Once your request is processed, tickets will be sent to the email address provided on the form.
We’re grateful to the WPBL for welcoming Springfield and partnering with District 186 to provide our students and families with this exciting opportunity to enjoy professional baseball right here in our community!
Join us for the Community Back-to-School Celebration and get ready for an incredible start to the 2026-2027 school year!
Today, July 30th | 4:30–7:00 p.m.
Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe
3751 Imagineer Drive, Springfield, IL
Students, Families & Staff won't want to miss this FREE community event featuring:
✅ Over 90 community exhibitors with valuable resources and information
✅ Back to School Physicals available on-site
✅ Free school supplies (while supplies last)
✅ Free food and treats
✅ Family activities and so much more!
Whether you're looking for helpful resources, getting ready for the first day of school, or just wanting to connect with the community, there's something for everyone.
A huge thank you to our incredible community partners whose generosity and support have made this event possible. ❤
#WeAre186 #sps186 #BackToSchool #ourcommunity

District 186, in partnership with SIU Medicine and the Sangamon County Department of Public Health, is offering walk-in clinics to help families complete required school physicals and immunizations—no appointment necessary.
Wednesday, August 12
Matheny-Withrow Elementary School
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1200 S. Pope Ave., Springfield
School Physicals Only
Sangamon County Department of Public Health
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
2833 S. Grand Ave. E, Springfield
Immunizations Only
Get your child ready for a healthy, successful school year before the first day!

Please check the News section or your email for the July Summer Check-In.
Public aid card
Payroll documentation
Credit card bill
Health Requirements & Upcoming Events
Health Requirements
Physical copies of these documents must be provided to the school.
Physicals/immunizations are due by the first day of school.
These documents cannot be scanned/uploaded through the online registration process:
Kindergarten Health Requirements
Recent physical exam including Lead, Diabetes and TB screen; Health History. Due first day of school.
Updated immunization record including DTap, Polio, MMR and Varicella at approved intervals. Due first day of school
Dental exam requested by May 15. Vision exam is requested.
Second Grade Health Requirements
Dental exam requested by May 15
Upcoming Events
The first day of school is August 24, 2026.

📅 Tuesday, July 7, 2026
📍 District 186 Administrative Office, 3063 Fiat Avenue
Session 1: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Session 2: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
You don't have to wait until the career fair to apply. Visit https://www.sps186.org/o/sps/page/human-resources to view current openings and begin your application today!

The Community Back-to-School Event serves as a one-stop destination for families preparing for the upcoming school year while strengthening connections between schools, families, and the community.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Time: 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe
Address: 3751 Imagineer Drive, Springfield, IL
We look forward to welcoming students, families, educators, and community members for an evening of fun, resources, and excitement as we kick off the 2026-2027 school year together.

As we prepare to close out another wonderful school year, we want to share important information and celebrations for the last week of school. We are excited to finish the year strong and create lasting memories with our students and families!
Tuesday – Regular School Day
Tuesday will be a regular school day. Students who are turning in school devices must also return their charging cords. Please note that families will be charged for any missing charging cords.
Wednesday – Field Day & 5th Grade Graduation
Wednesday morning will be our annual Field Day! Students should dress comfortably and be prepared for outdoor activities and fun.
Wednesday evening, we will celebrate our 5th Grade Graduation beginning at 6:00 PM.
Important reminders for 5th-grade families:
Fifth-grade students should arrive at school by 5:30 PM
Parents and guests will be allowed into the building beginning at 5:45 PM
Families must RSVP to secure reserved seating for parents and two guests.
Fifth-grade families have also been asked to contribute a $25 donation to help offset graduation expenses. There is still time to submit donations.
We look forward to celebrating this special milestone with our 5th-grade students and families.
Thursday – Last Day of School
Thursday is the final day of school and will include:
Awards Ceremony
Kindergarten Moving-Up Ceremony
Family Picnic
The Awards Ceremony and Kindergarten Moving-Up Ceremony will begin at 10:30 AM, and we will begin allowing families into the building at 10:15 AM.
The Family Picnic will begin immediately following the awards ceremony. Families are welcome to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs if desired.
Families may also purchase a school lunch for $2.50. The school will provide:
Hot dogs
Chips
Water
We look forward to spending the last day of school together as a Hazel Dell family and celebrating a successful school year with each of you.
Thank you for your continued partnership, support, and commitment throughout the year. We wish all of our families a safe, joyful, and relaxing summer!
Warm regards,
Tiffany Burris
Principal
Hazel Dell Elementary School

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up, and our HDE families are stepping up in a big way! 💛 Our PTC has organized a fun week of “Teacher Bars” to treat our staff—and we’d love your help to make it a success.
Each day will feature something different:
☕ Monday – Coffee Bar
🌮 Tuesday – Taco Bar
🥗 Wednesday – Salad Bar
🥔 Thursday – Baked Potato Bar
🥤 Friday – Dirty Soda Bar
There are two easy ways to support:
👉 Donate items (or contribute toward shopping)
👉 Volunteer to help set up or clean up
Even small contributions make a big difference, and it all goes toward showing our teachers how much they’re appreciated.
🔗 Sign up to donate here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0448AAA92BA3FBC07-63798250-teacher#/
🔗 Sign up to volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0448AAA92BA3FBC07-63799350-hdeteacher#/
📎 See the attached flyer for specific donation ideas and details.
Thanks for helping us make this week special for our staff!

FACE Meeting
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/vgv-bhvm-ggd
Or dial: (US) +1 385-325-0291 PIN: 232 513 451#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/vgv-bhvm-ggd?pin=6491126159728
Science Night is tomorrow night – and you don’t want to miss it!
Get ready for a night full of hands-on fun, creativity, and a little bit of messy science!
Families will travel from room to room exploring exciting activities like:
• Building towering balloon structures
• Creating bubbling lemon volcanoes
• Blowing up balloons using chemistry
• Designing 3D shapes
• Modeling the phases of the moon with Oreos
Plus, don’t forget to stop by our **Book Fair** to find your next favorite read!
At each station, they’ll collect a stamp—how many can you get?
Bring the whole family and come ready to explore, create, and have fun learning together. We can’t wait to see you there!
Dear Hazel Dell Families,
It’s Crunch Time! Our IAR testing begins tomorrow — March 31, 2025, and we need all of our students ready to CRUSH the test! 💥
To help your child do their very best, please make sure they:
✅ Get a good night’s sleep
✅ Arrive at school on time
✅ Eat a healthy breakfast
✅ Come with a positive mindset and ready to do their best
These assessments give our students the opportunity to show what they know and demonstrate all the hard work they’ve put in this year. We are confident in our students and know they are ready to shine! ✨
Your support makes a big difference. Thank you for helping us ensure students are present, prepared, and ready to succeed.
Let’s work together to Crush the Test, Hazel Dell! 💪🐾
With appreciation,
Principal Burris
Hazel Dell Elementary School
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