Harper Happenings
August 28, 2020
Coming up
First Day of School: Monday, August 31
- Remote learning begins for all students for the first week. The school day will begin at 8:35am. Please make sure your children are ready at that time to log onto the Zoom meeting link sent by their teacher.
- For those that selected the "in-person" learning option, check out the HARPER Welcome Weeks Calendar HERE for when you will be at Harper.
Join us virtually the night of Thursday, September 3 for curriculum night to meet your teachers and learn all about this school year! Teachers will send out Zoom links as the night gets closer.
- 5:30pm - Kindergarten
- 6:00pm - 1st Grade
- 6:30pm - 2nd Grade
- 7:00pm - 3rd Grade
- 7:30pm - 4th Grade
First Week of In-Person Instruction: Tuesday, September 8
- In-person instruction begins, with students attending a half day in school once during this week. More details available in the Harper Wilmette Welcome Weeks Calendar HERE.
Principal's Update
Hello Harper Families,
It is always bitter sweet at this time of year as I am sad that summer is coming to a close but excited for the beginning of a new school year. It has been great to reconnect with the staff this week as teachers have been at school hard at work getting ready for the school year. We are all looking forward to next week and getting to know all of our students and building relationships for an amazing (yet unique) school year.
We want to thank you for your patience and support as we have worked hard this summer to redesign everything that we normally do to try to meet the needs of our students during this pandemic. We know this year feels different, will have its challenges, and there will be a lot of new, but we also know our kids are resilient, flexible, and kind!
We can't wait to get the year started! In a typical school year, the first weeks of school are highly focused on growing a community of learners, establishing routines and procedures within the classroom, and building our learning stamina. Remote learning will be similarly structured. It is important that each child learn to develop self-discipline, independence and good work habits. At the beginning of the year, you may notice the day is not as rigorous as it will be by the end of September. Just like training to run a marathon, you start by running shorter distances. Please support your child in building their independence in their learning by setting up their learning space this weekend & getting them off to the right start on Monday (including having their iPad/Chromebook charged).
We look forward to partnering with you this year and working together to support our students, no matter what this year may bring!
Stay well,
Aaron and Elena
First Day of School
Our first day of school is August 31st and is almost here! Today, you are finding out your child's placement, receiving a welcome email from your teacher with more information, and you will also be getting an email from our technology department with login information. If you do not have your teacher placement by tonight, please email Aaron at dubnowa@wilmette39.org.
Grades 1-4: Students will be attending the first day remotely. Please have your child set up for school by signing into Zoom at 8:35. Please see the email from your child’s teacher for the Zoom meeting information (link). The teachers will begin by 8:45 and we want to make sure that all students are present for the beginning of class.
Kindergarten: Please look for specific first day information sent by your child’s teacher for a special meet and greet on Monday, as typically happens on the first day of Kindergarten.
KEEP39: You will have afternoon activities and you will receive that information from your teacher.
We encourage you to go to the Harper back to school website to see welcome letters from the team or teachers. We are ALL excited to get this year started and to see our DOLPHINS!
INFORMATION COMING YOUR WAY TODAY
Today you are getting a lot of important information. Please look for these emails:
A message from the District with your child’s teacher.
An email from your child’s teacher welcoming you to the school year including the Zoom meeting information (link) for Monday.
A message from our technology department with necessary Gsuite (Google) login information and instructions for SeeSaw.
SET YOUR CHILD UP FOR SUCCESS
How can you set your Dolphins for success for the first day of school?
Help prepare a workspace for your child. Ideally, they should work in the same place each day of remote learning and should be in an environment with minimal distractions.
Have your iPad ready and charged. Have your school supplies nearby. Your child's teacher will be explaining what to do with those supplies during the first week.
Make sure your child knows how to find and log into the Zoom. The Zoom link is being sent by your classroom teacher.
Log into SeeSaw. The district technology department has emailed you your child(ren)’s GSuite login information which you use to access the application called SeeSaw. Your teacher on Monday will be walking students through how to use SeeSaw.
Review the daily schedule with your child, but know that the teacher will be going over this with them in the first Monday morning meeting.
We will go over the rest with your child on Monday! If you want to prepare them for what they should do on Zoom, feel free to review these expectations. HERE is a video to assist you with Zoom.
