Prairie Point Panther Press
Newsletter for Prairie Point Elementary School
Friday, February 12, 2021
Welcome to the Prairie Point Panther Press!
Principal's Letter
Prairie Point Families:
I am very excited for the start of phase two of in-person and remote learning and look forward to seeing our in-person students at Prairie Point four days a week, as well as our remote learners each afternoon. With this transition, we do have changes to school hours, daily schedules, attendance procedures, arrival and dismissal procedures and bus routes. I appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we implement these changes. If at any time you have a question, please reach out to me directly.
Before I outline the changes, the first thing that I want to touch on is something that is not changing. All of us at Prairie Point remain focused on and dedicated to what is best for our students. Our teachers and staff are creating classroom environments (both in-person and remotely) that put students’ needs first. We are dedicated to creating a safe and healthy environment within the school, while supporting all of our students' academic and social emotional needs. We also remain grateful for the partnership that we have had with each of our school families and recognize what an active and important role that you are taking in your child’s education. Thank you. Now, onto updates and changes for phase two.
INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS
K - 5th Grade In-Person Instruction Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
8:25am - Student arrival and drop off begins
8:40am - In-person instruction begins
11:15am - Student dismissal for car riders will begin
11:25am - All remaining students will be dismissed from the building
Wednesday
12:40 - 2:45pm - Go Live! Remote Instruction for all students (in-person and remote)
K - 5th Grade Remote Instruction Hours
Monday - Friday
12:40 - 2:45pm - Go Live! Remote Instruction
K-5th Grade Specials and Student Support Time
All specials will be remote instruction. Teachers will share the specific specials schedule for their homeroom.
2:45 - 3:15pm is set aside as student support time for all students. This will be remote support. Teachers have the opportunity to use this time for small group instruction and will communicate information to parents about the schedule.
Early Childhood AM In-Person Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
8:20am - EC arrival will begin
8:30am - Instruction begins
10:15am - EC dismissal
Early Childhood PM In-Person Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
12:50pm - EC arrival will begin
1:00pm - Instruction begins
2:45pm - EC dismissal
Early Childhood Remote Instruction Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
10:30am - Recorded video session
10:45 - 12:00pm - Go Live! Instruction
Arrival and Dismissal
Our arrival and dismissal procedures are not changing in phase two. There will, however, be many more students entering and exiting the building each day. We do have several families who are beginning in-person instruction for the first time on Tuesday, February 16th. Please take a few minutes to review our arrival and dismissal procedures.
Car Riders
Students who arrive by car may begin to enter the building at 8:25am through Doors #2 and 10. These are the doors on either side of the main entrance and will have signage to help direct students during the first week of phase two.
During dismissal, our dismissal team will be calling last names into the building to alert students that their ride has arrived. Please have a sign, with your childs’ last name, displayed on the passenger side of the car. This will help speed this process up. We will have signs available during arrival and dismissal next week.
Finally, we will have many more families going through our car rider line in phase two. It is very important that all cars pull all the way forward before students leave or enter the car. This allows the maximum number of cars to be in the drop-off/pick-up zone and allows students to enter and exit cars safely. Thank you so much for helping us keep our car rider line safe and efficient.
Bus Riders
Bus Route information is available on the district website using the following link: https://www.sd308.org/Page/2771.
Bus riders will enter the building through Door #4. This is the door closest to the area where our buses will drop off and is the same door that bus riders entered last year.
Walkers
Walkers will enter through Door #3 with the exception of Ashcroft walkers, who may use Door #7. Door #3 is located on the side of the building near Grove Road. Door#7 is at the back of the building near the playground. We will have signs out clearly marking these doors next week.
Early Childhood Arrival and Dismissal
Early Childhood teachers will communicate any updates or changes in arrival and dismissal procedures directly to parents.
HEALTH AND SAFETY UPDATES AND INFORMATION
Daily Health Surveys will be sent to parents through Tyler (access surveys online through the parent portal or by downloading the app). A health survey is sent each day that your student is scheduled to attend in-person.
If your student is exhibiting any symptoms of COVID, has been exposed to someone with COVID, or tests positive for COVID, call the attendance line for your student's school to report this as soon as possible. All cases of COVID are contact traced by a nurse, and important notifications are made to those who could be impacted.
Current health metrics, including those for staff and students with COVID, those exposed to someone with COVID, or those exhibiting any of the symptoms of COVID can be found on the Metrics page of the district's Reopening Webpage.
Face coverings are required while on the bus or inside any SD 308 school building unless an approved medical exemption is filed with the district.
Note: CDC revised their guidance and now allows athletic face coverings (e.g., ‘gaitors’/neck warmers). Athletic face covering must include at least two layers of fabric.
ATTENDANCE UPDATE
Students are expected to participate in all in-person and remote learning sessions (including specials and small group times) in order to be considered present for the school day. The Question of the Day and completing an assignment will no longer be sufficient in order to meet elementary attendance expectations.
I know that this is a lot of information. I have tried to break it down into sections and keep it informal and succinct. If you have any questions or if anything is unclear please reach out to me. I am available via email throughout the weekend or on Monday if you have any important questions that come up before the start of phase two.
