Country Meadows Families,
It's surreal to think that the 2021-2022 school year will wrap up after 8 more days of attendance! In a year where we have encountered numerous additional obstacles, we couldn't be more proud of the hard work, dedication, and creativity of our students, staff, families, and community. I am so grateful to be your Assistant Principal and look forward to finishing the school year strong! Please be sure to read details around some upcoming events and celebrations included in this week's Principal's Message!
Kindly,
Jason Williams - Assistant Principal
NEW: *Calendar Reminders*
Friday May 28th - Half Day; Students Dismissed at 11:45am
Monday May 31st - NO SCHOOL; Memorial Day
Thursday June 3rd - Last Day of Attendance; Students Dismissed at 11:45am
COURTESY Countdown
To help celebrate our success this school year, please participate in our COURTESY COUNTDOWN!
Monday, May 24 - C - Country Meadows Pride Day: Wear your CM clothes or Blue/White
Tuesday, May 25 - O - Outside Day: Spend Time Outside!
Wednesday, May 26 - U - Uplifting Day: Write to someone you want to uplift with a kind note or email
Thursday, May 27 - R - Read your favorite book with someone!
Friday, May 28 - T - Thankful Day
Tuesday, June 1 - E - Exercise Day: Choose your favorite workout and exercise for at least 10 minutes!
Wednesday, June 2 - S - Summer Attire: Wear your best summer clothes!
Thursday, June 3 - Y - Year in Review
NEW: *2021-22 School Supply Lists and Kits*
See Info to download grade-level school supply lists or order school supply kits to be delivered directly to your home. (Order kits by July 9 for home delivery by Aug. 13.)
NEW: *Student Report Card Access June 3 After 3pm*
Your student’s report card will be available for you to access online Thursday, June 3, AFTER 3 PM. If you need assistance, please SEE INSTRUCTIONS TO VIEW YOUR CHILDREN’S REPORT CARDS, to switch between your children’s report cards, and more. Report cards will be available for online access after 3 PM on June 3rd.
NEW: *A Reminder About District Standards for Student Dress*
Appropriately and comfortably dressed students can focus more effectively. As the weather gets warmer and the end of the school year approaches, we remind you of these District standards for student dress that are included in our Parent/Student Handbook. We appreciate your support in enforcing the following guidelines:
1. Dress or appearance that provokes or distracts other students or otherwise causes a disruption to the education process is prohibited.
2. Shoes must be worn at all times.
3. Clothing, jewelry, or accessories may not have writing or pictures that advertise or advocate alcohol, drugs, tobacco, obscenity, violence, or gang activity.
4. Pants must be worn at the waistline.
5. Hats are allowed on designated hat days only.
6. Half shirts, cropped tops, spaghetti straps, and underwear or sleepwear worn as outerwear are not acceptable.
7. Undergarments may not be visible.
8. With the exception of appropriate jewelry, no chains may be worn.
Students who are not in compliance with the student dress code will be asked to comply either by changing to other clothing available at school or by having their parent/guardian bring them different clothing from home.
NEW: *Remote Learners: Yearbooks, Flower Pots, and Art Portfolios*
Yearbooks for remote families who ordered them will be available for pickup on Tuesday May 25th from 2:00-4:00pm. Our PTO will also have a flower pot for each student to celebrate the growth they have made this year! If you are unable to pick up these items during this time frame, please buzz the office during school hours Wednesday-Friday and we will be sure to get you your Yearbook and Flower Pot. In person learners will have these items distributed in their classes to be brought home.
5th Grade Only
Please come to CM on MAY 25th and pick up your Art Portfolio from 4th grade (containing all of your beautiful artwork). You will also receive your clay (if your name was written on the bottom), along with your CM Sketch Book from all of your years at Country Meadows. We will definitely miss you!!!!
***REMINDER: This is the same week as materials drop off! Save your self a trip and do it all at once!
NEW: *5th Grade Parade Details*
Please join us for the 5th Grade Graduation Parade in the Country Meadows parking lot on May 27th @ 4pm. Please see details and time based on last name.
The Country Meadows teachers, PTO, Lake County Sherriff, Countryside Fire department & DJ will send the 5th Graders off in style! 5th Graders will receive a hoodie Woodlawn sweatshirt, Graduation lawn sign, Picture frame, Graduation cookie, and fabulous decoration kits for the cars. Help us make this a memorable 5th Grade Graduation Parade. See attached details and parade map.
NEW: *Orchestra Parent Info Night - NEW TIME*
Beginning Orchestra Parent Info Night will be on Tuesday, May 25th, at 6:30 pm. Please note the new time. All current 3rd grade parents are invited to attend through this zoom link.
NEW: *PTO Event Updates and Blog*
Please take a moment to read the PTO Blog for important information and upcoming PTO sponsored events!
REPEAT: *Protocol Update*
On May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks or practice social distancing in any setting–whether indoors or outside.
