KG Newsletter
December 2019/ January 2020
Note from the Principal
Dear KG Parents,
It’s really hard to believe that the school year is nearly half over. Our parent-teacher conferences this year were very successful. The changes this year to the scheduling process, having team conferences, and having students participants in the conferences were all well received and effective. Thanks for rearranging your schedules to make time for this important event. The home to school connection is essential for the success of your children and our school as a whole. We continue to explore ways to improve our communication with parents and get parents more involved in the improvement process.
In December, the school’s leadership team presented the school improvement plan to the school board for approval. Some key areas targeted for improvement in this year’s plan are:
Addition of the Academic Learning Behaviors to the student’s report cards
Continues our development toward a more standards based reporting model
Mathematics curriculum and programming
Use of common assessments in grade levels in analyzing student performance
Expansion of our enriched math program in the junior high grade levels
Culture and Climate
Grit: Improve student resiliency as measured on the 5-Essentials climate survey
Happiness Advantage: How positive mindsets fuel success in work and life
Community Partnerships
Expand our connections and utilize local resources in support of the whole child
With the refurbishing of the Feneli Gym last winter and over the summer, we are excited to have our annual winter program back at KG. There will once again be two performances during the day on Tuesday, December 17 at 10:00 AM and 1:15 PM. We are excited to see the Milne Grove students and our KG choir perform “Holiday Road Trip.”
Winter break will occur from Saturday, December 21st through Monday, January 6th. Students return to class on Tuesday, January 7th. The winter does not only come with many reasons to celebrate but also it’s cold weather. With having snow on Halloween this year, please be reminded to check to make sure your child is dressed appropriately for school and recess. Students will be outside for recess if temperatures are above 20 oF. This means heavy coats, hats, and gloves are essential to keep students warm while playing. In case of emergency closings, we will be utilizing the Parent Square app, or you may visit our website, tune in to WGN or WBBM radio, and view any of the local T.V. broadcasts for up to the minute school closing information. I hope everyone will have the opportunity to spend time with family during winter break, and I wish everyone a safe and joyous holiday season.
Sincerely,
John Jennings
Principal
Attendance Information- Late to School and Tardies
There has been some confusion in looking at attendance information. The Infinite Campus system records absences and partial absences based on incidents and minutes, and tardies.
The difference between “tardy” and “late to school.” in Infinite Campus
Students in PK thru grade 5 should have very few tardies. A tardy is recorded when a student is signed in prior to the start of the school day, but doesn’t make it to class by the start of the school day. For example, Susie signs in at the office at 8:34, but actually gets to her 1st period class at 8:36. She would be considered in school on time, but tardy to class. Students in grades 6-8 can record a tardy throughout the school day when they don’t get to any class on time. These will show on the attendance record as a tardy.
“Late to school” is when a student signs in at the office AFTER the start of their school day. For example, Susie signs in at 8:45 because she overslept. She is considered late to school and the system records the minutes she was considered absent. This will show on the attendance record as an unexcused absence incident.
Infinite Campus records the number of incidents and class/period minutes for attendance purposes. Students in PK-K have 1 period for their day. Extended day kindergarten and grade 1-5 have an AM period and a PM period for their day. Junior high students have individual class periods for their day. Lunch, recess and junior high passing periods are not considered part of the academic day.
Illinois Report Cards
Illinois Report Cards were released on October 31, 2019. You can view the District Report Card at
http://www.d91.net/assessmentsschool-report-card.html. For additional information, visit the Illinois Report Card website at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
The Illinois State Board Of Education (ISBE)
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) wants to know what educators, parents, and other stakeholders think about state assessments. ISBE launched a survey today to gather feedback on state and federally required student assessments – from the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey administered at the beginning of kindergarten to the SAT administered at the end of 11th grade.
The feedback will help ISBE prioritize short-term improvements and long-term enhancements to the state assessment system. ISBE has identified equity, inclusivity, usefulness, and balance as the central values defining its vision for state assessments.
