Pleasant Hill Weekly Newsletter
February 4, 2022
February 21st and 22nd No School
Happy Friday Everyone!
Happy Friday Everyone!
I hope you had a great week!
We had our 100th day of school this week as celebrations were happening in our kindergarten classrooms! Its hard to believe how fast this school year is going. With that said, please continue to be in communication with your child's teacher regarding student growth.
As mentioned by the district regarding communication with Covid cases in the school. If there is a Covid positive case in the school, a letter to all parents of the school community will go out indicated this. We will not be sending letters to specific classrooms. If you have any questions about this or anything Covid related, please feel free to reach out to me.
We are in need of your support during our morning and afternoon drop off/ pick up. We are noticing more cars coming through the front of the school during drop off and dismissal while there are busses pulling in. We have put up signs stating "Buses Only." This creates a big safety hazard for our students as they are boarding the buses and walkers are making their way to the crossing guard. We have been in contact with the Palatine Police for assistance in keeping the front of the school clear from 8:30-8:50 and from 3:25-3:40. Please help us in keeping our students safe.
Now that the Birchwood parking lot is finished with parking lot construction, using Bennett as a drop off point is no longer suggested. The Birchwood parking lot is now open across from the school on Illinois Ave. We appreciate your support as we continue to provide safe alternatives for students to be dropped off and picked up at school.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to let me know.
Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe weekend!
Warm Regards,
Dr. Morris
GO COUGARS!
3rd Grade Students "One Word For 2022"
Cold Weather Information
Wind-Chill Warning Conditions
When weather conditions are such that a wind-chill warning is issued, it indicates that life-threatening conditions and a risk to safety exist. Measures should be taken to safeguard life and property immediately. Warning conditions make extended periods of time outside dangerous - i.e. bus stops for students and commutes for staff and families.
Severe Cold School Closure criteria for a wind-chill warning meet the threshold of expected temperatures during the morning commute of -15 degrees below 0 or wind chill temperatures at -30 degrees.
Again, if these conditions occur, school closure protocols will be implemented for all District 15 schools and offices. An official “snow day” will be utilized and an additional day will be added to the end of the school year. We build 5 emergency days into our school calendar annually. The last day of school currently scheduled for June 2 would be adjusted.
In addition, before and after school programs and extracurricular activities will be canceled while the wind-chill warning is in effect.
Wind-Chill Advisory Conditions
- Schools will be open for staff and students;
- Extracurricular activities will be evaluated and may be suspended if conditions persist; updates will be posted on each school's website and communicated to families;
- All off-campus activities will be canceled. This includes but is not limited to, all off-site daytime programs; and
- All outdoor student activities will be canceled.
The decision to close schools will be made no later than 5:30 am.
Parent 5essentials Survey
The survey closes on March 11th. Please take a moment to fill out the survey to better help us continue to improve as a school.
Thank you!
Jump Rope For Heart Is Back!
It’s time for the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge Program! By participating in Kids Heart Challenge, your student will join us on a road trip through the US to learn heart healthy habits and begin caring for their whole hearts. While heart disease remains the nation’s #1 killer, it can be preventable through lifestyle choices! We would love to help your student implement those heart healthy habits NOW!
We have set a goal at Pleasant Hill Elementary to raise $5,000 by February 25th for American Heart Association. If we make our goal, we will have something fun for the students!
Sign up for Kids Heart Challenge TODAY by clicking HERE
Clothing Donation Bins
Every year, many children in the Palatine area lack proper clothing for the Illinois’ winter weather. District 15 has a long-standing partnership with the PATH Community Closet. The Community Closet serves the Palatine area by providing donated clothing to children and families in need. The impact of COVID has left the Community Closet with less donated clothing than in past years. We are hoping you can help by donating any unwanted clothing items at your school’s yellow clothing donation bin. The bin is located in your school’s lobby. Parents or children can place clothing items into their school’s yellow bin during regular school hours. This is a great way to put your children’s gently used and outgrown clothing to good use! All clothing, especially winter wear, is much appreciated and will be put to good use.
New 3-Tier Bus Schedule and Associated NEW School Start Times
Beginning on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, District 15 will move to a 3-tiered bus system in order to continue to be able to transport all 10,000 students during a nationwide bus driver shortage. As we have reported to the Board of Education over the past many months, there is a critical nationwide driver shortage across many industries here and across the country. School bus drivers are a true part of this shortage. To that end, District 15 has been faced with a significant and growing bus driver shortage since the start of the school year.
