Country Meadows Principal's Message - March 4th

Country Meadows Families,

This spring-like weather has been warmly welcomed by our CM students and staff this week.  It has been equally as heart-warming to watch students prepare to share their learning and growth with you all at spring conferences in just a few weeks.  We are so excited for you to hear all of reflections students have made on their first two trimesters of learning!  Enjoy the three-day weekend, and we look forward to seeing students back on Tuesday, 3/8.

Warm Regards,

Meghan Bird - Principal

NEW *No School 3/7*

This is a friendly reminder that there is no school on Monday, March 7th.

NEW *2nd & 5th Grade Lunch Time Change*

Due to schedule changes that need to be made to accommodate the 5th grade Illinois Science Assessment, 2nd and 5th-grade students will eat lunch at a different time next Wednesday (3/9), Thursday (3/10), and Friday (3/11).

Students will go to recess/eat lunch at the following times next Wed, Thurs, & Fri:

• 2nd Grade: 12:10-12:50
• 5th Grade: 11:30-12:10

NEW *PCR Test Kits Being Sent Home Friday* 

PCR kits were sent home today with your child(ren).  Please return these on Tuesday, March 8th due given Monday there is no school.

NEW *Proof of Dental Exam (K/2nd/6th)*

Dear Parents/Guardians of District 96 Kindergarteners, 2nd, and 6th Grade Students:

Please note that your child’s completed dental examination is now due, per Illinois school law. The deadline for the dental examination is due no later than May 15 of the current school year.  Proof of this required dental examination must have been completed within eighteen months prior to the May 15 deadline.

If you haven’t already done so, please make an appointment with your child’s dentist for a dental examination, have him and/or her complete the required form and return it to your child’s school nurse. 

State of Illinois Proof of Dental Examination Form

In the event that you are unable to fulfill this requirement, the state of Illinois does permit a waiver of the examination.

State of Illinois Dental Waiver Form

Dental examination forms, as well as dental waiver forms, can be downloaded from the District’s web site.   Thank you for your prompt cooperation. 

NEW *Reproving Residency (K & 5th)*

In KCSD 96, each year, parents of current Kindergartners and 5th graders are required to reprove their district residency.

To re-prove residency, parents are asked to provide three items to the Administrative Assistants at their child’s current school:

• a current monthly mortgage OR lease statement OR property tax bill OR Warranty Deed AND
• a current utility bill (e.g., water OR electric OR waste collection) AND

This Proof of Residency Form (completed and signed)

For the email address for your school’s Administrative Assistant, and to learn information for other questions, please visit https://www.kcsd96.org/about/registration/the-requirement-to-re-prove-residency.

NEW *2022-23 REGISTRATION OPENED THIS WEEK*

Registration now open for the 2022-23 school year!

Registration is now open for the 2022-23 school year.  This week, parents and guardians of returning students and pre-registered Kindergartners were emailed Notification letters with a SnapCode to start their registration process.

Register today to avoid the $20 late fee (per child) to be charged on registrations completed after April 15.

If you have questions about the 2022-23 Registration Notification email, please email [email protected] or call 847-459-4260, ext. 8022.

For information on registering a new student, visit https://kcsd96.org/registration.

NEW *Golden Paws*

This year we have introduced the exciting GOLDEN PAW.  Golden paws are earned when an entire class is seen exhibiting PRO (People Respecting Others) behavior that is respectful, responsible, or peaceful.  For example, a class may earn a Golden Paw for being respectful to a substitute the day a teacher is absent, listening and adhering to lunch room expectations, or walking quietly/peacefully in the hallways.  

This weeks Golden Paws winners include:

• Cannistra
• Thompson
• Levy
• Humphries

Keep up the great work, Country Meadows PROs!

NEW *PTO Update*

Please take a moment to visit the PTO Blog this week!

Teacher Conference Meal

It’s always fun to let our teachers know how much we appreciate them, one way we do this is by providing a meal during teacher conferences. Please help us make this event a success by signing up to bring drinks and snacks or by going to Membership Toolkit to make a monetary donation. 

• Sign Up Genius 
• Membership Toolkit (scroll to the bottom once signing in)

Spirit Wear

It may be cold outside, but you can stay warm with Country Meadows Cubs spirit wear! Jackets on sale now! All items ship directly to your home. Shop here!

Yearbook

The PTO is currently seeking a parent volunteer to chair the Yearbook Committee for the 2022-2023 school year.  We are seeking to fulfill this position early to allow for training time on use of the software.  Please reach out to us at [email protected] to express your interest.

