Mable Woolsey Weekly Update
Week Of April 8, 2023
Mable Woolsey Elementary School
Email: jkeever@bluebullets.org
Website: www.bluebullets.org
Location: 106 Pleasant Ave, Knoxville, IL, USA
Phone: 309-289-4134
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MableWoolseyElementary/
Principal: Mrs. Jodi Keever
Mission and Vision
Mable Woolsey Vision Statement: We will build a nurturing community of life long learners while fostering opportunities for social, emotional, and academic growth to ensure that we help create productive members of society.
Mable Woolsey Mission Statement: We will provide a safe and stimulating environment. We will nurture a rigorous and adaptive learning community. We will support a child's natural desire to learn. We will inspire students to discover their fullest potential.
A Note From the Principal
IAR testing continues this week for 3rd and 4th grade students. Please read the information below about what to expect so that you can be prepared. A letter also went home about testing. Please reach out if you have any questions about testing, and we are excited for the 3rd and 4th grade students to do an amazing job!
3rd and 4th grade students will have their spring concert on Wednesday May 8th. This was in the upcoming dates last week, and teachers will send home letters, reminders, and songs to practice at home!
Please make sure to return the Solar Eclipse Opt In form by Monday so that your child can view the eclipse. If you do not turn it in, or you do not want your child to go outside, they will remain inside during this time.
Thank you,
Mrs. Keever
Verification of Residency and Online Registration
Online Registration is now open!
Online registration is now open. Please make sure to click on 2024-2025 for the year when registering. Registration will not be verified in the office until proof of residency is turned in.
Please click below to see how to register for the upcoming school year!
Forms went home for the cheer camp below, and they are available in the office!
Extra Milk at Lunch Reminder
Lunch at school includes one milk. If your child wants additional milk, they must have money on their account for it. If your child brings lunch from home and they want milk it must be purchased. Milk is $0.40 each. Students who do not have money on their accounts will not be able to purchase extra milks.
IAR Testing 3rd and 4th Grade
Our IAR testing theme this year is "Go for the Gold!"
PTO News
The Institute for Parents of Preschool Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Here is information about a great, free, event being held June 13-16, 2024 (Thursday to Sunday)! The Institute for Parents is for families of children through age 7 with a hearing loss. The Institute for Parents of Preschool Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing will be held on the Illinois School for the Deaf campus in Jacksonville, Illinois. The Institute brings together families from all over the state. Families will spend time with the best staff in the field of atypical hearing and deafness. Parents and caregivers will gain knowledge about choices along the path of raising a child with a hearing loss. Topics will include:
• Child Development
• Language Development
• Types of Hearing Loss
• Parent Rights
• Communication Options
• School Programming
• Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants
• Deaf Culture
Institute is a time of learning and getting to know others who are going through some of the same things. During the Institute, children attend classrooms overseen by experienced teachers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. They receive audiology, psychology, speech/language, vision, and educational testing. These services are all free of charge.
Institute receives support from: Department of Human Services (DHS) - Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD), University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
Call now to join us June 13-16, 2024! For more information about the Institute and to enroll, contact UIC-DSCC: 1-800-322-3722 or email: dsccinstitute@uic.edu. If your child is enrolled with UIC-DSCC, please contact your Care Coordinator.
For more details, videos of past institutes, etc. please visit:
Drop off and Pick Up Procedures
Drop Off
Tips to help make a quick drop off:
1. Make sure your child is ready to get out when you pull up to the school.
2. If possible, have car seats on the side closest to the building.
3. Practice having your child unbuckle and get ready.
We appreciate everyone's patience this week, and we will continue to have extra staff outside so that we can work together for a smooth drop off.
Morning drop off begins at 7:45. Staff will begin letting students out of cars at 7:45. All staff members that help with drop off start their day at 7:45, so please be aware that this is our start time for letting students out of vehicles.
Rules for drop off:
1. If you would like to walk your child up to the door please park on the street that is not in front of the circle drive, the street on the side of the circle drive, or the parking lot and walk your child to the door. Parking directly in front of the circle drive and walking through the circle drive is dangerous.
2. If you are dropping your child off, please pull into the circle drive and pull all the way up. Staff members will open the door of your car and let your child out. Please remain in your car so that we can make this a quick drop off! When adults get out in the circle drive it backs up traffic.
