8/20/21
TGIF…Twin Groves it’s Friday! The first two days of school were wonderful! It is so exciting seeing the students in person!
Picture Day
Your school picture day will be held on Tuesday 8/31/21. Afterwards, you’ll receive an email when your images are ready to view online. Or, you can search for them at vipis.com shortly after photos are taken. You’ll be able to select your image for your yearbook/composite (please remember to do so before it’s selected for you), and place your order online. All orders will be delivered to your home. If you need further assistance, contact VIP at [email protected].
LUNCH
FREE MEALS IN SCHOOL: Under the waivers to USDA Nutrition Programs currently offered, the District is able to provide free meals to all students. One reimbursable daily meal will be provided free of charge to each student that chooses to participate on school days.
SNACKS FOR PURCHASE IN SEPTEMBER: Snacks will start being offered at the beginning of September. If you wish your child to be able to purchase snacks at that time, please be sure to have their account prepaid on the K12PaymentCenter. This site will allow you not only to monitor balances but also transaction history. There are no transaction fees related to this account. To create an account you will need your student's 7 digit ID number, which will be emailed to you this evening with the subject line of D96 Food Service Information.
ORDERING PROCESS: Each morning, students will tell their teachers which entree they will order and those numbers will be shared with the food service staff. Please encourage your students to take the entree they ordered to ensure that all students receive the desired meal. Menus can be viewed on the District website.
FINAL DRIVE THROUGH MEAL HANDOUT: Now that all students will be in person, the final drive through meal handout will occur on Monday, August 16th and will contain four days of meals.
NEW *NWEA MAP Assessment*
All students in grades K-8 will be participating in NWEA MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) assessment. The MAP assessment is a normed referenced, computerized adaptive test which helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child's academic growth. Like in previous years, all students will be taking the MAP test in reading and math during the school day. Testing will take place during the MAP window, August 30-September 10. The specific dates of testing will be communicated in next week’s principal message.
Law Enforcement Safety Drill EDUCATION
On Friday, August 27th, Twin Groves will be conducting the annual Law Enforcement Safety Drill EDUCATION. Students will be learning age appropriate safety procedures in their Flex class.
In compliance with the New Safety Drill Act, parents have the right to exempt their child from the Law Enforcement Drill EDUCATION.
If you do not wish your son or daughter to participate in the Law Enforcement Safety Drill, please contact Jessica Barnes at [email protected].
If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in the drill.
Curriculum Night Information
Please find your child's grade level below for the specific information on the upcoming Curriculum Night.
6th Grade Curriculum Night
Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 at 7:00 PM
Large Gym
We will be offering a virtual option for this year’s curriculum night for all parents.
If you would like to attend in person, we are asking that only one parent from each family attend.
The in person Curriculum Night will be a fully masked event.
If you would like to attend virtually, please use THIS ZOOM LINK.
Meeting ID: 829 3101 7658
Passcode: TWIN
Please note that Curriculum Night is for parents only.
Program-
Please meet in the LARGE GYM.
Welcome and Twin Groves overview from Mrs. Barnes and Ms. Delahanty.
Introductions of related services staff and instructional coaches.
Presentations:
Content Teachers- Science, Math, Social Studies, Language Arts
Spanish Teachers
Wellness Teachers- PE/Health
Exploratory Teachers: Art, Music, The Art and Science of Living
Instrumental Music Teachers: Band and Orchestra
7th Grade Curriculum Night
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 at 7:00 PM
Large Gym
We will be offering a virtual option for this year’s curriculum night for all parents.
If you would like to attend in person, we are asking that only one parent from each family attend.
The in person Curriculum Night will be a fully masked event.
If you would like to attend virtually, please use THIS ZOOM LINK
Meeting ID: 827 8369 6278
Passcode: TWIN
Please note that Curriculum Night is for parents only.
Program-
Please meet in the LARGE GYM.
Welcome and Twin Groves overview from Mrs. Barnes and Ms. Delahanty.
Introductions of related services staff and instructional coaches.
Presentations:
Content Teachers- Science, Math, Social Studies, Language Arts
Spanish Teachers
Wellness Teachers- PE/Health
Exploratory Teachers: Art, Music, The Art and Science of Living
Instrumental Music Teachers: Band and Orchestra
8th Grade Curriculum Night
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 at 7:30 PM
Cafeteria
We will be offering a virtual option for this year’s curriculum night for all parents.
If you would like to attend in person, we are asking that only one parent from each family attend.
The in person Curriculum Night will be a fully masked event.
If you would like to attend virtually, please use THIS ZOOM LINK.
