Dear families,
This week this part of the message has been written by our PTO silent auction winner for "Principal's Helper," Anabella from the Lion classroom!
We had a fun week at Willow Grove! My favorite part of the week was when I got to be the principal and assistant principal's helper! I got to do fun stuff like giving greetings to friends as they came into school and giving out Bear Paws at recess. I also got to make two announcements to the whole school!
Last week we got new toys at recess. We are having so much fun with the toys. Today at recess I saw two friends waiting for somebody to jump over the jump rope. They made their own game with the jump rope! I saw lots of friends making good choices at recess, too!
See you later!
Annabella, Principal & Assistant Principal's Helper
April Dates to Know
21 – HALF DAY – School Improvement Half Day
- Blended and ECSE Early Childhood: Blended/ECSE AM and PM alternate days on half-day attendance days. AM attends on Friday, April 21st. Hours are 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM. PM does not attend school on April 21st.
- Structured Learning Classroom: 8:30 AM - 11:45 AM
- Kindergarten: 8:40 AM - 11:45 AM
25 – EARLY RELEASE DAY
NEW *Kindergarten Only - First Grade Field Trip*
If your child is currently in kindergarten you will receive an email on Monday, April 17th, at about 4:00 PM with information about an upcoming field trip to visit first-grade schools. Please make sure you read the message thoroughly and complete the form as soon as possible. Thank you!
NEW *PTO NEWS*
SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS
For your convenience, school supply kits are now available for purchase (see QR code and school codes below). The kits contain everything on the school supply list for each school and grade level. NOTE: Especially for Early Learners through Early Elementary, most if not all school supplies are shared/pooled. Kindergarten families, please make a note of your child's school next year when you place your order.
REMINDER: CONNECT WITH THE PTO
Remember to check the Willow Grove PTO online at the links below for the latest PTO news and events.
Willow Grove PTO Facebook Page
Willow Grove PTO Membership Toolkit
REPEAT *Spring Conference Feedback Request*
Whether you decide to schedule a student-led conference or not, we would love to hear from you. Please CLICK HERE for a very short survey concerning Spring Conferences.
If the link above does not work please copy/paste the following link into your browser: https://kcsd96.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1NUbeIG55AjvsP4
REPEAT - INCLUDES TIMES & CLOTHING NOTES *Kindergarten Save the Date - Music Performance on Friday, May 12*
We are looking 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. We ask that you save the date of Friday, May 12th. The kindergarten music performance is during the school day and the show is about 30 minutes in length. We also share a recording of the concert with families if you aren't able to make it. As promised, the following are times for each classroom's performance:
9:15-9:45 AM: Hibbs, Preskill, Derry, Wisneski
10:15-10:45 AM: Schmidt, Melamed, Filippo, Casas-Maya, Mason
1:15-1:45 PM: Rabin, Chappas, Santucci, Dolan
DRESS: Our theme for the show is Barnyard Moosical! Students can dress in any way that brings in a farm theme. Examples include denim, plaid pattern, floral pattern, bright summer colors such as green, red, or yellow, anything with barnyard animal, etc. Of course, anything your child wears is just fine! It's just always fun to have a theme if you'd like your child to join in!
REPEAT *Author Visit Coming April 26*
Thank you to our PTO for providing an author visit at Willow Grove! Rekha Rajan is visiting all students at Willow Grove on April 26th. If you are interested in having a book signed by the author please use the following Amazon links to purchase the book(s) and then send the book(s) to school with your child by April 24th. Please write your child’s name and classroom teacher on a post-it note and attach it to the inside cover of the book(s). If you have multiple books, make sure each book is labeled.
IMPORTANT: If you are sending in books for the author's autograph, you must complete THIS SURVEY. This will help us make sure your child's books are accounted for and not left in a backpack, etc. Thank you!
If you have any questions please email Mrs. Martinez at: [email protected]
REPEAT *Kindergarten Families Only: FIRST-GRADE Parent Input for Class Placement (2023-2024)*
We are collecting first-grade parent input for placement at this time through Sunday, April 30, 2023. Entering kindergarten families for the 2023/24 school year will be able to provide input through a link being emailed to families in Apriil. Families must be fully registered to receive the link. This information is only for First-Grade families for the 2023/24 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, the assistant 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.
We welcome any insight you wish to share about your child’s strengths, needs, and learning style. We will take into consideration pertinent information received on or before Sunday, APRIL 30th. Please remember, while we welcome your input, specific teacher requests and friendship requests will not be considered due to the complexity of this process.
I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are provided through this 2023-24 First Grade Parent Class Placement Input Survey. As you can imagine, we receive a lot of parent input, and verbal information and multiple emails are impossible to track. We appreciate your input.
REPEAT *Current Kindergarten & 5th Grade Families Need to Reprove Residency*
District 96 families of current Kindergarten and fifth-grade students are reminded that they will need to reprove their residency by April 15.
To reprove residency, scan or take a photo with your phone and email it to the administrative assistant at the school your current Kindergartner or 5th grader now attends:
1. a current monthly mortgage OR lease statement OR property tax bill OR Warranty Deed, and
2. a current utility bill (e.g., water OR electric OR waste collection), and
3. this Proof of Residency Form (completed and signed)
Your current kindergartner’s or current 5th grader’s teacher assignment/schedule will not be provided for the 2023–24 school year until residency is reproved.
For more information, click here.
REPEAT *Proof of Dental Exam*
Dear Parents/Guardians of District 96 Kindergarteners, 2nd, and 6th Grade Students:
Please note that your child’s completed dental examination is now due, per Illinois school law. The deadline for the dental examination is due no later than May 15 of the current school year. Proof of this required dental examination must have been completed within eighteen months prior to the May 15 deadline.
If you haven’t already done so, please make an appointment with your child’s dentist for a dental examination, have him and/or her complete the required form and return it to your child’s school nurse.
State of Illinois Proof of Dental Examination Form
In the event that you are unable to fulfill this requirement, the state of Illinois does permit a waiver of the examination.