Dear Families,
Ivy Hall families thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend conferences yesterday and today. Families took advantage of both in-person and virtual meeting opportunities to discuss their student(s) progress so far this school year.
On behalf of Ivy Hall faculty and staff, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Ivy Hall PTO and Ivy Hall families for their generous support with food and beverage donations. This food was used to feed the faculty and staff during conferences. Your generosity is/was much appreciated.
Kindly,
Principal Hanrahan
NEW *Long Grove Fire Protection District Resources*
As promised, the Long Grove Fire Protection District has shared its first fire safety video with us, this one on Smoke Detectors. Please check out this video in your Virtual BackPack.
NEW *Superintendent Survey Closes Today*
One final reminder: Today, Friday, October 8, 2021, is the FINAL day to complete the Superintendent Search Survey. Click here for the link.
NEW *Halloween Costumes*
October is here. Please help us with the following costume procedures and guidelines for October 29's Halloween celebrations. Students will change into their costumes after their lunch period. Costumes must be appropriate for school.
- Please no masks, blood, super scary stuff, general iciness, or weapons
- Please no cigars or cigarette items
- Please no bare tummies
- Please keep hair coloring and make-up simple
*** Students may change at home during lunch/recess.
NEW *Home for Lunch Halloween Costume Change*
Students are able to be picked up to go home during their own grade level lunch period. See below for specific times and details. Students will meet their parent(s)/grandparent(s)/family member(s) outside the front office foyer. Please write a note stating that student(s) will be going home for lunch to change into his/her Halloween costume. Students will give their “going home for lunch” note to the staff members who are supervising pick-up and returns. Students need to return to school by the end of their lunch/recess period. Below this schedule is a form that I would like to request that families fill out to help support the check-in and check-out procedures. As mentioned above, students can, of course, still change at school.
Lunch/recess periods are as follows:
- 1st grade: 10:40am -11:20am
- 2nd grade: 11:30am -12:10am
- 3rd grade: 11:50am -12:30pm
- 4th grade: 11:00am - 11:40am
- 5th grade: 12:10pm-12:50pm
Please fill out this form if you intend to come to pick up your child for costume change on October 29, 2021, please fill out the COSTUME CHANGE PICK-UP FORM HERE
NEW *October 29 Halloween Parade at approximately 1:35 pm*
Our Parade Route begins at approximately 1:35 pm outside of door 6, also known as the buffalo door. The parade route is counterclockwise around the building. Please keep your fingers crossed that we have great weather! In case of inclement weather, we will have an indoor parade for teachers and students only. Again, if it is raining, we will not host a public parade inside the school, however, we will record and release the parade ASAP. Thank you for understanding.;
NEW *October 29th Halloween Parties*
Parties will begin on October 29, 2021, at approximately 2:00 pm and end at approximately 2:45 pm. Only PTO-approved parent party volunteers may attend classroom parties. Please see more party volunteer information below.
NEW *IMPORTANT NOTES FOR PTO PARTY VOLUNTEERS*
Parents attending the parties may not bring additional family members, other children, etc. We need everyone to abide by this and will have to ask you to leave if you come with other attendees.
Every PTO volunteer approved to come into our school MUST have their license or ID scanned through our security system to enter. You have to bring this with you or you will not be able to enter. There is typically a very long line at this first party, so please anticipate this. We highly encourage PTO room party volunteers to swing by Ivy Hall Elementary prior to the parties to have a license scanned, which will speed up the entry process. The more people who come and complete this early, the shorter the line will be on October 29, 2021. You may also come on the day of the Halloween party BEFORE THE PARADE to have your license scanned.
All volunteers must have followed our procedures for verifying vaccination or have proof of a negative Covid test. Call the office with questions (847)-459-0022. All volunteers must wear a mask at all times and remain socially distanced.
NEW *Lunch Menu Change*
Please be advised there is a lunch menu change for the dates below.
