Western Weekly
April 15th, 2024
Wednesday, April 24th - Open PTO mtg. on Zoom
Wednesday, May 8th - Visual Arts Expo
Thursday, May 9th - 3rd Grade Concert
Friday, May 10th - 5th Grade Outdoor Education Trip
Wednesday, May 15th - 17th - BOGO Book Fair
Wednesday, May 22nd - 5th Grade Social
Friday, May 24th - Kindergarten Celebration
Tuesday, May 28th - PBIS Inflatable Day & D161 End of Year Party
Wednesday, May 29th - Field Day & PJH 8th grade Graduation
Thursday, May 30th - 5th Grade Step Up Day & Last Day of School
The weeks are flying by. We are so glad some of you could join in on the eclipse viewing with us on Monday. Thank you for coming out to STEAM night and exploring with your students. This week our 5th graders will take the state science test.
Have a great weekend.
Dr. Isabelli
What's new/updated in this edition of the WW?
- PJ Day Monday
- Welcome Alesia Sturdivant
- Multicultural BINGO winners
- Our week in photos
PJ Day
It was Den Depot shopping last week and we had several students purchase create your own school spirit day. This Monday will be PJ day thanks to Kindergartener Evelyn.
Welcome Alesia Sturdivant
We are happy to welcome to our office team Alesia Sturdivant. Ms. Sturdivant is our new administrative assistant. Please stop in and say hi to her. When contacting the office you may reach out to Ms. Trice and Ms. Sturdivant as they are both happy to help with anything. Email: asturdivant@sd161.org
Multicultural BINGO winners
PTO has picked the winners for the Multicultural Bingo game that nearly 100 of our students participated in last month. Our winners are: Everett in Ms. McNeil's Kindergarten class, Wren in Ms. Ellis's 2nd grade class, and Karren in Ms. Howard's 4th grade class. Winners will get to pick a book from the Multicultural Book List given to their teachers for them to receive as a prize. Thank you to all who participated!
Earth 🌎 Day Volunteers Needed!
Western Ave Green Team & PTO are excited to present an all-school activity for Earth Day on Monday, April 22! PTO volunteers have planned a read-aloud and craft for our K-1st friends and will make wildflower seed balls with our 2nd-5th grade friends! We need adult hands to help each classroom. If you can give an hour on Earth Day, it would be so much appreciated! Sign up here - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4FAFAD2EA4FC1-48465792-green#/
End of Year Event Volunteers Needed!
Our PBIS Inflatable Day is on Tuesday, May 28th, and our Field Day is on Wednesday, May 29th. The students absolutely love these days, but they can only be successful with many, many hands. Please donate your time if you can help out at either of these events through our sign-up link below. High school siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc., are all welcome to volunteer.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DAEA823A6FDCE9-48561301-funend
Spring Reading Challenge! BINGO!
Summer Academy Registration
The end of the school year is almost here, and we're thrilled to announce the SD161 Summer Academy Program! The Summer Academy offers an excellent opportunity for your child to practice their skills and receive additional instruction during the summer break. The program dates are Monday, June 10, 2024, through Thursday, July 18, 2024. Registration is due by Friday, May 3, 2024; please register using the online registration links below.
Contact the Department of Learning and Instruction at 708-647-7017 or Karen French at kfrench@sd161.org with any questions.
Summer Academy Kinderprep Program Flyer
Summer Academy Code Champs Program Flyer
Summer Academy Excel Program Flyer
Summer Academy Financial Literacy Program Flyer
Summer Academy AVID Program Flyer
Summer Academy Kinderprep Program Flyer
Summer Academy Excel Program Flyer
We are GLAD your HERE! Grade level attendance percentage leads!
Attendance is the Key 🔑 to School Success
Regular school attendance can make all the difference in a child's learning. If you need help with school attendance please reach out to our building social workers, Caitlin Zarlengo or Allison Wisniewski.
Library Mystery Readers Wanted
Miss Kate is looking for family members who would like to be a mystery reader in the library. Please use the link here to sign up. Library Mystery 🔎 Reader 📖 Link
Den Depot Volunteers
We need volunteer shopkeepers for our upcoming Den Depot dates! The Den Depot is a mobile store where students are able to shop with wolfpack tickets. Shopkeepers will work 1-2 volunteers per shift where each shift will be 1-3 hours. Please arrive a few minutes early to check into the office with ID and get the Den Depot cart.
March BOE Meeting
Long Range Construction Plan
Updated architectural plans were discussed to move the office at Heather Hill School to the Northwest corner of the school to improve safety and accessibility. In addition to relocating the office, a small group learning space and teacher lunchroom / workroom will be created in the current office location. The current teacher lunchroom will be removed to increase the size of Classroom 27. Next, the team will begin working with staff and students to identify classroom upgrades and furniture needs.
