The Panda Post
10/08/2021
Calendar of Events
Friday, October 15
No School - Conference Day
Monday, October 18
Board of Education Meeting 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 21
Principal Thursday via Zoom at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 28
Picture Re-take Day
Friday, October 29
Halloween Classroom Celebration (see information below)
Monday, November 1
No School - Institute Day
Message from the Principal
It has been another busy and successful week here at Westbrook! We had another successful week of SHIELD testing and staff across Westbrook had the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues to discuss supporting students inside their classrooms.
As we look to next week we know that parent teacher conferences will be taking place. Please make sure to sign up for a time to meet with your students' classroom teacher. We know that students that are connected to school and show involvement in their students' education achieve more! We look forward to partnering with you to support your student!
We have now completed two weeks of our SHIELD testing at Westbrook. I am happy to report that we have increased our total number of tests from week one to week two! We had more than 230 total students across Westbrook test this week! Please know that the results from this test come typically 12-24 hours after testing. We have not needed to contact trace from our SHIELD results however we would begin immediately if a positive case was identified.
One area of need that has been recently identified at Westbrook is the need to re-teach our bus riding expectations to students. We do have students assigned to specific bus seats however we have been notified by the bus drivers that many students are not sitting in their assigned seats and often switch seats while the bus is moving. Next week I will be reteaching all students the importance of staying in their assigned seats. Attached below is the language that we use in our common areas to teach expectations to students. We consistently use the phrases "Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Your Best." Please see the bus expectations below (verbal and visual) and if your student rides the bus please take a moment to help us reinforce the expectations. Your help is greatly appreciated!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Patrick
Dress Up Guidelines for Halloween
Students will be allowed to come to school in costumes on Friday, October 29.
As you and your students prepare for Halloween, please keep in mind our Westbrook guidelines:
- Please do not let your child bring any type of weapon, fantasy or look-alike. This includes plastic swords, fake guns, or anything that could be perceived as a weapon.
- Costumes that are violent or bloody are not allowed.
- Masks(that are part of a costume or that cover the entire face) are not allowed at school.
- For safety reasons, please be sure that your child can see and walk around easily in his/her costume.
- If you have any doubts about the appropriateness of any portion of your child’s costume, please contact your teacher or the main office and we will be glad to advise you.
In addition to our original guidelines, here are a few additional notes about our celebrations this year.
- All students must wear a mask(face covering) and a mask that is part of a costume does not take the place of a mask(face covering) used each day.
- Unfortunately, there will not be a parent parade this year or parent volunteers
- Classroom parties will be modified. There will be no food allowed and all activities will be teacher directed. The PTA will be providing activities for Westbrook students!
We are committed to keeping our students at Westbrook safe and healthy and while I know these changes are different, I am confident that our staff will make Halloween celebrations memorable for our students!
Construction Update
The week of October 18, for approximately four weeks (depending on weather), the walking path from The Glen, along the north side of the Westbrook property to the school, will be closed. Construction fencing and signs will direct you to the detour to Westbrook, which will run south along the gravel path to the sidewalk along Lake. See the image below, and share the information with any of your friends and neighbors who may be impacted.
There will be a few feet of the route that is grass; if you find the area becoming muddy or otherwise difficult to navigate, please contact D34 Director of Buildings & Grounds Steve Ruelli (sruelli@glenview34.org).
Bullying Prevention
Dear Westbrook Parents/Guardians,
In District 34, bullying of any kind, by any person, is unacceptable. All students should be free from worries about being bullied. Students who bully others must be taught other, appropriate ways of interacting with peers. Previously, the District shared information about the D34 Bullying Tip Line and Safe2Help Illinois; the purpose of this letter is to provide you with information concerning the School District’s anti-bullying program and to encourage you to help us identify students who are being bullied.
The Board of Education policy on bullying begins with this goals statement:
Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors is an important District goal.
Bullying is defined as follows:
Bullying means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:
Placing the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property.
Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health.
Substantially interfering with the student’s academic performance.
Substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
Bullying, intimidation, and/or harassment may take various forms, including without limitation: threats, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying.
Westbrook staff members respond immediately and with compassion to a student who reports bullying or school violence. After evaluating the situation to determine if an immediate referral to my office is needed, a staff member will give the student a link to our online form for reporting bullying. I will inform you whenever your child is involved in a bullying report.
Finally, I requested our staff members to intervene immediately to stop a bullying incident. They will immediately contact building security and or law enforcement if the incident involves a weapon or other illegal activity.
Below are some of the signs that a young person is being bullied:
Does not want to go to school and refuses to explain the reason
Talks about not having any friends
Has unexplained bruises, cuts, scratches or abrasions
Has unexplained damage to clothing, possessions, books, etc.
Frequently loses money or possessions
Loses interest in school and/or has declining grades
Becomes withdrawn and/or has stress or depression symptoms
These signs do not necessarily mean your child is being bullied, but if present, ask your child whether he or she is being bullied.
Here are grade specific overviews that are part of your students' bullying prevention units.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Patrick Hoeft
PTA Information
If you would like to receive the PTA email distribution list directly from PTA, please click on the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeM5JW5lHoCTbJi_sanuWSKp1n-072gzXUWl8aVQZcTQg64nA/viewform
Before + After School Programs
Parent Teams
If you'd like to meet other parents and be involved with the school, a team is a great place to start.
Use Amazon Smile!
Do you use the Amazon App? Go to Settings>AmazonSmile and select Westbrook Glen Grove PTA as your charity. Then shop as usual.
We earn money for your shopping! Last year we earned $500...how much can we earn in 2021-22?
Facebook & Twitter Accounts!
We are now on Facebook and Twitter!
Share the News! LIKE and follow WB on Facebook to keep up with all the school fun, photos and happenings at WB! Our goal is to reach 200 Likes! We are now a little past 100!
Twitter - @WestbrookD34
Patrick Hoeft - @phoeft34
Martha Rode - @RodeMartha
Maggie Wade - @MaggieOConnorW1
Westbrook School
Dr. Maggie Wade, Assistant Principal
Martha Rode, Assistant Principal
Website: https://wb.glenview34.org/
Location: 1333 Greenwood Road, Glenview, IL, USA
Phone: 847-657-2491
Glenview District 34
Our Mission
Aspire. Explore. Discover. Connect.
1401 Greenwood Road, Glenview
847-998-5000