Back-to-School Bash Tonight

We look forward to seeing everyone at the Back-to-School Bash tonight from 6:00pm - 8:00pm on the blacktop area by the playground.  If it should rain, the event will be held indoors.  This is an admission free event with food and beverages available for purchase.  

It’s getting close:  2019 Prairie Schoolyard Scamper Fun Run!

Prairie School is looking forward to all students participating in the 24th Annual Prairie School Yard Scamper Fun Run, which is scheduled for Friday, September 27th at 1:15 p.m! The Scamper is a 1.2-mile run/walk through the neighborhood to promote lifetime participation in physical activity. We encourage family members to join us for a little exercise and great fun! We would also love for parents to volunteer!  All students need a consent form for this all-school event. Scamper Fun Run Consent Forms with Volunteer information should be submitted by Friday, September 13th. In the event of bad weather, the Scamper will be held on Friday, October 4th. Mrs. Lehtman and Mr. Nickle look forward to seeing you there! Please click HERE to sign up! Thank you if you’ve already signed your child/children up!

Access your child's MAP Student Progress Report 

The District will send a School Messenger email today between 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm with instructions for accessing your child's MAP student progress report online.  The message will include links to more information about understanding student growth, RIT scores, and general information about the MAP assessment. 

Please contact Jeanne Spiller, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching for Learning, if you would like more information about your child's report.  (847) 459-4260 ext. 8010, [email protected]

Thought Exchange Partnership - Parent Opportunity

Now seeking parents to fill open positions on our district Thought Exchange Partnership.  If you are looking for a way to get involved, be a voice for Prairie Elementary School, and learn about the wonderful things happening in District 96, please consider joining. If you are interested in this opportunity, email me ([email protected]) to express interest by September 16, 2019 Please know this will be a lottery for open spots. I will contact everyone to let you know if you have been selected! The first meeting is scheduled for September 26, 2019 in the evening.

Purpose:

*To share with parents information regarding district goals and initiatives, curricular and instructional innovations, programs and other informational topics.  (i.e. District Goals, MAP & PARCC Results)

*To review school board or school code required topics (i.e. Parent/Student Handbook, Discipline Policy, Grants, Calendar)

*To understand parent perceptions and solicit feedback on school district topics to assist the district in communication and 

SIGN LANGUAGE CLUB!

Have you ever wanted to talk to someone without saying a word? Well you can, we have a Sign Language Club here at Prairie School!  Registration is open for students in 3rd through 5th grade. Sign Language Club meets weekly on Friday mornings at 7:45 am. Students will meet weekly to learn American Sign Language (ASL).  Students are introduced to ASL including the alphabet, vocabulary (family members, colors, numbers, etc.), basic sentence structure, negatives, questions, and directional verbs. Elements of Deaf Culture are woven throughout each lesson.  Students will learn to sign simple sentences and convey meaning from basic everyday conversation. There is a limit of 20 students. Please see Prairie's Clubs page for more information and to sign up!

Sign up now! We will start next week, Friday, September 13th!

 Photography Club

1-2-3 Smile! Photography club is open to 4th and 5th graders. We will be learning about taking different types of photos, editing pictures, helping to capture school events, and collecting pictures for the yearbook. We will take the first 30 kids who sign up. The club will be every Friday from 7:30-8:15.

Contact Miss Sauer at [email protected] or Mr. Morris [email protected] with questions. Click HERE to sign up.

News From Art Class

Art class is underway and all of the students are working hard on their first projects.  In first grade students are using observation and examination to draw a fruit and vegetable still life.  In second grade we talked about how artists draw inspiration from community events and the students are drawing pictures of a parade.  The third-grade classes are creating designs with radial symmetry. The fourth-grade classes are experimenting with positive and negative shapes, while the fifth grade is looking for inspiration from different time periods and different cultures to draw their own gowns or armor.

The students will be using the app Artsonia to photograph and write an artist statement about their work, creating an online portfolio of all of their artwork.  Look for an email from artsonia.com on how to give permission, so your child can participate.

Mr. Morris

[email protected]

Raptor Security System

Please have your Driver’s License processed through our Raptor system when you come to school to ensure that your information is in our system.  This helps us reduce check-in times for you when you are at school for any event.  

2019 TALENT SHOW - AUDITION SIGN-UP

Attention all Prairie students! Do you have a special talent you would like to share? Prairie School has a talent show every year! The talent show will be on Friday, December 6th. Auditions will be held in October this year!

Sign-up here before the form closes this weekend!

Please read the specific information below:

• All students are welcome to sign-up for an audition.

• Each performance needs to be 2 minutes or less. (No exceptions)

• Students can only be in one act.

• If you are performing with a group, only one parent should sign up the group! Please coordinate this!

• Results will be sent out by November 11th.

Repeat Information

Students Knowing Their MAP Scores

We made the decision this year to turn off the ability for students to see their RIT score immediately upon submitting their test.  In past years, this feature has been turned on. Instead, students will receive their scores through an individual discussion with their teacher at some point following the MAP testing window.  In addition, MAP score reports will be emailed to parents on Friday, September 6th beginning at 3pm.  

The main reasons for this decision are as follows:  

We believe it is best for students that their results are shared personally.  Teachers can help put student results into context and discuss areas for further growth and areas of strength.  A RIT score in isolation does not communicate this level of detail and simply becomes a number to compare themselves to others. 

Some of our students have demonstrated a high level of anxiety with the level of sharing that occurs when the RIT scores are shown upon test submission.  This change will allow students to simply take the assessment and not be concerned about the immediacy of the feedback.