Ready, Set, GO!
We are looking forward to kicking off the new school year next week on Thursday, August 17th, for all of our students, with the exception of Blended PM. Blended PM students begin on Friday, August 18th, and we can't wait to see them, as well!
Last week I included a significant amount of important information in my Principal’s Message. Each week I carry over messages that are still relevant. You’ll see these marked “REPEAT” in the heading. Similarly, new information will be labeled “NEW.” If you’re all caught up, you can skip the repeats, or they are just there for a friendly reminder.
Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions in the main office or ask while you're at our Meet the Teacher event coming up on Wednesday. It will be a busy place at our Meet the Teacher event. This is an opportunity to drop off supplies, greet the teacher, and take a quick peek around the school. You will also receive a lot of information at Curriculum Night, just around the corner on Monday, August 21st. Curriculum Night is a parent-only event.
We're looking forward to launching a successful school year next week!
Kindly,
Jenny Smith, Principal
August At-A-Glance
- Wednesday, August 16 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am - Meet the Teacher at Willow Grove
- Thursday, August 17th - First day of school for all except Blended PM. Half-Day attendance.
- Friday, August 18th - Blended PM first day of school. Regular school day hours for all.
- Monday, August 21st - Curriculum Night - Parents Only Event
- Tuesday, August 29th - Early Release Day
NEW: Curriculum Night, Monday, August 21, 6:30-7:30 PM
Curriculum Night is scheduled for Monday, August 21, and is from 6:30-7:30 PM. This parent-only event is for all Willow Grove classrooms, including early childhood and kindergarten. Families begin with Assistant Principal, Ms. Payne, and me for a quick overview of some building items and then join their child's teacher for the remainder of the evening. The evening begins in our gym. We look forward to seeing you!
NEW: 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. 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. As Willow Grove is not a rolling car drop-off, we do recommend starting at Willow where if you arrive a little early to be towards the front of the line, you can quickly get your child and move onto the elementary school. 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 an elementary building your child is not waiting outside with an adult, please park and come to the front office. At Willow Grove, you will always come to the main entrance to retrieve your child. If no adults are at the door, just buzz the office and we'll let you in. If you will be after 3:15 to a specific location, please call and inform the office of your ETA.
NEW *Parent Drop-Off Information & Tardies*
If you bring your child to school, we appreciate you making sure your child is on time. This creates a smoother transition for your child into their school day and helps keep our routines and procedures in order for morning check-in. Teachers need to do a lot to get kids checked in and when children are late it is a disruption to the regular classroom procedures. Please aim for our drop-off start times. It's extremely helpful to come at the time doors open, as opposed to when school officially begins. Everyone except Blended PM can begin entering at 8:25 AM. Blended PM can begin entering at 12:25 PM.
A parent/guardian must accompany students to the office and sign them in if they arrive after our official school start times at 8:40 AM for kindergarten, structured, and Blended/ECSE AM or 12:35 PM for Blended PM.
NEW: General Communication Expectations for Teachers
Kindergarten and early childhood teachers will communicate with parents through a classroom newsletter update, at a minimum, every other week. Blended, ECSE and Structured classrooms also provide a brief daily report. You will learn more about the teacher's communication from them at curriculum night.
NEW: Tips for a Successful Start
- Kindergarten & Structured: When our students eat lunch, we build in additional time in our schedule to teach routines for the first few days. If you're packing a lunch for your child, please avoid large treats as young children like to eat the treats first, and may avoid the nourishing lunch you have packed. Please also cut up any larger items, such as fruit or veggies. Please work with your child on independently opening lunch bags and containers. We'll help them if they need it, too! It's just a good thing to start practicing so your child can be more independent.
