Kilmer Elementary School

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Kilmer Elementary School Kilmer Elementary School serves students from Kindergarten through fifth grade in Community Consolidated School District 21 in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, USA.

 : A colorful tribute to the people who make a school specialInside the multipurpose room at Kilmer Elementary School, a...
10/07/2026

: A colorful tribute to the people who make a school special

Inside the multipurpose room at Kilmer Elementary School, a series of stained glass windows honors six former staff members whose years of service helped shape that school.

Each window was handcrafted by Sally Stewart, a retired District 21 art teacher, and dedicated in honor or memory of a former Kilmer team member:

🦋 Jan Ehas — Teacher, 1990-2015 (in memory)

🌹 Kim Zinman — Principal, 1994-2013 (in honor)

🌷 Gail Forshall — LMC Specialist, 2004-2012 (in honor)

🌟 Carole Olson — LMC Specialist, 1993-2004 (in honor)

🌹 Rose Mary Goff — Secretary, 1965-1995 (in memory)

❤️ Jean Thias — Teacher, 1974-1993 (in memory)

One especially meaningful detail: Jan's window features purple butterflies, a nod to her favorite color. It's a small, personal touch that makes this collection even more special.

Together, these windows are more than beautiful works of art. They're a lasting reminder of the educators and staff members who dedicated their time, care and talents to Kilmer and the students and families they served.

Thank you, Sally, for creating these meaningful tributes and helping keep these legacies alive.

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Have a favorite D21 detail you'd like us to share? Let us know at [email protected]!

October is National Bullying Prevention Month — a time to come together as a community to promote kindness, respect and ...
10/01/2026

October is National Bullying Prevention Month — a time to come together as a community to promote kindness, respect and a sense of belonging for every student.

Throughout the month, we’ll share resources and highlight how our schools work to prevent bullying and create positive, supportive school communities.

We’re kicking things off with a series of infographics that break down the different forms bullying can take. Because recognizing what bullying looks like is an important first step toward preventing it.

➡️ Swipe through today’s carousel to learn more, and join us this month in helping create schools where every student feels seen, supported and safe.

Democracy in action!Friday was Student Council election day at Kilmer! After weeks of creating campaign posters, writing...
09/28/2026

Democracy in action!

Friday was Student Council election day at Kilmer! After weeks of creating campaign posters, writing speeches and sharing their ideas with classmates, our fourth- and fifth-grade candidates had one final opportunity to make their case.

Our Cougars heard short speeches from each candidate before fourth and fifth graders moved back into their classrooms to cast their votes electronically.

The Student Council has been a Kilmer tradition since the 1980s, giving students opportunities to practice leadership, responsibility and civic engagement while helping shape their school community.

Throughout the year, Student Council members help organize spirit weeks, lead community service efforts, raise funds for charitable causes and share ideas from their peers with staff.

Today was about more than choosing student leaders — it was a chance for our Cougars to experience democracy firsthand and see that their voices matter.

09/25/2026

  The Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education’s Committee of the Whole on Thursday, Sept. 24, recommended pausing the district’s attendance boundary redesign process, meaning no boundary changes would be implemented for the 2027-28 school year. The recommendation follows a ...

09/11/2026

In case you missed this update from the district.

A little extra connection in the classroom today!Kilmer students welcomed building administrators, who stopped by to rea...
08/21/2026

A little extra connection in the classroom today!

Kilmer students welcomed building administrators, who stopped by to read "The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds. The beloved story follows Vashti, a student who discovers that a simple dot can be the beginning of something much bigger when she takes a chance, believes in herself and inspires others to do the same.

With "Connection" as this year's theme at the elementary school, our Cougars were encouraged to think about the many ways they can connect to what they're learning – and, just as importantly, how they can connect with and support one another throughout the school year.

Sometimes, all it takes is one little dot to get something meaningful started.

A little welcome-back surprise from our PTO! As our staff return tomorrow for their final institute day before the schoo...
08/18/2026

A little welcome-back surprise from our PTO!

As our staff return tomorrow for their final institute day before the school year begins, they’ll be greeted by this beautiful display celebrating the start of another year at Kilmer. And the best part? It’ll still be here to welcome our students when they arrive on Wednesday!

Thank you to our incredible PTO for this thoughtful gift and for always finding ways to make our staff and students feel celebrated. We can’t wait to see our school community back together!

Here’s to a great year ahead!

ICYMI! We were featured in today’s print edition of the Daily Herald for a special honor recognizing the impact of our S...
06/06/2026

ICYMI! We were featured in today’s print edition of the Daily Herald for a special honor recognizing the impact of our Student Council members.

Moretti’s Ristorante & Pizzeria selected Kilmer Student Council as the very first recipient of its Pizza with a Purpose Community Service Award, recognizing the group's dedication to giving back through projects supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities, veterans, senior citizens and many other worthy causes.

This recognition reflects not only the commitment of our student leaders, but also the steadfast guidance of Student Council advisors Ms. Zelasko and Ms. Thorstenson. Their incredible leadership, encouragement and dedication over the years have helped create a culture of service that continues to inspire students to make a positive impact both within and beyond our school community.

Congratulations to our Student Council members, Ms. Zelasko and Ms. Thorstenson on this well-deserved recognition. We are so proud of all you have accomplished!

This is your 2025-26 Kilmer staff, signing off. Have a wonderful summer, Cougars! See you in August!
06/03/2026

This is your 2025-26 Kilmer staff, signing off. Have a wonderful summer, Cougars! See you in August!

What a day!Field Day brought energy, laughter, and plenty of Cougar spirit from start to finish.A huge thank you to our ...
05/26/2026

What a day!

Field Day brought energy, laughter, and plenty of Cougar spirit from start to finish.

A huge thank you to our staff and volunteers who helped make the day run smoothly—and to our students for bringing such incredible energy and sportsmanship throughout the event.

Already looking forward to next year!

Address

655 Golfview Terrace
Buffalo Grove, IL
60089

Opening Hours

Monday 8:15am - 4:15pm
Tuesday 8:15am - 4:15pm
Wednesday 8:15am - 4:15pm
Thursday 8:15am - 4:15pm
Friday 8:15am - 4:15pm

Telephone

+18475202760

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