3/22/24
Upcoming Dates:
3/25-3/29- Spring Break
4/18- Half Day for Students-11:10 AM Dismissal
4/19- Institute Day- No student attendance
4/30- Early Release for Students-1:30 PM Dismissal
5/21- Early Release for Students-1:30 PM Dismissal
5/24- Half Day for Students-11:10 AM Dismissal
5/24- Last Day for 8th Graders
5/27- No School
5/28- 8th Grade Graduation 5:30 PM
5/31- Last Day for 6th and 7th Graders- 11:10 AM Dismissal
Congratulations!
Each month, Twin Groves will be recognizing students who are model citizens of our Colts Community!
The Twin Groves Staff would like to recognize the following students who consistently demonstrate that they are Responsible, Respectful, and Safe. In addition to the 3 Traits, we are also recognizing students for being leaders, role models, supportive peers, brave, and positive.
Kaleb Bahr
Nishka Eda
Laasya Gadiraju
Kaitlyn Kim
Marcus Moraru
Ishaan Raidas
Sofia Rosa
Katya Vaysberg
Sriniketh Venkatesan
Joyce Wang
Addressing Respect
We are writing to address concerning behaviors that we’ve noticed within our school. In recent weeks, there has been an uptick in middle schoolers showing a lack of respect toward others based on their religion, race, personal beliefs, or ethnicity. We want to be clear and ensure our entire district understands that such actions are completely unacceptable within our school community. This issue calls for a united effort to educate all our students about the importance of respect and understanding.
As part of our proactive steps to address these issues, we facilitated school-wide discussions. Every student engaged in meaningful conversations about the importance of kindness and respect, reflecting on how we can appreciate one another's uniqueness and the impact of devaluing behaviors.
Parental involvement is crucial in these discussions. We encourage you to continue these conversations at home, emphasizing the importance of respect, kindness, and understanding. Together, we can ensure that discrimination and disrespect have no place in our schools.
The Twin Groves is committed to the following.
-Speaking up against every biased remark - every time, in the moment, without exception.
-Explaining why a term or phrase is offensive. Encourage the person to choose a different expression.
-If staff notices someone else speaking up against hate, they will thank them and reiterate their anti-bias message.
-Asking simple questions in response to hateful remarks to find out why the speaker made the offensive comment and how you can best address the situation.
-Following up on an individual level for reflective and restorative practices as needed.
Our dedication to making Twin Groves safe, respected, and valued places is unwavering. This is more than a commitment; it is a promise to uphold the principles that define us as a community.
Thank you for your support!
-The Twin Groves Staff
April 8th Eclipse
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross over the United States. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. In northern Illinois, there will be a partial eclipse. Changes will become noticeable around 12:30 p.m. Central Time with the height of the eclipse occurring at 2:07 pm.
KCSD96 District Office staff are working to provide an opportunity for students and staff members to safely view the eclipse. This includes providing special viewing glasses and training on how to appropriately use them and safely view the eclipse.
Students who want to safely view the eclipse outside on April 8 will be able to do that under the supervision of their teacher. We will also have opportunities for students to indirectly view the eclipse from inside the school if parents do not want them to be outside. If you do not want your child to be outside during the eclipse, please contact your school’s principal or assistant principal to let them know.
Staff and students will be provided with eclipse glasses and the safety overview on April 8 so that they can safely view the eclipse.
Catalyst 23-24
The Catalyst Leaders from Twin Groves recently met with Senator Durbin and several other leaders to ban flavored vapes in our communities. The students gave speeches to the legislatures about the effects of these vapes on our community. Great work!
What’s Happening at Twin Groves?
Spanish: 6th-grade students have been working on their unit: ¿Cómo eres? - What are you like? Students are working on describing themselves and others with personality and physical traits. They took their first reading quiz of the unit before the break, and when we return from break, they will continue working on the interpretive standard and presentational writing with this unit. We have also been working on the Señor Wooly song Guapo to go along with this unit. After this unit we will add in family vocabulary to talk about not just ourselves but others as well using the verb ser (to be) and adjectives.