Again, I want to let you know how excited Mrs. Fahey and I are to move into phase two. We are here to help and support our students, teachers and families. We look forward to our next “first day of school” on Tuesday!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jennifer Groves
Principal
Elementary Student Attendance During Phase 2
Come Work With Us!!
Prairie Point is hiring for the following positions! #mustlovekids
Elementary teaching assistant (sped) (Job #9872)
Early Childhood teaching (sped) (Job #10025)
Dedicated building substitute (Job #10231)
Please apply online:
https://www.applitrack.com/d308/OnlineApp
Questions? Please contact Dr. Groves (jgroves@sd308.org) or Mrs. Fahey (nfahey@sd308.org).
To view job postings:
Home & School Board Positions Open
We need YOU for the home and school board next year! Openings will be available for all 5 board positions. Our bylaws demand a minimum of three board members.
We have the following positions:
*President: The President serves as the primary contact for the Principal and represents the organization at meetings, coordinates work of all officers and committees
*Vice President: The Vice President shall assist the President and carry out the President’s duties in his or her absence or inability to serve.
*Recording Secretary: The Recording Secretary shall keep all records of the organization, take and record minutes, prepare meeting agendas and ensure that corporate records are maintained.
*Treasurer: The Treasurer shall receive all the funds, keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures, pays out funds, present a financial statement at every meeting and make a full report at the end of the year.
*Corresponding Secretary:The Corresponding Secretary shall handle all correspondence for the organization, send notices of meetings to the membership and assist with the release and coordination of the organization’s information to the school newsletter.
WE NEED HELP!
There are around 20 committees and over 11 events that are put on for the benefit of your Prairie Point Students and families every school year. After the year we just had, we would hate to have to disband the board and not have any of these events we have all come to know and love so much, especially when we will hopefully all be back together in the Fall.
PLEASE help us if you are able.
If you have any questions, would like to find out more about a position or put your name in as a candidate to join the board PLEASE send an Email to homeandschoolprairiepoint@gmail.com
Thank you so much for your consideration.
Your 2020/21 board.
Home & School - Konstella
Join us on Konstella!
For all communication and news from Prairie Point Elementary's Home and School Board, please follow the link below to begin the new sign in:
https://www.konstella.com/cd/0UJE2V
Sincerely,
Your 2020-2021 Home and School Board
Angela McCumber, President
Erin Szostak, Corresponding Secretary
Coreen Sedlacek, Treasurer
Other Ways to Earn for Prairie Point Home & School Organization
Young Rembrandts
FEBRUARY DRAWING CLASSES
FEBRUARY 14 @ 6PM
I'm NUTS About You!
90-minutes Valentine's Day Family Dinner & Drawing. Learn to draw this adorable chipmunk who can't resist this giant acorn. We will enjoy a virtual dinner together @ 6pm and begin drawing at 6:20pm. Party games too. Fun for the entire family.
$12 / household.
All ages invited.
Register just one elementary aged child. Everyone else living in the same household gets to draw for free.
Join us on President's Day at 11am February 15 for another 90-MINUTE NO SCHOOL DAY PARTY and learn to draw our Founding Fathers AND play fun games!
Only $12/household.
QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU ...
Are your kids are missing afterschool drawing club?
I am too. So, until that magical day when we return to hosting afterschool activities at school, SIGN THE KIDS UP for my 60-minute virtual Daily Dose of Drawing weekly classes. They won't be disappointed and YOU will get 60-minutes of quiet time. You can sign up for the entire session OR pick-and-choose the dates that work best for your family. Only $8/household/class. Siblings draw for free!
On behalf of Young Rembrandts, THANK YOU for your continued support and helping me keep the kids connected to one another. I'm looking forward to drawing with you, your kids, your entire family soon.
Artfully yours,
Tess Gutkowski (MRS. G.)
Youth Drawing Director
Young Rembrandts Southwest Suburbs
(815) 242-2259 Text or call
Chess Scholars/After school Enrichment
: • Live, interactive weekly sessions with expert instructors o Chess and STEM live sessions are divided by grade level.
• Video lessons with step by step instructions to complete hands-on projects • Project workbooks to reinforce learning concepts
• Access to online Chess tournament play with other Chess Scholars students
Our live class times are held both in the morning and afternoon throughout the week to accommodate your schedules.
Video lessons are available 24/7. Learning is Fun with these engaging enrichment programs!
To learn more, please visit: afterschoolenrichmentsolutions.com ———————————————————————————————————————–————–————
Prairie Point Care Closet
If you are in need of any items please send your message to the following confidential email PTCares@sd308.org
News from the Nurse's Office
Kindergarten students:
A completed physical and immunization record (dated after 8/24/2019) is due by October 15th 2020.
A completed vision exam form and dental exam form are due in March of 2021.
2nd grade students:
A completed dental exam form is due by March of 2021.
We can accept any of these forms at any time. They may be emailed (dacuff@sd308.org), faxed (630-636-3612), or left on the drop off table in the school’s vestibule.
Voluntary 24 hr Student Accident coverage plan for the 20/21 school year
"Peachjar" Communication
Oswego CUSD 308 has launched a new communication tool called "Peachjar." School-approved flyers will now be sent to you electronically and posted on the school website. Simply click flyers you receive via email or on the Prairie Point homepage click Digital flyers then Peachjar flyers.