- October 14, 2021 - All beef hotdogs or cheese-filled bosco sticks
- October 15, 2021 - Chicken or personal pan cheese pizza
NEW *Ivy Hall Photo Retake Day*
Ivy Hall photo retake day will be on Tuesday, October 12, 2021. Any student wishing to participate in retake day should complete the form below and note the information that follows.
Online Prepay ordering information for RETAKE DAY:
https://inter-state.com/FlyerEntry
Online Order Code: 62543K
- Parents only need to use this code if they plan to preorder and their student is being photographed for the 1st time on retake day.
- If you ordered and do not like the picture, have your child bring back the picture package so we can reorder that package with the new retake picture.
- If you did not order and would like your child to do a retake, they do not need to bring anything.
- Please contact Jodi Zachara at 847-459-0022 in the Ivy Hall main office with any questions or concerns.
NEW *PTO Blog
PTO BLOG Contents: https://www.kcsd96.org/ih/pto/blog
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PTO GENERAL MEETING ON OCTOBER 14, 2021
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Fall Appreciation Lunch Donations - Thank you!
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Lou Malnati's Fundraiser this Wednesday, October 13th, raise money for Ivy Hall PTO!
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Ivy Hall Spirit Wear Shop - Orders Due Oct 18, 2021
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Ice Cream Wednesday - New Flavors & Reminder to purchase your punch card!
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Please check out the: PTO Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ivyhallpto
REPEAT *Clubs & Activities*
Yearbook Club
We would love to have your student help us contribute to this year's school yearbook! Yearbook club will meet once a month after school as well as a few times during student lunch/recess. Students will be tasked with taking pictures throughout the year of various school events and daily activities. Students will also help choose photos and edit stories for the yearbook! All grade levels are welcome and it is not mandatory that you attend all meetings to be a part of the club.
Club Information Below
- Meeting times: See Permission Slip for Details
- Club Sponsors Names and Contact Info:
- Lindsay Slivnick, First Grade Teacher, [email protected]
- Alexis Jarrett, Social Worker, [email protected]
Permission Slip HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q8KvPMYc3vnJr9rT80nRZmngIpE3QqIC/view?usp=sharing
Environmental Club
Do you have ideas about how to save our planet? Do you want to help Ivy Hall become better at recycling and reducing our carbon footprint? Are you an environmentally conscious student? If you have answered yes to these questions, please consider joining the Environmental Club. We will meet twice a month on Thursdays from 3:00pm - 4:00pm.
Club Meeting Dates & Time
*** All meeting times are 3:00pm - 4:00pm bi-weekly (See Permission Slip for Details)
Club Sponsors Names and Contact Info: Marci Fooden, [email protected]
Permission Slip HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GPVg4a9XV-cVPoFSynSB5lPRRFSFv16o/view?usp=sharing
Safety Patrol
5th-grade students will be responsible for monitoring the hallways for expected behaviors before and after school. They will be leaders in the building and will be expected to communicate with Ivy Hall staff to ensure everyone’s safety.
Club Meeting Day & Time: (See Permission Slip for Details)
Club Sponsor Names and Contact Info: Mrs. Leslie Levin: [email protected]
Permission Slip HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1er_oTPQBUCzRWy551IqIZrRCGrrBwxHm/view?usp=sharing
REPEAT *Volunteers & Vaccination Verification or Proof of a Negative Test
As you may or may not know, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker held a COVID-19 press conference on August 26, 2021, where he issued new rules regarding indoor masking, and signed an Executive Order 2021-20, regarding educational employee vaccination and testing requirements. In the Executive Order which applies to all “school personnel,” volunteers are included in the definition unless they are present for only a short period of time and whose movements of close physical proximity are “fleeting”.
Those who have been identified as a current or upcoming PTO volunteer recently received a survey asking that you provide proof of vaccination and notifying them that if unvaccinated they would need to provide proof of a negative Covid test within 48 hours of reporting to volunteer.
If you have already uploaded proof of vaccination, please disregard this information.
How do I provide proof of vaccination proactively should I choose to volunteer at my student(s) school this year?
