Dear Parents,
The first full week of school is in the books and it has been so wonderful to see Ivy Hall students on a daily basis! Classroom routines are becoming more familiar, instruction of all content areas has filled the classrooms, and student smiles and conversations abound throughout the hallways. I know I speak for all of the Ivy Hall staff by saying that it has been so great to welcome all students back to school.
It was great seeing you, whether in-person or virtually, at curriculum night! Classroom teachers also welcomed families in the hybrid format for the first time ever. I hope you were able to glean pertinent information regarding your child’s classroom and the upcoming school year. If you were unable to attend, please reach out to your child’s teacher to obtain a digital version of their presentation. Below is the Principal presentation portion.
Next week we will have another full week of school and instruction before the long holiday weekend. We look forward to another great week of learning as we begin to settle into the new school year.
Respectfully,
Principal Hanrahan
NEW *Early Release Reminder*
This is a friendly reminder that Tuesday, August 31st is an Early Release, and students will be dismissed at 2:00. Please ensure students are picked up by this time.
NEW *Superintendent’s Message*
If you have not done so already, please take a moment to read Julie Schmidt’s Superintendent’s Message from Wednesday, August 25th.
NEW *Reminder Student Picture Day August 31*
Ivy Hall’s student picture day is August 31, 2021. Students will take pictures during the day with their class. If students miss this opportunity we will have a makeup day later in the year.
Online Prepay ordering information you can share with parents:
- https://inter-state.com/order
- Online Order Code: 61670S
NEW *Covid Metrics*
To stay up-to-date this school year on local metrics, please visit the COVID DASHBOARD for District 96. Our priority remains to keep our students safe and follow guidance from the CDC. If your student is identified as a "close contact", you will be notified individually through the contact tracing process.
NEW *NWEA MAP Assessment*
All students in grades K-8 will be participating in NWEA MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) assessment. The MAP assessment is a normed 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. Testing will take place on Monday, August 30th, and Wednesday, September 1st.
Students who are quarantined during those testing days will take the MAP assessment after they return to school.
NEW: Simultaneous Student Pick-Up from Willow Grove & Elementary Schools
If you have children at Willow Grove and one of our four elementary schools and would like to pick your children up at the end of the day instead of using district busing, you may have concerns about how to manage this with both schools releasing at 3:00 PM. Families may pick their children up from both schools. Country Meadows, Ivy Hall, Kildeer, Prairie, and Willow Grove all know families are juggling simultaneous dismissals and will never leave their children alone. Families should start at one school, arriving as early as possible to be towards the front of the line. Once you are done collecting your first child, go to the second school. If you arrive at the second school and the parent pick-up line is no longer operating, park and come into our main office where we will have your child. If you are later than 3:15 it is helpful to call, or the school may call you, as this can usually be completed within that time. With the current bus driver shortage leading to a higher number of parents potentially opting out of district transportation, we also realize our parent pick-up lines will take longer and will be patient with families, as well. Parents may not do an early dismissal just before the dismissal time, as this is not manageable for any of the schools. We will wait with your child until you arrive for pick-up.
NEW: Law Enforcement Safety Drill
On October 15, 2021, Ivy Hall Elementary School will be conducting the annual Law Enforcement, Safety Drill. Students will be learning age-appropriate safety procedures.
In compliance with the New Safety Drill Act, parents have the right to exempt their child from the Law Enforcement Drill and education around it.
If you do not wish your son or daughter to participate in the Law Enforcement Safety Drill, please contact Mr. Hanrahan at [email protected]. If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in the drill.
NEW *PTO Blog
Please check out the PTO blog: https://www.kcsd96.org/ih/pto/blog
- PTO Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ivyhallpto
- Yearbooks are here
- Volunteering Opportunities via Membership Toolkit
- Purchasing via Membership ToolKit
- Ice Cream Wednesday Punch Cards (Purchased via the toolkit)
REPEAT *Bus Information*
PLEASE NOTE: There continues to be a workforce shortage on a national and local level. This is significantly impacting the ability of all transportation companies to fill driver openings. First Student continues to have unfilled driver positions for District 96 bus routes. They have been using a substitute and "borrowed" drivers from other regions to fill our needs the last few days but the reality is that the positions remain unfilled and a "band-aid" plan is being created for each day. Our Director of Transportation continues to meet with First Student multiple times per day to problem solve. We will continue to keep you updated on what is likely to be an ongoing challenge.
Repeat *Food Service*
FREE MEALS IN SCHOOL: Under the waivers to USDA Nutrition Programs currently offered, the District is able to provide free meals to all students. One reimbursable daily meal will be provided free of charge to each student that chooses to participate on school days.
SNACKS FOR PURCHASE IN SEPTEMBER: Snacks will start being offered at the beginning of September. If you wish your child to be able to purchase snacks at that time, please be sure to have their account prepaid on the K12PaymentCenter. This site will allow you not only to monitor balances but also transaction history. There are no transaction fees related to this account. To create an account you will need your student's 7 digit ID number, which will be emailed to you this evening with the subject line of D96 Food Service Information.
ORDERING PROCESS: Each morning, students will tell their teachers which entree they will order and those numbers will be shared with the food service staff. Please encourage your students to take the entree they ordered to ensure that all students receive the desired meal. Menus can be viewed on the District website.
Repeat *School Hours*
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Arrival time is between 8:10 am and 8:25 am
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The bell that starts the day rings at 8:25 am. A parent/adult must accompany late-arriving students into the office and sign them in using the iPad. You do this if you arrive after 8:25 am. 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 bring your child into the front office.
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Dismissal: 3:00 p.m.
Repeat *Three Types of School Days*
There are generally three different types of school days below. Each day begins at 8:25 am, but the end times based on the type of day, are listed below.
- Regular Day School Hours: 8:25 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Half-Day School Hours: 8:25 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- Early Release Day School Hours: 8:25 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Repeat *Arrival & Departure Procedures*
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 Director (Sam Miranda) and the Buffalo Grove Police Department. The Buffalo Grove police and District 96 appreciate your patience and understanding as we have established these routines in the interest of safety. The first few dismissals can be slow due to staff and students learning their routines. Please be patient. The picture below denotes all the forms of transportation that we have here at Ivy Hall. Please observe the picture and note areas where walkers, bussers, and private transportation arrival and depart from here at Ivy Hall.
Repeat *Changes to Dismissal*
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).
Repeat *Daily Snack*
All students should bring an individual daily snack. It is required that snacks are only from our District Approved Snack List for the safety of students. Please label snacks with your child’s name.
Approved Snacks: What Parents Need to Know
The District has revised the APPROVED SNACK LIST. The items the list includes are free of the Top 8 allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. This list includes the foods that are approved for students' Daily Snacks. Daily snacks for your children must be from this list or they will be sent home.
IMPORTANT: All items for Daily Snacks, with the exception of fruits and vegetables, MUST be prepackaged to allow staff to easily check that snacks meet the approved requirements.
Director of Educational Services Amy Gluck also has provided responses to FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) about foods approved for daily snacks/special events.
For your convenience, find links to the District 96 Approved Snack List and Approved Snack List FAQs on the homepage of the District 96 website and the homepage of each school.
Lunches packed from home may contain anything and do not need to be from the Approved Snack List. If your child is bringing in lunch, snacks must be packed separately from lunch. Please label lunch bags and snacks with your child’s name.