Wescott Word
October 14, 2022
Parent-Teacher Conferences
During conferences, your classroom teacher will discuss with you academic and social-emotional goals, how the learning experience is progressing at school and at home, and share details about the classroom community. This is a collaborative meeting between families and teachers where we can answer your questions. We are so proud of our students and their strong start. Thank you so much for your ongoing support and partnership.
We will share the directory of Zoom links on Monday, October 17. We ask that parents:
Assign your name to your Zoom account before entering the virtual waiting room. This will allow teachers to match the conference with the family name.
Be on time to the start of the scheduled conference and respect the ending time as other parents may be in the waiting room.
Character Counts! Food Drive Oct.17-21
Join our district, District 34, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help for the Character Counts! Week Kids Care Food Drive from October 17-21. Collection boxes will be located at each school, and all District 30 schools, and all community members can help "Stuff the Bus" October 18 to support the Northfield Township Food Pantry.
Wescott Principal Dr. Chris Brown will join Superintendent Dr. Brian Wegley, Willowbrook Principal Dr. Scott Carlson and Maple Principal Mr. Sam Kurtz riding the bus to collect your donations at our bus stops on Oct. 18:
- 4:30 p.m. - Maple School, 2370 Shermer Road, Northbrook
- 4:50-5:10 p.m. -Glenview Public Library. 1930 Glenview Road, Glenview
- 5:15-5:35 p.m. - Glenview Fire Station 6, 215 Waukegan Road, Glenview
Most needed items are:
- Canned soup
- Plain white rice (1-2 lb. packages)
- Peanut Butter
- Applesauce
- Jelly/jam/preserves
- Canned chicken and tuna
You can also donate by credit card by calling 847-724-8300, visiting twp.northfield.il.us/pantry, or sending a check to the Northfield Township Food Pantry, 2550 Waukegan Road, Suite 100, Glenview, IL 60025.
The Northfield Township Food Pantry serves the 1,200 local families eligible to receive perishable and non-perishable food and grocery store cards. No tax dollars are used and the Pantry is sustained entirely by residents, civic organizations, schools, businesses and the faith
FOOD PANTRY community. Thank you for your support!
Calendar of Events
Character Count! Food Drive
Tuesday, October 18
Walk for Wescott
Wednesday, October 19
Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:30-8:00 pm
Thursday, October 20
NO SCHOOL - Parent Teacher Conferences - 12 noon - 8:00 pm
Thursday, October 20
CATCH Community Conversation for Parents - 7:00 pm
Halloween Reminders
Halloween Parade
We are thrilled to be hosting this year’s Halloween Parade. The parade will kick off at 1:15pm on October 31st. Students will exit the building, walk down the path to Farnsworth, follow Farnsworth back to Western, then walk down the sidewalk back into the building.
In case of inclement weather, we will be conducting our parade in the gym. Guardians will enter the gym directly from the external gym doors instead of the front doors. Room parents will need to check in at the front office prior to either parade in order to have access to the rest of the building for the afternoon parties.
Costumes
As you plan your child’s Halloween costume this year, please keep in mind that your child will be wearing their costume all day at school. Children will not be changing into their costumes during the day. Find a costume that your child can wear comfortably during the school day and one that is appropriate for school. If your child is going to wear makeup as part of his/her costume, please be sure it is put on at home. The children can wear their makeup to school but won’t be able to apply any makeup, hair color, spray, etc. at school.
As a general rule, costumes that are gory, bloody, violent in nature or overly frightening are not permitted at school. Be cognizant of any group costumes to be inclusive of students. Additionally, weapons, even toy ones, are not allowed at school. Please also avoid masks that limit vision or costumes that interfere with ease of movement, since the students will be wearing their costume during the school day and parading outside. Take this opportunity to be creative and have fun with your child as you think about costume ideas.
4th Grade Show, "LIGHTS OF FREEDOM"
Greetings Wescott Families,
The 4th Grade show, "LIGHTS OF FREEDOM" will soon be here!
The performance is a tribute to Veterans, and will take place on two separate dates: Thursday, November 10, and Friday November 11.
The show for 4th Grade parents will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday November 10, and the show for Wescott School and Veterans will take place on November 11 at 10:30 a.m. The length of the show will be approximately 30 minutes.
If you have a veteran in your family, we would love to have them attend the performance on November 11. If your veteran is able to attend, please fill out the requested information in the google form linked here: VETERANS DAY 2022 so we can save a space for them. This invitation is open to any Wescott family or staff member that would like to invite a veteran in their life to attend the performance.
The 4th-graders have been working very hard! We are excited for you to see and hear what they have prepared!
Sincerely,
Quentin Coaxum
Wescott Music Specialist
District 30 Joins Global Read Aloud
Wescott and Willowbrook are excited to join the Global Read Aloud now through Nov. 11! We will join schools across the world in reading two of this year’s selections: “The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade” for kindergarten through 3rd grade and “Thirst” for grades 4 and 5. Each teacher will read their book to their class, and all students can listen to our Star Reader any time online: District 30 Superintendent Dr. Brian Wegley!
