The Wildcat Newsletter
August 2021
What a wonderful start to the school year! We would like to thank everyone for your patience as we navigate our drop-offs and pick-ups. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping the entrances clear in the morning and after school.
Mrs. Michelini
Frequently asked Questions
What are school hours?
Students will enter the building at 8:10am and exit at 3:09pm. These are the times for a regular school day schedule.
Where can I drop off/pick up my child? Where will students enter the building?
Due to our construction project, we will be modifying our entrances into the building for certain grade levels. Grades will enter the building as follows:
K and 1st- W4 ( Drop-off 13th Ave and 23rd Place)
2nd and 3rd- W3 (Drop-off 13th Ave and 23rd Place)
4th and 5th- E2 (Drop-off in front of District Office on 24th)
6th, 7th and 8th- 6E (12th Ave)
24th Street west of 13th will be closed periodically throughout the day without notice due to our construction project. You will need to head south on 13th Ave.
Please click HERE to view the Traffic Flow Map.
We strongly encourage walking to school when possible.
What information do I need to know regarding my child returning to in person learning?
Please view the Return to In Person Learning document sent by Dr. Fitzgerald for important information regarding the start of the 2021-2022 school year.
Does my child need to wear a mask at school?
Yes, all students and staff need to wear masks while in the building.
Should I send my child with a water bottle to school?
Yes, please send a water bottle daily. Our drinking foundations will be on for the bottle refill only.
What school supplies are needed?
The school lists are available by grade level on the Komarek webpage under the parent tab.
Where do I find the lunch menu?
Please find the updated lunch menu for August in the "Breakfast & Lunch" section below.
How will attendance be taken?
Please call the attendance line (708) 447-8030, option 2 if your child will NOT be in attendance.
When will my child receive their learning device?
Please see the Tech Corner section (found below).
Where can I find Komarek's Parent/Student Handbook?
Please click HERE to access the Handbook. It may also be accessed on the Komarek webpage under the parent and student tab.
Picture Day
Junior High Specials
- 6th graders will take Shop, Art, Stem, Music, and Spanish.
- 7th graders will participate in Civics, Shop, Art, Stem, Digital Citizenship, and Spanish.
- 8th grade specials will be in Spanish, Art, Stem, Public Speaking, and Theater. All specials will rotate on a quarterly basis.
Breakfast & Lunch
Tech Corner
The majority of devices have been distributed for grades 1-3 and 5-8. We are waiting for a shipment of a few more devices for our Kindergarten and 4th grade students, but anticipate that these will be out shortly! Thank you for your patience as we get devices out to students. If your student has an issue with their current device, please inform the homeroom teacher. We will then be able to provide a loaner device as we diagnose the problem.
Please note that sending devices home will be at the discretion of the homeroom teacher in grades K-5, so you may not be seeing your student's device every day.
PowerSchool
PowerSchool is the platform used by Komarek School to store student grades. For updated information regarding your student's progress, please log in to PowerSchool. For returning families, our parent login is the same as what was used at registration. For our new families, login information was provided when you registered your student. For any username/password questions, please feel free to reach out to Komarek's Educational Technology Specialist/Coordinator, Patricia Boguslaw (pboguslaw@komarek94.org).
Let's Welcome Our New Staff
Mrs. Kate Thompson, 3rd Grade Maternity Leave
Mrs. Thompson comes to us with eight years of teaching experience. This past year she taught 2nd grade through D200 Virtual Academy where she had 25 students for the year on Google Meet. Mrs. Thompson also taught for 6 years at Field Stevenson in Forest Park and one year at St. Francis Xavier in La Grange. When she is not teaching Mrs. Thompson is a consultant for organizations with the test development process, testing validity, and curriculum alignment. Mrs. Thompson says, "I am looking forward to working at Komarek School. The close community and the support for the students from both employees and parents has always seemed special to me." Mrs. Thompson and her husband Steve have 4 kids and live in La Grange Park.
Katherine Mullen, Social Worker
Our new Social Worker, Ms. Mullen, has close ties to the North Riverside community. She comes highly recommended by her previous employer (our special education cooperative, LADSE), and we are so excited to have her on our team. Katherine is empathetic, understanding, and collaborative; she has experience working in schools, as well as working as a recreational therapist. Ms. Mullen completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Illinois State, and her Masters in Social Work from Aurora University.
Iris Velazquez, Junior High Spanish/TBE Teacher
Mrs. Velazquez is a dedicated bilingual teacher who is passionate about cultural diversity and second language learning. She loves being in the classroom as she learns just as much from her students as they do from her. She believes learning should be fun and engaging and aims to inspire students to love learning, reading, and growing. After changing careers a few years ago, she has served in a role as bilingual educator. Mrs. Velazquez lives in Riverside. She is a wife and mother to two teenage boys and a yorkie terrier. She looks forward to working with the Komarek School community!
Claudia Ortega, Maternity Leave Administrative Assistant for School Office
Ms. Ortega enjoys learning new skills and taking on new opportunities. She is the oldest of three brothers and one sister. Her parents come from Zacatecas, Mexico. She has a degree in MIS-Management System from DePaul. One of her hobbies includes hiking. She is cheerful, hard working, and a team player.
Thahab Abduljawad, Junior High Science
Ms. Abduljawad is very excited to be starting her 1st year of teaching at Komarek School! She graduated with a bachelors in biology and is currently pursuing her masters in teaching from Saint Xavier University. She is passionate about helping children grow to be successful in the classroom and to lead successful lives. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and cooking up new recipes. Not only do she look forward to teaching this year, but also learning about her students and their families.
Kathleen Brooks, Junior High Math
Ms. Brooks is thrilled to be joining the Komarek staff. She has years of experience in the classroom at a variety of different levels. She loves learning and loves math!
Please join me in welcoming our new staff to the Komarek community.
Information for Parents of Students with IEPs and 504 Plans
We are so excited to have our students back in the building this year! As the school year gets underway, it may take time for our students to adjust to being back in the school building. We will provide time and space for students to return to in-person learning, while also delivering the services they need to be successful. We have time allocated during our teacher institute days for teachers and staff to review student plans and discuss how to set each student up for success, beginning with the first day of school.
Your child's case manager will be in contact with you to let you know how your student's plan will be implemented and delivered this year, as well as to discuss any changes that might need to be made.
If you have any questions or concerns about your student or their plan, please feel free to reach out to Diane Janka, Director of Student Services at 708-447-8030, ext. 115 or djanka@komarek94.org.
Fall Preschool Screening
We are planning to hold our first preschool screening this fall on Thursday, October 7th. We will also have additional preschool screenings in January and April.
Preschool screening is designed to assess a child's development and assist in identifying children who may require further evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services or those who may be eligible for a state-funded preschool program. Your child must be at least two and one half years old to attend a screening. The screenings are by appointment, and at no cost to families.
Participation in the screening process does not guarantee a spot within the preschool program, but may put your child on the list of potential preschoolers for this year and/or next year. There will be a banner on the district website with a link you can fill out to express interest in your child attending screening. You can also make a screening appointment by contacting Gail Anderson at ganderson@komarek94.org or 708-447-8030, x101.
**If you have a child currently receiving early intervention services, you are not required to attend a screening. Please work with your child's CFC case manager to schedule a transition meeting with the Director of Student Services**
If you have concerns about your preschool age child's development, please feel free to reach out to Diane Janka, Director of Student Services, at any time. Her phone number is 708-447-8030, x115 and email is djanka@komarek94.org.