Dear Families,
Wow, what a quick 3½ day school week. With that said, please take a moment to review some important information below regarding upcoming dates. The bullets indicate non-attendance days, remaining learning days for the separate groups A-L and M-Z, and finally the beginning of our A-Z in-person format. In other words there will be no more separate groups beginning April 12 and all in-person students will be 5 days per week.
April 2: No School - District Holiday
April 5: No School - District Holiday
April 6: No School - Teacher Institute/Election Day
April 7: Students last name A-L
April 8: Students last name M-Z
April 9: Students last name M-Z
Starting April 12th, all in-person Students A-Z attend school 5 days per week.
It has been a challenging year. Hopefully spring break, the improved weather, and the expansion of in-person learning are finding us all in good spirits. Please have a great long weekend and we look forward to seeing students back next Wednesday April 7, 2021 (A-L).
Kindly,
Christine Pfaff
Principal
NEW *Keeping students (and siblings) home due to symptoms*
Per the IDPH COVID-19 School Exclusion Guidance, if any household member is showing any one of the symptoms listed below, all siblings must stay home from school. Please let the school office know when calling for attendance if your child is staying home due to illness, even if the student is participating remotely.
The symptoms in which a student must stay home due to COVID-19 protocols are: fever (100.4°F or higher), new onset of moderate to severe headache, shortness of breath, new cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, new loss of sense of taste or smell, fatigue from unknown cause, muscle or body aches from unknown cause.
NEW *UPDATED Population Screening Schedule Change*
Grades 1-2 will have a new drop off schedule for their population screening. Grades 3-5 will maintain their current schedule.
Country Meadows- Monday
Ivy Hall- Tuesday
Kildeer- Wednesday
Willow Grove- Wednesday
Prairie- Thursday
The symptoms in which a student must stay home due to COVID-19 protocols are: fever (100.4°F or higher), new onset of moderate to severe headache, shortness of breath, new cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, new loss of sense of taste or smell, fatigue from unknown cause, muscle or body aches from unknown cause.
REPEAT *Parent Input for Class Placement Survey*
Creating balanced class lists that meet the needs of all students is a tremendously difficult job that takes many hours of thoughtful dialogue between classroom teachers, administrators, and specialists. We take this process very seriously. The process for class list creation is as follows:
Teachers think about the social and academic needs of each of their current students while recording pertinent information to assist in the decision-making process.
Grade level teachers, principals, specials area teachers, and specialists meet together to form class lists that are balanced in terms of academic, social, and emotional needs as well as considering friendships. This is no easy task and often takes several meetings. This team of educators considers each child’s personality, academic needs, friendship patterns, etc. as they make a match for each individual child.
This team of educators creates a draft set of class lists taking into consideration parent input.
Class lists are then revised in August with summer changes for students who move in or out of the district.
Class rosters are never final until they are released to families in August.
This process happens for grades 2-5. Willow Grove creates the class lists for our incoming 1st graders. Our 5th-grade team actively works with Twin Groves to provide data and input related to placement decisions at the middle school level.
We strongly believe that this detailed and collaborative process creates learning environments that benefit all students. It is a delicate balancing act that takes much consideration and thought by professionals who know and care about your children. Our goal is to create balanced class lists that promote the success of each child. Please know that your child is placed in a classroom for very specific reasons. The process benefits all students. Because of the input and thought given by teachers, specialists, parents, and the principal, we are very reluctant to make changes once this process occurs, as removing or moving one child can disrupt the balance of an entire class, impacting all students.
I welcome any insight you wish to share about your child’s strengths, needs, and learning style. I will take into consideration pertinent information received on or before FRIDAY, APRIL 30th. Please remember, while we welcome your input, specific teacher or friend placement requests will not be honored.
I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are provided through the Prairie-Parent Input for Class Placement 2021-2022 Survey. As you can imagine, we receive a lot of parent input, and verbal information is impossible to track. The information you provide in the survey will remain confidential between you and me.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSezFAzi0mJCXqso27tsBvBkcybeVEEL-0jGgz0ToXXRXQN7Qg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&gxids=7628
NEW *2021–22 KCSD96 REGISTRATION FEE CHARGES ON CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS*
After successfully submitting your student’s 2021–22 registration, you will receive an itemized receipt by email promptly that lists the total charge, including required fees and optional donations, if any, that you chose to make.
IMPORTANT:
Please do not refute the charge. It will result in a chargeback fee for your family.
If you select the credit card payment option when paying 2021–22 registration fees, look for either of the following identifying description labels on your credit card statement: POWERSCHOOL MD 512375–4514 or PB POWERSCHOOL. District 96 registration charges are not described with the District or school name.
Also, be advised that some banks code this transaction as a donation.
If you have questions, please refer to your registration receipt and/or contact the public info coordinator [email protected]
NEW *2021–22 REGISTRATION EMAILS WERE SENT AGAIN MAR. 31*
On Mar. 31, District 96 parents/guardians of returning and preregistered new students were again sent registration email(s) for the upcoming 2021–22 school year (From: [email protected] Subject Line: Register Your District 96 Student for the 2021–2022 School Year). All returning and new students must be registered. Each registration email (one per D96 student) will include a link and a unique “snapcode” needed to access that individual’s online form. Register by Apr. 15 to save. After Apr. 15, required registration fees increase by $20 per student for all returning students.
*REPEAT* Returning to In-Person Learning Information*
We are very excited to have additional students joining us in-person after spring break.
Below is some information you need to know for a successful transition from remote to in-person learning.
MEDICATIONS
If your child needs to take medication at school please bring the medication to the school nurse’s office in its original container along with this Medication Authorization Form.
REPEAT *MATERIALS*
Your child will be transporting their needed school supplies with them between home and school. Please refer to the Classroom/Specials Classes Materials Needed that teachers update weekly for exact details. If you have any specific questions about materials, please reach out to your child's classroom teacher. If you have questions about the logistics of getting the supplies to us, please call the office.