What's Up at Whittier
Week of October 4
Mr. Krugman's Weekly Message
Happy October - Fall is here! This is a great time of year, as the weather cools off, the leaves begin to change colors, and we all settle into the school year. Our students and staff continue to do an awesome job!
A special thanks to our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students who did a great job completing their IAR tests these past couple weeks. Again, these assessments were from the Spring of 2021. IAR will be administered again to our 3rd through 6th graders in the Spring 2022.
National Walk to School Day this year is Wednesday, October 6. While most students walk to Whittier each day (since we do not have school buses), it is always fun to celebrate the fact that we "walk to school" every day. Join us on Wednesday, as we enjoy our walk to school.
Be sure to check out the information contained in this newsletter regarding:
- School Picture Re-take Day
- Ordering Whittier Spirit Wear
- Voluntary Weekly COVID-19 Testing
- PTA Virtual Jaguar Jog Fall Fundraiser
While in school, we will continue to focus on and maintain those safety practices we have put into place:
Wear your mask
Watch your distance - maintain social distance from others
Wash your hands - hand sanitizer is good too
We hope you and your family will follow these practices outside of school as well. If we all do our part, each and every day, everything will be OK.
We are so happy to have you as part of the Whittier Family this year! Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay strong!
Michael Krugman - Whittier Principal
School Hours for 2021-22
Kindergarten Half- Day:
8:15-11:20am (Monday-Friday)
Grades 1-6 and OKEEP:
8:15am-2:00pm (Monday)
8:15am-3:00pm (Tuesday-Friday)
Students should not arrive at school before 8:05am. Students may begin lining up at 8:05am, keeping an arm's length from other student's in line. Doors will open at 8:10am for students to begin entering the building. Again, students must be properly wearing a mask in order to enter the school building.
Whittier Office Hours:
8:00am-3:45pm
National Custodian Day
Voluntary COVID-19 Testing Program Sign-up
District 58 encourages families to consider signing up for free PCR COVID-19 testing for District 58 students. Registration for this optional testing program is open and our program is actively underway.
Families can select from any or all of three types of testing services including:
Weekly screening testing (routine testing)
Symptomatic testing (testing when a student or staff member develops symptoms at school)
Test-to-Stay (testing for situations in which a student has been identified as a close contact)
Test-to-Stay, an IDPH-endorsed process that allows a close contact to remain in school with regular antigen testing, will begin next week. Please see the district communication regarding the IDPH's guidance regarding when Test-to-Stay can be implemented in schools.
Weekly testing at Whittier takes place on Mondays, between 11:00am and 1:00pm. The student sign up for our school can be found below.
· Whittier
District Health Requirements
Please note the Health Requirements at different grade-levels below. Any documents may be
emailed directly to our Certified School Nurse, Michelle Shannon at mshannon@dg58.org or you can reach out to her, as well, with any questions. Parents can also refer to the Health Services Website for more information.Kindergarten - Completed physical dated within the past year (no earlier than August 26, 2020), full immunization record and vision exam by October 15. Dental exam is required this year, but they have until May 15, 2022.
Second grade - Dental exam is required this year, but they have until May 15, 2022.
Sixth grade - Completed physical dated within the past year (no earlier than August 26, 2020), and proof of the Meningococcal and Tdap vaccinations are due by October 15. Dental exam is required this year, but they have until May 15, 2022.
Middle School - Any student who wishes to participate in a sport must have a physical on file with the nurse in order to try-out. A physical is good for 13 months and must stay current during the entire sporting season.
Copying directly from the latest Communicate 58 newsletter:
District 58 invites families to voluntarily share an electronic image of their child’s vaccination card with their building’s health office. Providing proof of vaccination is not required. However, current CDC guidance excuses fully vaccinated individuals from having to quarantine unless symptomatic.
By sharing a copy of your child’s card, if your child is a close contact, having the vaccination card on hand will expedite the school’s investigation process. Copies of proof of vaccination will be kept in each student’s individual health file and treated in the same way as all health records.
