Prospect Family Newsletter
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Curriculum Night Presentation
Prospect School Curriculum Night's Presentation
Please view your teacher's presentation, as well as support staff. Please make sure you check out the Science/Social Studies Specialists presentations as well as Art/Music/PE to answer any questions you may have about remote learning.
Zoom links will be sent out on Tuesday morning for the "Meet the Teacher" sessions.
Remote Material Pick-Up 2.0
The remote teachers are super excited to meet their students! We have received additional materials at the buildings and have sent them to the remote teachers to pass out to their students. Please check below to find your date and time of when you will be picking up your supplies. Please note, the school and time below:
- Kindergarten- I hope you had fun on Friday meeting Ms. Pierpoint!
- First Grade Mrs. Bass- Thursday, September 24th, 1:00-1:30 @ Elm School
- Second Grade Mrs. Pappas- Monday, September 21st, 1:30-2:00 @ Walker School
- Third Grade Mrs. Wichman- I hope you had fun on Friday meeting Ms. Wichman!
- Fourth Grade Mrs. Ingstrup- Tuesday, September 22nd, 1:00-1:30 @ Oak School
- Fifth Grade Mr. Oldenburg- Wednesday, September 23rd, 2:00-2:30 @ Monroe School
MAP Schedule for Hybrid
MAP Schedule Remote
Parallel remote students will be provided the opportunity to test in-person on Friday, Sept. 25, or Saturday, Sept. 26. Students will complete both the reading and math assessments during their assigned time, with breaks between each assessment.
If you are the parent of a parallel remote student who intends for your child to participate in either the Sept. 25 or 26 session, please complete this survey by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20. Please complete the form for each child who will be in attendance. This will allow us to review the results and group students by preference.
An email will be sent next week with your child's assessment time and proctor name. All assessments on these two days will take place at HMS.
COVID-19 Resources to Support Children
Many families are facing major changes in their day-to-day lives because of corona virus (Coved-19). With all the unknowns that come with a new virus, it's normal to feel anxious about the "what ifs" and the future.
This stress does not just affect adults – children and teens are also at risk anxiety, especially as their daily routines are affected.
Below are recommendations from the CDC to support children.
Helping Children Cope
Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.
Watch for behavior changes in your child
Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way.
Some common changes to watch for include:
- Excessive crying or irritation in younger children.
- Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting).
- Excessive worry or sadness.
- Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits.
- Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens.
- Poor school performance or avoiding school.
- Difficulties with attention and concentration.
- Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past.
- Unexplained headaches or body pain.
- Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.
Ways to support your child
- Talk with your child about the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child can understand.
- Reassure your child that they are safe. Let them know it is okay if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn from you how to cope with stress.
- Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
- Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
- Be a role model. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.
- Spending time with your child in meaningful activities, reading together, exercising, playing board games.
Link to CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
Information from Prospect School Social Worker, Katie Gonzalez:
The Illinois Department of Pubic Health has provided schools with a flow chart of safety precautions to put in place if a student is experiencing an illness (https://www.isbe.net/Documents/IDPH-COVID19-Exclusion-Decison-Tree.pdf).
Per the Decision Tree for Symptomatic Individuals in Pre-K, K-12 Schools and Day Care Programs, students may have to get a Covid test to return to school. The need to have a Covid test may be anxiety provoking to students.
Below are ways to support your child if a Covid test is necessary:
- Parents should be honest and share with their children about the school’s safety plan and reason for a Covid test.
- Explain to your child that getting a Covid test does not mean someone has Covid, it is just a safety precaution in place to make sure every student is healthy to return to school.
- All students need to get the test when returning after an illness, unless they have a doctor's note stating otherwise (such as having a diagnosis of an illness other than Covid).
- When children are provided this information they will gain an understanding of why they need a test. This understanding is helpful in relieving anxiety.
- Some children may still continue to have a level of anxiety due to the new circumstances. To support children, parents should reassure their children that they are safe and doing all the right things to stay safe and healthy.
- Getting back to regular routines (as much as possible) also helps children not focus on their anxiety.
Links to Bitmoji Calming Room and Bitmoji Covid Resources
Please visit this link to view Mrs. Gonzalez’s Calming Room. The Calming Room is a virtual resource children can use to learn coping skills, understand emotions and to check-in with Mrs. Gonzalez.
Please visit this link to view the Bitmoji Covid Resource Room. This virtual resource has links to videos and documents for children to learn about Covid-19, safety, social distancing, wearing a mask, and ways to manage anxiety.
If a parent is concerned with their child’s inability to cope with stress or anxiety and would like to speak with an adult at school please contact the school social worker.
Katie Gonzalez, LCSW
630-861-4443
Locations that offer free Covid testing:
Pillars Community Health Center
23 W. Calendar Ave
LaGrange
708-745-5217
Anne M. Jeans Elementary School
16 W. 16W63
91st Ave
Suite 113
630-325-8186