The Crosby Chronicle
Weekly Newsletter ~ February 8-12, 2021
GREETINGS FROM PRINCIPAL FERGUSON!
I hope you all are staying warm during these frigid temperatures. As we are gradually bringing students back into the building, I will continue to update everyone on the latest developments through this newsletter. There are many moving parts as we work through this planning process, and I want to be sure we are doing things safely.
All families will have the option to remain remote if they choose. You will have the opportunity to provide us with your decision when you complete the survey which will be sent out for your child's grade level.
My latest update for Crosby went out on Friday, February 5. We are looking forward to welcoming back our students in the next few weeks. As we make plans to bring more students back to Crosby, we will begin with our kindergarten students on Monday, February 22.
Following our kindergarteners’ safe return, students in grades 1-3 will return in the subsequent weeks. First grade will return Monday, March 1. This Friday's update will share the details of the first grade return. Second and third grade will return on Monday, March 8. We are continuing to finalize plans for the safe return of these grades, and we will share details and logistics for these students in the next two weeks.
On Monday, February 22, we will begin the new hours for instruction whether students are remote or in person. These hours will be from 8:00-3:00 for all students. Classroom teachers will be sharing any changes to their specific classroom schedules as those are confirmed.
A typical schedule for in person instruction:
7:50 - 8:05 am - Car riders and bus riders dropped off
8:05 - 8:30 am - Breakfast/Morning Meeting in homeroom
8:30 am -12:15 pm - Academic subjects/Specials (Music, Art, PE)
There will be a snack break and short recess in the morning as well.
12:15-12:30 pm - Prepare for Dismissal
12:30 pm - Dismissal/Travel home/Lunch
2:00 - 3:00 pm - Remote learning on Zoom (teachers will determine the small group work and asynchronous work at this time)
A typical schedule for remote instruction:
8:00 - 8:30 am - Morning Meeting on ZOOM
8:30 am -12:15 pm - Academic subjects/Specials (Music, Art, PE) on ZOOM
12:30 pm - Dismissal/Lunch
2:00 - 3:00 pm - Remote learning on Zoom (teachers will determine the small group work and asynchronous work at this time)
WHAT ABOUT WEDNESDAYS?
All students will continue to be remote on Wednesdays. Students will attend their classroom morning meeting from 8:00-8:30 am, and attendance will be recorded.
This is a new morning meeting time that will begin February 22, for all students.
Stay healthy and safe. We are here for you, and enjoy hearing from you when you have questions. We will all work together and do our best to make this a smooth process. Thank you for your support, and I am so excited to see our students again!
Sincerely,
Kathleen Ferguson
Principal
Return to school updates for Crosby Elementary School.
Please use this link to find the return to school update documents.
KINDERGARTEN RETURN SURVEY
We would like to hear your choice.
Please click on this link to access the survey for kindergarten families.
SUPPLY BAG PICK UP ~ FIRST & SECOND GRADES
The school office hours this week are as follows:
Monday - 7:30-4:00
Tuesday - 7:30-4:00
Wednesday - 7:30-4:00
Thursday 8:00-8:00
Friday - CLOSED
Monday - CLOSED
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION INFORMATION
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR FALL 2021 BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 1, 2021
Do you have a child who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2021?
Do you know a neighbor with a child coming to kindergarten in the fall?
If so, please share this information!
Kindergarten Registration for the 2021-2022 school year will be done online this year through PowerSchool starting February 1.
For more information, visit www.cusd50.org/kindergarten.
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES - FEBRUARY 11th
Spring semester parent/teacher conferences will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2021, from 12:00-8:00 pm. All conferences will be held remotely using Zoom links from your child’s homeroom teacher. Your child’s teacher will share a sign-up link with you soon.
However, if you would like to request a conference to be scheduled, and have not received the invitation from your child's teacher, please call the Crosby School Office at 815-943-6125.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES:
Thursday, February 11 - 12:00 - 8:00 pm - No school for students
Friday, February 12 - No school (students and staff) Day of Non Attendance
Monday, February 15 - No school (students and staff) Presidents' Day
SCHOLASTIC ONLINE BOOK FAIR ~ FEBRUARY 8-21, 2021
We are working hard to keep kids reading and to raise critical funds for our school with our Scholastic Online-Only Book Fair from February 8-21.
The Book Fair will connect your kids to notable books and inspiring characters — helping them become lifelong readers. And you’ll love the new option to shop for Book Fair exclusives directly from the interactive booklist.
Plus, enjoy these special online shopping features:
• Access to over 6,000 products
• All orders ship direct to home
• FREE shipping on book-only orders over $25
• All purchases support our school and earn 25% in rewards
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with online shopping: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/richardcrosbyelementary1
Thank you for continuing to support our school.
Happy reading!
Ms. Belena Garza
Crosby Elementary School Librarian
5 ESSENNTIALS SURVEY INFORMATION
Parents and Certified Staff will take the survey at the K-3 level, students do not take the survey. This feedback is critical information which will guide us as a school on how we can improve. We are always willing to grow and do better for our students, staff and families.
THE "SOCIAL BUZZ" ~ MS. LORENA VILLAGOMEZ
Hello Crosby Families,
Parents and teachers are faced with the challenge of discussing the evolving COVID-19 virus outbreak with children. Although these are difficult conversations to have, they are also important. There is not a “right” or “wrong” way to talk with children about this. With the possibility of students returning to school we want to share a few suggestions that might help ease the conversation:
- Create a welcoming environment for children to ask questions. Children often have questions and might not know how to ask them. Be patient as they try to come up with ways to ask you about it.