The survey is available now at www.isbe.net/assessmentfeedback. An independent consultant is conducting the survey to ensure confidentiality. All survey responses will be de-identified before they are shared with ISBE. Survey responses are due by Dec. 6.
Note from the Nurse
I’d like to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season! I’d also like to remind you that it is cold and flu season! Remember to keep warm by dressing for the weather, keep germs away by washing your hands often and keep nourished by eating fruits and veggies daily and drinking lots of water! Also, it’s not too late to get your flu shot!
As winter continues on many children are coming to the office with coughs and colds. The office is not able to give out any medication without a signed medication authorization form from a parent/guardian, which can be found on the district website or in the office. This includes Tylenol, cough drops, cough syrup, etc.
If your child has a cold with symptoms that can be controlled with minimal medication, please send medication in the original package and the medication authorization form with the student to the office. Please remind students that cough drops also need a medication authorization form and need to be kept in the office.
Winter break and the new year are fast approaching! With that in mind, it’s not too early to start thinking about the next school year.
- 6th Grade Parents: Your 6th grader will need an Illinois State Physical and updated immunizations for their 6th grade school year! Don’t wait… make your appointment now and get it completed as soon as possible. By the time August rolls around appointments will be limited and lines will be long to get those physical and vaccines completed before the exclusion date, October 15, 2020.
Current 6th Grade Parents: Illinois State Law requires Dental Exams to be completed and turned in by May 15, 2020! Don’t wait any longer- Get those dental exams completed as soon as possible. If a dental exam is not turned in for your student by May 15, 2020, you will not have access to your students' grades until the exam is completed and received by the nurse.
- Miles of Smiles will be here at Kelvin Grove in April. Miles of Smiles is a free dental health program that provides preventive dental services at school to eligible children of all grades. They will be here at Kelvin Grove to provide services including exam, cleaning, fluoride varnish and sealants if needed. This also satisfies the dental requirement mandated by the State of Illinois for school children (K, 2nd, and 6th). Letters and permission slips will be sent home and will be available on the district website. If you are unable to access the website, please contact me for more details at dlacasse@d91.net
Guidance
In Guidance classes this month, we have been talking about recognizing and categorizing our feelings related to intensity, and about the necessity to manage our feelings differently in various situations. For example, expressing strong feelings of excitement may be expected when we are at home, but those same feelings may need to be managed differently in a classroom or in a public setting. While no feelings we experience are wrong, sometimes we have difficulty managing those feelings and responding in an expected, acceptable manner. In class, we have also begun discussing strategies that we can use to manage our feelings and maintain emotional control as expected in various settings.. Please continue to talk with your child about self-control and managing emotions outside of school to develop and strengthen these important skills.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the guidance program, please contact me. I would love to hear from you! I would also encourage you to visit my webpage to find out more about the Guidance program and other helpful information.
Kathi Henderson
Kelvin Grove Student Counselor/Social Worker
Email: khenderson@d91.net
Phone: 815-838-0737 Ext 1132
Website: www.henderson91.weebly.com
A note from our Parent Liaison/Student Interventionist/Problem Solving Coach
We are grateful to have these two community officers partnering with us! Officer Jaren Szmergalski and Officer Kevin Broch are wonderful resources for our families! Together we are working to provide education to the Lockport Community and to create an overall positive relationship with the Lockport Police Department.
Lindsey A. Burnette
Parent Liaison/Student Interventionist/Problem Solving Coach
Kelvin Grove Middle School
Junior High CAD
In math, we practiced our money skills and telling time. Some are working on multiplication facts, 3 digit addition and subtraction, and graphs. Reading stories are progressing. We read a new story each week and complete comprehension pages. We work on phonics, synonyms and antonyms also. We listen to a current events article each week and identify the parts of the story. We’ve learned a lot of interesting things!
