Ball-Chatham
School District
𝘎𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 🎭
Congrats to the cast and crew of the GHS Contest Play, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night that have advanced to the IHSA State Drama competition!
Congrats to the cast and crew of the GHS Contest Play, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night that have advanced to the IHSA State Drama competition!
𝔽𝕒𝕤𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕔𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕃𝕒𝕓𝕤
Once again this year, students in Mrs. Godar's classes have been learning with interesting and hands-on labs.
Once again this year, students in Mrs. Godar's classes have been learning with interesting and hands-on labs.
𝘎𝘔𝘚 𝘐𝘤𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘗𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦 🪣
Students at GMS donated money for Special Olympics before watching a select few of their teachers have a bucket of ice water dumped over their head.
Students at GMS donated money for Special Olympics before watching a select few of their teachers have a bucket of ice water dumped over their head.
𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗜𝗦
Mr. Gibson participated in the "Duct Tape a Principal" PTO fundraiser at GIS.
GIS students also helped raise money for Special Olympics with an "Ice Bucket Plunge" involving teachers and staff.
Mr. Gibson participated in the "Duct Tape a Principal" PTO fundraiser at GIS.
GIS students also helped raise money for Special Olympics with an "Ice Bucket Plunge" involving teachers and staff.
The Ball-Chatham Educational Foundation announced the addition of new equipment to the BES, CES and GES sensory rooms, provided by a generous donation from the Horace Mann Educators Foundation (HMEF).
The new interactive panels provide specialized sensory and behavioral support.
The new interactive panels provide specialized sensory and behavioral support.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫-𝐔𝐩 🏀
The GHS girls basketball team beat Trinity in the IHSA Class 3A State Semifinals before battling in a defeat against Washington in the State Championship finishing the season with 30 wins!
For the second time in just three years, this program is the State runner-up.
The GHS girls basketball team beat Trinity in the IHSA Class 3A State Semifinals before battling in a defeat against Washington in the State Championship finishing the season with 30 wins!
For the second time in just three years, this program is the State runner-up.
𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘
GMS students and staff partnered with Special Olympics Illinois as well as the Chatham Fire and Police departments pledging to be respectful.
GMS students and staff partnered with Special Olympics Illinois as well as the Chatham Fire and Police departments pledging to be respectful.
𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑾𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕
Mahi Chanpura received 2 honorable mentions for critical essays.
RJ Ridley received an honorable mention for an original short story.
Van Rammelkamp received a gold key for poetry.
Mahi Chanpura received 2 honorable mentions for critical essays.
RJ Ridley received an honorable mention for an original short story.
Van Rammelkamp received a gold key for poetry.
𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗧𝗢 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿
As part of a BCG PTO fundraiser, students at BES, CES and GES could purchase a piece of duct tape to then tape their school's principal to the wall.
As part of a BCG PTO fundraiser, students at BES, CES and GES could purchase a piece of duct tape to then tape their school's principal to the wall.
𝘎𝘏𝘚 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸
The GHS Student Council put on a Talent Show earlier this semester for students to display their many incredible talents.
The GHS Student Council put on a Talent Show earlier this semester for students to display their many incredible talents.
𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝘾𝙀𝙎
In honor of the Winter Olympics, students in Mrs. Fowler's P.E. classes at Chatham Elementary School competed in a version of curling this year.
In honor of the Winter Olympics, students in Mrs. Fowler's P.E. classes at Chatham Elementary School competed in a version of curling this year.
𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑻𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒂 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕
BES, CES and GES families gathered in February for a fun-filled evening of great guesses, correct answers and teamwork.
𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝐿𝑢𝑐𝑘 𝑎𝑡 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒
Congratulations to Mackenzie Jones and Sharanya Sahni from the GHS speech team who qualified for the State Speech Competition at the Peoria Civic Center this year.
Congratulations to Mackenzie Jones and Sharanya Sahni from the GHS speech team who qualified for the State Speech Competition at the Peoria Civic Center this year.
