Dear Ivy Hall Families,
Thank you for joining us for Family Educator Conferences this past week. The family-school partnership is so important and I know our staff valued the time to connect with you all to discuss student progress and celebrations. It’s hard to believe that we are moving into the month of April and the 2023-2024 school year is nearing its final chapter. I wish you and your families a wonderful and restful spring break. April is full of exciting PTO events that will bring our school community together. Please check out their most recent blog post to preview these exciting events.
Take care,
Mike Senatore
NEW *Upcoming Dates*
- Monday, April 1 - Classes Resume
- Tuesday, April 2-Monday, April 8 - IAR Testing for 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders
- Thursday, April 18 - 1/2 Day of School
- Friday, April 19 - No School; Teacher Institute Day
- Tuesday, April 30 - Early Release Day
NEW *Parent Input for Class Placement Survey*
Creating balanced class rosters that meet the needs of all students is a tremendously difficult job that takes many hours of thoughtful dialogue between classroom teachers, administrators, and specialists. We take this process very seriously. The process for class roster creation is as follows:
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.
Grade-level teachers, principals, specials area teachers, and specialists meet together to form class rosters that are balanced in terms of academic, social, and emotional needs as well as considering friendships. This is no easy task and often takes several meetings. This team of educators considers each child’s personality, academic needs, friendship patterns, etc. as they make a match for each individual child.
This team of educators creates a draft set of class lists that also takes into consideration parent input.
Class lists are then revised in August with summer changes for students who move in or out of the district.
Class rosters are never final until they are released to families in August.
This process happens for grades 2-5. Willow Grove creates the class lists for our incoming 1st graders. Our 5th-grade team actively works with Twin Groves to provide data and input related to placement decisions at the middle school level.
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 rosters 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, specialists, parents, and the principal, we do not make changes once this process occurs, as removing or moving one child can disrupt the balance of an entire 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 received on or before Tuesday, April 30th. Please remember, while we welcome your input, specific teacher or friend placement requests will not be honored.
I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are provided through the Ivy Hall Parent Feedback Survey. As you can imagine, we receive a lot of parent input, and verbal information is impossible to track. The information you provide in the survey will remain confidential between you, me, and Mrs. Heinrich.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
NEW *Solar Eclipse*
On Monday, April 8, 2024 a total solar eclipse will cross over the United States. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. In northern Illinois, there will be a partial eclipse. Changes will become noticeable around 12:30 p.m. Central Time with the height of the eclipse occurring at 2:07 pm.
KCSD96 District Office staff are working to provide an opportunity for students and staff members to safely view the eclipse. This includes providing special viewing glasses and training on how to appropriately use them and safely view the eclipse.
Students who want to safely view the eclipse outside on April 8 will be able to do that under the supervision of their teacher. We will also have opportunities for students to indirectly view the eclipse from inside the school if parents do not want them to be outside. If you do not want your child to be outside during the eclipse, please contact your school’s principal or assistant principal to let them know.
Staff and students will be provided with eclipse glasses and the safety overview on April 8 so that they can safely view the eclipse.
NEW *2024-25 School Supply Kits Sales Are Live*
Families can now order the 2024-25 School Supply Kit from Educational Products Inc. (EPI) at https://www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks/ (enter code KCS096).
Order by July 9 for home delivery before the start of school in August.
For questions about your order, contact Educational Products at 800-365-5345.
The School Supply Kits are a fundraiser for the PTOs. Parents can buy the grade-level materials on their own; access the School Supply Lists at https://www.kcsd96.org/curriculum/school-supply-lists.
REPEAT *Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)*
Students in grades 3 - 8 take the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) each spring. This year the district will be administering the IAR to students from Tuesday, April 2nd through Monday, April 8th. Ivy Hall Elementary has been selected for a field test this year, which will be administered on Tuesday, April 9th.
REPEAT *Opening March 1: Registration for 2024-25 School Year*
Registration for the 2024-25 school year opens on Friday, March 1. Parents and guardians of new Kindergarten students and returning District 96 students will be emailed a link to register their child for the 2024-25 school year.
Complete registration by April 15 to receive a $20 Early-Bird discount. Families with returning students who register after April 15 will pay the standard registration fee. Registering early helps us to plan for the upcoming school year.
Registration fees paid by April 15 for the 2024-25 school year are:
- Early Childhood Blended Tuition: $2,870 (or $335.07 monthly)
- Kindergarten: $90
- Grades 1-4: $110
- Grade 5: $120
- Grades 6-8: $135