Dear Families,
Congratulations to our students! Today marks the official end of trimester 1 and we could not be more proud of the level of effort and determination our students put towards learning. We’ve experienced some bumps along the road, yet there have been so many celebrations as well. We value our partnership together as we navigate this school year and wish to congratulate each and every student! Report cards will be shared after the break with more specific information regarding your child’s progress. As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher.
As we head into break next week, we wish your family time to rejuvenate together and simply enjoy the space to be with each other.
Warm Regards,
Bob Hanrahan
NEW *Upcoming Calendar Reminder*
This is a friendly reminder that students will not be in attendance from Wednesday, November 25th through Friday, November 27th. Students will resume instruction on Monday, November 30th.
NEW *MAP Testing Updates*
Given the pandemic and our current full remote setting, students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 will not participate in Winter MAP. Students in these grades will participate in MAP testing in the Spring.
Students in grades 3-8 will participate in remote MAP testing on the following dates:
- Grades 5-8 will test on December 3 & 4
- Grades 3-4 will test on December 8 & 9
NEW *Access Report Cards Online on Dec. 3*
Your student’s report card will be available for you to access online on Dec. 3 AFTER 3 PM. If you need assistance, please CLICK HERE for instructions to view your student’s report card, to switch between your children’s report cards, and more.
NEW *PTO Blog*
PTO Blog: This is always linked in my blog post below.
NEW *Specials Materials*
Click the link here to learn what materials are needed for specials classes (Physical Education, Exploration lab, Music, Art) next week.
NEW *Free Meals for Pick-Up for ALL D96 Students*
D96 is pleased to offer free meals for pick-up for ALL students (age 18 and younger), thanks to the Summer Food Service Program from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
All District 96 families were sent an email on Mon., Nov. 16 (Subject Line: Fr Sch Dist 96: Free Meal Preordering and Pickup) with information about preordering free breakfast and lunch meals for their students.
Parents/guardians of all District 96 families may preorder and pick up meals at Twin Groves or Woodlawn Middle Schools for their children through age 18* on designated weekdays from 11 AM–2 PM.
The first step is for families to create an account online and add each child receiving meals to the account. Please see this webpage for details and brief instructional videos of the account set-up and preordering process. Link: https://www.kcsd96.org/about/meals
Please direct questions to the public information coordinator [email protected]
REPEAT *Newcomer Coffee*
Has your family recently moved to the United States or are you and your student(s) new to this area?
On Monday, November 23rd at 11 am parents that are new to our area and have students at Ivy Hall Elementary, are invited to a casual conversation.
This is an opportunity for parents to meet some D96 staff, ask questions, share their thoughts, and also to meet parents that may have had similar experiences or have been in the district for a long time.
This is an informal opportunity for parents who–like their students–are experiencing our social customs and practices of teaching and learning for the first time.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://kcsd96.zoom.us/j/83698809762?pwd=OGVtK25HRWRwWHIzVm1jZVIrZzk4UT09
Meeting ID: 836 9880 9762
Passcode: 495000
REPEAT *The importance of reading with your child (in any language)*
With so much time at home, reading with your children is taking on even more importance. Due to the fact that we are not able to go out and have a variety of experiences with our children, reading can bring new experiences into your home. Reading with your children can expose them to new ideas and stories that they may not choose on their own. It also helps to build a bond between you and your child through closeness and exposure to your interests and thinking. Being a strong reading role model can show kids that reading is fun and an important part of their lives. Beyond the relationship aspects, it will also help children build up their vocabulary and improve their concentration. The goal is to encourage a lifelong love of reading that goes beyond the school expectations and becomes an enjoyable task, not just a homework assignment.
Check out this website for more information.
No matter what the language is at home, parents can support their children with their literacy development. If English is not the native language in the household, read to children in your native language to build upon their comprehension, vocabulary, and language skills. Building a child’s first language will only help build their English language.
More ideas to support language development at home.
REPEAT *Gifts for Staff*
Gifts are never an expectation for our staff members, so it is with some humility that I broach this topic. Some families have started to inquire about delivering gifts to staff members. Staff may or may not be working from the building and therefore may have limited opportunities to retrieve anything left for them at the school building. If you make the decision to provide a gift, it recommended that you consider a virtual gift that can be delivered to their email. Thank you for your understanding!
REPEAT *Creative Holiday Card Design Opportunity for Grades 4 and 5*
Fourth- and fifth-grade students are invited to submit original artwork for a holiday greeting card competition sponsored by Congressman Brad Schneider, Illinois 10th District. The winning artwork will be the cover design of Congressman Schneider’s annual holiday card.
The theme this year is Winter Wonderland–favorite outdoor winter activities enjoyed on cold snowy days. No artwork entry size is specified (the winning artwork will be scaled to fit).
Submissions are due by Wed., Nov. 25, and Congressman Schneider’s staff will announce the winner in early December.
Please submit all entries electronically to Robert Perez at [email protected]
Questions? Call 847.383.4870.
REPEAT *ComEd Bill Payment Assistance Options*
ComEd has provided bill payment assistance options for families experiencing financial hardship. Please find the information HERE.
REPEATING *Updated COVID-19 Metrics*
This UPDATED COVID-19 METRICS is the information “dashboard” that maintains transparent and open communication around COVID-19 metrics. As a user of the dashboard, the District has access to COVID-19 data as recommended by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium. We review this data daily, update the dashboard weekly, and consider this data in making many decisions.
REPEAT *Tech Hub*
KCSD96 Family Technology Hub! The District 96 Family Technology Hub is designed to guide families through technology tools related to Enhanced Remote Learning. On this site, you can find links to the recordings and the corresponding Slides decks for the parent/family informational sessions from last week. You can also find tutorials on how to use ZOOM, Schoology, Seesaw, Clever, Notability, and other iPad essential tools for student learning. Additionally, there is a link to email the technology support desk. Please save or bookmark this site. It will be updated with tools, resources, and tutorials through remote learning to better support your family.
Please email [email protected] with any tech-related support needed.
REPEAT *Meals Are Available for Drive-Up Pick-Up*
Any KCSD96 family choosing to do so may pick up free breakfasts/lunches for their students weekdays from 11 AM–1 PM when District 96 students are in session. SEE DETAILS