Erickson Express

Dear Erickson Families,

Welcome to our newest EAGLES in preschool and kindergarten! They have done a great job this week learning about school and their new friends.

This week Mrs. Frattinger and myself met with all grade levels to discuss the SOAR expectations. SOAR stands for Safety, Ownership, Appreciation and Respect. We discussed how students can SOAR in the hallways, at lunch, at recess, on the bus and in class. A great idea would be to discuss at home how students can SOAR at home. Here is the presentation that was shared with students that can be reviewed at home with your child. Also, please take the time to review the Elementary Family Handbook with all of the school expectations.

Each year, Erickson staff set academic and social learning goals for students. This year our school goals will revolve around reading, math, truancy (school attendance), and building a positive climate/bully prevention goals. I will share goal updates throughout the school year.

If you need to report an absence, please call the school 630-529-2223 or email the teacher and the attendance line: erattendance@sd13.org

Barbara Naumiec, who works in the front office, will be retiring tomorrow. Her last day at Erickson will be Friday, September 1st. Erickson will miss Barbara very much, but we are excited for her new adventure with her family, especially with her granddaughter, Ava.

Please welcome Cheryl Kiple. She will be the new administrative assistant in the front office. We're glad to have Cheryl as one of our newest Eagles.

Please reach out if you have any question or concerns. The best way to reach me would be via email or phone: sjohnston@sd13.org or 630-529-2223.

Have a wonderful rest of your week!

Stacy Johnston

Principal

• September 1: Spirit Day - Wear Blue and Yellow

• September 4: Labor Day No School

• September 5-20: Reading and Math MAP Assessments (see classroom teacher's newsletters for specific testing dates for your students)

• September 6: SOAR ASSEMBLY during the school day for grades K-5- students. Students will learn about our SOAR behavior expectations. Ask your child about SOAR!

• September 7: Severe Weather Practice Drill (Tornado Drill)

• September 11 -15: Go Orange, Food Collection Week (see flyers below)
• September 13: Interior Lockdown Practice Drill 9am (parents may opt out of this drill, email sjohnston@sd13.org)
• September 14: Wear Orange today for hunger awareness, Curriculum Night 6:00-7:30, Go Orange Day (see flyers below)
• September 15: Eagle's Nest- Wear Pillar Shirts or a colored shirt / School Improvement day 1:40 early dismissal - see note below
• September 18: PTO meeting in the library 5:30-6:30
• September 19: 5th Grade Ambassadors & NEW Students Luncheon during lunch
• September 27: School Picture Day
• September 28: Practice Fire Drill
• September 29: MAC Walk after school- Fundraiser for Cal's Angels, Fall MAP Reports sent home with grades K-5 & the 2022-2023 IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) student reports will be sent home with students in grades 4-5.

• *Please note: 1:40 Early Dismissal Days/School Improvement are on FRIDAY. Early Dismissal/School Improvement days are one Friday per month and FULL DAY students are dismissed at 1:40 while teachers are involved in professional development activities. Half-Day PM Kindergarten and Half-Day PM preschool attend school at their normal PM times.

To the Parents of 5th Grade Students,

If you are interested in signing your student up for for band this year but have not yet done so, please contact Mrs. Metzger (smetzger@sd13.org) for guidance in completing that process. Band lessons will be starting the week of September 11 (Erickson on 9/11, and DuJardin on that 9/14). Detailed information regarding the first day of band will be distributed next week to students who are already enrolled.

Along with the Bloomingdale Community, Erickson Elementary School will be participating in Go Orange for Hunger Action during the month of September. We will be collecting food (see specific list on flyer) for the Northern Illinois Food Bank during the week of September 11-14. We will have a classroom collection competition. The classroom that collects the most items will win a prize! Donation boxes will be outside each classroom! National Go Orange Day for Hunger Action will be Thursday, September 14, 2023 at Erickson Elementary.

• We unfortunately are going to postpone our annual Back to School Bash so we can focus on a school celebration for Erickson’s 30th Anniversary (1993-2023). We are looking for ideas on how to celebrate and you can email at ericksonpto13@gmail.com if you have any ideas!

• The Silent Auction piece of the Back to School Bash is being moved to Pumpkin Night in October so be on the look out for more information. If you would like to help with the silent auction, please email ericksonpto13@gmail.com.

• The volunteer sign up via google forms will be open until around mid September. Please use the links below to sign up.

• PTO dues can be paid. See PTO dues flier.

PTO UPDATES

• We are so excited to welcome all the new students and families to Erickson PTO. We appreciate your support.

