Lester Living
Friday, February 3, 2023
It has been a great week at Lester! Students have been working hard and doing their best. Parent/teacher conferences are available for sign-up if you would like to have one. In addition, next week we will have the Book Fair in the library all week. Parents will be able to shop during conferences. The school will be open from 3:10-7:40 on Tuesday and Thursday for all families to shop. Information will be coming home within the next couple of days about the Book Fair. You can also see the times listed below.
We will be having two spirit weeks coming up. I have included the first week's dress-up days below so you are able to prepare. As always, spirit days are optional. Our PTA has also generously offered to buy lunch for all of our students on Tuesday, February 14th. All nutritional facts are included below for your reference. If you would prefer to send your child with a lunch that day, please let your child's classroom teacher know.
We had our monthly lunchroom celebration this week. The students were very excited! We talked with students about being kind and we celebrated the good behaviors we have been seeing. We also discussed ways we could improve our behavior to demonstrate kindness.
As always, thank you for all you do!
Enjoy your weekend :)
Katie Novosel
Principal
Lauri Smith
Assistant Principal
Dear Elementary Families,
District 58’s number one priority is ensuring that all of our students and staff are safe and we continue to be thoughtful and proactive in terms of how we address these critical conversations with our community and with our staff and students. Preventing school violence is the responsibility of us all. In the weeks ahead, our school principals will be meeting with each classroom in their schools to review critical safety measures and reinforce expectations with our students. Below are the presentations and/or talking points that will be used with grade bands for your review.
3rd-6th Presentation (Will also be used as review with middle school)
We know that while these discussions are crucial to have with our children, as adults, it can be difficult to know exactly how to broach these topics with our children at home. We hope a review of the materials that we have developed will provide you with some of the terms, vocabulary, and developmental approaches that we use to support students’ understanding of these concepts. In addition, the materials provided below are from various organizations that specialize in this topic that can help you prepare for further discussions with your child.
Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
National Association of School Psychologists
Helping Children Cope with Frightening News and How to Ask What Kids are Feeling
The Child Mind Institute
Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers and Assisting
Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
As always, our social workers and counselors can assist you in thinking through how best to tailor discussions at home for your particular child or children. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me. Preventing school violence is the responsibility of the entire community and together, we can make a difference in helping our children understand the importance of those collective efforts.
ALL SCHOOL LUNCH- PROVIDED BY PTA ON VALENTINE'S DAY!
- hot dog and bun
- fruit snacks
- Lays potato chips
Nutrition facts have been shared by Al's for your reference. Please email your child's classroom teacher and send a lunch with your child if you DO NOT want your child to receive this lunch.
Winter Conference Sign Ups opened Thurs. Jan 26
District 58 invites parents and guardians to sign up for winter 2023 parent-teacher conferences using the online PowerPTC conference signup system at www.PowerPTC.net.
Please view the parent-teacher conference signup guide to learn how to sign up for a conference using the new system, along with other helpful information.
Grove Children’s Preschool will hold an open house on Feb. 15
Will your child be 3 or 4 years old this August? Do you have a neighbor or friend with a future preschooler? Please share! Grove Children’s Preschool will hold an open house on Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Henry Puffer School, 2220 Haddow Ave. Parents and guardians may tour the preschool, meet the staff, hear an overview of the program, and ask questions throughout the open house.
Grove Children’s Preschool tuition applications for the 2023-24 school year will open online at www.dg58.org/preschool on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 8 a.m. First priority applications are due Wednesday, March 8.
GRATEFUL FORM
Would you like to thank a staff member? We have had some families reach out to ask best ways to show their appreciation for staff. We have created a form as an avenue for you! Please feel free to fill out this form and we will share your gratitude with them. I will include this form weekly as an opportunity for you throughout the year. We are grateful for you and all you do! :)
Sneak Peak into Lester Life
Dates to Remember:
- Tuesday, February 7 and Thursday, February 9: Parent/Teacher Conferences 5:00-8:00 & Book Fair in the Library
- Thursday, February 9: Jump Rope Assembly (Thank you, PTA!)
- Tuesday, February 14: PTA All School Lunch
- Monday, February 13 - Friday, February 17: Valentine Spirit Week
- Thursday, March 23: Kindergarten Round-Up at Lester 6:00-7:00
- Mon. March 27-Friday, March 31: SPRING BREAK
- Tuesday, April 4: No School/Teacher Institute Day
- Friday, April 7: No School/Offices Closed
REPEATED INFORMATION BELOW:
Lice Prevention
Per my prior notification, although a nuisance, lice do not carry infectious diseases, nor do they pose a health risk to students and staff. However, to help prevent the spread of lice, we recommend that parents check their child’s head routinely over the next three weeks as indicated below by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp).
Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons or barrettes.
Do not share combs, brushes or towels.
Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with an affected person.
For more information, please visit District 58’s lice webpage to learn more about lice information, prevention and treatment.
Please contact our school nurse with questions or to notify us if you believe your child has lice. Thank you!
2023-2024 District 58 Calendar
Monday evening at the board meeting, the calendar for next school year was approved. Please find this calendar linked here:
Fall is here and cold and flu season is upon us and we are seeing students with cold and flu symptoms. To prevent the spread of these common viruses in the close confines of the classroom, we are cleaning daily and encouraging handwashing in the class. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines.
Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:
· Very stuffy or runny nose and/or a cough
· Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)
· Headache
Definitely keep your child at home and consider seeking medical attention if he or she has any of these symptoms:
· Fever (greater than 100 degrees by mouth. Your child may return to school only after his or her temperature has been consistently below 100 degrees, by mouth, for a minimum of 24 hours without medication)
· Vomiting (even once)
· Diarrhea
· Chills
· General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches
· Frequent congested (wet) or croupy cough
· Shortness of breath
· Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose
To help prevent the flu and other colds, encourage good hygiene habits:
· Wash hands frequently
· Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth
· Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands
· Avoid close contact with people who are sick
The flu shot is one of the best ways to prevent illness from the seasonal influenza virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults and children receive the flu vaccine each year. Yearly flu vaccination is needed because immunity against the flu wears off over time. In addition, the flu virus strains often change, so the vaccine also changes from year-to-year in order to match the flu viruses expected to be circulating in the community.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL INFORMATION
LARGER PDF VERSION LINKED BELOW
Fruit/Snack Break
Please make sure your child has a snack each day. Snack breaks should consist of nutritious food choices such as fruits, vegetables, and other portable snacks. This aligns with Policy 6:50. The health and safety of our students are our highest priorities. Therefore certain snacks or foods may be prohibited in your child’s classroom due to food allergies. A daily snack can be provided for students who qualify for free/ reduced lunch.
2022-2023 SCHOOL CALENDAR
2022-2023 CALENDAR DETAILS
The Board of Education approved the 2022-23 school year calendar. Calendar highlights include:
- Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 23-25, 2022
- Winter Break: Dec. 19, 2022 -Jan. 2, 2023
- Spring Break: March 27-31, 2023
- Last Day of School: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (if no emergency days are used)