- All: Snack items must be from our District Approved Snack List. If you are sending a lunch from home (kdg or structured), pack snacks and lunches separately and make sure your child knows where each is. It's encouraged that your child's lunch is in a lunch bag and the snack can be in the front pocket of their backpack. Sometimes they get the two confused. If you place both together in the lunch bag, they will not have their snack because their lunch bag goes to the cafeteria first thing in the morning. Children eat their daily snacks in their classrooms. In addition, if you provide a water bottle for your child to have in the classroom and also want one to be with their lunch, you need a second water bottle with their lunch.
- All: Label EVERYTHING. Tracking down lunch boxes, water bottles, snacks, etc. is very difficult. At this age, students love to explore their backpack items and put them where they don't necessarily belong. Keep those labels going as we get into colder months for coats, mittens, scarves, etc.
- All: Never park in the front circle drive. This is for buses and emergency vehicles only.
- All: Please be sure your child brings or wears gym shoes and socks every day to school for gym class. Their shoes must be fully covered on top for safety reasons. Sandals, sports sandals, crocs, and boots are not appropriate for gym class. If your child does not have gym shoes, they will sit out of PE activities that day and a reminder note will be sent home. It is encouraged that your child keeps a pair of gym shoes in their cubby at all times. This will also help out in the winter months when they may be wearing boots to school.
REPEAT *Important August Dates & School Attendance Hours*
Please make sure you have noted the important dates indicated on our school calendar. You’ll find information on all student attendance days, such as our daily program hours, days off, early release days, and district half-days.
*If you have children at other schools you may see there is a new family tour at elementary buildings. Willow Grove doesn't do this, as almost all families are new. A self-guided tour is included as part of our Meet the Teacher Day explained below. You will also get to see the building on Curriculum Night.
Wednesday, August 16th - Meet the Teacher at Willow Grove from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM. More information is provided below.
Thursday, August 17th - First day of school. This is a half-day. Student hours are as follows:
- Kindergarten (including Structured Kindergarten) and Early Childhood Structured: 8:40 AM - 11:45 AM. Parent drop-off begins at 8:25 AM.
- Blended Early Childhood/ECSE: Blended/ECSE AM and PM alternate days on half-day attendance days. Even if your child attends PM, if it is a district half-day, they will attend AM hours. AM attends on Thursday, August 17 (no PM students). Hours are 8:40 AM - 11:10 AM. Parent drop-off begins at 8:25 AM.
Friday, August 18th - Full day of school. Student hours on this day and all full days are as follows:
- Kindergarten (including Structured Kindergarten): 8:40 AM - 3:05 PM. Parent drop-off begins at 8:25 AM.
- Blended Early Childhood/ECSE AM: 8:40 AM - 11:10 AM. Parent drop-off begins at 8:25 AM.
- Blended Early Childhood PM: 12:35 PM - 3:05 PM. Parent drop-off begins at 12:25 PM.
- Early Childhood Structured Learning Classroom: 8:40 AM - 2:40 PM. Parent drop-off begins at 8:25 AM.
IMPORTANT: If you are dropping your child off, it is always encouraged for your child to be dropped off closest to the time doors open at 8:25 AM or 12:25 PM for PM Blended Early Childhood.
Monday, August 21st - Curriculum Night. Curriculum Night is for all student families and is a PARENT/GUARDIAN ONLY evening of attendance. The evening is from 6:30-7:30 PM. You will be able to hear from me and our Assistant Principal, Ms. Payne, and also meet and hear from the star of the evening, your child's teacher!
Tuesday, August 29th - District Early Release Day. Student hours are as follows:
- Kindergarten (including Structured Kindergarten): 8:40 AM - 2:05 PM. Parent drop-off begins at 8:25 AM.
- Blended Early Childhood/ECSE AM: 8:40 AM - 10:10 AM. Parent drop-off begins at 8:25 AM.
- Blended Early Childhood PM: 12:35 PM - 2:05 PM. Parent drop-off begins at 12:25 PM.
- Early Childhood Structured Learning Classroom: 8:40 AM - 2:05 PM. Parent drop-off begins at 8:25 AM.
