Lester Living
Friday, March 3, 2023
March is here and it has been a great start to the month at Lester. There was a great turnout for Lester Family Reading Night. Students loved seeing animals up close and personal. Thank you to the PTA for organizing such a fun event and thank you to Mrs. Forzley for beginning the night with read-alouds.
We have partnered with the Police Department and the Village to ensure that our drop-off and pick-up procedures are being followed. Student safety continues to be a priority so we are asking for your help. Please be sure that you are following all signage (including parking signage & no turning signage on Indianapolis and Fairview). These signs are there to assist with flow of traffic and ease of drop off/pick up. In addition, children should not be getting out of the car on the street side of the road. Students should exit your vehicle on the curb side/sidewalk side. Indianapolis and Lincoln are our two roads that have continual moving traffic at the pick up/drop off times. We appreciate your assistance with these requests. The police department and village will continue to support and monitor as well.
I have included the dates that our school will be participating in the IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) in grades 3-6. Please note that students will begin testing on Wednesday, April 5. This is the week following spring break.
As always, thank you for all you do!
Enjoy your weekend :)
Katie Novosel
Principal
Lauri Smith
Assistant Principal
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE READING GAMES!
DISTRICT 58 FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN UPDATE:
District 58 is excited to offer a universal full-day kindergarten program for the coming 2023-24 school year. What this means is that the tuition-based full-day kindergarten program known as OKEEP will end after the current school year. Yearly student registration fees will still be required. We are excited about this move as it provides a full-day program to all District 58 students and gives teachers more flexibility in delivering instruction, socialization time, deeper discovery and play-based learning. Please ask friends and neighbors with preschool-age children who are eligible for kindergarten (children who are five years old on or before Sept. 1, 2023) to contact our school at (630)719-5855 to be added to our incoming kindergarten list. Kindergarten RoundUp is scheduled Thursday, March 23 at 6:00 pm and we want to ensure that parents and guardians can visit their child’s future school and meet the principal and teacher. Families may visit www.dg58.org/kindergarten to access pertinent information in the District 58 Kindergarten Resource Guide.
KIDS HEART CHALLENGE UPDATE!
Lester continues to do a great job raising money for the American Heart Association through our Kids Heart Challenge program! As of 3/2, we have raised almost $9,000!! Incredible! Donations will be accepted until March 6th! Click here to register and donate. Thank you for your generosity!
UPCOMING SPIRIT WEEK!
IMPORTANT FOR WEEKS FOLLOWING SPRING BREAK!
2023-24 registration for Grove Children’s Preschool is now open!
Will your child be 3 or 4 years old this August? Please consider applying for your child to attend Grove Children's Preschool in District 58! Grove has earned back-to-back gold ratings, which is the highest rating the State awards preschools for excellence in teaching and learning. Applications are now open at www.dg58.org/preschool. 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:
- Thursday, March 16: Science Olympiad at Lester 6:00-8:00
- 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
- Tuesday, May 2: Open House 6:00-7:30
REPEATED INFORMATION BELOW:
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
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)