Mills Moments
Friday, August 26th, 2022
Trojan Families,
It is hard to believe how far the first phase of our construction project has come in a relatively short amount of time. This multi-year project is an exciting time for us as we create a more vibrant teaching and learning environment for our students, staff and our community. As with all construction projects we knew there would be bumps in the path forward. We want to make you aware that the air conditioning at John Mills is delayed and will not be ready for operation until the spring. While not ideal, it is our reality and we apologize in advance for the inconvenience. Despite the inconveniences, John Mills School is ready to welcome students on August 31st.
This Mills Moments includes information about the first day of school, entrance and exit doors, and drop off/pick up expectations. As always, we appreciate the partnership in the spirit of cooperation and flexibility.
Our Mills Moments is shared with our families via email every two weeks. If your email address or phone number ever change, please notify the main office.
Onward Trojans!
With Trojan Pride,
Email: millsinfo@epcusd401.org
Website: https://www.epcusd401.org/mills
Location: 2824 North 76th Avenue, Elmwood Park, IL, USA
Phone: 708-452-3560
Twitter: @jm401_trojans
Residency and Registration
To find out your child's teacher, please login to PowerSchool. At this time, all PK - 5th grade students have been placed in a homeroom. Registration must have been done prior to August 26th to ensure starting school on August 31st. If your child has not been assigned a class, you will be contacted on Monday or Tuesday with status. We appreciate your patience and cooperation in this matter.
Students entering PreK, Kindergarten, and First Grade are invited to our annual Supply Drop Off on Tuesday, August 30 from 2:00-3:00pm at Door 1. If you can't make it, you can bring supplies with you on the first day.
Full day of school is August 31st!
School Hours
Monday Early Release Hours for John Mills Students in K - 5
- 8:20am- Students may enter
- 8:20-8:35am- Breakfast is available
- 8:35am- Teachers bring students into the classrooms
- 8:40am- Learning begins
- 2:00pm- School day ends and students are dismissed
Tuesday-Friday Hours for John Mills Students in K - 5
- 8:20am- Students may enter
- 8:20-8:35am- Breakfast is available
- 8:35am- Teachers bring students into the classrooms
- 8:40am- Learning begins
- 3:00pm- School day ends and students are dismissed
Monday Early Release Hours for PreK
Morning Session: 8:15-10:25am
Afternoon Session: 11:35am-1:45pm
Tuesday-Friday Hours for PreK
Morning Session: 8:15-10:50am
Afternoon Session: 12:10-2:45pm
Drop Off and Pick Up
Please be your child’s best example for following all safety and procedural guidelines at all times when dropping off or picking up your student(s). We ask that everyone follow all directions from school personnel because they may be aware of potential problems that you may not. Finally, you are asked to drive slowly and cautiously in and around John Mills School allowing students to safely commute to and from school.
Car Riders:
If your student is coming to/from school in a vehicle and you would like to walk him/her to/from the door:
Please park on one of the neighborhood streets surrounding John Mills School rather than using a drop off lane. The drop off lane should not be used for these situations.
Only walk across streets with a crossing guard present.
Only cross the street in the crosswalk.
If your student is coming to/from school without a parent or guardian walking him/her to/from the door, please utilize the ‘Drop and Go’ pick up/drop off lanes along Diversey and/or George Street:
Please refrain from using your cell phone in this area.
Students can load/unload from the passenger side of the vehicle only. Therefore, please utilize the drop off lanes with your vehicle facing west on Diversey or east on George.
These lanes should be in constant movement; no parking or temporary parking.
The driver should remain in the vehicle at all times and all driver side doors should remain closed to prevent any tragic accidents.
Keep pulling forward and fill in all gaps in the drop off/pick up lane.
Have all school materials, including backpack, coat, lunch, etc. ready before the student exits the vehicle.
Please be mindful of the few school buses and respect the rules of the road for stopping when the stop sign is extended outward.
Crosswalk
Use the crosswalks for safe passage from one side of the street to the other. Wait for the crossing guard to stop traffic and give you an indication it is safe to cross the street.
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
For the past two years all schools had federal flexibilities during COVID so they could serve meals for free. The federal funding has expired so we will no longer serve all meals for free. This coming school year we will transition back to pre-pandemic meal programs with paid, free and reduced-prices options for students. Families can complete an application to determine if they qualify for free and reduced pricing options for meals.
Lunch Procedures:
All students are given a 30 minute lunch period. If you are packing your child's lunch, please be sure they are able to open items on their own and consume their lunch within the 30 minute period. Students are supervised by our lunch monitors. Per Illinois law, no student will be denied a school lunch. Because lunch is no longer free for all students, please talk to your child prior to the start of the school year if you do not wish for them to get a school lunch.
If you forget to send your child to school with their lunch, you may drop off a lunch prior to their lunch period. Please only do this in an emergency situation, as it is disruptive to the school day. Please make sure your child's lunch is labeled with their name and grade level.
Buying School Lunch:
For students continuing to buy lunch, the prices will be as follows:
Breakfast: $1.25
Lunch: $2.50
Please pay for your meals using your myschoolbucks.com account. If you wish to send your child with cash or a check, it must be in an envelope with their first and last name, grade level and homeroom teacher and placed in the lockbox in the main hallway, outside of the school office before they go to class in the morning. To pay for the school fee and/or add money to you child’s lunch account (lunch is not free for kids this year), use www.myschoolbucks.com
Menus are available by visiting https://epcusd.schooldish.com . *Please note menus are subject to change without notice.
Spirit Store
BASEC- Before and After School Extended Care
Enter Door 10 located on N. 76th Avenue. Stairs will lead you to BASEC.
Daily Hours
- Before school: 7:00 a.m. to 8:35 a.m.
- After school: 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Weekly Tuition Rates
For updated information about our weekly tuition rates, please see the pricing chart in the following document: