Dear Country Meadows Families,
What an incredible start to the school year! It was wonderful to welcome our Cubs back for the 2024-2025 school year. Despite the rain, students were full of excitement as they reunited with their teachers and friends on the first day. The school spirit and positive energy were at an all-time high during our Back to School Assembly on Thursday.
It was just as exciting to welcome families back during Meet the Teacher event. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you in the near future.
Please take a moment to review the important dates below, along with some new information regarding technology.
Wishing you a fantastic weekend!
Kindly,
Aska Lempke
*Important August Dates*
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Monday, August 19th Curriculum Night at Willow Grove
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6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, August 21st Curriculum Night at Ivy Hall
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6:30 to 7:15 p.m. (Grades 1 and 2)
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7:15 to 8 p.m. (Grades 3-5)
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Thursday, August 22nd Curriculum Night at Kildeer & Prairie
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6:30 to 7:15 p.m. (Grades 1 and 2)
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7:15 to 8 p.m. (Grades 3-5)
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Thursday, August 29th Curriculum Night at Country Meadows
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6:30 to 7:15 p.m. (Grades 1 and 2)
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7:15 to 8 p.m. (Grades 3-5)
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Tuesday, August 27th - Early Release at 2:05 p.m. at Country Meadows, Ivy Hall, Kildeer, & Prairie. Please see the Twin Groves, Woodlawn, and Willow Grove Principal’s Message for attendance times.
NEW *Kildeer District 96: iPad Fleet Renewal and Distribution Update*
At the end of last year, Kildeer District 96 collected all outstanding student equipment as part of our ongoing commitment to providing our students with the best possible learning tools. This collection allowed us to recycle and renew our iPad fleet, ensuring that our students have access to the latest technology for the upcoming school year.
The new iPads that your students received are very similar to the devices they have used in the past, with one key update: the new iPads feature a shared input for both power and audio. To accommodate this change, the district is providing an audio adapter in addition to the standard equipment students have traditionally received. Each student will receive the following:
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iPad
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Keyboard case
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Logitech Crayon
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One charging brick
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One charging cable
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Audio adapter
Students received their login instructions when they were issued their new iPads yesterday. We encourage all families to review the iPad Handbook, which can be found here, for detailed information on the use and care of these devices. Additionally, please familiarize yourself with our policies on the damage and replacement of iPads, available here.
We look forward to a great year ahead, with these new devices supporting our students in their educational journey.
*NEW* Law Enforcement Safety Drill EDUCATION
On Monday, August 26, Country Meadows will be conducting the annual Law Enforcement Safety Drill EDUCATION. Students will be learning age appropriate safety procedures.
In compliance with the Safety Drill Act, parents have the right to exempt their child from the Law Enforcement Drill EDUCATION with their school peers.
If you do not wish your child to participate in the Law Enforcement Safety Drill Education with the other peers, please contact Aska Lempke at [email protected]. The administration will arrange for an alternative review of safety procedures with your child.
If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in the education.
NEW *Fall Band Registration*
Registration for the 5th grade band will remain open until August 20th. If you have a 5th grader who is not yet signed up for band, but would like to join band, please visit the band website for more information on the program. You can sign up for band from the website, and learn how to obtain an instrument. If you have any questions, you can contact Mr. Craw at [email protected]
NEW *SMART Watches*
SMART watches are starting to show up here at the elementary schools. Many SMART watches have similar capabilities to SMART phones (game, voice, and text capabilities). If your student has a SMART watch, it must be placed in airplane/off mode during the school day. If a SMART watch becomes a distraction or is used for communication, it may be confiscated and stored in the office to remove the distraction from the learning environment. Essentially, we will treat the SMART watches like a cell phone. If students need to call home, we encourage them to ask their teacher if they can come to the office to use the phone. Confiscated equipment may be picked up in the office at the end of the day by the student(s). If a pattern of distraction occurs, parents may be asked to pick up the technology.
NEW *Health Form Deadline* October 15th
All immunizations should be completed to avoid school exclusion by October 15th. Please refer to the D96 Student Health website for more information. https://www.kcsd96.org/student-services/student-health
REPEAT *Arrival and Dismissal Procedures*
Morning Parent Vehicle Drop Off
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Earliest drop off is 8:10am when adult supervision starts
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Pull up as far as you can along the painted curb in the third parking lot
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Students exit vehicle on passenger side, if driver side exit is needed, call over a supervisor for assistance
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Adults must stay in the vehicle and drop off only for the safety of the students and staff at Country Meadows
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NO cell phone use in school zones - this is an Illinois State Law
After School Parent Vehicle Pick-Up
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Please tape your child’s name card to the passenger side front windshield at a height visible to supervisors. A child’s name card will be given to your student on the first day of school. If you need more, contact the office. Please write their name in big block letters.
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Using your child’s name card will decrease wait time for everyone, as supervisors can quickly call students to vehicles.
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If additional family members are picking up, feel free to use a blank sheet of paper to write the student’s name.
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Pull up as far as you can along the curb in the third parking lot, students may only enter the vehicle at the green painted curb
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Students will enter the vehicle on the passenger side, supervisors will assist if driver side entry is needed
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Drivers must stay in the car for the safety of the students and staff at Country Meadows
Your cooperation and patience with the protocol is greatly appreciated. If drop off and pick up are new for your child, please practice having your child independently enter and exit the vehicle with their backpack. Please be kind and safe in our parking lot. Once our routine is established the system will run efficiently.
Bus Drop Off & After School Pick Up
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Students who ride the bus will be dropped off and board the bus in the middle parking lot.
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Upon arrival, students walk directly into Country Meadows with staff supervision inside and outside.
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After school, students will board the bus. Many supervisors are present to ensure students safely board the correct bus.
REPEAT *Changes to Dismissal Plans*
Please contact the school office by noon in the event that your dismissal plans change. Your child will be at the designated dismissal location unless the school is notified in accordance with the above. Please notify the office in writing in accordance with the district handbook. Please see Section 9.4 in the Parent/Student Handbook regarding permission for students to ride other buses, as in most cases, this is not allowed.
If you have any changes for next week due to half-day schedule OR permanent dismissal changes, you can email Berenis Guzman, [email protected].
REPEAT: Simultaneous Student Pick-Up from Willow Grove & Elementary Schools
Please know that we understand that some families may have concerns related to picking students up from Willow Grove and an elementary school building. Please know that all principals are aware of this concern, and no child will ever be left unattended. We know you may be going to more than one school with the same dismissal time. We appreciate your best effort in picking your children up in a timely manner, and we appreciate you adhering to our dismissal times. If when you arrive at a building your child is not waiting outside with an adult, please park and come to the front office. If you will be after 3:15 to a specific location, please call and inform the office of your ETA.
First Day of School
Kick-off Assembly!
