📢 IMPORTANT COMMUNITY RESOURCE!
We know that everyone needs a little extra support sometimes, and we want to make sure no one in our community is "leaving money on the table." We are excited to share a helpful new resource: the Illinois Benefit Hub.
What is the Illinois Benefit Hub?
The Illinois Benefit Hub is a one-stop shop designed to help you discover public benefits you may be eligible for. On average, families using this tool find about $1,300 in monthly benefits and tax credits!
How It Works
Fast & Easy: The eligibility screener takes only about 6 minutes to complete.
Anonymous: You don’t need to create an account or provide personal identifiers to see your results.
Comprehensive: It checks your eligibility for 30 different programs across categories like:
🍎 Food & Nutrition (SNAP, WIC, etc.)
🩺 Health Care
🧸 Child Care & Education
⚡ Utilities & Transportation
💸 Cash Assistance & Tax Credits
How to Get Started
Visit the Illinois Benefit Hub Screener.
Click "Get Started" to answer a few simple questions.
Review your personalized results to see what help is available and how to apply.
Don’t miss out on support that could help your family thrive. Check your eligibility today!
📢 Quick Update: Book Fair Hours for Family Reading Night
Please note a quick change to our schedule: The Scholastic Book Fair will be open for a limited window tomorrow, Thursday, March 19th, from 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM during our Red Carpet Readers Family Reading Night.
Make sure to stop by the cafeteria early to help your student find their next favorite book before the reading stations and activities begin!
All-day shopping will resume on Friday, March 20th, which is the final day of the book fair.
Reminder: You can still set up your child’s Book Fair eWallet for a quick, cash-free checkout: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/grahamelementaryschool7
We can’t wait to see you all on the Red Carpet! 🎬📚
Today is the last day to RSVP!
Roll Out the Red Carpet for Family Reading Night! 🎬📚
Join us for a blockbuster evening where books take center stage! Our Red Carpet Readers Family Reading Night is next Thursday!
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🗓️ EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Graham Elementary Cafeteria
900 W Edwards St, Springfield, IL
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📖 WHAT TO EXPECT
Literacy Baskets
Families can receive a literacy basket filled with materials to support reading at home.
(Limited number available—first come, first served.)
Free Books
Every family will have the opportunity to take a book home.
Scholastic Book Fair
The book fair will be open during the event for those looking to add more to their home library.
Dinner
IHOP has sponsored a meal for this event! Please RSVP today!
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Starring Activities:
Teacher-Led Reader Stations: Enjoy stories that have made the leap from the page to the big screen!
Sight Word Popcorn (Grades K-2): A "tasty" way to practice foundational reading skills.
Word Family & Sound Match Games: Interactive phonics fun for our younger readers.
Prefix Connect 4 (Grades 3-5): A strategic game to build vocabulary skills.
Popcorn Comprehension Challenge: Draw questions to test your knowledge—just watch out for the "POP" card!
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✉️ RSVP REQUIRED
To help us plan for the meal and materials, please RSVP by contacting:
Hope Pitts at hpitts@sps186.org OR complete this google form: RSVP FOR FAMILY READING NIGHT
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Don't miss out on this premiere event! We can't wait to see you there. 🍿⭐
#FamilyReadingNight #RedCarpetReaders #LiteracyMatters
Create your child’s Book Fair eWallet so they can shop cash-free, worry-free, and independently! It’s easy to set up and easy for others to contribute funds! Start here: Graham Elementary Book Fair Homepage.
#ScholasticBookFairs
Genere la eWallet de la Feria del Libro para que su nino o nina pueda comprar sin usar efectivo, sin preocupaciones y de manera independiente! Es facil de configurar y otras personas pueden enviar fondos con facilidad! Comience aqui: Graham Elementary Book Fair Homepage.
#ScholasticBookFairs
Roll Out the Red Carpet for Family Reading Night! 🎬📚
Join us for a blockbuster evening where books take center stage! Our Red Carpet Readers Family Reading Night is next Thursday!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🗓️ EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Graham Elementary Cafeteria
900 W Edwards St, Springfield, IL
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 WHAT TO EXPECT
Literacy Baskets
Families can receive a literacy basket filled with materials to support reading at home.
(Limited number available—first come, first served.)
Free Books
Every family will have the opportunity to take a book home.
Scholastic Book Fair
The book fair will be open during the event for those looking to add more to their home library.
Dinner
IHOP has sponsored a meal for this event! Please RSVP as soon as possible!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Starring Activities:
Teacher-Led Reader Stations: Enjoy stories that have made the leap from the page to the big screen!
Sight Word Popcorn (Grades K-2): A "tasty" way to practice foundational reading skills.
Word Family & Sound Match Games: Interactive phonics fun for our younger readers.
Prefix Connect 4 (Grades 3-5): A strategic game to build vocabulary skills.
