Walden Weekly
School News You Can Use
Dear Walden Families,
Thank you for a great week! We began our MAP testing this week and students did a great job showing what they know on this assessment. Testing continues next week, so try to help your child get a good night sleep and have a healthy breakfast before school. We look forward to sharing our results soon!
Just as a reminder, there is no school on Monday since we are observing Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Students spent time this week in classrooms learning about Martin Luther King and his important teachings and contributions to our society. Feel free to continue these conversations at home to see what your child has learned.
Have a wonderful long weekend and we will see you on Tuesday!
-Stephanie Strenger
5ESSENTIALS SURVEY NOW OPEN - LEND YOUR VOICE TO HELP OUR SCHOOL!
Again this year, parents across Illinois have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent, it allows you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness. Your responses also help guide district improvement.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
· Effective Leaders
· Collaborative Teachers
· Involved Families
· Supportive Environments
· Ambitious Instruction
To take the Parent Survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. Your identity and responses will be kept completely confidential and will not be connected to you or your child. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete.
In addition to parents, 4th through 8th grade students will also be responding to this survey. Per school board policy 7:15, you may opt your child out of any survey. If you would not like your child to participate in the 5Essentials Survey, please contact your building principal.
Parking Lot Expectations (2nd Posting)
Middle School World Language Night Zoom (Save the Date)
Thursday, 1/20/22 at 6:30pm: The Caruso and Shepard World Langage Teams are coming together to share information about our wonderful language programming for our incoming Bluejays and Spartans. Drop into the Zoom session to hear from the teachers and learn about our curriculum highlights in Mandarin, Hebrew, French and Spanish.
A Zoom Link and Q&A Document will be shared prior to the meeting.
Social Emotional Learning Home Connection #3 (2nd Posting)
During the month of January we will be continuing our school-wide community connection for Leader In Me. The Lighthouse Team (the staff leadership team for Leader in Me) has compiled a short list of activities for your family to try at home. This month, we will be focusing on Habit 3, “Put First Things First.” This habit teaches us about self-management and putting important things first. Feel free to try one or all of the activities listed below. After completing one or all of them, fill out the bottom portion of this document and return it to your child’s teacher.
If you’ve missed the opportunity to practice Habits 1 and 2, those links are located in the weekly Walden Smore emails. Our hope is that we have many families that choose to complete the activities we send out each month for all 7 Habits, which will earn you status as a “7 Habits Family.”
OPTION 1
Identify the most important things that have to get done on a busy night. Make a schedule to practice putting first things first by not allowing the small things to get in the way.
OPTION 2
Fill out a T-Chart for what your child’s “big rocks” and “small rocks” are on any given day. Big rocks are considered things in a child’s life that are the most important things to accomplish. Small rocks are more minor things that may get in the way of getting their big rocks done.
OPTION 3
Read The Ant and the Grasshopper together. Ask your child which character was putting first things first and how it helped them.
By participating in this activity, you and your family are on their way to being recognized as a “7 Habits Family”. The Google form is due back to us by Monday, January 31st, 2021.
SHIELD TESTING
Looking to fill out the SHIELD consent form?
Please login to Skyward/Family Access and it should appear as a green box next to your child’s name. Contact the district's communications department (communications@dps109.org) with any Family Access questions.
Looking to opt-out of SHIELD testing next week?
Click here to access the form.
We share the same form each week. If you'd like to opt your child out each week, the form will need to be filled out on a week-by-week basis.
Forms are due by Tuesday at 3pm.
Upcoming Dates
Jan. 17 - No School (Dr. Martin Luther King Day)
Jan. 19 - 3rd Grade Music Show
Feb. 21 - No School (President's Day)
Feb. 22 - No School (Teacher Institute Day)