Dear Kildeer Families,
As we all know, the month of January can be a very busy time. I've enjoyed this week greatly because we've had a lot to celebrate. I want to congratulate our 4th and 5th-grade orchestra members for a wonderful concert on Wednesday evening. I enjoyed attending and seeing the excitement from our talented musicians to perform for our audience!
Another fun moment this week came from 1st-grade lunch. I try to get down to the lunch room with the purpose of simply engaging in conversation with the students. I walk around, smile, and often let them know how hungry they are making me. One student, in particular, asked, "Mrs. Kieser, are you the principal of our class?" My response? "Great question! I'm the principal of this school so I get to see ALL of the classes." Another little girl then looked at me quizzically and inquired, "What do principals do?" I didn't even need to jump in. The first graders started discussing all the ideas they had! Next time, I'm bringing my camera to record their fun thinking!
On Thursday, many classroom teachers had the opportunity to go on a "learning walk". I've talked about the importance of professional development in our district, and this is a half-day where we ask teachers to get into classrooms throughout the school and learn from each other. We had our special guest, Superintendent Julie Schmidt, join us in a few classrooms. It's always a good sign when your boss walks out of classrooms with a smile on her face!
Did I mention that I have a lot to say this week? Thanks for still reading!
BINGO blast is coming up and we are looking for your help. Like I've said before, this is such a fun night for our community and families to come together and have some fun. Who doesn't love BINGO?! Also, the auction for items from teachers is always a good time! Please do make sure you CLICK HERE and check-out the PTO blog this week to learn how you can pre-register, as well as the items you can donate to grade-level baskets!
*NEW Information*
Successful Lockdown Drill This Week
On Wednesday, January 24th, all our students, teachers, and building staff participated in a drill together to help us consider and review best practice options and actions we could take to keep us safe if an intruder were to enter our school.
Like me, our School Resource Officer Cliff Paul was extremely impressed with our students’ responses to the follow-up questions that we and other District staff asked them in each classroom immediately afterward. Our students were calm throughout and their thoughtful conversation together with their teachers reflects their understanding of response options for safety in a variety of scenarios.
*NEW Information*
Please use this teachable moment with your child...
Sometimes life gives us teachable moments, and this week at Kildeer we experienced one. I hope all Kildeer parents will take the opportunity to read the following and then discuss with your child.
Earlier this week, plumbers were called to our school to address a problem with our restrooms. The issue was resolved, but items such as shopping bags and juice boxes were found clogging the pipes as the result of being flushed down student toilets. While this was inconvenient for many, the potential consequences of future actions such as this could require us to close school for a period of time.
At Kildeer School every morning we take a moment school-wide to remind ourselves to “Show Five for Cougar Pride,” committing to high standards we set for ourselves as a learning community and taking pride in our school. Please find a teachable moment this weekend for a conversation with your kids about this pledge and the potential for unforeseen serious consequences from these actions.
*NEW Information*
It's that time of year and our Valentine's parties are less than a month away. Please remember if you choose to include an item with your child's Valentines, please note that only non-food items are permissible and we ask no goody bags. Candy, snacks, or any sort of food item will be sent back home with your child on Valentine's day if sent to school.
Thanks for your help with this!
*NEW Information*
STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS
Student Council is starting the Pajama Program! The Pajama Program is a drive where we donate pajamas to children that do not have the have pajamas. The range of kids go from infants to eighteen-year-olds!
The pajamas must be new and unused.
The drive will go from January 29 to February 9. We will celebrate on February 9th with Pajama Day! Pajama Day is when all the children may wear their pajamas to school! No slippers or robes, please.
Thank you for participating in the Pajama Program!
Thank You,
Sammy From Student Council
*NEW Information*
Updates and News from the Band Boosters
Please support the Boosters by dining at or ordering from Lou Malnati's this Wed., Jan. 31, mentioning this FLYER at the time of order. Also, the Boosters have much more news and opportunities to share. Please read the latest info HERE.
*NEW Information*
Flu season is spreading within Lake County and KCSD 96. In the event your child is not feeling well, please notify the school office for absences including symptoms, if they have a fever, or if they are diagnosed with influenza from a medical provider. Please see the link below for more specific guidance on illness-related absences."
http://www.kcsd96.org/student-
*NEW Information*
VEX Robotics Competition at SHS Saturday
Stevenson High School (One Stevenson Dr., Lincolnshire, IL) will host its annual VEX Robotics Tournament from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Saturday, Jan. 27, in the Wood Commons. (Park in Parking Lot B.) This event is free and open to the public. Forty robots from 10 schools have been entered into the competition. An area will be set aside for children to build robots. Here are links to help prepare for watching the action: How a game works (video) | Official rules/scoring | Sample match (video)
*REPEAT Information*
Girls on the Run
Calling all girls in Grades 3-5! The Girls on the Run Program will be starting soon! Program registration is now open and will run through March 1. Please register at: www.gotrchicago.org. We are so excited to be able to accept 20 girls this season! Girls on the Run has set up a lottery for our registration. The lottery will be done on March 1 by Girls on the Run. Practices will be held Mondays and Wednesday from 3-4:30pm beginning the week of March 5. This year's end of the year 5K will be held on Saturday, June 2. It is very important that your daughter can attend all practices in order to participate in this wonderful opportunity!
We look forward to a wonderful season!
Aly Lushpynskyj, Kellie Cristofaro, Marina Shvartsman
*REPEAT Information*
Jump Rope For Heart and Hoops For Heart, is a national program co-sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. It is endorsed by the Governor’s Council on Health and Fitness. Contributions raised through the event will help fund research, education and community programs of your local Heart Association. Heart disease and stroke kill more people each year than all other causes of death combined. If your child would like to participate in one of these events please click on the permission slips below for more information!
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART PERMISSION FORM (due by Feb. 14)
HOOPS FOR HEART PERMISSION FORM (due by Feb. 8)
*REPEAT Information*
Erin's Law
An Illinois law known as Erin's Law requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness/prevention curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 12.
Kildeer Countryside School District 96 researched and observed best practices and programs for delivering this instruction, selecting Victor Pacini to present Be Seen & Heard ©.
The focus of this developmentally appropriate and interactive program is to teach children skills to keep them safe from danger or abuse. Concepts discussed will include distinguishing safe from unsafe touches, safety rules at home and school, saying NO, safe/unsafe secrets, and telling a trusted adult, as well as reinforcing that an adult's touching him or her is not the child's fault.
Parents who would like to preview the information he will present to KCSD96 elementary students may attend a program with Mr. Pacini at 6 p.m. on Tues., Jan. 23, in the Mat Room at Ivy Hall School, 1072 Ivy Hall Ln., Buffalo Grove.
The presentation to Kildeer School students will be during the school day on Wed., Feb. 7.
If you prefer that your child does not attend this prevention education session, please submit your written request–or your questions–to me at [email protected]. MORE INFO
Click HERE to catch up on very important information from our PTO!
New Topics:
- Bingo Blast Update
- 2018/2019 PTO Chair Sign up
As a community, it is critical that we all partake in healthy and positive communication. As we work and partner for student learning, we achieve great things together for our students!
In District 96, our communication norms play a key role in this process and two of my personal favorites are below:
- We will seek additional information from those closest to the issue before reacting or taking a position.
- We will assume positive intentions seeking to understand all of the issues impacting decision making from the perspective of different roles and responsibilities.
Thank you to our families for keeping lines of communication open with our school so that we can continue to ensure success for our students. Remember, we are only an email, phone call, or meeting away if you ever need us! We value YOU!
Have a great weekend!
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Vail Kieser
Principal