- Answer questions as honestly and accurately as you can. Gather information from the CDC and WHO websites that will help you answer their questions.
- Use language that children will understand. Explain in terms in which the child will understand based on their age and developmental level.
- It’s okay to repeat information. Children will probably ask the same question multiple times as a way to feel reassured.
- Acknowledge and validate the child’s thoughts, feelings, and reactions. Show that you think their questions and concerns are important.
- Remember that children tend to personalize situations. For example, they may worry about their own safety and the safety of family and friends.
- Reassure children that many people are helping those being affected by COVID-19.
- Show children how they can be safe during this time. Practice wearing a mask, washing their hands, and staying socially distant.
We understand that this is a difficult conversation to have, and we are here to help. Crosby’s school social workers and counselors are professionals who are trained to have such conversations with children. Please reach out if you have any questions. Remember to not force a child to talk when they are not ready.
Websites:
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
WHO: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
We cannot wait to have children back in our buildings!
As always you can contact me through my email lvillagomez@cusd50.org if I can assist you in any way.
RESOURCES:
McHenry County Crisis Line number 800.892.8900.
You can also visit https://www.mc708.org/resources/ for more mental health resources.
Mobile food pantries: https://solvehungertoday.org/get-help/distributions/
Harvard Community Food Pantry: Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 am and from 1:30-5:00 pm. Located on 6817 Harvard Hills Rd, Harvard IL 60033. You will need an ID to receive assistance.
Please call or email me if you have any questions or if you need assistance finding these resources.
Sincerely,
Ms. Lorena Villagomez
School Social Worker
THE "COUNSELING CORNER" ~ MRS. SPAULDING & MRS. ALTMANN
Happy February, Crosby Families!
Over the past several weeks, Crosby students have been celebrating the importance of spreading kindness. A beautiful book that discusses the concept of spreading kindness is titled Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud.
To revisit that story, click here for English, or here for Spanish.
In this book, the concept of being a “bucket filler” is discussed by explaining that “everyone has an “invisible bucket that holds their happy thoughts and feelings.” We love to encourage the children to engage in kind acts in order to “fill each other’s buckets.” A friendly smile, wave, kind note, and a listening ear when someone is going through a difficult time are all ways in which we can spread kindness throughout our communities and world.
Did you know that an important part of spreading kindness is being kind to ourselves? According to Dr. Kristin Neft, an associate professor of Educational Psychology at University of Texas, self-compassion is having compassion for yourself when you are “having a difficult time, fail, or notice something you don’t like about yourself,”--just as you would when you see someone else suffering. Self-compassion enables us to comfort ourselves in difficult times such as moments of doubt and uncertainty. As humans, we can often be hard on ourselves when we make mistakes or when we do not meet an expectation. Failing to meet those expectations can result in feelings of self-doubt.
Have you ever said to yourself, “I’m a failure,” “I can’t do anything right,” “Everyone else can do it except me,” or “I’ll never be successful?”
When we doubt ourselves we often find ourselves using words of discouragement toward ourselves rather than compassionate words of encouragement. It is important that we model self-compassion because our children and students watch what we do and say. If we treat ourselves with kindness, our children will learn to be kind to themselves, as well.
This week we encourage everyone to make sure to “fill their own bucket” by using kind and encouraging words with one’s self. When we make a mistake (and we all do because we are all human), we can use words like, “It’s okay. I learned from this situation and will use this to help me in the future.” as well as offer up forgiveness toward ourselves.
We look forward to sharing more concepts of self-compassion in future weeks. Have a wonderful week and remember--an important part of spreading kindness is making sure to be kind to YOU! Have a beautiful week!
(Ideas cited from https://betterkids.education/blog/how-to-strengthen-your-childs-self-confidence-with-self-compassion).
Wishing you a healthy and happy February!
Your School Counselors,
Allison Altmann and Kortni Spaulding
Parent Community Liasion ~ Vania De Almeida
No se lo pierda con el Dr. Ferney Ramirez!
Fecha: Jueves, 11 de febrero a las 6:30 pm
Tema: “Disciplina sin Lágrimas. Estrategias Eficaces para Corregir a los Hijos de una Forma Positiva.”
Conéctese con nosotros en nuestra página de Facebook:
IMPORTANT DATES ~
Thursday, February 11 - Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences
12:00 pm - 8:00 pm (via ZOOM)
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Friday, February 12 - NO SCHOOL - Day of Non Attendance
Monday, February 15 - NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Day
Wednesday, February 17 - NO SCHOOL for students
STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY
School Board Meeting @ 7:00 pm
RICHARD D. CROSBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal - Mrs. Kathleen Ferguson kferguson@cusd50.org
Asst. Principal - Mr. Paul Brass pbrass@cusd50.org
Social Worker - Mr. Brandon Barry bbarry@cusd50.org
Social Worker - Ms. Lorena Villagomez lvillagomez@cusd50.org
Parent Community Liaison - Mrs. Vania DeAlmeida vdealmeida@cusd50.org
School Counselor - Mrs. Kortni Spaulding kspaulding@cusd50.org
School Counselor - Mrs. Allison Altmann aaltmann@cusd50.org
Email: kferguson@cusd50.org
Website: https://www.cusd50.org/crosby/
Phone: 815-943-6125