Popcorn Comprehension Challenge: Draw questions to test your knowledge—just watch out for the "POP" card!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
✉️ RSVP REQUIRED
To help us plan for the meal and materials, please RSVP by contacting:
Hope Pitts at hpitts@sps186.org OR complete this google form: RSVP FOR FAMILY READING NIGHT
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Don't miss out on this premiere event! We can't wait to see you there. 🍿⭐
#FamilyReadingNight #RedCarpetReaders #LiteracyMatters
Making a Difference, One Bag at a Time!
Every week, our mission to support students continues, and it’s all thanks to our dedicated food bag sponsors. Your ongoing generosity provides more than just food; it provides peace of mind for our families.
A special shout out goes to our community sponsors Central Baptist Church, Maureen, Tara, Kendra, Diane, Tressa, Rhonda, and Barb.
Thank you for being a vital part of our school community!
📚 You’re Invited: Family Reading Night at Graham Elementary!
Join us for an evening of literacy, food, and fun! We are hosting a special Reading Night to celebrate our students and support reading at home.
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🗓️ EVENT DETAILS
Date: March 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Graham Elementary Cafeteria
900 W Edwards St, Springfield, IL
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 WHAT TO EXPECT
Literacy Baskets
Families can receive a literacy basket filled with materials to support reading at home.
(Limited number available—first come, first served.)
Free Books
Every family will have the opportunity to take a book home.
Scholastic Book Fair
The book fair will be open during the event for those looking to add more to their home library.
Dinner
We are working on providing a warm meal for all attendees!
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✉️ RSVP REQUIRED
To help us plan for the meal and materials, please RSVP by contacting:
Hope Pitts
📧 hpitts@sps186.org OR complete this google form: RSVP FOR FAMILY READING NIGHT
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We can't wait to see our Graham families there! 📖✨
REMINDER: Take the 5Essentials Survey Today!
Your Voice = Our Growth! 📈
We want to hear from you! The 5Essentials Survey is still open! This is your chance to help guide school decisions and improve our teaching and learning environment.
CLICK HERE to take the survey today!
⏳ Deadline: Please complete the survey by March 13.
🎁 BONUS: After you finish, email hpitts@sps186.org to be entered into a raffle for a free meal voucher! 🍔
Thank you to last week's sponsors for weekend food bags:
B.O.N.E. LLC and Ruby Funeral Services & Chapel Inc.
Because of their generosity, we were able to serve 17 families with breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the entire weekend. We are so grateful for this community support!
🏫 Every Minute Counts!
Did you know that arriving just 20 minutes late or leaving 20 minutes early three times a week adds up to 19 hours of lost learning each year? That is the same as missing 3 full days of school!
We want to help our students stay on track for a bright future. Please remember:
School Hours: 8:00 AM - 3:15 PM ⏰
Grades K-1: Arriving after 9:59 AM counts as a full-day absence.
Grades 2-5: Arriving after 10:29 AM counts as a full-day absence.
Every day your student is in class, they are building strong habits for the future! 🌟
If your family needs support with transportation or attendance planning, please reach out to our F.A.C.E. Liaison, Hope Pitts, at (217) 525-3220 or hpitts@sps186.org.
#AttendanceMatters #EveryDayCounts #StayOnTrack
🗓️ Community Resource Alert:
We have several upcoming opportunities in Springfield for families. Whether you're looking for career advancement, tax help, or a fun family literary event, these local resources are here to support you. Save these dates!
Saturday, February 21 | Diaper Giveaway: Drive-thru at Laurel United Methodist Church (631 S. Grand Ave. West) from 10 AM – 12 PM.
Sunday, February 22 | Black Children's Book Week: Kick-off event at CAP 1908 (1100 E. Adams St.) from 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM. Free books for every child!
Thursday, February 26 | Career Fair & Free Tax Prep: Join us at Fresh Visions Community Church from 10 AM – 2 PM for a resource fair and IRS VITA tax assistance.
Saturday, March 14 | Record Clearing Event: Expungement & Sealing clinic at 1908 Innovation Center.
Note: You must register by March 7 at socialchange.site.
Questions? Check the flyer for specific location details or visit the registration link for the Expungement event.
#CommunityResources #BlackHistoryMonth #FamilySupport
🔔 REMINDER: Our F.A.C.E. Meeting is TOMORROW!
Don't forget! Join us tomorrow evening to learn how we can team up for your child's "Exam Excellence." We’ll be breaking down standardized testing and sending you home with fun tools to keep the learning going!
What’s Happening:
Test Deep Dive: Get the inside scoop on IAR and MAP scores—find out exactly what they mean for your child’s growth.
Stress-Free Success: Tips and strategies to help your student feel confident and prepared.
Free Math Games: Every family can take home math games to keep the practice fun!
Event Details:
📅 Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Graham Cafeteria, 900 W Edwards St., Springfield, IL
It’s not too late to join us! Please let Hope Pitts know if you'll be there:
📧 Email: hpitts@sps186.org | 📞 Phone: (217) 525-3220
CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR PIZZA
🍕 PIZZA & PROGRESS: Graham Elementary F.A.C.E. Meeting!
