Dear families,
We are looking forward to our kindergarten music show, which I can't believe is already here next week on May 12! If you missed it last week, there is some important information about our music show in our repeat information.
I know Ms. Payne and I are so excited to show some love to our amazing staff next week as we thank them for the incredible work they do. Next week Staff Appreciation Week is here from May 8-12! If you haven't already done so, share 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.
Thank you,
Jenny Smith, Principal
May & June Dates to Know
May
8-12 - Staff Appreciation Week - Submit a staff shout-out HERE
12 - Kindergarten Music Show - Times and important details below
23 – EARLY RELEASE DAY: Kindergarten, Structured, PM Blended, and PM ECSE dismisses at 2:05 p.m. Blended AM & ECSE AM dismisses at 10:00 a.m.
24 - Field Day for all students - Volunteer opportunity in REPEAT 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
June
1 - PM Blended & PM ECSE ONLY Last Day
2 - HALF DAY for Kindergarten, Structured, and Blended AM and ECSE AM. Blended AM and ECSE AM attend 8:30-11:00 AM. No school for Blended PM or ECSE PM. Structured Learning Classroom hours are 8:30 AM - 11:45 AM. Kindergarten hours are 8:40 AM - 11:45 AM. This is also the last day of school for Kindergarten, Structured, and Blended/ECSE AM.
NEW *Let the Countdown Begin! Blast Off to Summer Starts Friday, May 19!*
NEW *Kindergarten & Structured Lunch Menu Change*
There is a menu change for Monday, May 8. Due to supply issues, Organic Life is changing the menu to waffles or meatball subs. Sorry for the inconvenience. ~ Sue Bergeson from Organic Life
NEW *Fire Drill*
On Thursday, May 11, Willow Grove will be conducting a Fire Drill. Students will be evacuating the building during the drill. If the weather does not cooperate, we will hold the drill at a date soon after.
NEW *PTO News*
WILLOW GROVE END OF YEAR PICNIC
This year, we are excited to offer catering (hotdogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers) cooked on-site by Wiener Take All! Families are also welcome to bring a blanket and pack their own picnic dinner!
A link is up on Membership Toolkit (linked below) for both meal preorders and volunteer opportunities. Please follow us on social media (links below) for more details!
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:
REMINDER: TEACHER/STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
We are planning a fun week of special treats to 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.
REMINDER: 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 *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].
REPEAT *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!
REPEAT/UPDATE *Field Day - Volunteer Opportunity*
UPDATE 5/5/23: There are a few AM volunteer slots still available if you are interested! Sign up NOW!
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 - PM SLOTS ARE FULL
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!
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 *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.