Dear Families,
Next week report cards will be released to show progress over the course of this trimester. As always, if you ever have any questions related to your child’s grades, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher. I know that all of our students have been proudly preparing artifacts to show you during collaborative conferences the following week. Families, we look forward to seeing you soon!
In regards to conferences, please know that our specials teachers have 300 kindergarten students. The sign-up for our specials teachers are first-come, first-serve, as they cannot meet with 300 families. If you were unable to get a conference slot and wanted to speak with a specials teacher about particular information, please always know you can reach out to anyone at any time. Music teachers do not have Willow Grove conference times available, as they both have home schools where they hold conferences. I've included emails of all specials teachers in the "Repeat" conference section below.
Warmly,
Jenny Smith, Principal
NEW *Updates to mitigation measures coming March 2nd*
On Wednesday, March 2nd updated information related to mitigation measures will be shared with the community. As positivity rates and positive COVID-19 cases within our schools continue to decline, KCSD96 continues to be confident in the mitigation measures we have in place. However, if you have ongoing concerns about optional masking due to your student's extensive medical condition, please reach out to your building principal.
NEW *Safe Driving at Willow Grove*
My name is Officer Michael Essig from the Buffalo Grove Police Department. For those that don't know, I am the school resource officer for School District 96. Some of you have noticed my presence during drop-off and pickups last week. Due to some driving concerns that were brought to my attention, I wanted to evaluate the situation. I witnessed many unsafe U-Turns from cars traveling southbound Checker Drive to northbound Checker Drive. Illinois Vehicle Code,625 ILCS 5/11-802(a) limitations on U-Turns is described in detail in the follow:
The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such a vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic.
Many of the U-Turns I witnessed were unsafe where accidents almost occurred or they interfered with opposite-direction traffic. In addition, the residents in the neighborhood would prefer you not use their driveway as a means of completing a U-Turn. The Buffalo Grove Police Department patrol and traffic units have been briefed on these violations and will monitor the area for enforcement.
My recommendation: The safest option for all vehicles would be to continue travel southbound on Checker Drive after drop off or pickup. For those that need to travel north, continue southbound on Checker Drive, make the left turn on Twilight Pass and make another left on Silver Rock Lane. Lastly, if you make a left turn from Silver rock Lane onto Shady Grove Lane, this will take you to the Checker Drive/McHenry Road intersection.
All schools in the district are experiencing traffic issues due to multiple factors. Please help the situation by being a more patient and safer driver for the safety of the students and other traffic on the roadway.
NEW *Join us for 'Raising Kids Who Thrive*
Join journalist and parent educator Katherine Reynolds Lewis at 7 p.m. March 2 for ~ "Raising Kids Who Thrive: Responsibilities, Healthy Habits and Emotional Well-Being" ~ an interactive talk about how parents can raise children to thrive, be responsible, learn how to take care of their mental and physical health and manage anxiety and stress.
The author of “The Good News About Bad Behavior: Why Kids Are Less Disciplined Than Ever — And What to Do About It,” Katherine will share problem-solving strategies for kids’ difficult behavior or disengagement. This talk covers how to tune in to children's emotions, develop helpful family routines and language for tough conversations, and deal with stress and your own sense of feeling overwhelmed.
Pre-register at: https://kcsd96.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkd-uoqTwtH9Frqo4U0boPDVi1-AMLihpl
For more information, contact Lubna Andrabi, the District's Community Parent Liaison, at [email protected].
NEW *Parent 5Essentials Survey: Share Your Thoughts About Your Child’s School*
Parents and Guardians: KCSD 96 wants to hear from you!
You’re invited to complete the Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school and help school and District leaders better understand the parent/school relationship. This survey is administered on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education.
The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success include:
- Effective Leaders
- Collaborative Teachers
- Involved Families
- Supportive Environments
- Ambitious Instruction
To take the survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the “Parent” survey to begin. Please know that your identity and responses will be kept confidential and will not be connected with your child. You may submit a survey for each child you have in the district.