Heather Hill Detention Basin
Representatives from the Village of Flossmoor were available to answer questions about the proposed detention basin on the Heather Hill campus. They also provided several documents with information about the basin, including previous water studies, a cost benefit analysis, and letters of support from community members. This item will return to the meeting agenda in April.
BluePoint System Upgrade
BluePoint is the system in all five schools that will automatically call the police with the pull of an alarm, very similar to fire alarm pulls. The recommended panel upgrades will bring us current with industry technology, since our current panels are already a few technology generations old. The upgrade will increase the effectiveness of our crisis communications, give us the ability to monitor real-time system strength and battery health, allow streamlined system testing options, and provide an easier to use interface for staff. School safety is of utmost importance in District 161 and updating this system adds one more layer to our security measures.
Instructional Day
Monday - Friday:
- 8:30 - 8:40 - Arrival
- 8:40 - 3:15 - Instructional day
PreK Morning Session - 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
PreK Afternoon Session - 12:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Half-Day Dismissal - 11:40 am
Attendance
Moving??? If you move during the school year please contact the office to update your information in Skyward. If you move outside of the Western Avenue boundaries please contact Dr. Isabelli. We believe that too many transitions during the school year affect students' learning. Therefore, as long as students continue to participate in their live instruction they may finish the school year at Western Avenue.
23-24 D161 School Calendar
📅 2024-2025 D161 School Calendar 📅
Lunch & Breakfast Information
Lunch Prices for 2023/2024
Full Price $3.35, Reduced Price $0.40
Student Milk is $0.35 for ALL students
Breakfast Prices for 2023/2024
Full Price $1.65, Reduced Price $0.30
Families must submit the free/reduced lunch application form to determine if your student(s)qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Students who are arriving to eat breakfast at school can arrive at 8:25 a.m. and proceed to door F. Breakfast will be served from 8:25 a.m. - 8:38 a.m.
Birthday Treats
We love celebrating our learners on their birthdays. However, as a reminder students are only allowed to bring NON-EDIBLE birthday things to share. Some ideas that students have brought in our pencils, play-dough, stickers, crayons, glow sticks, etc.
Canvas help?
If you need help logging into Canvas please view this flyer from the District. There is also a wealth of resources for parents on the District website regarding Canvas. All students in grades 3rd - 8th are required to complete and submit assignments in Canvas as well as completing paper/pencil activities. Parents of 3rd - 8th graders can check on their students assignments and grades in Canvas. ALL teachers have daily schedules and parent resources posted on their Canvas pages.
School Transportation Information (Arrival/Dismissal)
Arrival/Drop Off Procedures
Elementary: 8:30 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. arrival
All students will enter the building upon arriving at school to prepare for the day.
Upon drop-off, students will enter the building at 8:30 a.m. and head to their classroom to unpack and prepare for the day.
Teachers will be waiting for students outside of their classrooms.
Staff will be stationed throughout the grounds to help students navigate to their entry doors and classes. (See map for entry points and drop-off.)
Stop/drop parking is allowed ONLY on the north side of Vardon Place and the west side of Brassie Avenue.
Parents must walk their student to the crosswalk area.
DROP-OFF General Safety:
Pull up all the way in the car line until a staff member signals you to stop.
Have children walk to the crosswalk to cross the bus lane
If your child is being dropped off on the nearby streets, they must walk down to the crosswalk/concession area for a safe crossing, not between the vehicles.
Do NOT get out of your car in the car line or leave a parked vehicle in the car line.
Tardy:
Students who arrive after 8:40 am will need to be dropped off at the main entrance Door A.
All students must be signed in by an adult in the office if they arrive late.
You must use the entrance on Vardon and park to drop off your student.
NO drop-off/parking is allowed in the Fire/Bus lane off Western Avenue in front of the school. This MUST stay clear at all times for emergency vehicles.
Arrival Guidelines (Bus Riders)
Bus information will be available in Skyward. If you see any issues,
please contact Wanda Alexander at 708-546-7072.
Once the bus arrives at the building, a staff member will dismiss the bus, and students will proceed to their entrance door (see map below)
Dismissal Procedures
Walker No Parent Required Guidelines
Students allowed to walk home without a parent present will exit their designated doors and walk home.
Car Rider/Walking Parent Guidelines
Walkers will be dismissed out the doors marked on the map below.
Parents walking to pick up students must have their car tag number.
Pull up all the way in the car line until a staff member signals you to stop.
Staff will relay which vehicle Pick Up Tag numbers are in the car line and have those students ready to load in the vehicles.
Your child will be directed to your vehicle by a staff member. Parents in the car line need to stay in the vehicle at all times. Staff will assist with opening car doors for younger students if needed.
Outside Safety Waiting Area
In debriefing with Flossmoor Police after Wednesday's Code Red lockdown we discussed what to do for people arriving at the school and not knowing we are in a lockdown. Below is the procedure that we have jointly developed.
- Upon approaching the building outsiders would hear the Code Red announcement being play in Mrs. Isabelli's voice.
