Dear Students and Families of Algonquin Lakes Elementary School,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 School Year! 

My name is Marilynn [Smith] Jankovich and I am the proud principal at Algonquin Lakes Elementary School. It’s a true honor to be part of such a wonderful school community, and I’m genuinely excited to connect and work together with you and your family this school year!

I am dedicated to fostering a safe, supportive, and well-structured learning environment. My goal is to support strong academic growth while encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving. I believe in creating meaningful connections across subjects and offering creative, engaging learning experiences for every student.

The staff at Algonquin Lakes Elementary is excited to welcome students back through our doors on August 12th for the first day of school! In alignment with D300’s mission, we are committed to providing engaging, inclusive learning experiences that inspire and prepare all students to explore, create, and thrive—both now and in the future. Our goal is to support every child in reaching their fullest potential!

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Carolyn Ross as our new Assistant Principal at Algonquin Lakes Elementary! Dr. Ross brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to student success and school community. We are also excited to introduce our new Student Services Specialist, Ms. Christie Wochner, who will help support students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 Plans. She will work closely with staff and families to ensure each child’s needs are met through personalized, inclusive, and well-coordinated services. Together, they are eager to partner with families and staff to help all students thrive.

Our Lion Pride is strong at Algonquin Lakes! We have the highest of expectations for all of our students and staff and we live by our core beliefs: Respect Yourself, Respect Others, and Respect Your Environment. We embrace the Keys of Excellence as a school-wide system to promote a positive and supportive learning environment. These guiding principles; Integrity, Failure Leads to Success, Speak with Good Purpose, This is It, Commitment, Ownership, Flexibility, and Balance, help students develop strong character and make thoughtful choices. By incorporating the Keys into our daily routines and lessons, we aim to build a culture of respect, responsibility, and personal growth for all members of our school community.

Algonquin Lakes Lions R-R-Roar! Our student-centered approach makes Algonquin Lakes a caring and supportive environment in which all students will learn at high levels.

Our positive school culture builds strong connections and relationships, supports students’ social emotional needs, and creates the best possible learning environment for our students.

You can view our D300 Parent/Guardian Handbook and Algonquin Lakes Parent Handbook on our school website: https://www.d300.org/ales. 

Communication is key to our collaboration! You will receive a Weekly Newsletter on Sunday evenings with school updates, upcoming events, and other important information. Do take time to read these weekly. Also, please familiarize yourself with the website as well as like us and follow us on our social media:

• Website: https://www.d300.org/ales.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aleslions/

Getting into the habit of positive daily attendance for students is more important than ever. It helps to reduce stress, make it easier to connect with friends and teachers, and supports learning. Starting in Kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to struggle to read and fall behind in school. Start building a healthy attendance habit right away so students learn that going to school on time, every day is important. Over time, positive attendance will be a skill that will help students succeed in high school and college.

Student attendance is from 8:00 am to 2:15 pm with morning supervision beginning at 7:45 am. Our office daily hours of operation are 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.

Teacher Assignments:

• Teacher assignments will be available in the Parent Portal early August. Great care is taken during the class development process with many factors taken into consideration, therefore, we are unable to make any teacher changes. All of our teachers are committed to maintaining a safe and caring environment for all students, so I can assure you that your child will be in good hands.

School Supplies: 

• For a complete list of school supplies, please visit our district's website and click on the "School Supply List" link.

Health Requirements:

• Parents and guardians of students entering preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade, ninth grade, and 12th grade must submit required health forms – or proof of an upcoming appointment – to their school nurse or to health.forms@d300.org by Thursday, July 31st. 

*If your student is in any other grade and has up-to-date physical and immunization records, no additional forms are needed. Please make your child’s appointment now to avoid delays during the summer rush.

For all requirements and medical forms, please visit the D300 Health Services website: https://www.d300.org/domain/798

Calendar - Some Important Dates

• August 7th

Kindergarten: 4-5 pm and Grades 1st – 5th grade: 5-6 pm

ALES PTO Back to School Bash: 4-6 PM

• August 12th - First Day of School

• August 20th - Back to School Open House

Annual Volunteer Form:

All parents must complete a volunteer application online each school year for security purposes. The approved form is required to be on file for parents to: 1. be a classroom helper, 2. enter the school for events, 3. chaperone, and/or 4. help with the PTO. Instructions for completing this form are linked here-it will only take a few minutes to complete! Please bring your government issued ID with you the first time you come to Algonquin Lakes so we can get you registered in our security system. After that, you will be ready to join us in school for the entire year.

The Algonquin Lakes Elementary staff has been working very hard to prepare for an amazing school year! We are committed to providing the best possible educational experiences for your child. We look forward to your partnership and collaboration!

Gooooooo Lions!

Kindest Regards,

Marilynn Smith

Algonquin Lakes Elementary School Principal