Campanelli Elementary

Meet our 5th Grade Team: Ms. Ko, Mrs. Buckner, Mrs. Shah, and Ms. Burgess! They are dedicated to creating a community where every student feels they belong, builds the confidence to believe in their potential, and discovers who they can become as engaged, curious learners. We look forward to seeing all that our 5th graders become in the year ahead! #BeCampi

Today, 1st grade celebrated National Dot Day by letting their creativity shine! ✨ They turned ordinary dots into all kinds of fun objects and pictures, celebrating what makes each of them creative, unique, and one-of-a-kind! 💙🎨#BeCampi

Anelia is the Star Student of the Week in Mrs. Schaefer's class! She had the opportunity to share her poster about herself and to read her class a book. Shine on Anelia! #BeCampi

Reminder: Tomorrow is a Half Day of School. School will be dismissed at 11:40 a.m. and students will NOT eat lunch at school. #BeCampi

4 Things You Should Know About Our 4th Grade Team: Ms. Sherman, Ms. Hernandez, Ms. Waz, and Ms. Fragale

1️⃣ They inspire BIG thinking.
Fourth grade is all about asking questions, making connections, and looking at learning in new ways.

2️⃣ They believe in a little challenge.
Our teachers encourage students to step outside their comfort zones, take risks, and discover what they’re capable of.

3️⃣ They know growth looks different for everyone.
They celebrate progress, persistence, and those moments when something finally clicks!

4️⃣ They make learning FUN!
With enthusiasm, creativity, and plenty of Campi spirit, our 4th grade team is ready for an amazing year!

Four teachers. One team. Countless opportunities to learn, grow, and shine! #BeCampi

Pingpong club had a great start by practicing bouncing outside! #BeCampi

Third grade is a year full of growing, learning, questioning, and discovering new possibilities—and our third grade team, Ms. Zhao, Mrs. Menias, and Ms. Ostermann, are ready for it all! From building new skills to encouraging students to think deeply, take risks, and become more independent learners, this team brings energy, creativity, and care to their classrooms each day. #BeCampi

Mrs. Nicoll’s Kindergarten class took turns being the teacher today in math. The teacher showed a number and the student counted that many cubes. They are working so hard on numbers 0-5! #BeCampi

Meet Our Second Grade Team: Mrs. Jariwala, Ms. Donnelly, Ms. Santorelli, Mrs. Twarog

Our second grade team is ready for an amazing year of learning, growing, and making memories! These teachers bring enthusiasm, creativity, and a love of learning to their classrooms each day. We are so excited to see all the ways our second graders will learn, grow, and shine this year! #BeCampi

Meet Our First Grade Team: Mrs. Schneidau, Ms. Shao, Mrs. Smejkal, Mrs. Schaefer, Mrs. Bonvillain

Our first grade teachers are ready for an amazing year of learning, growing, and making memories!

These dedicated teachers are excited to help our Campi Cougars build confidence, discover new interests, and take those next big steps in their learning journey.

#BeCampi

🌟 Meet Our Kindergarten Team: Mrs. Taucher, Ms. Yu, Mrs .Nicoll🌟

We’re excited to introduce the wonderful teachers who will be helping our youngest Campi Cougars learn, grow, and shine this year! From building confidence to creating a love of learning, our kindergarten team is ready for an amazing year filled with fun, discovery, and lots of learning! #BeCampi

We were both proud and thankful to welcome the 2026 Taiwan Youth and Overseas Program to visit Campanelli’s Chinese Immersion program.

CI students enjoyed a special performance and an opportunity to show off what they can do in Chinese ,while our international visitors enjoyed learning about our program structures and systems that make up a successful immersion program.

It was a peak moment for everyone involved! #BeCampi

Reminder: Tomorrow is Picture day! We look forward to seeing all of our Campi cougar's picture day outfits and amazing smiles! #BeCampi

Kindergarteners in Mrs. Taucher’s class are getting creative with letter practice using marbles and beads! Hands-on learning makes learning more fun! #BeCampi

Help us welcome another wonderful addition to the Campi family! Lilly Santorelli teaches our 1st/2nd grade Chinese Immersion students. Get to know Ms. Santorelli below!

My name is Lilly Santorelli, I went to Illinois State University and graduated in December, 2025.

My favorite book is Harry Potter, along with all the movies, of course. I listen to all kinds of music! Outside of school you can find me reading a good thriller book or doing a fun puzzle. I have two dogs and a cat who I also spend lots of time with.

This school year I am looking forward to trying new things.

#BeCampi

Ready, set, multiply! Students in Ms. Waz’s math class put their multiplication skills to the test in a little friendly competition! #BeCampi

Help us welcome another wonderful addition, Natalia Waz, to the Campi family! Natalia teaches 4th grade. Get to know her below:

I am so excited to join the Campi family this school year! This is my first year at Campi, but I have been with SD54 for eight years. I already feel at home with the staff and students 😊.

When I am not working, I love to read, hike, and craft. I enjoy scrapbooking and reliving great memories!

My favorite childhood book is the “Percy Jackson” series. I hope to instill a love for reading in my students!

I am looking forward to making memories and seeing students grow to their best potential. I can’t wait to see what the year brings ahead! Thank you to everyone who has already made me feel so welcome ❤️ #BeCampi

Our 3rd/4th Grade Magnet students put Newton’s Laws of Motion to the test with some apple-powered experiments! They tested forces, observed gravity and its effect on mass, and had fun seeing science in action. 🚀🔬 #BeCampi

Our5th/6th grade Magnet students got hands-on with their Microbiomes unit by completing a unique fecal dissection lab, with samples made from play dough! Students carefully dissected their samples and searched for different types of “bacteria,” represented by colorful beads, to determine what each sample’s microbiome consisted of. They then analyzed their findings to determine whether their sample represented a healthy or unhealthy microbiome. To wrap up the investigation, students used their evidence to write scientific arguments explaining and supporting their conclusions. #BeCampi

Help us welcome our next new staff member, Mrs. Khalil! We are glad to have her at Campanelli as a paraprofessional, supporting one of our Campi Cougars! Get to know a little more about Mrs. Khalil below! My name is Bilqees Khalil. I have a Bachelor of Commerce from Karachi University and a Teacher Certificate in early childhood education from Harper College. I have nearly twenty years of experience working with children, including about ten years in District 54. I enjoy traveling, cooking, and reading health magazines. My favorite movie is 'Home Alone,' and I enjoy watching funny movies. I also like spending time outdoors in parks, walking or relaxing in nature. A fun fact is, I have visited nearly twelve countries. I look forward to working with my colleagues this school year to try new things and help students get involved. I am excited to welcome students and support their learning. I love Dr. Seuss’s quote: "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." My favorite book is "The Namesake." #BeCampi