"Isolation" - A Favorite 5th Grade Game
School Picture Re-Take Day
Kindergarten FUN!
I also appreciate the fact that each classroom creates their classroom rules that go hand in hand with our school rules. Being respectful, responsible and safe is important in Kindergarten!
Whittier Spirit Wear Store Opens Oct 6!
The virtual Whittier Spirit Wear store will officially open on Wednesday, October 6th running through Monday, October 18th and can be accessed here: https://colorburst-screen-printing.printavo.com/merch/whittier/
Despite MAJOR inventory shortages, the newly selected vendor has put together a comprehensive selection that features an original “Jaguar Logo” designed by Whittier Dad Jeremy Ruiz along with other classic Whittier logos. School Spirit/Field Day shirts are also available for purchase and feature the 2021/22 “I Am Me” school theme logo, with each grade represented by a different shirt color. The Whittier store will re-open in the Spring with additional “warm weather” apparel and will include School Spirit/Field Day shirts so families have another opportunity to order. There is the ability to contribute to the Angel Fund which is an anonymous resource for students that need support. In the spirit wear store, families can purchase a Field Day shirt or provide a general contribution at checkout which will collectively fund Angel Field Day shirts.
About the 2021/22 spirit wear vendor - Colorburst is a vocational division of Little Friends, a local non-profit that provides services and support to neurodiverse individuals. Feel good in knowing that 100% of the proceeds from Whittier spirit sales are funding initiatives, job opportunities and vocational training to improve the lives of children and adults right here in our community. To learn more, visit www.littlefriendsinc.org/colorburst-screen-printing-1
Order your 2021-22 Whittier Yearbook
Arrival and Dismissal Procedure 2021-22
Student safety is always at the forefront of our mind when planning at school. It is extremely important for all individuals who are driving students to and from school to follow all the rules of the road, along with our Whittier procedures. Please share this information with anyone transporting students.
Hill Street traffic - travels WEST ONLY from 8:00am-4:00pm (One Way Street)
- Hill Street will be used as a Student DROP OFF ONLY during school hours.
- Hill Street will be used as a Student PICK UP ONLY during school hours.
- Car drivers will need to travel west down Hill Street entering the Drop-off/Pick-up Lane.
- As you enter the Drop-off/Pick-up Lane, please pull all the way up to the white street
markings and drop-off or pick-up. The car does not need to be at the ramp to drop-off
or pick-up students. Driver stays in the car. Students should exit the vehicle from the
passenger side.
- If car drivers want to park and walk their child(ren) to their designated area, they may do so after parking in a designated parking space at the west end of Hill, or on Blodgett or Grand. Parents may walk students to the sidewalk, while maintaining appropriate social
distancing.
Grand Crosswalk at the Intermediate Playground
- Students should cross the street at the Grand crosswalk at the Intermediate Playground.
- Car drivers who travel south on Grand, may drop off intermediate-level students on Grand.
- If car drivers want to park and walk their child(ren) to their designated area, they may do
so after parking in a designated parking space at the west end of Hill, or on Blodgett or
Grand. Parents may walk students to the sidewalk, while maintaining appropriate social
distancing.
Hill & Blodgett Crosswalk
- A crossing guard will be stationed at Hill & Blodgett to assist students in crossing to
school.
Blodgett Street
- We continue to ask parents NOT to drop off students on Blodgett.
Staff Parking Lot
- Please do NOT use the Staff Parking Lot as a drop-off or pick-up location.
- Students should NOT walk through the parking lot, they should only use the sidewalks.
Student Entrance and Exit
- Each class has been assigned to a specific door for entrance and exit to the building. (See the article below for specifics for each class).
- Please follow these guidelines, and maintain social distancing while on school property.
You may also review this information in the attachment below.
Student Entrance and Exit from the Building
Student Arrival
Parents may not escort their students to entry doors. Parents may walk students to the sidewalk, while maintaining social distancing from others. A yard sign for each classroom will designate entrance areas. Students will line up and maintain 3 foot social distancing until invited to enter the building.
