Dear Ivy Hall Families,
Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year! Staff, students, and parents work in collaboration to help each Ivy Hall student continue to learn, grow, and celebrate their accomplishments.
We’re so proud of our well cared for school! You will notice as you walk the halls that the flooring has been changed throughout the building. We appreciate and thank our custodians, Mr. Jimmy Cichowski, Mr.Dave Felson, and Ms. Franny Roche, who truly go the extra mile to make Ivy Hall sparkle from bottom to top all year long!
This year we are excited that we add to our P. E. curricular tools Lu Interactive Playground. Additionally, all classrooms have been outfitted with new furniture that will enhance collaborative learning spaces, provide flexible seating options, and increase the learning space footprint in each classroom. We can’t wait for you to see it!!!
There is a lot of excitement ahead of us with new teachers and friends to meet, new books to read, and new skills to master. The staff and I look forward to sharing in these exciting times with you and your child.
Class Placement & Bus Routes
Next week (THURSDAY AFTER 4PM), you will receive two emails that contain your child’s bus route information and classroom assignments for the upcoming year. The staff worked diligently to make sure each child was placed in the classroom in which he/she will find continued success. Careful thought and consideration was put into all placement decisions. No changes will be made, and we thank you for your support.
Students who ride the bus will receive their colored bus tags on the first day of school from their homeroom teacher. Please make sure that your student’s bus tag remains on his/her backpack all year long.
New Staff
We are excited to welcome our new staff this year!
- Emma Dalton - 5th Grade Teacher
- Tina Nowicki - 4th Grade Teacher
- Marissa Gillis - Psychologist
- Beth O’Toole - Special Education Teacher
- Ashley Serpico - Psychologist
- Lindsay Schumacher - Structured Learning Teacher
- Melissa Himes - Language Development Coach
- Mathew Boyd - Adaptive Physical Education/ Physical Education
- Monica Feld - Maternity Leave (Kendra Cappelen - 2nd Grade Teacher)
- Renee Goff - Maternity Leave (Kasie Dolan - Math Coach)
*** Other staff members may be announced later, due to enrollment numbers fluctuating across the district I cannot announce other new hires at this time.
Staff name Changes
- Nikki Comin is now Nikki Yario
- Rianne Monica is now Rianne Rybinski
School Teams
You will receive school team information via the Principal’s Message for August 9, 2019.
Please read the following reminders and news updates carefully:
August 7, 2019 ~ New Families to Our District 96 Community (Optional) ~
Has your family recently moved to District 96?
On Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m., parents of registered students in Kindergarten–Grade 8 are invited to Twin Groves Middle School, 2600 N. Buffalo Grove Rd., Buffalo Grove, for a program to welcome you to our community and introduce you to District 96.
Learn about and understand our home-school connection, classroom dynamics, patterns of communication to expect from our teachers and administrators, and more. Ask questions and help us understand how we can best support you in acclimating to the culture of a new school district, neighborhood, and community.
While all interested parents are welcome, please note that the focus of this evening is not specifically curricular which will be shared with all District 96 parents on their students’ designated grade-level Curriculum Nights. Rather, this is an informational opportunity for parents who wish to learn about logistics, procedures, and the first few weeks of school.
Questions? Need an interpreter?
Please contact Director of Language and Early Literacy, Katie Sheridan at [email protected]
August 13 ~ New Family Presentation (Ivy Hall Library) ~
8:00am - 8:30am on Tuesday, August 13th (just prior to Meet Your Teacher/Information Day). This is a great opportunity to be welcomed to the building and to receive a building tour.
August 13 ~ Information Day and Meet Your Teacher ~
Students are welcome to visit their classrooms, meet their teachers, and drop-off school supplies from 8:30am – 9:30am on Tuesday, August 13th. If you pre-ordered a school supply kit from the PTO, it will be in the classroom. PTO representatives will be available at their table outside the Learning Center for all your PTO needs! Don’t forget to sign-up for Special Lunch and more on the Membership Toolkit database.
August 15 ~ First Day of School ~
The first day of school is Thursday, August 15th from 8:25-11:45. It is a half-day and we will dismiss at 11:45 am. In the morning, students will line up in the parent drop off lot on the blacktop. Teachers will be outside to meet the students. Parent drop off will be on Penny Lane for the first day only. In the event that it is raining, students will assemble in the cafeteria gym by class. Parents and/or guardians are not to enter the building due to security. Thank you for keeping our building safe for your student.