There are two parent volunteer sign-ups below:

1) Erickson PTO Event Volunteer Sign-Up

2) Classroom Room Parent (Halloween, Holiday and Valentine's Day Parties) Volunteer SIgn-Up

ERICKSON ELEMENTARY

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION

277 Springfield Drive, Bloomingdale, Illinois 60108

Welcome Erickson Parents!

We are excited to have you & your child join the Erickson Eagle family for the 2023/2024 school year! Erickson Elementary School and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) work hand-in-hand to make the most of your child’s experience at school. We ask that each family pay PTO Dues to make this possible.

The Membership Dues for PTO participation are $20 per family. This fee goes towards the cost for all classroom parties (Halloween, Winter and Valentine’s Day). It also gives you access to the online Erickson directory the PTO helps to organize. We will publish the information provided to the district (student name, address, parent email, phone number) unless you notify the school principal in writing before September 1, 2023 at sjohnston@sd13.org. Paying PTO Dues does not mean you are required to attend meetings or volunteer, but if you are interested, please see us on Information Day in August.

Wondering how else the Erickson Elementary PTO makes a difference?

• Fund Teachers Wish Lists after approval by the PTO.

• Sponsors & coordinates a Back to School Fair in August and Field Day in May.

• Organizes numerous activities & services throughout the school year such as Family Fun Nights, Hot Lunch, Book Fairs, Bake Sales, Holiday Gift Shop, School Store and School Supply Boxes just to name a few.

• Funds School Assemblies.

• Funds transportation & teachers participation in 5th Grade Lorado Taft trip.

• Organizes Teacher & Staff Appreciation activities throughout the year.

• Awards two $750 Scholarships each year to a High School Senior who attended Erickson.

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention and support.

Sincerely,

Dee Patel

PTO President - Erickson Elementary

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For those that did not pay online through My School Bucks:

Please make checks for PTO Dues payable to Erickson PTO & drop off at Erickson with this information below.

Family Name ___________________________________________ Check Number _________

STUDENT NAME _____________________________________________ GRADE___________

STUDENT NAME _____________________________________________ GRADE__________

STUDENT NAME _____________________________________________ GRADE __________

Required Health Forms:

• Kindergarten: Physical, Dental, & Vision
• 2nd Grade: Dental
• Health Office Website

Student Needs:

• Please inform the nurse of any allergies or sensitivities to foods, medications, and environmental allergens. If there are any pertinent details of your students' health that you feel the nurse needs to know, please reach out and discuss this with the school nurse. This information can be helpful to better support your student throughout the day, if certain situations arise.

About Your Student’s Medication:

• The district's medication administration policy mandates that all medication to be administered at school requires an MD order, this includes over-the-counter medications. Students may NOT keep over-the-counter meds in their backpacks or in their lockers--including cough drops, Advil, etc. This is an important safety concern! Please review the policy included in the registration process.

• If your student requires an inhaler, Epi-Pen, or any oral medication, please obtain the medication form and appropriate health care plan from your physician when your child has their exam. Forms may also be obtained on the district website.

Excused Physical Education Class:

• Please note that all PE excuses need to be sent to the Nurse's Office. A parent may excuse a student from PE for up to 3 days. (consecutively) Thereafter, a Doctor's note is required.

Calls home from the Nurse:

• Phone calls home are warranted in the event of a head injury, minor or major

• All in school sickness including fever of 100.4 (oral) or greater, vomiting and/or diarrhea

Please prepare to keep your child home until:

• Fever-free for a full 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.

• Vomiting and diarrhea has ceased for a full 24 hours

School Hours:

Grades 1st-5th: 8:40-3:30

Kindergarten AM: 8:40-11:30

Kindergarten PM: 12:40-3:30

Preschool AM: 8:50-11:20

Preschool PM: 12:50-3:20

Student Arrival:

Kindergarten-5 grade students can begin arriving at 8:25. Students should gather in the front of the building. Doors open at 8:30. Students should arrive by 8:40

Lunch Hours:

1st, 2nd & 3rd Grade Lunch: 12:00-12:25

4th-5th Grade Lunch: 12:25-12:50

Dropping off lunches from restaurants (ie- McDonald's, Wendy's, Panera, etc.) as well as using food delivery services to drop off food (ie -GrubHub, Door Dash) is not allowed. Students should bring their lunch in the morning to school each day. Safety is our number one priority and we would like to limit visitors.

Email: sjohnston@sd13.org
Website: sd13.org
Location: 277 Springfield Drive, Bloomingdale, IL, USA
Phone: 630-529-2223

Fax: 630-893-9849