On October 15, 1959, Pulitzer Prize winning author, Carl Sandburg, dedicated Carl Sandburg Middle School to the students of Mundelein and offered the following poem:
"Old and tarnished sayings have it, "Time is a great teacher" and "Time will tell." this building as a toll and instrument, as a breathing structure newly come to life, might speak for itself today and say, "I am a child of time. I celebrate dignity, importance and pathos of time. Loving hands and thoughtful hearts have seen my foundations and wall rise to serve as best they may a young generation living in a time of world storm. Here to my room will come fresh generations, one after another, gazing out on the world in history, gazing in on themselves in reverie, some asking the ancient questions: While we live what might be worth dying for? Here they may study the guarded meaning of Lincoln owning his House Divided speech: 'If we could first know where we are and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do and how to do it.' ". Sandburg
Over the years the Sandburg facility has grown to serve the needs of the Mundelein community. In 1972, a competitive gymnasium and hallway was added to connect Sandburg to then vacant Jefferson Elementary School. The addition grew Sandburg from 17 to 33 classrooms. Then in 1997, Sandburg expanded again by adding a middle section that increased Sandburg to its current facility size of 45 classrooms, 2 gymnasiums, a multipurpose room, library, band room, and activity center.
Sandburg offers students in grades six, seven, and eight an exemplary educational experience that fully prepares them for high school and beyond. The school's caring, stimulating, and safe environment makes it the perfect atmosphere for adolescents to develop prepared for a future of possibilities.
CSMS embraces a middle school concept and implements a varied teaching and learning approach in the classroom. Its curriculum is challenging, integrative, and exploratory. Stemming from a growth mindset and the belief that effort will increase ability, high expectations are set for all Sandburg community members.
In addition to Sandburg's academic offerings, there are over 25 extracurricular activities which include club, intramural, and competitive athletic programming.
Throughout all Sandburg has to offer, each CSMS community member lives the Tiger CODE:
Creating Community, taking Ownership, engaging Discovery, and exerting Effective Effort!
Live the CODE!
Welcome to Carl Sandburg Middle School
Go Tigers!