Meeting ID: 829 1227 4903
Passcode: TWIN
Please note that Curriculum Night is for parents only.
Program-
Please meet in the CAFETERIA.
Welcome and Twin Groves overview from Mrs. Barnes and Ms. Delahanty.
Introductions of related services staff and instructional coaches.
Presentations:
Content Teachers- Science, Math, Social Studies, Language Arts
Spanish Teachers
Wellness Teachers- PE/Health
Exploratory Teachers: Art, Music, The Art and Science of Living
Instrumental Music Teachers: Band and Orchestra
ILC Curriculum Night (Mrs. Pio's Classroom)
Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 at 7:00 PM-8:20 PM
Program- Please meet in the LARGE GYM.
Welcome and Twin Groves overview from Mrs. Barnes and Ms. Delahanty.
7:15- Report to Mrs. Pio’s ILC Room for the ILC presentation. Mrs. Pio will reach out with a link if you prefer to attend virtually.
SLC Curriculum Night (Mrs. Kaminski's Classroom)
Tuesday, August 24th, 2021 at 7:00 PM-8:20 PM
Program- Please meet in the LARGE GYM.
Welcome and Twin Groves overview from Mrs. Barnes and Ms. Delahanty.
7:15- Report to Mrs. Kaminski’s SLC Room for the SLC presentation. Mrs. Kaminski will reach out with a link if you prefer to attend virtually.
Please note...the presentations shared during Curriculum Night will be linked in the Principal’s Message on Friday, September 3rd.
PTO
Please log onto Membership toolkit (MTK).
ALL PTO sales and sign ups must go through Membership Toolkit (MTK).
You can use your Prairie and Ivy Hall logins, but you MUST update your family information!
It is VERY IMPORTANT to update your family and student information before starting any forms.
Parents will need their child’s homeroom teacher to update MTK.
Homeroom teachers are the following:
6th grade- 2nd period teacher
7th grade- 1st period teacher
8th grade- 1st period teacher
If you are new to the district, please set up an account via THIS LINK.
Committees for the 21-22 School Year
Please go to Membership Toolkit to check out the open committees for the 21-22 school year. We are looking for volunteers for Special Lunch and Dessert Day.
We would LOVE your help!
Dessert Day and Special Lunch
Dessert Day and Special Lunch links will be available on Membership Toolkit. Please head over to Membership Toolkit and sign up for Dessert Day and Special lunch.
Transportation Update- Message from the District
PLEASE NOTE: There continues to be a workforce shortage on a national and local level. This is significantly impacting the ability of all transportation companies to fill driver openings. First Student continues to have unfilled driver positions for District 96 bus routes. They have been using substitute and "borrowed" drivers from other regions to fill our needs the last few days but the reality is that the positions remain unfilled and a "band-aid" plan is being created for each day. Our Director of Transportation continues to meet with First Student multiple times per day to problem solve. We will continue to keep you updated on what is likely to be an ongoing challenge.
Arrival Procedures for Walkers or Parent Drop Off
Parent drop off will start at 7:30AM. Students will be dropped off near Door 4 located in the back of the cafeteria. Please see the map below.
Dismissal Procedures for Walkers or Parent Pick Up
Students will exit the front entrance of the building at 2:30 PM.
Arrival Procedures for Bus Riders
Students who ride the bus to school will be dropped off at South Entrance (doors by the athletic entrance near gyms). Students will exit the bus and wait in the Large Gym until 7:30 AM.
All students must wear a mask on the bus at all times.
Dismissal Procedures for Bus Riders
Students who ride the bus will exit the building through the South Entrance (doors by the athletic entrance near gyms). Buses leave Twin Groves around 2:37PM.
All students must wear a mask on the bus at all times.
Activity Bus Dismissal Procedure
Starting on Monday, August 23rd, the Twin Groves Activity Bus routes will begin.
Students board the buses starting at 3:15 PM. The buses typically leave at 3:22 PM.
All students must wear a mask on the bus at all times.
Activity buses are available for the students who qualify for busing during the school year. If students are NOT a bus rider to and from school, the students are unable to take the activity bus.
**Please note that due to bus driver shortages in Illinois, we are unable to guarantee the activity buses will be available to start the year or that the activity buses will be on time. At this time, the bus company is estimating that the buses will be leaving Twin Groves up to 30 minutes late. This means that students will not be leaving Twin until 3:50 PM.
***It is highly recommended that parents arrange for rides if a student is staying for clubs, activities, and study halls.
Daily Announcements
The Daily Announcements will be posted daily starting on August 19th. 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 starting on August 19th.