Dear Families,
As we head into spring break, we look forward to the spring season of new beginnings, which officially starts on March 20th. We will be hearing more birds singing as beautiful flowers come into bloom. Spring will also bring a new beginning for students who plan to return to in-person learning after spring break. We are very excited to welcome these additional students back to school. If your child is returning to in-person learning the week of March 29th please read the “Return to In-Person Learning” section of today’s blog closely. This information was also emailed to those families, but I wanted to make sure we didn't miss anyone and I also added a couple of things at the end (medication, bus route information, and population screening information-saliva)! As always, we value your partnership.
Warmly,
Jenny Smith, Principal
Upcoming Calendar
March
29 - School resumes
April
1 – AM KDG/AM EC Blended students will be asynchronous - kindergarten may access their typical remote specials; PM KDG/PM EC Blended students will be in session - no AM specials; Structured students will be in session 8:45–11 AM.
2 – NO SCHOOL - District Holiday
5 – NO SCHOOL - District Holiday
6 – NO SCHOOL - Teacher Institute/Election Day
30 – Asynchronous Learning – All students will have a half-day of asynchronous work to do at home. No Willow Grove students attend in-person.
NEW *Daily Self-Certification Questions Revision*
The questions on the Daily Self-Certification will be changing slightly as of Monday, March 29th. Please read the questions carefully when completing the self-certification after spring break.
NEW *Safety Drills*
All schools are required to hold fire/evacuation, severe weather, and lockdown drills. We recognize some of the content could potentially be frightening for our little ones if not handled properly and are extremely cautious and developmentally appropriate in our delivery. Our teachers are attentive to our students' emotions throughout their instruction prior to the drills and during drills, are able to access support if needed, and would alert parents if their child seemed scared or under stress. I am unable to provide specific dates of the actual drills to parents, as drills are meant to be at times where the population is unaware and we respond without knowing exactly when it will happen. This is important for us, as adults, and our students, to help us learn to respond without knowing all of the specifics, just as in an emergency. You can expect lockdown education to be provided to your child as we come back from break followed shortly after by a drill. Your child's teacher will let you know when there has been instruction or a drill. We will maintain our social distancing requirements throughout all drills. Please let me know if you have any questions.
NEW *MATERIAL PICK-UP FOR REMOTE LEARNERS*
For students continuing with remote learning, we will have a material pick-up on Thursday, April 15, from 11:15 AM - 5:00 PM. As always, if this time doesn't work for you, feel free to call our office and we'll work something out. Please just come to Willow and follow the signage to pick up these additional materials. Thank you!
NEW *Transition Times - Remote Family Notice*
As all teachers will soon be simultaneously teaching our remote and in-person learners, you may notice transition times at the end of the day for teachers to support their in-person students to get safely to buses. Please expect that teachers will need to end just a couple of minutes early to provide for this.
Kindergarten Families Only: FIRST-GRADE Parent Input for Class Placement (2021-2022)
We are collecting first-grade parent input for placement at this time through Friday, April 30.
Entering kindergarten families for the 2021/22 school year will be able to provide input at a later date. Registered families will receive a link later. This is only for First-Grade families for the 2021/22 school year.
Creating balanced class lists that meet the needs of all students is a tremendously difficult job that takes many hours of thoughtful dialogue between classroom teachers, administrators, and specialists. At Willow Grove, we take this process very seriously. The process for class list creation is as follows:
Teachers reflect on the social and academic needs of each of their current students while recording pertinent information to assist in the decision-making process.
Grade level teachers, the principal, specials area teachers, and specialists meet together to form class lists that are balanced in terms of academic, social, and emotional needs as well as considering student relationships. This is no easy task and often takes several collaborative discussions. Our dedicated team of educators considers each child’s personality, academic needs, friendship patterns, etc. as they make a recommendation for each individual child. A draft of class lists is created while considering parent input.
Class lists are then revised in August and changes are made to include students who move in or out of the district over the summer.
Willow Grove staff creates the class lists for incoming 1st graders to all District 96 elementary schools.
We strongly believe that this detailed and collaborative process creates learning environments that benefit all students. It is a delicate balancing act that takes much consideration and thought by professionals who know and care about your children. Our goal is to create balanced class lists that promote the success of each child. Please know that your child is placed in a classroom for very specific reasons. The process benefits all students. Because of the input and thought given by teachers, specialists, parents, and the principal, we are very reluctant to make changes once this process occurs, as removing or moving one child can disrupt the balance of an entire class, impacting all students.
I welcome any insight you wish to share about your child’s strengths, needs, and learning style. I will take into consideration pertinent information received on or before FRIDAY, APRIL 30th. Please remember, while we welcome your input, specific teacher requests will not be honored.
I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are provided through this 2021-22 First Grade Parent Class Placement Input Survey. As you can imagine, we receive a lot of parent input, and verbal information is impossible to track. The information you provide in the survey will remain confidential.
