Dear Kildeer Families,
I started this week spinning in the hallways and making my own lyrics to The Sound of Music. It goes something like this: "The halls are alive, with the sound of children."
It was truly an incredible feeling bringing some 1st and 2nd graders into the halls of our school. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing our students “smile with their eyes” and all of the adults pitching in to help around the school. Teachers worked diligently using the new technology, Neat bars, to bridge our remote and in-person learners. Although we experienced some glitches, the overall week was a success.
The announcement this week to revert to full-remote learning is one met with mixed emotions. Now that we've had students in the building we look forward to their return more than ever. In the meantime, let’s encourage each other to follow the 3 W’s and continue our partnership for student success in a remote environment. Check out some of the highlights from our week below:
NEW *Remote Learning for ALL District 96 Students Begins Oct. 26*
Reminder: ALL students at all grade levels will take an “adaptive pause” and revert to full remote learning for 10 days, beginning Mon., Oct. 26.
Remote learning for all District 96 students will remain in effect for at least 10 calendar days.
Please continue to use the new HYBRID schedule. We will not revert back to the previous schedule at the elementary level.
On or before Wed., Nov. 4, District families will receive updated information about current metrics and when in-person hybrid learning will resume.
Please see Supt. Schmidt’s Oct. 21 MESSAGE for more details.
NEW *Halloween - October 30th*
On Friday, October 30th all students will celebrate Halloween remotely. This is a date change due to all students being remote. Classroom teachers will coordinate a Halloween/Fall themed activity during buddy classrooms. If you would prefer that your child doesn't participate in any Halloween-related activities, please contact your child’s teacher.
NEW *CODING CLUB*
Does your student have a love for math or computer science? Then the Coding Club is where they should be (virtually)! Please complete this form if you are planning to have your child sign up for Coding Club for this school year.
NEW *Meals Are Available for Drive-Up Pick-Up*
Any KCSD96 family choosing to do so may pick up free breakfasts/lunches for their students weekdays from 11 AM–1 PM when District 96 students are in session. SEE DETAILS
NEW *Calendar Updates*
As a reminder, there will be no school held on Monday, November 2nd, or Tuesday, November 3rd. Students will return for remote instruction on Wednesday, November 4th.
NEW *ComEd Bill Payment Assistance Options*
ComEd has provided bill payment assistance options for families experiencing financial hardship. Please find info HERE.
Repeat *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 *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 *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.
Our PTO continues to be incredible! Thank you for the weekly treats at Kildeer. Our staff truly appreciates the extra nice touches!
*** PTO News ***
- 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
This week was absolutely full of moments that I hope to never forget. I experienced teamwork as I've never felt before with all of our adults in the building going "all hands on deck". I saw students that were delivered to Kildeer on a bus with maybe only one other student (their own personal limo?). I saw students raising their virtual hands to participate in class with the learners at Kildeer. I had one student tell me when I walked into the room, "Mrs. Kieser, it's an honor to have you in our classroom." I overheard Mrs. Keller refer to her students as "roomies" and "zoomies". A first-grader at lunch said, "Wow, I've never seen you in real life before!" I attended the Board of Education meeting and saw a quote from Long Grove Living with wise and positive words from my buddy Madden. I connected with a former student that is now in college and wants to be a teacher someday. I danced with first-graders and Mr. Tatar in the music room, followed by a short stint of yoga. I saw staff grabbing giant golf umbrellas to help usher students into the building to avoid being drenched.
Essentially, I experienced people coming together to support kids. YOU, Kildeer Cougars, are our "why".
Fondly,
Mrs. Vail Kieser
Principal
p.s. If you have not done so, there is still time to bring in a pumpkin to Kildeer. It's little things like this that can continue to bring our community together during this pandemic. Let's do what we can to keep our students' spirits up!