News Bites
Week of December 12 through December 16, 2022
Posada / Kermes Celebration - TONIGHT!
Winter Break
Winter Break
Thursday, December 22 through Wednesday, January 4, 2023
The first day of classes after the break is Thurs., January 5, 2023.
2023-2024 School Year Calendar - Available Now
The calendar is posted on our website here: https://www.wego33.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=2
Board Salute - December 15, 2022
"Sarah deserves a salute for being amazing at her job! Sarah goes above and beyond for our students in need. She cares about our students and will put aside whatever she's doing no matter what time it is to help out. She will put in whatever time it takes to make sure these children have what they need. Many times these hours are way beyond your normal work hours. An example of this is just recently a mistake was made and a couple of students didn't have a ride home after an afterschool program. The students had been waiting for over an hour. When Sarah found out. She went to the school, ordered an Uber, and drove with the students to where they were staying over 30 minutes away! She wanted to make sure they were safe and wouldn't let them go alone. This is just one example of the many things that Sarah has done. District 33 is very lucky to have someone like her!”
~ Kathy Grogan, Interim Principal, Pioneer
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.
STUDENT SERVICES
What is Bullying?
District 33 takes all reports of bullying very seriously. Board policy 7:180 addresses the prevention of and response to bullying. The first step in understanding bullying is knowing when actions are mean or rude comments and when the actions constitute bullying. Below are some examples to help explain the differences.
On their own, any of these behaviors could appear as elements of bullying, but when looked at in context, incidents of rudeness are usually spontaneous, unplanned inconsideration, based on thoughtlessness, or poor manners, but not meant to hurt someone.
Mean is: Purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone once (or maybe twice). The main distinction between "rude" and "mean" behavior has to do with intention; while rudeness is often unintentional, mean behavior very much aims to hurt or depreciate someone.
- Kids are mean to each other when they criticize clothing, appearance, intelligence, coolness, or just about anything else they can find to denigrate.
- Meanness also sounds like words spoken in anger -- impulsive cruelty that is often regretted in short order.
- Very often, mean behavior in kids is motivated by angry feelings and/or the misguided goal of propping themselves up in comparison to the person they are putting down.
- Commonly, meanness in kids sounds an awful lot like: "Are you seriously wearing that sweater again? Get a life." "You are so fat/ugly/stupid." "I hate you!"
Bullying is Intentionally aggressive behavior, repeated over time, that involves an imbalance of power. Experts agree that bullying entails three key elements:
- Intent to harm
- Power imbalance
- Repeated acts or threats of aggressive behavior
Kids who bully say or do something intentionally hurtful to others and they keep doing it, with no sense of regret or remorse -- even when targets of bullying show or express their hurt or tell the aggressors to stop.
Bullying may be:
- physical
- verbal
- relational
- carried out via technology
Building administrators follow district protocols and investigate all reports of bullying. If you have questions, or your child believes they have been bullied, please reach out to your building administrator.
#D33Pride Awards - 1st Trimester
We are excited to share the winners of the #D33Pride Awards for the 1st trimester. The #D33Pride Awards are given to individuals who have made a significant impact on the students, staff, and families of the District 33 community. Nominations are accepted each trimester.
For more information visit the website here: https://www.wego33.org/Page/430
Student
Aubrey C., 2nd Grade, Currier School
"Aubrey has been showing great leadership in our classroom. She positively encourages all students to succeed. She includes students who may be too shy or less confident in their academics.
~ Kristy Klich, Teacher, Currier School
Classified Staff
Angie Porcayo, Student Supervisor, LMS
"There aren't many people more dedicated than Angie. Angie never misses a day of work. She shows up each day with a positive attitude and is always flexible and responsive to the needs of the day.
~ Dr. Hannah Christie, AP, Leman Middle School
Certified Staff
Marilyn Zable, Teacher, Gary School
"Marilyn created an opportunity for 5th-grade leadership roles in the school. These activities engaged students in the research process and collaboration. Students worked together using the templates."
~ Victoria Wilson, Teacher, Gary School
Student Devices Home Winter Break
Teachers will be sending students home with their iPad/Chromebooks for winter break in case winter weather prevents us from returning to school on January 5, 2023.
IF there is a school closure due to inclement weather, the D33 administration may decide to have students participate in e-Learning from home instead of canceling school and adding additional days to the end of the school year.
If an e-learning day is called, students should log into Zoom with their classroom teachers and follow the schedule provided by their school and teacher. In the next couple of weeks, teachers will be practicing logging into Zoom and accessing Seesaw and Google Classroom to ensure they are prepared if an e-Learning day is called.
More details on our District 33 e-Learning Plan, as well as each school’s e-Learning schedule, can be found using the link: https://www.wego33.org/Page/756
West Chicago Elementary School District 33
Email: steinbrecherg@wego33.org
Website: wego33.org
Phone: 630-293-6000