Dear Families,
We are settled in with our in-person learning protocols and practices. It’s amazing how adaptable the students are to the safety protocols that are in place and how well they are doing honoring them. I continue to ask students if they are happy to be back at school in-person and they all shared back an elated “YES”! The staff is just as happy.
During my visits to classrooms, I’m so impressed with our teachers and how fluidly they are managing the remote and in-person learning environments concurrently. Students in both settings are working with each other on learning objectives and the collaboration among these students is seamless.
The weather forecast looks like we’ll be seeing a “heatwave” in the 30s some time this weekend. Enjoy the warmer temperatures on a sledding hill, perhaps, or other fun wintertime activity.
Have a great weekend!
Bob Hanrahan
New *PTO Blog*
As always, please check out our PTO blog for updates.
- Challah Kit Ordering
LINK: https://www.kcsd96.org/ih/pto/blog
NEW *Materials Pick-Up Friday, February 26th*
On Friday, February 26th, we will be having a materials pick-up for all students from 12:00-4:00. Materials will be organized by the classroom teacher. We will have items placed outside the front office as all other pickups have. If you have any questions, please call the office.
NEW *Half-Day Friday, February 26th*
Grades 1-5 students will be dismissed from school at 11:45 am.
NEW *Wednesday, February 24th Asynchronous Day*
On February 24th, students will end the day by participating in asynchronous learning while teachers collaborate and plan with each other to determine the best way to approach future instruction. Live Zoom instruction concludes at 12:45 pm.
Classroom teachers will be sure to prepare students for asynchronous learning by sending students materials and previewing expectations. If your student needs assistance during the afternoon of 2/24, there will be a Zoom session the students can attend to seek assistance. The link to this Zoom will be available to the students in the materials that are shared electronically.
As a reminder, future asynchronous dates and times are as follows:
- April 1 - Live instruction concludes at 11:45 a.m. In-person learners will be bused home. Asynchronous learning opportunities provided for the afternoon.
- April 30 - No in-person attendance this day. Asynchronous learning opportunities provided for the morning only.
NEW *Photos / Yearbook Photos (February 26 & Submit Your Own Photo)*
One challenge of this unique year is capturing a class photo for each student to include in the 2020-21 Ivy Hall yearbook. We have one last opportunity to have a photo taken by Inter-State Studio at our photo retake day on Friday, February 26. Use this link to sign up if you missed photo day in the fall or need a photo retake.
If your student will not have a photo taken by Interstate studio (either from our fall photo day or this upcoming retake day on Friday, February 26) we are asking you to submit a photo of your student on your own. This video will give you some helpful tips. Once you have a photo, please submit it by March 12, 2021, using this link.
Thank you for your help making our 2020-21 yearbook special as we document this unprecedented year and ensure all students are represented. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out.
*** This photo event will take place in the cafeteria gym. You will receive a notification on the day of the event to self-certify your student. Staff will be present to verify completed health certification and direct your child to the photographers. Please drive up to the back (parent pickup/dropoff/playground) cafeteria gym door and park in one of the designated spots. Please have your student exit and come into the building while you wait. Your child will walk back out to you at your car when they are finished. To limit the number of people in the building, parents will not be allowed inside.
Repeat: Illinois 5Essentials Survey
Share your thoughts about how your child’s school is doing on the 5Essentials for school success. On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. District 96 will participate in the statewide 2020–21 5Essentials Survey to meet state legislation and the Board’s mandate. District 96 parents may voluntarily participate to complete the survey. Please select the Parent Survey and begin.
Beginning in February and through Apr. 2, students and teachers will complete surveys to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their school’s learning environment. In District 96, students in grades 4–8 will complete their surveys on Mar. 19.
This survey is designed to help school and district leaders better understand the parent/school relationship. All responses are anonymous. Parents are asked to complete a survey for each student attending a Kildeer Countryside District 96 school. The survey will be open through Apr. 2, 2021. Questions? See Frequently Asked Questions and/or contact 5Essentials Client Services 866.440.1874.
Repeat: Spring Parent/Educator Conferences
Spring Parent/Educator Conferences are right around the corner! The conference will take place on Thursday, March 11th from 5 PM to 8:30 PM and Friday, March 12th from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM. These conferences will be 15 minutes in length and held remotely over Zoom. We will continue using Meet the Teacher as an electronic sign-up for conferences.
Please know that the sign-up link will be sent out in a separate communication on Friday, February 19th at 7:00 pm.
Meet The Teacher does not require that multiple conferences be made, but it does default to every teacher a student works with being checked. These individuals include classroom teachers, specials teachers, related service staff, and interventionists that students work with. Please see the picture below for directions on how to uncheck a teacher/interventionist if you do not need to meet with during conferences.
Repeat: Kindergarten and 2nd Grade Parents Dental Screening Reminder
The Illinois School Code requires all children in kindergarten, second and sixth grades to have a dental examination by May 15th of each year in compliance with the rules adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health. If you have not already done so, please submit your 2nd-grade child’s dental exam form to our building nurse. To see a complete list of the health forms required for students, please visit our Student Health Section of our Web page.
Repeat *Ordering Photos*
If you wish to review and purchase photos, you can do so by visiting our new photography companies website. That website can be found HERE.
Online Order Code: 51298H
Repeat *Obtaining Free Meals*
Preorder free meals for in-person students by 6 PM on Thursday for the week ahead. Order at onlineordering.linq.com only for your student's in-person days.
Pick up meal supplies for 5 days for remote students on Wednesdays from 11 AM– 2 PM at Twin Groves or Woodlawn. No preordering needed.
Please direct questions to the public info coordinator [email protected].
Repeat *Dual Language Parent Night for 21–22 Kindergarten Parents*
District 96 Director of Language and Early Literacy Kathryn Sheridan will present a live virtual program for parents interested in the Spanish/English Dual Language program opportunity for their incoming 2021–22 kindergartners.
REGISTER HERE to receive the link to attend the live virtual informational program for parents of incoming kindergartners Wed., Mar. 3, at 6:30 PM.
See the District website to LEARN MORE about the District's optional Spanish/English Dual Language program.
Repeat *Classroom/Specials Classes Materials Needed*
Please remember to check the IVY HALL MATERIALS SHEET to see which materials your child will need for class. If you have any questions, please contact the appropriate teacher.
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.