Illini Central CUSD 189

See the image for parking permit sales information for the 2025-2026 school year

Fall sports will begin before we know it & the Athens/IC soccer team would love to have you be a part of their program. If you are an Illini Central Freshman through Senior boy and you are interested in playing...please reach out to Coach Ruben at this email address jruben@athens-213.org

Calling all rising Juniors and Seniors! The counselors are taking two college trips this summer and we still have space available. On June 18th we have 5 spots open for our Knox & Monmouth college trip; we have 4 spots open for our SLU and Lindenwood trip on June 26th. We are departing the school at 7am and aim to return by 8pm. Please contact the school counselors if you are interested!

Graduates from Illini Central may apply to help fund their college or technical school tuition by utilizing the Illini Central Student Loan Fund. The money made available to graduates from Illini Central High School through the Student Loan Fund is a loan. As such, the committee expects the applicant to make repayment of the money borrowed as soon after leaving school as feasible. The prompt repayment of this loan will assure future students of Illini Central the same privilege to take advantage of this fund. There is a limit of $500.00 per semester, with the total amount granted not to exceed $3000.00. The Student Loan Fund committee will meet to approve student loans for the Fall 2025 semester. Students interested in acquiring a loan must apply by July 1st, 2025. Applications may be picked up in the high school office or on the school website at www.illinicentral.org under “For Students” on the main or high school page. Students must also submit a copy of their class schedule as proof of enrollment in college or trade school courses. Please contact Annie Baugher Illini Central High School at (217) 482-5180 or abaugher@illinicentral.org with questions.

Mason District Hospital will be providing no cost sport physicals to students on July 30th from 8:30- 12:00. They will have two providers available and will do them on a walk in basis. A parent/guardian must be present.

While it might only be the second week of summer, the maintenance crews are busy getting ready for next year! This summer, we are making some updates to the PreK playground and the basketball court on the main playground. These areas are closed until the project is completed. The playground portion at the grade school is still accessible, just not the basketball hoops or swings adjacent. Please stay away from the areas marked with caution tape.

Congratulations to all our high school students on a job well done this year! A special shout-out to our students who are being recognized on the honor roll for the second semester.

Part Two: Today, we celebrated our staff's "Workaiersaries". The "Party Golf Cart" brought fun, excitement, and ice cream sandwiches to those celebrating a milestone anniversary! Royce Koeppen - 10 years Katie Allen - 15 years Lori Avart - 15 years Susie Brummell - 15 years Wesley Newton - 15 years Miles Allen - 20 years Val Henning - 20 years Megan Nissan - 20 years We are so thankful to those who have chosen Illini Central as their work home. We appreciate you all! #WeAreIC

Part One: Today, we celebrated our staff's "Workaiersaries". The "Party Golf Cart" brought fun, excitement, and ice cream sandwiches to those celebrating a milestone anniversary! Rachel Bohannan - 5 years Jillian Clark - 5 years Alex Custodio - 5 years Brittany Wrigley - 5 years Rachel Golden - 10 years Amy Gronewald - 10 years Todd Hull - 10 years We are so thankful for those who have chosen Illini Central to be their work home. We appreciate you all! #WeAreIC

Join our team at Illini Central! For a list of all vacancies, visit: https://tinyurl.com/IC189Vacancy

Students will be turning in their Chromebooks and chargers this week for the Summer. Juniors, Sophomores & Freshmen should turn their device & charger in when they are done with Finals or before they leave tomorrow if they do not have to take Finals. 8th graders should turn in their device and charger either today or tomorrow before the end of the day. 5th, 6th & 7th graders should turn in their device & charger on Thursday before the end of the day. This will be coordinated with their teachers. All devices and chargers should be given to Mr. Wherley. Thank you in advance & have a great day.