Fourth Grade Newsletter
ELA
Students have been reading the novel, On My Honor. Students should be re-reading the chapters at home for additional practice.
Students will resume reading stories from our Basal reader upon completion of the novel.
Students should be practicing spelling words for the tests on Wednesdays.
Math
Please work with your child on fact fluency.
Students can use the think central online component of the Go Math Series to practice concepts learned.
Science
Students have been learning about renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Social Studies
Students have been learning about the economy of the United States.
Please check your child’s agenda, home folder, and teacher website daily.
4th-5th Grade Physical Education Newsletter
For the months of December and January, we will be starting our floor hockey and volleyball units.
4th & 5th Grade Technology Class
Students have been working hard at learning about computer programming and getting ready for our coding unit. Students are learning what programming is, algorithms, and how to use a visual programming language called blockly.
-Mrs. Lakics
Technology Teacher
5th Grade
On December 5, fifth grade will be going to AMC theaters to see Arctic Dogs. Please be sure to send in money along with permission slips by December 3.
In reading we are continuing to read stories from the basal and working on various comprehension skills. We will start our next novel after the holiday break.
Due to flexible grouping in math, please check your child’s teachers website for homework and upcoming tests.
Students check and log grades once a week. Please be sure to go over this information with your child, and send back the log signed. This report of communication will help your child be successful in the future.
Please check your child’s agenda daily to ensure all homework is being completed in a timely manner. Please continue working on basic multiplication and division facts with your child.
Fifth grade teachers
6th Grade Class
For December and January, the sixth grade students are continuing earning Class Dojo points in their core classes. Students can earn these points by turning in work on time, following directions, and participating during class. Students can also lose Dojo points by not turning in homework or being unprepared for class. Students can redeem these Dojo points for many different things, from mints to listening to music during independent work time. You can track your child’s progress on the Class Dojo website. Please contact any one of us for an invitation to join.
6th GradeTechnology Class
Students in 6th grade technology class have been working hard at using Tinkercad.com to design a keychain with their name on it. We are fortunate to be printing these landmarks on the five new 3D printers.
-Mrs. Lakics
Technology Teacher
Seventh Grade Class
In Science, students have moved on from the microscopic world of cells. Students will be building on what they already know about living things and learning how all Body Systems work together to maintain homeostasis. This will bring us to our next section- Sensory Receptors. We will see how our body systems work with different sensory inputs in order to maintain homeostasis.
In Social Studies, we will see how the Early Americans went from the Confederation to writing the Constitution. We will then focus on the Constitution Test. The test will be broken down into smaller quizzes to allow students to focus their studying.
ELA is focusing on comparing the different versions of A Christmas Carol, we are looking forward to the field trip to the theater. Students are working diligently on their writing skills as they are peer editing. We will continue with short stories and our novel study.
In Math, we have finished up working with percentages and are moving on to working with expressions, equations, and inequalities. As always, students are going to be working towards applying these skills to everyday life.
7th Grade Technology Class
Students in 7th grade technology class have been working hard at using Tinkercad.com to design Illinois with a hole located where we live. We are fortunate to be printing these landmarks on the five new 3D printers.
-Mrs. Lakics
Technology Teacher
8th Grade Class
READING-LANGUAGE ARTS
Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop: https://www.sadlierconnect.com/@1952592
The students continue to read selections from the Literature text. Recent lessons have focused on how foreshadowing, tone, and mood are presented by an author. Independent Book Projects are due on December 9, 2019.
Journal writing is done on a regular basis. Vocabulary study continues with the online Sadlier Connect program.
SOCIAL STUDIES - Discovery Education
Online Textbook: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/
United States History (Civil War to Present
Students will assess in what ways Reconstruction after the Civil War changed Southern society. They will also evaluate westward expansion after the Civil War and the impact it had on Native Americans. We will continue to examine and discuss ways the American Dream became a reality for immigrants to the United States. The students are very engaged in the study of the North and South. We are quickly approaching the Civil War.
