Harper Happenings
March 16-20
What's Happening
Important Upcoming Dates-
Open Gym: Cancelled
Harper Open House: Postponed - Will look to reschedule for April (TBD)
Spring break: March 23 - March 27
General PTO Meeting, Tuesday, April 14, 9-10am in the auditorium.
Topic: 4th Grade Transition to Highcrest. Guest speaker - Linda Moric, Highcrest 5th Grade Principal. Parent Panel for open Q&A. (Highcrest will have a transition night too - date TBD)
PTO Sponsored Movie Night - Friday, April 17, 6-8pm. Registration will open in March
PTO Sponsored FREE EVENT. Stretch class for our parent community. Thursday, May 7, 6-645pm in the gymnasium. Registration will open in April.
4th Grade Music Show: April 22nd 9:30AM
Principal's Message
Dear Harper Families,
As you know, District 39 is implementing e-Learning procedures beginning on Monday, March 16, 2020 and continuing through at least Friday, March 20, 2020. While e-Learning days cannot duplicate what happens in the classroom or a therapy session, our goal is to prepare lessons and activities that allow children to remain engaged in their learning and further their skill development. Instructional methods will vary from grade to grade. All remote learning will be meaningful, will keep students on pace to continue their schoolwork, and will count as student attendance days until school can reopen.
Teachers will be communicating individually or as teams to students and parents starting on Monday, March 16. Teachers will be using a combination of email to parents and online platforms such as Google Classroom and SeeSaw with students. Our educators and staff are eager to support your child through this process.
If you or your child have any questions and need technology assistance, feel free to reach out to Beth Cummo and Muffy Pinney, our technology teacher and library media director, at cummob@wilmete39.org and pinneym@wilmette39.org. For purely technical support, (iPad not turning on, etc.) please submit a request through our tech support portal. During e-Learning days, we will get back to you during the school hours.
Also, note that attendance will be taken via a Google Form that will be sent to families by the district office each e-Learning day morning.
We understand that the uncertainty of this situation may be stressful for children. We encourage you to talk with your children over the weekend and assure them that adults are working hard to keep everyone safe and healthy. This document on how to talk to children about coronavirus is a great resource to help start the conversation.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we look forward to making this a successful and productive week for our students. As always, feel free to reach out to us at any time should you have any questions or concerns.
I wish you a healthy week and look forward to taking this step into e-learning TOGETHER!
Aaron
IAR Information
In April, still tentatively planned for April 1 - 9, we will administer the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) to our 3rd and 4th grade students. (More information will be sent out again!)
The IAR is a state-mandated assessment designed to measure student achievement on the Illinois Learning Standards in the areas of Math and English Language Arts. Our school district uses IAR data alongside other measures of student performance to monitor student growth and to guide improvements to district-wide curriculum.
Our students will be assessed on concepts and skills taught within their grade level. As such, there is no need to have your child prepare for this assessment beyond encouraging them to put forth their best effort. You can help your child perform at their very best by doing the following:
Encourage your child to put forth their best effort.
Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep (8-10 hours) on the night before a testing day.
Ensure your child eats a balanced breakfast on the morning of a testing day.
Avoid scheduling appointments for your child during testing week and be sure that your child arrives at school on time.
You will receive a copy of your child’s IAR test data once the State releases the results in Fall 2020.
Parent Planning Notes
Parent Placement Input Forms: Although we feel confident in our ability to appropriately place your child successfully, some of you may feel that your input is needed. If you feel that extraordinary factors exist that the school should be aware of, HERE is the official optional Harper Parent Placement Input Form that you may use to explain those factors. The form is open now and will close on Friday, March 20 (spring break). The factors might include your child’s learning style, special learning needs, or specific qualities of a teacher. Also, we would like to caution you about making positive or negative requests for teachers by name unless your family has a direct experience with that individual. Each family’s experience with a particular staff member is unique. Your submission must be received by March 20.
Ability Awareness Week: This past week, with programming from Educating Outside the Lines, was Ability Awareness Week
Parent Events: HERE is a list of many of the remaining parent educational events for the school year.
