Good Afternoon, Ivy Hall Families,
We ended our instructional week with a half day of school that was full of fun! Students participated in grade-level Cat Pack activities and we were also fortunate enough to attend a PTO Assembly featuring Scientist Steve Belliveau! Thanks to the PTO for hosting this educational and fun assembly. Be sure to ask your child about it!
It’s hard to believe that there are six weeks remaining in the 2023-2024 school year! There are a few repeating informational items in this week’s message that pertain to next school year. First of all, please ensure that your child is registered for next school year and inform the school’s main office if you do not intend on returning, this helps with our planning for next school year. In addition, our survey for parent feedback in regard to class placement is still live and will be open to responses until 11:55 pm on April 30th. Please submit your valuable feedback today!
Have a great weekend,
Mike Senatore
NEW *Upcoming Dates*
- Thursday, April 18 - 1/2 Day of School
- Friday, April 19 - No School; Teacher Institute Day
- Tuesday, April 30 - Early Release Day
NEW *Law Enforcement Safety Drill*
On Monday, April 22nd, Ivy Hall will be conducting a Law Enforcement Safety Drill.
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.
NEW *Please Return Library Books*
This is a reminder to please start to look under beds, in closets, cars, and backpacks for our loved library books. If you have any books at your house, we would really appreciate them being returned before school is out. We understand that sometimes books may have been returned and we will partner with you to check on our shelves to see if they can be found. Your child may be coming home with a paper list of missing book titles, so take a look in folders to help the search at home easier.
Our final day for book check out is May 10th. All books are due back to the library on May 17th.
NEW *Did you miss it? April 17: Transition to Middle School*
The "Transition to Middle School" program — designed for District 96 families with fifth-graders who are entering Middle School in the fall took place this past Wednesday. If you were unable to attend, please see the presentation link here.
Questions? Contact Lubna K Andrabi, District 96’s Community Parent Liaison, at [email protected] or at 847.459.4260, ext. 8136.
NEW *Newcomer Coffee & Conversation is May 6*
District 96 is hosting a spring Newcomer Coffee & Conversation at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 6, in the Ivy Hall Mat Room.
For planning purposes, attendees are asked to fill out this form:
- The sign-up deadline is May 2.
- This is an event only for parents and guardians.
The Newcomer Coffee & Conversation is an informal opportunity for parents and guardians of newly registered students to ask questions and share their thoughts ~ with other parents and staff ~ about their experiences in the district. These parents might be experiencing the District’s social customs and teaching practices for the first time, just as their students have, and can glean from the experiences of others.
If you missed the last Newcomer Coffee in December, we encourage you to attend this conversation. You are welcome to be a part of this conversation even if you were able to attend the event , so we can hear how you are adjusting to the D96 culture.
Coffee and other refreshments will be served.
Questions? Contact Lubna K. Andrabi, D96’s Community Parent Liaison, @ [email protected] or 847.459.4260,ext. 8136.
REPEAT *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.
REPEAT *Bike Safety*
One of my favorite things of being a part of a neighborhood school is seeing students ride their bikes to school. If your student rides his or her bike to school, please encourage them to park it and lock them to the bike racks located on the north side of the school. Also, please encourage your child to look both ways before crossing all streets. Helmets are recommended.
Parents, please be mindful of your driving speed in our school zone during dropoff and pickup hours.
Thank you for your support!
REPEAT *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 *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
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 - Click 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 - Click here