Grayslake Middle School students present ‘Way of the Panther’ plan, ask board to consider Chromebook-hour changes
Summary
Students from Grayslake Middle School’s Way of the Panther leadership group outlined anti-bullying outreach, assembly planning, a career day, an outdoor classroom and a request to extend Chromebook access hours for middle school students.
Grayslake Middle School students presented the Way of the Panther leadership team’s plans for the 2025–26 school year at the Community Consolidated School District 46 Board of Education meeting on Oct. 15.
The eighth-grade students, introduced by Mr. Smith, described five main projects: expanding the school’s “No Place for Hate” expectations, planning larger school assemblies, holding an eighth-grade career fair, creating an outdoor classroom and garden, and asking the district technology office to consider extending Chromebook access hours for middle-school students.
The student presenters said the anti-bullying work will be coordinated with district staff, naming “Mrs. Julian and Mrs. Palmer” as partners, and will focus on age-appropriate ways to show how bullying affects peers. They said the assembly work will include a theme-suggestion box and more practice runs so events “go smoothly for the people running it,” and that a career fair could include community members and visitors from the county fairgrounds on Oct. 22 to speak with students during lunch or Panther Block.
On the outdoor classroom, students said they will work with district office staff and the Grayslake community board to design, build and staff a garden and outdoor learning space and start a club to maintain it.
Students also asked the district technology office to consider extending Chromebook access time for Grayslake Middle School students, saying practice and game schedules sometimes make it difficult to finish work before the current cutoff. A student presenter said many peers do not have other devices at home and called the current schedule “unfair for those who rely on their Chromebook.”
Board members praised the students’ public-speaking skills and direction. One board member noted the Chromebook request resonates with parents and said the topic is one they commonly hear in the community. Superintendent Dr. Glickman and others invited the students to stay engaged and gave notice that the administration will follow existing procedures for evaluating technology-policy requests.
The student group said they will return with updates as their projects progress.
