Beckemeyer Elementary School

08/28/2026

New Sensory Bags Give HPD Officers a Tool for Autism and Special Needs Encounters

Thanks to a $500 donation from Hillsboro Health to the Autism Hero Project on behalf of the Hillsboro Police Department, HPD now has 10 sensory bags on hand to help our officers better support individuals with autism or sensory sensitivities during any encounter, not just traffic stops.

Each bag is designed to help de-escalate a high stress or overwhelming moment. Inside you'll find items like noise-cancelling headphones, a sensory fidget toy, a communication board to help nonverbal individuals express their needs, and a "sensory scale" tool that helps someone show how loud or bright their environment feels to them.

These bags work alongside our Blue Envelope Program, which helps officers recognize and appropriately respond during traffic stops involving a driver with autism or a sensory sensitivity. Together, the two programs give our officers tools for the full range of encounters they may have with community members on the spectrum, whether it's behind the wheel or anywhere else.

The bags will also be a valuable resource within CUSD #3, giving HPD's School Resource Officer another tool to support students with autism or sensory needs during a difficult moment at school, not just out in the community.

This is far from the first time Hillsboro Health has stepped up for our first responders. From snacks to trauma bags, their support has been consistent and generous. Chief Randy Leetham continues to champion community policing initiatives like this one, with SRO Officer Frank Kenny overseeing the program under his guidance, alongside Investigator Mellor. Pictured with them is Michael Alexander, CEO of Hillsboro Health.

Without Hillsboro Health's continued support, programs like this would not be possible. Thank you for investing in our community and in the safety of everyone who calls Hillsboro home.

Want to learn more, or request a Blue Envelope for your vehicle? Reach out to the Hillsboro Police Department. To learn more about the Autism Hero Project, visit autismheroproject.org or follow them on Facebook .

Hillsboro Police Department

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

CALLING ALL FUTURE GLOBE TOPPERS! The final overview & registration meeting for the 2027 trip to London & Paris will take place on Wednesday, September 2, at 7 P.M. in Mrs. Armbruster's classroom. (Enter via the Topper Tunnel.) This meeting is for interested travelers who have not already registered for this trip. If you are unable to attend this meeting, please contact Amanda Cunningham ([email protected]) or Kristy Armbruster ([email protected]). We hope you join us July 19-26, 2027, for the trip of a lifetime!

Check out this Trip Site for details on our upcoming travel adventure.

08/24/2026

As we kick off our first home events at Hillsboro High School this week, please remember this important guideline for the HHS Student Section and Jr. Toppers:
🟠 The HHS Student Sections in the gym and at Sawyer Field are reserved for designated HHS BTOP members only.

08/24/2026

As we kick off our first home events at Hillsboro High School this week, please remember these important guidelines for the Jr. Toppers:
⚫ Jr. high and elementary students may play flag football or two-hand touch football behind the bleachers at an event held on Sawyer Field. Tackle football is not permitted, and high school students may not participate. In addition, this area closes at the start of the fourth quarter and all will need to return to their parent/guardian.
Please clean up your trash, respect one another, and help us keep our facilities looking great!
Let’s show our Topper Pride and make our home events enjoyable and safe for everyone!

08/12/2026

Our new parking lot will be open and ready to go when school starts. We want to make sure everyone is familiar with the new traffic pattern before the first day. The picture below shows the only entrance and exit for the new parking lot. When exiting the parking lot onto Fairground Avenue, you must turn RIGHT. There will be no left turns out of the new parking lot.

We are also asking parents to stop parking across the street from Beckemeyer on Seymour Avenue.

We appreciate everyone's help in keeping our arrival and dismissal procedures safe and efficient for our students and families.

08/09/2026

Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Kristen Bateman to Beckemeyer Elementary! Mrs. Bateman will be one of the new special education teachers at Beckemeyer as she begins her eighth year in education.

Mrs. Bateman previously taught for three years at Lincolnwood Junior High School and four years at Collinsville Middle School. She attended Western Illinois University and recently earned her EMT license.
Mrs. Bateman and her husband, Joe, have two sons: three-year-old Jonah and 13-month-old Elijah. Their family also includes a dog named Samson and two cats, Dolly and Oliver.
A lifelong runner, Mrs. Bateman competed in long-distance events during college, including the 5K, 3K and her favorite—the steeplechase. She continues to enjoy running and has participated in trail runs, 5Ks, half-marathons, triathlons and more.
Mrs. Bateman has had an adventurous summer, spending two weeks in Italy followed by two weeks traveling in Zambia and Zimbabwe!
Welcome to Beckemeyer, Mrs. Bateman! We are excited to have your experience, energy and love of learning on our team!

08/09/2026

Please join us in welcoming Miss Madelyn Rupert to Beckemeyer Elementary School! Miss Rupert will teach fifth grade as she begins her first year as an educator.

Miss Rupert brings experience as a nanny, preschool teacher’s aide, youth soccer and basketball coach, and elementary English tutor. She earned her bachelor’s degree in K–6 Elementary Education from Iowa State University, with endorsements in K–8 English Language Arts and K–8 Reading.
Originally from Hillsboro, Miss Rupert attended Beckemeyer Elementary, Hillsboro Junior High School and Hillsboro High School. She now lives on her family’s farm in Litchfield with her two dogs. In her free time, she loves to golf!
As someone raised in this community, Miss Rupert is passionate about giving back to the schools that helped shape her. Her goal is to create a positive, welcoming classroom where every student feels valued, supported and encouraged to reach their full potential. She looks forward to fostering academic success and personal growth while building meaningful relationships with students, families and the community.
Welcome home, Miss Rupert! We are excited to have you join the Beckemeyer team!

08/09/2026

Please join us in welcoming Whitney Evans to Beckemeyer Elementary as a special education teacher!

This will be Whitney’s first year as a teacher, and she brings three years of valuable experience as a mental health therapist. She earned a Master of Social Work from Aurora University and a master’s degree in psychology from Purdue Global.
Whitney is married and has three children and two dogs. She loves to read and can happily spend hours exploring a bookstore! She also believes that kindness is contagious—a philosophy she looks forward to sharing with her students each day.
Whitney’s goal is to help every student grow in confidence, gain independence and feel supported as they learn, develop and discover what they are capable of achieving.
Welcome to Beckemeyer, Whitney! We are excited to have you join our school community!