Cicero District 99's classrooms are back in business! Hallways hummed with laughter. Backpacks bounced, sneakers squeaked, and the scent of freshly sharpened pencils drifted through the air!. The first day of school has a magic all its own — a mix of excitement, nerves, and endless possibility.

For our youngest learners, it’s holding a parent’s hand a little tighter as they take those first brave steps toward independence. For our middle graders, it’s finding their friends in the crowd and imagining what this year will bring. For our teachers and staff, it’s the joy of seeing new faces, familiar smiles, and the bright promise of another year to make a difference.

The first day is more than a schedule of bells and classes — it's a fresh start for every student, a reunion for friends and educators, and a chapter opener in a story that will be written all year long.

We’ve all been there — that feeling of laying out your outfit the night before, the restless sleep filled with curiosity about the day ahead, and the butterflies in your stomach that somehow turn into confidence by the time the first lesson begins.

Today, our classrooms became communities. Our playgrounds became meeting grounds. And our schools became safe, welcoming homes where dreams can grow.

💛 Here’s to the ’25-’26 school year — a year of growth, laughter, and learning. A year where our students don’t just learn about the world… they learn they have the power to change it. Welcome back, District 99. Let’s make this the best year yet.