3. Once your child has safely left the car you can pull through the circle drive.
4. Staff members are opening doors at drop off as fast as they can to get your child out safely. Please make sure your child is ready to go when a staff member gets to your vehicle. We appreciate your patience.
Pre-K pick up and drop off:
1. If you are dropping your child off at 12:15 pm or picking them up from pre-k at 10:30 am, please do not pull in the circle drive. You can park on the street to wait for your child or in the parking lot and walk up. If you are dropping your pre-k student off at 7:45 am please follow the rules above. Pre-K students start their day in the morning at. 8:00 am.
Once students enter the building they go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast or they go to the gym.
K-4 students walk down to their classrooms at 8:05 am. Students are considered tardy after 8:15 am.
Breakfast ends at 8:15 so that our kitchen staff can get ready for lunch.
Pick Up
Students are dismissed at 3:00. You can park on the street in front of the school or in the parking lot and walk up to pick up your child.
Rules for Pick Up:
1. Please do not pull in the circle drive or block the circle drive. There are cones to mark the entrance an exit to the circle drive.
2. Please do not double park. It is dangerous for students and vehicles.
3. Please be aware of students walking and riding bikes.
4. Students riding bikes must stay on the sidewalks when available.
At Mable Woolsey Elementary School, we are committed to recognizing the outstanding efforts of our dedicated staff members who continually go above and beyond for our students. Your nominations help us celebrate and acknowledge the exceptional contributions of our team. Please take a moment to nominate a staff member whom you believe exemplifies our school's values and dedication to student success.
Staff Shining Stars This Week
Reading and Math Resources for Home
Please click the link below to see all of the reading and math resources that have been shared. I will add to this throughout the rest of the school year.
Character Strong Focus for April: Courage
Cooperation Students of the Month for March
Friday Raffle Ticket Winners
Congratulations to all of our ticket raffle winners this week! Thank you for being safe, respectful, and responsible at Mable Woolsey. All of the students below earned "Mable Woolsey Way" tickets that are entered in a weekly raffle!
Weather Related Closings and Snow and Emergency Bus Routes
As we begin the new year and new semester we want to remind families about how to stay informed of emergency/winter related delays, closings, and bus route changes. Such changes will be announced through the district all call system, the district website, local radio stations and social media platforms. Be sure to download the district app: Knoxville CUSD 202 Illinois. Push notifications of important announcements are available through the district app. The app is available for both Apple and Android users.
While the weather has been mild so far this school year, we would advise rural families to please review the Snow and Emergency Bus Route document (found below) prior to the onset of winter weather. If the Knoxville School District must use the Snow and Emergency Bus Routes you will be notified as soon as possible. Snow and Emergency Bus Routes will not be used with each snow or weather related event, just on an as needed basis. As our partner in safety, we ask that you transport your children to the designated area at your own discretion.
Please take a look at the Tumble Book Library Below for Reading Options at Home
Knox Community Health Center
In May 2023, the State of Illinois began the process of Medicaid renewal after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state is finding that many are losing their healthcare coverage because the policy holders have not done the renewal process or they no longer qualify. In the three years since the last renewal process people have moved, changed phone numbers, forgot about the renewal process or are new to the program and don’t understand what the renewal process is.
The Knox Community Heath Center has been asked to assist with getting the word out about the renewal process.
Get ready to renew your Medicaid! Medicaid customers have not had to renew their Medicaid coverage since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Medicaid pays for healthcare, like doctor visits, prescription medicine, and urgent emergency services.
Now Illinois is starting renewals again to see if people are still eligible. Everybody's renewal date is different, so it is critical that you get ready to renew.
Don't risk losing your Medicaid! Here is what you need to do:
Click Manage My Case at abe.illinois.gov to:
- Verify your mailing address under "contact us."
- Find your due date (also called redetermination date) in your "benefit details".
Western Illinois University Autism Clinic
Art Supply Wish List
Blessings in a Backpack
We still are raising money so that we can continue the program for many years to come!
If you would still like to donate money check out the link below! After clicking the link make sure to enter our school name, Mable Woolsey Elementary, and the money will go to our school.
Here is the address to mail donations to-
Please make out all checks to “Blessings in a Backpack” and send to the following address:
Blessings in a Backpack Lockbox
P.O. Box 950291
Louisville, KY 40295
*If you’d like to designate your support to help feed children at a current program site, please include the program’s name on the check’s memo line.