SCIENCE -StemScopes
Online Textbook:http://stemscopes.com/ (login with school email and password)
In Earth Science, students will examine the geologic history of the Earth, plate tectonics, and seafloor spreading in our STEMscopes unit The History of Planet Earth. Students will also be designing and building a structure using materials provided in class to be tested on an earthquake table.
MATH
Online Textbook: https://my.hrw.com/ (login with school email and password)
We will be working on Unit 3, Solving Equations and Systems of Equations. Solving equations involves the solving of equations with the variable on both sides of the equation. Then we will work with rational numbers and distributive properties. This section concludes with the identification of equations that have many solutions or no solution. The Enriched class will also work on solving inequaliities.
In the section Solving Systems of Linear Equations, we will begin by solving utilizing graphs. From there we will move to the processes of substitution and elimination. Upon mastering these skills, we will do elimination with multiplication. Finally we will work on solving special systems.
A quiz is planned to occur after the first part of the unit with an assessment occurring upon completion.
8th Grade Technology Class
Students in 8th grade technology class have been working hard at using Tinkercad.com to design famous landmarks in 3D. We are fortunate to be printing these landmarks on the five new 3D printers.
-Mrs. Lakics
Technology Teacher
6th-8th Grade Physical Education Newsletter
For the months of December and January, we will be starting our floor hockey and volleyball units and we will be starting and finishing our health classes with the 6th-8th graders. We are continuing our workout wednesdays and practicing our fitnessgram tests to improve individual scores for the spring.
Art Class / Art Club
Happy Holidays! All students will complete a holiday inspired ceramic ornament to share with their families for the season. Each personal ornament will be a great gift that will shine and sparkle on the holiday tree. Additionally in the months ahead, the fourth and fifth grade art students will also study the color wheel and will be putting their color knowledge to use by creating copy cat paintings – practicing the different painting styles and techniques of both Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. The fourth grade students will be using Van Gogh and his masterpiece, “Starry Night” as inspiration and the fifth grade students will be starting a formal painting using Claude Monet to motivate their efforts.
The second trimester exploratory classes have just begun and students have started their place card to identify their seat in art class. They will also start their portfolio, which will house all their work in progress, and sketchbook for class within the weeks ahead.
Please note the following ART CLUB dates in December and January:
December 4, 2019 for 6th - 8th Grade
December 11, 2019 for 4th and 5th Grade
December 18, 2019 for 6th - 8th Grade
January 8, 2020 for 4th and 5th Grade
January 15, 2020 for 6th - 8th Grade
January 22, 2020 for 4th and 5th Grade
January 29, 2020 for 6th - 8th Grade
Thank you for your interest in the Art Department at Kelvin Grove and happy holidays to all!
-Mrs. Cravens
BAND
Congratulations to the Jazz Band, Intermediate Band, and Concert Band on wonderful performances at the Fall Band Concert on Thursday, November 7!
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the
Kelvin Grove Solo & Ensemble Contest on Thursday, November 14!
It was a wonderful night of music-making.
HAPPENINGS IN THE BAND ROOM:
We are busily preparing for our Winter Concert on Tuesday, February 4 featuring Beginning Band and Intermediate Band and Concert Band is preparing for contest season! We have lots of music to prepare, so students should be practicing 30 minutes 4-6 times a week or for at least 120 minutes per week.
IMPORTANT DATES:
A calendar of band events and other information can be found at our website: http://kgband.weebly.com/
PACK THE GYM NIGHT:
The Concert Band has been asked to play for Boys’ Basketball game and Girls’ Volleyball game on Thursday, January 9. I will let everyone know if we will be performing no later than Monday, December 9.
LTHS 8th GRADE BAND STEP-UP DAY:
The 8th-grade band members will be going over to the high school on Friday, December 13 for Band Step-Up Day in the morning.
