Dear Kildeer Families,
Picture Day was a success! It feels so good when we get to see kids on school property. I personally enjoyed standing by the cones and watching the "runway" of students walk down in anticipation of the strangest picture day experience yet. We have been beyond fortunate with the weather cooperating, so celebrations all around!
Thanks to all of the families that dropped off pumpkins. There is still time! We will be accepting pumpkins all month long. Remember, you don't need to overthink it! For example, my family decided on squiggles and glitter! Easy peasy.
If you have not done so already, make sure that you get signed up for a Family Educator Conference for next week. This is a wonderful opportunity to check-in on your child’s progress together and determine next steps collaboratively for the remainder of the trimester.
Over the next few weeks, there will be a lot of information in order for us to have a successful return for hybrid learning. We thank you ahead of time for thoroughly reading the information and/or watching the videos. This will answer many of your questions and is a great way to stay up-to-date on the most recent information.
NEW *Commitment to Partnership*
As emphasized in Superintendent Schmidt's message sent on Tues., Sept. 29, implementing a hybrid in-person learning model is and must be a partnership.
We know that some surrounding districts or schools that began their in-person learning plan have had to revert to full remote for a period of time. In many situations, this has been due to positive cases about which families were not truthful with the school or with the health department regarding symptoms and the diagnosis or with those conducting the contact tracing process.
We are confident that the District 96 community will rise to the occasion and partner with us to ensure safety and success. Please think carefully about your commitment to our partnership before sending your kids to school.
NEW *I AM ME...WE ARE KILDEER virtual family celebration*
Mark your calendars for Thursday, January 14th, 2021. Yes, you heard us right! We aren't going to let this year slow us down! We will hold our 3rd-annual family celebration where the entire purpose is to learn from and about each other at Kildeer. It's going to look different, but our goal and commitment remain the same! More to come!
NEW *Upcoming Calendar/Schedule Reminders*
Thursday, October 8th is an Early Release. Students will follow this schedule, and remote learning will end at 2:00pm.
Friday, October 9th there is no school as staff will be engaged in Family Educator Conferences. Learning will resume on Monday, October
Monday, October 12th, there is no school.
Tuesday, October 13th, there is no school due to the recent approval of a Remote Planning Day for all staff.
NEW *Updated Student Schedules and In-Person Learning Protocols*
UPDATED SCHEDULES will take effect for ALL of our students on the following schedule:
Kindergarten – schedule effective beginning Oct. 15
Elementary – schedule effective for Grades 1–5 beginning Oct. 19
(NOTE: Hybrid in-person learning begins for Grades 1 and 2 on Oct. 19. Hybrid in-person learning begins for Grades 3–5 on Oct. 29)
Middle – schedule effective beginning Oct. 29
For those returning to schools in the hybrid model, please review the IN-PERSON LEARNING PROTOCOLS thoroughly, so that you are prepared to complete and submit the required one-time annual self-certification and acknowledgment of protocols via a link in an email communication you will be sent after Oct. 5.
NEW *Updated COVID-19 Metrics*
This UPDATED COVID-19 METRICS is the information “dashboard” that maintains transparent and open communication around COVID-19 metrics. As a user of the dashboard, the District has access to COVID-19 data as recommended by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium. We review this data daily, update the dashboard weekly, and consider this data in making many decisions.
NEW *Wait List for Conference Sign-Up*
At this time, some of our staff members have a fully booked conference schedule. If you continue to be on the waiting list, feel free to reach out and set-up a brief phone conference with the staff member for another time. Thank you for understanding!
Repeat *Make-up Picture Day & Exploration Lab Materials Pick-Up*
For those that cannot attend Picture Day or would like a retake, this will be done on Thursday, November 5th at the same location & using the same procedures.
*If you have not picked up your exploration lab materials, please call the front office: 847.632.3243.
Repeat *Fall Conference Sign-Up*
Please click THIS LINK to sign up for fall family educator conferences with your child's educators. You will sign-in to our new platform "Meet The Teacher" with your name, an email address, your child’s name, and his or her date of birth.