August 16 ~ Second Day of School ~
The second day of school is Friday, August 16th. Students will line up as classes in the grade level hallways. Staff will be available to assist students with line up. This is a FULL day of school 8:25-3:00pm.
August 22 ~ Curriculum Night
Curriculum Night is scheduled for Thursday, August 22nd, for ALL grades. This is a “parents only” meeting, and we hope you can attend. We will start as a large group in the big gym and after a few brief messages, you’ll be on your way to your children’s classrooms.
School Hours ~
- Arrival time is between 8:10am and 8:25am
- The tardy bell rings at 8:25am. A parent/adult must accompany tardy students into the office and sign them in if you arrive after 8:25am. Do not drop your child off at any door since all doors are locked and secured at this time. Please be aware that while we try to keep clocks on time, they can sometimes run a minute or two fast. If there are no adults outside, please walk your child into the front office.
- Dismissal: 3:00 p.m.
- Regular Day: 8:25 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Half Day: 8:25 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- Early Release Day: 8:25 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
PTO NEWS ~
Please visit the PTO during Meet the Teacher Day on Tuesday, August 13th. All committee and volunteer sign-ups will be online as well as sign-ups for many of the fundraisers such as Special Lunch. The PTO will have laptops available for use from 8:30am - 9:30am. If you would like to get a head start, log on to Membership Toolkit (https://ivyhallpto.membershiptoolkit.com/).
DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCEDURES~
*** THERE IS ONLY ONE ENTRANCE TO THE SOUTHWEST LOT. DO NOT ENTER WHERE IT SAYS “DO NOT ENTER.”
Students that take the bus will arrive and board the school bus on the east sidewalk (LOT containing most cars). Only cars that are parking and walking students into school will be allowed to enter the east parking lot from 8:10am-8:25am. At the end of the day, only buses will be permitted in the east parking lot between 2:40pm and 3:10pm. Cars that are parked in the east parking lot will not be able to leave during dismissal time due to the traffic pattern and student safety. If you are concerned about being able to leave during that time it is recommended that you park on the street to avoid being held in the parking lot.
Parents that drop off and/or pick up their children will enter a rolling drop off/pick up in the southwest blacktop area near the playground. Please approach parent pick up (clockwise) by driving east on Penny Lane. Parents will exit the rolling drop/pick up by driving east on Penny Lane. All students that are being picked up will exit the building via the southwest doors where they will be met by faculty. Faculty members will direct cars through the rolling drop off and pick up and assist students (See Map below).
Students that walk home will only exit through the north and northwest doorways. Students are not permitted to walk across the east parking lot OR exit via parent pick.
Please contact the school office at least 1 hour prior to dismissal 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 REVIEW HANDBOOK LANGUAGE). 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 (PLEASE REVIEW HANDBOOK LANGUAGE).
When parking in the east parking lot at any time, please note that you will enter from Ivy Hall Lane. This is marked as an entrance only. Exit out to Clohessey Lane only. You will not be able to leave the parking lot onto Ivy Hall Lane (signs are posted indicating this).
*** DO NOT FOR ANY REASON PARK YOUR CAR IN THE FIRELANE (WHERE THE BUSES LOAD AND UNLOAD). EVEN IF YOU ARE JUST RUNNING QUICKLY IN AND OUT OF THE FRONT OFFICE. YOU RUN THE RISK OF BEING TICKET OR TOWED.
There are many rules and procedures regarding arrival and dismissal. This can be challenging to get acquainted with and even frustrating. However, these procedures have been developed with student safety as the driving factor. These plans and procedures were developed in conjunction with our Facilities and Transportation Director (Sam Miranda) and the Buffalo Grove Police Department. I appreciate your patience and understanding as we establish these routines at the beginning of the school year. The first few dismissals can be slow due to staff and students learning their routines.
Again, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2019-2020 school year. Please feel free to contact me directly via phone or email with any questions. This is a tremendous building and that is because of the staff, parents, and, most importantly, the students, who make Ivy Hall such an amazing place to learn. I can’t wait to see all the students back for the first day of school on August 15th. Please remember, this is a HALF DAY, with dismissal at 11:45 AM.
Fondly,
Mr. Bob Hanrahan, Principal