Dear Kildeer Families,
Congratulations to our students! Today marks the official end of trimester 1 and we could not be more proud of our Kildeer Cougars! We’ve experienced some bumps along the road, yet there have been so many celebrations as well. Please give a giant virtual hug on behalf of our staff!
Report cards will be shared after the break with more specific information regarding your child’s progress. As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher.
Thank you to all that participated in spirit week! It's the fun little traditions that put smiles on our faces. Please enjoy some pictures below:
NEW *Guess Who?*
In order to get our students, staff, and community excited about our I AM ME...WE ARE KILDEER virtual family celebration we are including a new addition in our weekly blog.
Take a moment this weekend to see if you can guess which staff member identifies with the following information. The big reveal will happen weekly in the morning announcements!
Guess Who?
Traveling is a huge part of my family culture!
I have visited 28 states and 12 countries.
Goal is to visit all 50!
Now that you are curious, won't you sign-up for our event below?!
We are excited to announce this year’s I AM ME...WE ARE KILDEER virtual family celebration on the evening of Thursday, January 14, 2021! The purpose of this evening is to learn from and about our Kildeer families.
Would your family like to....
- Sign up to host a live virtual booth/performance via zoom?
- Submit a short video performance to play on our virtual stage?
- Submit a short video teaching others about a family tradition (i.e. family travels, a game, a dance, a recipe, etc.)
- Just RSVP that your family will attend?
Please CLICK HERE. The link has a lot more information for how YOUR FAMILY can get involved for our third annual I AM ME...WE ARE KILDEER family celebration on Thursday, January 14th from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
*LAST CALL TO SIGN-UP to attend by Monday, December 14 at 3:00 p.m.*
Video submissions will be due at a later time.
NEW *TOYS FOR TOTS ANNUAL TOY DRIVE*
In partnership with the U.S. Marines Corps, Kildeer is kicking off the Annual Toy Drive to support Toys for Tots! This year more than ever Toys for Tots needs our help. Drop off new unwrapped toys for less fortunate children between Nov. 23 and Dec. 11. Collection boxes will be located in the main doorways at Kildeer starting Mon., Nov. 23.
NEW *MAP Testing Updates*
Given the pandemic and our current full remote setting, students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 will not participate in Winter MAP. Students in these grades will participate in MAP testing in the Spring.
Students in grades 3-8 will participate in remote MAP testing on the following dates:
- Grades 5-8 will test on December 3 & 4
- Grades 3-4 will test on December 8 & 9
NEW *November Book Talks from the Vernon Area Public Library*
1st grade: 1st-grade favorites
2nd grade: 2nd-grade favorites
3rd grade: 3rd-grade favorites
4th and 5th grade: 4th and 5th-grade favorites
NEW *Upcoming Calendar Reminder*
This is a friendly reminder that students will not be in attendance from Wednesday, November 25th through Friday, November 27th. Students will resume instruction on Monday, November 30th.
NEW *Access Report Cards Online on Dec. 3*
Your student’s report card will be available for you to access online on Dec. 3 AFTER 3 PM. If you need assistance, please CLICK HERE for instructions to view your student’s report card, to switch between your children’s report cards, and more.
NEW *Free Meals for Pick-Up for ALL D96 Students*
D96 is pleased to offer free meals for pick-up for ALL students (age 18 and younger), thanks to the Summer Food Service Program from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
All District 96 families were sent an email on Mon., Nov. 16 (Subject Line: Fr Sch Dist 96: Free Meal Preordering and Pickup) with information about preordering free breakfast and lunch meals for their students.
Parents/guardians of all District 96 families may preorder and pick up meals at Twin Groves or Woodlawn Middle Schools for their children through age 18* on designated weekdays from 11 AM–2 PM.
The first step is for families to create an account online and add each child receiving meals to the account. Please see this webpage for details and brief instructional videos of the account set-up and preordering process.
Please direct questions to the public information coordinator: [email protected].
Repeat *Gifts for Staff*
It's that time of year when families are thinking about gifts for staff. Staff may or may not be in the building and therefore may have limited opportunities to retrieve anything left for them at the school building. If you make the decision to provide a gift, it is recommended that you consider a virtual gift that can be delivered to their email. Thank you for your understanding!
Repeat *Free Meal Pickup For All Students*
More information will be coming via email on Monday, November 16, 2020, about free meal pick-up. However, here is some preliminary information. Meal pick-up will start Monday, November 23rd (the week of Thanksgiving). You may pick up meals (breakfast and lunch will be provided) for all 5 days on Monday, November 23rd between 11am and 2pm at either Twin Groves Middle School or Woodlawn Middle School. The normal twice-weekly meal pickup will occur starting the week of November 30, 2020, with 3 days of meals picked up on Monday and 2 days of meals picked up on Thursday. Online pre-ordering information will also be included in Monday's email.
Repeat *Library Book Drop Off*
If your child still has library books that were checked out in the 2019-2020 school year, we are still collecting them! Books can be dropped off in the main area vestibule on school days between 8 and 3.
If you are curious about if/what books/titles your child needs to return to our school library, please contact [email protected] for details.
Repeat *Creative Holiday Card Design Opportunity for Grades 4 and 5*
Fourth- and fifth-grade students are invited to submit original artwork for a holiday greeting card competition sponsored by Congressman Brad Schneider, Illinois 10th District. The winning artwork will be the cover design of Congressman Schneider’s annual holiday card.
The theme this year is Winter Wonderland–favorite outdoor winter activities enjoyed on cold snowy days. No artwork entry size is specified (the winning artwork will be scaled to fit).
Submissions are due by Wed., Nov. 25, and Congressman Schneider’s staff will announce the winner in early December.
Please submit all entries electronically to Robert Perez at [email protected]
Questions? Call 847.383.4870.
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 *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 ***
- Please see the information above regarding Toys for Tots!
With the holidays approaching, it's a time for giving back and appreciating what we have. I want to thank all of the families that have continued to give food donations. I looked at the full bags in our foyer and my heart was full. A shout-out to Mr. Kenny for delivering all donations to the ELC for us!
Please note, if your family is in need this season and has not already heard from me, please reach out to me directly. I would love the opportunity to talk together about how we can help.
If your family would like to give back this holiday season, here are a few things you can participate in if you choose:
- Consider donating a gift for a child in need through Toys for Tots (main vestibule at Kildeer from 8-3 until 12/11)
- Drop-off food donations for the ELC (at ELC or main vestibule at Kildeer from 8-3)
- Have your children decorate paper bags with hopeful messages to bag food at the ELC. See here!
- Contact me directly to discuss other ideas!
With that being said, we will not have another blog from me until after Thanksgiving break. Last week I talked about pausing to appreciate the beauty around us. This time, I'd like us to reflect on 2020 as a whole. It's been a rollercoaster, yet I'd like to challenge your family with thinking about a positive highlight or moment from the year in general.
If you'd like to participate, please create a family snowflake (must be flat to be laminated) and include:
- Your family name
- A picture (optional)
- A description or story of something positive from the year 2020
- *Note: if you'd prefer to do one for each child, that is also fine!
You may drop your family snowflake in the main vestibule at Kildeer on any school day from 8-3 in the labeled box. One of our staff members will laminate and cut out your snowflake to hang in front of our school. We will collect them through December and our family snowflakes will hang proudly outdoors. We would love to see as much participation as possible and highlight the positives!
We can't wait to see what you come up with!
Just a reminder that our monthly BUDDIES happens on Tuesday (wear spirit gear!) and we wish you all a relaxing few days with each other next week.
Fondly,
Mrs. Vail Kieser
Principal