East Prairie has again been recognized as a top school! U.S. News and World Report recognized us as both a best elementary and middle school. We should all feel tremendous pride in the extraordinary dedication and positive impact that defines our school. This is a shared achievement.
We want to be absolutely clear: Our school is a place of care and unconditional support for all your family's basic needs. Whether you need help connecting with resources for daily meals, food pantries, or utility assistance, we are here. Please reach out directly to any member of our team. Building this level of personal trust and connection is how we ensure our school is a powerful force for good in the community.
To actively address the rise of food insecurity in our area, two key groups are joining forces: the WHO2 (We Help Others, Too) community service group and the East Prairie PTA. Together, they are launching a food drive to stock both the essential East Prairie Panther Pantry (serving our own families) and the Niles Township Food Pantry. This partnership is vital to supporting our neighbors. We invite you to contribute unopened items to the main office.
Canned Beans-Canned Fruits & Vegetables
Juice-Cereal-Coffee/Tea
Jelly-Peanut Butter
Macaroni and Cheese-Oatmeal-Powdered Milk
Pasta-Spaghetti Sauce-Tuna-Rice
Your generosity directly strengthens our commitment to community care.
A friendly reminder about our very own Panther Panty. The Panther Community Pantry continues to be open and accessible to ALL families. Don’t forget we also offer a pick-up and delivery option as well. Simply reach out to your child’s teacher, any member of our team, or to info@eps73.net with what you would like and we’ll coordinate pick-up/delivery when convenient. Our Community Pantry includes:
Non-perishable food items (canned fruits & vegetables, dried goods, beans, pastas, sauces, and lots of other tasty items)
School supplies (markers, pens, crayons, pencils, glue, folders, paper, etc.)
Clothing (men's, women's, boy's, and girl's - all sizes and styles)
Winter gear (coats - all sizes, hats, gloves, snow pants, and more)
Thursday Night’s Talent Show
Do you want to see our students shine and thrive on stage? Then don't miss the annual EPS Talent Show this Thursday night! Students from nearly every grade will deliver a spectacular one-hour showcase. Doors open at 6:00PM. The curtain goes up promptly at 6:30PM. We encourage all members of our community to join us for this special event!
Thank you again for being a shining example of both educational excellence and true community. East Prairie is genuinely unique in its ability to come together and support every single person—kids and adults alike—with the highest levels of care, compassion, and kindness.
“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”
- J.K. Rowling
We know this has been a time of significant challenge and change, yet what stands out is the incredible heart of East Prairie. To every member of our school family: thank you! Thank you for showing up, for lifting spirits, and, most importantly, for your profound care. It's these consistent acts of generosity and unwavering dedication that truly make East Prairie a community—and the most powerful one we could ask for.
We understand the financial strain that comes with SNAP benefits expiring this weekend. Please know that our school is a place of unconditional support for all your family’s basic needs. We are prepared to help with access to daily school meals, local food pantry referrals, and connections to utility assistance. Please reach out directly to any member of our team so we can ensure your family's basic needs are being met.
Through our strong community partnerships, we can readily connect families to a wealth of essential support and help you navigate the process.
The Niles Township Food Pantry, Community Clothing Closet, and more.
Skokie Health and Human Services.
Utility and housing assistance programs through the Niles Township Government.
Legal aid and "Know Your Rights" resources available through our community partners.
Dear East Prairie families,
We know that many members of our community are feeling increased anxiety and concern regarding recent actions and changes in immigration enforcement policy. Our priority is—and always will be—to ensure that East Prairie remains a safe, welcoming, and protective environment for every student, family, and staff member. Please make sure that your emergency contacts are updated. We want to continue to clearly outline our commitment to you and share the resources available during this challenging time.
The Law and School Protocol
All students in the United States have the right to a free K-12 public education, regardless of their or their family’s immigration status. Our school is classified as a “sensitive location,” and our first priority is the well-being of your children.
What Happens If Immigration Officials Visit the School?
Our staff is committed to protecting the privacy and rights of all students. We continue to update staff on our current processes and procedures.
School officials will not grant access to school grounds or student information to immigration enforcement agents unless they present a valid judicial warrant signed by a federal judge.
Immigration administrative warrants (signed only by an enforcement officer) do not compel the school to allow entry or share student information.
We do not track or record a student's or family's immigration status.
Should enforcement activity be reported near the school during the school day, we will immediately activate our existing recess/PE safety plans. If activity is reported at dismissal time, we will strictly follow our centralized dismissal process to ensure the safe, controlled hand-off of every student. These distinct protocols reflect our continuous commitment to student, family, and staff safety.
We consistently partner with families throughout the school year to provide connections to resources. We are now intensifying these efforts to ensure every family is supported.
We understand this situation creates stress for both students and adults. Our school social work and related service teams are available for support.
For Students: Our social worker and psychologist are available to talk with students and address anxiety in a confidential and supportive setting.
Staff Contact: Please contact Mrs. Butera (abutera@eps73.net) or Dr. Schmeisser (hschmeisser@eps73.net) if you believe your child needs to speak with someone or you are interested in learning more about community partnerships to support emotional well-being during this time.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): We are continuing to develop age-appropriate lessons to integrate into our morning meetings and dedicated SEL time. These resources empower our educators and students, providing them with the necessary tools to effectively understand and respond to complex and evolving situations.
Additional Resources: visit ISBE’s School Wellness/Mental Health webpage. It includes information about Beacon, which has resources available in several languages.
Connecting our families with financial resources and general support is an essential part of our partnership every school year. While we haven't noted an unusual surge in need yet this year, we are committed to being fully supportive. We can connect you with:
The Niles Township Food Pantry, Community Clothing Closet, and more.
Skokie Health and Human Services.
Utility and housing assistance programs through the Niles Township Government.
Legal aid and "Know Your Rights" resources available through our community partners.
Please contact Mr. Boule, Dr. Schmeisser, or our main office for a confidential referral.
Additional resources and information can be found on the Illinois Immigration Information Hub, a comprehensive website designed in partnership between leading immigrant-serving organizations and local and state government to empower immigrants with reliable immigration-related information and guidance. Among other resources, the site offers:
The Illinois Immigration Information Hub “Know Your Rights” Toolkit.
A comprehensive overview of free and low-cost immigration legal services.
A family emergency plan template, with step-by-step guidance.
Organizational preparedness resources for businesses and employers.
The true strength of our community is our collective care and willingness to act. We are here to support your child and family in every way we can. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any member of your child’s team if there is anything we can do to ensure their safety and well-being. We will continuously adapt and update our plans to meet the evolving needs of our families.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
We are excited to share our latest video, showcasing the purposeful strategies and collaborative mindsets that ensure we are successfully addressing the unique academic and behavioral needs of every student. See our systems in action!
Looking to learn even more about the transformative happenings of our school? Well, check out the East Prairie video section of our webpage. You’ll get a firsthand look at what makes our school community both unique and extraordinary.
East Prairie is proud to announce we have been recognized by Niche as the #10 Best Public K-8 School in Illinois! This honor serves to validate our journey toward actualizing our vision: “to become the premier school district in the nation by focusing on community, innovation, and growth, so that all learners will be successful.” We pursue this level of excellence not out of competition, but because we know this commitment profoundly enhances the learning and well-being of every student, staff member, and family.
We have so much to celebrate and be proud of as we continue this successful school year!