What is it?
Teachers choose a book from nine selections to read aloud to their students during a set 6-week period (Oct. 3-Nov. 11) and during that time they try to make as many global connections as possible using tools like social media, Skype or social platforms for educators. Each teacher decides how much time they would like to dedicate and how involved they would like to be. Some choose to connect with just one class, while others go for as many as possible. Since its inception in 2010, the program has had more than 4,000,000 students from more than 80 different countries participate!
Why are we participating?
Both books support our commitment to strengthen a sense of belonging through diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that foster positive climates across District 30. Each tells an age-appropriate story of caring for others and standing up for important causes:
- Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade: Hardly anyone notices young Sally McCabe, but she notices everything, including bullying happening on the playground. One day, Sally decides to take a chance and stand up to the bullies, learning that one small girl can make a big difference.
- Thirst: The story of a heroic girl who lives in the poorest part of Mumbai in India and fights for her belief that water should be for everyone.
The program also offers classrooms the opportunity to connect with other classrooms around the world, fostering learning and connections that can be cross-cultural and continue beyond the Global Read Aloud.
News from the Wescott PTO
Monster Mash Ticket Sales are Underway
We are so excited to bring Monster Mash back to Wescott on October 28. Please have your child come in costume and be ready to have a great night with fun activities, games and snacks! The whole family is welcome! Parents are required to stay at this event.
- 5-6 p.m. Trunk-or-Treat in the back parking lot of Wescott.
- 6-8 p.m. Inside the School activities include games, crafts, DJ, costume contest, estimation jars, movie and more, MPR door entrance.
Please RSVP and pay by October 25 for discounted price: $5.00 entrance fee per person for a wristband, (ages 3 and under free). Payment received after October 25 or walk-ins at the door are $10 per person.
Payment options:
1. Zelle wescotttreasurer@gmail.com (memo: Monster Mash.)
2. Send cash or check in an envelope marked "PTO - Monster Mash." The name on the check will be your check-in name.
Please consider volunteering. Many spots are still available.
Walk for Wescott Rescheduled to October 18
Thank you for your generous donations for Walk for Wescott! Please send your children to school in their Wescott Spirit Wear or Wescott color next Tuesday, October 18. We look forward to the sun shining and a fun day for the students walking the school fields and winning raffle prizes!
Parent Speaker Series - October 25
In partnership with The NORA Project, Wescott PTO presents the fall parent speaker series event: The NORA Project - Building Inclusive Classrooms on October 25 at 8 p.m.
The Nora Project's Parent Program Coordinator Anitra Rowe Schulte and Chief Program Officer Katy Fattaleh will share information on a range of topics that can help parents to teach about ability diversity and model inclusive practices. Attendees will learn about The Nora Project's Ability Inclusive Mindset Framework, how to introduce it to kids, and how to use it to guide parents' own beliefs and behaviors to be more inclusive to all.
Common parent questions on the topic of talking with kids about disability will be addressed. A Field Guide with additional resources will be provided, including additional learning opportunities and tools and ideas to use at home with kids.
Click here for Zoom event link.
Noodles & Company Dine Out - October 24
Support the Wescott School PTO when you dine in or order online from Noodles & Company in Glenview on October 24 from 4-8 p.m. Noodles & Company will donate 25 percent of qualifying sales to the Wescott PTO. Please mention Wescott when you dine in or coupon code, “GIVING25” in the coupon code line at online checkout.
Directory Spot is Now Updated
Family and classroom information has been set up in Directory Spot for the 2022-23 school year. The directory is available to all registered PTO members. If you had a previous login for Directory Spot, that information should work for the new year. If you are new or have difficulty with an old login, simply click "reset password" and enter your email address (the one used for PTO registration). The system will send you a link to set a new password. Directory Spot is available at directoryspot.net or though the Directory Spot app.
District 30's Response to Bullying
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. We wish to raise awareness and increase understanding about bullying prevention through our curriculum and school-wide programming. We are fortunate that District 30’s students consistently demonstrate respect and care, which are aligned with our core values from Character Counts! Even though that is the norm, isolated incidents of conflict and even bullying can and do occur that require attention and growth as we go through these years. Please know that we are partners with both issues when they involve our students and impact our schools.
For isolated incidents of conflict, we address them with all involved and have high expectations that they will not continue. If conflicts become ongoing and meet the definition of bullying, they are addressed through Board Policy 7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment.
Any form of bullying will not be tolerated in District 30. Bullying includes cyberbullying and is defined as any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:
Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student or student's person or property
Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student or student's physical or mental health
Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic performance
Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school
Students are encouraged to immediately report bullying when experienced or witnessed. A report may be made orally or in writing to any District 30 staff member with whom the student is comfortable. Additionally, anyone, including staff members and parents/guardians, who has information about actual or threatened bullying is encouraged to report it to the administration or a staff member.
