Back-to-School Information 2025-2026

We’d like to provide you with an update regarding our Anaphylaxis and Food Allergies Response Committee and handbook. School districts in Illinois are required by ISBE to update anaphylaxis and food allergy guidelines every three years. Last spring, we invited community members, staff, and administrators from District 67 and District 115 to participate on the Anaphylaxis and Food Allergies Response Plan Committee. Beginning in May and throughout the summer, a group of 20-30 met three times to review and revise the document. We are sharing the near-final draft of the handbook, HERE.

For District 115, the most notable changes emerging from this effort are twofold:

1.) Peanut and tree-nut free classrooms

2.) The increased availability of undesignated epinephrine injectors (epi-pens) in Lake Forest High School.

Below are the major highlights specific to the high school setting:

Lake Forest High School Classroom Avoidance Measures

• Classrooms should not be used as a lunchroom to the maximum extent possible.

• If snacks are allowed in the classroom, all classrooms will be peanut and tree-nut free.

• Students should not bring food to share with their classmates in the classroom.

• Teachers should not provide food as a reward in the classroom if students with life-threatening allergies are in the class. All desks should be wiped down at the end of the class period when food or snacks are consumed.

• Classroom curriculum should be adapted to substitute non-food items to the maximum extent possible.

• Curriculum materials should be reviewed for sources of the common big nine allergens and the big nine allergens should be avoided (i.e., allergens are sometimes found in counting aids, science projects, seasonal activities such as garden projects, art materials, etc.) to the maximum extent possible.

• Students and teachers are encouraged to wipe surfaces such as desks, lab equipment, computer keyboards and musical instruments after food is eaten in the classrooms.

Further information is available in this District 115 anaphylaxis and food allergy response summary.

Please contact Dr. Jenny Sterpin (jsterpin@lfschools.net) with questions. Thank you!

Absences are reported via the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Once you have navigated to the PowerSchool Parent Portal site, log in using your username and password for your parent access account.

Click this link for additional information and instructions on how to set up your Parent PowerSchool Access Account.

Reporting Attendance

Please click the video link below for instructions on how to report your student’s attendance via the Parent Portal.

Attendance Monitor-Parent Portal Reporting Attendance

Attendance Monitor - Parent Portal (Spanish)

Please refer to the LFHS 2024-2025 Student Family Handbook for detailed information regarding attendance.

WELCOME CLASS OF 2029!

Freshman Orientation on Tuesday, August 26 is the first official day of school for all Freshmen.

We look forward to seeing you!

Your Link Crew Coordinators,

Maggie Harmsen
mharmsen@lfschools.net

and

Rebecca Inukai
rinukai@lfschools.net

A Welcome Night for Families New to Our Communities

Information regarding assessments, including PSAT, SAT, ACT, and College Board AP can be found on our website. Please use this link to view upcoming dates and additional information.

Online registration and fee payment information for the 2025-26 school year was sent to continuing families in May. At that time, parents/guardians received a personalized SnapCode email to access online registration and fee payments through InfoSnap. For help or additional information, please call (847) 604-7437 or email tsmith@lfschools.net or nmartinez@lfschools.net.

If online registration and fee payments have not yet been completed, you will need to do so prior to August 8 in order for your student to attend Textbook and MacBook Pick Up on August 21 and 22

New Families

All families who have completed pre-registration and verification of residency and enrollment will receive a SnapCode email to complete their online registration and pay fees for the school year. For help or additional information, please call (847) 604-7437 or email tsmith@lfschools.net or nmartinez@lfschools.net.

The Friday Fanout is our weekly communication from your principal, Dr. Lenart.

We organize information and celebrations under two headings: Need to Know and Nice to Know.  Please be on the lookout for our first Fanout!

If you have a celebration or a contribution, please email those to esmith@lfschools.net or elenart@lfschools.net.  We are excited to include as much as possible, but with so much going on, we need all the community support we can get!

Parents/guardians will also receive our bi-weekly District newsletter (411 on 115), which includes information, news, and upcoming events.

Parent/guardians are subscribed to receive all school and District newsletters and announcements using the email addresses provided during online registration. You do not need to subscribe!

​​​​​​​The Scout Café is the main area to get a variety of wholesome scratch-made food items. It is open at 7:00am to 9:00am for breakfast and opens back up at 10:30am until 1:00pm for lunch. You can see the monthly menu posted for food service on the Lake Forest High School website. The Grind is a full-service coffee shop that also serves food. The Grind operates 7:30am until 3:30pm.

Students will need to use their school ID to make any purchases. If a student forgets their ID, they must go to the Technology Help Desk (located in the basement) to get a new one. Replacement IDs cost $10. If a student has not yet received their student ID, they will be able to pick it up on their first day of school.   

Parents/guardians, please go to www.myschoolbucks.com to add funds to your student’s meal account so they can purchase items in our two locations. You can also send a check or cash with your student and we can add it to their account at the register. There is also a help video link for first time users: www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/help/gethelpvideos. We will accept  cash and have the ability to enter the students' ID number (in an emergency), but this will be at one register only. Students need to have their ID.

Parents will also be able to view the monthly menu at www.fdmealplanner.com. Menus may change, based on the availability of items.

For additional information, please visit the Food Services page.

Tiered supports are based on the premise that there are supports that all students need (like rigorous instruction and compassionate teachers), supports that some students need (like executive function tutoring and reading support classes), and supports that a few students need (like attendance plans and behavioral contracts). 

It’s the job of the tiered support team to make a careful consideration of each student as a unique learner and determine the interventions that are most likely to address their needs.  Tiered interventions are always progress monitored, and students may be elevated to a more intensive support or exited from supports altogether based on the effectiveness of their intervention plan.  Students who exit the tiered intervention program continue to be monitored and may reenter the program if the need arises.  For more information on student supports.

Please use this link for additional information, or contact the MTSS/RTI coordinator, David Hain.

Get involved.  A great way to build community is to be a part of it.  Please consider joining our APT, supporting the LFHS Foundation, and/or being a part of PALS, Applause, or Boosters. The time, talent, and treasure that each one of these organizations gives to Lake Forest High School is absolutely amazing, and we are so lucky to partner with each one of them. 

Applause

Applause is the music booster organization for Lake Forest High School. Applause promotes and supports LFHS curricular and extra-curricular music programs, recognizes student achievement and provides funding.

Association of Parents and Teachers (APT)

The Lake Forest High School APT promotes cooperative action among Lake Forest High School, the administration and teachers, its students, the parents, and the community. The APT sponsors school-based enrichment programs that benefit all LFHS students and coordinates parent volunteers. 

Boosters

Our MISSION at LFHS Boosters is to promote and support athletic success, spirit and sportsmanship for every student-athlete and every Scouts fan at Lake Forest High School.

Foundation

The Lake Forest High School Foundation is dedicated to supporting, enriching, and enhancing the LFHS experience for all students, faculty, and staff by investing in educational excellence. Since 2002, the LFHS Foundation has awarded more than 300 grants, investing over $2.5 million. Foundation grants transform learning spaces, provide cutting-edge technology, create collaborative learning spaces, support unique learning opportunities for students and staff, supply world-class curricular materials across all departments and more.

Producers-at-Large (PALS)

PALS is the parent booster organization for the LFHS theater department. PALS provides funding and recognizes student achievement.