2/28/25
Upcoming Dates:
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
4/1- No School
4/17- Half Day- Students dismissed at 11:10 AM
4/18- No School
4/22- Early Release- Students dismissed at 1:30 PM
5/13- Early Release- Students dismissed at 1:30 PM
5/23- Half Day- Students dismissed at 11:10 AM
5/23- Last Day for 8th Graders
5/26- No School
5/27- 8th Grade Graduation 8 PM
5/29- Last Day for 6th and 7th Graders
5/29- Half Day- Students dismissed at 11:10 AM
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.
Kylie Abrams
Noah Chun
Roy Fang
Trina Saminidy Peter
Laura Perez
Emily Share
Nozima Zair
Counseling Corner
Ms. Baker and Mr. Maddox, School Social Workers
Mrs. Koulentes, School Counselor
Mrs. Leverentz, School Psychologist
March Motivation: Keeping the School Year Momentum Alive
As the school year pushes past its halfway mark, March can feel like a tricky month for students and teachers alike. The excitement of the new year has faded, summer still feels far away, and spring break may not be enough to shake off the mid-year slump. However, staying motivated during March is crucial for finishing the school year strong. Here’s how students can stay on track and keep their energy high as they move toward the final stretch.
1. Set Fresh Goals
March is the perfect time to reassess your goals. If the year started strong but focus has faded, a quick reset can make all the difference. Whether it’s improving a specific grade, participating more in class, or mastering a challenging topic, setting short-term goals keeps motivation high.
Tip: Break larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. Checking off small wins builds momentum and keeps motivation alive.
2. Stay Organized and Prioritize
With assignments, projects, and benchmarks piling up, organization is key. A cluttered work space or a messy schedule can make school feel overwhelming. Use a planner or a digital calendar to track deadlines, and create a to-do list to stay on top of tasks.
Tip: Prioritize tasks using the "urgent vs. important" rule—focus on completing assignments that have the biggest impact on grades first.
3. Find a Study Routine That Works
Falling into a rut with study habits can make learning feel repetitive and dull. Try switching up your study environment, using active learning techniques like teaching a friend, or incorporating study apps for a fresh approach.
Tip: The Pomodoro Technique—25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break—can boost productivity while preventing burnout.
4. Reward Yourself
Hard work deserves recognition! Setting up small rewards—like watching an episode of a favorite show, enjoying a snack, or hanging out with friends—after completing a tough assignment can make studying feel more worthwhile.
Tip: Keep rewards balanced. Choose incentives that encourage productivity rather than distractions that derail focus.
5. Lean on Your Support System
Teachers, classmates, and family members can be great motivators. If school feels overwhelming, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Study groups, tutoring, or even a simple conversation with a mentor can reignite motivation.
Tip: Surround yourself with positive, motivated people. Their energy can be contagious and help you push through tough moments.
6. Take Care of Yourself
Mental and physical health plays a huge role in staying motivated. Eating nutritious meals, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly can make a big difference in energy levels and focus.
Tip: Make time for self-care, whether it’s taking a short walk, practicing mindfulness, or listening to music. A refreshed mind is a productive mind!
7. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
The end of the school year may still feel distant, but every effort made now will pay off. Whether the goal is passing a difficult class, getting into a dream college, or simply finishing the year strong, visualizing success can boost motivation.
Tip: Create a vision board or write down reasons why finishing strong is important—it’s a great way to stay inspired.
Final Thoughts
March may test motivation, but it also offers an opportunity to push through and build resilience. With the right mindset, organization, and support, students can overcome the mid-year slump and set themselves up for a successful end to the school year.
So, stay focused, stay positive, and keep going—summer is just around the corner!
Report Cards- LIVE TODAY AT 3 PM
To view, parents will need to log into School Insight/TeacherEase. Returning families should have School Insight/TeacherEase log-in information. For new families or anyone who does not have an account established, you will soon be receiving an email from the district. If you have any questions, please reach out to your school's front office. If you forgot your password, please ensure you are selecting "Forgot Password" on the School Insight/TeacherEase log-in page. Thank you for your continued support in fostering a positive learning environment!
