The Buzz at Westbrook School
January 22, 2021
From the Principal...
Dear Westbrook Families,
We successfully completed our first week of hybrid learning! Our teachers have worked hard to prepare for the transition. They excitedly greeted new and returning students to both hybrid and remote learning settings. Our teachers have spent some time this week fostering their classroom families by having students learn about each other, teaching/reviewing expectations, and completing different activities such as class promises. It truly has been a joy to see students both at our school building and online this week!
I want to thank Dr. Susan Woodrow and Karl Anderson for their guidance and leadership while I was on maternity leave. I am excited to be back! I also want to thank our wonderful teachers, instructional assistants, support staff, technology team, office staff, custodians, and health office staff, who have worked tirelessly to prepare for this transition. Our students have demonstrated flexibility, perseverance, and resiliency! We are so proud of them and for all of their hard work! Families, we are so appreciative of your support during this time and throughout the school year.
What Happens when a Hybrid Student has to Quarantine
If a hybrid student is home for any reason but not taking a sick day, she/he will join the class during their 2.5 hours of in-person learning times via Zoom. The child's parent must contact the classroom teacher before the school day begins to request a Zoom link. The child will log in on Zoom and the teacher will position her/his laptop so that the child can see the instruction. The interaction between teacher and students that we have known in the remote Zoom classroom setting will not be the same, however the student will be a viewing member of the classroom. Our Circle of Friends team will work with parents to support hybrid learning for students at home in quarantine.
Help Needed!
We welcome volunteers to assist with arrival to school. The Westbrook PTO is recruiting parent volunteers to support morning and afternoon arrival. We appreciate their ongoing support. Please use this link to sign up to volunteer to help.
Benchmarking
Our kindergarten and first grade teams are working on benchmarking our students on their early literacy and math skills. The information teachers receive about each child’s reading and math ability will be used to inform their instruction and to monitor individual student growth. All K-1 students will be reassessed on these skills in the spring.
We Are in This Together
Dr. Aumiller, in her superintendent message, shared this video, which highlights the many ways our D57 community has come together and demonstrated resilience and strength while navigating this crisis. If you haven’t had a chance to watch it, I encourage you to do so!
To ensure the success and sustainability of the hybrid model, we must all commit to wearing masks, practicing social distancing, frequently washing hands, and staying home if we have any exposure to or symptoms of COVID-19. Thank you for helping to keep our students and staff safe! We would like to remind families to wear masks during drop-off and pick-up times.
Thank you! Wishing you and your family well,
Kristin VonderHaar
Follow Us on Twitter and Instagram
Please follow us on Twitter and Instagram! Our username is: westbrook_school_d57
Click the video below to visit Ms. Fratamico and Mrs. Ryno's 'office' for tips on how to support your child with the transition to hybrid learning, calming strategies, and books about change, perseverance, and resilience.
Safety Procedures Regarding Student Illness
Resources and Reminders for In-Person Learning
Circle of Friends Hybrid/Remote Schedule
Kindergarten Hybrid/Remote Schedule
First Grade Hybrid Remote Schedule
Calendar Reminders
January 27 - PTO Meeting - 7pm
January 28 - Board of Ed Meeting 7pm - Video Conference
February 8-12 Kindergarten Enrollment 2021/22(By appt only, see flyer below)
February 12 - Half Day - More information to follow
February 15 - Presidents Day - No School, Buildings are closed
February 19 - End of 2nd Trimester
February 23-25 Preschool Lottery for 2021/22 - Appointment only - More information to come!
Kindergarten Enrollment for 2021/22
WB PTO - Exciting New Reading Program
Westbrook School for Young Learners
Email: wb-office@d57.org
Website: https://www.d57.org/westbrookschoolforyounglearners_home.aspx
Location: 103 Busse Road, Mount Prospect, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 394-7340
Twitter: @westbrook_d57