Big Hollow Hubble
Big Hollow Elementary School~ August 25, 2017
Thank you for a great first week!!!!
This week was such a huge success, thanks to everyone's detailed preparation and hard work! Thank you so much!!! I am so honored to work along side all of you.
Wanted to share this little note I received from a parent. I know there are countless amazing ways you go above and beyond. Here is just one example:
Mrs. ____ took time out of her own night, after what I know is a long first day, to call and tell us about our _____. The message was so thoughtful and kind. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful community at Big Hollow!
Both ____ and ____ LOVE school, their teachers and Big Hollow..so, thank you for all you do!
THANK YOU ALL for your incredible dedication to our students and their families!!!! :)
Elementary Shared Drive- Looking for something you need to sign or read? :)
Please click below for building documents, including the building map, telephone numbers and extensions, faculty handbook, etc.
Updated Student Attendance Policy
3 days consecutive absences
· A doctor’s note will be required upon the student’s return to excuse the absences
1-4 days absent
· Contact from school personnel, including but not limited to office staff, teachers, and administration.
5 or more days absent
· A letter sent to the family informing them of the district’s attendance policies and procedures.
· Home visits from school personnel
10 days absent
· Maximum allowed per school year
· An additional letter informing families that a doctor’s note will be required for any additional absence
· Further absences may result in a letter also being sent to the Truancy Officer at the Regional Superintendent’s office notifying them of possible chronic truancy. A contact will be made to the student and the parent(s)/guardian(s) by the Truancy Office
Busing Information
A message from Mrs. Wright....
Our K 12 registration system does not allow me to print a report for the medical conditions parents have reported. I will be providing a paper Medical Information Sheet for each student, that parents need to fill out and turn back to you (or the office) during meet and greet. I realize this is an extra paper for parents at an already crazy, busy time, but it is really important that I get this information, especially for kids with severe allergies and health conditions.
Thank you for your help and cooperation!
Curriculum Night
Session 1:
6:00-6:25 pm
Transition time will be 6:25 pm -6:30 pm
Session 2:
6:30-6:55 pm
7 pm evening concludes
Please let us know if you have any questions!
PTO NEWS
Our PTO Executive Board has met periodically throughout the summer to get ready for the upcoming school year. We wanted to update you and the staff to some changes. We hope you will share the information as necessary.
PTO MISSION STATEMENT
The Big Hollow PTO brings the families, teachers and community of Big Hollow School District #38 together by providing special evens and financial support that enhances the quality of Big Hollow students' learning experiences.
EVENTS
We have created an annual calendar filled with exciting events, many of them FREE for our Big Hollow Families. We are hoping to foster a feeling of community and belonging through these events.
SPIRIT WEAR
We have a new spirit wear logo and will have YOUTH sizes on hand for purchase. We will have alternative styles and adult sizes available to order through our website. We made sure to keep a simple option available for only $10 so that all families feel they can afford to purchase BH Spirit wear.
WEBSITE
Our address remains the same at www.bighollowpto.com, but we've made many changes and enhancements. We are all still learning to use it but are excited at the possibilities it provides, including volunteer sign ups, newsletter options and more.
STUDENT DIRECTORY
We will no longer charge for the student directory. This will be available(securely) to all Big Hollow Families through our website.
FUNDRAISING
We have changed up our fundraising and event schedule for the year with new and exciting opportunities. We will not have the Holiday Breakfast, but you will see events such as the Fall and Spring Resales, "Drop and Shop", "Family Pizza Throwdown", "Color Run" and a Spring Golf Outing in the works!
Our "sales" fundraising is limited to two events: Market Day Pies prior to Thanksgiving and Lou Malnati's Pizza after the New Year.
Grade Level Fundraising will be accomplished at our First Annual Community Reading Day on October and with the corresponding READ-A-THON! Details to follow!
We have plenty of fundraising opportunities through Box Tops, amazonsmile, minted.com, monthly "no cook" restaurant fundraisers, TYSON, Shutterfly.com and more!
SMENCILS
Smencils are being offered to parents as classroom birthday treats, smencil grams and to purchase at PTO and school events. We will not hold a large smencil sale in February.
POPCORN
We will be utilizing the popcorn machine for special events. The PTO will no longer be providing grade level popcorn days or building popcorn supplies. Teachers and staff can utilize the machine for their events if they wish, but would be responsible for supplies.
LAMINATION
The PTO will no longer supply or support lamination. We do believe the are supplies still available, but we will not replenish them. We will donate the machines to the administration.
FUNDS
We are working at streamlining and more clearly defining our mini-grants, teacher reimbursements and principal funds to compliment the PTO mission statement. New submission forms and guidelines will be available at the start of the school year.
