Back to School 2023

OPENING OF SCHOOL 2023

Pikeland CUSD #10

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!  Pikeland Unit #10 schools will open Wednesday, August 16th.  Regular bus routes will start on the first day of school.

Daily Start Times for School

8:25 a.m. - Pittsfield High School

8:27 a.m. - South Elementary and Pikeland Community School

Early Dismissal Times - First 5 Days of School

August 16-August 22

 2:35 p.m. - South Elementary School (grades Preschool – 2)

 2:40 p.m. - Pittsfield High School (grades 9-12) 

 2:45 p.m. - Pikeland Community School (grades 3-8)

Regular Dismissal Times

3:20 p.m. - South Elementary School (grades Preschool – 2)

3:25 p.m. - Pittsfield High School (grades 9-12) 

3:30 p.m. - Pikeland Community School (grades 3-8)

Mark Your Calendar

August 3, 2023 - Onsite Registration & ROOMS Invitations (Pikeland App)

September 4, 2023 - Labor Day- Schools are closed

September 21, 2023 - School Improvement Day

SIP Dismissal Times:

1:20 p.m. - South Elementary

1:25 p.m. - Pittsfield High School

1:30 p.m. - Pikeland Community School

First Day for Kindergarten and PreK

Kindergarten - Thursday, August 17

Preschool -  Monday, August 21

  A student entering Kindergarten must be five years old on or before September 1, 2023.

Online and In Person Registration

Parents may register their students online. New families to the district may go to the pikeland.net website and click enrollment. 

Existing Pikeland Families may log into their Teacherease Account to register or go to the pikeland.net website: click enrollment and then choose “Existing Pikeland Family.”

In-person registration will be available for Pikeland Families on Thursday, August 3, at Pittsfield High School for all students. To register in-person, families will meet school staff in the PHS Media Center. Registration will be held at one location to streamline the process for families with multiple children in different attendance centers. The times for in-person registration on August 3rd are 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 am., 1:00 p.m. - 4:00p.m, and 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.  Pittsfield High School will offer make-up registration sessions for PHS students on August 4th from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and on August 9th from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.  

Meet the Teacher Night

Pikeland Unit #10 again this year will be sponsoring “Meet the Teacher Night” on Monday, August 14.  This will be an opportunity for parents to meet their child’s teacher, get schedules, bring supplies, and to tour the building.  We are looking forward to meeting your students and family. 

Meet the Teacher Night Times

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.    South Elementary School 

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.   Pikeland Community School and Pittsfield High School.  

Transportation Information

Bus drivers will contact parents with the time and pick up location for bus riders.  Bus stops in Pittsfield will be marked with bright colored signs the week before school starts.    Parents are reminded that PCS students are dropped off and picked up from school on the east side of the building only.  Cars are not permitted to use the road between PHS and the west side of PCS during the day (the bus lane).

Parents of new students who need transportation should contact their school and complete a student transportation form.  Any additional questions about transportation please contact Richard Graves, Transportation Coordinator  at 217-285-2752 or Angie Ruebush, Assistant Superintendent at 217-285-2147.

Preschool

Parents of preschool students that have received a class placement need to call South School to schedule a Pathways to Preschool appointment for August 9 or 10.  Preschool screenings will be Friday, August 4, for children who are not enrolled in the preschool program and did not get screened at the spring screenings.  Please contact South School at 217-285-2431 if you would like to reserve a spot to have your child screened.

Kindergarten Camp

On August 2, South School will be hosting Kindergarten Camp for any new, incoming Kindergarten students who were unable to attend Kindergarten Camp in June.  This will be held in the South School cafeteria.  Available times are 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00.  Please email mdouglas@pikeland.org  or call the South School office at 217-285-2431 to schedule a time. If you are unable to attend Kindergarten Camp, please plan to attend in-person registration on August 3 at Pittsfield High School or call South School at 217-285-2431.  Kindergarten specific requirements include a current physical, updated immunizations, and proof of residency.

Teacher Assignments

Starting August 2, families with students in grades K-5th  may log in to www.teacherease.com to see their child’s class/teacher assignment.  Additional communications regarding class lists will be released via text messaging, push notifications in the  Pikeland app and ROOMS (a feature in the Pikeland app).

