Dear families,
It's time to celebrate our staff! Staff Appreciation Week is coming up on May 8-May 12. I know that our PTO has some wonderful things in store to celebrate the commitment of our staff to our students. We appreciate your partnership and all that you do to make our staff and students feel special and valued. Please join me in celebrating our staff by submitting a shout-out HERE! I will personally email the staff during staff appreciation week with your shout-out to thank them for a job well done!
Best,
Jenny Smith, Principal
April Dates to Know
25 – EARLY RELEASE DAY
• KDG dismissal at 2:05 p.m.
• Structured dismissal at 2:05 p.m.
• Blended AM & ECSE AM dismissal at 10:00 a.m.
• Blended PM & ECSE PM dismissal at 2:05 p.m.
NEW *Staff Appreciation Week May 8-May 12*
If you didn't see it in my introductory paragraph this week, Staff Appreciation Week is coming up May 8-12. We'd love your help celebrating our staff by clicking HERE. This can be for individuals or groups. Ms. Payne and I will personally share your praise. We appreciate you taking the time to do this. Thank you!
NEW *Severe Weather Drill*
On Friday, April 28, Willow Grove will be conducting the annual Severe Weather Drill.
NEW *Library Helpers - Volunteer Opportunity*
Calling all parents! We love putting many books in the hands of kids to encourage a love of reading. This means a rapid flow of books in and out of our learning center library, and your support to reshelve books is so appreciated! Please email Ms. Martinez at [email protected] if you would be interested in this opportunity.
NEW *PTO NEWS*
TEACHER/STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
We planning a fun week of special treats celebrate our amazing Willow Grove staff during Teacher/Staff Appreciation week May 8th through May 12th!
If you wish to make a contribution, please see our form in Membership Toolkit:
https://wgkcpto.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/9406
Thank you in advance for your support.
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 - 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 *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.