NEW: PTO UPDATES
We have some exciting activities coming up for Spring Break! Please be sure to check out our full blog this week!
Spring break activity packets: Willow Grove PTO brings to you a Spring Break Staycation kit that your child can do over their spring break to keep up their curiosity and learning going through the break! Please check out our blog to find out more about how to access our virtual adventures.
Yearbook purchase: 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.
Yearbook photos: Thank you for submitting your student portraits and other pictures. Please be advised that we are no longer accepting pictures for our Yearbook!
NEW *Returning to In-Person Learning Information*
MATERIAL DROP-OFF
To ease your child's load to school on the first in-person attendance day, families should return particular materials and all student supplies. Families should place their child’s dropoff belongings in a disposable bag (such as a kitchen garbage bag) that is clearly labeled with their child’s name. Following is the list of kindergarten materials and supplies your child will need:
- Any reading materials that were provided in prior pick-ups (ReadyGen books, small readers, etc.)
- Writers composition notebook (school provided)
- Bridges math curriculum books (school provided)
- Bridges math material box (school provided)
- The packet of workplace game mats (math) and any additional counters that teachers may have sent home (some teachers sent additional cubes, bears, etc.)
- General Supplies LIST HERE
Families should KEEP handwriting, music, and PE materials at home for their remote specials.
Blended Early Childhood - you may work directly with your child's teacher if you have any questions about what should come back.
Please drop your child's materials off at Willow Grove anytime from 7:45 AM - 4:00 PM this Thursday, March 18, or Friday, March 19. The later you can bring the supplies, the better, to allow children to have their school materials as much as possible within their school time. If you are able, instead of dropping materials off on Thursday or Friday, you may bring your child to Willow Grove for their first day of student attendance, along with their supplies. Bring your child and supplies to the main entrance and we will get the materials to your child's classroom. If you have any specific questions about materials, please reach out to your child's classroom teacher. If you have questions about the logistics of getting the supplies to us, you may call the office.
ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL
I wanted to bring attention to our arrival and dismissal procedures to answer logistical questions for families preparing to transition their child to in-person learning. Hours and AM/PM assignments remain the same.
AM Kindergarten - 8:30-11:00 (doors open beginning at 8:15 AM for Kindergarten, 8:20 AM for Blended)
PM Kindergarten - 12:30-3:00 (doors open beginning at 12:15 PM for Kindergarten, 12:20 PM for Blended)
If you are dropping your child off, we ask that you come closer to "door open" times for arrival routines as learning begins at 8:30/12:30. Tardies are disruptive to the classroom environment. Please be on time.
All Willow Grove kindergarten children will receive a bus route that will include a stop and specific times. Routing information will come by email to families. If you have any bus route questions, please call our office. Blended Early Childhood families, Christine Welsh from our district office will be in touch with you.
When children arrive at school, attendance procedures are in place that accounts for every child. Parents do not need to notify the office if their child is arriving in a different way than what is typical.
If your child is not routinely taking the bus home and you have alternate daily arrangements we need you to contact our office at 847-541-3660. Alternate arrangements must be consistent each week. If this information should change throughout the year, please contact the office. If your child will take the bus home daily, you do not need to let us know as we work under the assumption all students will take the bus.
Parents must be at the stop waiting with their child to be picked up and for their child at the end of the school day. If the bus driver does not see you, they will continue with the route. This is important for the smooth running of our bus routes to ensure timely pick-up and drop-off for all families. If you are not at your child’s stop waiting on your child’s route home, your child will be routed back to Willow Grove and we will call you to come to the school to pick them up. This situation is not ideal, as it does frighten children when adult routines are off (as much as we try to comfort them), so please be at the stop. Please anticipate buses may run late in our first week or so of school as routes are becoming routine.
Parent drop-off and pick-up for kindergarten are located at our main entrance. We do not have a rolling drop-off or pick-up at Willow Grove. Parents must park and bring their child to the main entrance where we ask that you honor social distancing in line as we welcome kids into the building one by one. The building opens at 8:15 AM to begin AM arrival and 12:15 PM to begin PM arrival. Parent pick-up is promptly at the AM and PM dismissal times of 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Parents need to park and come to the main entrance to pick-up, as they do for drop-off. Please wait in a socially distanced line. If someone other than the parent is picking up, please call the office and tell them who will be coming. That person must present ID (license or state ID) at pick-up.
Parent drop-off and pick-up for Blended Early Childhood is located in our back parking lot. There is an access road to the lot on the right of our building that you'll see when facing Willow Grove. Take this drive to the rear of our building. Teachers can provide you any information on specifics if you have questions.
