Monroe Memo 1/9/2022
Mrs. Reingruber's Weekly Update
Reporting an absence
Reporting your student absent for an illness-related reason
Reporting your student absent for a non-illness-related reason
We ask that you please report your child's absence prior to 8:30am via our attendance line (630-861-4298) and/or the links above. Upon request of the parent, the reason for an absence will be kept confidential. If we do not receive a report in advance of the start of the school day, we will make phone calls to check on any student for whom we have not received prior information from a parent.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, January 11
- 1st, 2nd, 5th ELA MAP testing
Thursday, January 13
- 1st-5th Math MAP testing
Friday, January 14
- 3rd, 4th ELA MAP testing
Monday, January 17
- NO SCHOOL - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Wednesday, January 19
- Monroe School Spelling Bee
See the following calendars for more important dates and information
Surveillance Testing and Vaccination Updates
For families who have enrolled in our weekly surveillance testing, please be sure to return your child's surveillance test to school on Monday morning upon our return from Winter Break.
If you are interested in signing up for surveillance testing, please login to Skyward, click on the forms tab, and complete the Surveillance Testing permission form for each student.
Parents may also upload their student's vaccination card to Skyward in an effort to reduce quarantines and keep students in school. This step is optional and information will remain confidential.
To upload your card
- Login to Skyward
- Click the "Online Forms" button
- Find the "Covid 19 Vaccination Card" form and click "Fill out Form"
- Click "Choose File" to upload your vaccination card
- Upload your card
- Click "Complete Step 1 and Move to Step 2"
- Enter the information into the fields
- Click "Complete Step 2 and Move to Step 3"
- Click "Submit COVID-19 Vaccination Card"
Please continue to monitor your email for updated announcements from District 181 related to COVID-19, surveillance testing, and updated health and safety guidance.
Marla's Lunch Program
The Monroe PTO is proud to partner with Marla’s Lunch every Friday for our hot lunch program.
Please note - orders must be placed by Wednesday of the week PRIOR to the lunch.
EXAMPLE: Orders placed by Wednesday, January 12 will be delivered for lunch on Friday, January 21
Registration is now open - please CLICK HERE for more info.
Preparing for winter weather
Colder temperatures and snow are here to stay for the next few months! Many of our students walk to school and there are times during the day where they are outdoors. Barring any unsafe situations and adverse weather conditions, our staff will continue to integrate mask breaks on an as needed basis, provided our children have the necessary clothing items to keep them warm and dry. While snowpants may not always be needed here at school, a warm base layer always helps keep our students warm and cozy. You can use the "FROSTY FIVE" to help your child prepare for the winter weather that is to come!
Please note - jackets, boots, snow pants, hats and gloves must be worn to play in the snow during recess.
When inclement weather is predicted, student and staff safety continues to be our number one priority. The assessment of weather conditions will begin the day before, if possible, with student and staff safety as the number one priority. The variables the District considers include the following:
- Local weather forecasts
- Road conditions
- Temperature (-20F or colder) and Wind Chill (a wind chill of -35* F is dangerous
- If buses are operating, availability of drivers, and the ability of buses to navigate the roads safely. If staff can arrive at school safely
- If schools are functioning properly (power, furnace, heat, water, phone)
- Communication/collaboration with D86 feeder schools
We strive to notify families of a closure as soon as possible. If a decision can be made the day before a closure, the communication will be sent no later than 9:30 p.m. In the event of a day-of closure, a communication will ideally be sent between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. Setting these time parameters eliminates the need for families to check emails overnight while still allowing enough time to make child care arrangements when necessary.
- Communication will be sent to the contact information on file for families and staff via email and phone. Phone calls will be made to families and staff only in the event that schools are closed. Phone calls will not be made when a decision is still in progress or the decision has been made that school will be open.
- Text messages will be sent to families and staff who have opted-in to receive them.
- Closure information will also be posted on the District website and Twitter (@ccsd181) Families can access additional information on weather closures at www.d181.org/weather
This year, weather closures may lend themselves to the possibility of a switch to remote learning for ALL students instead of a "snow day" with no student attendance. This would allow students to continue learning safely while eliminating the need to add a make-up student attendance day later in the school calendar. D181 Inclement Weather Plan
- Students will sign-in for live instruction and special education classes/services using the modified virtual schedule using the links sent by teachers (attendance will be taken)
- Kindergarten will remain in a.m. or p.m. sections for instruction on shortened schedules.
- Synchronous instruction will occur during an emergency school closing in a live digital format for morning meetings, literacy and math
- Asynchronous and/or independent work will be assigned in SeeSaw or Google Classroom
- Asynchronous assignments will be provided to all students for STEM/Art/Music/PE and Spanish (5th only)
- Pull-out services, reading specialist services and differentiated instruction services may be held during the asynchronous work portion of the day
- Live office hours will be offered by all staff - Office hours are not tutoring sessions but are meant for students to ask questions before independent asynchronous work time and a link will be provided
- Teachers will be available on the asynchronous side of the day to answer emails from students (time varies based on grade level schedule)
- Grade level schedules are listed below
Traffic Reminders
As we transition into the winter, the number of students who are dropped off at school increases. Please take a few moments to review the traffic procedures for drop off at pick up at Monroe.
MADISON STREET PROCEDURES
- Drop off and pick up is allowed for students along Madison Street.
- We do have a supervised car line along Madison Street.
- If you use our Madison Street car line, please stay in your vehicle and keep moving forward in the line.
- For the safety of our entire school community, please observe all posted traffic signage and directions given by our supervising staff members.
PARKING LOT PROCEDURES
- If you must drop off in the parking lot, please do so ONLY along the curb.
- Please keep traffic moving and do not pull into any parking spaces or other lanes of the lot to drop off students.
- Please mind the directions given by our supervising staff and crossing guards, as their number one priority is the safety of our students and families.
- Please observe all posted traffic signage - No Left Turn into the parking lot, Right Turn Only out of the lot, and NO PICKUP IS ALLOWED IN THE PARKING LOT AFTER SCHOOL.
Monroe School and D181 Spelling Bee
We are very excited about the upcoming school and district Spelling Bee events! Grades 3-5 will participate in the classroom-based Spelling Bee on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. The top two winners from each homeroom will be invited to participate in our school Spelling Bee. The top winner from our school Spelling Bee will proceed to our District 181 Spelling Bee.
Classroom Spelling Bee: January 5, 2022
Monroe School Spelling Bee: January 19, 2022
District 181 Spelling Bee: February 2, 2022
We wish to provide all our students with the experience of competing in the classroom-level spelling bee as a way to improve their skills and share in this fun and exciting experience. If your student is interested in preparing for our upcoming spelling bee, they can review the words sent home prior to Thanksgiving break.
Additionally, as part of your child’s participation in our classroom-level competition, you also received access to the Great Words, Great Works reading program list of 36 books. These books have been selected for their rich vocabulary, engaging content and grade-appropriate subject matter.
Thank you for your support in making this year’s Spelling Bee a success! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Aisling Lemke (alemke@d181.org) and Lori Andreoni (landreoni@d181.org).
Monroe School Mustangs
Email: kreingruber@d181.org
Website: https://www.d181.org/monroe
Location: 210 North Madison, Hinsdale, IL
Phone: (630) 861-4200
Twitter: @monroelearns