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Congratulations to GHS Jazz Ensemble for earning first place at the EIU Jazz Festival this winter.
BES Pre-K Screenings
Dates: July 21, 2026
-Free screening to determine entrance into the Pre-K program
-Open to all children ages 3-5 within Ball-Chatham School District boundaries
Sign up for a screening date that works best for you with the corresponding Google Forms
The Kids Heart Challenge has wrapped up at CES and GES while it is starting to wind down for BES.
Thank you to all families who have participated!
The Chatham community has had a blast improving their heart health and a big impact for the community was made with over 50 families learning how to save a life with hands-only CPR.
Thank you to all families who have participated!
The Chatham community has had a blast improving their heart health and a big impact for the community was made with over 50 families learning how to save a life with hands-only CPR.
Due to extreme cold temperatures and drifting snow, all Ball-Chatham Community Schools will be closed for in-person learning on Monday, January 26, 2026 with an eLearning Day in place. Students are expected to follow eLearning protocols.
We appreciate your partnership in education and continue to ask for your patience as we monitor changing conditions and make informed decisions to keep everyone safe.
We appreciate your partnership in education and continue to ask for your patience as we monitor changing conditions and make informed decisions to keep everyone safe.
Due to dangerously cold windchill temperatures, all Ball-Chatham Community Schools are closed for in-person learning on Friday, January 23, 2026 with an eLearning Day in place. Students are expected to follow eLearning protocols.
Please contact your building administrators if you have any questions about the eLearning plan. Feel free to reach out to the Ball-Chatham School District Office with general inquiries.
We appreciate your partnership in education and ask for your continued patience as we monitor changing conditions and make informed decisions to keep everyone safe.
Please contact your building administrators if you have any questions about the eLearning plan. Feel free to reach out to the Ball-Chatham School District Office with general inquiries.
We appreciate your partnership in education and ask for your continued patience as we monitor changing conditions and make informed decisions to keep everyone safe.
Ball-Chatham School District is monitoring weather in the coming days that could produce dangerously cold morning wind chill temperatures. We are most concerned that the wind chill temperature on Friday, January 23, 2026 and Monday, January 26, 2026 may trigger an eLearning event.
We are encouraging all families to start making any necessary plans in the event we cancel in-person learning.
A final decision about eLearning will be made either the night before or the morning of by 5:30 AM at the latest.
We are encouraging all families to start making any necessary plans in the event we cancel in-person learning.
A final decision about eLearning will be made either the night before or the morning of by 5:30 AM at the latest.
Ball-Chatham School District kindergarten pre-registration for the 2026-27 school year is now open.
The First Step...
If you live in the Ball-Chatham School District and have a child (or children) who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2026 please plan to pre-register online using this link to a Google Form. If you don't have a child about to enter kindergarten in Ball-Chatham School District, please forward this information to someone you may know who does.
Next...
Once your form is filled out and received, the District will email your Skyward login and password information within a week to 10 days. After receiving your Skyward information, parents/guardians should login and upload copies of:
● Their child's certified birth certificate
● A signed lease, mortgage, or most recent tax bill
● Two other pieces of mail with name and current address listed (such as utility bills, cable bill, etc.)
● Their child’s immunization records (due by the first day of school in August)
● A current physical for their child (due by the first day of school in August)
Need help figuring out how to upload copies of the above-needed items into Skyward after receiving your login and password? The District is providing a visual tutorial for uploading documents into Skyward here.
The pre-registration process will not be complete until proof of residency is confirmed (either by a copy of a lease, mortgage, or most recent tax bill along with two other pieces of mail with name and current address listed).
All pre-registration steps must be completed before the office closes for summer break, including residency verification. Please note that families will not be able to complete online registration in June/July and students will not be placed into a classroom, until residency documentation is received.
Pre-registered students and their families will be able to participate in transition activities beginning this spring at their home elementary school. The time/date/format for these events is yet to be determined.
We can’t wait to see all of our newest students who will begin their educational journey.