Dear Families,
We have two opportunities for students to get involved! Officer Essig, our district police resource officer, has asked students for help in decorating his office. Students are encouraged to submit friendly and welcoming signs. Decorative signs can be turned into the main office until September 30th. Students can also write letters or thank you notes for veterans. The letters will be collected in the main office until October 13th.
I've previously requested no u-turns in front of Willow Grove as you are leaving Checker Drive. Please know if you pull into either parking lot you do need to proceed slowly and with great caution as we have 3-6-year-olds at Willow Grove we are keeping safe. Please be patient and drive carefully around the school at all times.
Kindly,
Jenny Smith, Principal
NEW *Assessment Scores*
Last February, students identified as English learners (ELs) completed the ACCESS assessment. The results of this assessment will be sent home via email on Friday 9/9.
Fall MAP testing has been completed. Scores for students will be sent home via email on Wednesday 9/14.
NEW *PTO Updates*
MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT
Please make sure that your family profile is up to date and your student’s information is current including their current teacher.
UPCOMING PTO EVENTS
We have so many great events planned for the coming weeks including Scholastic Book Fair, Ice Cream Social, volunteer opportunities, and more!
Remember to check the Willow Grove PTO online at the links below for the latest PTO news and events.
Willow Grove PTO Membership Toolkit
REPEAT *Letters to Veterans*
With Veteran’s Day just around the corner, we are inviting D96 students to write thank you notes or letters to veterans. These letters will be included in individualized care packages that will be given to veterans who attend an upcoming recognition event in Lake County. If your student is interested, please have them return their letter or thank you note to the front office no later than October 13th to ensure we are able to mail them in enough time to be included in the Lake County project.
REPEAT: Student Dismissal Plan Changes
A change in a child's typical dismissal routine must be called into the Willow Grove office at least an hour prior to dismissal on the day the child will be picked up from school. At Willow Grove, we need changes to be called in, and not emailed or sent by note with the child. You may leave a message, which we check frequently. Our handbook does say to email or send a note with the child for dismissal changes. This is not safe for the age of our students at Willow Grove. Changes must be called in each and every day if it is a change from your child's typical route. You may not call in for multiple days. Thank you for your support with this. This is for the safety of all students and the efficiency of our dismissal routines.
REPEAT: Simultaneous Student Pick-Up from Willow Grove & Elementary Schools
Please know that we understand that some families may have concerns related to picking students up from Willow Grove and an elementary school building. Please know that all principals are aware of this concern, and no child will ever be left unattended. We know you may be going to more than one school with the same dismissal time. We appreciate your best effort in picking your children up in a timely manner, and we appreciate you adhering to our dismissal times. If when you arrive at a building your child is not waiting outside with an adult, please park and come to the front office. If you will be after 3:15 to a specific location, please call and inform the office of your ETA.
REPEAT * Thought Exchange Partnership*
The District 96 Thought Exchange Partnership (TEP) offers parents opportunities to give feedback and receive information about District instruction, programs, and initiatives. Understanding parent perceptions is helpful for planning and communicating. Contact District 96 Community Parent Liaison Lubna Andrabi, 847.459.4260, ext. 8136, with questions. In particular, the District invites parents who have students enrolled at Willow Grove Early Learning Center to consider joining the Thought Exchange Partnership. The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 15 from 6:30-8:00.p.m.
REPEAT *Erin’s Law - INCLUDES REVISION FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD*
An Illinois law known as Erin’s Law requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness/prevention curriculum for EARLY CHILDHOOD through Grade 12. There was a misprint last week that this is for K-12. My apologies.
Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 researched and observed best practices and programs for delivering this instruction, selecting Be Seen & Heard ©. For more information about this presentation please go to www.victorpacini.com/peace-of-mind-2.
The focus of this developmentally appropriate and interactive program is to teach children skills to keep them safe from danger or abuse. Concepts discussed will include distinguishing safe from unsafe touches, safety rules at home and school, saying NO, safe/unsafe secrets, and telling a trusted adult, as well as reinforcing that an adult’s touching him or her is not the child’s fault.
Opt-Out Procedures
The presentation to KINDERGARTEN Willow Grove students will be during the school day on October 4th. If you prefer that your child does not attend this prevention education session, please submit your written request or your questions to [email protected].
Early Childhood Blended, ECSE, & Structured Learning Note: Students in the Blended and Structured early childhood program do not attend the October 4th presentation. Our school social worker pushes into those settings to provide a presentation for our youngest children. Your child's teacher will let you know when this date will be in the future. If you prefer that your child does not attend this prevention education session, please submit your written request or your questions to [email protected].
REPEAT *Student Picture Day*
Willow Grove’s picture day is Thursday, September 29th.
UPDATE: Info was sent home with students