Thank you!
The Willow Grove staff enjoyed a tasty winter's treat in our lounge as we came back to school this week. Thank you PTO and parents for the lovely hot cocoa bar! Such a treat and so thoughtful and sweet of you!
Create a Sticker for Our Teachers!
On March 1st teachers from District 96, 102, 103 and 125 will meet at Stevenson High School to participate in a workshop. The workshop will focus on the diversity within our community and how educators can create an equitable learning environment for all students. Our aspirational goal is to create a community in which all students feel they belong as their authentic selves. We are reaching out to students to help design a sticker with a slogan that will unite all of us around a common theme of respect and inclusion of all.
If you are interested in submitting a design and slogan for consideration, please email a document as a .pdf with your design to [email protected] or turn in a paper copy to the main office in your school. With your submission, please include your full name, grade and school you attend. Your slogan and design may contain images, words or a combination of both and should not be bigger than 6 x 3 inches. Your submission must be an original creation.
Designs need to be turned in on or before Friday, February 8th. If your design is selected you will be contacted by email by February 15th.
PTO News
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.
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.
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.