Upon receipt of a bullying report, the administrators will act swiftly to conduct a bullying investigation and respond with appropriate actions to support the victim and prevent further inappropriate behaviors from occurring. Those conducting the investigation will be in contact with the parents/guardians of both students, the alleged offender, and the victim, throughout the process to allow both students the support to proceed from this situation primed for future success.
Bicycle Safety Reminder
Students may ride their bicycles to school and we encourage this practice. Bicycles should be walked on the sidewalks leading in or out of Wescott School and locked in the bike racks. At no time are students allowed to ride on the blacktop when children are present or through the parking lots. Children should wear bicycle helmets at all times when riding. When riding on sidewalks in and around Wescott: obey all pedestrian signs and signals, yield the right of way to pedestrians on sidewalks or crosswalks, and slow down and provide an audible signal (such as a bell or horn) to alert your presence before passing a pedestrian from behind.
CATCH Community Conversation for Parents
CATCH (Community Action Together for Children's Health) will offer a Community Conversation for Parents, " It’s Time for A Reset: Empowering Our Kids to Live a Meaningful Life" on Thursday, October 20 at 7 p.m. in the Glenbrook North High School Center for the Performing Arts. Speakers are William Stixrud, PhD, and Ned Johnson, Founder of PrepMatters. Both are the best-selling authors of "The Self-Driven Child & What Do You Say?" At this event, learn how to better communicate and connect with our kids, help them develop resilience, and find a path beyond academic success. Click here to learn more.
NOTICE - All District Families and Employees
Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 will be partnering with Brightview Landscape Services to treat the grounds on and around the Maple School soccer field. On October 21, 2022, we will be applying 90% Granular Elemental Sulfur.
In the event all applications cannot be applied on this date, the alternate date of application will be October 22, 2022. For questions, please contact the district’s Buildings & Grounds Coordinator, Jason Borst, at (847) 400-8964.
2023 School Board Elections
Caucus Endorsement Deadline is Nov. 21
Candidates who are interested in seeking endorsement from the District 30 School Board Caucus should contact Co-Chairs Karen Burstein (karenrb27@comcast.net) and Katie Schick (kateschick0609@gmail.com) by Monday, November 21. The School Board Caucus is a committee of District 30 residents that includes families both with and without children enrolled in Willowbrook, Wescott and Maple schools. The Caucus' role is to source, screen and endorse potential school board candidates. To be considered by the Caucus, candidates will need to complete a detailed application as well as an interview.
Nominating Petition Deadline is Dec. 19
Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 will have four school board seats to be filled at the Consolidated Election on April 4, 2023. Candidates who are elected will fill four-year terms expiring in April 2027.
Candidates for the office of the school board can now circulate nominating petitions for signatures. The period for filing nominating petitions runs from December 12 through December 19, 2022.
A candidate for the school board is required to file the nominating petitions, Statement of Candidacy, and receipt for filing their Statement of Economic Interests with the applicable county election clerk and not with the school board secretary or the administrative offices of the school district. The county clerk may have petition forms available, or blank petitions may be downloaded from the State Board of Elections website: elections.il.gov.
Candidates may also want to consult the “2023 Candidate’s Guide” (https://www.elections.il.gov//Downloads/ElectionOperations/PDF/2023CanGuide.pdf), which can be downloaded from the Illinois State Board of Elections website, or contact the county clerk or board of election commissioners regarding the requirements of filing. Candidates and voters can get information about District 30 from our website and learn about being a school board member from the Illinois Association of School Boards at: iasb.com/elections.
Check the Lost and Found
Our lost and found is overflowing! Please check our lost and found, located in the front foyer of Wescott to see if your child may have lost an item at school. We will be donating all lost and found items over Thanksgiving break.
Accessible Parking Places
Wescott has two accessible parking places located in front of the building. Please know that these parking places are reserved only for those who have an accessible parking license plate or placard.
SHIELD Testing - All Schools on Tuesdays
SHIELD Saliva tests must be turned in to your child’s school before 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays.
Wescott - Tuesdays
Willowbrook - Tuesdays*
Maple - Tuesdays*
Important Information
Throughout the year, packs with multiple testing kits will be sent home with your child
Use one each week and save the remaining for future use
Only return samples in the bag with the QR code and your child’s name
Instructions are available here and on the website at District 30 Health and Safety Guidance
Future supplies will be provided only to students who have participated in testing, therefore, hold onto your supplies if you think you may use them at some point
Please reach out to your school’s Health Office should you need additional supplies
Opt-Out of SHIELD Testing
Contact Lauren Schulman lschulman@district30.org
Return testing supplies to your child’s school
Want to know what's going on around the community? District 30 uses a "Virtual Backpack" to share community information while saving paper, costs, and lightening the loads our students bring home. Please click the button below to view upcoming Community Events.
School Hours
School Hours are 8:40 am to 3:10 pm.
Half day dismissal time is 11:45 am.
Wescott School
Main office: 847-272-4660
Health/Attendance Office: 847-400-8760
Location: 1820 Western Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062, USA
Website: district30.org/wescott
Facebook: facebook.com/ngsd30
Twitter: @district30