1/31/25
Upcoming Dates:
2/14- Half Day- Students dismissed at 11:10 AM
2/17- No School
2/18- Early Release- Students dismissed at 1:30 PM
2/28- No School
3/3- No School
3/20- Early Release- Students dismissed at 1:30 PM and Conferences from 5:00 PM- 8:30 PM
3/21- No School- Conferences from 10:00 AM- 1:30 PM
3/24-3/28- No School- Spring Break
Congratulations!
Each month, Twin Groves will be recognizing students who are Upstanders at Twin Groves.
The Twin Groves Staff would like to recognize the following students who consistently demonstrate that they are Responsible, Respectful, and Safe, but most importantly Upstanders. These students have been recognized by the staff for being leaders, role models, supportive peers, brave, and positive.
Ignatius Conti
Mikhail Dzemyanovich
Yumin Kim
Emma Liu
Harry Liu
Dhanush Mantena
Ishaan Raidas
Olivia Salasche
Eryk Starzucki
Counseling Corner
Ms. Baker and Mr. Maddox, School Social Workers
Mrs. Koulentes, School Counselor
Mrs. Leverentz, School Psychologist
Supporting Your Student Through Friendship Challenges
Friendships and new social dynamics are essential parts of middle school, but they often come with their own sets of challenges. As parents, it’s important to strike a balance between offering support and giving your child the space to navigate these relationships on their own. Here’s how you can help your child develop essential social skills while maintaining healthy boundaries:
Help Develop Conflict Resolution Skills
-Encourage your child to approach conflicts calmly and respectfully. Practice talking through situations to help them express their feelings without escalating the situation.
-Teach them to look for solutions that work for both sides. Guide them through examples of compromise, such as taking turns or finding a middle ground, so they can handle disagreements independently.
Encourage Independence within Friendships
-Remind your child that while you’re there for support, they are the ones responsible for navigating their friendships. Avoid getting overly involved in solving their problems.
-Offer advice when needed, but empower them to take the lead in addressing issues with friends.
Model Healthy Communication
-Be a role model for how to handle difficult conversations. Demonstrate active listening, express your feelings calmly, and show respect during conflicts.
-Let your child see that it’s possible to disagree respectfully and still maintain a healthy relationship.
Focus on Quality Friendships
-Emphasize the importance of having a few close friends rather than many acquaintances. Encourage your child to nurture relationships with those who respect and support them.
-Teach them to recognize signs of a healthy friendship, such as trust, mutual respect, and support.
Taking steps to both model healthy friendships and foster independence are key in guiding your student toward building strong, respectful friendships. These skills will not only help them navigate middle school but will also serve them well in their future relationships.
Middle School Choice
We are delighted to share some exciting news starting the 25-26 school year impacting all KCSD96 middle school students at both Twin Groves and Woodlawn.
The KCSD96 Board of Education recently approved the district’s recommendation to allow middle school students to have a choice in their elective courses. Giving students the choice in their electives offers several key benefits that positively impact their academic, personal, and social development– providing a well-rounded educational foundation as we prepare students for high school and beyond.
This means all middle school students will have a choice in taking two of the five options based on their selections: Choir, Band, Orchestra, Spanish, and Exploratories (Music, TASOL which stands for The Art of Science and Living, and Art).
The week of February 10th, 2025, middle school families will receive digital information on each course option offered by the district. We encourage families to spend time together to discuss the different elective options with their students and identify their preferences. The week of March 3rd, students will make their selections during the school day.
Please keep in mind that our primary goal is to create a well-balanced schedule that supports each student’s success across all classes. While we strive to accommodate students' elective choices, scheduling constraints may limit availability in some cases. Thank you for your support as we work to provide meaningful learning experiences for all students.
KCSD96 Parent Network: Please Join Us!
To sign up for the digital presentation of The 5 Principals of Parenting with New York Times bestselling author Dr. Aliza Pressman on February 5th at 7 pm, please visit this link. This event is free and open to the public! Learn more about charting a manageable course for raising good humans, aligning with your own values and your child's temperaments.
Coming February 3rd: Simplifying Stevenson
Save the Date: Monday, February 3rd at 7 pm at Twin Groves, is the date for the next “Simplifying Stevenson,” featuring SHS Principal Troy Gobble and current SHS students in a Q&A about the school. This is designed for parents of Twin Groves and Woodlawn 8th graders who will be SHS freshmen in fall 2025.
This event will be held in the cafeteria at Twin Groves Middle School, 2600 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove.
This event does not require participants to register. It is free and open to parents.
Virtual Backpacks
District Virtual Backpack: https://www.kcsd96.org/about/virtual-backpack
Twin Groves Virtual Backpack: https://www.kcsd96.org/tg/virtual-backpack
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.
Twin Groves Athletics
Please click HERE to access the Twin Groves Athletics site.
This site will be updated frequently.