Dear Families,
This week brought sunshine and smiles all around. The warmer weather is encouraging, especially after weeks of frigid temperatures and ongoing snow. Next week brings our spring conferences and we are looking forward to sharing your child’s progress. It truly has been a partnership this year and we are grateful for you!
Warmly,
Jenny Smith, Principal
Upcoming Calendar
March
11 - Early Release Day - Family Educator Conferences 5:00-8:30 PM: WG AM KDG/EC Blended AM dismisses at 10 AM; WG PM KDG/EC Blended PM dismisses at 2 PM; WG Structured dismisses at 2 PM
12 - No School for Family Educator Conferences 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
16 - Early Release Day: WG AM KDG/EC Blended AM dismisses at 10 AM; WG PM KDG/EC Blended PM dismisses at 2 PM; WG Structured dismisses at 2 PM
19 - Last day of school before spring break - school closed Mar. 22-26
29 - School resumes
NEW *Kindergarten Day Update*
If you have not already done so, please review Superintendent Schmidt's recent Superintendent Message. While kindergarten is the only grade level that is attending five days per week (on a half-day schedule), we are currently examining if there are full-day options that would allow us to maintain quality instruction without excessive disruption. This would only happen if and when updated guidance allows us to safely do this. If this is possible, AM and PM sections would be combined to provide a full-day experience. The changing of the kindergarten schedule in this manner is complex on several levels. I'm writing this to let you know if we are able to return to a full-day kindergarten schedule this school year, our new hours would be 8:40 AM - 3:00 PM so you can make family plans to support this. We can share that based on the timelines established, the very earliest that the school day would change is April 12. We will continue to keep you updated as circumstances evolve.
NEW *In-Person Families Accessing Remote Learning*
If your child is an in-person learner, our teachers are set up to provide in-person instruction to your child daily. Where teachers do have NEAT Bar technology to allow them to teach in-person and remote students simultaneously, preparation is required. We utilize this technology for students who either have a current status of remote learning or for those needing to quarantine due to Covid 19 symptoms or being a close contact. Outside of those reasons, we require principal permission to access remote learning.
NEW *NURSE HOURS and IDPH DECISION TREE*
Our District 96 nurses are closely following the Illinois Department of Public Health school exclusion decision tree to determine when students are eligible to return to turn school. Thank you for your patience with students who have had to isolate or quarantine due to illness, household, illness, positive COVID-19, and/or close contact status. The building nurse will request appropriate documentation for students to return to school. While you may receive this documentation outside of school hours, the nurse will contact families regarding a return date upon receipt during the next school day.
If you would like to be in touch with one of the District 96 nurses, please note the hours that they are available.
Country Meadows, Ivy Hall, Kildeer, Prairie, Willow Grove: 8:00-3:15
Twin Groves, Woodlawn 7:30-2:45
NEW *March Family Activity*
In January we enjoyed our mitten tree. Then February came and we collected hearts that beautifully are decorating our main entrance. Now it's March already! During the month of March we are celebrating our favorite bear, BUDDY! Kids can PRINT BUDDY HERE or draw their own, cut it out and decorate him. They can send a Seesaw video or photo of them hanging out with Buddy somewhere or teaching Buddy something! In-person students can bring their Buddy to school and remote parents can drop them off anytime. Anything we collect will decorate our main entrance along with our hearts we collected in February because WE LOVE BUDDY!
NEW *IMPORTANT March 8 Communication to Parents of FULL REMOTE Students*
If you are the parent of a full remote student, please make a note to check on Mon., Mar. 8, for an email from District 96. The email includes a link to a survey to opt your student in for in-person learning, if you choose. Survey responses are due no later than 11:59 PM on Thurs., Mar. 11. Questions? Contact [email protected]
NEW *Student Report Card Access Mar. 10 After 3 PM*
Your student’s report card will be available for you to access online Wed., Mar. 10, AFTER 3 PM. If you need assistance, please SEE INSTRUCTIONS TO VIEW YOUR CHILDREN’S REPORT CARDS, to switch between your children’s report cards and more. Report cards will be available for online access after 3 PM on Mar. 10.
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*Acceso a las Boletas de Calificaciones de los Estudiantes el 10 de marzo después de las 3 PM*
La boleta de calificaciones de su estudiante estará disponible en línea el PRÓXIMO Viernes, 10 de marzo DESPUÉS DE LAS 3 PM. Si necesita ayuda, por favor VER LAS INSTRUCCIONES PARA VER LA BOLETA DE CALIFICACIONES DE SU ESTUDIANTE, intercambiar entre boletas de calificaciones de sus hijos, y más. Las boletas de calificaciones estarán disponibles en línea después de las 3 p.m. el 10 de marzo.
NEW *2021–22 Registration Emails Were Sent Thurs., Mar. 4*
Please check for registration email(s) for the 2021–22 school year, sent Thurs., Mar. 4.
Each registration email includes a link and a unique “snapcode” needed for access to register your returning student for 2021–22. EVERY student returning to District 96 for the school year ahead must be registered.
Information you provided previously will appear in your student’s online registration record. Please check that information carefully and update it if it is not accurate.
Completing and submitting online registration and making payment no later than Apr. 15, 2021, will save families $20 in registration cost per student. Fees increase after Apr. 15.
Questions? Please send email to [email protected] or call 847.459.4260, ext. 8022.
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*LOS CORREOS ELECTRÓNICOS DE LA INSCRIPCIÓN PARA EL CICLO ESCOLAR 2021–22 SE ENVIARON EL JUEVES 4 DE MARZO*
Por favor busque el correo electrónico de la inscripción para el ciclo escolar 2021–22, que fue enviado el jueves, 4 de marzo.
