Kildeer Principal's Message- October 16th

Kildeer Principal's Message- October 16th

Dear Kildeer Families,

We have been busy over here getting ready for our hybrid model! During the past few weeks, staff has been working hard on processes and procedures to have in place to keep everyone safe. This week we welcomed all of our staff on the remote planning day to get trained on the Neat bar. You may have viewed the video from Superintendent Schmidt that demonstrated how the tool can bridge our remote and in-person learners. I stepped into Mrs. Norman's art class today and she was already putting this new technology tool to great use!

It's strange planning for a "first day" in October, but let's just add that to our list for 2020 or "the things they didn't teach me in principal school" list. 

I'm definitely grateful for all of the brilliant minds that have come together to have solid plans in place! Speaking of plans, thanks for reading the information below carefully.


NEW *In-Person Procedures at Kildeer*

Arrival

All students should wear a mask upon arrival. Morning drop-off will start at 8:10 by the doors to the small gym, instead of the front entrance. Please pull your vehicle up to a cone and let your child out along the sidewalk. Thank you for waiting patiently in the vehicle line and not pulling around other vehicles. 

If you would like to walk your child up to the school on the first day, please park your car in the sidelot and utilize the crosswalk when there are no other cars driving. Once you reach the sidewalk, your child will independently enter through the small gym doors. Thank you for maintaining 6 feet of social distancing and wearing a mask. 

For first and second graders, bus tags with barcodes will be given out on the first day and attached to their backpacks. We will use these to scan the students into the building and ensure the daily certification screener has been completed by the parents. Thank you in advance for making this a priority each morning. 

Adults will be placed strategically around the school to support social distancing. Once your child has been scanned and confirmed there are no symptoms, he or she should go immediately to the classroom where the teacher will be eagerly waiting! We will not be utilizing lockers this year to avoid hallway congestion.

Lunch

Each grade at Kildeer will have a designated lunch space, taking place outside of the classroom. Disinfecting hand wipes will be readily available and all tables and seats will be disinfected according to the guidelines. Students may bring a lunch from home or preorder through Organic Life. Preordering information for in-person students in grades 1 and 2 starting next week was sent on Oct. 14.

Note: An email with lunch pre-ordering information for in-person learners in grades 3–5 will be sent on Oct. 21 for students starting in person on Oct. 29 and on Nov. 4 for students starting in person on Nov. 9. If your student is in grades 3–5 and will be learning in person, please make a note to watch on the date listed above for the lunch preorder email.

After School

Students may be picked up outside the small gym, the same location used in the morning arrival procedure. As you park by a cone, please hold up a sign with your student's full name to show the adults helping at parent pick-up.  

Students will be waiting at cones spread out safely on the sidewalk until they are called by a staff member to get into the vehicle. Siblings will be standing together at the same cone. In case of inclement weather, students will be sitting socially distanced in the small gym waiting for their names to be called.

For bus riders, there will be assigned seats coming to and from school. Siblings will sit together. The assigned seats are determined by First Student. If you have questions about the bus, please reach out to First Student directly. 

Notes for After-School Change of Plans

As a new protocol for students returning to in-person learning, we ask that parents fill out this form when you have a change to your after school DAILY transportation plan. These responses will be recorded and sent to the teachers at 2pm each day. In the case of an emergency after 2pm, you will need to call the school office at 847-634-3243 to make a change.

This can also be used for any additional information you’d like to share. Thank you in advance for using this form instead of sending handwritten notes. 

General Safety Protocols

Throughout the building, hand sanitizing stations, stand spots, disinfectant wipes, 6-foot indicators, etc. are prominently displayed.  All staff will consistently work with our students and each other to ensure we are following the 3 W's with fidelity: Wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance!


NEW *In-Person Learning Report Dates*

Please note that ONLY 1ST & 2ND graders who selected in-person learning will report to school next week.  *In-person learning for 3rd/4th/5th graders is scheduled to begin the week of 10/29.

ALL elementary students, 1st-5th grade, will begin following this schedule previously shared by Superintendent Julie Schmidt on Monday, October 19th.

October 19th:

  • 1st/2nd Grade students with last names beginning with the letters A-L who selected the in-person hybrid learning option will report to school on Monday and Tuesday.

October 22nd:

  • 1st/2nd Grade student with last names beginning with the letters M-Z who selected the in-person hybrid learning option will report to school on Thursday and Friday.

NEW *Early Release Schedule*

This is a friendly reminder that Tuesday, October 20th is an Early Release. This is the Early Release Schedule we will be using.  All elementary students will be dismissed at 2:00 pm.  If your child is a 1st/2nd grader reporting for in-person learning on Mondays and Tuesdays, please ensure your child knows his or her after-school plans. 


NEW *Halloween Participation Door Signs*

School Resource Office Essig and the Buffalo Grove Police Department have provided signs to download and print for display on your front door on Sat., Oct. 31. Choose according to the decision your family has made:

TRICK OR TREATERS ARE WELCOME HERE door sign

NOT PARTICIPATING IN TRICK OR TREAT door sign

If participating, please observe social distancing and wear a mask.


Repeat *Fall Family Educator Conference SURVEY*

Thank you for attending conferences.  Please fill out one survey and communicate specific differences between conferences for each child in your comments.  We value your feedback and use these results to continuously improve the conference process.  We have asked that you include your email address so that we can improve our data collection process and follow-up with you if necessary.  Thank you for your response.  


Repeat *Approved Snack List*

The District has not revised the APPROVED SNACK LIST from the 19-20 school year. The items the list includes are free of the Top 8 allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. 

This list includes the foods that are approved for students' Daily Snacks within the classroom.

IMPORTANT: All items for Daily Snacks– with the exception of fruits and vegetables– MUST be prepackaged to allow staff to easily check that snacks meet the approved requirements. Thanks for keeping our students safe.


Repeat *Halloween Information*

Given the unique circumstances we are faced with this year, we will not have students wear Halloween costumes or partake in our annual Halloween parade.  More information will be forthcoming regarding activities that will be done in classrooms on Wednesday, October 28th.


Repeat *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.  


Repeat *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.


Repeat *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.


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 *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 ***

  • THANK YOU to our PTO for the purchase of new books from the scholastic book fair for our teachers. We are so grateful!
  • 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

I don't think I'll get much sleep Sunday night. We are so eager for this next chapter. Thank you to everyone for demonstrating patience and flexibility in the coming weeks. Please know that our staff is greatly committed to ensuring that ALL learners feel included, regardless if they are remote or in-person. 

With that, I wish you a very happy Friday and an incredible weekend ahead!

Fondly,

Mrs. Vail Kieser


Principal