Dear Families,
MAP testing is now complete. Although MAP is only one assessment tool it is a valuable instrument that helps inform our understanding of individual student growth areas. Regardless of whether students tested in-person, or remote, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all students, families, and staff for making the logistical arrangements for students to participate in testing. Please take a moment to review pertinent repeating items and new items below. Notably, there is important logistical information about student iPad exchanges that will take place over the summer. Please be sure to read the details, as the district will be collecting old equipment and replacing it with new equipment. Have a great weekend!
Kindly,
Christine Pfaff
Principal
NEW *Community Day Event*
We will be holding our Community Day virtually on Friday, May 28th at 10:45am - 11:30am. Our Positively Prairie Leadership Council has crafted out fun activities for Zoomies, Roomies, and virtual parents to do together. Parents will log in using your child's homeroom teacher's classroom link.
NEW *Spirit Week!*
The PPLC is hosting a Spirit Week for the last five days of school. See the events below.
May 26th ~ School colors day (Wear the school colors, which includes blue and gold!)
May 27th ~ Unusual day (Wear something or do something unusual the share with your class.)
May 28th ~ Matching day (Every grade wears a specific color! 1st grade is red, 2nd grade is orange, 3rd grade is yellow, 4th grade is green and last but not least fifth grade is blue)
May 30th ~ Memorial Day! (Student's Choice: Memorial day! Work together with your class and teacher to make something that will stay in your life forever OR establish your memories! Write a list of all the fun things you did this year!)
June 2nd ~ Digital Escape Room!!! (Escape this digital escape room with your class!)
June 3rd ~ Relaxation Day since it's the last day of school!!! (Do meditation and stretches with your class).
Written by Rewa, Nitin And Nathen, All 4th grade PPLC students.
NEW *Protocol Update*
On May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks or practice social distancing in any setting–whether indoors or outside.
Consistent with our practice throughout this pandemic, we are in conversation with local health officials at the Lake County Department of Public Health to understand how this announcement from the CDC will affect our learning environments.
Be advised that our current mitigation strategies remain in place as we await local guidance. That is, regardless of whether individuals have been vaccinated, our faculty, as well as our students, will be expected to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing at school and at a school-sponsored event such as 8th-grade Graduation. As you know, at this time students in our elementary district have not yet been vaccinated.
As local guidance is updated, be assured that we will share it and its implications with you promptly, as we’ve done consistently throughout the year.
NEW * 41st Consortium 125 Virtual Artfest*
We are pleased to invite you to the 41st Consortium 125 Virtual ArtFest. Please view the exposition of 1-8 student artwork from district 76, 79, 96, 102, 103, 125. CLICK HERE
NEW *Transition to Middle School Program*
We had our annual program virtually for parents of current fifth graders on May 10. It offered information and insights about what to expect in the middle school years ahead. Middle School Principals Jessica Barnes (Twin Groves) and Greg Grana (Woodlawn) discussed academics, extracurricular opportunities, and changes that the middle school years bring. Our current sixth-grade student panelists shared their perspectives. It was a fun and informative evening!
If you were unable to attend, HERE is the recording. Please note that the recording will be available for two weeks only. Recording Passcode: 3&JcDia. (Include the period in the passcode.)
NEW * iPad Exchange Info for ALL KCSD96 Students*
Action needed! This summer District 96 will exchange your student's old iPad, charging cable, charging brick, and iPad case for new equipment. You'll need to schedule an appointment to make the exchange and the exchange must occur before Aug. 1. READ DETAILS about this process and how it affects ALL District 96 students.
NEW *Math, Literacy, and Technology Materials Return*
There are only a few materials the district is looking to collect back from those that were distributed throughout the year. We are asking for all of the materials listed below to be returned to schools during the week of May 24th. Please drop off the materials on the tables outside the main entrance. Please be sure to bag and label your materials when possible with the student's name, grade, and homeroom. Thank you so much for your help with this!
Literacy Books: After Friday, May 21st, we will no longer need any of the ”ReadyGen”Literacy materials as part of our lessons. Please return all books beginning Monday, May 24th. It is important to return these as soon as possible so that we can inventory them accordingly and make purchasing decisions for next year. Some students have already begun to return these materials. The grade level links below show a complete list of books that need to be returned to school.
Omni-fix cubes: These were distributed to 5th-grade students in August in a plastic bag. Each 5th-grade student received 30 cubes. The Omni-fix cubes are no longer needed for 5th-grade math. Please return these to school at your earliest convenience. For a picture of the cubes click HERE.
Logitech Keyboards: Each student in grades 1-5 received a keyboard in September. Middle school students received a keyboard upon request. For a picture of the keyboards click HERE.
- If your child is planning on taking IAR (Grades 3-8), please bring the keyboard to school on May 23-25 for use during the assessment. It will be collected after IAR is completed on Wednesday the 25th.
- If your child is not using the keyboard, please return the keyboard at your earliest convenience. Early returns will help us ensure each student that wants one for IAR has one to use.
NEW *IAR Dates*
Monday 5/24: Grades 3-8
Tuesday 5/25: Grades 3-8
Wednesday 5/26: Grades 3-8
K-2 Students: Students in grades K-2 do not take IAR. Kindergarten students will follow a typical schedule. Students in Grades 1 and 2 will have typical arrival and dismissal times but may have a special schedule during the day.
In-person students in Grades 3-5: 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.
Remote students coming to test in-person: These students will arrive at the designated time below. Teachers will communicate the appropriate class to log on to after students return home.
Grades 3-5 Monday Arrival: 8:45
Grades 3-5 Monday Dismissal: 11:55
Grades 3-5 Tuesday Arrival: 8:45
Grades 3-5 Tuesday Dismissal: 11:55
Grades 3-5 Wednesday Arrival: 8:45
Grades 3-5 Wednesday Dismissal: 11:00
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: These students will be provided with asynchronous experiences while their grade-level peers are testing. They will log onto the teacher Zooms and resume instruction at the times listed below.
Elementary students in Grades 3-5 log back into teacher Zooms at the times below on Monday and Tuesday.
Grade 3: 11:20
Grade 4: 11:35
Grade 5: 11:30
Elementary students in Grades 3-5 log back into teacher Zooms at 10:35 on Wednesday.
REPEAT *Exploration Lab Materials-Please Read*
Click HERE to see which materials in-person learners should bring back to school.