Dear Families,
Welcome back and Happy New Year! It was so nice to welcome students and staff back this week. It is clear that the break provided a reset for everyone to launch the remainder of this school year.
Respectfully,
Bob Hanrahan, Principal
NEW *Cold & Snowy Weather and Recess*
Please remember to send your child to school daily with proper outerwear. Weather permitting students go outside for recess every day. In winter the temperature, wind chill, and weather conditions will be monitored throughout the morning. The weather website and playground will be checked to determine if conditions are appropriate for outdoor recess. When the temperature or wind chill is below zero degrees, students will be kept inside for recess. We weigh options when the temperature or wind chill is between zero to ten degrees, to determine if we have indoor or outdoor recess. We do try to allow the children to go outside whenever possible, so please help them to come prepared with gloves, a scarf, hat, snow pants, and snow boots. In order to play in the snow, students must have snow pants and snow boots.
NEW *Food Service Information - PAID Second Lunch & Snacks*
Beginning January 18th, 2022 the Ivy Hall cafeteria will begin selling second lunches. Additional snacks have been for sale since September, but I will reiterate the snack information as well.
The sale of snacks and second lunches will be available in addition to one free lunch to all students that desire to purchase them. Under the waivers to USDA Nutrition Programs currently offered, the District is able to provide free first meals to all students. One reimbursable daily meal will be provided free of charge to each student that chooses to participate on school days. The purpose of this update is to convey that a second lunch and additional snacks will be available for purchase.
The procedure for ordering a second lunch is as follows: Students will be asked at the beginning of the day if they wish to have one free lunch or two lunches (one free and one paid). The reason that we need to ask this question at the beginning of the day is to ensure that there are enough lunch orders prepared for all students that wish to have a free lunch and a second paid lunch. Please encourage your student(s) to take the entree(s) they ordered to ensure that all students receive the desired meal(s). Menus can be viewed on the District website below.
Lunch Menus Here: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2202121959266644&page=menus
How to order snacks: The procedure for ordering snacks is as follows: Snacks may be purchased during lunch without the need for any prior notice. Our vendor, Organic Life, is able to stock enough snack items, as they do not require any prior preparation.
How to Pay: If you wish your child to be able to purchase snacks or a second lunch, 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.
Payment Site Here: https://www.k12paymentcenter.com/
NEW *MAP Test Results*
NWEA MAP Test results will be shared with parents via email on Monday, January 10th at 3 pm.
NEW *Vaccination Cards for 5-11 yr olds*
You can provide vaccination verification after your child has received his/her full vaccination. Click HERE to complete the upload.
NEW *PRE-REGISTER FOR 2022–2023 KINDERGARTEN (and Get a Free Willow Grove Student T-Shirt!)*
Pre-registration for 2022–2023 kindergarten is in-person or online. Incoming kindergarten students must be 5 years old by September 1, 2022, to register for the 2022-23 kindergarten school year.
In-Person Pre-Registration Option:
- When: Thursday, January 13, 2022, 5–7 PM drop-in (Parents may also pre-register online during the month of January for the free T-Shirt)
- Where: Willow Grove Early Learning Center, 777 Checker Drive, Buffalo Grove, IL
Parents of incoming kindergartners will need to prove residency with required documents and District forms and to complete a brief online pre-registration form. Incoming kindergartners do not need to be present for the pre-registration event.
Required documents:
• CURRENT monthly mortgage or lease statement or property tax bill AND
• CURRENT utility bill AND
• Student’s birth certificate, passport, or visa (photocopy not accepted) AND
• Parent or Guardian photo ID (Passport or Driver’s license)
• RESIDENCY FORM
• HOME LANGUAGE SURVEY
• ENROLLMENT FORM
Online Pre-Registration Option:
You do not have to attend in-person to pre-register. Details coming soon. Please continue to watch for updates in the Principal's Message and on our District 96 website.
Click here to learn more about Kindergarten in District 96. https://www.kcsd96.org/wg/kindergarten-in-kcsd96
Questions? Please contact our D96 public info coordinator at [email protected] or 847.459.4260, ext. 8022.
NEW *PTO Cultural Arts Assembly*
On Tuesday, December 14, 2022, the PTO brought a songwriting duo by the name of Justin and Liam to Ivy Hall. Students wrote songs as part of this assembly. Below is a playlist of the songs that were created by our talented students.
NEW *PTO Blog*
PTO BLOG Contents Below - Link: https://www.kcsd96.org/ih/pto/blog
- Photos from Winter Parties Wanted!
- Indoor Recess Board Game Donations - Thank You!
- Ivy Hall PTO Board Meeting, Thursday, January 13, 7:00 pm (NEW)
- Culver’s Fundraiser - January 14 (NEW)
- MOD Pizza Fundraiser - January 17 (NEW)
- Special Lunch - Tuesday, January 18 - Cancelled
- Valentine’s Day Party Parent Volunteer Sign Up (NEW)
- Ice Cream Wednesday - Reminder To Purchase Your Punch Card
- Ivy Hall PTO Link Tree: http://linktr.ee/ivyhallpto
REPEAT *Free Breakfast & Breakfast Guidelines*
Breakfast is part of the free meal program offered in District 96. Students may enter the building beginning at 8:10 am and report to the cafeteria for breakfast. Students that are part of the clubhouse morning program can also eat breakfast during their time there. All food must stay in the cafeteria and may not be served or removed from the cafeteria. Why? We need to follow the same procedures as a lunch. This process keeps our classrooms and school safe for students with food allergies. Thanks for understanding and thanks for your support.
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 & Reminders*
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.
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 *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.
* Link updated Tuesday, January 2, 2024.