Consistent with our practice throughout this pandemic, we are in conversation with local health officials at the Lake County Department of Public Health to understand how this announcement from the CDC will affect our learning environments.
Be advised that our current mitigation strategies remain in place as we await local guidance.
That is–regardless of whether they have been vaccinated–our faculty, as well as our students, will be expected to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing at school and at a school-sponsored event such as 8th-grade Graduation. As you know, at this time students in our elementary district have not yet been vaccinated.
As local guidance is updated, be assured that we will share it and its implications with you promptly, as we’ve done consistently throughout the year.
REPEAT: *41st Consortium 125 Virtual Artfest*
We are pleased to invite you to the 41st Consortium 125 Virtual ArtFest. Please view the exposition of 1-8 student artwork from districts 76, 79, 96, 102, 103, and 125.
REPEAT: *Transition to Middle School Program*
We had our annual program (virtual) for parents of current fifth graders on May 10. It offered information and insights about what to expect in the middle school years ahead. Middle School Principals Jessica Barnes (Twin Groves) and Greg Grana (Woodlawn) discussed academics, extracurricular opportunities, and changes that the middle school years bring. Our current sixth-grade student panelists shared their perspectives. It was a fun and informative evening!
If you were unable to attend, here is the recording. Please note that the recording will be available for two weeks only.
Passcode: 3&JcDia.
REPEAT: *iPad Exchange Info for ALL KCSD96 Students*
Action needed! This summer District 96 will exchange your student's old iPad, charging cable, charging brick, and iPad case for new equipment. You'll need to schedule an appointment to make the exchange and the exchange must occur before Aug. 1. READ DETAILS about this process and how it affects ALL District 96 students.
REPEAT: *Math, Literacy, and Technology Materials Return*
There are only a few materials the district is looking to collect back from those that were distributed throughout the year. We are asking for all of the materials listed below to be returned to schools during the week of May 24th. For those students who are remote, a bin will be available inside the vestibule. Please be sure to bag your materials when possible, and please label materials with name, grade, and homeroom. Thank you so much for your help with this!
Literacy Books (All Grades)
After Friday, May 21st, we will no longer need any of the ”ReadyGen”Literacy materials as part of our lessons. Please return all books beginning Monday, May 24th. It is important to return these as soon as possible so that we can inventory them accordingly and make purchasing decisions for next year. Some students have already begun to return these materials. for a convenient drop off. The grade level links below show a complete list of books that need to be returned to school.
Logitech Keyboards (All Grades)
Each student in grades 1-5 received one of these keyboards in September. Middle school students received a keyboard upon request. For a picture of the keyboards click here.
If your child is planning on taking IAR (Grades 3-8), please bring the keyboard to school on May 23-25 for use during the assessment. It will be collected after IAR is completed on Wednesday the 25th.
If your child is not using the keyboard, please return the keyboard at your earliest convenience. Early returns will help us ensure each student that wants one for IAR has one to use.
Omnifix Cubes (5th Grade Only)
These were distributed to 5th grade students in August in a plastic bag. Each 5th grade student received 30 cubes in a plastic Ziplock bag. The Omni-fix cubes are no longer needed for 5th grade math. Please return these to schools at your earliest convenience. For a picture of the cubes click here.
REPEAT: *IAR Dates*
Monday 5/24: Grades 3-8
Tuesday 5/25: Grades 3-8
Friday 5/26: Grades 3-8
K-2 Students
Students in grades K-2 do not take IAR. Students in Grades 1 and 2 will have typical arrival and dismissal times but may have a special schedule during the day.
In-person students in Grades 3-5
These students will have the same arrival and dismissal times as they normally would and complete the assessment as a part of the typical school day.
Remote students coming to test in-person
These students will arrive at the designated time below. Teachers will communicate the appropriate class to log on to after students return home.
Grades 3-5 Monday Arrival: 8:45
Grades 3-5 Monday Dismissal: 11:55
Grades 3-5 Tuesday Arrival: 8:45
Grades 3-5 Tuesday Dismissal: 11:55
Grades 3-5 Wednesday Arrival: 8:45
Grades 3-5 Wednesday Dismissal: 11:00
Click here for a description of arrival procedures, safety considerations, and needed materials.
Remote students
These students will be provided with asynchronous experiences while their grade level peers are testing. They will log onto the teacher Zooms and resume instruction at the times listed below.
Elementary students in Grades 3-5 log back into teacher Zooms at the times below on Monday and Tuesday.
Grade 3: 11:20
Grade 4: 11:35
Grade 5: 11:30
Elementary students in Grades 3-5 log back into teacher Zooms at 10:35 on Wednesday.
REPEAT: *5th Grade Band*
4th grade parents: the opportunity to learn about and sign up for next year's 5th grade band is happening now! Please open this letter from the band teacher Mr. Craw to learn more about band, and to find out how to sign up.
