Good afternoon Prairie Families,
Thank you to each family that has registered for the upcoming school year! Early registration assists us with accurately planning for the ‘25-’26 school year. There is still an opportunity to provide feedback for class placement as well which you will see below.
Yesterday was our exciting Exploration Day, and what a fun time it was! Students and staff took part in all kinds of choice activities, and I had the chance to pop into each one. The energy throughout the building was so positive—you could really feel the joy and excitement in the air.
Next week starts a fun schoolwide competition! Our staff and students are excited, so please read about our Super WOW Showdown below.
Have a great weekend,
Ms. Lauren Delahanty
Principal
*Upcoming Dates*
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Friday, April 18 - NO SCHOOL | District Holiday
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Tuesday, April 22 - Early Release
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Wednesday, April 30 - Thursday, May 1 - MAP Testing
NEW - *Super WOW Showdown!*
We’re excited to introduce a new schoolwide competition… the Super WOW Showdown! Starting April 21 through May 16, all 21 of our classrooms will be engaging in a friendly competition focused on what it means to be Respectful, Responsible, and Safe—the three pillars of expected behavior at Prairie.
Each week, classes can earn Super WOWs when the entire group shows positive behavior. These are different from the individual WOW slips and are only awarded when the whole class shines together! Staff across the building—including specials teachers, support staff, and administrators—will be on the lookout for these moments of greatness.
Every Friday, classes turn in their Super WOWs to be tallied, and we’ll celebrate the top earning classes during our Monday announcements. The winning class each week earns an extra recess as a reward!
Let the Showdown begin, and may the most respectful, responsible, and safe class win!
NEW *Severe Weather Drill*
On Thursday 4/24, Prairie will be conducting the annual Severe Weather Drill.
REPEAT *Transition to Middle School Presentation*
More than 300 parents and guardians attended the “Transition to Middle School” presentation at Twin Groves Middle School. Guests heard from Twin Groves Middle School Principal Mrs. Barnes and Assistant Principal Mrs. Kasie Dolan, as well as Woodlawn Middle School Principal Mr. Grana and Assistant Principal Greg Bays. There was also a panel of current sixth-graders, who answered questions about what it's like to be a middle schooler.
If you were unable to make the event, please view the “Transition to Middle School 2025” presentation here.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n54jga6b_OJV7dWVatUteRL0iRZ-mMZq/view?usp=sharing
REPEAT *Dental Exams*
Dear Parents/Guardians of Current KCSD96 Kindergarteners, 2nd, and 6th Grade Students ONLY:
Please note that your child’s completed dental examination has an upcoming due date, 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.
State of Illinois Proof of Dental Examination Form - Click Here
In the event that you are unable to fulfill this requirement, the state of Illinois does permit a waiver of the examination - Click here
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 Wednesday, 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 Parent Survey that is linked HERE. 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, me, and Mrs. Cameron.