Daily changes (non-routine) must be provided to the office in writing by student note or by phone - DO NOT EMAIL CHANGES. On a day-to-day basis, children attending Willow Grove may temporarily change from bus to parent pick-up, however, we cannot accommodate temporary changes to place a child back on a bus route if your routine plans are different. Placing a child back on a daily bus route schedule requires a route change. Route changes take at least 5 days to take effect and need to be a newly established routine, not a one-time request. Children may not access the bus on days outside of their regularly established routine.
Our arrival and dismissal routines within the school building have been designed to maintain social distancing. For purposes of social distancing and to maintain order on the bus, all students will be directed to sit in an assigned seat separated from peers. Siblings may sit together. Please prepare your child for this routine to sit where the driver or school assigns and to always stay seated in their seat. As a reminder, complete the daily self-certification (further details will come from the district) before your child gets on the bus or comes to the school by parent drop-off. All children coming to school must wear masks on district transportation as well as in the school building.
ADDITIONAL ROUTINE ITEMS OF NOTE
- Please pack a spare change of clothing (at least pants/underpants) in your child's backpack in a ziplock storage bag. Label the bag with your child's name.
- Can your child tie his/her own shoes? If not, now is the time to start practicing! Consider velcro or shoes without ties while your child is still learning to help us at school.
- Can your child zip his/her own coat? This is also the age for children to learn to zip on his/her own. Start practicing now.
- It is still chilly! Where we may go outside for a brief break, we will not have extended outdoor recess time in our half-day schedule. Children do not need snow pants or boots. To execute socially distanced arrival and dismissal, we do not use the cubbies in our hallways. Children will have a chair in the classroom for their coat and backpack at their individual table. Please keep additional winter gear at a minimum, as children won't be playing in the snow, getting wet, etc. Feel free to add mittens/gloves, hat, and scarf for travel, though.
- Children will be bringing iPads and Logitech iPad "crayons" between home and school daily. Please develop a routine of charging both every night and putting them in their backpack each morning. A helpful tip is to post a sign at child eye level on the door where your child will exit in the morning. You can make a picture checklist of this and anything else to support your child to develop independence with morning routines.
- Children should NEVER bring food to school. They should never eat on the bus. We will not have snack during our half-day schedule. We also do not do birthday treats at Willow Grove.
- Please do not send any toys or personal play belongings to school. These tend to cause issues and get lost on the bus and also cause a learning distraction.
- Children may bring individual water bottles to school. They should not be glass and should have a spill-proof top. Children should not take water bottles out on the bus as the roll on the floor and cause a potentially dangerous situation. Please label your child's water bottle with his/her name.
- Remind your child to never stand on the bus or get out of his/her bus seat unless they are getting on or off. Children should always remain seated in their assigned seats and out of the aisle. Most children do not have routine experience with riding a bus yet, and your support is appreciated to help your child make safe choices on the bus.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY: Parents must do the DAILY self-certification for their child. Parents must submit a daily self-certification prior to their student being allowed to attend in person. Parents will need to download the TeacherEase app if they haven't already in order to access the daily self-certification form. Please see this video for further instruction: (Dist 96: In-Person Parent Video Instruction).
COMMITMENT TO PARTNERSHIP
We are confident that the District 96 community will rise to the occasion and partner with us to ensure the safety and success of our hybrid learning plan. Please think carefully about your commitment to our partnership before sending your child to school. Please review our In-Person Learning Protocols
MASKS
- Send your student to school with a comfortable mask that complies with CDC/ISBE guidelines, ensuring that the face-covering fully covers the mouth and nose and that the covering fits snugly against the sides of the face with no gaps.
- There will be extra masks at school for students who need one or whose masks become unusable during the school day.
- Please refer to the CDC guidelines regarding safe and appropriate masks
- Please note the CDC does not recommend the use of a gaiter as a face covering and will not be permitted.
- Alternate face coverings will be provided to students on a case-by-case basis (e.g., a mask with clear window for lip reading, and face shields, when warranted).
- If students are using a washable face-covering rather than a disposable mask, we ask that parents/guardians please wash the face-covering regularly.
- Some very rare situations preclude a student from wearing a face covering, as indicated by a physician. We will address these situations with families and their physician on a case-by-case basis.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to our office for further questions you may have to ease this transition. Again, we are thrilled to have your child join us for in-person learning. We appreciate your continued partnership.
MEDICATIONS
If your child needs to take medication at school please bring the medication to the school nurse’s office in its original container along with this Medication Authorization Form.
BUS INFORMATION
Bus routing information will come by email to families over spring break. Please anticipate that busses may be running late. If you have any bus route questions, please call the office.
POPULATION SCREENING SCHEDULE
Students will receive population screening materials on Monday. Please send your child to school with the saliva collection on their assigned day (AM-Wednesday; PM-Tuesday). Your child will spit into the vial filling it about 1/3 of the way. Seal, clean with a wipe, put in a baggy (provided), wipe, and send with your child in his or her backpack where they can locate it.
REPEATING *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
REPEATING *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!
REPEATING *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.
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 *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.