Dear Kildeer Families,
Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year! My name is Vail Kieser and I am proud to be the new Principal at Kildeer Elementary School. I feel lucky to follow in Jenny Smith’s footsteps at such a fabulous building where the community feeling is the absolute best! I’ve truly enjoyed spending time at Kildeer over the past week working alongside the incredible Mrs. Ruth Fineman, our administrative assistant. She is dedicated to ensuring the school year opens up as smoothly as possible, and I know we will make a great team!
My journey in District 96 began nine years ago when I started as a classroom teacher. Throughout my time, I’ve held various responsibilities: mentor, team leader, technology coach, representative on various committees, as well as most recently the Assistant Principal of Woodlawn Middle School. I feel fortunate to have spent the last two years learning from a wonderful mentor and friend, Greg Grana. I believe that when we all work together as leaders, staff, parents, students, and the community, we provide the best educational experience to ensure success for all students.
I have to say, it feels great to be back “home” because I left several years ago to continue my journey as a technology coach and Assistant Principal. I’ve had wonderful mentors in the district and am able to take various perspectives to ensure that we are always asking, “What’s best for kids?” Kildeer is a fabulous place to call home due to the rich community and willingness to put students first. I truly look forward to meeting you at Meet the Teacher Day as well as Curriculum Night.
You will receive a mailing soon where you will find your child’s bus route information and classroom assignment for the upcoming year. The staff worked diligently to make sure each child was placed in the classroom in which he/she will find continued success. This is a process that takes a lot of time as well as careful thought and consideration. Thus, thank you ahead of time knowing that no changes will be made. We truly appreciate your support and trust that we have your child’s best interests in mind when making these decisions.
We wanted to take this opportunity to share with you our team structures for the current school year. This year’s class lists were developed with these teams in place to ensure student success.
Kildeer Teams
- First Grade: Ms.Dolin, Mr. Pazol, Mrs. Lushpynskyj (Siegel), and Mrs. Smith
- Second Grade: Mrs. Emde, Mrs. Jessogne, Mrs. Keller, and Mrs. Kroes
- Third Grade: Ms. April, Mrs. Groncki, Ms. Koldon, Ms. Ohnsted, and Ms. Rickel
- Fourth Grade: Ms. Markiewicz, Mrs. Holmes, Ms. Jones, and Mrs. Strauss
- Fifth Grade: Mrs. Herlihy, Mrs. Satoh, Mrs. Scheribel, and Mrs. Carlson
- Specials: Mrs. Norman, Mrs. Blair, Mr. Emde, Mr. Tatar, Mr. Craw, Mrs. Ok
- Student Services Team: Mrs. Sullivan, Ms. Galanes, Ms. Mullarkey, Ms. Cristofaro, Ms. Rierson, Ms. Kothari, Ms. Kotsonis
- Instructional Coaches: Mrs. Sarlitto, Ms. Cohen, Ms. Gelman, Mrs. Gruenwald, Ms. Moffitt, Mrs. Bodenlos
Please read the following reminders and news updates carefully:
- Information Day and Meet Your Teacher ~ Students are welcome to visit their classrooms, meet their teachers, and drop-off school supplies from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 16th. Please keep in mind this is not an individual conference time, as many individuals will be meeting the teacher within the hour timeframe. If you ordered school supplies from the PTO, they will be in the classroom. Please visit the PTO in the large gym from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
- New Family Meeting ~ If your family is new to Kildeer, we welcome you and look forward to getting to know your family! Please meet me in the cafeteria from 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 18th (just prior to Meet Your Teacher/Information Day). This is a great opportunity to find out about Kildeer and get any of your questions answered about our building.
- IMPORTANT: Office Closed immediately following Meet the Teacher on 8/16 from 9:45-12:30. Thank you for your understanding so that we are able to have our entire faculty together to celebrate the start of a new school! We will reopen at 12:30!
- Curriculum Night ~ Curriculum Night is scheduled for Thursday, August 25th. This is a “parents only” meeting, and I hope you can attend. Please come directly to the large gym for a brief presentation followed by classroom visits.
- Grades 1-2 @ 6:30p.m.
- Grades 3, 4 and 5, @ 7:00 p.m.
Times overlap for grade levels on curriculum night with the intention that you only need to hear/see the principal portion one time. We start as a large group in the big gym space and after a few messages from us, you’ll go to your children’s classrooms. Conference sign-ups will not be a part of this evening as we will use an online sign up process this year.
School Hours ~
- Arrival time is between 8:10 a.m. and 8:20 a.m.
- The tardy bell rings at 8:25 a.m. Parents/adults must accompany tardy students into the office and sign them in if you arrive after 8:25am. Do not drop your child off at any door since all doors are locked and secured at this time. Please be aware that while we try to keep clocks on time, they can sometimes run a minute or two fast. If there are no adults outside, please walk your child into the front office.
- Dismissal: 3:00 p.m.
- Regular Day: 8:25 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Half Day: 8:25 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- Early Release Day: 8:25 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Be on the lookout next week for some important information from our PTO!
Again, it is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to the 2016-2017 school year. I am most excited about opening the doors on Meet the Teacher Day to see all of the smiling faces. I remember my elementary principal well and hope to have a lasting impression on your child. Please feel free to contact me directly via phone or email and I will do my best to get back to you soon. If you are brand new to Kildeer, you are going to love it here! If you are returning, thank you so much for partnering to make this a great place for all!
We can’t wait to see all the students come back for the first day of school on August 17th. Please note, this is an EARLY RELEASE DAY, with dismissal at 2:00 p.m.
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Vail Kieser
Principal