Dear Parents,
It’s hard to believe that there is only one more week of school for the 2020 calendar year. For our last week of school prior to the break, the Positively Prairie Leadership Council is hosting a “SNOWY” Spirit Week. We look forward to your child’s fun participation in this event. See the graphic below for details.
As a reminder, Mrs. Julie Schmidt, Superintendent, sent an email to all District 96 families on the evening of December 9th with metrics monitoring details. Her next communication will be on December 16th.
Kindly,
Christine Pfaff
NEW *SNOWY Spirit Week*
NEW *Prairie School Virtual Talent Show Videos*
Congratulations to all students who participated in the Virtual Talent Show this year. It was a huge success. A big thank you as well to all the parents who assisted students at home in preparing for this fun time. Lastly, Mrs. Muehling and Miss Heuer, thank you for all your time and talents. You are truly appreciated.
PRAIRIE SCHOOL VIRTUAL TALENT SHOW – ACT 1
PRAIRIE SCHOOL VIRTUAL TALENT SHOW - ACT 2
REPEAT *Culture Crew is Coming
In Culture Crew, we will share and celebrate the many cultures in our Prairie community. Please join us as we share traditions, music, and projects. We will meet on Wednesday afternoons from 3:00-3:45 beginning January 6th through May 26th.
We can’t wait to see you! Sign up HERE.
REPEAT *Yearbook Pictures*
We want your pictures for the yearbook. Send in your cozy winter day pictures as well as photos from the December Holidays and any fun winter pictures. Please send them to us at [email protected] In your email please include your child’s first and last name and teacher.
REPEAT *Monthly Asynchronous Wednesdays*
Once per month, beginning in December, students will participate in asynchronous activities for a portion of their school day. The dates for each of these asynchronous Wednesdays are identified below. You will notice that each date is identified as either AM or PM. If for example, AM is indicated, this means that students will participate in the asynchronous activities during the morning or AM portion of the school day and then transition to their regularly scheduled school day in the afternoon or PM. Specific times are indicated below with each identified date. Teachers will communicate with students to be sure that they understand the expectations for each of these days.
These monthly asynchronous days were created to give students the opportunity to participate in topics that will enhance our current curricular content, and so that teachers have time to collaborate and plan with each other to determine the best way to approach future instruction.
Asynchronous Wednesdays will take place on the following dates.
December 16: PM Asynchronous
January 13: AM Asynchronous
February 24: PM Asynchronous
March 17: AM Asynchronous
April 21: PM Asynchronous
SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIRST ASYNCHRONOUS WEDNESDAY: DECEMBER 16th
The asynchronous portion of the day will take place in the afternoon or PM portion of the school day for all. The asynchronous focus for this day is digital citizenship. Students will be engaging in a variety of Digital Citizenship See specifics below for each grade.
Kindergarten
AM Kindergarten: Students will engage in instruction with their teacher as they typically would in the morning from 8:30-11:00. The afternoon optional specials will not take place on this day.
PM Kindergarten: Students will have the option to engage in their regular morning specials (PE and music) as they normally would from 8:30-11:00. In the afternoon, from 12:30-3:00 students will participate in the asynchronous activities shared with them on SeeSaw. Teachers will not be available for live instruction for the PM students as the asynchronous activities were created for students to work through without teacher support. We recognize that these independent activities may require substantial parent guidance for kindergarteners, so please participate in the activities provided at the level that is comfortable for you and your child.
1st-5th Grade: Students will engage in instruction as they typically would until 12:45pm. At 12:45pm, the asynchronous portion of the day will begin and continue through the end of the school day. Students in grades 1-2 will access the asynchronous work in SeeSaw and students in grades 3-5 will access the asynchronous work in Schoology. Teachers will communicate with students to be sure that they understand the expectations and communicate where they should access the asynchronous work for each of these days. While we prefer that the asynchronous work is completed during this designated time, timing can be adjusted based on what works best for your family as long as the work is completed before the next school day begins.
REPEAT *Yearbook Club News - We Need Your Pictures*
We want your pictures for the yearbook. Send in your cozy winter day pictures as well as photos from the December Holidays and any fun winter pictures. Please send them to us at [email protected] In your email please include your child’s first and last name and teacher.
Repeat *PTO News Regarding Gifts for Staff*
As the end of year approaches, we know that room parents would usually collect for a teacher and support staff gift. Since there are no room parents this year, the PTO decided to create the opportunity for you to donate towards a gift for your teacher or another staff member. Please head over to MTK and select the teacher and/or support staff member you would like to donate to. The PTO will purchase a gift card and sign your family’s name. If you have any questions please reach out to the PTO at [email protected].
If you would like to purchase a gift on your own and are interested in a staff member's interest areas, you can contact Prairie's Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Demas, at [email protected] and she can share with you a staff member's "All About You" information sheet. Please know that gifts are never an expectation.
REPEATING *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. Link: https://www.kcsd96.org/about/meals
Please direct questions to the public information coordinator at [email protected].
REPEATING *ComEd Bill Payment Assistance Options*
ComEd has provided bill payment assistance options for families experiencing financial hardship. Please find info HERE.
REPEATING *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.
REPEATING *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.