Plainfield CCSD 202 - We Prepare Learners for the Future

Thank you for your 25 years of service to District 202! #202proud #happyretirement #nextchapter

Today is National Nurses Day, and the start of National Nurses Week, May 6-12! We want to thank all our nurses who take care of our students every day! We appreciate all you do for District 202! #202proud

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day to all District 202's hardworking educators! We appreciate all you do! #202proud

Renee Silberman, a second-generation Holocaust speaker, shared the story of her family, who lived through the Holocaust, with Heritage Grove Middle School students.
Esther, her mother-in-law, and Tobias, her father-in-law, survived the Holocaust after their families perished.
Silberman’s mother, Mania, survived because of incredible courage, resilience, and the help of someone who risked their life to save others

Happy Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week! We are grateful to every one of you for your commitment and dedication to District 202. #202proud #Teacherappreciationweek

Thank you to our amazing school lunch team for all you do for our students, staff, and school community. We appreciate your hard work, kindness, and commitment.
#SchoolLunchHeroDay #SchoolNutrition #ThankYou #SchoolLunchHeroes

TruGreen will be spraying for weeds and fertilizing around the district this weekend, May 2 and 3. Rain dates are May 8 and 9.

Local author Amy Logan visited Central Elementary School to talk about her "Girl with a Cape" series. Logan is also a "kindness advocate" who is dedicated to teaching children the impact of their own choices. She encourages students to realize that one small act of kindness can change the world.

Thanks to these National Honor Society students from Plainfield High School-Central Campus who came to the Board of Education meetings this month. #202proud

This week, we celebrate Administrative Professionals Week — and in District 202, we have so much to celebrate.
Our administrative professionals are the backbone of this district. They are the first voices families hear when they call, the steady hands that keep our schools running, and the quiet problem-solvers who make everything work behind the scenes. Their dedication, professionalism, and care for our students and staff do not go unnoticed. You are valued, you are appreciated, and this community is better because of you. Thank you for everything you do — every single day.

This week, we celebrate school libraries during National Library Week. Our media centers are staffed with Media Center Specialists and clerks who not only work with books but also help students in many different ways. These centers are beacons of technology that allow students to explore ways to learn beyond the pages of books. And thanks to our library staff members, whom we celebrated on April 21, National Library Workers Day. We appreciate all you do.

District 202, in partnership with its Bilingual Parents Advisory Committee, hosted its inaugural Celebration of Cultures on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Plainfield High School–Central Campus.

The free event featured nearly 50 booths led by parents and staff celebrating cultures from around the world through food, art, music, clothing, performances, and interactive displays.

Students were at the center of the celebration, taking the stage to proudly share their cultural identities.

From drumming to traditional Ukrainian dance, each performance highlighted the diverse perspectives and talents that enrich District 202 schools every day.

The event brought together students, families, and staff in a shared celebration of community and connection.

“At the end of the day, our students are the heart of our district,” said Cindy Castanon, Director of Multilingual Education at District 202.

“Seeing them share their cultures and traditions so authentically reminds us why we do this work. They are the heartbeat of everything we strive to achieve in District 202.”

Nine Grand Prairie Elementary School students in first through fifth grades showcased their science projects for their peers and guests on March 20.
The students created the projects for the Green House Schools Science Fair earlier in March, which was canceled.
Fifth-grade teacher Melissa Cosenza hosted the school's mini-science fair so the students could explain their projects to an audience.
Fifth-graders Vinny Cosenza and Natalia Hurtado won first place for their History of Animatronics exhibit, fifth-grader Skylar Sontag won second place for her Animal Skeletal Systems exhibit, and second-grader Quinn Daniel won third place for her Static Electricity exhibit

Ridge Elementary School students in the BASES program helped bag food for the Bags of Hope backpack food program earlier this month. The BASES students partnered with older students in the P-STEP program at Plainfield Academy to complete 50 bags of food for District 202 families. The work was one of the BASES program's quarterly community service projects.

At its meeting on Wednesday, the Board of Education honored Andrea Paplaski-Grygiel, a physical education teacher at Grand Prairie Elementary School, for being named the 2026 Will County Educator of Excellence by the Will County Regional Office of Education 56. The board also recognized Central Elementary School and its staff for earning the designation of Model Learning Professional at Work. They also welcomed members of the National Honor Society from Plainfield High School-Central Campus. #202proud

Plainfield School District 202 recently welcomed State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel to see the district’s food service program in action. During the visit, she toured the Plainfield East High School cafeteria, met with staff and students, and learned more about how the district provides nutritious meals to students each day.

District 202 has 23 schools that participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows all students to receive free breakfast and lunch to help ensure access to healthy meals in a welcoming environment.

Congratulations to our 25, 30 year, and retirees! We are #202proud of our employees.