Technology Tips and Support
Please make sure your iPad or Chromebook is plugged in and charging. iPads must be locked in their case to charge. (Find a spot around your house that your device will charge each night and we do not recommend it being the bedroom. Students are responsible for charging their devices so they are ready for school the next day.)
Fourth graders with Chromebooks should login using their gmail login.
The technology department will be emailing today with your child’s initial logins. We will have tech support available on Monday. Email a support ticket here for support.
REMOTE LEARNERS SUPPLY PICK UP: 9/3
In-person option students: During the week of September 8th, when your child(ren) come into school, we will be giving them many of their curricular books and supplies.
Remote students: We are setting up a special pick up time. Next Thursday, September 3rd from 2:30-4:00, we will have a supply pick-up in the front of Harper for all remote students. You can drive in front of the school, say hi to Mr. Dubnow and Mrs. Ryan and grab your supplies! We look forward to seeing you.
Self-Certification Form
Spirit Wear
It’s time to order your Harper Spirit Wear! There are lots of fun options this year, including masks. We are taking pre-orders now through September 5th. Please email mcnally.megan@gmail.com. Payments can be made via Venmo @Megan-McRoberts or QuickPay mcnally.megan@gmail.com. Once the items arrive, we will bag them by family and schedule a date for pickup at one of our homes (following social distance protocols). Let's bring some school spirit to the 2020 school year!
Hello from the PTO
Hello Harper Families,
Whether you are a returning family or new to our community, please let me extend a warm “back-to-learning" welcome on behalf of the Harper Parent Teacher Organization.
This year will look different, but the mission of the Harper PTO remains constant: to support our students and teachers. We rely on the volunteerism of many, and we are very lucky to have a PTO General and Executive Board filled with creative and dedicated individuals. The calendar this year is fluid, but the PTO will be diligently reimagining ways to support one another. We will be in constant communication as events and activities are planned.
Thank you for all you do for this vibrant Harper community. Looking forward to a year of growth and resiliency as “Dolphins In The Wild”.
Best,
Emily Primosch
2020-2021 Harper PTO President
The PTO Scoop
The new and improved AtoZ Directory for the 2020-21 academic year is now available. You will be receiving an email from AtoZ with the new login instructions. All District 39 schools are using AtoZ; therefore, you will receive emails with instructions from each school where you have a child attending. Please read this forthcoming email carefully - you will need to verify your data through that email in order to join the PTO, purchase the 2020-21 Harper PTO Directory and gain digital access to student data, parent data, and class lists. Like last year, the application will sit locally on your smart phone. You can also access the AtoZ Directory information on a laptop or desktop computer or other mobile device. AtoZ will also serve as a platform to make iGNITE donations, purchase Birthday Books (if applicable) and contribute to the yearly Teacher Gift fund. If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Tatlock (Directory Chair) at directoryandmembership@harperpto.com.
New Families
WELCOME! And thanks to all who attended the New Family Orientation Zoom call this week. While we are unable to offer in-person school tours this year, Harper's Welcoming Committee is always available to answer questions - please reach out to Kelly and Carla at welcoming@harperpto.com.
Room Parents
Are you interested in volunteering as a Room Parent? Email Johanna Toppenberg at roomparents@harperpto.com.
School Supplies
Thank you to all of the Harper families who purchased school supply kits through our EduKits program! A big THANK YOU to Courtney Dill for organizing orders and coordinating distribution. Thanks also to all parent volunteers who helped to distribute kits to families this week. New to Harper? Kit questions? Forgot to pick up? Contact Courtney Dill at schoolkits@harperpto.com.
Volunteer with your family in the Harper Garden! The Harper Garden depends on volunteers to help with maintenance tasks such as weeding, harvesting, and prepping the garden beds for winter. We are having volunteers come one family at a time, on any given day, to adhere to social distancing guidelines. If you are interested, please email Dona at dona.m.christensen@gmail.com and include approximate dates you are available to volunteer. We will arrange a day for your family to help and send instructions ahead of time. Thank you for your time!
Yearbook
We plan to still offer a yearbook this year, but please note that ordering will be delayed. Stay tuned! In the meantime, SEND US YOUR PHOTOS! Email your first day of school pics and memorable moments to ptopresident@harperpto.com.
