Wildcat Weekly
Laura B. Sprague School Newsletter - December 3, 2021
Winter Wonderland
As students and staff headed off for winter break, the Sprague PTO sent them on their way through a blustery wintry carnival decorated with snowflakes, snowmen, and a host of other winter displays in which students were invited to play themed games, make crafts and test their fine motor skills with the Reindeer Ring Toss and the Jingle Bell Toss. The staff engaged students earlier in the day with their musical talents through drumming and xylophone/bell playing.
Mrs. Binder’s kindergarten class and Mrs. Vani's second-grade class had fun getting ready for the break by building gingerbread houses. The graham cracker serves as a blank canvas for them to create the house they imagine. Read the PBS story on the history of gingerbread houses.
To see pictures of students engaged in the Sprague PTO Winter Carnival activities, please visit the school's Facebook page or Google Doc folder. Kindergartners decorating gingerbread houses can be seen on the school's Facebook page or in the Google Doc folder. Second-grade gingerbread houses can be seen on the school's Facebook page or in the Google Doc Folder.
Winter Break Schedule
Please note the change in D103's school schedule. Students will not attend school from Monday, Dec. 20, through Monday, Jan. 3, due to winter break. Classes will resume for students on Tuesday, Jan. 4.
Art Contest Winners
These talented students entered the Fall Celebrating Art poster contest and were chosen among thousands of entries to have their artwork published in a book and on their website, CelebratingArt.com. "I am so proud and excited for these students!" said Art Teacher Allison Smith. Please view the following students' artwork on our school's Facebook page or in our Google Doc Folder:
- Dino Lazarus - "Happy Dance"
- Valerie Huang - "Very Odd Vase"
- Samanvi Palyam - "Fall Tree"
- Rizwaan Khaja - "Owl"
Winter ASA Registration
Sprague has opened up more Winter After School Activities classes since registration began. Registration takes place online using the RevTrak Web Store. Classes begin the week of January 10 and run for six weeks. The fee is $25 per student per class and some classes may have an additional material fee. Detailed class information can be found on the ASA website page. The Center for Gifted Enrichment also offers a Lego robotics course.
Library News & Overdue Materials
Kindergarten through second-grade students participated in a digital citizenship lesson recently.
Kindergarteners learned about going places safely online. This included a definition of “the internet,” the scope of things we can do using the internet, comparing how staying safe online is similar to staying safe in the real world, and explaining rules for traveling safely on the internet. The safety rules we talked about are:
1) Always ask a grown-up before using technology;
2) Only talk to people you already know when using technology; and
3) Stick to websites and apps that are just-right. We also went into more detail on these rules and will continue the discussion throughout this year and next year, as well.First-graders are learning about how to stay safe online by distinguishing between websites that are "just right" and "not right" for them. Together, we used a tool called the Internet Traffic Light, which talks about green, yellow, and red websites and apps. Green sites or apps are just right for us, with fun things for us to do or see, and they have appropriate words. A yellow site or app is one we’re not sure is "just right" for us. The words are hard for us to read, it may ask for information such as who you are, where you live, or your phone number, or to fill out any kind of form. When we identify an app as yellow, we slow down and check in with a grown-up for next steps. A red website or app has everything that a yellow website has, but is clearly not "just right" for us. We may even have gone by accident. It has pictures, words, and videos that are for older kids or adults, and we may be allowed to chat with people you don’t know. If a website or app is red, we get a grown-up right away. We also know not to hide red apps or websites, because our grown-ups can only help us if they know.
Second-graders participated in a lesson called, “That’s Private,” during which we worked on identifying examples of private information that we would not share online. We know that when we share information, pictures, or messages online, that the information is no longer private and is saved forever. This is our digital footprint. We also know that, just like we don’t share this information with strangers in person, we don’t share it online either. Private information is often connected to a specific person. For example, no two people in the class have the same full name and phone number. We talked about the difference between private information and personal information. Personal information does not identify us specifically (ie: favorite color or food). We also examined an online form and sorted through which questions asked for private information, such as our name and phone number and which asked for things it was OK to share, like our favorite instrument.
For more information on digital citizenship and to bridge these concepts to home, I encourage all families to visit the Common Sense Media website.
Please watch your email for any overdue library notices. We have sent two over the last week and these may include books lost during the 2019-2020 school year. More specific information can be found in the email.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration for students turning 5-years-old on or before Sept. 1, 2022, begins Friday, Jan. 14. Look for more information about registration after winter break. Please visit the D103 Kindergarten website for detailed information about what documents are required for registration.
District News
Lunch Menu
Please find the January menus on the website.
Requesting Vaccine Cards
If you have had your child fully vaccinated for COVID, please send us a copy of your child's vaccination card so it can be added to your D103 students' health records. At this time, fully vaccinated students are not required to quarantine if they are identified as a close contact as long as they remain asymptomatic. Students are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose was received. Students that show COVID 19 symptoms will still need a negative test prior to entering school regardless of vaccination status. You can track the percent of students vaccinated on our D103 COVID Dashboard.
Please use one of the following methods to provide us your child's vaccine card along with the student's first name, last name, and grade level: fax, email, mail, or physically dropping off a copy to the school.
Cassie Horvath, R.N.
847-945-6665
2425 Riverwoods Road
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Fax: 847-945-6718
In Need of Financial Assistance?
Board of Education Meeting
Community News
Free Winter Concerts
The Midwest Young Artist Conservatory is hosting several free concerts at local venues, including Ravinia’s Bennett Gordon Hall, Highland Park. The events are open to all ages.
State Art Contest
The contest includes four entry levels: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. A panel of judges will select a winner and two runners-up in each entry level. All winners and runners-up will have their work displayed by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum from Feb. 12 through March 18, 2022. The student whose work is chosen as "Best in Show" will be featured on a poster to celebrate Illinois Arts Education week. They will also be recognized at an ISBE board meeting and their framed work will be displayed in the Board office.
All entries must be received by mail, postmarked no later than Dec. 17. Mail entries to:
Arts Contest
Student Care
100 North First Street, E-222
Springfield, IL 62777
Football & Cheer Registration
Sprague Information
- Principal Ann Hofmeier
- Assistant Principal Jennifer Arroyo