North Barrington Colt Communicator
From the office of Dr. Lisa West, Principal - 8/2021
Google Translate is used - Please contact the office at 847-381-4340 for questions.
Our First Week! August 23 - August 27, 2021
Dear North Barrington Families,
Congratulations and THANK YOU for an amazing return to school. Today marks our first completed week with 1st through 5th graders and a successful four days with our kindergarten friends.
We have been busy this week learning routines, making friends, and learning so much. We also have started our fall assessments, which will continue through September 3rd, so that we can use this data to determine how to support all our NBS Colts. We have also been working on making sure our students feel safe and welcomed here at North. The energy has been positive and high. This positive start could not have happened without your support. As a staff, we want to thank each and everyone of you for your patience, grace, positive feedback, and support for a great beginning. I know there have been some questions about update routines so those answers will be addressed in this week's newsletter.
I am also including for you some photographs of the learning we have been doing this week. If you are a parent/caregiver of a 5th grader, please make special note of the information about our upcoming trip to Camp Duncan. Additionally, please notice that our Back to School night will be virtual again this year. There will be a recorded welcome and overview presentation shared by me. We are also working on how to include the PTO welcome in our event so we can continue building connections between our school and community.
We look forward to another wonderful week of learning on Monday! If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions regarding your child’s experience at North Barrington Elementary School, please feel free to contact me at (847) 304-4870 or lwest@barrington220.org.
In Partnership,
Dr. Lisa West, Principal
NBS Community Rock Garden
Welcome Kindergarten!
We Work Hard on Learning at NBS!
Important Details
Fall Assessments
The fall assessment window was opened on August 23rd and students will continue to take the assessments through September 3rd. Your child will take the assessment during their math or reading classes. The screenshot below shows when grade levels are participating. If you have any questions about the schedule, please contact your child's teacher.
NBS will also be assessing students in math and reading using the Fastbridge universal screener. The schedule for that assessment is also below. I have included the letter from the Virtual Back pack below as well.
Transportation and Safety
Student MORNING Student Drop-Off UPDATE:
For student drop-off, please enter the front drive and stop at the end of the sidewalk by the sandwich board sign. We will unload 3-5 cars at a time and have the next set of cars pull forward to keep the line moving. Children will walk on the inside part of the sidewalk to their teacher's classroom cone on the blacktop. NBS staff will be there to assist them. We will then have those 3-5 cars leave and the next 3-5 pull forward. For safety, we are asking that you drive slowly and watch out for each other as you are pulling out. For inclement weather, children will drop off at the front of the building and then walk into the gym to stand behind their teacher's classroom cone.
Student drop-off is no earlier than 7:50 am as we do not have supervision for your child before 7:50 am. Additionally, children should have all materials they need to exit the vehicle and should be sitting on the passenger side of your car. Please do not stop, park and get out of your car. This will ensure a more safe and efficient student drop-off.
After 7:50 am, when children are released to their classroom and supervision is not present, children are to be dropped off at the front door. Children are not allowed in the classroom prior to 7:55 am unless given permission by the classroom teacher. Children who arrive at 7:55 am do not need to stop in the office, they should go directly to their classrooms.
If you arrive after 8:00 am, your child is considered tardy. We ask you to park your vehicle in a legal parking space and walk your child into the office to sign them in.
Student AFTERNOON Parent/Caregiver pick-up:
School dismisses at 2:40 pm daily and 2:10 pm on Wednesdays.
All cars should enter the BACK SCHOOL PARKING LOT from Grandview Drive (just past the school on the East side of the building) and pick up your child up from Circle Drive. As cars pull up, staff members supervise and help load students in multiple cars at one time. To help us move the line more efficiently, you can make a sign with your child's first and last name on it and display it on the passenger side of your car's dashboard.
If you intend to pick up your child after school, please write a note to your child's teacher. If you have a standing plan, such as every Tuesday, you will pick up, you can write one note for a set period of time. If there is not a set plan, you need to write a note each day your plan is to pick them up at Circle Drive so they will be dismissed as "Circle Drive Pick-up".
Without a note, we will send your child home on the bus. If the change occurs once school is in session, please call the front office and they will advise the teacher as well. Do not rely on on email as the teacher may not have the opportunity to check email during the day.
Please note the daily cut off time for last minute changes in transportation is 2:00 pm (M,T, TH, F) and 1:45 pm on Wednesday. If you contact the office after 2:00 pm and 1:45 pm on Wednesday, we cannot guarantee that the change will be made or that your child will be ready for pick up.
Additional Information
A Note from the Nurse: Health Changes for the 2021-2022 School Year
Physicals with up-to-date immunizations are required for all new to the district students. Exclusion date is September 1. We will accept documented physician appointments from out of state transfers only to extend the due date.
Allergy Awareness Policy. North Barrington continues to an allergy aware nut free school. All classrooms will be safe for all students. In order to ensure food safety, please make sure you check with your child’s teacher or the health office and follow all food guidelines or restrictions, especially on party days and for snacks if the classroom teacher allows for them.
Get the latest news from Barrington 220 and North Barrington School
Barrington 220 has a variety of social media channels to help families stay up-to-date on the latest news and updates:
Social Media: If you prefer to get the above-mentioned news from Barrington 220 via social media, follow us on Twitter @Barrington220, @NBES220 or 'Like' us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barrington220.org/North
Student Attendance
As a school and home partnership, we look forward to working collaboratively with our families to maintain rigorous compulsory student attendance through positive student recognitions, teacher and administrator communications, and our quarterly updates to parents/guardians. Thank you for sending your child to school on time each and every day!
Birthdays
At North Barrington we are always working to create a healthy and positive environment for all our learners. As part of this healthy initiative, we are asking that you do not send birthday treats or goody bags to school. To help celebrate, classroom teachers and the office will recognize your child’s special day in an age appropriate way within the classroom.
YOUR NORTH BARRINGTON PTO
Our North Barrington Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is integral to this on-going partnership. It supports the school in achieving the above and creates events and activities for all of us to come together as one school community. Together, the PTO and NBS staff strive to model a committed partnership focused on creating an engaging, supportive fun educational experience for each and every child.
Please take a moment to access the North Barrington PTO website to stay informed as well as join this dynamic organization. If you are new to North Barrington, the PTO will connect you with a buddy parent who will help acclimate you to NBS, help you stay informed on upcoming PTO/School events, and get you connected. One of the best ways to make new friends in a new community is to volunteer and work together on common activities or events as well as come to the PTO meetings. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Amy or Lisa if you have any questions.
General Questions - email contact for PTO:
Back to School Night
Our Back to School Night will be held on September 7th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.
UPCOMING CALENDAR EVENTS
Important Dates:
September 6 No School (Labor Day)
September 7 Back to School Night 6:30-8:00 pm
September 8 5th grade to Camp Duncan
September 9 School Picture Day - Picture Day will occur during the school day.
North Barrington Elementary School
Email: lwest@barrington220.org
Website: www.barrington220.org
Location: 24175 North Grandview Drive, North Barrington, IL, USA
Phone: 847-381-4340
Facebook: facebook.com/barrington220.org/North
Twitter: @NBES220