Country Meadows Families,
This short week has flown by, but we definitely made the most of it at Country Meadows. Please see below for dismissal reminders that will impact our schedule next week, and enjoy your weekend!
NEW *Early Release & Half Day Reminders*
- Tuesday, February 25th is an Early Release for students. Students will be dismissed at 2:00. Please arrange to pick your child up accordingly.
- Friday, February 28th is a Half Day for students. Students will be dismissed at 11:45. Please arrange to pick your child up accordingly.
NEW *Kids Heart Challenge*
A special message from our PE teachers:
Our event is right around the corner! Have you joined the HEART HEROES yet?!
Registering for the event is quick and easy-- just follow this link to register for the HEART HEROES event!
We hope you are really enjoying the fun activities we're doing in school right now, and that you feel great about helping kids with special hearts! Keep up the great work and remember that exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
If you haven't already, please spend a few minutes getting to know more about our event by watching this video with your student at home: Meet Our Heart Heroes!
This email is to let you know there is still plenty of time to participate and raise money. ANY student that registers online (http://www2.heart.org/goto/countrymeadows) or using our free mobile app (Kids Heart Challenge) and takes the challenge will receive a FREE buildable wristband!
Once your student starts collecting donations they will be able to take home their very own Heart Hero! Every Heart Hero has a very important message to share about heart health so be sure to ask your student what they learned from their new lifesaver friends!
Thank you for being prepared, staying active and being kind! Every single dollar you raise will help kids and families build healthier lives. I'm so proud of our school community for making such a big difference! Thank you for being a Heart Hero!
NEW *Parent Information - Concerning Trend*
In an effort to ensure parents are aware, please CLICK HERE to read about a concerning trend that is popular with upper elementary/middle school students.
NEW *PTO Update*
Why join the PTO? Click here!
Are you a parent who wants to continue the PTO’s mission of bringing enrichment programs to our kids? We are looking for enthusiastic, dedicated, collaborative team-oriented parents to fill the following vacant roles on our PTO board for 2020-2021 school year:
President
Co-President
Vice President
Co-Vice President
Operations Secretary
Recording Secretary
Both working and non-working parents have a place within our PTO. There are positions that can accommodate your schedules. We welcome your skills, expertise, creativity and talent.
For more information, contact Teresa Nagrani, Current PTO President at [email protected]
Take a moment to read the BLOG this week.
REPEATING *Spring Collaborative Conference Information*
Spring Conferences are coming on Thursday, March 12th from 5pm-8:30pm and Friday, March 13th from 10am-1:30pm . The Sign-Up Genius was sent to you on Tuesday, February 18th.
Spring Conferences are Collaborative Conferences!
Collaborative conferences means that your child will be leading the conference. The purpose of collaborative conferences is for educators, students and families to discuss, reflect and celebrate student work, and for families to experience school through their child's eyes. Students have been working hard to prepare for the conference, and we are excited for you to learn about your child’s progress directly from your child!
Teachers will be available in the room as guides and will be available to answer student questions or elaborate on a point a student is making, but we ask that all participants respect that this is the student’s opportunity to lead the conference by sharing progress and reflections about their own learning.
Please read below to learn specific information about how collaborative conferences will be structured at the elementary level.
Grades EC-1st Grade
Families will sign-up for a 15 minute conference. One student/family partnership will be in the room at a time. The conference will begin with your child presenting his/her current progress, reflections, celebrations and areas for continued growth. The classroom teacher will be at the table with the student, but the student will lead the conference. Teachers will be available to facilitate and assist in answering specific questions.
Grades 2nd-5th Grade
Families will sign-up for a 30 minute conference. Three family/student partnerships may be in the room at one time. Student/Family partnerships will sit in a private space to engage in the conference. The conference will begin with your child presenting his/her current progress, reflections, celebrations and areas for continued growth. Teachers will be available to facilitate and can answer brief questions at the conclusion of the student portion.
What is the Role of Families during Collaborative Conferences?
Provide reinforcement, encouragement and praise
Listen and ask questions
Help students look realistically at quality of work
Facilitate student’s self-reflection and goal setting
Be a partner in learning
See school through their student’s eyes
Questions Families Can Ask During the Collaborative Conference
What is your favorite piece of work? Why?
Describe your favorite activities or subjects.
What experiences at school do you find the most exciting?
Are there experiences that frustrate you, if so why?
What goals have you set for yourself for this spring?
How can I help you at home?
REPEATING *Culture Conversations with Students*
The Guiding Coalition for Interculturalism (GCI) is looking to include student voice in the weekly staff blog! Click here to access a short survey that your child can complete if they are interested, and their answers may appear in the staff newsletter!
REPEATING *KCSD96 Offers a Dual Language Opportunity*
Parents are invited to consider the Dual Language Program for their incoming Willow Grove kindergartner. The program’s purpose is to give children the opportunity to develop a deep academic proficiency in two languages. Fifty percent of the academic day instruction is delivered in Spanish and 50 percent in English. Following their kindergarten year at Willow Grove, Dual Language participants continue at Country Meadows for Grades 1–5 and transition to Woodlawn for Grades 6–8.
To be included in the public lottery that will be used to select the 2020–21 Dual Language kindergarten class, an Interest Form (ENGLISH or SPANISH) is due to the Willow Grove Early Learning Center office by 3 p.m. on Mar. 18.
LEARN MORE about the KCSD96 Dual Language program and attend a Parent Education Evening on Feb. 12 or Mar. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Willow Grove Early Learning Center to hear a presentation from District faculty/administrators and ask questions.
Fondly,
Meghan Bird, Principal