9/20/19
TGIF…Twin Groves it’s Friday!
Just a reminder...we have an early dismissal on Tuesday, September, 24th. Students will be dismissed at 1:30PM.
What’s Happening in the Learning Center?
Welcome back to school! The Learning Center is up and running, and it has been a pleasure seeing the students coming through. As a reminder, students can check out up to five books at a time, for two weeks. By the end of the two weeks, students must return or renew their books to avoid being fined. Keep and eye out for various fun contests going on in the Learning Center. Students who enter the contests have a chance to win fun prizes!
Counseling Corner
Ms. Baker and Ms. McDevitt, School Social Workers
Ms. Koulentes, School Counselor
Ms. Leverentz, School Psychologist
Tests and assessments are commonplace in middle school. Some of our students are very comfortable taking these assessments, but we do have a handful of students who deal with test taking anxiety when the teachers announce that a test is coming their way. Many parents have asked how they can help their students handle the stress and anxiety that they may be feeling with these tests.
Assure your student that any nervousness about testing is normal and that some level of anxiety can motivate students to study for these assessments. However, when this anxiety becomes excessive, it can completely impair students’ motivation to study, and often, their ability to recall the information they learned once they are in a test-taking situation. Be sure to present your student with realistic expectations for their learning- often, anxious children try to please adults and will try to be perfect if they believe it is expected of them. You can help your student to keep the test and its impact on their life in perspective. Each test is important, but each is only one test, and only part of a grade. Help them to remember that learning is ultimately more important than an individual score.
Being prepared helps to minimize test anxiety. Here are some tips you can offer to your student:
-Prepare for the test in advanced studying in multiple short sessions.
-Ask the teacher for the format of the test, so that you are as prepared as possible.
-Complete any study guides ahead of time making sure your study guide is complete and accurate. You want to make sure you are studying the correct information.
-Take any practice tests that you can.
-If you don’t understand a concept make an appointment with the teacher as soon as possible so that you can ask the teacher about that topic.
-Practice deep breathing. In through your nose and out through your mouth. This can help calm you right before and during the test.
-Think positive thoughts about doing well on the test. Remember, it is important to do YOUR best, not THE best.
-When you get the test, scan the test, and make sure to pace yourself throughout the test. Make notations on the margins as to how long each part of the test should take.
-Read through directions slowly, underlining or highlighting key words. As you work, mark questions you are stuck on and then come back to them at the end.
Help Prevent Missed Emails from School District 96
Some District 96 parents reported they did not receive their student's MAP scores sent by email (from [email protected]) on Sept. 6. Delivery by several specific email service providers proved to be problematic.
The District has received the following specific instructions to help prevent missed emails for parents/guardians who use one of the following email service providers: MSN, Outlook, Hotmail, or Live
• Log into MSN, Outlook, Hotmail, or Live from a computer workstation.
• Click the PEOPLE icon in the extreme lower left-hand corner of the page (next to the Mail and Calendar icons). A new window will open.
• On the new window, click NEW CONTACT.
• Type in Jeanne Spiller into the First Name and Last Name fields.
• Type in [email protected] into the email address field.
• Click CREATE.
(Ms. Spiller is the District's assistant superintendent for teaching and learning.)
Repeat this process multiple times as you wish, creating contacts for your building principal (names/email addresses follow) and E-NEWS 96: Betsy Fresen, [email protected]
Principal Names/Email Addresses:
Willow Grove: Jennifer Smith [email protected]
Country Meadows: Meghan Bird [email protected]
Ivy Hall: Robert Hanrahan [email protected]
Kildeer: Vail Kieser [email protected]
Prairie: Christine Pfaff [email protected]
Twin Groves: Jessica Barnes [email protected]
Woodlawn: Greg Grana [email protected]
If you use another service provider for your email than those listed above, you might consider following your service provider's instructions for adding contacts to your address book.
Library Fines
There have been student issues with outstanding library fines. At this point, no library fines are being forgiven. Please make sure your students return their books on time.
Parents Delivering Lunch for Students
If a parent is bringing a student his or her lunch, it must be dropped off in the office and labeled with the student’s name and grade. Parents may bring food only for their own child. School offices cannot accept lunch deliveries from restaurants or lunch delivery services.
Middle School Activity Period
An Activity Period will be offered from 2:30pm to 3:15pm at the middle school level. A variety of interest-based clubs, as well as study halls and rehearsals for the band, orchestra, and chorus, will be held during this time. Interscholastic sports and pompons will begin after the conclusion of the Activity Period at 3:15 p.m. Limited bus service from the middle schools to neighborhood stops will be available after the Activity Period. No bus service is available after interscholastic sports. Parents will be responsible for transporting their child home from those activities. *Students participating in any activities that start after 3:15pm MUST be signed into an after school activity or study hall.* Students and parents are not allowed to order food deliveries from restaurants or or any outside deliver service during the Activity Period.
Daily Announcements
The Daily Announcements will be posted daily. Please see Twin Groves website for up to date school announcements. The announcements let you know what exciting activities and clubs are going on at Twin Groves. Please click HERE to access the Daily Announcements.
PTO
Upcoming Events:
9/25- Special Lunch
10/23- Dessert Day
10/25- Fall Bash 3-5PM
10/30- Special Lunch
11/13- Dessert Day
11/20- Special Lunch
11/25- Book Fair
11/26- Book Fair
12/11- Dessert Day
12/18- Special Lunch
Please click HERE to access the Membership Toolkit. All items for sale from the PTO will be available on this website.