Graduation practice is tomorrow, Friday, May 16th, at 9:00 in the high school gym. Seniors must bring their caps and gowns to graduation practice. Seniors must attend graduation practice to walk at graduation on Saturday. Students will enter through the main office. If you have not turned in your Chromebook & charger, please get that to Mr. Wherley tomorrow as well. Graduation is this weekend on Saturday, May 17th, at 2:00 in the high school gym. Seniors need to arrive at the school by 12:45 on Saturday. Seniors will park in the back parking lot and enter through the cafeteria entrance (Door J). Cap and gown pictures are in the cafeteria, beginning at 1:00. Everyone MUST get their picture taken. Doors will open at 1:30 for families and guests. All spectators will enter through Door A1.

Opportunity for students and parents/guardians of students entering college! Please see the description of the webinar below. This webinar is FREE and available live or on demand. "SoFi’s Annual Preparing for College Webinar Series for High School Counselors and the parents of college-bound students concludes this month with our final webinar, Financing Your Student's Education, which will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025 5pm PT / 8pm ET. This informative session will include information on Federal and Private Student Loan options available for financing a student’s education." Sign up for free at the following link: https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=reg20.jsp&eventid=4891557&sessionid=1&key=D8BD2A1991872437E2B440AD1966B894&groupId=6019440&utm_term=&utm_campaign=_032024&utm_medium=LCM&utm_source=ISL&utm_content=&sourcepage=register

ICMS will hold their Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 21st at 1:30. Doors will open at 1:15. Invitations are being passed out to students who will be receiving an award.

Yesterday, ICGS Music Teacher Mrs. Wrigley & the 5th grade students performed for the rest of the grade school. The 5th graders have been learning to play the ukulele recently. All of the kids did a great job! Here is a link to their performance: https://youtu.be/sSI9fN25qoE

Tomorrow May 14, Illini Central schools will dismiss at 2:00 for school improvement meetings.

Chesnut Health Systems is seeking parent/guardian feedback. Please complete the following survey if you would like to provide them with any feedback. Below is a survey link for parents, which gathers feedback on the best methods of Alcohol Campaign material distribution for the 2025-2026 school year. Parent Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y55NKP6 Thanks!

We are excited to announce that next week is our annual Pennies for PWS week at ICMS, sponsored by the Illini Central PWS Society! This is a special time when our school community comes together to raise awareness and funds for Prader-Willi Syndrome by supporting the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research. In addition to supporting PWS, this year we are also coming together for a cause very close to home. Two of our ICMS students were recently involved in serious accidents and required stays in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Thankfully, they are on the road to recovery, but the financial burden on their families is significant. We would like to extend our support to them as part of our fundraising effort and show them how much their school community cares. Monday’s dress up day will be PJ’s for Parker and Paxton and all funds raised on Monday will go directly to the families .Students will bring $1 to dress up each day, but can donate more if they would like. We are looking forward to a fun and impactful week! Let's see what we can accomplish when we all work together!

FYI...Mason City Swim Team sign up is this Saturday. More information on the graphic.

In the last week, two of our Illini Central Middle School students have been seriously injured in accidents. Paxton Kelsey, 7th grade, was involved in a go-kart accident, and Parker Swaar, 8th grade, was wounded by a shot put. Both boys required extended hospital stays and extreme medical bills. In addition to Paxton's injury, his family recently lost his mother and had to postpone her services until he was released from the hospital. At Illini Central, we take the phrase, "We Are IC" to heart, and we want to support these two boys on their road to recovery. On Monday, May 12th, ICMS students can wear their pajamas to school for a minimum donation of $1. This week, ICHS students are competing to collect the most money. The teacher who collects the most money will have a bucket of ice water poured on his or her head. If the winning teacher collects $250 or more, the principal, Mrs. Baugher, will also have a bucket of ice water dumped on her head. The money collected from these fundraisers will be divided between the two boys. Anyone wishing to donate may also drop off cash or checks in the Illini Central Middle and High School office. We recently learned that Mason City National Bank has set up an account to support Paxton and his journey to recovery. Please consider donating to support our IC family!