- Anyone coming to the school during this time will be directed to the baseball field area on Brassie Avenue to await entrance into the school building once it has been all cleared for safety.
Bus Bullentin Sign-up
Kickert Transportation has made available to parents in Flossmoor School District 161 a FREE notification system to notify parents when there are bus delays.
• If you would like to receive notifications when delays or incidents affect your student's bus, please register with Bus Bulletin.
There is no cost for this service.
Registration is simple and fast.
You can choose to receive text messages, phone calls, and emails.
All contact information is stored securely and will not be shared or sold.
No information was given to Kickert by the District, you will provide phone numbers and emails when you register.
• For more information, or to sign-up and start receiving notifications, please visit:
On the Bus Bulletin home page click on the Register link. Enter your information to create your account.
• Once you have created your account, you will select your notification methods. You may enter up to 7 phone numbers and/or email addresses. • You only need one account per family, just enter all the contact information for everyone.
• When you add a phone number or email address, you will be sent a verification code, to enter on the screen.
• You will have the option to test the contact information you supplied with a generic message. • Once your notification methods are complete, you will select all the bus routes for your student(s). • There are separate routes for morning and afternoon routes. For example, if your child rides route 1 at Western Avenue, you would select WA AM1 and WA PM1, to get notified of delays on morning and afternoon routes.
• When you have entered all your information, click the Save Changes button.
• Your Bus Bulletin has now been activated!
From the Office of Nurse Bryant -
Contact Nurse Bryant at - kbryant01@sd161.org
MEDICATION
The only 2 medications (over the counter or prescription) that a student can have in their possession (including locker, backpack, purse, etc.) is an inhaler or epi-pen with authorization. An epi-pen requires physician and parent authorization on the required forms. An inhaler requires parent authorization on the District form and the inhaler prescription box. Students may not have any over the counter or prescription medications at school at any time without the required District authorization forms.
Health Requirements:
Transfer/new students must present a physical and immunizations on the required IL Certificate of Child Health Examination form. It is the parent's responsibility to provide a copy of the physical/immunization forms from previous school records prior to the exclusion date. Please do not rely on the transferring school to send the records by exclusion day. Out of state transfers must have a physical on the Illinois form.
Kindergarten
- Dental Exam due by May 15th
2nd Grade
- Dental Exam due by May 15th
Action Plans
An annual updated action plan is requested for all students with allergies, asthma, seizures, diabetes and other medical conditions.
COVID - 19: Please report all positive COVID cases to Nurse Bryant.
Capturing Kids' Heart - April Focus - Perseverance
What is Perseverance?
Perseverance is the willingness and ability to keep going when things are tough. People who persevere show steadfastness and give the extra effort needed to do something despite how hard it is or how long it takes to reach the goal.
Why focus on Perseverance?
- Perseverance encourages positive self-talk and thinking. When faced with difficult tasks, perseverance helps students reframe with positive thoughts, such as: "I'm not good at this YET!"
- Perseverance develops empathy. Students gain a better understanding of who they are and develop more empathy and compassion for others who may struggle to reach a goal.
- Perseverance sparks personal growth. Pushing through complex tasks builds resilience and helps students discover how capable they are.
Perseverance in Action:
- Share stories and challenging experiences. Be vulnerable and share personal experiences when you have struggled with a task or concept and had to work hard to push through.
- Praise effort and process, not intelligence or performance. Affirm your student for the process they used to tackle tasks and point out how their abilities grow through their own hard work.
- Give your students the chance to struggle. Struggle builds self-confidence, independence, and perseverance. Resist the urge to intervene immediately and give students time to figure it out.
Alpha Wolves Program
We are excited to continue our Western Avenues Alpha Wolves Program which has been successful with the help of our dads and grandparents. The Alpha Wolves program looks for males to come into the building and help with recess, lunch, hallway monitoring, and just being a presence in the building. Last year our program was recognize by the Illinois State Board of Education at the Those That Excel Banquet.
What do the Alpha Wolves do?
Help out in the lunch room.
Play games with students at recess.
Walk the halls to monitor safety and hand out wolf pak tickets for students following expectations.
Commit to as many or as few days/times as possible based on your schedule
All volunteers will need to present their ids to run through our security system to volunteer
If you would like to join the Alpha Wolves please sign up for your days on this Sign-up Genius link. Bring your driver's license in to be scanned through our security system.
#ABOVEANDBEYOND Awards
This program is designed to publicize the incredible things individuals do for our students, schools, and community. Recognition can come from many different places. The button below has the form and information about the program. Feel free to start nominating today, and we look forward to singing staff praises loud and proud of those that are #AboveandBeyond!
Solar 🌞 Eclipse
4th grader Nolan made coloring pages for students
STEAM Night
Western Avenue Contact Information
Email: gisabelli@sd161.org
Website: https://www.sd161.org/o/western-avenue
Location: 940 Western Avenue, Flossmoor, IL, USA
Phone: 708-647-7400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/district161wa
Twitter: @western161