Principal's Message 4.30.21

Principal's Message 4.30.21

Dear Families, 

It's hard to believe that next week is May! We've been so proud of our "roomies" and "zoomies" for persevering this school year. Our partnership has been more critical than ever before to best support each and every student.

Speaking of supporting students, it's time to celebrate our staff. Next week marks Staff Appreciation Week. I know that our PTO has some wonderful things in store to celebrate the commitment of our staff to our students.

Please join me in celebrating our staff and submit a shout-out HERE! I will share your shout out with the staff member next week to thank them for a job well done! 

Kindly,

Christine Pfaff

Principal


NEW *Assessment Update*

Kindergarten MAP: Dates for In-Person and Remote Students

Wednesday 5/5: Kindergarten AM and PM

Thursday 5/6: Kindergarten AM and PM

In-person students 

These students will have the same arrival and dismissal times as they normally would and complete the assessment as a part of the typical school day. Teachers will begin instruction when all students present are finished with the assessment.

Remote students coming to test in-person  

These students will only take the assessments. They will not access instruction on this day.

AM Arrival: 8:45

AM Dismissal: 10:30 

 

PM Arrival: 12:45

PM Dismissal: 2:30

Click here for a description of arrival procedures, safety considerations, and needed materials.

Click here for a copy of the self-certification form that all remote students must turn in before entering the building to test.

Students not taking MAP

These students will receive asynchronous activities for the day.

Elementary MAP: Dates for In-Person and Remote Students

Monday 5/3: Grade 5 

Tuesday 5/4: Grade 5

Wednesday 5/5: Grades 2, 3, and 4

Thursday 5/6: Grades 2, 3, and 4

Friday 5/7: Grade 1

Monday 5/10: Grade 1

In-person students (Grades 1-5)

These students will have the same arrival and dismissal times as they normally would and complete the assessment as a part of the typical school day. Teachers will begin instruction at 10:55.

Remote students coming to test in-person (Grades 1-5)

These students will arrive at the designated time below. Teachers will communicate the appropriate time to log back on after they return home. No new instruction will be provided until 12:45 to ensure that these students have time to return home and eat lunch.

Arrival: 8:45

Dismissal: 11:35 

Click here for a description of arrival procedures, safety considerations, and needed materials.

Click here for a copy of the self-certification form that all remote students must turn in before entering the building to test.

Remote students (Grades 3-5)

These students should log on to their teacher’s Zoom just as they do every day. The teacher will take attendance and provide them a Zoom link to the remote testing session. After the testing session, they will rejoin the teacher Zoom after testing is complete at 10:55. 

Students not taking MAP (Grades 1-2 only)

These students will receive asynchronous activities and rejoin the teacher Zoom at 10:55.


NEW *News From EXPLORATION LAB*

Classroom Materials Needed - Please click HERE for details.


NEW *Summer School Update*

Parents will have the opportunity to sign up their students for Enrichment Summer School courses soon. All classes will be virtual. The link to sign up will be accessible from the homepage of the District 96 website kcsd96.org on Mon., May 10, at 5 PM.


NEW *Student’s Art Appreciation Event – Consortium ArtFest (Virtual) is May 17–31*
 

KCSD96 families are invited to attend the 41st Annual Stevenson Consortium 125 ArtFest, showcasing our students’ artistic growth and achievements using a variety of media. This year you can view creative work by our Grades 1–8 students virtually. Exhibited art is selected by their District 96 art teachers. Access student artwork online May 17–31. CLICK HERE for more information.


Repeat *Transition to Middle School Program for Parents of Current 5th Graders*

Parents of all current fifth graders are invited and encouraged to attend the Transition to Middle School program presented by Middle School Principals Jessica Barnes (Twin Groves) and Greg Grana(Woodlawn). They'll discuss academics, extracurricular opportunities, and changes that middle school years bring. Current sixth-grade student panelists will also share their perspectives. The virtual presentation begins at 7 PM on Mon., May 10. 

Zoom link: https://kcsd96.zoom.us/j/88296995872?pwd=S0d6QnplZzh6S2t0dUMzYXcxSTVPZz09#success

Meeting ID: 882 9699 5872

Passcode: 450506


REPEAT *STUFF THE SQUAD Food Pantry Drive*


The Buffalo Grove Police Department invites KCSD96 families to donate food and essentials to support food pantries serving our local residents. Collection via centrally located boxes in schools will be underway at all KCSD96 schools in the weeks ahead. The last day to donate to “Stuff the Squad” is May 5. SEE REQUESTED ITEMS


REPEAT *Make Lunch Plans*

 

Parents, please help.  With many more students learning in person in KCSD96 schools, it's essential that parents place their students' free meal preorders by 6 PM on Thursday of the week before. Find preordering instructions HERE. Questions? Contact [email protected].

Also, please remind your students of the meal choices you preordered, so the meals they request at lunchtime are the meal options that you preordered for them. Thank you!


REPEAT *Parent Input for Class Placement Survey - Survey Closes Tonight*

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.