At the elementary level, you will be able to sign up for a conference with your child’s classroom teacher and other educators your child works with on a regular basis. Please complete this for each child who attends District 96. Please know that some of our specials teachers and related services may have booked schedules. If you are interested in meeting with these educators, please sign up for the waitlist.
As a reminder, if you are unable to attend these conferences on these dates, please email the educator you are interested in speaking with to set up a phone conference. Family Educator Conference sign up will close October 5th.
As a reminder, Family Educator Conferences take place virtually via Zoom. Teachers will send specific Zoom Links at a later date.
October 8: 5pm-8:30pm
October 9: 10:00-1:30pm
In addition to individual conferences with educators, we will also be providing parent education opportunities both days. More information will be shared in the near future!
If you are having trouble signing up, please contact the front office at 847.353.8600.
Repeat *School Exclusion & Health Form Requirements*
Please know that students who do not have the necessary health forms on file will be excluded from school (regardless of remote or hybrid model) on October 15th. Thank you for reaching out to Nurse Ali with any questions: [email protected].
Repeat *Specials Weekly Materials*
Please CLICK HERE to access the materials your child will need each week for specials.
Repeat *Calling All Photogs*
We love capturing photos of kids learning in the Principal's Message. While currently, students are learning in your homes, we'd love it if you wouldn't mind sharing a photo us to use in the Principal Message, Twitter, etc. If you are comfortable sharing, please email a photo and caption to Mrs. Wright in the front office: [email protected]. Thank you!
Repeat *Calling All Kildeer Cougars*
Last year our morning announcements were so special because we involved our staff AND students. This year, we are looking for brave students to recite the Kildeer Pledge to be featured on the Monday morning announcements. If you are interested, please record a short video introducing your first name, homeroom, and grade. Then say the following:
As a Kildeer Cougar,
I promise to start each day with a smile on my face and make Kildeer school a safe, happy place.
I pledge to follow the Cougar 5 each day, respecting others in every way.
I am proud to be a Kildeer Cougar.
*PLEASE SEND YOUR VIDEOS TO TRACEY WRIGHT: [email protected]*
Repeat *Tech Hub*
KCSD96 Family Technology Hub! The District 96 Family Technology Hub is designed to guide families through technology tools related to Enhanced Remote Learning. On this site you can find links to the recordings and the corresponding Slides decks for the parent/family informational sessions from last week. You can also find tutorials on how to use ZOOM, Schoology, Seesaw, Clever, Notability, and other iPad essential tools for student learning. Additionally, there is a link to email the technology support desk. Please save or bookmark this site. It will be updated with tools, resources, and tutorials through remote learning to better support your family.
Please email [email protected] with any tech-related support needed.
*** PTO News ***
- Virtual Fall Book Fair LAST CALL!- Monday, September 21st thru October 4th! Click HERE to learn more about the virtual book fair. Click HERE for Kildeer's Scholastic Homepage. Click HERE for the Scholastic Book Fair Flier.
- Yearbook Pictures- Please help the yearbook committee by sending in the first day of school and remote learning pictures to [email protected].
- 5th-grade parents- Please submit a headshot of your child when he/she was 6-12 months old. The baby pictures will all be displayed in the yearbook and matched with your child's future dreams/favorite memories. Digital photos can be emailed to [email protected].
- Follow our PTO on: Kildeer PTO on Facebook and/or KildeerPTO on Instagram
Did you know that today is National Custodian's Day? We celebrated our crew with some sweet treats and many emails to fill up their inbox with gratitude. Mr. Kenny, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Mladen, and Mr. Will are committed to making our Kildeer school a safe and beautiful place for all! We have the greatest appreciation for all that this team does for Kildeer!
On a final note today, we love to celebrate at Kildeer! With conferences next week, we thought, "What better way to celebrate our student success than with a spirit week?!"
Kildeer Cougars, join us virtually on Monday with our first day of the spirit week: Sports Day!
Do I hear an I-L-L? Anyone? Anyone?
Have a great weekend ahead!
Fondly,
Mrs. Vail Kieser
Principal