Cada correo de inscripción incluye un enlace y un “código” exclusivo que usted va a necesitar para inscribir a su estudiante que regresa al ciclo escolar 2021–22.
TODOS los estudiantes que regresan al Distrito 96 para el ciclo escolar próximo deben estar inscritos.
La información que usted brindó anteriormente aparecerá en el registro de inscripción en línea de su estudiante. Por favor revise eso cuidadosamente y actualice cualquier información si no está correcta.
Si completa y entrega la inscripción en línea y hace el pago antes del 15 de abril, 2021 las familias ahorrarán $20 en la cuota de inscripción de cada estudiante. Las cuotas aumentan después del 15 de abril. ¿Preguntas sobre la inscripción? Por favor envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected] o llame a 847.459.4260, ext. 8022.
NEW *Kindergarten Exploration Lab Special Request*
Does your child participate in the optional special, Exploration Lab? We highly encourage this experience. If so, please continue to save empty toilet paper and paper towel tubes we will be using them in April and May! Thank you!
NEW *PTO Updates*
We have so much happening and look forward to your support! Please be sure to check out our full blog this week!
Sale Extended: You can now order your St. Patrick's Day Cookie decorating Kits through Membership Toolkit through the weekend and get a chance to enter a contest!
Restaurant Fundraiser: Dine at Joanie's Pizzeria all day on Saturday, March 6th and support Willow Grove PTO.
Capture your memories, order your yearbook now! You can check your emails for a receipt from "PowerSchool Registration Support" to verify whether you pre-purchased a Yearbook when registering your student for the current school year.
Submit photos of your Kids along with their siblings for our Yearbook. Please remember to upload only appropriate and limited photos for review and consideration.
More details on all of this in our PTO Blog!
Repeating *Calendar Updates*
With our half-day, 5-day a week structure at Willow Grove, district calendar updates can use some additional explanation. Recently, communication has come out that provides in-person days on Wednesdays for elementary and middle school students. At Willow Grove, our 5-day per week schedule is in place and student assignments for Wednesdays do not apply to us. Previously, I communicated asynchronous dates (remaining March 17 and April 21). These dates have been revised, based on the new elementary/middle school structure. I’ve outlined Willow Grove specific calendar updates for your convenience below:
March 17 & April 21 - NO LONGER asynchronous learning days. These have been moved. Please take off of your calendar.
April 1:
AM KDG/AM EC Blended students will be asynchronous.
PM KDG/PM EC Blended students will be in session.
Structured students will be in session 8:45–11 AM.
April 30:
All students will have a half-day of asynchronous work to do at home.
No Willow Grove students attend in-person
May 28:
Willow Grove AM KDG/EC Blended AM meets 8:30–11 AM
Willow Grove Structured meets 8:45–11 AM
NO SCHOOL for WG PM Kindergarten and PM EC Blended ONLY
June 2:
Last day for AM KDG/AM EC Blended
June 3:
If NO ADDITIONAL Emergency Days are used, June 3 is the last day (Half Day) of required attendance for Willow Grove PM Kindergarten/PM EC Blended (meet 12:30–3 PM) and Willow Grove Structured (meets 8:45–11 AM)
Willow Grove AM Kindergarten/AM EC Blended are not in attendance.
REPEATING *Spring Parent/Educator Conferences*
Spring Parent/Educator Conferences are right around the corner! The conference will take place on Thursday, March 11th from 5 PM to 8:30 PM and Friday, March 12th from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM. These conferences will be 15 minutes in length and held remotely over Zoom. We will continue using Meet the Teacher as an electronic sign up for conferences.
Please know that the sign-up link will be sent out in a separate communication on Friday, February 19th at 7:00 PM.
Meet The Teacher does not require that multiple conferences be made, but it does default to every teacher a student works with being checked. These individuals include classroom teachers, specials teachers, related service staff, and interventionists that students work with. At Willow Grove, this includes specials teachers, which not all kindergarten students work with as they are optional. We prioritize conferences for families of students who are attending the specials, as they do not have enough slots to meet with every family. If you have questions about how to access specials for your child, you may reach out to your child's teacher, who can direct you to instructions for joining or to the specials teacher you'd like to connect with.
Please see the picture below for directions on how to uncheck a teacher/interventionist if you do not need to meet with during conferences or for a specials teacher your child does not see.
Repeating *Kindergarten and 2nd Grade Parents Dental Screening Reminder*
The Illinois School Code requires all children in kindergarten, second and sixth grades to have a dental examination by May 15th of each year in compliance with the rules adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health. If you have not already done so, please submit your 2nd-grade child’s dental exam form to our building nurse. To see a complete list of the health forms required for students, please visit our Student Health Section of our Web page.
REPEATING *FREE MEALS DISTRIBUTION/QUANTITY SCHEDULE*
Families who want to pick up free meals for their students will receive two meals when picking up on Mon., Feb. 1.
On Wed., Feb. 3, they will receive meal supplies for five meals.
Beginning the following week (the week of Feb. 8), there will no longer be meal pick-up on Mondays. Instead, meal supplies for five meals will be distributed on Wednesdays.
Pick-up hours/location 11 AM–2 PM at Twin Groves or Woodlawn Middle Schools parking lots will remain the same.
Please direct questions to the public info coordinator at [email protected]
REPEATING *Tech 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.
Please email [email protected] with any tech-related support needed.