We’ve got a delicious update for our next F.A.C.E. Meeting on February 19th! Thanks to a generous donation, dinner is on us! We want to make sure there's enough pizza for every member of the Graham family, so we need your help with a quick headcount.
🗓️ Event Details:
Date: Thursday, February 19th
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Graham Elementary
🗳️ How to RSVP:
Please click the link below to let us know you’re coming and how many slices your crew will need! 👉 RSVP FOR PIZZA HERE!
We can't wait to see our Graham Stars there! 🌟
#GrahamElementary #GrahamStars #FACEMeeting #PizzaParty #SchoolCommunity
Thank you to this week's sponsors for weekend food bags: Little Lambs Therapy and PhysioTherapy Professionals!
Because of their generosity, we were able to serve 16 families with breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the entire weekend. We are so grateful for this community support!
🌟 Graham Elementary Families, We’re Here for You! 🌟
Have you visited the Graham Elementary Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) webpage lately? It’s a helpful hub designed to keep our families informed, supported, and connected.
On the site, you can find:
📚 Family and student resources
🤝 Information about engagement opportunities
📅 Updates on meetings and events
🏫 Details about district initiatives and community partnerships
Whether you’re looking for support, ways to get involved, or important information to help your student succeed, the F.A.C.E. page is a great place to start.
We encourage all Graham families to take a few minutes to explore what’s available!
🔗 Visit here: Family and Community Engagement Webpage
Together, we can continue strengthening the connection between school, family, and community. 💛
📚 Upcoming F.A.C.E. Meeting: Exam Excellence
Join us for our next F.A.C.E. Meeting as we dive into how families can support student success during upcoming standardized testing! This is a great opportunity to get informed and take home some fun resources.
What to Expect:
Test Deep Dive: Learn about the IAR and MAP tests—how they are scored and why they matter for your child’s progress.
Success Strategies: Discover how families and schools can work together to prepare students for a stress-free testing experience.
Math Games: We will have a variety of math games available for families to take home and enjoy!
Event Details:
📅 Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Graham Cafeteria, 900 W Edwards St., Springfield, IL
Please let us know if you can make it! To RSVP, contact Hope Pitts at:
📧 Email: hpitts@sps186.org 📞 Phone: (217) 525-3220
Important Changes to SNAP Benefits Effective February 1st
Attention Families: Significant federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are now in effect. These updates may impact your household's eligibility or require action to maintain benefits.
What is changing?
Expanded Age Range: Work requirements now apply to "Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents" (ABAWDs) ages 18–64 (previously 18–54).
Household Changes: Adults with children in the home who are 14 or older are now included in the ABAWD definition.
Eliminated Exemptions: Previous exemptions for individuals experiencing homelessness, Veterans, and youth aging out of foster care have been removed.
How does this affect you? Impacted individuals who do not meet work requirements or qualify for a new exemption may only receive SNAP for 3 months in a 3-year period. In Illinois, benefits for those not meeting requirements could begin to be lost as early as May 1, 2026.
What should you do?
Check your status: Use the ABE SNAP Work Requirements Screener to see if these requirements apply to you.
Watch your mail: IDHS has mailed notices and exemption forms to impacted customers.
Stay informed: Visit snapfederalimpact.illinois.gov for the latest updates and detailed information.
Our goal is to ensure every family in our community stays informed and fed. Please review these changes today to prevent any loss of coverage.
#SPS186 #CommunityResources #SNAPUpdates #FamilySupport
Your input is vital to the success of our school!
From February 3 to March 13, 2026, we invite all parents and guardians to participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey.
Why Your Participation Matters:
Predicts Student Success: Research shows that schools strong in the "5Essentials"—including Involved
Families— are 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading.
Guides School Improvement: Your feedback helps us understand the unique conditions at your child’s school and directly guides our improvement plans.
Confidential and Secure: Your identity and individual responses are completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
Reach Our Goal: We need at least 20% parent participation to receive a parent report, which provides our leadership with critical data to better serve our families.
For your voice to be heard CLICK HERE : 5Essential Survey For Parents
Together, we can create the best possible learning environment for our students!
#5Essentials #SchoolImprovement #ParentVoice #SPS186
Upcoming Mobile DMV Event at the Salvation Army!
The Illinois Secretary of State’s office will be hosting a Mobile DMV Event this Friday, January 30th for community members to access essential DMV services.
Event Details:
Location: The Salvation Army at 1600 E Clearlake Ave, Springfield, IL
Date: Friday, January 30, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Services Available:
Obtain a REAL ID
Renew Driver’s Licenses
Renew State IDs
Purchase Vehicle Stickers
Appointments:
If you require an appointment, please contact Juan Huerta, Deputy Director of Public Engagement, at 217-782-8895 or 217-900-0429.