We know this is a hardship. We truly understand the impact a mid-year change in daily school schedule will have on many of our staff and families and have made every effort to minimize the impact, but the problem cannot be solved without changes being made. We have done everything we can to work within this shortage, but there are no easy long-term solutions which would maintain the current start times. Please know that changes to school start times range from 10 to 35 minutes. The transportation department will send out new pick up/drop off times in February.
PLEASANT HILL NEW SCHOOL HOURS
Mon - Thurs 8:25 am - 3:05 pm
KDG AM: 8:25 am - 11:00 am
KDG PM: 12:30 - 3:05 pm
Friday 8:25 am - 2:15 pm
KDG AM: 8:25 - 10:35 am
KDG PM: 12:05 - 2:15 pm
Message From The PTA
The PTA is looking for volunteers! We need some help planning upcoming events and planning for next school year. Please reach out to PHPTA15@gmail.com if you are interested in helping. Here are the three committees looking:
Nomination Committee - This committee finds candidates for the PTA executive board
Bylaws Committee - Reviews our current bylaws and presents any changes
Fundraiser Committee - Plans a schoolwide event to raise money for our PTA
Our next PTA meeting is on Tuesday, February 8th at 7:00 pm. This meeting will be on Zoom. All members are welcome!
Topic: February PTA Zoom Meeting
Time: Feb 8, 2022 07:00 PM
Meeting ID: 254 231 6099
Passcode: PH2022
Thank you!
Ashley Gebhardt and Julie Boldt
PTA Presidents
Spotlight On Pleasant Hill Cultures
Happy Lunar New Year! Lunar New Year is a Chinese and East Asian celebration signaling the start of the new year according to the lunar calendar. People around the world celebrate it by wearing the color red, which symbolizes joy and good fortune. Families also attend dances, parades and family gatherings to celebrate the beginning of a new year.
We are proud to be a part of a school community that is filled with various cultures. If there is a Holiday or festival you celebrate and would like to share please email us at phpta15@gmail.com and we can spotlight it.
Family Steam Night Is Back!! Volunteers Needed!
Hello Pleasant Hill Community!
STEAM Night is fast approaching on February 16th at 7pm and we are still looking for a few more volunteers to put on presentations or experiments for our students!
This event will take place over zoom and your experiment can be 10-20 minutes long. We typically show some concepts and experiments in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, or Mathematics.
Please fill out the form above to submit your presentation. Below is the cheat sheet from last year to get you an idea of the presentations previously shown!
Steam Night 2021 Program and Cheat Sheet
If you have any thoughts or questions please let me know and I would be happy to help!
Rick France
630-418-9079
Multicultural Fest Coming This Spring!!
We welcome all Pleasant Hill families to share in your culture in the upcoming event Multicultural Fest. We are looking for group leaders and will be organizing an informational meeting soon. If you want to be in the loop we will need to hear from you before we schedule our kickoff meeting.
The event is scheduled for May 20th, 2022 from 5pm-7:30pm. Our event will include a parade, performance, activities led by cultural groups and treats that can be enjoyed at the event or to take home.
If you are passionate about sharing in the wonders of culture in our community please do not hesitate to let us know. We will connect you to the right people or can give you the tools you need to start your own group. Help make Multicultural Fest 2022 the best one yet!
If you have an interest in being a part of MCF please contact us at mcfchairperson@gmail.com.
PH PTA on Amazon Smile
Pleasant Hill PTA is on Amazon Smile. Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase to our PTA.
Sign up in four easy steps:
- Go to smile.amazon.com
- Find “Account & Lists” settings, under “Your Account” click on “AmazonSmile”
- Search for “Pleasant Hill PTA Inc”
- Select our school and start shopping
ECDEC Early Childhood Program
**FREE PRESCHOOL**
ECDEC/FIND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM
We serve children between the ages of 0-5 years
Screening dates scheduled on February 10th and 23rd.
For more information or to schedule a screening, please call:
Noemi at (847) 963-3450
Close Contacts
According to the CDC definition of close contacts in the K-12 indoor classroom setting, students who were 3 feet or more from an infected student are not treated as close contacts if both students were engaged in consistent and correct use of well-fitting masks.
