Boulder Hill Elementary
February 17, 2023
About our School
Boulder Hill Elementary School
World-class schools serving caring communities.
We A.R.E. Boulder Hill
TRADUCCIÓN NECESARIA?
(Para ver el boletín en español, haga clic en el icono de funciones de accesibilidad.)
Email: webmaster@sd308.org
Website: https://www.sd308.org/boulderhill
Location: 163 Boulder Hill Pass, Montgomery, IL, USA
Phone: (630)636-2900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boulderhill308/
Twitter: @boulderhill308
Arrival/Dismissal
8:45 AM - DOORS OPEN FOR STUDENT ARRIVAL (there is no supervision prior to 8:45 AM)
9:00 AM - school starts / instruction begins
3:50 PM - end of school / student dismissal
REGULAR OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday - 8:15 AM - 4:15 PM
IN OBSERVANCE OF PRESIDENT'S DAY THERE WILL BE NO SCHOOL, FEBRUARY 20 .
Featuring a few titles available in Boulder Hill library
Please see information recently shared regarding assessments.
February 14, 2023
Dear Parent/Guardian:
We appreciate your investment in your child’s education and want to share with you some information about state and federally required assessments. Federal law requires the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to administer certain assessments to all students who attend Illinois public schools, including charter schools.
According to federal law:
- Students must take an achievement exam in reading/language arts and mathematics each year from third through eighth grade.
- In Illinois, students take the Illinois Assessment of Readiness.
- Students must take an achievement exam in reading/language arts and mathematics in high school. In Illinois, students in Grades 9 through 11 take either the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, or the SAT.
- Students must take an achievement exam in science three times from third through 12th grade. In Illinois, students take the Illinois Science Assessment in fifth, eighth, and 11th grades.
- Students identified as English learners must take an English language proficiency exam once per year until English proficiency is reached. In Illinois, English learners take ACCESS.
- Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities must take alternate assessments in reading/language arts, mathematics, and science. In Illinois, students with significant cognitive disabilities take the Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment.
Assessments help improve standards, curriculum, and instruction at the classroom, school, district, and state levels. Assessments play a role in helping ISBE and school districts identify areas where schools need targeted support. The average amount of time spent on accountability assessments represents less than 1 percent of the school year. We want educators and students to devote as much time as possible to learning, not testing. We are working with districts and schools to evaluate local testing programs and reduce the amount of testing for students, where we can.
We encourage students to do their best on all assessments. Individual districts and schools may have local policies for students who refuse to take assessments on testing days, but federal and state law does not authorize districts or schools to excuse students from testing. ISBE does not provide guidance on “opting out” because such an option would violate the law.
School districts must administer assessments to at least 95 percent of students and at least 95 percent of each student demographic group or face lower public school recognition status, which leads to increased state oversight and may put districts’ state and federal funds at risk. Individual high school students who had the opportunity to -- but chose not to -- take the required state accountability assessments lose their eligibility to receive a regular high school diploma. (Students who may not have had the opportunity to take one of the required assessments will not be prevented from receiving a regular diploma.)
We encourage students to complete as much of each assessment as they can. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ISBE Assessment Department at 866-317-6034 or visit the ISBE Assessment webpage.
We thank you for your dedication to supporting and serving all Illinois students.
Sincerely,
Dan Arntzen
Executive Director of High School Instruction & K-12 Assessment
Oswego Community Unit School District 308
Phone: (630) 636-4646
Email: darntzen@sd308.org
Stay Informed! Get Involved!
SD308 Superintendent Search is underway!
Superintendent Dr. John Sparlin's retriement announcement was included in the Januaray 13, 2023 Parent Update from SD308. Please take some time to visit the district's website for more information regarding this important process. https://www.sd308.org/Page/27071
BPAC Hosts: Meet The School Board Candidates
On Thursday, March 3 (6:30-8pm) at Oswego East High School, Community Room; BPAC will host an opportunity to meet the School Board Candidates. The BPAC is a group of bilingual parents with students in the English learner (EL) programs. An interpreter & childcare will be available. Click here for more details.
You have voice! Share your feedback!
5 Essentials Survey is now open! Please take time to complete! We currently have a 4% response rate!
We had a 1% increase in response rate.