REPEAT *Food & Willow Grove*
Daily Snack for All Programs (Kindergarten, Blended, and Structured)
Children have daily snack time in their classrooms. Snacks must be from the Approved Snack List.
Kindergarten & Structured Program Lunch
Unlike snacks, where you must pack items from our Approved Snack List, students may bring anything in for lunch, as lunch is out of the classroom. We have safety measures in place during lunch for children with allergies. If you have questions, please contact our school nurse by calling our main office. Additional details about lunch are included in the video and Frequently Asked Questions in the Parent Resource section of this letter, below.
Birthdays
We do not allow food to be passed out to children for birthdays. It is not required to send anything for your child’s birthday to share with the class. If you choose to send something in, it must be a non-food item. Examples include a sticker or pencil.
REPEAT *Approved Snacks: What Parents Need to Know*
The District has revised the APPROVED SNACK LIST. The items on the list are free of the Top 8 allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. This list includes the foods that are approved for students' daily snacks. Daily snacks for your children must be from this list or they will be sent home.
IMPORTANT: All items for daily snacks, with the exception of fruits and vegetables, MUST be prepackaged to allow staff to easily check that snacks meet the approved requirements.
Director of Educational Services, Jennifer Dunne, also has provided responses to FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) about foods approved for daily snacks/special events.
For your convenience, find links to the District 96 Approved Snack List and Approved Snack List FAQs on the homepage of the District 96 website and the homepage of each school.
Lunches packed from home may contain any food items and do not need to be from the Approved Snack List. If your child is bringing in lunch, snacks must be packed separately from lunch. Please label lunch bags and snacks with your child’s name.
REPEAT *School Lunch Program*
Families will receive an email on Monday, August 7th, from Kildeer96 Food Service with a subject line of “D96 Food Service Information” that will include information on the District's online meal pre-payment system and online application site.
To learn more about the school lunch program, please visit our District Website. Within this link, you will find menus and how to complete pre-payment for meals. Applications for free and reduced meals are available on the District’s website. If you have any questions, please contact the school office at 847-541-3660 or [email protected].
REPEAT *Arrival & Dismissal*
Most little ones are SO EXCITED to jump on the bus. Some are scared, and that's OK. With practice, they quickly see it isn't such a scary thing. Showing love and a sense of confidence in your child and our school is helpful with this transition. Let them know that their Willow Grove teachers will meet them at the other end and that you will meet them back home at the end of the day. Having your child ride the bus will greatly help with our arrival and dismissal times of the day. We have limited parking, and ALL parents dropping off or picking up their children will need to park and walk their child to the main entrance of our school. There is no driving drop-off lane for parents. This includes families in our Blended and Structured Learning Program. Never park in the circle drive, which is for buses and emergency vehicles only. For parents that choose to drop off and/or pick up their children, we have assigned doors you will bring your child to or collect them from.
Blended Preschool and ECSE AM/PM - AM drop-off and pick-up are at the main entrance. PM drop-off is at the main entrance. PM pick-up is at door 18, to the right of the main entrance when facing the building.
Kindergarten - Main entrance
Structured Program (Early Childhood and Kindergarten) - Teachers will contact you with these details.
Parents may not enter the school. Parents may not walk children to their classrooms. It is our utmost priority to maintain a safe and secure environment.
If someone other than a parent or legal guardian is picking up your child, you must let the office know ahead of time (NOT a teacher email).
Parents may not pick up their child unannounced at dismissal time. If you need to pick your child up at dismissal, and this has not been communicated to us in your child's regular dismissal plans, you must notify us in advance (by 2:00 PM) by calling the office--NOT EMAIL. If you haven't notified us, we will send your child home on the bus and you'll need to get home to meet them. I also ask that if your child is a regular bus student, not to alter their dismissal plan if at all possible, especially as your children are getting used to our routines. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!