Upcoming PTO Events

• 3/14-15: Teacher Conference Meal

REPEATING *Parent Pick-Up*

Thank you to all who have supported us in keeping our Parent Pick Up line safe and efficient for all as our number of students picked up at the end of the day has increased exponentially this school year. It is understandable that we are all on time schedules and want the pick-up process to be as efficient as possible. 

As a principal and a mother, I understand how incredibly valuable time is.  I also know that one person's time is never more valuable than another's.  I simply ask and expect that we all acknowledge this and keep student safety at the forefront of all decisions made while picking students up at the end of the day. My expectation is also that the CM staff present during dismissal are treated with the respect and kindness that we pride ourselves on as a Country Meadows community.

• All of our Parent Pick Up students are picked up by 3:10-3:15 daily.
• If you are picking your child up at the end of the day, we simply ask that you remain in your car to keep our dismissal process as safe and simple as possible.  Our staff will assist your child in getting into the vehicle once you are in the loading zone.
• If there are extenuating circumstances, we ask that you park your car in an appropriate and open parking spot (leaving handicap spots for those who need them), walk to the building and pick your child up from the front office.

My number one priority has been, and always will be, student safety.  To avoid chaos and unsafe situations during our dismissal, I appreciate parents/guardians remaining in their car until students enter the vehicle in the loading zone.  We count on every parent being vigilant and proceeding with caution in the school parking lot.  Please call the office with any questions/concerns about our dismissal process/policy.

REPEATING *ISA for 5th Grade*

Illinois Science Assessment (ISA): Students in grades 5 and 8 participate in the Illinois Science Assessment. The ISA is aligned to the Illinois Science Learning Standards and is designed to reflect classroom experiences. The ISA consists of three sections that will be administered over three days (March 9-11) during the regular school day. 

Parent Letter from ISBE (English)

Parent Letter from ISBA (Spanish)

REPEATING *5Essentials Survey for Parents*

You’re invited to complete the Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey.  This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school and help school and District leaders better understand the parent/school relationship. This survey is administered on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education.

The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success include:

• Effective Leaders
• Collaborative Teachers
• Involved Families
• Supportive Environments
• Ambitious Instruction

To take the survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the “Parent” survey to begin.  Please know that your identity and responses will be kept confidential and will not be connected with your child.  You may submit a survey for each child you have in the district.

The survey closes on March 11th.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or [email protected] or Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Jeanne Spiller at [email protected].

REPEATING *SPRING COLLABORATIVE CONFERENCES*

The collaborative conference dates are Monday, March 14th from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM and Tuesday, March 15th from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM.

We will be using Meet the Teacher as an electronic sign up for collaborative conferences. A School Messenger email was sent to families on Thursday, February 24th at 6:00PM with a link to sign up for conferences.

Collaborative conferences will be held over zoom unless parents request an in-person conference using the instructions below. To support easy location of Zoom meeting links, a single document with ALL the staff zoom links will be sent out on Friday, March 11th. 

REQUESTING AN IN-PERSON CONFERENCE

After selecting the teachers you wish to meet with and choosing a time for each conference, Meet the Teacher will prompt you to save the appointment and ask if you want to add a message for the teacher. 

If you want to have an in-person conference with the teachers, you must notify the teachers via this messaging feature (see picture below).

REPEATING *Masking Information*

As communicated today in Julie Schmidt’s Superintendent Message, on February 15th the bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) blocked the reissuance of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) emergency rules for Covid protocols that were implemented by JCAR on September 17, 2021 and that were renewed on February 14.  

Last evening, the 4th District Appellate Court of Illinois dismissed the appeal of an earlier Circuit Court order on Covid related emergency rules issued by two state agencies and Covid related measures in the Governor’s Executive Orders. The Governor’s Executive Order regarding masking in schools remains the subject of continuing litigation as the recent circuit court ruling was on a temporary restraining order (TRO).

All decision making and educating regarding masking will be left up to individual families.  We strongly encourage families to make and discuss their family decision to mask or unmask with their children.  Please know that staff will not be monitoring or enforcing compliance with family decisions. Our role as educators will be to ensure that all students understand that whether they are masked or unmasked, they are safe, respected, and welcome.  Below you will find a list of talking points that have been created and provided to staff by our administrative team to use with students as needed.  Please feel free to review them with your children at home if you prefer.  As always, if you have any questions please contact your building principal.

Staff will be diligent in monitoring student interactions and report any concerning language/behavior if continuous or intentional.  Moving forward bullying/disrespect will be addressed consistent with our current district policy.