The survey closes on March 11.
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 at [email protected].
NEW *PTO UPDATES*
Spring conferences are just around the corner. The PTO will be providing the staff with dinner from Pastabilities on March 14th. The PTO will cover entrées, salads, and bread, but would love your help completing the dinner with desserts, beverages, and paper goods. We would also appreciate the donation of breakfast items to power our teachers through their full day of conferences on March 15th. Click this link if you’d like to contribute!
We are looking forward to a fun-filled family night at Pizza Bingo on April 28th! Mark your calendars!
CLICK HERE FOR OUR PTO BLOG FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS!
REPEAT *Bus Stop Reminder*
I have been notified by First Student that some buses are routinely running late as a result of parents not waiting with or for their child at the bus stop. Please make sure at AM pick-up and PM drop-off an adult is waiting at the stop. Drivers are instructed to pass houses that do not have an adult/child waiting at the stop. When you are not at the stop, you are delaying the entire route. We appreciate your attention to this matter.
REPEAT *Masking Information*
As communicated today in Julie Schmidt’s Superintendent Message, on Tuesday, February 15, the bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) blocked the reissuance of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) emergency rules for Covid protocols that were implemented by JCAR on September 17, 2021 and that were renewed on February 14.
Last evening, the 4th District Appellate Court of Illinois dismissed the appeal of an earlier Circuit Court order on Covid related emergency rules issued by two state agencies and Covid related measures in the Governor’s Executive Orders. The Governor’s Executive Order regarding masking in schools remains the subject of continuing litigation as the recent circuit court ruling was on a temporary restraining order (TRO).
All decision-making and education regarding masking will be left up to individual families. We strongly encourage families to make and discuss their family decision to mask or unmask with their children. Please know that staff will not be monitoring or enforcing compliance with family decisions. Our role as educators will be to ensure that all students understand that whether they are masked or unmasked, they are safe, respected, and welcome. Below you will find a list of talking points that have been created and provided to staff by our administrative team to use with students as needed. Please feel free to review them with your children at home if you prefer. As always, if you have any questions please contact your building principal.
Staff will be diligent in monitoring student interactions and report any concerning language/behavior if continuous or intentional. Moving forward bullying/disrespect will be addressed consistent with our current district policy.
Addressing the Change in Rules:
Rules have changed recently and masks are optional for students and staff in our schools. We know this may seem like a big change to people, especially since it is what we have all been doing for such a long time now.
We’ve been wearing masks for a while now, so this change may seem strange to some people. It’s ok if you’re not quite ready to go “maskless.” Masking is optional to people now. If you along with your parents feel more comfortable wearing your mask, it is ok to do so. It is also ok if some people do not want to wear their masks anymore. It is your family choice but we do want you to talk with your parents about what is most comfortable for you.
Maintaining Safety & Routine in School:
- The adults in this school are all here to make sure that everyone can safely learn in school. School is, and will remain, a safe place for all.
- Our school nurses, principals, maintenance staff and every adult in the building does their very best to make sure everyone is safe in school. Even though some people may not be wearing a mask, and others are, all students are safe in school.
- Practicing good hygiene at all times is important to be healthy. We will still be washing our hands, monitoring our space when around others and in big groups, and we will always encourage those who are sick to stay home until they feel better.
- Anyone who tests positive for COVID will still need to isolate at home.
- You are following the school rules whether you are masked or unmasked.
- If there are things that make you nervous or anxious, there are lots of people in school to help you navigate those feelings. Make sure you talk to a trusted adult (teacher, parent, social worker, coach, etc) if you are experiencing stress or anxiety.
Respecting Everyone’s Personal Choice:
- We must be kind to one another no matter a classmate’s mask choice. We are all members of this school community, and we rely on each other to create a great environment to learn in.
- It is ok for other students and families to make a different choice than you and your family. We appreciate the difference in thought and opinion. However, if you disagree with someone’s decision on masking, it is not ok to make fun of them, argue with them, or be disrespectful to them in any way.