Phone calls to parents of students who are identified as close contacts are called prior to the classroom letter being sent home. If you receive the classroom notice letter and you have not been called by a contact tracer, you can be assured your child was following the CDC guidelines for K-12 indoor classroom settings.
Students who ride a bus will be identified as a close contact if they sit next to, behind or in front of the student who was positive for more than 15 minutes.
Mask Reminder
Mobile App
The District 15 mobile app is available on the App Store and Google Play! To download the free app, search for "CCSD15."
This communication tool allows parents and students to quick access to important school and district information, including Campus Parent, the D15 Bullying Tip Line, a quick link to MyStop (bus stop location and pick-up times), lunch menus, schedules, parent/student handbook, directory information, school news, and more.
To see integrated student information on the app, click the "student information" button and log-in using your email address and your Campus Parent password. If you are unsure of your password, please visit Infinite Campus and click "forgot password." If you are still having trouble, please contact your school's main office for assistance.
To make sure you aren’t missing any notices, make sure you turn notifications ON for the mobile app.
We Need Your Help During Pick-up and Drop-off
-During the posted time on the sign by the back lot entrance. No left turn is allowed during drop-off between 8am and 9am heading north on Ceder.
-During the posted time on the sign located on the corner of Ceder and Michigan, no left turn is allowed heading south onto Cedar from Michigan.
-Drop off allows for one SINGLE file line in the circle drive in the morning. Please be patient as cars are stopping frequently to drop off students.
-Pick up allows for cars to park (not left unattended and running) along the curb. Double parking is not allowed.
-Students should not be crossing Cedar or Illinois to get to a vehicle without using he designated crosswalks. (A crossing guard is at Illinois and Birchwood, A crosswalk is at the corner of Michigan and Cedar)
-Students should ALWAYS exit a car on the passenger side while in the circle drive.
-If you are dropping off or picking up and decide to park in the parking lot, students must be escorted by an adult to the schools entrance. Students should not be going through the parking lot without an adult. This is extremely important.
Please think of the safety of all of our students and families during these times of the day.
Privacy And Student Data Protection
Privacy and student data protection is a key priority for the District. Our three main technology departments (instructional technology, technology, and data services) work to make sure our systems and vendors comply with the requirements of the Student Online Personal Protection Act or SOPPA, which regulates how student information is protected by school districts and education technology vendors they use. Our student privacy web page outlines our privacy related actions and protective measures.
We also employ a number of measures like on-site filtering, student device monitoring, and security tools which protect our network from outside threats. Students participate in digital citizenship curriculum, and staff can employ tools to support students in making good digital choices. Lastly, our district participates in several state and national consortiums, collaborating with other districts to keep informed on best practices and new resources that may support our data privacy policies.
Parent Nights 2021-2022
District 15 is excited to be partnering with local agencies to present information on the following topics for parents, guardians, families and community members. Mark your calendars and join us for these free, virtual workshops!
Self-Care
February 16, 2022
7-8 pm
Motivation to Finish Strong
April 12, 2022
7-8 pm
Pre-Registration would be greatly appreciated
so please fill out this form!
We are also taking questions from our audience that will be answered during the workshops so please pre-register.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Keli Swierczek at swierczk@ccsd15.net.
Spanish translation services will be offered during workshops.
Student Entrances and Exits
Doors Will Open at 8:38 each morning.
Thank you for your support!
Grades 1&2 - Door #3
Grade 3- Door #7
Grades 4&5 - Door #10
Grade 6- Door #11
Kindergarten - Door #4 (Mrs. Hickey) Door #5 (Mrs. Kehm)
Students Riding The Bus Will Enter and Exit The Front Doors
Reminder To Self Certify Students Before School
Please help us in keeping our students safe by using the symptoms below to screen your student before they enter school each day.
Thank you!
Symptoms:
Fever (100.4°F or higher),
New onset of moderate to severe headache,
Shortness of breath,
New cough,
Sore throat,
Vomiting or diarrhea,
New loss of sense of taste or smell,
Fatigue from unknown cause,
Muscle or body aches from unknown cause
Dr. David Morris Ed.D
Email: morrisd@ccsd15.net
Website: ccsd15.net/PH
Phone: 847-963-5900