Harper Happenings
5.11-15 2020
What's Happening
Important Upcoming Dates-
- Monday, May 11: "Grey" Day during remote learning (information below)
- Open PTO positions 2020/2021. We need your help to run these programs:
1. Co chair Garden Club - open
2. Chorus Chair - open
- PTO General Meeting via Zoom Wednesday, May 20th: 2-245pm. Zoom details to be posted the week before the meeting in the Harper Happenings. Topics: Vote on PTO roles for 2020/2021 and Approve PTO budget for 2020/2021. Please join if you can.
- In recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Day, Harper students placed a love heart on the school entrance, each heart representing a staff member who provide students with so much joy and hope during this challenging time. We appreciate you. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, EVERY SINGLE DAY!!
From all Harper Students & Families.
Principal's Message
Hello Harper Families,
This week is national teacher appreciation week. Therefore, I want to take a moment to say thank you to all of our staff members! Our teachers are striving to do what is best for kids. They care about seeing their students grow academically and socially-emotionally. I appreciate all of their hard work, compassion, and dedication to Harper!
I also want to say thank you to all of you! Earlier this week students decorated the front of Harper with hearts representing each staff member at Harper (picture above). This gesture is a huge bucket filler for us. We do the work because we love to help kids grow, but we also love being a part of this amazing community so we appreciate your support!
This continues to be one of the most challenging time periods in all of our lives so I continue to urge everyone to find more ways to pass on kindness and gratitude to each other. A small gesture like a heart on a school goes a long way. Thank you Harper community!
Have a great weekend. Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms. Be well and stay healthy!
Aaron
Parent Planning Notes
District 39 Remote Learning FAQ: Informational resource HERE and it is constantly being updated.
- Calendar Updates: Monday Grey Days will continue until the end of the school year. K-4 students will be provided lessons and projects for Science and Social Studies. While teachers will maintain office hours on Grey Days, there will not be synchronous (live) core instructional meetings scheduled on these days. Your classroom teacher will email you the activities designed for the day.
Student Materials Pick-up: On Tuesday, June 9 we will have students pick up their school belongings in a reverse parade in front of Harper. Details are still be finalizing and will be communicated soon.
Device Information for the summer: Families of current Kindergarten through 7th grade students will have the option to keep the school issued iPad/Chromebook through this summer to facilitate any educational needs such as summer school, extended school year or online enrichment. If you choose to keep it, the device expectations for use and general care for the device extend through the summer months. There will be a fall collection with date, time and process to be communicated during summer from the District Technology Department. If you do not need the iPad/Chromebook over summer, or are not returning to District 39 in the fall, it can be returned back to school at the following times. Grades K-4: During Student Material Pick-up/Drop-off on June 9th.
Returning Books: If you have library books or other classroom books checked out, you may begin to return these back to the school. Beginning May 12th, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through the end of the school year there will be a cart outside the school office between 9am and 3pm. Please place your library books onto the cart. Additionally, you may return any library books during student material drop-off/pick-up on June 9th. If you have any questions or have a missing book, please feel free to email our librarian, Mrs. Pinney, at pinneym@wilmette39.org.
Summer Enrichment Programming: You received an email earlier this week regarding our District 39 summer school offerings. We are proud to be able to offer a variety of options for students to remain engaged and learning over the summer. Summer school has been rescheduled for a later date this summer to allow students an opportunity for a break at the end of June. In addition, a new two-week “Jump Start to Fall Learning” option is being offered this summer. Families are encouraged to consider options and information provided on our 2020 Summer Enrichment Program website.
- Staying Virtually Connected: Staying virtually connected during a time when we cannot be physically connected can have a positive effect for your child’s emotional well-being. Connecting virtually can be as formal or informal as you’d like. Even a spontaneous call, chat or video can help kids feel close to one another. Please consider this information and adapt it to your families rules and comfort level.
Giving and Receiving Support in D39: Wilmette Public Schools support the academic, social-emotional and physical needs of each child through a collaborative partnership with the greater Wilmette community. Through the generosity of families, businesses and affiliate organizations, District 39 is able to provide additional support to families when they need it the most.
Announcements
- It’s time to order your school supplies for next year! Online ordering is underway and will end on Friday, May 15th. Don't miss out, order your 2020/2021 school supplies right here (https://www.edukitinc.com/find-your-school). All D39 school kits can be purchased in a single transaction by searching your other D39 school before checking out! Questions? Contact schoolkits@harperpto.com
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED PTO:
Open PTO positions 2020/2021. We need your help to run these programs:
1. Co chair Garden Club - open
2. Chorus Chair - open
For those that have not yet heard, our school’s beloved crossing guard, Conrad Wolski lost Lucy, his wife of nearly 59 years, to COVID on Saturday, May 2. Conrad himself is COVID positive and was hospitalized this past Tuesday. Thankfully, his symptoms are currently mild but his heartache is another matter.
Lucy’s aunt Charlie passed away on Tuesday as well. She was 103. If you ever chatted with Conrad, you probably know about “The Aunt.” Conrad and Lucy cared for her in their home for a few years before moving her to a nursing home, which they continued to help pay for. Lucy worked as a nurse at that same nursing home. She worked there up until a week before she died.
Conrad and Lucy have one daughter who lives in Evanston and is now self-isolating. Cards and donations are being collected at the Karabas household (2205 Thornwood) until Tuesday, May 12. The intention is to give them to Conrad when he returns home.
Questions can be sent to Aimee Stoltz at aimee_prunier@yahoo.com.
We will continue to keep the community informed.
iGNITE
http://harperpto.com/ignitetaxletter/
If you have not made a donation, it is never too late! We are still short of our goal that assures all enrichment activities are funded for our kids.
http://harperpto.com/ignite-donation/
If you have any questions or can't remember if you made a donation, please reach out to Jill Huebsch, jillhuebsch@gmail.com
Community News
- Wilmette Food Pantry is open every Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.
- The Center for Gifted hosts summer programs. View flyers for details.
- NSSRA offers Campyardigans for Summer 2020. See flyer for details.
All announcements to be included in the Harper Happenings should be sent to Kelly Maggio via the Communication Request Form by Mondays at 9 am. If you do not receive an email response within 24hrs, please send an email to kwmaggio@gmail.com to confirm your Communication Request Form was received.
For more school information, visit the Harper PTO website.
For additional D39 community events, visit wilmette39.org