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Welcome to the Magical Kingdom of Learning!
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh, my, what a wonderful day
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ear
My, oh, my, it’s a wonderful year
On behalf of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Tinker Bell, Woody, more princesses than you can count, and a cast of many characters, I am excited to welcome you to a brand new school year! If you haven’t already figured it out, our theme is Disney-influenced….”Believe in the Magic of Learning”! It’s great to see so many familiar faces returning. If you are a new PV family member….a pixie dusted welcome! You will most certainly see some new faculty and staff when you visit as we have replaced the retirees and even added a new program! Veteran teacher, Mr. Jason VanPelt, is implementing STAR 1-2-3, a continuation of a developmental program that has its roots at Lynn G. Haskin for the early primary grades. Joining Mr. VanPelt in STAR 1-2-3 are paraprofessionals, Mrs. Julie Padilla and Mrs. Sarah Craddock. During the second half of last school year, Mrs. Barb McGregory dropped the “substitute” designation in her title and became the “permanent” reading specialist. Mrs. Kim Gudmunson (Second Grade) and Mrs. Shannon Stahl (Third Grade) are both bringing teaching experience and fresh enthusiasm into their respective classrooms. Mrs. Holly Martin transitioned into the head secretary position, creating an opening for the attendance secretary which was suitably filled by Mrs. Robin Huhn. This dynamic duo was unrelenting in their pursuit to make sure everything was in place for a smooth start of the year. Mrs. Annette Mitilieri came on board as the Learning Center Specialist. If you visit the Sandwich Public Library, there is a good chance that your path and Mrs. Mitilieri’s may have crossed as she continues to work there a few hours a week. Last, but not least, Mrs. Jennifer Cole returned to Prairie View after time away to raise her family. Mrs. Cole is a paraprofessional and will be assisting students in several classrooms. Whether new to the school, returning after a hiatus, or a veteran staff member, we are excited to welcome you to a brand new school year. You never know what magic will transpire!
If you are reading this newsletter from a hard copy, your child must be new to Prairie View. All kindergarten and transfer-in students receive a hard copy of the first monthly newsletter. Beginning next month, we ask that you access the newsletter online, directly through our Prairie View page on the district’s website (see next paragraph).
In addition to this monthly newsletter and the weekly classroom newsletters, we also share information about events, activities, pictures, and news on our Prairie View Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PVElementary430/. You can access the district website by going to (www.sandwich430.org) or go directly to the Prairie View page on this website with the following address: https://pv.sandwich430.org/. Individual teachers may also be using different digital formats to keep you notified of what is happening at school. If you have a question and cannot locate the answer, there is always the good old-fashioned telephone. Yes, we still have telephones! Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for assistance.
Sherrie L. Stricklin
Principal
One Per Family
FREE/REDUCED LUNCH
FREE/REDUCED LUNCH
The carry over period for students who were receiving free/reduced lunch for the 2018-2019
school year will be until October 1, 2019. If you haven't turned in a new 2019-2020
application or received notification for approval for this school year, your child will
automatically be charged for a lunch as of October 2, 2019. Free/reduced lunch applications
for the 2019-2020 school year are available in the office of each school or on the Sandwich
School District website at https://www.sandwich430.org/parents/forms.
If you have any questions contact 815-786-2187 ext 1.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is
prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or
disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, and Office of Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-
3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
School Safety, Visitors and Volunteers
We believe very strongly in being responsive and current in our practice and even more in keeping your children safe at school. Our district and staff continue to dialogue to make improvements and develop more tools, in order to be even more responsive in the event of an emergency. Please know that we are still the same welcoming building on the inside and updates are a high priority for us.
While our families are always welcome at our school, we do ask that you do the following:
Please enter the front door only and sign into the office. We ask that you do not enter from the playground doors or other side doors. We also ask, as we have in the past, for you to not walk your child to class.
Please ring the bell at the front door. We will welcome you to our building and ask that you identify yourself and share the reason why you are there. Example: "I am Mrs. Smith and Johnny forgot his folder today."
After signing into the office, we will provide you with the appropriate identification for volunteering in our building. All volunteers will be asked to read and sign our Volunteer Handbook prior to volunteering. A handbook can be picked up in the school office and is also attached below. If you plan to volunteer or chaperone any future field trips, we ask that you fill out the form in the back and return it to school.
We appreciate your support in keeping our students and staff safe.
Attending to Attendance
Did you know that absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year? Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school!
It’s the beginning of a brand new year. Regular attendance is a great way to start and finish strong!
Just a few reminders:
When there is a change in your student's transportation, we prefer a written notice be placed in the student's backpack so that the school receives notification of the change early in the day. In an emergency, please contact the school office no later than 2:00 p.m. so we can notify our staff and ensure your child's safe dismissal. We prefer you do not email your student's teacher, in case we have a substitute teacher, we would not receive the email. If the school does not have a notice of change in transportation, the normal way of transportation will be followed.
*When dropping students off in the parking lot, we ask that everyone stays in line to exit the parking lot for everyone’s safety. Please do not go around the vehicles in the line.
*If your student arrives after the 8:10 bell, you must come into the office to sign them in for the day. If your student needs to leave school before the end of the day, please send a note and when picking them up please come into the office to sign him/her out. Your child will be called to the office when you arrive.
Student Handbook
Attention Parents
Fall Picture Day
News from the School Nurse
Hello Prairie View Families,
I’m looking forward to partnering with you and the Prairie View staff to ensure your student’s health and safety while they are at school.
Vision Examination – Kindergartners and any student attending school in Illinois for the first time are required to submit a vision exam by October 15, 2019.
Medication - If your student has medications (including Over-the-Counter, cough drops, lotions, etc.) at school, we will need a current medical authorization form signed by a healthcare provider and parent/guardian.
If your student has a health concern that we have not already discussed, please email me at lhoyt@sandwich430.org so that we can set up a time to discuss your student’s needs.
Thank you,
Lauren Hoyt RN, MSN
School Nurse
815-786-7824Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
The third grade classes have immersed themselves in all things multiplication.
STARS 1, 2, 3
Mr. VanPelt’s STARS class is off to a great start. We have been doing a great job of working in groups and getting used to a new building! All of the students here at Prairie View have been very nice and welcoming. We are enjoying our new school home. We hope everyone is having a magical start to the school year!
Resource
Learning Center News
Once again, Prairie View Library has been blessed with another very extravagant display. This year we were very lucky to have Mrs. Kurtz create a magical carriage. In the past Mrs. Kurtz would always have a special display every year to surprise all the students when they returned in the fall. As a grand finale, Mrs. Kurtz came in over the summer and built the carriage for the students to enjoy this year. The students love being able to sit in the carriage to read and relax. This has brought so many smiles to so many students and we are so thankful. Mrs. Kurtz retired in May of 2019, she will be missed and well as her amazing displays.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SEPTEMBER
Click on button below for Lunch and Breakfast Menus!
The Parent Institute
Prairie View School
Email: hmartin@sandwich430.org
Website: http://pv.sandwich430.org
Location: 1201 Castle Street, Sandwich, IL, USA
Phone: 815-786-8811
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PVElementary430/