Good Afternoon Country Meadows Families,
It seems that spring has finally made its way to us! As we wrap up April and look ahead to May, we have a number of exciting events and important dates on the horizon. Please be sure to review updates from your child’s teacher, as well as the Principal’s Messages, to stay informed about all upcoming activities and deadlines.
First, a heartfelt thank you to all the families who hosted booths at Who We Are Night. It was truly a remarkable event! A special thanks goes to the extended families who joined us to share their stories and traditions—it warmed my heart to see such a strong sense of community and celebration of identity. We also took time to acknowledge the students who participated alongside their families by hosting a booth. We are so proud of their contributions!
Next week, we will begin our spring MAP testing. You’ll find the testing schedule and other key details listed below. To help your child do their best, please ensure they get a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast each day. The results from MAP testing play an important role in helping teachers tailor instruction to your child’s individual needs.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Kindly,
Aska Lempke
*Upcoming Dates*
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Wednesday, April 30 - Thursday, May 1 - MAP Testing
NEW *NWEA MAP Assessment*
All students in grades K-8 will be participating in the NWEA MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) assessment on Wednesday, April 30th, and Thursday, May 1st. The MAP assessment is a norm-referenced, computerized adaptive test that helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child's academic growth. Like in previous years, all students will be taking the MAP test in reading and math during the school day.
*First Grade Families ONLY* - Please send headphones. Headphones are required for MAP testing.
REPEAT *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
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.
Who We Are Night
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Principal’s Message Raffle Winner