- It is not appropriate to encourage or coax other students to make a choice about masking that you believe is right. Each person and family should make that choice themselves.
- Families and teachers can make their own decisions based on what they feel most comfortable with at this time. Each family has its own set of circumstances that they need to consider when making a decision about masking.
- It is important to be understanding of others’ choices, even if they are different than our own. If someone wears a mask, that is ok. It is also ok to not wear a mask.
- Every person has a different level of comfort about personal space. If someone asks for some extra space because they are uncomfortable in a situation, it is kind and respectful to give them that space.
- Disrespectful behavior towards others based on their choice to or not to mask will not be tolerated. It is expected that you are kind and inclusive to all of your classmates.
- Disrespectful comments and actions towards others are not expected behaviors in our school. This includes comments and actions related to mask-wearing and mask choice.
Supporting my child at home:
We encourage you to take this opportunity to make the best decision for your family regarding masking and discuss this with your children so they are clear as to your wishes. Staff cannot reasonably be expected to monitor or enforce student compliance with family preferences regarding mask-wearing. Staff will and have been mindful about giving students reminders to adhere to their family preference. Please bring this up with your child periodically as we move forward to continue to support your family choice and check in with your child. Additionally, you may speak with your child about respecting choices of others and feeling comfortable to share any concerns with a trusted adult at school so we can help support and problem solve anything, if needed.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the building principal.
REPEAT *SPRING COLLABORATIVE CONFERENCES*
The collaborative conference dates are Monday, March 14th from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM and Tuesday, March 15th from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM.
We will be using Meet the Teacher as an electronic sign-up for collaborative conferences. A School Messenger email will be sent to families on Thursday, February 24th at 6:00 PM with a link to sign up for conferences.
Collaborative conferences will be held over zoom unless parents request an in-person conference using the instructions below. To support easy location of Zoom meeting links, a single document with ALL the staff zoom links will be sent out on Friday, March 11th.
REQUESTING AN IN-PERSON CONFERENCE
After selecting the teachers you wish to meet with and choosing a time for each conference, Meet the Teacher will prompt you to save the appointment and ask if you want to add a message for the teacher.
If you want to have an in-person conference with the teachers, you must notify the teachers via this messaging feature (see picture below).
ADDITIONAL NOTE: You may notice kindergarten music teachers are not available to meet during conferences. Our music teachers are between buildings and as the large majority of their time is at the elementary buildings, they spend conferences there. If you have specific questions and would like to touch base with music teachers, I encourage you to reach out to them directly at any time:
Kdg Music, Mrs. Murray - [email protected]
Kdg Music, Mrs. Muehling - [email protected]
Kdg PE (EC gross motor break) - [email protected]
Kdg Quest and Exploration Lab - [email protected]
REPEAT! UPDATE! *Save the Date - Kindergarten Music Performance*
We are looking far ahead at our calendars to prepare for the kindergarten music performance. This event celebrates our kindergarten students as they near the end of their school year. To allow for a larger audience, our kindergarten music performance will be outdoors. We ask that you save the dates of May 6, with May 12 as a rain date. The kindergarten music performance is during the school day and the show is about 30 minutes in length. In very short order I'll have an update that includes the specific time of your child's performance. We also share a recording of the concert with families if you aren't able to make it.
UPDATE - TIMES
Each kindergarten student will take part in one of the two performances. Each performance lasts about 30 minutes.
AM show (10:15 AM): Schmidt, Longman, Filippo, Casas-Maya, Hibbs, Preskill, Rabin
PM show (1:15 PM): Wittenberg, Chappas, Santucci, Dolan, Derry, Holzman
REPEATING *PCR Results*
If you do not receive your child’s PCR results, we apologize for the inconvenience.
For missing PCR test results, please send an email ~ with your children's first and last names and date of birth ~ to [email protected], indicating that you are looking for missing lab work for them.
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.