MANDATORY 8th GRADE BAND PARENTS’ MEETING:
For all 8th grade students continuing in band at the high school, there will be a mandatory parents’ meeting on Tuesday, January 21 at 7:00pm at LTHS east campus auditorium.
CONCERT BAND LOCK-IN:
Chaperones are needed for the Concert Band Lock-in on Friday, February 7 from 9:15 pm-12:00 am. Forms will be coming home the week of December 2 and will be due on Friday, December 13. The lock-in is only possible with the help of the parents, so please consider chaperoning this event.
FUNDRAISING INFO:
Poppin Popcorn will be delivered the week of December 9 and will be distributed during that week. Thank you for supporting the band through our fundraisers.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mrs. Plagman at (815)838-0737 x1139 or nplagman@d91.net.
Music & Chorus
To Contact Mrs. Randolph K-8 Music & KG Chorus Director
Email: srandolph@d91.net PHONE: 815-838-0737 ext. 1140
PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Would you like to play World Music Drums, marimba, Orff instruments, piano, organ, music computer software programs, write your own song? Come learn what your child is learning in music. No prior music experience needed. Sign-up through parent square or by email to Mrs. Randolph. Registration is limited to 30 people for each session.
Monday, November 25
(9 am- 10 am) Session 1 – piano, organ, computer music software, compose your first song
(10 am-11 am) Session 2 – World Music Drumming, Orff instruments (xylophone, marimba)
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: All Students in Grades K-5 & KG Chorus will present “Holiday Road Trip” (a musical featuring songs of the season) on Tuesday, December 17 at 10 am & 1:15 pm in the Kelvin Grove Gym (enter Door # 1). The Kindergarten and First Grade will perform two songs on the stage to open the musical. Second through Fifth Graders and KG Chorus will present the entire musical in the gym on the floor in front of the stage. Auditioned Chorus members will be the cast. Morning Kindergarten will perform during the 10 am show and the afternoon kindergarten will perform during the 1:15 pm show. Students are to wear nice clothes for this performance.
FRIDAYS (7:30-8:20 am): FREE Open Music Lab for Students at Kelvin Grove to use music lab – use music software, practice piano, organ, etc. – Enter Door # 1 at 7:30 (CHECK WEB PAGE BEFORE YOU COME FOR DAYS LAB IS CLOSED. No appointment needed.
Check the music web page: Click on tabs for each grade for homework, music, class pictures and other information.
MUSIC CALENDAR:
F. Dec.13 3pm (Old Gym closed to 10pm Dec.17)(Parents & Friends help decorate program)
M.Dec. 16 During school morning Christmas Program practice
T. Dec. 17 10 am & 1:15pm Christmas Program (Grades K-5 & Chorus) KG old gym
MUSIC FUNDRAISERS: Crystal Music Instruments (flute, violin, glockenspiel, drum) $20 Each; $5 Hornet Magnets (c. 125 left); $5 Hornet Fathead Stickers; $20 Hornet Tervis Tumbler (only 1 left); Old Country Western Records. Any left will be on display for sale during Parent Teacher Conferences at Kelvin Grove. Send money to D91 Music (Attn. Mrs. Randolph) to purchase them before conferences.
SAVE TABS FOR MUSIC! Please bring metal tabs from soda and other cans to school in a ziplock bag or large mouthed container and have students put in large white buckets in the hallway.
Dates to remember
Dec 17th 9:30 Late Start Day
Dec 20th 11:30 Dismissal
Dec 23rd-Jan 3rd Winter Break-No School
Mrs. Bruemmer / LRC Coordinator & Webmaster
sbruemmer@d91.net 815-838-0737, ext. 1109
Visit the KG LRC online at kgcyberlibrar.weebly.com to see what's happening with your student during library and beyond . . .
