Cougar Clips
15 March 2024
Happy Friday Kipling Families,
I cannot believe next week is our last week before spring break. The year is moving so fast and when we return from break it will only move faster toward June. Shout-out to our 5th graders, their parents, and our 5th grade team of teachers! The Inquiry Fair was absolutely incredible this week. The time, energy, passion, and research that went into each project was exemplary and our students were rightfully proud of their hard work. I am so grateful for the unwavering support you and our staff provided them.
I have seen quite a few dogs coming onto school property during drop-off and pick-up lately. I know it is very tempting with the weather getting nicer to get a walk in when you come to and from school, but for the safety and health of all our students and staff, please do not walk your dog onto the sidewalks around our school while we are entering or dismissing for the day. Thank you for your understanding.
As a reminder, next week is spring conferences which means Thursday is a half-day attendance day for students with an 11:40am dismissal and there is no school on Friday. All my best to you and your families over the weekend!
Respectfully,
-Matthew
Mr. Matthew O. Lombardo, NBCT
Principal
Kipling Elementary School
Kipling PTO
The Spring Book Fair is Here!
We're excited to see everyone at the Book Fair next week! Make sure to stock up on books before Spring Break. Stop by after school Wednesday 3-6pm, or during conferences Thursday and Friday. This is a new book fair company that we're trying out to see if it will be a better fit for our annual fall fair. We'll be looking for a lot of feedback, so please come!
Book Fair gift cards are also available for students and teachers!
Click HERE to get a head start on your shopping or to purchase gift cards. All orders purchased on the e-book fair will be delivered to your child's classroom after Spring Break.
The Kipling Musical is fast approaching!
Aladdin, Jr. ticket sales will open to the Kipling community on Monday, March 18 at 7pm.
https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/82224
Tickets are $10 each, plus fees. Please remember that all students will see the show during school on Friday, April 12.
Please reach out with questions to kiplingtheatertix@gmail.com
Please visit our website for all things PTO. Please also note these important upcoming dates:
-Wed 3/20: PTO Book Fair in the LMC, 3-6pm
-Thurs 3/21: PTO Book Fair in the LMC, 12-8pm
-Fri 3/22: PTO Book Fair in the LMC, 8am-12pm
-Fri 4/5: Kipling PTO Meeting, 9:30am in the Kipling Lounge
-Fri 4/12: Kipling Musical, 7pm
Sat 4/13: Kipling Musical, 2pm
-Fri 4/19: Kipling BINGO Night! 6-8pm
Students NOT Returning to Kipling Next School Year
This form is for current Kindergarten-4th grade students who will not return to Kipling for the 2024-2025 school year. All student records will be transferred to the new school over the summer. The new school must submit a request for records via fax or email. Please submit one form for each of your children who are NOT returning to Kipling.
5th Grade Parents - SAVE the DATE Events for Shepard Middle School
5th grade parents, please see the linked flyer from Shepard Middle School about important events and information you won’t want to miss!
Total Solar Eclipse Coming to Deerfield!
On Monday, April 8th, there will be a nearly total solar eclipse (~93% coverage) visible from Deerfield. The eclipse will begin at 12:51 PM and culminate at 2:07 PM before concluding at 3:22 PM. Being so close to the path of totality is rare, which makes this event a valuable opportunity. In fact, there won't be another total solar eclipse visible from North America until 2045, so this could be considered a generational opportunity. To take advantage of this rare and impressive experience, the district has purchased eclipse glasses for all students and staff. We will be outside at some point during this window to view the eclipse.
IAR Testing
Students across the district in grades 3 through 8 will be participating in the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) in English/Language Arts & Mathematics between April 8th and April 15th. Your teacher will communicate the exact dates and test times for your child’s class.
This state assessment helps us understand how students are growing academically year to year, while also providing an achievement comparison to grade-level peers across the state. By measuring both mastery of the Illinois Learning Standards and the College and Career Ready benchmarks of the PSAT and SAT, the IAR is also designed to help prepare students for success in high school and beyond. The overall performance of each school, by grade, also impacts our designation, which is reported on the Illinois School Report Card.
If you have questions about the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, please let me know. As always, we encourage our students to do their best and appreciate your continued partnership.
5Essentials Parent Survey - 20% Response Rate Needed for a Parent Report
We are currently at a 15% response rate - almost there!
Again this year, parents across Illinois have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent, it allows you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness. Your responses also help guide district improvement.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
Effective Leaders
Collaborative Teachers
Involved Families
Supportive Environments
Ambitious Instruction
To take the Parent Survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. Your identity and responses will be kept completely confidential and will not be connected to you or your child. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete.
Common Sense Media Video from Ms. Thurman
The Library Information Specialist team came across this resource and I felt compelled to share it with families in hopes of providing insight, support, and advice in navigating and supporting healthy and productive student use of technology and social media at home.
This week's video: What is Executive Functioning?
District 109 Communication
Kindergarten registration has been open for several weeks. Please help me by spreading the word to all of your friends, family, and neighbors that they need to start their Kindergarten registration process ASAP. To register your new student please visit our registration page.
If you have an incoming Kindergartener or a new 1st-5th grader for the 2024-2025 school year, it is important that you complete the registration process as soon as possible as our staffing decisions are based on the number of fully registered students.
Please note that only those new Kindergarten students who are fully registered will receive an invitation for our spring Kindergarten Round-Up.
Upcoming Important Dates
-Wed 3/20: PTO Book Fair in the LMC, 3-6pm
-Thurs 3/21: Half Day of School; 11:40am Student Dismissal
-Thurs 3/21: Parent Teacher Conferences, 1-4pm and 5-8pm
-Thurs 3/21: PTO Book Fair in the LMC, 12-8pm
-Fri 3/22: No School
-Fri 3/22: Parent Teacher Conferences, 8:30-11:30am
-Fri 3/22: PTO Book Fair in the LMC, 8am-12pm
-Mon 3/25-Mon 4/1: No School; Spring Break
-Tues 4/2: School Resumes
-Fri 4/5: Kipling PTO Meeting, 9:30am in the Kipling Lounge
-Fri 4/12: Kipling Musical, 7pm
-Sat 4/13: Kipling Musical, 2pm
-Fri 4/19: Kipling BINGO Night! 6-8pm
-Wed 4/24: 5th Grade Music Show, 5:30pm