Dear Families:
Our first week in May ended with sunshine and many celebrations! As we journey into May and closer to the end of the school year, we appreciate your support with our focus on learning. Students did a nice job of showing off their learning on the MAP test this week. This reading and math assessment is nationally-normed, which allows staff to track progress and target skill growth.
The end of the year brings many dates. Here are a few things you may want to know about, however, this certainly does not include everything across all individual classrooms!
- May 8-12: Staff Appreciation Week!
- May 10: Prairie Choir and World Music Club Concert (6:30 p.m.)
- May 15-18: PTO Spring Book Fair
- May 19: Prairie 5th Grade Tour to Twin Groves (9 to 10:15 a.m.)
- May 19: Books due back to the Library
- May 19: Prairie Ice Cream Social
- May 23: Early Release & Kindergarten Transition Day - Country Meadows will welcome our incoming 1st graders to meet the 1st grade team and specials teachers!
- May 25: Prairie Field Day
- May 26: Half Day
- May 29: No School
- May 31: 5th Grade Party (12 noon to 2:45 p.m.)
- June 2: Yearbook Distributed (last day of school)
- June 2: Last Day - Half Day
Have a wonderful weekend,
Christine Pfaff
Principal
NEW: Library News
All books are due back in the library on May 19th in order for book inventory to take place. Our public libraries have wonderful summer reading programs. I highly recommend them to encourage your child to read over the summer.
NEW: Field Day ~ A Message from Our P.E. Teachers
Dear Parents:
Prairie School is very excited for Field Day which is scheduled for Thursday, May 25. We encourage you to apply sunscreen and tick protection to your child as we will spend most of the day outside. Hats and sunglasses are also recommended. With our unpredictable weather, layering of clothing is also a good idea. In case of inclement weather, Field Day will be on Tuesday, May 30.
We can't wait for this fun-filled day!
~ Mrs. Lehtman & Mr. Nickle
REPEAT *Proof of Dental Exam*
Dear Parents/Guardians of District 96 Kindergarteners, 2nd, and 6th Grade Students:
Please note that your child’s completed dental examination is now due, per Illinois school law. The deadline for the dental examination is due no later than May 15 of the current school year. Proof of this required dental examination must have been completed within eighteen months prior to the May 15 deadline.
If you haven’t already done so, please make an appointment with your child’s dentist for a dental examination, have him and/or her complete the required form and return it to your child’s school nurse.
In the event that you are unable to fulfill this requirement, the state of Illinois does permit a waiver of the examination.
REPEAT *Cross-Cultural Expert Speaks May 23*
An expert in the raising of children cross-culturally will share her wisdom with District 96 families at the end of next month. Author Ruth E. Van Reken speaks virtually on “Raising Children Cross-Culturally: Maximizing the Benefits, Minimizing the Challenges'' on May 23, 2023 (7-8:30 p.m.). She is the author of “Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds (3rd edition).”
Here’s what she will discuss:
“There is no question that there are many gifts for those who grow up interacting with different cultural communities. Learning to ‘code-switch’ positively in certain situations can be a great asset in today’s globalizing world. Being a cultural bridge is another gift that can come with such a childhood. But the realities of juggling the differing expectations between different cultural contexts can also introduce certain challenges. Questions related to identity, attachment, and belonging are often common during this process. This session will not only help to normalize why these challenges frequently arise, but also share practical strategies for how parents and other caregivers can help children maximize the gifts and grow from the challenges as well.”
To pre-register, please visit: https://kcsd96.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArduCsrTwrGNL2dHxfbVHDgroIyXKYP1hP.
For questions, please contact Lubna Andrabi, Community Parent Liaison, at [email protected].