Half Day School
Students Study Erosion
Fourth-graders conducted experiments to determine how the Earth’s landscape changes through erosion. Students first observed a control standard-run to compare with a flood and slope simulation.
Mrs. (Jami) Reed’s fourth-grade class constructed experiments using stream tables filled with sand and clay. Students poured water into the tables to investigate how slope and flood affect the erosion and deposition of Earth materials.
“We conducted experiments to show how the Earth reacts to different changes. We showed how our climate is changing and how water changes the landscape,” explained fourth-grader Tanya Dong.
This Next Generation Science Unit looks at Earth Systems including Soils and Weathering. During this unit, fourth-graders ask questions, develop and use models, plan and carry out investigations, analyze and interpret data, construct explanations and design solutions.
For more pictures of the activity, please visit the school's Google Doc folder.
Donate Children's Books
The Half Day Student Council seeks children's books that are in excellent condition or new books. Please send these books to school beginning Tuesday, Dec. 6. The Student Council's goal is to collect and donate 1,200 books to Bernie's Book Bank.
Bernie’s Book Bank sources, processes, and distributes quality new and gently used children’s books to significantly increase book ownership among under-served infants, toddlers and school-age children throughout Chicagoland.
Take Precautions When Picking Up Students
It is imperative for the safety of our children that parents/guardians follow Half Day School staff instructions when picking up students at Half Day School. As the winter months approach, we kindly remind our families and guardians who pick up their child to adhere to the points listed below.
- We encourage all families to have their students use District 103 Transportation TO and FROM school each day to alleviate traffic congestion and backup. When applicable, we respectfully ask that carpooling be considered, if possible.
If you are picking up your child after school, please enter the front drive and join the carpool line by following the designated traffic flow pattern on the traffic flow diagram.
Please stay in your car for pick up and follow the direction of teachers and staff (crossing guards) outside during this time. If you need to pick up or load an instrument, we ask that you wait to do so until you pull up to the end of the carpool line.
Families must cross Olde Half Day Road and come to the school entrance to retrieve their student if they have parked their vehicle in the church or library lots.
If you choose to park, please park in one of the school parking lots on either side of the building or across the street and cross at the crosswalk following crossing guard instruction. If parking at the church, you must park in the paved lot only. Please do not park on the grass. If parking at the library, please park in a designated spot.
Street parking is not allowed.
Please remember not to use your cell phone in our school zones; all cell phone use is prohibited while driving in a school zone.
103 Club families, please use the west parking lot to pick up children from after-school care. No parking is allowed in the front drive.
The safety of all our students and staff is our top priority, and your cooperation is greatly appreciated!
ASA Registration Opens Next Week
Limited enrollment opens at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, for students interested in taking after school classes that start after winter break. (As per the agreement during registration, if more than 1 class registration is made during this time all classes for this child will be canceled and refunded. You will then be able to register the student again during the Open Registration period.)
Please click on the after school activities image to review the classes for January.
To see a detailed description of the classes being offered, please review the ASA e-notice.
Dressed for Winter?
It is important during snow and cold weather months to have children dressed appropriately for outdoor recess with gloves, hat, boots, coat, and snow pants, if needed. Students cannot play in the snow if they are not dressed properly. Remember to label items so they can be returned if they are misplaced.
If the combination of temperature and/or wind chill is 6 degrees Fahrenheit or above, students will go outside for recess. This guideline falls within the "safe" category for being outside for 30 minutes and allows students to go outside more frequently in the winter months. Please see the wind chill chart from the National Weather Service for details.
Not Feeling Well - Follow These Guidelines
To help prevent the spread of illness, we would like to give you some guidelines to help with your decision on whether or not to send your child to school. We ask that you keep your child home if they:
- Have a fever of 100.4 (oral) degrees or higher.
Have cramps and or vomiting.
Have a sore throat with fever.
Have a persistent cough (dry or productive).
Have diarrhea (three or more episodes in 24 hrs).
Have a rash or open and draining sores.
Have symptoms that prevent them from participating in school, such as:
Excessive tiredness or lack of appetite.
Headaches, body aches, earaches.
Severe sore throat (could be strep-throat even without fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache and stomach upset. Contact your pediatrician to assess or diagnosis strep throat.)
Please review the Lake County Health Department guidelines on when to return to school.
Partnerships
Save the Date & Volunteers Needed
D103 PTO is thrilled to announce that we will be hosting our first ever Half Day Fun Fair on Friday, Jan. 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.! This exciting inaugural event will take over Half Day School like never before. Students will enjoy over 30 different carnival games and activities along with snacks and prizes.
In order to make this event a smashing success, we are in need of a large number of parent volunteers. There are a wide variety of opportunities to get everyone involved at every skill level. From setting up and running the games to helping with decorating or handing out snacks, you're sure to find something to assist with. But that’s not all, if you have a special skill or unique idea that you would like to contribute to the fun fair, please send an email to hd@d103pto.org.
If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up early as spaces will fill quickly.
Due to space constraints, this event is for Half Day students and parent chaperones only. Please also note that this is not a drop off and pick up event, all Half Day students in attendance must enter and leave with an adult chaperone. Carpooling is highly encouraged.
Be on the lookout in the coming weeks for more information about this exciting new event!
{*** SIGN UP TODAY ***}
Managing the Overuse of Digital Tech in Our Kids
In partnership with the Vernon Area Library, the D103 Parent Education team is excited to bring to our community Dr. Cliff Sussman, a child and adolescent psychiatrist from the Washington D.C. area.
Dr. Sussman is a pioneer in recognizing and treating Internet & video game addiction. He has regularly given presentations to parent and professional communities on this topic. As a leading expert in this field, Dr. Sussman will help parents define what excessive screen use looks like and understand how it can impact the developing brains of their children. Furthermore, he will provide us with definitions of healthy screen time for children and how to balance screen activities with off screen activities. He will discuss strategies on how to use motivational interviewing to talk to our children about topics surrounding screen time and help parents recognize the factors that may be contributing to screen overuse and addiction in their homes.
Virtual Event
- 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 6
- Learn more and register your spot on eventbrite.com
Community Events
Lincolnshire Lights
Kick off the holiday season at Lincolnshire Lights! From lighting the 40-foot holiday tree and caroling performances to DIY crafts and pictures with Santa, Lincolnshire Lights is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season with your family. Join us at Village Green from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. Enjoy performances by musical artists from Daniel Wright and Half Day.
Half Day Information
- Principal Jill Mau
- Assistant Principal Laura Delagrange
- 847-634-1484
- Hd_attendance@d103.org