It is our hope and goal that as we continue to grow, involve more families and community stakeholders and develop fundraising ideas, that we will increase the amount of funds that we are able to provide to teachers and staff. While this year the amount remains the same, we are striving to be able to provide more!!
COMMUNITY
Most of all, we are excited to bring together students, staff, families and administration for a year filled with kindness, fun and COMMUNITY!
Thank you for all of your support and for all you do for Big Hollow!
Fountas & Pinnell Training
Assessment Information
This year we will be using Fountas & Pinnell benchmarking kits to assess our students' reading three times per year. More kits were ordered and have arrived. Paulette is in the process of getting them inventoried and bar coded. We will also try to get some crates together with copies of the running record sheets so that you don't have to worry about it. They should be ready to go next week!
This data will be analyzed and triangulated along with AIMS web reading fluency probes and NWEA/MAP to determine student growth and performance. We will no longer be using any other resource to benchmark our students. If you would like training on benchmarking please let me know and I can assist you.
AIMSweb math MCAP and MCOMP Probes will be administered this year.
I shared three private Google data files with each classroom teacher. All testing data will be entered into the spreadsheets located in the folder. :) Please let me know if you have not received the links to the Google docs.
Recycling- PLEASE READ!!!
This year we will be enhancing our recycling program. We need your help! There will be new recycling containers placed in your classrooms. We need to avoid throwing items in the garbage if they can be recycled.
Students will need some help determining what is recyclable and what is not when placing items in your classroom bins. Attached is a flyer that I was hoping you could all share with your students on Tuesday to help facilitate this.
Every night, we will be asking the cleaning company to empty your classroom bins into the large recycling bins in the pods. Those will then be taken to the bins outside in back of the school.
Furniture & Pod Areas
You will notice that the pods have undergone some slight changes. My hope is that they are welcoming and brain-friendly learning areas. Please help me ensure that the tables and plants stay put so that we have organized spaces available for our students to enjoy outside of your classrooms. If you are in need of tables or have other furniture requests, please contact Michelle Dzik. (Also- please do not move any furniture without first consulting with me.) Thank you! :)
Cleaning Company Requests
New Information Below... please read!
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR EXPECTATION REVIEW/ ROTATIONS
Please complete this PBIS implementation self-assessment survey here:
https://www.pbisassessment.org/Anon/1EK108h82W0
Also- please take a moment to view the slide show and sign-up for a PBIS sub-committee. This year we are requiring EVERYONE to be on a PBIS committee; OR serve as a Check In/Check Out facilitator; OR serve as a Group Skills facilitator. Please sign up below if you have not already. If you have questions about any of the above roles, please feel free to ask Kathryn Keenon (our Tier 1 coach), or Deb Coolidge (our Tier 2 coach) or Donna Kretsch, social worker. Thanks to everyone who has already signed up!!! :)
Slide show:
Sub-committee sign-up:
EXCITING NEWS!! Please help me welcome our new staff!!!
$100 Supply Reimbursement
Enrichment/Genius "Time!" :)
― Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of Freedom: Ethics, Democracy, and Civic Courage
Thank you to all of you who have signed up for the genius hour course. I'm sure it would benefit all of us for your newly acquired knowledge to be shared with our staff this year. Info shares, anyone? :)
Great site to get you started: http://www.geniushour.com/
Please see this link for a free webinar on Genius Hour:
http://www.keslerscience.com/geniushour Chris Kesler, former science teacher is a great resource!! He offers lesson plans and other resources for STEM activities if you're interested.
Save the Dates!
August 25 - PTO Back to School Bash
August 29 - Primary Curriculum Night - 6-7pm
August 31 - Elementary Curriculum Night - 6-7pm
September 5 - Info Share Fountas&Pinnell 7:55 am elem. library
September 6 - Schedule due to office (be sure your intervention times do not interfere with the 2:30-3:00 school intervention time & be sure your guided reading time is shown)
September 6 - Summer Reading Logs are due
September 8 - Picture Day!
September 15 - Policy Review signature page & faculty handbook signature page due
September 25-29 - Reading Week
September 28 - Family Reading Night 6-7pm
Michelle Dzik
WE NOW HAVE A BIG HOLLOW ELEMENTARY INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK PAGE!!! Instagram- @bighollowelementary
Check us out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/bighollowelem
Follow Big Hollow Elementary on Twitter @bighollowelem and you can also follow me @DzikMichelle
Email: michelledzik@bighollow.us
Website: www.bighollow.us
Location: 33315 North Fish Lake Road, Ingleside, IL, United States
Phone: 8477405321
Twitter: @Bighollowelem