Counselor's Corner
Kirby School District 140 is dedicated to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where every student feels valued, understood, and empowered. We recognize that the health and well-being of our students are fundamental to their success both in and out of the classroom.
To ensure transparency and provide a clear understanding of our District's stance on important issues, all relevant school board policies, including those related to student health and well-being, are available at Board Policies via BoardDocs. Parents and guardians are encouraged to review these policies to understand our District’s commitment to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all students.
Together, we can create a nurturing environment where every student can thrive.
Kirby School District 140 believes one of its primary responsibilities is the establishment of a safe learning environment for all students. The School District will require and support immediate attention to any behaviors that threaten the well-being of students and affect the student's educational environment.
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Students who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
- An Imbalance of Power: Those who bully use their power - such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity - to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
- Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.
Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose. For detailed information, please refer to Kirby School District 140’s Board Policy 7:180, Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment.
To report an incidence of bullying, a student (or an adult on the student's behalf) should contact a staff member or administrator (classroom teacher, principal, school counselor, or social worker). Students or parents can also anonymously report any suspicious activity, bullying, or other sensitive issues to the school office.
John A. Bannes Elementary School
School office: 708-532-6466
Principal: Kelly Folliard - kfolliard@ksd140.org
Fernway Park Elementary School
School office: 708-349-3810
Principal: Sandy Hutchinson - shutchinson@ksd140.org
Helen Keller Elementary School
School office: 708-532-2144
Principal: Julie Simpson - jsimpson@ksd140.org
Christa McAuliffe Elementary School
School office: 708-429-4565
Principal: James Hanley - jhanley@ksd140.org
Millennium Elementary School
School office: 708-532-3150
Principal: Julianne Cosentino - jcosentino@ksd140.org
Prairie View Middle School
School office: 708-532-8540
Principal: Maura Baskovich - mbaskovic@ksd140.org
Assistant Principal: John Conley - jconley@ksd140.org
Virgil I. Grissom Middle School
School office: 708-429-3030
Principal: Michael Rumbaugh - mirumbaugh@ksd140.org
Assistant Principal: Alex Weinberg - aweinberg@ksd140.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
District 140 complies with Illinois law by meeting the requirements of Ann Marie's Law. The law, signed in 2015, mandates that all Illinois public schools provide age-appropriate suicide and depression awareness and prevention education programs for students in grades kindergarten through 12.
In addition, the District encourages parents who are concerned about their children to access the following resources for support. School social workers are also available at each school, if you believe your child may need additional help. Please click on the links below for more information.
- The Anne Marie Foundation - The foundation that helped create Ann Marie's Law. The website shares Ann Marie's story and provides both national and local resources.
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Orland Township Immunization Clinics and Health Fair
Orland Township is home to four school districts and over 10,000 school-aged children. Immunization Clinics are held monthly at the Orland Township office located at 14807 S. Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park. Vaccines are available only to Orland Township residents 18 and under who are uninsured, underinsured (insurance plan does not include vaccine coverage; policy must be shown), Medicaid-eligible XIX (19), or are Native American or Alaska Native. Orland Township's Children's Health Fair, which is offered in the month of July, gives parents the peace of mind that their child will start the first day of school with dental, physical, immunizations and vision testing properly completed by the Township doctors and nurses.
Additional Resources:
- Between Friends Chicago: 1-800-603-HELP (1-800-603-4357) - 24/7 Domestic violence crisis line
- Beyond Healing Counseling, Personal Growth, and Wellness Center
- Call 4 Calm: Text "TALK" or "HABLAR" to 552-020 - Free emotional support text line
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and AED Training Video from the Illinois High School Association (IHSA)
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and AED Safety Education for Students in Grades 6-8 from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Chiariello Behavioral Health
- Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline: 1-888-293-2080 - 24/7 Chicago rape hotline for survivors of sexual violence & their significant others
- Children's Research Triangle
- Cook County Department of Public Health - COVID-19 Fact Sheets
- Cook County Department of Public Health - COVID-19 Vaccine: Top 10 Things You Need to Know
- Cook County Department of Public Health - COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
- Cook County Department of Public Health
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- Faith's Law Sexual Abuse Response and Prevention Resource Guide
- Federal Food Programs
- Finding Balance Ltd.
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Hotline and Online Reporting
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- Illinois State Board of Education
- Illinois Warm Line: 1-866-359-7953 - Peer & family mental health support by phone, weekdays M-F 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- NAMI Chicago local resources and referral helpline: 312-563-0445 - Compassionate support & personalized referrals M-F 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) - 24/7 Free & confidential support & crisis resources
- Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits
- RTO Reduction Plan
- State of Illinois Department of Human Services - Understanding PUNS (A Guide to Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services)
- Student Athlete Concussions and Head Injuries Policy 7:305 - Illinois High School Association Concussion presentation
- The Healing Center for Behavioral Health
- Westside Children's Therapy
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