- Summer School Enrichment Program information HERE. Registration is OPEN online. The program runs mornings, June 16 - July 17 no school July 3rd. Don’t forget to register early. Classes will be cancelled if we don’t meet the required minimum enrollment. Registration closes April 3, 2020. Late registrations will be accepted between April 6, 2020 and May 8, 2020. A $9 late registration fee per class will be charged.
- Registration for next school year is OPEN: Thank you to all the families who completed the online registration process in a timely manner. It helps us make important decisions for the next school year like how many teachers we need. If you have not yet done so, It would help us tremendously if you could complete this process by the end of spring break. Look for an email sent by our district office or call the school office and they can assist.
- Dogs on School Property: Please keep dogs off of school property during drop off and pick up. Dogs should stay across the street on Dartmouth. This is for the safety of all students!
Announcements
- Open PTO positions in the school year 2020/2021 will be posted in the HH the week before spring break. It takes a community of parent volunteers to deliver our PTO sponsored events. Please consider volunteering at our elementary school. Questions can be sent to jreynolds028@gmail.com
- It's the final weeks to get your Yearbook. Here is the link to order it! http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09862418
Not sure if you've already ordered? Email yearbook@harperpto.com to check
Please join us for Movie Night at Harper Elementary on Friday, April 17, 6-8pm. The featured film this spring is SING. Funds collected will help PTO purchase a new fence for the Harper Garden. Pajamas are encouraged. Please leave all soft toys, blankets, jackets and gloves at home, in the car or with an adult at check in.
Please note each child must be checked in with an adult and checked out with an adult. THIS IS NOT A DROP OFF EVENT.
Tickets will sell out. Get your tickets while they last!
For ticket purchase, please click here - http://www.harperpto.com/harper-pto-movie-night-2/
To volunteer on the night and bring a child for free, please click here - Harper PTO Movie Night: 'Sing'
Please review PTO Behavior Guidelines with your child prior to this event. (see below)
Questions, please email ptopresident@harper.com
- The 3rd grade class will be taking a field trip to Lifeline Theatre to see the show Neither on March 19th. This program was made possible by iGNITE!
- Stock the Teacher Lounge: new spots for April 2020 have been added! Click on the link to sign up! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4faea722a3f58-stock
iGNITE
http://harperpto.com/ignitetaxletter/
If you have not made a donation, it is never too late! We are still short of our goal that assures all enrichment activities are funded for our kids.
http://harperpto.com/ignite-donation/
If you have any questions or can't remember if you made a donation, please reach out to Jill Huebsch, jillhuebsch@gmail.com
Community Service Corner
3 WEEK CHALLENGE
Throughout the year, the students have been learning about the struggles of poverty, hunger and homelessness in our community and worldwide through various service opportunities, visitors and discussions in the classroom.
Consider spending the next month reinvigorating your intentional family kindness practice by trying an activity to continue these conversations at home through learning, reflection and sharing. It’s a 3 week's worth of ideas. If March is looking busy, save it for a different month
Community News
Wilmette Public Library hosts MAKER FEST Saturday, February 29th, 10:30 - 2:30
- Under the LIghts Flag Football registration is open until March 13th for Kindergarten - 8th graders (Co-Ed League). Volunteer coaches needed.
- The Justin Wynn Leadership Academy hosts its Annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on March 15th for 3rd through 8th grade boys & girls.
- Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
- The Center for Gifted hosts summer programs. View flyers for details.
- NSSRA offers Campyardigans for Summer 2020. See flyer for details.
- The Trevian Girls Softball Association is adding 9-10 year old players to their spring & summer teams.
- Wilmette Baseball Association House League registraton is now open for Kindergarten - 8th grade children.
All announcements to be included in the Harper Happenings should be sent to Kelly Maggio via the Communication Request Form by Mondays at 9 am. If you do not receive an email response within 24hrs, please send an email to kwmaggio@gmail.com to confirm your Communication Request Form was received.
For more school information, visit the Harper PTO website.
For additional D39 community events, visit wilmette39.org