News From The Nest
Graham Elementary Weekly Update | March 26, 2021
- March 29-April 2 | Spring Break
- Monday, April 5 | Remote Planning Day for Teachers, No Student Attendance
- Tuesday, April 6 | Remote Learning Day for Students, Schools being used as polling places for the election. Follow Monday Schedule
- Wednesday, April 7 - Friday, April 9 | In-person learning 9-11:30am, Remote learning 12:30-3:30pm
- Monday, April 12: 9am-1pm | A Regular Monday for K-2. 3rd-5th graders attend school from 9-11:30 for IAR Testing
- Tuesday, April 13 - End of Year | K-5 Full In-Person Learning Model, Monday through Friday, 9am - 3pm
Dear Graham Families,
Congratulations on making it to Spring Break! Although this year has brought about an unprecedented amount of family time, as well as many opportunities to be around immediate family, there is still nothing that quite matches having a dedicated window of time to spend just as the winter weather is breaking and spring begins to offer so many opportunities for outdoor activities and time to make memories.
In acknowledgment of this well-earned respite, I'll keep this week's note brief and just ask that while having fun, let's all keep the well-being of our school community in mind and continue to observe already established precautions, so that we may come back to school in April re-invigorated and excited to learn in person during our new schedule.
Thank you again, and have a great Spring Break!
Sincerely,
Ms. Walton
Changing your student From Remote to In-Person Learning
If your student is currently in remote learning, and you'd like to transition them into In-Person learning starting April 13th, please contact Mrs. McIntosh | Principal Secretary at 428-6900.
Please be aware that during Spring Break, the building will be closed, but the phone lines will be open 9am-3pm. If you are unable to reach someone directly, please leave a message and your call will be returned promptly.
Report Cards | April 9th
Schedule Change | 4th & 5th Grade Chorus
Dear Chorus Members and Families,
With bringing Students back to school for 5 days, our Chorus Rehearsal Times will need to be modified. Due to the change in our school day, we cannot have Chorus at our normal time of 8:15-8:45am on Monday mornings. Chorus Rehearsals will stay on Mondays but will occur from 3:30-4:00pm.
It's my hope all Members will still be able to attend. To those who are able to attend, I look forward to seeing you!
Here is the schedule for Chorus Rehearsals for the rest of the 2020-2021 School Year:
April 5 NO School - No Chorus
April 12 Due to IAR testing - No Chorus
April 19 Chorus 3:30-4:00pm
April 26 Chorus 3:30-4:00pm
May 3 Chorus Final Gathering 3:30-4:00pm (more information to follow)
I'm so proud of our Chorus this year! They have been outstanding! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at kathy_muno@ipsd.org.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Muno
Safety Drills
Over a span of a couple of weeks, Graham students were asked to review and practice specific safety procedures for fire, tornado and safety incidents. These drills took place both outside and while students remained at their desks, so as to ensure social distancing requirements were met.
Maintaining Chromebooks During Spring Break
Please remember to maintain a charge on Chromebooks over Spring Break.
If you or your student let the battery drain to zero on their Chromebook, it will not turn on even when charging.
IMPORTANT | Self Certification In ParentVue by 8:00 AM
Please remember to use ParentVUE to self-certify that students coming on campus are free of COVID-like symptoms by 8:00AM. We currently have three (3) staff members who are making calls for upwards of an hour in the morning to obtain self certifications before students step onto school premises.
District recommendations for helping families to remember to self-certify include setting an alarm on your phone, or putting a note somewhere you frequent in your home in the morning.
Lastly, if the above step is not completed before 8:00am and your child is expected at school that day, a staff member will first call you to discuss your child's health status, and then should you not be reached by 9:00am, your student will be pulled from class and isolated until all appropriate certification questions can be verified.
These measures, while tedious, are meant to keep your child safe, and are a necessary step in our maintenance of an open learning space.
Expanded Learning Updates
We're very excited to expand our learning model to five days a week, 9am-3pm starting Tuesday, April 13. Please see below regarding the steps we're currently taking to prepare, and stay tuned to more information as it becomes available.
Distance
Distancing in the classroom is reduced to 3 feet or greater. Space above 3ft will depend on the number of students attending in-person in each classroom.
Instruction
All students instruction from 9am to 3pm, Monday - Friday. Both in-person and remote students will receive the same instruction from their teacher, with some students physically in the classroom, and others participating remotely through Zoom. This is the “Room and Zoom” model used in our middle and high schools. Students remain with their same teacher. Remote and in-person students both participate in academic subjects and specials (Art, Music, PE).
Lunch
Students will have lunch at school. During lunch, they will be seated 6 feet apart as they need to remove masks to eat. We will utilize a variety of spaces to accomplish this arrangement.
Remote Students
Remote students will participate in class via Zoom throughout the day. Additionally, we are planning to implement an after-school on-line assistance program that will provide remote parents and students with access to elementary staff who can answer questions and help students with completing assignments. It will be called ACE Time (Ask, Connect and Engage). More details will be shared with families prior to our start on April 13.
If you’d like more information about the updated guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), it can be viewed at Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools.
Graham's Annual Boys Choice Event | 2021
Graham boys are invited to participate in a neighborhood Scavenger Hunt with the adult VIP of their choice. The hunt kicks off on Friday, April 16th and wraps up on Friday, April 23rd and you can complete the missions on your list at your convenience anytime in between!
The event is free, you just need to RSVP on the google form listed here, and we will send you instructions on how to download the app we will be using so you can join our game.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Kristin Kirchner at kirchnercrew@gmail.com
Taps N' Tenders PTA Fundraiser
Join us right after spring break on Thursday April 8th at Taps N Tenders (located at 3320 S Rt 59) for our next Restaurant Night. This is an all day fundraiser, so come anytime and make sure to mention Graham Elementary
Beach Day | An LMC Family Event
#ExpressGratitude Event For Staff
District officials (including former Graham Elementary Principal Mrs. Peterson!) stopped by Graham Elementary today to #ExpressGratitude for our staff's hard work. Drinks, snacks, and a raffle were offered alongside stickers and notes of thanks!
Many thanks to IPSD 204 for recognizing the outstanding work that everyone at Graham does!
Spring Break Library Checkouts
This week many students checked out books from the Graham LMC in preparation of some relaxing reading over Spring Break. Whether through curbside pickup, Destiny holds, hallway checkout or book walks, we were excited to see so many books leaving the library.
Please note that all books will be due on Wednesday, April 7th.
V. Blanche Graham Elementary School
V. Blanche Graham Elementary School is a Prekindergarten through 5th grade school located in South Naperville. Opened in 1996, Graham is fortunate to have supportive parents and dedicated staff and students who come prepared and eager to learn. We are part of Indian Prairie Community Unit School District #204, which is dedicated to the mission to "Inspire all students to achieve their greatest potential."
Email: anna_mcintosh@ipsd.org
Website: http://graham.ipsd.org/
Location: 2315 High Meadow Rd, Naperville, IL 60564, USA
Phone: 630-428-6900
Twitter: @GrahamElem204