Harper Happenings
September 4, 2020
Coming up
NO SCHOOL MONDAY! September 7-Labor Day
First Week of In-Person Instruction NEXT WEEK!
HERE is the Harper Welcome Back Weeks Schedule. The rest of the week is remote-instruction.
1st-4th grade students will be at Harper from 8:35-11:10am on their scheduled day with remote work in the afternoon.
AM Kindergarten students will be at Harper from 8:35-11:10 on their scheduled day.
KEEP39 will continue to run each day in the afternoon like normal.
Self-certification form HERE. This form is required to enter school.
Principal's Update
Hello Harper Families,
It has been so amazing for all of us to connect with students this week! We have been so impressed with how friendly, kind, and respectful students have been, as well as how committed they are to attending their classes (zooms) and completing their asynchronous work. We know the first week can be a lot, with learning new expectations and routines, but we are SO PROUD of their resilience and flexibility and overall positivity and smiles. We know it will be a great year!
Thank you for attending Curriculum Night last night. I know it may have felt different not being in the school, but we hope you received a lot of valuable information.
As we transition into the 2nd week of school, we are hopeful students will be more comfortable and confident with our remote learning expectations and schedule, even though we are continuing to make the proper adjustments as needed.
The Welcome Harper Students Sign is still out in front of Harper and will be out all of next week. Feel free to come by and take a picture, safely!
Thank you for all your support. We are excited about what lays ahead this school year.
Have a nice weekend!
Aaron
In-Person Back To School Information
Specifically, please spend time reviewing the Harper Entrance Map and the arrival video. Additionally, there is a student-centered video that showcases many of the new procedures this year!
D39 Elementary School Pledge
I pledge to do my part to keep our community in good health while I attend
Wilmette District 39 Schools.
- I promise to be safe, caring, respectful, and responsible when learning from home or from school.
- I promise to check for symptoms everyday. No symptoms for me! I am on my way.
- I promise to wear a mask and protect our community everyday.
- I promise to keep my distance and watch my space, so that days can be fun in my favorite place.
- I promise to wash my hands and sanitize. I won’t share food or my school supplies.
- I love my Wilmette classroom-whether from home or at school. I promise to be safe and follow every rule.
As a student of Wilmette I pledge to show
my belief in our motto that “Together We Learn and Grow.”
Go Dolphins!
Last chance to order your Harper Spirit Wear! Choose from masks, t-shirts and hoodies (pics below). The order deadline is TODAY, September 4. Please email mcnally.megan@gmail.com. Payments can be made via Venmo @Megan-McRoberts or QuickPay mcnally.megan@gmail.com. Once the items arrive, we will bag them by family and schedule a date for pickup at one of our homes (following social distance protocols).
The PTO Scoop
Room Parents
We are still looking for a handful of Room Parents for both remote and in-person classes. If you would like to volunteer, please email Johanna Toppenberg at roomparents@harperpto.com.
Volunteer Opportunities
The PTO has a few open spots remaining for this school year - reach out to Emily at ptopresident@harperpto.com if interested:
- Remote Learning Family Liaison – New position for this year! The PTO is looking to slate one parent to act as a remote learning representative on the PTO general board.
- Garden Co-Chair - Seeking a partner to help our Garden Chair facilitate volunteer opportunities and help keep our "outdoor classroom" beautiful, functional and safe.
Environmental Awareness – Consider volunteering to initiate projects that promote environmental awareness at Harper (recycling, Earth Day/Week, composting, etc). The chair also acts as a liaison between Harper and the Wilmette Village-Wide Parent Teacher Organization Environmental committee.
AtoZ Directory
The new and improved AtoZ Directory is now available. You should have received an email this week with new login instructions. You will need to verify your data through that email in order to join the PTO, purchase the 2020-21 Harper PTO Directory and gain digital access to student data, parent data, and class lists. (If you have received an AtoZ email from a school other than Harper, you DO NOT need to subscribe to it. Your full class list is in the Harper AtoZ directory.) AtoZ serves as a platform to make iGNITE donations, purchase Birthday Books (if applicable) and contribute to the yearly Teacher Gift Fund. In the past, room parents have asked for a donation for a class gift to teachers (split between holidays and end-of-year gifts). This year, the PTO is collecting this money and distributing gifts evenly among ALL Harper remote and in-person staff (classroom teachers, parapros, specials teachers and staff). Room parents will not be collecting money this year. Questions? Contact Catherine Tatlock at directoryandmembership@harperpto.com.
