The Buzz at Westbrook School
August 27th, 2021
From the Principal...
Dear Westbrook Families,
It was so lovely to see so many parents and guardians at back-to-school night. We thank you for your flexibility as we had an in-person meet and greet and zoom presentations. We look forward to partnering with you this coming school year. Students have been busy at Westbrook learning their daily classroom routines and learning to navigate the school. We are so proud that our students are safe, kind, and ready to learn.
Safety Drills
In the coming weeks we will start our safety drills. As part of safety week, we practice evacuation, shelter-in-place, hard lockdown, and bus evacuation procedures. New state law requires schools to allow parents to opt out of the hard lock down drill. If you prefer that your child does not participate, please email me. When I announce this drill in advance, I share with students that we would use this procedure to keep everyone safe. I do not detail specific scenarios that would require us to enact a hard lockdown. I share that it is important to listen to the directions of the staff in all emergencies. If you have any questions, please reach out to me.
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 - Evacuation Drill
Thursday, September 9, 2021 - Bus Evacuation
Friday, September 10, 2021 - Shelter in Place
Tuesday, September 14, 2021 - Lock Down Drill with MPPD
Thursday, September 16, 2021 - Final Evacuation with MPFD
District Assessments
Districtwide beginning of the year assessments will start next week. Students in Kindergarten and First grade will work individually with our assessment team on math and literacy skills. The team sets up small stations in the hallway outside the classroom for students to be assessed. These assessments help us to learn more about your child’s math and reading levels to help us better meet their needs.
Accessing Instruction When Quarantining at Home
We want to provide families with important reminders about our health and safety protocols, as well as information regarding accessing remote instruction when quarantining at home.
It is important to continue to monitor your child’s health and the onset of symptoms. If your child is sick (fever (100.0°F or higher), headache, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, new loss of sense of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches), please keep your child home and notify your child’s school.
If anyone is experiencing COVID-like symptoms (noted above) in your home, please keep your child home until it is confirmed that the family member does not have COVID-19. Contact your child’s school if you have questions.
In the event that a student needs to quarantine, students will have access to remote instruction. (Please note that this is different from students who receive concurrent instruction within our Remote Education Program.) This only applies to students who need to be quarantined for COVID-19 purposes and feel well enough to participate.
After the school is notified, it may take up to 24 hours from notification, excluding weekends, to set up the classroom to allow for remote instruction. The school will notify families of when a Chromebook/IPad will be available for pick up. Students will return the Chromebook/IPad when they return to school. Remote instruction during quarantining will provide students with a window into the classroom. This is an opportunity for the student to observe and follow along with the lessons occurring in the classroom and to stay connected with the school. Students/Families will receive a Zoom link for the student to be able to see and/or hear the day’s lessons. Student participation in the lessons, access to classroom materials, and feedback from the teacher will be limited during this time. If students are experiencing symptoms and they do not feel well, please call in your child’s absence. Your child’s teacher will support your child when he/she returns to school. Access to remote instruction is not available for students who are taking any other type of sick day, missed the bus, vacation, woke up late etc.
Bullying Prevention
In District 57, we take the prevention of bullying very seriously. All K-8 students participate in weekly classroom meetings/advisory meetings to build classroom community and provide strategies for students on how to prevent/handle potential bullying situations. This is done, in part, using the Olweus Bully Prevention Program. This curriculum offers an opportunity for students to share their feelings and opinions, to suggest solutions, and to learn to follow the rules and handle bullying situations appropriately. It also builds class community and cohesiveness and recognizes the achievements and successes of the class as a whole.
We encourage any student or parent who is aware of a potential bullying situation to report the issue immediately to a staff member. This report will initiate an investigation. Whether or not the issue is found to be bullying, any behavior that does not follow school expectations will be addressed. We want all students to feel safe and comfortable during their time at school, and we are committed to removing barriers that are preventing this for individual students or groups of students. For more resources on this topic, please visit this link.
For your children,
Danielle Crandall
Westbrook Principal
Up Coming Dates
Monday September 6th - No School
Tuesday September 7th - No School
Wednesday September 8th - Circle of Friends Popsicles in the Park
Tuesday September 28th - Westbrook picture day
NEWS FROM WESTBROOK PTO
PTO Walk for Westbrook
PTO Spirit Wear
Spirit Wear is here!
Please click on the link below:
https://www.storessimple.com/crpromotions/groups.php
Access code: WESTBROOK (all caps)
Order deadline is Friday, September 10th.
PTO Student Directory
The directory goes live next week! All members of PTO will have access to the directory.
Not a member of Westbrook PTO?
Click here to join: http://westbrookptod57.weebly.com/membership.html
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