3rd Grade Orientation

Third-grade teachers and support staff will hold an orientation for all third-grade students and their parents on August 10th. Students and parents will join their classroom and have the opportunity to put away their supplies, sort things into their desks, and find their lockers. The teachers will also present the third-grade program and ways to support their learning to the students and parents. These presentations will be at 11:30-12:30, 5:00- 6:00. In addition to the presentations, support personnel will take small groups of students and their families on building tours. C-pod would like to see 100% student participation in this event.

6th Grade Orientation

Sixth-grade teachers and support staff will hold an orientation for all sixth-grade students and their parents on August 10th. Students and parents will join their D-pod Team and have the opportunity to find their classes, lockers, and put away their supplies. There will be a presentation in the gym at the beginning of each session to present the sixth-grade program. Orientation times will be from 12:30-1:30 and 6:00-7:00. Staff is excited to welcome 6th graders to D-pod. Hope to see you on August 10th!

Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors

Pittsfield High School sophomores through seniors may pick up schedules and pay on the following dates and times:  August 3 from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and August 9 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.  All parents are encouraged to attend registration to complete the necessary paperwork and to pay fees.  Parents should enter through the front doors by the office and complete paperwork prior to reporting to the office.  Information concerning freshmen orientation was emailed and communicated via email the week of July 5, 2023.  Groups’ assignments and times were emailed July 28, 2023.  If you have any questions, please contact the Pittsfield High School office or email agreger@pikeland.org.

Physical and Immunization Compliance

The law requires all students entering preschool (for the first time), kindergarten, sixth, and ninth grades as well as all students from out-of-state to have a physical examination. All physical examinations must be on a current Illinois Physical Form.  All students must have proof of proper immunizations.  Submission of all physical and immunization is desired by August 16, 2023. Students will be excluded from school if not in compliance.  The exclusion dates for students who have not turned in necessary physicals and evidence of proper immunizations are:

  • Grades K – 2 - End of the school day - October 13

  • Grades 3 – 8 - End of the school day - October 13

  • Grades 9 – 12 - End of the school day - October 13

  • Preschool/Early Childhood - End of the school day - October 13

Proof of dental exams are required for students entering  kindergarten, second, sixth, and ninth grades and vision exams are required for kindergarten and new students who have never attended an Illinois school before.  The exclusion dates in the previous paragraph do not apply to dental and vision exams.  

Medication at School

Please note, school offices no longer dispense any medication over-the-counter or prescription without an authorization form filled out and signed by a medical provider and parent/guardian.  If a student needs to take over-the-counter or prescription medication during the school day, a student medical authorization form must be filled out.  This form can be obtained from the school office.

Book Rental Fees

Book rental fees will be $70 for Kindergarten through grade 8. 

Pittsfield High School book rental fee is $90.  

Rental fees will be accepted in online registration or in person registration. Fees can also be paid at the school your student attends.  Free textbook waivers can be downloaded from the pikeland.net website, registration link, or picked up in every school office.

Breakfast and Lunch Pricing

School lunches and breakfast will be available beginning Wednesday, August 16th, and every day thereafter.  It is anticipated both breakfast and lunch will be served in school cafeterias.  Breakfast programs will be available in every building from 8:00 to 8:20 at the following rates:  

South Elementary = $1.35

PCS & PHS = $1.35

Lunch prices are 

Grades K-2 = $2.50

Grades 3-8 = $2.55

Grades 9-12 = $2.55

Extra milk = $.40

Pikeland Unit #10 does participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.  Parents who cannot afford to purchase breakfast or lunch can apply for free or reduced-price rates.  Applications will be given to each child on opening day and may be picked up from the office in your child’s school any time during the school year.  A new application must be completed every school year.

PHS Athletic Information 

Pittsfield High School will begin practice for all fall IHSA sports on Monday, August 7, 2023.   Students must have proof of insurance and have a physical examination on file before they may begin practice. 

Additional Questions

Persons having questions or needing more information may contact any of the following:

Pikeland Board of Education Office   285-2147

Angie Greger, PHS Principal              285-6888

Brandi Pennock, PCS 6-8 Principal    285-9462

Jon Frieden, PCS 3-5 Principal           285-9462

Tracey Allen, South Principal             285-2431