Please take the time to complete the parent survey today! We need a minimum of 20% parent response rate. Principals and superintendents will receive their 5Essentials Reports in May 2023. If you have any questions about 5Essentials you can contact me or learn more about the survey platform online here.
Here is the link to take the survey:
http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/
When asked to select a county, choose Kendall.
Help show a Boulder Hill staff member how much you appreciate all they do!
Pass It On is a way to send a shout-out or thank you to any SD 308 staff member. Every day there are staff members doing great things for students, co-workers, parents, and our community. Let’s recognize these acts of kindness, big or small!
With the Pass It On system, you can take a few seconds to submit a note of recognition to someone in the SD 308 family. These notes will be sent to the recipient once a week. Notes can be sent from an individual, team, or anonymously.
Kindness is contagious, so we encourage you to Pass It On!
A little show of appreciation can go a long way!
PLEASE LIKE boulderhillpta ON FACEBOOK
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE FUN FAIR!
Classroom Parties - Thank you to all of our parent volunteers
We've had three successful classroom parties this year, how exciting! We would like to thank each of our PTA chairs, leads and volunteers for hosting such wonderful and fun classroom parties this year!
Thank you for making Boulder Hill School a great place to learn!
PTA 3rd & 4th grade Gym Night was a success!
We were so happy to see all of the students and families that were able to attend the 3rd & 4th grade gym night this week.
SD308 Parent Update February 20, 2023
Community Chat: Taking Care of Yourself February 21 (virtual 6PM - 7:30PM)
These CHATS are virtually held and are an opportunity to share stories, experiences, worries, fears, wisdom, and find community and strength together.
CHATS are a safe space to begin opening the lines of communication.
CHATS are a place of affirmation where we can learn from one another and know that we are not alone.
#CommunityBecomesUnity
Winter Weather School Closing Information
As a reminder, if winter weather interrupts our ability to open schools or hold extracurricular activities, we will do our best to notify you as early as possible and in a number of ways. School closing information can always be found on our website, social media channels, and by visiting the Emergency Closing Center website. We will use our Blackboard messaging system to send alerts through email, text, and phone. Now is a good time to log in to Tyler SIS to view your account information and be sure phone numbers and email addresses are correct! Your school can assist you with any changes you may need to make. Please remember to send students dressed appropriately for the cold!
Important Upcoming Dates
- February 1-28 - Black History Month
- February 20 - President's Day (NO SCHOOL)
- February 24 - Watch DOGS day
- February 24 - PTA VIP Dance
- March 1-31 - National Disability Awareness Month
- March 2 - Read Across America Day - Author presentation(s) & book signing
- March 3 - Institute Day (NO SCHOOL)
- March 4 - PTA Fun Fair - 11AM - 2PM
- March 5 - 11 - National School Social Worker Week
- March 7 - PTA meeting 7PM
- March 8 - PTA Culvers Night
- March 10 - Student Council Spirit Day
- March 13 - Delta Dental visit
- March 15 - Author Assembly
- March 16 - 5th grade Musical
- March 17 - Watch DOGS day
- March 17 - PTA Bingo Night
- March 21 - Community Chat : Take care of yourself
- March 22 - Parent Teacher Conferences (full day of student attendance)
- March 23 - Parent Teacher Conferences (full day of student attendance)
- March
- March 27 - 31 - Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)
- April 3 - Students return from break
- April 4 - Institute Day (NO SCHOOL)
- April 7 - NO SCHOOL (District closed)
- April 10 - NO SCHOOL (District closed)
Mental Health Resources
Mental Health & Wellness are important, but often overlooked. Remember that there are a number of resources available to SD308 students and families.
- https://www.sd308.org/Page/24707 - District website
- Here is information on mental health and welness groups that are offered through OswegoWellnes & PlainfiledWellness https://www.oswegowellness.com/programs
COVID-19 Information
- COVID-19 cases are not reported by specific classroom, however school data can be found on the metrics page of our website. Cases of COVID-19 are self-reported, these numbers do not contain students/staff who may be out sick but did not report a positive COVID-19 result.
- To report a positive COVID-19 case in a student or staff member, please click here.
- The district's Safety Plan and Metrics can be found on the COVID-19 information page.
- Free Testing is available at several loctions across the state, learn more here.