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CyberLibrary
The Learning Resource Center turns into a “Winter Wonderland” this time each year, as D91 begins to celebrate winter and all that it brings. Our continued student focus is guided by the LRC’s perpetual alignment of I-SAIL: Illinois Standards Aligned Instruction for Libraries. Original framework for these standards was initiated in 2008, with subsequent revisions in later years to ensure these standards, “maintain its currency and usefulness.” (Illinois School Library Media Association).
As the LRC becomes a forest blanketed with snow and winter trees — students CHILL OUT with some great books and lots of hands-on skill sets. Ask your student
STANDARDS IN THE LIBRARY
Our December focus are the elements of I-SAIL Standard 4:
Appreciate literature and other creative expressions of thoughts and ideas and pursue knowledge related to personal interests and aesthetic growth
· Cultivate a love of reading and become a self-motivated reader
· Develop a knowledge of genres and literary elements
· Derive meaning from informational texts in various formats
STAR LAB
StarLab is coming to the Kelvin Grove LRC Campground in January!
WATCH FOR DETAILS: PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND THE STARLAB PORTABLE PLANETARIUM NIGHT IN THE KELVIN GROVE LRC.
THE BEST BOOK :)
READ EVERY DAY!
As we head into the holiday festivities be sure to mark your calendars for the many fun events the PTO has planned throughout December and January! Please keep in mind that the Metropolis Coffee orders and payment will be due Monday, December 2nd by 10am which will be tough since it’s our first day back to school after the week long break over Thanksgiving...but we will be sure to send out a reminder closer to that date! Also when we return that week we will be having the yearly Holiday Shop at both schools- Kelvin Grove students in 4th and 5th grade will be given time during the school day to come and shop for their gifts, but the shop will remain open after school for all students to stop in and participate. Milne Grove students will be able to go shopping 12/5 and 12/6 at a day and time determined by their respective classroom teachers. You should have already received the information and envelopes for shopping lists mid-November. You can visit https://0541420.holidaytreasuresgiftshop.com to preview the gifts that will be offered. We are looking for parent volunteers for this event which you can sign up for available times on Parent Square.
Winter Wonderland is also returning this year! We are very excited to host this event on Saturday, December 14th at Milne Grove from 10am to 2pm. So much fun to be had by all with games, crafts, face painting, raffles, and even a visit with Santa! Concessions will be available! The PTO is still looking for donations for raffle prizes-the creativity possibilities are endless! If you are interested in providing a donation please contact us via email at d91.pto.info@gmail.com. We will also be looking for volunteers to make this event a success, so please look for sign-up information on Parent Square. This is a great way for students needing volunteer hours to have some fun while helping out!
Wednesday, December 18th will be our last monthly meeting at Milne Grove before we switch to Kelvin Grove January 15th for the remainder of the year. Our meetings are held at 6:30pm and we’d love to have you join us even for just one meeting. Fresh input and ideas are always valued. The PTO is a great way to get involved with the district, meet some new people, and have some fun!
Starting with the New Year the PTO will be hosting a Family Dance Night at Kelvin Grove on January 17th, and a Family Board Game Night at Milne Grove on January 31st. More information will follow about these events!
Student Council 12 Days of Christmas
12 Days of Christmas
Day 1 Thursday Dec 5 Pancake Breakfast in the new gym at 8:00 open to all students 4-8 grades
Day 2 Friday Dec 6 Christmas Pj's and Christmas movie
Day 3 9th - Christmas Character
Day 4 10th- Silver and Gold
Day 5 11th- Karaoke and Cocoa at lunch
Day 6 12th- Ugly Christmas Sweater
Day 7 13th- Christmas Cap Day
Day 8 16th- Twin Elf Day
Day 9 17th- Christmas Socks Day
Day 10 18th- Hawaiian Holiday
Day 11 19th- White Christmas
Day 12 20th- Red and White Day
LTHS FOUNDATION PROM DRESS RESALE
Please see attached PDF Flyer regarding the Prom Dress Resale at L.T.H.S.