Anticipate delays in transportation our first couple of weeks of school. As buses get used to new routes and traffic patterns settle at the start of the school year, pick-up/drop-off times will become more routine and efficient. We ask that you please are patient with us and the drivers. Thank you!
Changes to Dismissal Plans
Please contact the school office by noon in the event that your dismissal plans change for that given day. Your child will be at the designated dismissal location unless the school is notified in accordance with the above. Please notify the office in writing in accordance with the district handbook (review handbook language). Please see Section 9.4 in the Parent/Student Handbook regarding permission for students to ride other buses, as in most cases, this is not allowed (review handbook language).
Busing Expectations
Please review bus expectations with your child. Here is our bus book you may read with your child. Strongly communicate to your child the importance of sitting in their seat and never standing until it is time to get off. Please review the following with your child so they know what to expect:
- Stay seated in your seat until it is time to get off the bus. The seats are designed to keep you safe. You must stay in your seat.
- Talking voice is acceptable. No screaming or yelling.
- Hands and feet to self at all times
- No eating or drinking
- No toys
- Follow the directions and reminders of the driver
REPEAT *Student Picture Day*
Willow Grove’s picture day is Friday, September 8th. More information to come as we near the date. We have a retake day on Friday, October 13th, for any student who misses photos or whose parents choose a retake.
REPEAT *Class Placement Information & Bus Information*
Your child’s class placement and bus information (if applicable) will come to you electronically on Friday, August 11th after 3:00 PM. A team of staff members worked diligently to make sure each child was placed in the classroom in which he or she will find success. We know you appreciate the fact that, with such careful thought and consideration put into these decisions, including your input, no changes will be made and we thank you for your support.
If you do not receive a notification, please email our administrative assistant, Mrs. Collette, at [email protected], or give us a call in the office at 847.541.3660.
REPEAT *Meet the Teacher - Wednesday, August 16th*
Meet the Teacher is for all students and caregivers to attend - Kindergarten, Blended AM/PM, ECSE AM, and Structured. The event is on Wednesday, August 16th, from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM.
All children must be supervised by their caregiver for the duration of the event.
At the Meet the Teacher event, parents and kids will meet their teacher, see their classroom, and while there, may tour around our building. The PTO will also be there and you can check out all the things they have to offer. Families should bring their child’s supplies to drop them at school this day. Click here for the school supply list. If you ordered from the PTO, those will be shipped to your home for you to bring in. We will also have parents confirm dismissal plans and once confirmed, you’ll receive an ID/Bus tag that your child will need to have attached to their backpack prior to arriving for their first day of school. It’s used for us to ID your child right away and during arrival and dismissal procedures. If you’re unable to attend the Meet the Teacher event, your child will receive their bus tag on their first day of attendance. Please make sure your child’s backpack very clearly has their name somewhere so we can identify each child as they enter the building. Do not rely on your child being able to tell us.
REPEAT *Kindergarten Parent Resources*
Here are some resources to support you and your child as you begin the school year.
Willow Grove Kindergarten Welcome Video
Parent Frequently Asked Questions - This will give you plenty of information to get you off on the right foot!
Kindy 101 - Parent presentation from Kindy Kick-Off in May of 2023
REPEAT *PTO News*
Each week you'll find highlights and a link to the PTO Blog right here on the Principal's Message. This year we have a wonderful parent team ready to lead and provide amazing opportunities to volunteer, get involved, and enhance our environment by hosting exciting events to keep an eye out for. A huge thank you in advance from the Willow Grove admin and staff team!
From Your PTO...
We're excited to share news and happenings throughout the year via the Willow Grove PTO Blog. We’ll be kicking off the year with a Back-to-School Stock the Lounge event, there's the Boo-Hoo/Yahoo Breakfast planned for the first day of school, perfect for connecting with other parents and sharing those emotional moments, and that's not all—there's even more exciting info waiting for you! Stay connected and inspired by checking out our latest blog post. Don't miss out!