By following this link, you may provide proof of vaccination to your school(s).
https://kcsd96.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6umRb91nGZZ74xg
What if I am unvaccinated but want to volunteer this year?
Unvaccinated volunteers must provide proof of a negative Covid test when they arrive at the school on the day they are scheduled to volunteer. Negative test results are only good for the 48 hours prior to arrival. For example, if an unvaccinated volunteer is scheduled to be in the school the next week, they would have to provide a new test result.
What type of Covid test qualifies?
You may present a negative antigen or PCR test. Home testing kits do not qualify as the test must be observed and documentation of the result is provided to you.
Why can’t unvaccinated volunteers take a Covid test at the school?
The BinaxNow test provided to schools is in short supply at this time. As a result, schools have been notified that we cannot use the test for any screening purposes. If we were to do so, they would no longer supply the test to us. We are only allowed to use the test for symptomatic individuals on campus (students or staff) or when a person qualifies for test-to-stay. If and when test supplies increase, those restrictions may be lifted. If they are, we will be in a position to reconsider testing unvaccinated volunteers in our schools at that time.
What is the process for volunteers to either provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test?
Vaccinated volunteers may submit their proof of vaccination at any time by following the link provided and completing the survey and uploading proof of vaccination.
The list of those who have done so will be made available to the school (principal, assistant principal, administrative assistant, and nurse) and updated periodically by Lubna Andrabi in our district office.
Unvaccinated volunteers must bring proof of a negative test to the main office on the day they are scheduled to volunteer.
The main office will make a copy of your negative test.
The test result must be within the previous 48 hours. The staff at the front desk in the main office will assist you.
What if I am fully vaccinated but forgot to upload my proof of vaccination?
If you have not uploaded your vaccination card, you may provide proof of vaccination when you arrive (vaccination card). We strongly encourage you to upload your card so that you do not need to present it each time you report to volunteer.
REPEAT *Cold Weather & Recess*
It’s hard to believe but it started to get a bit chilly this week! This is a friendly reminder to dress your children to go outside. We go outside nearly every day. We have indoor recess only in extreme cases (0-10 degrees; wind chill is considered). Once we get enough snow to play in, children must be dressed properly to go into the snow. This includes a coat, hat, snow pants, boots, and mittens/gloves. If they have not dressed in the required snow garments, there is a large, plowed blacktop playspace for kids to play on. My best parent advice...LABEL EVERYTHING with your child's name. Our Lost & Found explodes with items in the winter, and if your child's name is on something, those items make their way back to your child much easier.
REPEAT *Arrival and Dismissal Reminders*
As the weather begins to cool we are seeing more and more students being dropped off and picked up via car. If you are dropping your student off in the morning or picking your student up after school, please use and follow our parent drop-off and pick-up procedures in the South lot near the playground. Safety for all is our number one priority.
Parking or pulling off to the side of the road on the streets immediately surrounding the school (Penny Lane, Ivy Hall Lane, and Clohessy Lane) can cause dangerous and unsafe situations for students.
Additionally, if your student rides their bike to or from school, please review bike safety with him or her. Please help your students keep themselves and others safe when riding their bicycles.
REPEAT *Thought Exchange Partnership*
The District 96 Thought Exchange Partnership (TEP) offers parents opportunities to give feedback and receive information about District instruction, programs, and initiatives. Understanding parent perceptions is helpful for planning and communicating. Contact District 96 Community Parent Liaison Lubna Andrabi, 847.459.4260, ext. 8136, with questions. In particular, the District invites parents who have students enrolled at Willow Grove Early Learning Center to consider joining the Thought Exchange Partnership. The first meeting is scheduled for October 21, 2021, from 7:00-8:30 via Zoom.
https://www.kcsd96.org/parent-organizations/parent-review
Questions - Lubna Kahn-Andrabi: [email protected]
REPEAT *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.
https://ecriss.ecragroup.com/strategy/Home/Indicators?Dashboard=KIL096
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 *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*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.