Dear families,
This week we had the author visit with Rekha Rajan, which was so exciting! Her books were absolutely perfect for our young audience. Author visits are inspiring for students, supporting a continued love of reading and writing. Thank you to our wonderful PTO for bringing this special event for all of our students to enjoy!
This is another quick reminder that Staff Appreciation Week is coming up May 8-12 and we so appreciate it if you could take a brief moment to send some gratitude HERE for all the care and support our staff provides students. You can send it to individuals or groups. If you don't know a name, just describe the position and we'll figure it out! Even just a quick sentence is incredibly appreciated.
We have a couple of volunteer opportunities listed below if you're interested. We appreciate your help and love having you around the building.
Thank you,
Jenny Smith, Principal
May Dates to Know
1-2 - MAP Testing for all Kindergarten Students
8-12 - Staff Appreciation Week - Submit a staff shout-out HERE
12 - Kindergarten Music Show - Times and important details below
23 – EARLY RELEASE DAY
24 - Field Day for all students - Volunteer opportunity in NEW information this week!
26 – HALF DAY for Kindergarten, Structured, and Blended PM and ECSE PM. Blended PM and ECSE PM attend 8:30-11:00 AM. No school for Blended AM or ECSE AM. Structured Learning Classroom hours are 8:30 AM - 11:45 AM. Kindergarten hours are 8:40 AM - 11:45 AM.
29 – NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
NEW *Cross-Cultural Expert Speaks May 23*
An expert in the raising of children cross-culturally will share her wisdom with District 96 families at the end of next month. Author Ruth E. Van Reken speaks virtually on “Raising Children Cross-Culturally: Maximizing the Benefits, Minimizing the Challenges'' on May 23, 2023 (7-8:30 p.m.). She is the author of “Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds (3rd edition).”
Here’s what she will discuss:
“There is no question that there are many gifts for those who grow up interacting with different cultural communities. Learning to ‘code-switch’ positively in certain situations can be a great asset in today’s globalizing world. Being a cultural bridge is another gift that can come with such a childhood. But the realities of juggling the differing expectations between different cultural contexts can also introduce certain challenges. Questions related to identity, attachment, and belonging are often common during this process. This session will not only help to normalize why these challenges frequently arise, but also share practical strategies for how parents and other caregivers can help children maximize the gifts and grow from the challenges as well.”
To pre-register, please visit HERE.
For questions, please contact Lubna Andrabi, Community Parent Liaison, at [email protected].
NEW *MAP Testing - Kindergarten Only*
Students in kindergarten through grade 5 will take the MAP assessment on Monday, May 1st and Tuesday, May 2nd.
NEW *Additional Kindergarten Music Show Information*
As a reminder, our Kindergarten Music Show is on Friday, May 12. Following are the 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
The doors will open ten minutes prior to each performance. You will enter the gymnasium doors located in the South parking lot. There are two doors that will open at the same time. Parents may line up at either marked door. Parents exit out the same doors, promptly at the end of the show.
It is important to note that we are unable to arrange student pick-up or early dismissal immediately following the performance as we cannot manage this safely. Kindergarten students stay until our regular dismissal times where dismissal is managed safely for all students. If you have questions about this for a specific need, please call our office.
We will share a video for family members to view if you are unable to attend. Of course, it's a full-scale view, not of individual children. I know parents in the past play the performance while their little ones put on their own show on the family room floor!
At Willow Grove and throughout District 96, the safety of students is always our number one priority. We partner with the BGPD to provide school resource officer support. As such, please expect to see a police officer on-site while we have many visitors enjoying the performance. We regularly partner with our school resource officer for the security of our students.
Student Dress Reminder: 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!
We are looking forward to this memorable event!
NEW *Field Day - Volunteer Opportunity*
On Wednesday, May 24th, all Kindergarten and Early Childhood children will be participating in Field Day at Willow Grove! This is a rain-or-shine event filled with fun! There will be 9 different stations, such as Silly Races, Parachute, Treasure Hunt, and more.
Mr. Sutton is looking for parent volunteers to run each station. If you are interested, sign-up HERE. Half the students will attend Field Day in the morning, and half in the afternoon. Please see the list below to see when your child’s class will be participating. Sign-up is due by Monday, May 8th. First come, first serve.
AM 9:00-11:00
Filippo
Mason
Melamed
Schmidt
Casas-Maya
Dolan
Rabin
Freer
Yandura
Wiehe
Sewell
Ramirez
PM 12:30-2:30
Hibbs
Preskill
Derry
Santucci
Chappas
Freer
Yandura
Wiehe
Sewell
Ramirez
Wisneski
*Parents of Mrs. Evers and Mrs. Carey may reach out to the teacher to know which their child is attending if you are interested in volunteering.
Volunteers need to be here at 8:45 AM for AM Field Day and 12:15 PM for PM Field Day.
There are a limited number of volunteer spots to have a manageable group size and maintain an orderly and safe environment. We will have to ask volunteers who arrive with additional children/siblings or adults to leave, as only approved volunteers may attend. This is also not a spectator event and we cannot allow anyone other than approved volunteers on the Willow Grove campus. This is for the safety of students. For those who volunteer, Mr. Sutton will be in touch with you with any further details about a week before the event.
Thank you so much for your interest! We'd love to have you!
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*
ATTENTION EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILIES!
Is your student continuing on at Willow Grove next year? Do you love making new connections with other Willow Grove families? Please consider serving on the Willow Grove PTO Executive Board next year! Two co-president positions and the VP of Fundraising role are up for grabs! It has been really rewarding to be involved this year and there is a ton of support available from PTOs across our amazing District. For more info, please email us at:
WILLOW GROVE END OF YEAR PICNIC
Please follow us on social media and check Membership Toolkit (links below) for more information about this fun event including volunteer opportunities!
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 *Staff Appreciation Week May 8-May 12*
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!
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.