April 1, 2022

April 1, 2022

Dear Families,

It was a great first full week back at school. We hope everyone had a restful spring break. Students did a great job getting back into the swing of things. Please take a few moments to review all the new and repeating information below. 

I did want to take a moment and highlight a couple items below.Next week students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade will take the Illinois Assessment of Readiness. More information regarding testing can be found below. Also, included in this week’s message is information on how the district is working to help support humanitarian relief for Ukrainian refugees (see below). Have a great weekend.

Respectfully,

Bob Hanrahan, Principal

NEW *D96 Humanitarian Relief Support*

District 96 is collaborating with other Lake County School Districts to collect emergency items for refugees from Ukraine.  These items will be collected during school days, from March 30 to April 14: Only the requested items are to be dropped off in the lobby of each District 96 school.

Financial donations are also being accepted.

Please mail checks directly to: 
Lake County Schools Relief Effort/ First Bank of Highland Park
Lake County Schools Relief Effort
C/O First Bank of Highland Park 
1835 First Street
Highland Park, IL 60035

OR

Make a contribution to:

Rotary International District 6440: https://tinyurl.com/RotaryDistrict6440 

NEW *Transitioning to Middle School session*

Parents of 5th Graders:  Who is more excited or nervous, you or your fifth-grader, as you both contemplate transitioning to sixth-grade and a whole new school?

Find answers to some questions you may have in the “Transition to Middle School” virtual meeting, an information-packed program for parents of all current KCSD 96 fifth-graders. This program begins at 7 p.m. April 20 (via Zoom). 

Middle School Principals Jessica Barnes (Twin Groves) and Greg Grana (Woodlawn) will discuss academics, extracurricular opportunities, and changes that middle school years bring. Also, current 6th-grade panelists will share their perspectives.

Click here to pre-register for this session: https://kcsd96.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvdOmopzovH9Gf4GSdemIUYKJ39yg0Y6js

Questions? Contact KCSD 96 Community Parent Liaison Lubna Andrabi, at 847.459.4260, ext. 8136.

NEW *Illinois Assessment of Readiness*

Students in grades 3-8 participate in the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). The IAR consists of assessments for both literacy and math. The District 96 window for the IAR is April 4 - May 21. Students will begin testing next week. All testing should be completed within the week.

NEW *Ivy Hall PTO*

PTO BLOG Contents Below - Link: https://www.kcsd96.org/ih/pto/blog

  • DINING FUNDRAISER AT LOU MALNATI’S THIS WEDNESDAY (APRIL 6)
  • D96 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS PTO VOLUNTEER FAIR (APRIL 12) 4:30-6:30PM
  • SAVE THE DATE - PIZZA / BINGO NIGHT (APRIL 27)
  • DONATIONS WANTED
  • Ice Cream Wednesday - Reminder To Purchase Your Punch Card
  • IT’S NOT TOO SOON TO ORDER YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLY KIT FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR (ORDERS DUE JULY 8)
  • Earn $ for Ivy Hall by grocery shopping (in-store or online)  

Ivy Hall PTO Link Tree: http://linktr.ee/ivyhallpto 


REPEAT  *Dual Language Opportunity for 22-23 Kindergarteners*

Do you have an entering kindergartener or know a D96 resident that does?  Are you interested in your child having a bilingual school experience?  

See the District website to learn more (https://www.kcsd96.org/curriculum/dual-language) about the District's optional Spanish/English Dual Language program.

The Dual Language Program was designed several years ago to implement instruction across the curriculum that provides an opportunity for students to develop a deep academic proficiency in two languages.  In the district’s Dual Language program, 50 percent of the academic day curriculum is delivered in Spanish and 50 percent of the academic day is delivered in English.

Parents interested in enrolling their entering kindergarten student(s) in the Dual Language Program are asked to fill out the Lottery Form at https://forms.gle/L9oLoHVU2EB6dost5 by 3 p.m. April 15.

REPEAT *Talking to Students about Events in Ukraine*

As indicated in Mrs. Schmidt’s Superintendent’s message, staff has received resources regarding how to support conversations with students who express personal and more global concerns and fears.  We will continue to provide the most up-to-date resources to them. Below you will find resources for parents on how to support your student at home. 

Many of our students need the guidance and safety of adults in their homes to navigate their own emotions and trauma in a healthy, safe, and productive way. A few reminders when speaking with your student: 

  • News like this can be scary to children if not handled in the right way. Support and conversations will look and sound different with different age groups.
  • Remain calm
  • Affirm that it is okay to feel upset 
  • Stick to facts from vetted sources
  • Keep explanations developmentally appropriate
  • Model coping strategies
  • Keep open lines of communication between school and home 

Each of the attached resources provides tips for families and educators, and some include what we can do as adults and how you can respond to students. 