Students will enter the building, and go directly to their classrooms. Teachers will direct students to their cubby area while maintaining social distancing.
Upon arrival to school, students in these classes enter directly into the classroom:
KB - Sammy Boehm (rear of building)
KL - Allie Lundquist (front of building)
1Q - Ashley Quill (front of building)
1R - Heather Richards (rear of building)
2Su - Colleen Sullivan (front of building)
2Sw - Matt Swade (rear of building)
3K - Christina Karius (front of building)
3M - Louise Modine (rear of building)
Upon arrival to school, students in these classes enter through Door 5:
4M - Eric Miller (front of building)
4S - Jenna Smitley (front of building)
Upon arrival to school, students in these classes enter through Door 4:
5L - Cheryl Lyons (side of building - Intermediate Playground)
6M - Trish Miller (side of building - Intermediate Playground)
6Z - Ericka Zagorski (side of building - Intermediate Playground)
Upon arrival to school, students in these classes enter through Door 3:
5H - Jen Hodkowski (rear of building - Central Playground)
Student Dismissal
Primary Students will dismiss from their exterior classroom doors.
Intermediate Students will dismiss from the doors they entered. Students will exit the building at intermittent intervals for each classroom.
Follow the 3 W's
Please continue to practice following the 3 W's. We practice and remind students every day about the safety in the 3 W's.
In order to continue to maintain in person learning, we all need to follow safety protocols and the 3 W's both inside and outside of school.
Wear your mask
Watch your distance - keep 3-6 foot social distance from others
Wash your hands - hand sanitizer is good too
As we follow these guidelines, we will maintain safety for ourselves and each other. Thank you for your support!
PTA News
Our next PTA Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 26 at 7:00pm.
Sign up for a Whittier Experience! As part of the upcoming Fall PTA Virtual Run Fundraiser, our ever-popular Experiences are coming back! Check out the PTA Facebook Page for Experience descriptions. Program descriptions will also be included in the PTA Whittier Weekly newsletter. Registration is now open.
https://whittierschoolpta.org/special-events/experiences/
THE JAGUAR JOG HAS GONE VIRTUAL!!! – Oct. 11th through Oct. 17th
Register and run your best time, either on your own, with your family or with a group. Track your run and keep tabs on the leaderboard through the JustMove app. Run your 5K within the week long flex window at whatever time works best for you! Once the event concludes, prizes will be presented to the fastest runners, fastest grade, fastest alumni, fastest family and more! The registration fee is $20 and includes a Virtual Jog t-shirt featuring art by Whittier’s own Art Teacher - Jon Belonio for each participant as well as a swag-bag (one per family) full of coupons and sponsor merchandize.
Each registrant will receive an email with an invite to the event on the JustMove platform and link to download the app. Swag bag pick-up will occur a few days prior to event kick-off (instructions to follow).
District 58 Fall 2021 Instructional Plan
Calendar of Events
Monday, October 4 - "Choose Happy" Orange Spirit Day; Dismissal at 2:00pm
Wednesday, October 6 - National Walk to School Day
Friday, October 8 - WH Spirit Day - wear your favorite Whittier Spirit Wear or our school colors - Blue and Gold/Yellow
Monday, October 11 - Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day Holiday - No School
Wednesday, October 13 - Student Council Spirit - PJ Day; BOE Regular Board Meeting, O'Neill Middle School, 7:00pm
Friday, October 8 - WH Spirit Day - wear your favorite Whittier Spirit Wear or our school colors - Blue and Gold/Yellow
Whittier Vision Statement
Whittier strives to develop lifelong learners within a caring, safe, and healthy learning environment. Our staff will be responsive to each student and collaborate with families and community. Our students will solve problems with perseverance, and develop a social conscience which enables them to contribute to their school, family, and community. Together we will be respectful of diversity and inclusivity, and we will positively impact the world.
Whittier School
Email: mkrugman@dg58.org
Website: www.dg58.org/wh
Location: 536 Hill Street, Downers Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 6307195865
Twitter: @MKrugmanDG58