Volunteer Opportunities
Looking to get involved in this reimagined school year? The PTO has a few open spots - please email Emily at ptopresident@harperpto.com if interested:
- Community Review Committee (CRC) - We are looking for one more parent volunteer to represent Harper on this important district-wide committee. The mission of the CRC is to research and advise the Board of Education on specific topics that will lead to improvements in teaching and learning. This year, the CRC will also participate in the strategic planning process for the district. The committee meets once a month on Tuesday nights (likely the first Tuesday of every month) from 7:00 to 8:30pm.
- Yearbook Co-Chair - We have a veteran yearbook volunteer returning this year (and a large committee), but we are in need of a co-chair to help with production and distribution.
- Garden Co-Chair - Looking for a partner to help our Garden Chair facilitate volunteer opportunities and help keep our "outdoor classroom" beautiful, functional and safe.
Environmental Awareness – Passionate about Going Green? Consider volunteering to initiate projects that promote environmental awareness at Harper (recycling, Earth Day/Week, composting, etc). The chair also acts as a liaison between Harper and the Wilmette Village-Wide Parent Teacher Organization Environmental committee. Email Emily at ptopresident@harperpto.com if interested.
Follow @harperdolphins on Instagram and Twitter, and join "Harper Parents Page" on Facebook.
iGNITE!
Each year, the Harper PTO asks families to make a suggested donation to the iGNITE! fund, which pays for a wide variety of “extras” for our children. From field trips to crossing guards to teacher appreciation week, iGNITE! helps fund it all.
This year, we anticipate many of our “extras” looking a little different. Enrichment programs may be virtual or take-home kits, and more funds may be put towards our website and communication platforms. Therefore, we have reduced our suggested donation amount to $75 per child (previously $125). We will still be funding crossing guards, a reimagined enrichment program, the Harper garden, community service, teacher support and more.
The PTO thanks you for your contribution and looks forward to helping provide the best possible experience for every Harper student, whether virtual or in-person, during this critical time.
Ways to donate to iGNITE!: Click HERE OR use the link on your AtoZ directory landing page OR email Marni Sheehan at treasurer@harperpto.com.
One more way to support the Harper PTO is through Amazon Smile. Link below!
Teacher appreciation
Many thanks to Kari Darmstadter, Laura Geiger and the rest of the Teacher Appreciation Committee - Krina Raval, Marni Sheehan, Nikki Householder and Katie Dunlop - for welcoming back our teachers during their training and institute week. The committee delivered cookie tins and hosted an outdoor lunch for our beloved community of educators.
Last weekend's "Chalk the Block" event was also a big hit! Thank you to Lauren Williams for coordinating and to all who helped decorate the sidewalk in front of Harper, giving the teachers and staff a warm welcome back!
Important Reminders
School hours
Grades 1-4 School Day (Monday - Friday): 8:35am-2:15pm
Kindergarten (Monday - Friday): AM 8:35-11:10 and PM 11:40-2:15,
KEEP (Monday - Friday): 11:10am-2:15pm
*Week of September 8th:
Grades K-4 Half Days: 8:35am-11:10am
Masks
Masks will be required during in-person instruction. We highly encourage you to work with your children on wearing masks appropriately and for long stretches of time so students are prepared when they enter the building.Snack
There will not be snack at school this year for safety reasons.
Student Drop-off and Pick-up
Key information about arrival and dismissal procedures will be posted on signs around school. Please follow these directions. Your cooperation is necessary to keep our students safe! Further details to come.
Visitors
Parents, visitors, outside vendors and building rentals will not be allowed within the building to limit exposure and to ensure we have clear and accurate records of who has been inside our buildings. If you need to drop something off, you may come to the main entrance of Harper and leave your item(s) clearly labeled on a table that will be at the front doors. The front desk staff will then bring the item(s) into school.
Health Forms
- Make sure all of your health forms are ready to turn into our nurse, Val Morse. Please contact her at morsev@wilmette39.org with any questions or call her at 847-512-6202.
- Kindergarten: Vision, dental, & medical forms
- All: Medication & health updates
- HERE is an updated health letter from Mrs. Morse
Attendance Line
Please call the attendance line before 8:30am in the event your child is absent from school. The number is 847-512-6250. This applies for in-person and remote instructional days.
District 39 notes
Check out our updated Reopening Guide and updated FAQ. Links to these documents and other useful information can be found on the D39 Fall 2020 Reopening pages.
All announcements to be included in the Harper Happenings should be sent to Daniela Burnham via the Communication Request Form by Mondays at 9am.
For more school information, visit the Harper PTO website.
For additional D39 community events, visit wilmette39.org