News Bites
Week of October 3 through October 7, 2022
NO SCHOOL
There is NO SCHOOL on
Monday, October 10, 2022,
in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Enjoy your long weekend.
Board Salutes - October 7, 2022
"This salute goes to Leman Middle School’s Matt Mordin, 8th-grade assistant principal, Maggie Lay, principal, and their team of administrators and teachers who have perfected the parent dropoff and pickup system at Leman Middle School. Matt and Maggie developed a well-thought-out plan for Hazel Street and prepared advance communication to parents and the neighborhood, including hand-delivering flyers to the neighbors. The team created signage and schedules for staff supervision of the system. The result is nothing short of fabulous. We could not have asked for a better start to a new system. The work by Matt, Maggie, and the team far exceeded expectations and I couldn’t be more proud to be a colleague with such amazing administrators."
~ Karen Apostoli, Director of Business and Operations
Submit a Board Salute
The Board of Education would like to recognize individuals of the district 33 community - which includes all staff members, students, bus drivers, parents/guardians, and guardians - for actions that build a positive culture and climate in District 33.
This "shout-out" is read at Board meetings, is included as an agenda item called "Board Salute" and becomes part of the official minutes.
If you know someone who deserves a "Board Salute," please complete this form.
To read more about Board Salutes, visit the website.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Does your child know their Power Goal?
Literacy in D33
The resource that our teachers use to teach literacy is the American Reading Company (ARC). The main components of this program are conferencing with students and small group instruction. This means that teachers:
Meet with students one on one or in small groups throughout the week.
Focus on individual student reading goals.
Understand their students at a deeper level.
Focus on identifying the reading strengths and identifying needs of each student to help them grow as a reader
Power Goals
Power Goals are the MOST important literacy skills that the student needs to learn within their reading level. (Reading levels are represented with colors.) These goals can change daily, weekly, or monthly depending on the progress of the student.
Each student is assigned a Power Goal and practices them in small groups, independently, one-on-one, and at home
Supporting your Child at Home
In addition to reading nightly with your child, ask your child if they know their reading level and their power goal. Parents can use these Skill Cards as quick reference guides that summarize each level; including power goals, reading habits, and skills children need to learn and master.
Birth to Three Program
District 33 is fortunate to have a Birth to 3 Program that serves our youngest learners and their families. One area of focus this year is supporting families to meet others in their community. When caregivers are connected to friends, neighbors, etc in their community, it can reduce the impact of stressors that may come their way. Family stress can impact the way your child grows and develops so building social connections is a great way to support your child to be ready to enter school one day.
This year we are excited to offer our enrolled families a variety of ways to meet with other families:
Weekly storytime at the West Chicago Library. Everyone who attends also receives a copy of the book.
Weekly walking clubs at various Pioneer Park and Currier School
Bi-monthly meet-up at the Story Walk behind the Library. (This is a walking path with a book display that changes monthly.) Everyone who attends receives a copy of the book.
Our special topics groups meet monthly: Father’s Group, Special Needs Support Group, Infant Massage, Mothers and Babies
Twice yearly field trips. This October we are headed to Kline Creek Farm and we plan to visit the DuPage Children’s Museum this winter.
Celebration events are held twice yearly. Celebrate reading milestones with a party and prizes.
Ongoing Parent-Child Groups. These groups are held throughout the community and facilitated by our Birth to 3 Home Visitors.
Please contact the Birth to 3 Program if you have a child under 3. We would love to share more about how we support you in your role as a child’s first, best, and most important teacher. Follow us on Facebook or in the D33 App. Our office number is: (630) 473-0778
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
Update on A/C - Barriers to Original Timeline
During the engineering inspections of the buildings, it was determined that some schools require a substantial amount of prep work to be completed before installing A/C. In addition to the prep work needed, there are several other factors affecting the original timeline including:
Decreased number of days to finish renovation projects without students and staff in the buildings
Equipment shortages
Labor shortages
Revised Timeline
After careful consideration of options for moving forward presented by Arcon, the architect firm used by the District, the Board of Education voted on the following plan:
Summer 2023
Project #1: Prep Work
Gary, Pioneer, and Turner will have all prep work done including:
Abatement- this process can take up to four weeks or more, during which time NO OTHER CONSTRUCTION can occur.
Window replacement
Updated ceilings
Rationale: This extensive prep work would not allow enough time to install the necessary piping and A/C systems before the start of the school year.
Project #2: Air Conditioning Installation
Currier, Indian Knoll, and Wegner will have air conditioning installed.
Rationale: These three buildings DO NOT require substantial prep work needed before the installation of A/C systems. Additionally, Indian Knoll has new univents installed and Currier and Wegner have new boilers and require less replacement of piping both of which reduce the construction time frame.
Summer 2024
Project #1: Air Conditioning Installation
Gary, Pioneer, and Turner will have air conditioning installed
In Conclusion
The board and district administration understand this new timeline may be disappointing to some of our staff, students and families.
However, due to the projected amount of prep work, and the high probability of equipment and labor shortages continuing into next summer, the likelihood of not completing A/C installation in all six buildings over one summer is much greater. If work is not completed for whatever reason, there would be no way to begin school in those buildings due to the lack of air circulation for either cooling or heating.
As a result, It is more likely the work on three sites, rather than all six, will be completed on time.
From the Nurse's Office - Deadline Approaching
Deadline for Student Health Physicals & Immunizations
Visit the District website to learn more about the requirements for students in the following groups:
- Preschool Requirements
- Kindergarten Requirements
- New Students to the District
- Sixth Grade Students
West Chicago Public Library & Park District Upcoming Events
West Chicago Elementary School District 33
Email: steinbrecherg@wego33.org
Website: wego33.org
Phone: 630-293-6000