Dear Families,
We are looking forward to another great week before the winter break. Don't forget to see our special days listed below in the "repeat" information so your child can join in on our Spirit Week daily themes.
It's hard to believe I'm already sharing information about kindergarten pre-registration for the 2022-23 school year. Families of children in our Early Childhood blended or structured programs do not need to follow the steps for pre-registration outlined below. We'll send you separate information, as your children are already in our system.
Respectfully,
Jenny Smith, Principal
NEW *Calendar Reminder*
This is a friendly reminder that next week Tuesday (12/14) is an Early Release Day.
Half-Day KDG regular hours
Full-Day KDG & Grds. 1–5 dismiss @ 2 pm
Structured: 8:30 am–2 pm
Blended AM: 8:30–10 am & Blended PM: 12:30–2 pm
NEW *PRE-REGISTER FOR 2022–2023 KINDERGARTEN (and Get a Free Willow Grove Student T-Shirt!)*
Pre-registration for 2022–2023 kindergarten is in-person or online. Incoming kindergarten students must be 5 years old by September 1, 2022, to register for the 2022-23 kindergarten school year.
In-Person Pre-Registration Option:
When: Thursday, January 13, 2022, 5–7 PM drop-in (Parents may also pre-register online during the month of January for the free T-Shirt)
Where: Willow Grove Early Learning Center, 777 Checker Drive, Buffalo Grove, IL
Parents of incoming kindergartners will need to prove residency with required documents and District forms and to complete a brief online pre-registration form. Incoming kindergartners do not need to be present for the pre-registration event.
Required documents:
• CURRENT monthly mortgage or lease statement or property tax bill AND
• CURRENT utility bill AND
• Student’s birth certificate, passport, or visa (photocopy not accepted) AND
• Parent or Guardian photo ID (Passport or Driver’s license)
Online Pre-Registration Option:
You do not have to attend in-person to pre-register. Details coming soon. Please continue to watch for updates in the Principal's Message and on our District 96 website.
Click here to learn more about Kindergarten in District 96.
Questions? Please contact our D96 public info coordinator at [email protected] or 847.459.4260, ext. 8022.
NEW *Winter Parties December 17, 2021*
Only PTO-approved parent party volunteers may attend classroom parties. Please see more party volunteer information below.
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR PARTIES
District 96 remains vigilant in our efforts to slow/stop the transmission of COVID-19 and works hard to help to ensure a safe learning environment for all students. We are asking that all winter parties adhere to the following guidelines:
No food items should be present at winter parties, even if they are part of a craft
No goody bags / party favors containing food are permitted to be handed out to be taken home
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR PTO PARTY VOLUNTEERS
Parents attending the parties may not bring additional family members, other children, etc. We need everyone to abide by this and will have to ask you to leave if you come with other attendees.
Every PTO volunteer approved to come into our school MUST have their license or ID scanned through our security system to enter. You have to bring this with you or you will not be able to enter. There can be a long line if you wait until the day of the party to scan your ID, so please anticipate this. We highly encourage PTO room party volunteers to swing by Willow Grove sometime next week before the party to have their license scanned, which will speed up the process. The more people who come in early to be scanned, the shorter the line! Again, you may also come on the day of the winter party.
All volunteers must have followed our procedures for verifying vaccination or have proof of a negative Covid test. Call the office with questions.
All volunteers must wear a mask at all times and remain socially distanced.
NEW *Volunteers & Vaccination Verification or Proof of a Negative Test*
This year Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker signed Executive Order 2021-20, regarding educational employee vaccination and testing requirements. The Executive Order which applies to all “school personnel,” volunteers are included in the definition unless they are present for only a short period of time and whose movements of close physical proximity are “fleeting”.
Those who have been identified as a current or upcoming PTO volunteer recently received a survey asking that you provide proof of vaccination and notifying them that if unvaccinated they would need to provide proof of a negative Covid test within 48 hours of reporting to volunteer.
If you have already uploaded proof of vaccination, please disregard this information.
How do I provide proof of vaccination proactively should I choose to volunteer at my student(s) school this year?
By following this link, you may provide proof of vaccination to your school(s).
What if I am unvaccinated but want to volunteer this year?
Unvaccinated volunteers must provide proof of a negative Covid test when they arrive at the school on the day they are scheduled to volunteer. Negative test results are only good for the 48 hours prior to arrival. For example, if an unvaccinated volunteer is scheduled to be in the school the next week, they would have to provide a new test result.
What type of Covid test qualifies?
You may present a negative antigen or PCR test. Home testing kits do not qualify as the test must be observed and documentation of the result is provided to you.
Why can’t unvaccinated volunteers take a Covid test at the school?