Lost and Found
Lost and Found is on display in the Cafeteria. Items not claimed by March 7th will be donated.
If you are looking for a misplaced item, email Mrs. Jaegers, [email protected] with your child's name and a description of the missing item.
Middle School Choice
We will be making Middle School elective selections on Tuesday, March 4th, during class meetings for elementary students and flex time for middle school students.
Students should discuss their elective choices with their families at home prior to making their selections at school.
A common question we've received is whether students can take both band and orchestra. This has not been an option for KCSD96 students in the past and will remain unavailable moving forward.
For more details, here is additional information about the middle school elective process.
OPEN NOW: 5Essentials Survey for Parents/Guardians
Now through March 28th, KCSD96 invites you to share your thoughts on the inner workings of your child’s school. On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago.
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.
Please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Survey Support at 1-866-440-1874 or [email protected].
COMING SOON: 5Essentials Student Survey
Beginning the week of March 10th, KCSD96 students in 4th-8th grade will be administered the Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This 25-minute survey is based on over 20 years of research at the University of Chicago and asks students about their experiences in school with the purpose of providing school leaders with critical student input to help develop school improvement plans. Students’ identities will be completely confidential, and teachers and administrators will never see individual responses to survey questions and will only receive aggregated information.
Please be aware that under the Protection of Pupil Rights Act. 20 U.S.C. Section 1232(c) (1) (A), you have the right to review a copy of the questions asked of your student(s). Survey questions can be found on the UChicago Impact Support Center (https://impactsurveyshelp.force.com/s/article/illinois-5essentials-survey-questions).
If you do not want your child’s input to be considered for school improvement purposes, please contact your child's principal by March 7th.
Family Educator Conferences- COMING SOON
Family/Educator Conferences are right around the corner! Once again, we are using Meet the Teacher as our scheduling platform for conferences on Thursday, March 20th (5:00-8:30) and Friday, March 21st (10:00-1:30).
The site for signing up opens on Thursday, March 6th at 3 PM.
All conferences are virtual via Meet the Teacher’s platform unless you contact the staff members and notify them.
-Elementary school families: When you open the Meet the Teacher platform, you will see your child's classroom teacher in the list of available conference sign-ups as well as some specials teachers, special education teachers, and related service providers if your child sees them during a school day.
-Middle school families: When you open the Meet the Teacher platform, you will see ONE of your child's core teachers in the list of available conference sign-ups as well as exploratory teachers, special education teachers, and related service providers if your child sees them during a school day.
Please sign up for a conference with any staff member listed who you would like to see. Meet the Teacher Conference Sign-Up will close at 4:00 pm on Monday, March 17th. After that, you must contact the building administrative assistant at the school.
Click on the link below to sign in to Meet the Teacher or copy and paste it into a browser: https://kildeerdistrict96.meettheteacher.com
For those who may be trying to sign up for a conference using a mobile device, please know that you may encounter issues navigating the platform. For best results, it is recommended that you try to access the link on a laptop or computer.
Families with multiple students in KCSD96 may experience issues when trying to switch between sign-ups. To mitigate any problems, please try using a different browser or logging out between sign-ups.
March 4th Student Registration Opens
Student registration for the 2025-26 school year opens on March 4th. Parents and guardians of new Kindergarten students (who have submitted all required documents) and returning KCSD96 students will be emailed a link to register their child for the 2025-26 school year.
Complete registration by April 15 to receive a $20 Early-Bird discount. Families with returning students who register after April 15 will pay the standard registration fee.
Registering early helps us to plan for the upcoming school year.
Registration fees paid by April 15 for the 2025-26 school year are:
-Early Childhood Blended Tuition: $2,870 (or $335.07 monthly)
-Kindergarten: $90
-Grades 1-4: $110
-Grade 5: $120
-Grades 6-8: $135
Families new to District 96 can find more registration information here: https://www.kcsd96.org/about/registration
If you have any registration questions, please contact [email protected].
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.