Hawk Talk
Half Day School Weekly Newsletter - February 7, 2020
Scientifically Speaking
Science is an interactive subject in the third-grade wing of Half Day School. Teachers apply what students learn to everyday life while they share their knowledge with classmates.
How fast can you go down a slide, teacher Katie McCraren challenges her third-graders. Students tested different materials, size, and mass of an object to gauge how quickly an object moves down a cardboard slide noting the friction it experiences along the way. Students created their own objects to slide down an inverted plane to test and predict which materials would have the highest and lowest friction, Miss McCraren said.
In a neighboring classroom, Gretchen McLelland’s third-graders conducted an experiment called, ‘Force at a Distance’ where students measured the greatest distance at which a paper clip would still be pulled toward a magnet. For more pictures of the activities, please visit the school's Facebook page.
We're Almost There!
We only need seven Half Day parents to complete the Illinois 5Essentials Survey that the district has sent out. We need a 20 percent response rate in order to read the results and if seven parents complete the survey we'll have met our goal. Please consider participating in the school climate and learning conditions survey. This 10-minute survey is a great way for D103 parents to provide input into the five indicators from the survey that affect and predict school success:
Effective Leaders
Collaborative Teachers
Involved Families
Supportive Environments
Ambitious Instruction
Abraham Lincoln Visit
President Abraham Lincoln and his first lady, Mary Todd, visited Half Day School recently. They delighted their audience with stories about the people and events that influenced their lives in the early 1800s. Through engaging conversation, they spoke about their youth, education, the struggles of the Civil War, and their personal lives in Springfield and Washington D.C.
Family Day with Chicago Wolves
Join the Learning Fund Foundation at a Chicago Wolves game on Sunday, Feb. 23 to help support District 103 students and teachers! The Learning Fund Foundation Family Fun Day is held at the Allstate Arena. Please purchase your tickets using the Foundation Family Day link.
Spirit Wear Sale Closes Sunday
Summer Camp Registration
Stressed Out Children
Valentine's Day Celebration
Half Day students and staff will celebrate Valentine's Day on Friday, Feb. 14. Students have been asked to bring cards to school for all of their classmates. The names of all students in the class will be provided by the classroom teacher.
Please do not send chocolate candy to school and keep in mind that any individually wrapped candies or treats that may be attached to the Valentine cards MUST:
- list ingredients
- be free of nut/nut products
- be processed in a nut-free environment
Please recognize candies/treats are NOT expected, but many of the pre-made cards are now attaching a treat. Our classroom parties for Valentine's Day focus on friendship and exchanging cards with peers and teachers during the day at school.
Who Is Ready to Go West?
The Half Day musical this year, “GO WEST!” will be performed on May 6 and May 7 on Half Day School’s stage. Fourth- and fifth-graders are invited to become part of the cast of characters including wagon masters, steamboat captains, miners, cowboys, and more!
The musical is open to fourth- and fifth-grade Half Day students. There will be singing and speaking roles in every scene. Mrs. Smidt will try to find a role that fits each and every child in the production.
Information about the musical, how to audition, and rehearsal schedule can be found on Mrs. Smidt's website. Please register for the musical on the RevTrak Web Store. Questions? Please reach out to Mrs. Smidt at asmidt@d103.org . Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at one of our performances!
Reminders
- Registration is now closed for the Talent Show. For information about the Talent Show, please visit the school's news bulletin.
- Game Nights, featuring GameWright games, are here! Bring the whole family for a night of fun held in the Half Day cafeteria! Please RSVP today for your child's game night on the PTO's Google Doc - Fifth-Grade: Friday, Feb. 21 from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m.
Community
Partnerships
PTO
The D103 PTO Meeting: Please join us at our next PTO meeting on February 12, 2020. The meeting will be held form 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. in room 105 of Sprague School. Please let us know if you will be joining us by RSVPing.
Foundation
The Learning Fund Foundation welcomes parents who are interested in serving on its Board. The LFF serves as a catalyst for innovation, enrichment, and educational excellence for the entire District 103 community.
Music Boosters
Music Boosters supports general music programs in all schools including band, orchestra, and chorus.
Upcoming Events
Half Day School
Assistant Principal Laura Delagrange
Email: ask103@d103.org
Website: www.d103.org/halfday
Location: 239 Olde Half Day Road Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Phone: 847-634-6463
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalfDaySchool/?ref=bookmarks