Addressing the Change in Rules: 

• Rules have changed recently and masks are optional for students and staff in our schools. We know this may seem like a big change to people, especially since it is what we have all been doing for such a long time now.
• We’ve been wearing masks for a while now, so this change may seem strange to some people. It’s ok if you’re not quite ready to go “maskless.” Masking is optional to people now. If you along with your parents feel more comfortable wearing your mask, it is ok to do so. It is also ok if some people do not want to wear their masks anymore. It is your family choice but we do want you to talk with your parents about what is most comfortable for you.

Maintaining Safety & Routine in School: 

• The adults in this school are all here to make sure that everyone can safely learn in school. School is, and will remain, a safe place for all. 
• Our school nurses, principals, maintenance staff and every adult in the building does their very best to make sure everyone is safe in school. Even though some people may not be wearing a mask, and others are, all students are safe in school.
• Practicing good hygiene at all times is important to be healthy. We will still be washing our hands, monitoring our space when around others and in big groups, and we will always encourage those who are sick to stay home until they feel better. 
• Anyone who tests positive for COVID will still need to isolate at home. 
• You are following the school rules whether you are masked or unmasked. 
• If there are things that make you nervous or anxious, there are lots of people in school to help you navigate those feelings. Make sure you talk to a trusted adult (teacher, parent, social worker, coach, etc) if you are experiencing stress or anxiety.

Respecting Everyone’s Personal Choice: 

• We must be kind to one another no matter a classmate’s mask choice. We are all members of this school community, and we rely on each other to create a great environment to learn in. 
• It is ok for other students and families to make a different choice than you and your family. We appreciate the difference in thought and opinion. However, if you disagree with someone’s decision on masking, it is not ok to make fun of them, argue with them, or be disrespectful to them in any way. 
• It is not appropriate to encourage or coax other students to make a choice about masking that you believe is right.  Each person and family should make that choice themselves.
• Families and teachers can make their own decisions based on what they feel most comfortable with at this time. Each family has its own set of circumstances that they need to consider when making a decision about masking. 
• It is important to be understanding of others’ choices, even if they are different than our own. If someone wears a mask, that is ok. It is also ok to not wear a mask. 
• Every person has a different level of comfort about personal space. If someone asks for some extra space because they are uncomfortable in a situation, it is kind and respectful to give them that space. 
• Disrespectful behavior towards others based on their choice to or not to mask will not be tolerated. It is expected that you are kind and inclusive to all of your classmates.  
• Disrespectful comments and actions towards others are not expected behaviors in our school. This includes comments and actions related to mask wearing and mask choice.

REPEATING *5Essentials Student Survey Information*

Parents and guardians:  Next week, your 4th or 5th grade child will be participating in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, which asks students about their experiences, attitudes and activities in school ~ with the goal of helping schools to improve. This is the 10th year of the survey, which also solicits input from teachers and parents on how their schools may be improved.

The survey is for students in 4th grade and higher. District 96 middle school students take the 25-minute survey the week of February 14.  Elementary school students will take the survey the week of February 28.

This online survey is administered by UChicago Impact on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education.  This survey is based on the Five Essentials for School Success, an evidence-based framework developed by the University of Chicago. This framework identifies how school performance on five factors or “essentials” can lead to important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. 

Twenty years of research at the University of Chicago in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of the 5Essentials were 10 times more likely to make substantial gains in improving student reading and math than schools that were weak on three or more of the Essentials.

Those 5Essentials are:

• Effective Leaders
• Collaborative Teachers
• Involved Families
• Supportive Environment
• Ambitious Instruction

For more information or to view previous years’ Reports, visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois (choose “Select a Public Survey” dropdown menu). If you have questions about the survey, contact 5Essentials Customer Support at 1-866-440-1874 or [email protected].

REPEATING *Kids Heart Challenge*

We are excited to let you know that we will be participating in the American Red Cross Kids Heart Challenge this year. This is completely optional, and students can participate as much or as little as they would like. We will be doing a kick off presentation Monday the 14th, and the fundraising portion will end March 11th. During the week of March 8th, we will be doing a celebration/wrap up of the challenge. Attached is information regarding the challenge and fundraising, and students will receive information in PE on February 14th in class. If you have any questions please reach out to Mr. Loessl or Ms. Almdale.

Read more about the Heart Challenge!

REPEATING *Covid Metrics*

To stay up-to-date this school year on local metrics, please visit the COVID DASHBOARD for District 96. Our priority remains to keep our students safe and follow guidance from the CDC. If your student is identified as a "close contact", you will be notified individually through the contact tracing process.