Here at Ivy Hall, the students are starting to find a groove and routine. I found myself appreciating the little found moments throughout the building. Mrs. Heinrich and I began visiting classrooms to read our school theme book What the Road Said by Cleo Wade. It has been wonderful to share the theme and book with students and to be present with them in their classrooms for a portion of their day.
Please review information on school-based clubs that are being offered below. Club opportunities will continue throughout the school year and the Principal’s Message is the best place to stay up to date on what clubs are being offered.
We have two opportunities for students to get involved! School Resource Officer Essig has asked students for help in decorating his office. Students are encouraged to submit friendly and welcoming signs. Decorative signs can be turned into the main office until September 30th. Students can also write letters or thank you notes for veterans. The letters will be collected in the main office until October 13th.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Mike Senatore
NEW *Yearbook Club for Grades 1-5*
We would love to have your student help us contribute to this year's school yearbook! Yearbook club will meet one-two times per month after school as well as a few times during student lunch/recess. Students will be tasked with creating pages for the 2022-2023 yearbook.. Students will help choose photos and edit stories for the yearbook! Additional days may be added as the deadline approaches. All grade levels are welcome and it is not mandatory that you attend all meetings to be a part of the club.
If your child is interested in joining the Yearbook Club, find the permission slip on this page and return it to school.
NEW *Crafting Culture Through Creativity Club for 4th and 5th Graders*
Come redecorate the Ivy Hall hallways with us! We will meet once a month throughout the school year to update the shared bulletin boards in the hallways and special spaces to establish and create a positive and welcoming school environment. The first session will run from October-December and the second session will run from February-May. See session dates below. This club is open to 4th and 5th graders who enjoy crafting and are interested in keeping the climate and culture positive for anyone who enters our building. If your child is interested in joining Session 1, please find the relevant permission slip on this page and return it to school by Friday, September 30th. Session 2 forms will be sent out at a later date. We look forward to crafting with you!
Session 1:
October: Wednesday, 10/12, 3:05-4pm
November: Wednesday, 11/16, 3:05-4pm
December: Wednesday, 12/14, 3:05-4pm
Session 2:
February: Wednesday, 2/15, 3:05-4pm
March: Wednesday, 3/8, 3:05-4pm
April: Wednesday, 4/19, 3:05-4pm
May: Wednesday, 5/3, 3:05-4pm
NEW *Environment Clubs for Grades 1-5*
Students who are environmentally conscious–with ideas for recycling and helping to "save our planet"–will enjoy the Environmental Club.
2022-2023 Meeting Dates (Twice a month on Thursdays, 3–4 p.m.): 9/22, 10/13, 10/27, 11/17, 11/29, 12/8, 12/15, 1/5 , 1/19, 2/2, 2/16, 3/9, 3/30, 4/13, 4/27, 5/12
Maximum enrollment: 12 students (selection by lottery)
REQUIRED PERMISSION FORM
Sponsor: Mrs. Fooden
NEW *Stevenson Tutoring Grades 1-5*
The students will need to be brought back to school at 4:00 and picked up promptly at 5:00
Stevenson tutoring is a tutoring program for students in Grades 1–5 in need of a little extra support.
The program for Grades 1–2 is strictly a reading program with the focus on reading fluency and comprehension. All materials will be provided for your student.
The program for Grades 3–5 reinforces instruction occurring in the classroom. Stevenson student members of the Future Educators of America will support students in Grades 3–5 with homework and lead other activities to build reading and/or math skills. This is not an acceleration program.
Maximum enrollment: 25 students (selection by lottery)
2022-2023 Meeting Dates (Thursdays, from 4–5 p.m.): 9-22, 9-29, 10-13, 10-20, 10-27, 11-3, 11-17, 11-29, 1-5, 1-19, 1-26, 2-2, 2-9, 2-16, 2-30, 3-9, 3-16, 3-30
REQUIRED PERMISSION FORM
Sponsors: Mrs. White and Mrs. Fooden
NEW *Assessment Scores*
Last February, students identified as English learners (ELs) completed the ACCESS assessment. The results of this assessment will be sent home via email on Friday 9/9.
Fall MAP testing has been completed. Scores for students will be sent home via email on Wednesday 9/14.
NEW *SMART Watches*
SMART watches are starting to show up here at the elementary schools. Many SMART watches have similar capabilities to SMART phones (game, voice, and text capabilities). If a SMART watch becomes a distraction or is used for communication, it may be confiscated and stored in the office to remove the distraction from the learning environment. Essentially, we will treat the SMART watches like a cell phone. Confiscated equipment may be picked up in the office at the end of the day by the student(s). If a pattern of distraction occurs, parents may be asked to pick up the technology.
NEW *PTO Blog*
Our PTO maintains a weekly blog that has useful information for opportunities to get involved in the Ivy Hall School community. Please follow the link HERE to see their second post of the school year. Highlights include…
- Lou Malnati’s Night
- Special Lunch
- Book Fair and Ice Cream Social
- Halloween Party Volunteers
- Change Wars
NEW *Bus Evacuation Drill*
On Wednesday, September 21st, Ivy Hall will be conducting the annual Bus Evacuation Drills. This will take place in the morning.
REPEAT *Law Enforcement Safety Drill*
On Tuesday, September 13th, Ivy Hall will be conducting a Law Enforcement Safety Drill. Students will be evacuating the building during the drill. If the weather does not cooperate, we will reschedule the drill and communicate the rescheduled drill date.
In compliance with the Safety Drill Act, parents have the right to exempt their child from the Law Enforcement Drill.
If you do not wish your child to participate in the Law Enforcement Safety Drill, please contact Mike Senatore at [email protected]. The administration will arrange for an alternative review of safety procedures with your child.
If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in the drill.
REPEAT *Fun Run - Friday, September 16th*
Every year Ivy Hall Wildcats participate in the Fun Run to join together for a morning of fitness. But, do you know the origin of this run?
In 1980, a woman serving as the PTO president thought it would be a great idea if there was some sort of run or race around her children’s school as a way to lift school spirit. She decided to lay cones around the neighborhood of the school so runners would know the right path to take. All of the neighboring schools came to participate in the Red Oak run. Everyone wore a “Red Oak Run” t-shirt on the day of the race. It was a complete success and the talk of the town! What was once the Red Oak Run turned into a district fun run; now neighboring districts, as well as districts all over the country, have fun runs because of this one special woman. That woman is Terry Shulman, the mother of our first-grade teacher Mrs. Levin.
On Friday, September 16th, Ivy Hall students will participate in a fun run! In the past, we would involve the whole community. At this time, the event will not be public this year due to student safety. Kids will run/walk on school grounds. Students have been practicing the route during P.E. class and it really showed. The students will take about 25 minutes to run/walk as much as they can on the course.
REPEAT *Letters to Veterans*
With Veteran’s Day just around the corner, we are inviting D96 students to write thank you notes or letters to veterans. These letters will be included in individualized care packages that will be given to veterans who attend an upcoming recognition event in Lake County. If your student is interested, please have them return their letter or thank you note to the front office no later than October 13th to ensure we are able to mail them in enough time to be included in the Lake County project.
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 Thursday, September 15 from 6:30-8:00.p.m.