District 96 Families:
A week with such highs and such lows … We started it by celebrating wonderful staff for Staff Appreciation Week; watching the Board of Education host a well-attended Student Recognition; then being paused as we reflected on the loss of Dr. Christine Pfaff, Principal of Prairie Elementary School since 2010.
Our hearts go out to her family, her Prairie school family and colleagues. ...
Coming Up
- May 15: Proof of Dental Exam due (for Kindergarten, 2nd and 6th Graders)
- May 16: New Parent Coffee (8:45 a.m., Woodlawn)
- May 18: Ivy Hall | Prairie | Twin Groves Band Extravaganza (6:30 p.m., Twin Groves)
- May 18: Woodlawn | Country Meadows | Kildeer Band Concert (7 p.m., Woodlawn)
- May 23: Early Release Day
- Early Release Dismissal Times are:
- Grades 1-5 dismiss at 2:05 p.m.
- Grades 6-8 dismiss at 1:30 p.m.
- Kindergarten dismisses at 2:05 p.m.
- Structured: 8:30 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.
- Blended AM: 8:30 to 10 a.m.
- Blended PM: 12:35 to 2:05 p.m.
- May 23: “Raising Children Cross-Culturally: Maximizing the Benefits, Minimizing the Challenges” (7 p.m., virtual)
- May 23: New Parent Coffee (8:45 a.m., Twin Groves)
- May 24: Board of Education Special Meeting (8 a.m., Business Office Conference Room, Ivy Hall
- May 26: Half Day of School
- May 29: No School (Memorial Day)
- May 30: 8th Grade Graduation (Stevenson High School)
- 5:30 p.m. ~ Woodlawn Middle School
- 8:00 p.m. ~ Twin Groves Middle School
- June 2: Last day of school
REMINDER: May 15 ~ Dental Exams Due for Kindergartners and 2nd and 6th Graders
For Parents/Guardians of District 96 Kindergarteners, 2nd, and 6th Grade Students Who Have Not Turned in Dental Exams for this School Year: Please note that your child’s completed dental examination is due by May 15, per Illinois school law. (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 and request that he/she complete the required form and return it to your child’s school nurse.
In the event that you are unable to fulfill this requirement, the state of Illinois does permit a waiver of the examination.
Cross-Cultural Expert Speaks May 23
An expert in the raising of children cross-culturally will share her wisdom with District 96 families at the end of next month. Author Ruth E. Van Reken speaks virtually on “Raising Children Cross-Culturally: Maximizing the Benefits, Minimizing the Challenges'' on May 23, 2023 (7-8:30 p.m.). She is the author of “Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds (3rd edition).”
Here’s what she will discuss:
“There is no question that there are many gifts for those who grow up interacting with different cultural communities. Learning to ‘code-switch’ positively in certain situations can be a great asset in today’s globalizing world. Being a cultural bridge is another gift that can come with such a childhood. But the realities of juggling the differing expectations between different cultural contexts can also introduce certain challenges. Questions related to identity, attachment, and belonging are often common during this process. This session will not only help to normalize why these challenges frequently arise, but also share practical strategies for how parents and other caregivers can help children maximize the gifts and grow from the challenges as well.”
To pre-register, please visit: https://kcsd96.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArduCsrTwrGNL2dHxfbVHDgroIyXKYP1hP.
For questions, please contact Lubna Andrabi, Community Parent Liaison, at [email protected].
In Our Schools
Congratulations, Students: On Tuesday night, the Board of Education acknowledged students for their achievements in math, science, athletics and other areas, in a special Student Recognition Ceremony.
See more Student Recognition awardees in this Photo Gallery: https://www.kcsd96.org/about/gallery/1614693/board-of-education-student-recognition-may-2023
Staff Appreciated: Our staff certainly felt appreciated this past week, judging from the signs and special decorations to the meals prepared by the PTO and other families, and other acknowledgements of professionals who work to support ‘every child, every school, every day.’ 
Thank you, District 96 staff, for all you do!
In Our Virtual BackPacks
Check out the virtual backpacks for information on the following activities (this list is not exhaustive).
Camps:
- College of Lake County Summer Camp: https://learn.clcillinois.edu/upload/CampBrochure2023_FINAL.pdf
- NWSRA Day Camps: https://www.nwsra.org/brochure
- Chicago Rush North Summer Programs: https://tinyurl.com/ChicagoRushNorthSummer2023
QUESTIONS?
District 96 will communicate with you every Friday through E-NEWS 96 and through Principal’s Messages from each school in which you have a student enrolled. It’s important to read these messages weekly. Questions about KCSD96 communications? Call 847.459.4260, ext. 8022, or send email to the Media & Communications Specialist @ [email protected].
The next issue of E-NEWS 96 will be Friday, May 19, 2023.