Dear Families,
What a fast and exciting first week of remote learning! If you haven’t heard by now Zoom had a nationwide outage on our first day of remote learning. Thank you for your patience with the Monday morning challenges. Part of what makes Willow Grove a great place to be is the incredible patience, support, and compassion of our community. We value your partnership. We encourage you to take advantage of the upcoming curriculum night. Additionally, remember you have opportunities to connect with your child’s teacher via parent office hours. These typically take place on Monday and Wednesday mornings. If you haven’t obtained the link to these opportunities, you can do so by connecting with your child’s teacher. You can find staff member information by visiting the directory located on the Willow Grove webpage HERE.
Each week of remote learning I'll be sharing a message for students first thing through your child's teacher, called the Willow Grove Weekly. On our first day of school, I read the story, "You Can Do It, Bert!," by Ole Koneke. This story is a reminder that these beginning days of school are big moments, which can even feel overwhelming, particularly in this remote learning environment. Knowing we are a community, even when we are apart, is essential to the success of our school year.
Together, WE are ready to leap into this school year!
Together, WE will learn A LOT this year!
Together, WE can do more than we ever thought we could!
Together, WE will succeed!
Together, WE can do it, Willow Grove!
We are so grateful for your partnership and thank you for a wonderful first week of learning.
You can catch my student videos on this Youtube playlist, anytime.
Sincerely,
Jenny Smith, Principal
NEW *Substitute Teacher Plan for Remote Learning*
In the event that your child's teachers are absent, we have initiated a teaching partner system. Because our teachers plan instruction collaboratively as a grade-level, the teaching partner system will provide students the opportunity to learn grade-level material with students in another teacher's classroom. We believe this provides the best possible scenario for our students. In the event that partner teachers are unavailable, back-up plans have been put into place. For kindergarten, as specials are optional, if a specials teacher is absent the special will be canceled. In the circumstance of a specials class being canceled, we will send a message to parents to notify them of such.
Building administrative assistants will notify families via email of any absences and provide directions for how students should access Zoom links. Classroom teacher Zoom links will be changed to the partner teacher's Zoom session when a teacher is absent. Students should click on their classroom teacher's usual Zoom link, and it will automatically send them to the partner teacher's Zoom session. This process will be in place beginning on Monday, August 31, 2020.
NEW *Tech Hub*
KCSD96 Family Technology Hub! The District 96 Family Technology Hub is designed to guide families through technology tools related to Enhanced Remote Learning. On this site, you can find links to the recordings and the corresponding Slides decks for the parent/family informational sessions from last week. You can also find tutorials on how to use ZOOM, Schoology, Seesaw, Clever, Notability, and other iPad essential tools for student learning. Additionally, there is a link to email the technology support desk. Please save or bookmark this site. It will be updated with tools, resources, and tutorials through remote learning to better support your family.
New *Curriculum Night Update - EC Blended, Structured, & Kindergarten*
Curriculum Night is Tuesday, September 1, 2020. Curriculum Night will be a virtual opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher and learn other ways that the school can support your family and your child. Your child’s classroom teacher will email you a ZOOM link and directions to access Curriculum Night. At curriculum night staff will review curriculum, daily routines, and classroom procedures. I will also be sharing information that will precede your child’s teacher’s presentation relative to overall school building need-to-knows and procedures.
Live Zoom sessions will take place September 1, 2020 - 6:30 PM
New *MAP Testing - Kindergarten Only*
NWEA MAP, or the Measure of Academic Progress, is a norm-referenced, computerized adaptive test that helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child's academic growth. All students will be taking the MAP test in reading and math during the school day. Testing will take place during the MAP window, September 8-18. Your child’s teacher will be in communication regarding details and the specific dates of testing in the coming week.
New *Still Need Materials?*
If you have not picked up curriculum materials for remote learning, please contact the school office.
New *PTO Exec Board Positions Available*
The PTO coordinates a lot of fun activities for both our Willow Grove families and amazing staff. We are looking for awesome parents to give of their time or expertise to help make these events a success. Even though this year might look different from previous years, we are working towards creating new and exciting activities throughout the year. To learn more about each event and sign up to help, visit Membership Toolkit https://wgkcpto.membershiptoolkit.com under the Volunteer Opportunities tab.
New *Calling All Photogs*
I love capturing photos of kids learning in my Principal's Message each week. As currently, the very large majority are learning in your homes, I'd love it if you wouldn't mind sharing a photo or two with me to use in my Principal Message, Twitter, Instagram, etc. If you are comfortable sharing, please email me a photo or two at [email protected]. Thank you!
REPEATING *Family Expectations in the Remote Learning Environment*
We appreciate all that parents are doing to create a conducive learning environment at home. Please refer to the Family Expectations in the Remote Learning Environment document for information to enhance your child(ren)’s remote experience. Expectativas de la Familia Durante el Aprendizaje a Distancia
REPEATING *Tech Support*
As students are home with their iPad devices to access remote learning plans, we do anticipate there may be some tech needs that arise. If you run into any difficulty with your child’s school iPad, just send us an email explaining your problem and we can support you and your device. Please email [email protected] with any tech-related support needed.
If we did not have your child’s iPad at Material Pick-Up, contact [email protected]. They will check the status of your child’s enrollment and work to provide your child’s iPad as quickly as possible. Pick-up for all tech related items will be housed through Ivy Hall School.
REPEATING *Supporting Our D96 Community Families*
The pandemic is creating challenging situations for many families in our community.
Community members who are able to are invited to donate these items: macaroni & cheese (cups or boxes), canned foods (veggies/fruits/tuna/chicken/beans), granola bars, tortillas, cheese (shredded/sliced), eggs, deli meats, frozen ground beef/chicken.
Please deliver to collection boxes outside the Exceptional Learners Collaborative (ELC) front entrance, 990 Corporate Woods Parkway, Vernon Hills, from 8 AM–3 PM. Please observe social distancing when delivering donations and ring the doorbell when delivering perishable foods and/or gift cards.
Questions? Contact [email protected]
REPEATING *Remember to Meet Health Form Requirements*
Health form requirements vary by grade level and for new/returning students. See MORE INFO regarding grade-level specific health form requirements.
REPEATING See the Revised Quicklist 20–21
Calendar Please see the Revised Quicklist 2020–21 CALENDAR, including school hours information and dates for Early Release Days, Half Days, holidays, and winter/spring breaks.