Resources:

The following resources are from the National Association of School Psychologists:

REPEAT *Parent Input for 2022-2023 Class Placement*

Creating balanced class lists that meet the needs of all students is a tremendously difficult job that takes many hours of thoughtful dialogue between classroom teachers, administrators, and other staff members.  We at Ivy Hall Elementary School take it very seriously.  The process for class list creation is as follows: First, teachers think about the social and academic needs of each of their current students while recording pertinent information to assist in the decision-making process.

Next, teachers meet together as grade-level teams to form class lists that are balanced in terms of academic, social, and emotional needs as well as considering friendships and other areas.  This is no easy task and often takes several meetings.  Teachers consider each child’s personality, academic needs, friendship patterns, etc. as they make a match for each individual child.  Specialists and the specials team collaborate with the teams as needed during this process as well, and I attend each of these meetings.

Each grade level team types a draft set of class lists that are then submitted to me.  One at a time, I will consider each student and his/her placement.  At this time, parent input is also considered.  Any changes in the draft lists are reviewed by the classroom teachers to ensure balance. 

Final class lists are then created in August with summer changes for move-ins/outs reflected.

This process happens in grades 1-4.  Willow Grove creates the class lists for our incoming kindergartners enrolled there and I will add in students who attend private kindergartens.  Our 5th-grade team actively works with Twin Groves Middle School to provide data and input related to placement decisions as well. 

We strongly believe that this detailed and collaborative process creates learning environments that benefit all students. It is a delicate balancing act that takes much consideration and thought by professionals who know and care about your children.  Our goal is to create balanced class lists that promote the success of each child.  Please know that your child is placed in a classroom for very specific reasons.  The process benefits all students.  Because of the input and thought given by teachers, parents, and administrators, we are very reluctant to make changes once this process occurs, as removing or moving one child can disrupt the balance of a class, impacting all students.  

I welcome any insight you wish to share about your child’s strengths, needs, and learning style. I will take into consideration pertinent information about your child’s learning style and needs, received on or before FRIDAY, APRIL 29th, 2022. While we welcome your input.

PLEASE USE THIS FORM TO PROVIDE FAMILY INPUT FOR CLASS PLACEMENT

I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are in writing.  As you can imagine, we receive lots of parent input, and verbal information is nearly impossible to track.  Further, please direct all of this communication to me as ultimately I am responsible for reviewing final class lists in August when teachers are not working. 

REPEAT *The Super Talent In You! (Virtual) Variety Show*

It is that time again! We can't wait to see what talents the Wildcats bring this year! Please review the pdf document below to find out how to participate in this year's Variety Show. The Virtual Variety Show will be shown at the Pizza Bingo Night on April 27! Submissions are due April 13th to Mrs. Dolan ([email protected]). 

LINK: CLICK HERE FOR VARIETY SHOW INFORMATION

REPEAT *Proof of Dental Exam*

Dear Parents/Guardians of District 96 Kindergarteners, 2nd, and 6th Grade Students:

Please note that your child’s completed dental examination is now due, per Illinois school law. The deadline for the dental examination is due no later than May 15 of the current school year.  Proof of this required dental examination must have been completed within eighteen months prior to the May 15 deadline.

If you haven’t already done so, please make an appointment with your child’s dentist for a dental examination, have him and/or her complete the required form and return it to your child’s school nurse. 

State of Illinois Proof of Dental Examination Form: HERE

In the event that you are unable to fulfill this requirement, the state of Illinois does permit a waiver of the examination.

State of Illinois Dental Waiver Form: HERE

Dental examination forms, as well as dental waiver forms, can be downloaded from the District’s website.  

Thank you for your prompt cooperation. 

REPEAT *Reproving Residency for Kindergartners and 5th graders*

In KCSD 96, each year, parents of current Kindergartners and 5th graders are required to reprove their district residency.

To re-prove residency, parents are asked to provide three items to the Administrative Assistants at their child’s current school:

  • a current monthly mortgage OR lease statement OR property tax bill OR Warranty Deed AND
  • a current utility bill (e.g., water OR electric OR waste collection) AND

This Proof of Residency Form HERE

For the email address for your school’s Administrative Assistant, and to learn information for other questions, please visit https://www.kcsd96.org/about/registration/the-requirement-to-re-prove-residency.


REPEAT *Food Service Information (Breakfast / Lunch)* LINK HERE

REPEAT *Arrival & Dismissal Procedures* LINK HERE