4/9/21
TGIF…Twin Groves it’s Friday!
Please see these following links:
Calendar LINK
Superintendent Message LINK
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.
Return to In Person Learning
At the beginning of the school year, we began regular weekly check-ins with students to monitor social emotional well-being. We will continue with this practice. Our classroom teachers have been using these check-ins to follow up with students and support as needed. In addition, our building is staffed with a school counselor, two school social workers, and a school psychologist. Ouur teachers regularly check-in with this team for further student support as needed.
If you notice that your child is having difficulty with the adjustment to full in-person learning, please reach out to one of the building counseling staff members.
Michele Koulentes, School Counselor- [email protected]
Danielle Baker, School Social Worker- [email protected]
Mary McDevitt, School Social Worker- [email protected]
Jenn Leverentz, School, Psychologist, [email protected]
Material Pick Up for 6th and 7th Grade REMOTE Students ONLY
Twin Groves/Woodlawn will have science materials pick up for items that are necessary for class instruction. This applies to 6th and 7th grade full remote students only.
In person students will receive their materials during class.
What?
Science Kit for Trimester 3
When?
Tuesday, April 13th from 7:30-3:30 PM
Wednesday, April 14th from 7:30 AM- 3:30 PM
Thursday, April 15th from 7:30 AM- 3:30 PM
Friday, April 16th from 7:30 AM- 3:30 PM
Pick-Up Details & Information:
Students do not need to be present during pick-up.
Parents or guardians may send a friend or family member to pick up the materials.
There will be tables set up outside the main entrance. This is the same entrance as the main office at Twin Groves.
Please wear a mask when picking up materials.
There is no need to enter the building for anything.
Please take ONE science kit.
8th Grade Graduation
Please tentatively hold Wednesday, June 2nd for an in person 8th Grade Graduation. More details and confirmation to follow.
Standardized Assessment Information
The standardized assessment window is quickly approaching. Because many of the required assessments must be taken in-person, families who selected remote learning for the rest of the year received a survey earlier today to outline their options and determine if their children will come to the buildings to take the assessments. Students who are in-person will take the assessments with one of their teachers.
Remote and in-person students will be kept separate during the administration of the assessments. Specific dates for each assessment will be determined once the results of the survey are collected, but you can find general time frames below.
NWEA MAP: Students at all grades participate in one assessment for English language arts and one assessment for math over two days. The data we receive from the MAP assessments provides valuable information regarding intervention and acceleration needs. The window for the NWEA MAP assessment is May 3 - May 14 with more specific dates within the window to come.
ACCESS: Students that are identified as not yet English proficient participate in four assessments in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The Illinois State Board of Education requires ACCESS to be administered in-person. Students who are in-person are being scheduled by building level personnel.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR): Students in grades 3-8 participate in assessments for both literacy and math over three days. The Illinois State Board of Education requires IAR to be administered in-person. The window for the IAR is May 17 - May 28 with more specific dates within the window to come.
Illinois Science Assessment (ISA): Students in grades 5 and 8 participate in three assessments in science. The Illinois State Board of Education requires ISA to be administered in-person. ISA will be administered on Friday, June 11 for those families who wish to participate. We will be sending out a separate survey to fifth and eighth grade families later in May to find out who would like to participate in ISA.
REMINDER- DAILY SELF CERTIFICATION is a requirement for in-person attendance
To access the required Daily Self-Certification Form, you need to log into TeacherEase EACH MORNING your student will attend in person to submit self-certification. https://www.teacherease.com/common/login.aspx
This VIDEO gives instructions, including how to access the daily self-certification form using your cell phone (iOS or android).
https://vimeo.com/465127686
*NEW* Attendance Procedures for In-Person Students
With the change to five days of in-person learning for all students beginning April 12th, the expectation is that students will attend in-person unless the student is under quarantine/isolation or is home ill. If for some reason your child needs to attend school remotely instead of in-person on a given day, attendance procedures are changing to state that the child’s parent/guardian will need to contact the school office prior to the start of the school day.
2021–22 KCSD96 REGISTRATION FEE CHARGES ON CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS
After successfully submitting your student’s 2021–22 registration, you will receive an itemized receipt by email promptly that lists the total charge, including required fees and optional donations, if any, that you chose to make.
IMPORTANT:
Please do not refute the charge. It will result in a chargeback fee for your family.
If you select the credit card payment option when paying 2021–22 registration fees, look for either of the following identifying description labels on your credit card statement: POWERSCHOOL MD 512375–4514 or PB POWERSCHOOL. District 96 registration charges are not described with the District or school name.
Also, be advised that some banks code this transaction as a donation.
If you have questions, please refer to your registration receipt and/or contact the public info coordinator [email protected]
Keeping students (and siblings) home due to symptoms
Per the IDPH COVID-19 School Exclusion Guidance, if any household member is showing any one of the symptoms listed below, all siblings must stay home from school. Please let the school office know when calling for attendance if your child is staying home due to illness, even if the student is participating remotely.
The symptoms in which a student must stay home due to COVID-19 protocols are: fever (100.4°F or higher), new onset of moderate to severe headache, shortness of breath, new cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, new loss of sense of taste or smell, fatigue from unknown cause, muscle or body aches from unknown cause.
6th Grade Dental Forms
Attention parents of 6th Graders. Proof of dental exams for all 6th graders are due by May 15th. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Borzych at 847-821-8946.
Daily Announcements
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.