Calling all green thumbs! The Harper Garden depends on volunteers to help with maintenance tasks such as weeding, harvesting, and prepping the garden beds for winter. We are having volunteers come one family at a time, on any given day, to adhere to social distancing guidelines. If you are interested, please email Dona at dona.m.christensen@gmail.com and include approximate dates you are available to volunteer. We will arrange a day for your family to help and send instructions ahead of time.
Yearbook
We plan to still offer a yearbook this year, but please note that ordering will be delayed. Stay tuned! In the meantime, SEND US YOUR PHOTOS! Email your first day of school pics and memorable moments to yearbook@harperpto.com.
Follow @harperdolphins on Instagram and Twitter, and join "Harper Parents Page" on Facebook.
iGNITE!
Each year, the Harper PTO asks families to make a suggested donation to the iGNITE! fund, which pays for a wide variety of “extras” for our children. From field trips to crossing guards to teacher appreciation week, iGNITE! helps fund it all.
This year, we anticipate many of our “extras” looking a little different. Enrichment programs may be virtual or take-home kits, and more funds may be put towards our website and communication platforms. Therefore, we have reduced our suggested donation amount to $75 per child (previously $125). We will still be funding crossing guards, a reimagined enrichment program, the Harper garden, community service, teacher support and more.
The PTO thanks you for your contribution and looks forward to helping provide the best possible experience for every Harper student, whether virtual or in-person, during this critical time.
Ways to donate to iGNITE!: Click HERE OR use the link on your AtoZ directory landing page OR email Marni Sheehan at treasurer@harperpto.com.
One more way to support the Harper PTO is through Amazon Smile. Link below!
Important Reminders
Visitors
Parents, visitors, outside vendors and building rentals will not be allowed within the building to limit exposure and to ensure we have clear and accurate records of who has been inside our buildings. If you need to drop something off, you may come to the main entrance of Harper and leave your item(s) clearly labeled on a table that will be at the front doors. The front desk staff will then bring the item(s) into school.
Health Forms
- Make sure all of your health forms are ready to turn into our nurse, Val Morse. Please contact her at morsev@wilmette39.org with any questions or call her at 847-512-6202.
- Kindergarten: Vision, dental, & medical forms
- All: Medication & health updates
- HERE is an updated health letter from Mrs. Morse
Attendance Line
Please call the attendance line before 8:30am in the event your child is absent from school. The number is 847-512-6250. This applies for in-person and remote instructional days.
Tech Tips
Please make sure your iPad or Chromebook is plugged in and charging each night. iPads must be locked in their cases to charge. Find a spot around your house where your device will charge (we do not recommend it being in your child's bedroom). Students are responsible for charging their devices so they are ready for school the next day.
If you ever need assistance, email a support ticket here to reach the tech desk.
District 39 notes
Check out our updated Reopening Guide and updated FAQ. Links to these documents and other useful information can be found on the D39 Fall 2020 Reopening pages.
Community News
http://www.wilmette39.org/news/community_events
- Covid Catch Up Tutors offers free virtual tutoring by qualified high school students for Pre-K through High School grade levels.
- Family Action Network (FAN) Presents a webinar with Nancy Koehn, Ph.D
- Riding the Crisis Roller Coaster: Positioning Yourself Emotionally Amidst Volatility Thursday, September 17, 2020 7:00 - 8:00 pm
- Family Action Network (FAN) Presents a webinar with Brittany K. Barnett
- A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom Thursday, September 24, 2020 7:00 - 8:00 pm
- Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
All announcements to be included in the Harper Happenings should be sent to Daniela Burnham via the Communication Request Form by Mondays at 9am.
For more school information, visit the Harper PTO website.
For additional D39 community events, visit wilmette39.org