The BinaxNow test provided to schools is in short supply at this time. As a result, schools have been notified that we cannot use the test for any screening purposes. If we were to do so, they would no longer supply the test to us. We are only allowed to use the test for symptomatic individuals on campus (students or staff) or when a person qualifies for test-to-stay. If and when test supplies increase, those restrictions may be lifted. If they are, we will be in a position to reconsider testing unvaccinated volunteers in our schools at that time.
What is the process for volunteers to either provide proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test?
- Vaccinated volunteers may submit their proof of vaccination at any time by following the link provided and completing the survey and uploading proof of vaccination.
- The list of those who have done so will be made available to the school (principal, assistant principal, administrative assistant, and nurse) and updated periodically by Lubna Andrabi in our district office.
- Unvaccinated volunteers must bring proof of a negative test to the main office on the day they are scheduled to volunteer.
- The main office will make a copy of your negative test.
- The test result must be within the previous 48 hours. The staff at the front desk in the main office will assist you.
What if I am fully vaccinated but forgot to upload my proof of vaccination?
If you have not uploaded your vaccination card, you may provide proof of vaccination when you arrive (vaccination card). We strongly encourage you to upload your card so that you do not need to present it each time you report to volunteer.
NEW *Cold Weather Gear Reminder*
Once snow arrives, your child may be wearing boots to school. Please remember they will still need their gym shoes every day for PE. We do go outside for recess in the snow. Children must wear a coat, snow pants, gloves/mittens, boots, and a hat/hood to play in the snow. If they don’t have the required snow clothing, they play on the cleared blacktop area. If you're able, consider having an extra set of snow clothing to keep at school and your child will always be ready to play in the snow! They can keep them in a tote in their cubby.
NEW *PTO UPDATES*
Hello Families! Original Works orders will be distributed next week.
Cookie Kits will be available for pickup on the 16th. An email will be sent out to participating families with details on times and location.
Winter Parties will be held on December 17th. Only PTO-approved volunteers may be in attendance.
There are many exciting PTO events coming up in January! Please head over to our blog for more information and dates.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR PTO BLOG FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS!
REPEAT *Vaccination Cards for 5-11 yr olds*
Once the district sponsored vaccination clinics for second doses have been completed, a D96 message will be sent out to all families. This message will include a link for vaccination cards to be uploaded. Please do not send copies of vaccination cards prior to the message going out the week of December 13th.
REPEAT *Willow Grove Spirit Week - December 13-17*
Monday - Dec 13: Crazy hair day
Tuesday - Dec 14: Wear your class color or represent your animal emoji day (see below)
Wednesday - Dec 15: Spirit wear or purple and/or grey day
Thursday - Dec 16: PJ Day (No slippers please. Students need to wear regular shoes. Your student will also need to be dressed warm enough to go outside for recess if conditions allow.)
Friday - Dec 17: Winter party day. PTO volunteers will provide classroom parties in every classroom!
Class Emoji/Colors for Tuesday, December 14:
Ms. Longman - Tiger, orange and/or black
Ms. Chappas - Owl, gold and/or yellow
Miss Derry - Fox, red
Mrs. Dolan - Penguin, blue
Mrs. Preskill - Panda, black and/or white
Miss Filippo - Dolphin, blue and/or silver/gray
Mrs. Hibbs - Rabbit, pink and/or gray
Mrs. Holzman - Giraffe, yellow
Mrs. Schmidt - Koala, pink and/or gray
Mrs. Casas-Maya - Elephant, purple and/or gray
Mrs. Rabin - Turtle, green
Mrs. Santucci - Lion, orange
Miss Wittenberg - Raccoon, purple
Ms. Bentley - Ladybug, red
Mrs. Johnson - Bee, yellow and/or black
Ms. Sewell - Monkey, Brown and/or orange
Ms. Freer - Fish, blue and/or orange
Miss Weihe - Frog, green
Mrs. Yandura - Puppy, blue and/or brown
REPEAT *Hand-Me-Down Donations Accepted*
As I'm sure you're aware, the population of our students does tend to have accidents from time to time, given their age. The nurse has extra clothes, if needed, but is extremely low on pants. If you have any hand-me-downs your child has grown out of that you wouldn't mind donating, we'd love it! Pants that would fit girls or boys between the ages of 3 to 6 would be wonderful, sizes 4T-7T or youth XS-M.
If your child has borrowed clothing from school, please return it. Please also make sure your child has a change of clothes (season appropriate) at school.
REPEAT *Symptoms, Close contacts, Quarantine & International Travel Guidelines*
If you have any questions about symptoms, close contacts or quarantining please visit the IDPH Decision Tree posted on the District 96 COVID-19 webpage.
Additionally, as winter break approaches, please note the guidelines for unvaccinated individuals and international travel posted on the District 96 COVID-19 webpage.
REPEATING *Covid Metrics*
To stay up-to-date this school year on local metrics, please visit the COVID DASHBOARD for District 96. Our priority remains to keep our students safe and follow guidance from the CDC. If your student is identified as a "close contact", you will be notified individually through the contact tracing process.