7th-grade students recently wrapped up their unit La Comida - food before Spring break with a presentational writing language control quiz on conjugating er and ir ending verbs in the present tense. We watched an episode of Netflix’s Street Food on Lima, Perú to finish out the unit with some cultural discussion. After the break, we will start our next unit ¿Adónde vas? - Where are you going? where students will discuss the places they go in order to do activities.
8th-grade students are finishing up their units on the house and chores with their presentational speaking and writing project - Mi Casa Ideal (My Ideal House). In this project, they need to select 4 pictures to represent their ideal house and rooms within that house. Then they write their script describing the house and rooms in the house. In the last step, they put together a video using the pictures as the visuals and use the script to narrate over the pictures. This project will finish up the week after break. Then we will move on to their unit on La compra - Shopping.
Band: The band has just finished their busy season with the solo/ ensemble contest, the band festival, the two concerts in early March, and the organizational contest. The students worked hard, played well, and deserved a break before our end-of-the-year flourish of activities.
All students are playing their chromatic scales in class this week and will begin focusing on the rest of the scales they need to learn by the end of the year. Here is what our end-of-the-year looks like:
Wednesday, May 1st Music Booster Party ( Sign up on the Music Booster portal)
Friday, May 10 - Honor Band Tour to the elementary schools
Monday, May 13 - Band Extravaganza - All bands 5-8 concert celebration.
Tuesday, May 28 - 8th Grade Graduation - 6th and 7th grade students will play.
Two more smart Music Grades: April 5th and May 5th. Have a great, relaxing, and enjoyable spring break.
Libertyville HS Music Summer Camp
Please click HERE for a Libertyville HS Music Summer Camp.
Orchestra: Congratulations to all of the 6-8 students on a fabulous concert on March 7th! I am so proud of all of the students and their performances!
As we approach Spring Break, please make sure to bring in your child’s instrument if it needs any repair and/or tuning. Please check with your child to make sure things like the fine tuners are working properly. Please also make sure to change your child’s instrument size at the vendor if they need the next size instrument.
Please make sure to review the concert/event dates below and update your calendars. More information about these concerts/events will be coming soon via email:
Upcoming Dates/Events
Friday, April 12th: D96 Orchestra Festival (6th Graders only), 3:20-6:15 pm @ Woodlawn
Monday, April 15th: TG & WL Chamber Orchestra Concert, 7 pm @ TG
Thursday, May 9th: TG 6-8 Spring Orchestra Concert, 7 pm @ TG
Thursday, May 16th: TG Orchestra Tour (8th Grade and select 7th Grade only), during the school day
SHS Writing Workshop
Please click HERE for more information.
NEW *2024-25 School Supply Kits Sales Are Live*
Families can now order the 2024-25 School Supply Kit from Educational Products Inc. (EPI) at https://www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks/ (enter code KCS096).
Order by July 9 for home delivery before the start of school in August.
For questions about your order, contact Educational Products at 800-365-5345.
The School Supply Kits are a fundraiser for the PTOs. Parents can buy the grade-level materials on their own; access the School Supply Lists at https://www.kcsd96.org/curriculum/school-supply-lists.
Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)
Students in grades 3 - 8 take the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) each spring. This year the district will be administering the IAR to students from Tuesday, April 2nd through Monday, April 8th.
Parents, Twin Groves NEEDS YOUR HELP!!! Please click THIS LINK and take the 5Essentials Survey for Parents/Guardians.
Twin Groves would like to increase parent participation. Currently, Twin Groves is only at a participation rate of 26% for parents.
As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school. Your participation will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide our improvement. Parent identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The window to complete the survey closes on March 29th. Thank you in advance!
6th Grade Dental Forms Needed
Dear Parents/Guardians of District 96 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 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
In the event that you are unable to fulfill this requirement, the state of Illinois does permit a waiver of the examination.
State of Illinois Dental Waiver Form
Dental examination forms, as well as dental waiver forms, can be downloaded from the District’s website.
If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Borzych at [email protected] or call the Twin Groves office at 847-821-8946.
Thank you for your prompt cooperation.
Daily Announcements
Please see the 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.
Twin Groves Athletics
Please click HERE to access the Twin Groves Athletics site.
This site will be updated frequently.