Country Meadows Principal's Message - Friday, April 11, 2025

Country Meadows Principal's Message - Friday, April 11, 2025

Good afternoon, Country Meadow Families,

We are so proud of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students for their incredible effort and commitment during the past two weeks of IAR testing! They showed perseverance, focus, and a positive attitude each day, and we couldn’t be more impressed by their hard work. Thank you for your continued support at home, it truly makes a difference. 

A big thank you to our wonderful PTO for organizing an incredible Book Fair! Our students had a fantastic time exploring and selecting books that sparked their imaginations.

As we are looking at these last 7 weeks of school, there are many upcoming activities and events that we are excited to host.  Please be sure to keep your eyes out for activities and event dates in my weekly blog as well as information in the PTO blog.

Kindly, 

Aska Lempke

*Upcoming Dates*

  • Wednesday, April 16 - CM’s 5th Grade Concert 6:30 PM

  • Thursday, April 17 - Half Day for Students

  • Friday, April 18 - NO SCHOOL  | District Holiday

  • Tuesday, April 22 - Early Release

  • Thursday, April 24 - CM’s Who We Are Night at 6-7:30PM

  • Wednesday, April 30 - Thursday, May 1 - MAP Testing

2024-25 School Year Calendar & Hours

CM Virtual Backpack

NEW *Fifth Grade Concert*

This is a reminder that the concert will be on Wednesday, April 16th at 6:30 in the Country Meadows Gym. The doors will open at 6:00 and I ask that students be there by 6:15 so we can double-check everything is set up and ready to go for 6:30. The concert will not be longer than 30 minutes so if you have other events to get to, we will definitely be done by 7:00. See you there!

NEW *Transition to Middle School Presentation*

More than 300 parents and guardians attended the “Transition to Middle School” presentation at Twin Groves Middle School. Guests heard from Twin Groves Middle School Principal Mrs. Barnes and Assistant Principal Mrs. Kasie Dolan, as well as Woodlawn Middle School Principal Mr. Grana and Assistant Principal Greg Bays. There was also a panel of current sixth-graders, who answered questions about what it's like to be a middle schooler.

If you were unable to make the event, please view the “Transition to Middle School 2025” presentation here.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n54jga6b_OJV7dWVatUteRL0iRZ-mMZq/view?usp=sharing

NEW *Pajama Day*

In honor of National Pajama Day, everyone can enjoy wearing pajamas or comfy clothes on Wednesday, April 16.

REPEAT *Dental Exams*

Dear Parents/Guardians of Current KCSD96 Kindergarteners, 2nd, and 6th Grade Students ONLY:

Please note that your child’s completed dental examination has an upcoming due date, 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 - Click Here

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

REPEAT *Parent Input for Class Placement Survey*

Creating balanced class lists that meet the needs of all students is a tremendously difficult job that takes many hours of thoughtful dialogue between classroom teachers, administrators, and specialists. We take this process very seriously. The process for class list creation is as follows:

Teachers think about the social and academic needs of each of their current students while recording pertinent information to assist in the decision-making process.

Grade-level teachers, principals, specials area teachers, and specialists meet together to form class lists that are balanced in terms of academic, social, and emotional needs as well as considering friendships. This is no easy task and often takes several meetings. This team of educators considers each child’s personality, academic needs, friendship patterns, etc. as they make a match for each individual child.

This team of educators creates a draft set of class lists taking into consideration parent input.  

Class lists are then revised in August with summer changes for students who move in or out of the district.

Class rosters are never final until they are released to families in August.

This process happens for grades 2-5. Willow Grove creates the class lists for our incoming 1st graders.  Our 5th-grade team actively works with Woodlawn to provide data and input related to placement decisions at the middle school level.

We strongly believe that this detailed and collaborative process creates learning environments that benefit all students. It is a delicate balancing act that takes much consideration and thought by professionals who know and care about your children. Our goal is to create balanced class lists that promote the success of each child. Please know that your child is placed in a classroom for very specific reasons. The process benefits all students.  Because of the input and thought given by teachers, specialists, parents, and the principal, we are very reluctant to make changes once this process occurs, as removing or moving one child can disrupt the balance of an entire class, impacting all students.

I welcome any insight you wish to share about your child’s strengths, needs, and learning style. I will take into consideration pertinent information received on or before Wednesday, April 30th. Please remember, while we welcome your input, specific teacher or friend placement requests will not be honored.

I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are provided through the Parent Survey that is linked HERE.  As you can imagine, we receive a lot of parent input, and verbal information is impossible to track.  The information you provide in the survey will remain confidential between you, me, and Mrs. Fix. 

Class Placement Survey

REPEAT: *March 4th Student Registration Opens*

Student registration for the 2025-26 school year opens on March 4th. Parents and guardians of new Kindergarten students (who have submitted all required documents) and returning KCSD96 students will be emailed a link to register their child for the 2025-26 school year.

Complete registration by April 15 to receive a $20 Early-Bird discount. Families with returning students who register after April 15 will pay the standard registration fee. 

Registering early helps us to plan for the upcoming school year.

Registration fees paid by April 15 for the 2025-26 school year are:

  • Early Childhood Blended Tuition: $2,870 (or $335.07 monthly)

  • Kindergarten: $90

  • Grades 1-4: $110

  • Grade 5: $120

  • Grades 6-8: $13

Families new to District 96 can find more registration information here: https://www.kcsd96.org/about/registration

If you have any registration questions, please contact [email protected].

REPEAT *Kindergarten Registration*

Spread the word– Kildeer Countryside School District 96 is excited to welcome kindergarteners for the 2025–2026 school year! To ensure all students have the opportunity to build a strong and consistent educational foundation, children who are five years old on or before September 1st of a given school year will be enrolled in Kindergarten. Children who are six years old on or before September 1st of a given school year will be enrolled in first grade. In addition to the information below, we have more details on our website.

Registration Timeline:

  • STARTING NOW: Begin the registration process by emailing all required documents to Cristina Castro, Administrative Assistant at Willow Grove Early Learning Center, at [email protected]. If you have a student currently enrolled in Pre-K at Willow Grove, you do not need to resubmit these documents.

  • March 4, 2025: The district will send online registration links to families with approved documents.

  • March 18, 2025: Dual Language Program Virtual Parent Night from 6-6:30pm. This is for parents of incoming Kindergarten students who are interested in learning more about the program. Meeting link to be provided.

  • April 15, 2025: Early Bird Discount Ends for Registration. Dual Language Lottery due date.

  • April 29, 2025: Virtual Dual Language Lottery at 5pm. Meeting link to be provided.

  • April 30, 2025: Complete registration by this date to attend the Kindergarten Kick-Off event at Willow Grove Early Learning Center. Registered families get the sign-up right away once they are fully registered.

  • May 14, 2025: Kindergarten Kickoff will be held at Willow Grove. This event is sign-up only for families who are fully registered by April 30. Students will receive a free t-shirt!
     

Required Documents:

  • Child's birth certificate, passport, or visa

  • Parent/guardian driver's license or passport

  • Recent (within 30 days) mortgage statement, signed lease, or property tax bill

  • Recent (within 30 days) utility bill

  • Completed Enrollment Form, Residency Form, and Home Language Survey (available in multiple languages)
     

Please review the Health Requirements and submit the necessary health forms by the specified due dates.

 

For questions, contact Cristina Castro at [email protected] or call (847) 541-3660.

Recess Fun