Happy 2019!
You have to love Crazy Hair Day! We had a fun spirit week we had before the break. Thanks to all of you for being so creative!
What a great week back! I hope everyone had a restful break. The news at Willow Grove is we opened an additional early childhood classroom. Welcome to the "Ladybugs", their families, and to their teacher, Ms. Golden! It's always a joy to meet our new little ones. I hope the kids enjoyed their first few days at Willow Grove.
I can't believe we'll begin registering kindergarteners who will begin in August of 2019 next week! Please see the bottom of this message (prior news section) for more information if this applies to you. Current Early Childhood families whose children will begin kindergarten do not need to pre-register! More information will come home in your child's backpack. Thank you!
Social Skill of the Month!
This month we'll be focusing on goal setting with our students as our social-emotional learning skill of the month. Thank you to our wonderful volunteer parents who designed and put together this beautiful reminder...
Access your child's MAP Student Progress Report
The District will send a School Messenger email today between 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm with instructions for accessing your child's MAP student progress report online. The message will include links to more information about understanding student growth, RIT scores, and general information about the MAP assessment.
Please contact Jeanne Spiller, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching for Learning, if you would like more information about your child's report. (847) 459-4260 ext. 8010, [email protected]
For Parents: Sexual Assault and Abuse Awareness/Prevention Curriculum Preview Opportunity
An Illinois law known as Erin’s Law requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness/prevention curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 12.
Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 researched and observed best practices and programs for delivering this instruction, selecting Victor Pacini to present Be Seen & Heard ©.
The focus of this developmentally appropriate and interactive program is to teach children skills to keep them safe from danger or abuse. Concepts discussed will include distinguishing safe from unsafe touches, safety rules at home and school, saying NO, safe/unsafe secrets, and telling a trusted adult, as well as reinforcing that an adult’s touching him or her is not the child’s fault.
Parents who would like to preview the information he will present to KCSD96 elementary students may attend a program with Mr. Pacini at 5:30 p.m. on Thurs., Feb. 7, in the Mat Room at Ivy Hall School, 1072 Ivy Hall Lane, Buffalo Grove.
The age-appropriate presentation to Willow Grove Kindergarten students will be during the school day on Wed., Feb. 20.
Early Childhood Note: Students in the early childhood Willow Grove programs (Blended and Structured) do not attend the Victor Pacini presentation. Our school social worker pushes into those settings to provide an age-appropriate presentation for our youngest children. If you would like further information about the content, please contact Linda Tandet at [email protected].
If you prefer that your child does not attend this prevention education session (Early Childhood or Kindergarten), please submit your written request - or your questions - to me at [email protected]
Valentine's Day
What, already?? Yep! I saw the Valentine's on display at Target! I like to try to catch parents before they buy Valentine's (if you choose to do so). Even though it is not expected, if you choose to include an item with your child's valentine, please note for the safety of our students only non-food items are permissible. This practice is consistent for all classrooms in District 96 elementary schools including Willow Grove. Your child's teacher will send home any classroom specific information related to Valentine's Day.
PTO News
The PTO has a lot of fun activities for the second half of the year planned! Starting off with dinner night at Panera (Vernon Hills) on 1/17 from 4-8 PM, details and flyer can be found on FB, our blog or virtual backpack, hope to see you then. Save the date for our family movie night (free event) on 1/25 from 6-8 PM; we will be showing Aladdin! More details are in our blog or on FB.
Important Movie Night Note:
Children/families may not bring blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, etc. to Movie Night. PTO's across the district do not allow this at movie nights to keep the spreading of headlice to a minimum. We're sorry about the previous miscommunication on this. Thank you!
Warm regards,
Jenny Smith, Principal
Follow me on Twitter @JennySwanSmith
The following is repeat information from last week's blog, but still current. You can skip this if you already reviewed last week's message.
PLAN AHEAD TO PREREGISTER FOR 2019-20 KINDERGARTEN & YOUR CHILD RECEIVES A FREE WILLOW GROVE BEAR SPIRIT WEAR T-SHIRT!
Do you have a child entering kindergarten next year or have friends or neighbors with incoming kindergarten students? Help spread the word! Receive a free Willow Grove Bear t-shirt for making our pre-registration deadline of January 31st. Two evenings are available for pre-registration.
Parents of 2019–20 kindergartners, take note:
Preregistration for 2019–20 Kindergarten begins in January.
Preregister at Willow Grove Early Learning Center, 777 Checker Dr., Buffalo Grove, on
Thurs., Jan. 17, 5:00–7:00 p.m. OR Wed., Jan. 23, 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Parents of incoming kindergartners will be requested to prove residency with required documents and District forms and to complete a brief online pre-registration form.
Required documents:
• current monthly mortgage or lease statement or property tax bill AND
• current utility bill AND
• child’s birth certificate, passport, or visa AND
Questions? Contact the public info coordinator: 847.459.4260, ext. 8022, [email protected]
EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILIES: Those of you who have children currently in our Blended or Structured EC programs, whose child will be 5 by Sept 1 do NOT need to attend our pre-registration evenings or pre-register. You will be receiving information in your child's backpack next week.
District 96 parents are asked to complete online the parent portion of the Illinois 5Essentials Survey by Jan. 18, 2019.
Access the survey: https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/
As a parent, this is your opportunity to share your thoughts on important elements of your child’s school’s effectiveness. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or [email protected] or Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Jeanne Spiller [email protected]
Attention Parents of Current Kindergartners
If your student is currently a kindergartner at our school, you will need to prove residency again between Jan. 8 and Feb. 15, 2019, in order to receive the email to register him or her for the 2019–2020 school year (1st grade).
Only parents of current kindergartners and 5th graders have this requirement.
To prove residency, please bring to our school office the following:
• a current monthly mortgage or lease statement OR property tax bill
AND
• a current utility bill
Please call our District 96 public information coordinator if you have questions: 847.459.4260, ext. 8022.
QUICK LINKS
EVENTS
Board of Education Meeting
Jan 15, 20197:00 PM
Guiding Coalition of Interculturalism (GCI) Meeting
Jan 16, 20196:30 PM
PTO Coordinating Council Presidents Meeting
Jan 17, 20199:30 AM