REPEAT: *Orchestra Announcements*
It is time to register your student for orchestra for the 2021-2022 school year!
- Current 3rd grade families who are interested in orchestra should use this link to read a letter with more information about 4th Grade Orchestra.
- Current 4th grade families who are not enrolled in orchestra this year, but are interested in starting in 5th grade, should use this link to read a letter with more information on 5th Grade Orchestra.
- Current 4th grade families who are enrolled in orchestra should use this link to read a letter with more information on beginning 5th Grade Orchestra.
- Current 5th grade families should use this link to register their student for 6th Grade Orchestra.
I hope to have the opportunity to work with your students next year!
Eileen Wronkiewicz
REPEAT: *PTO Event Updates*
Yearbooks
Did you order a 2020-2021 yearbook? If not, there are extra yearbooks available on a first come first serve basis, available to order through next Friday, 5/21. The cost is $24. If you would like to order a book, please do so via Membership Toolkit (MTK). If you are unsure about whether or not you have already purchased one, email Kelly Friedrich at [email protected] for details.
School Supply Kits for the 2021-2022 School Year
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We're pleased to announce that we are again offering the convenient services of School Supply Kits for the 2021–22 school year!
Our vendor will deliver your kit(s) straight to your home! Rather than PTO volunteers handling these items, SchoolKidz will handle all aspects of your order – including your questions about ordering from their website and free shipping direct to your home.
The opportunity to place your order began May 3rd and ends July 10.
Go to www.shopttkits.com, and enter Country Meadows’ Account #15292
Prices remain the same as last year. Purchases are nonrefundable.
Woodlawn Virtual New Parent Tour and Coffee
This is an exciting opportunity for all parents of incoming 6th graders and anyone NEW to Woodlawn!
Take a morning coffee break and watch avirtual tour of the Woodlawn building conducted by our Principal, Mr. Grana and Assistant Principal, Mrs. Garlick.
We will then have a Q&A opportunity with a panel of Woodlawn parents to learn more about Woodlawn, ask questions about the middle school experience and learn how you can get involved in the upcoming school year.
WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US!
Click here to Join Zoom Meeting
Zoom Meeting ID: 881 5112 5334
Passcode: 696196
REPEAT: *Personal Property Reminder*
This is a gentle reminder that students should not bring valuable personal items to school including collectibles (e.g. Pokemon Cards, toys, etc.) and electronics. The school cannot be responsible for the safekeeping or replacement of personal items such as these.
REPEAT: *Student's Art Appreciation Event - Consortium ArtFest (Virtual) is May 17-31*
KCSD96 families are invited to attend the 41st Annual Stevenson Consortium 125 ArtFest, showcasing our students’ artistic growth and achievements using a variety of media. This year you can view creative work by our Grades 1–8 students virtually. Exhibited art is selected by their District 96 art teachers. Access student artwork online May 17–31. Click here for more information.
REPEAT: *5th Grade Car Parade Information*
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REPEAT: *Specials Materials for In-Person Learners*
Students are able to bring their art backpack and gym bag to school and leave it in the classroom and do not need to bring it back and forth from home. Students will then have their needed supplies on hand each day. Music and Exploration Lab currently do not need any additional materials.
For Remote Students, here is the updated Specials Materials List for what will be needed each day.
REPEAT: *Keeping Students (and Siblings) Home Due to Symptoms*
Per the IDPH COVID-19 School Exclusion Guidance, if any household member is showing any one of the symptoms listed below, ALL SIBLINGS must stay home from school. Please let the school office know when calling for attendance if your child is staying home due to illness, even if the student is participating remotely.
The symptoms in which a student must stay home due to COVID-19 protocols are: fever (100.4°F or higher), new onset of moderate to severe headache, shortness of breath, new cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, new loss of sense of taste or smell, fatigue from unknown cause, muscle or body aches from unknown cause.
REPEAT: *NURSE HOURS and IDPH DECISION TREE*
Our District 96 nurses are closely following the Illinois Department of Public Health school exclusion decision tree to determine when students are eligible to return to turn school. Thank you for your patience with students who have had to isolate or quarantine due to illness, household, illness, positive COVID-19, and/or close contact status. The building nurse will request appropriate documentation for students to return to school. While you may receive this documentation outside of school hours, the nurse will contact families regarding a return date upon receipt during the next school day.
If you would like to be in touch with one of the District 96 nurses, please note the hours that they are available:
Country Meadows, Ivy Hall, Kildeer, Prairie, Willow Grove: 8:00-3:15
Twin Groves, Woodlawn 7:30-2:45
REPEAT: *Family Tradition Survey*
Last year, families filled out a form to share their family traditions with us. We shared those traditions in a daily slideshow for students and the kids absolutely loved reading about themselves and other students in the school. We would love for you to participate again this year!
Read more about how you can share your family traditions this year. It will show you a QR code and a link you can use to participate.