News From The Nest
Graham Elementary Weekly Update | March 19, 2021
- March 15 and March 22: 9am - 12:30 pm | IAR Testing for 3rd-5th graders
- April 12, April 19 (select schools only): 9am -11:30am | IAR Testing for 3rd-5th graders
- March 29-April 2 | Spring Break
- Monday, April 5 | Remote Planning Day for Teachers, No Student Attendance
- Tuesday, April 6 | Remote Learning Day for Students due to schools being used as polling places for the election
- Wednesday, April 7 - Friday, April 9 | In-person learning 9-11:30, Remote learning 12:30-3:30
- Monday, April 12: 9am-1pm | A Regular Monday for K-2. 3rd-5th graders attend school from 9-11:30 for IAR Testing
- Tuesday, April 13 - End of Year | K-5 Full In-Person Learning Model, Monday through Friday, 9am - 3pm
Dear Graham Families,
I would like to begin this week's message by thanking you for stepping into flexibility and understanding as we navigate the often changing educational landscape during these times. Put simply, the core of what we do here at Graham is provide children with the opportunity to build a strong learning foundation, and engage in rich social-emotional learning, and this continues to be possible only through the work of our incredible staff, and collaboration of our families.
It is with this in mind, that I'm excited to announce preparations for our expanded learning model to move to five days a week from 9am - 3 pm starting Tuesday, April 13th. While we continue to plan internally and execute several initiatives to keep your student safe during this transition, I've also sent an email out to families with specific information regarding our current plans, and steps you can take to ensure the best learning environment for your family. You can also find this information listed in the "Important Updates" section below. If you have not yet done so already, please review this information carefully, as it provides detailed next steps, as well as answers as many questions we are currently able to answer regarding the change.
Recently we commemorated and acknowledged what was for most, the one year mark of having lived in this pandemic. There is no doubt there has been tremendous loss, ingenuity, frustration, and absolute selflessness from our community; something our students were first-hand witnesses to. In recognition of these shared experiences, I ask that we continue show the fortitude we've held the last year, and use it in pursuit of a collaborative and streamlined return to expanded in-person learning.
Thank you again and have a great weekend,
Sincerely,
Ms. Walton
Expanded Learning Updates
As mentioned above, we're very excited to expand our learning model to five days a week, 9 am - 3 pm starting Tuesday, April 13. However, we also recognize that this change brings numerous adjustments and questions. Please see information below regarding the steps we're currently taking to prepare, and stay tuned to more information as it becomes available.
Distance
Physical distancing in the classroom will be reduced to 3 feet or greater. The amount of space above 3 ft will depend on the number of students attending in-person in each classroom.
Instruction
All students will have instruction from 9 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday. During that time, both in-person and remote students will receive the same instruction from their teacher, with some students physically in the classroom, and other students participating remotely through Zoom. This is the same “Room and Zoom” model currently used in our middle and high schools. Students will remain with their same teacher. Remote and in-person students will both participate in academic subjects and specials (art, music, and PE).
Lunch
Students will have lunch at school. During lunch, they will be seated 6 feet apart as they need to remove masks to eat. We will utilize a variety of spaces to accomplish this arrangement.
Remote Students
Remote students will participate in class via Zoom throughout the day. Additionally, we are planning to implement an after-school on-line assistance program that will provide remote parents and students with access to elementary staff who can answer questions and help students with completing assignments. It will be called ACE Time (Ask, Connect and Engage). More details will be shared with families prior to our start on April 13.
If you’d like more information about the updated guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), it can be viewed at Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools.
IMPORTANT | Self Certification In ParentVue by 8:00 AM
Please remember to use ParentVUE to self-certify that students coming on campus are free of COVID-like symptoms by 8:00AM. We currently have three (3) staff members who are making calls for upwards of an hour in the morning to obtain self certifications before students step onto school premises.
District recommendations for helping families to remember to self-certify include setting an alarm on your phone, or putting a note somewhere you frequent in your home in the morning.
Lastly, if the above step is not completed before 8:00am and your child is expected at school that day, a staff member will first call you to discuss your child's health status, and then should you not be reached by 9:00am, your student will be pulled from class and isolated until all appropriate certification questions can be verified.
These measures, while tedious, are meant to keep your child safe, and are a necessary step in our maintenance of an open learning space.
204 ConnectEd | Residency Verification
The district is again contracting with a third party vendor to automatically verify student address information. As was the case last year, we anticipate the overwhelming majority of our families will be electronically verified.
If your residency is electronically verified, you will receive a letter of confirmation and there will be no need to submit any additional paperwork to certify that you live within the district’s boundaries.
A letter will also be sent to families whose residency we are unable to verify electronically. The letter will provide details on additional information you will need to provide by May 3, 2021 in order to register your child for the upcoming school year.
Verifying residency is an effort to protect taxpayers and district resources by identifying non-residents attending District 204 schools. Illinois law mandates that parents demonstrate residency prior to enrollment in school and allows for periodic verification to validate compliance with the law.
Last Lunch Pickup Before Spring Break
The last day for meal pick-up before Spring Break is Friday, March 26th. Families can pick-up free meals for the week of Spring Break, with regular food service resuming April 7th.
Each child will receive a meal box with five breakfast and five lunch meals. Pre-ordering is required online and must be received by 4 PM on Friday, March 19. Late orders will not be accepted.
Pick-up for pre-ordered meals is Friday, March 26 from 3 PM to 6 PM at the high school selected when pre-ordering.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE TAKEN DAILY
Attendance is taken daily for all students regardless of the program they attend. Please call the attendance line to report an absence for your child whether they are attending In-Person or Remote.
If your child is absent, arriving late, or leaving early, please report their absence in the ParentVue App or call our 24-hour attendance line at (630-428-6900, Option 3). It is important you provide a specific reasoning so as to assist with monitoring such illnesses as COVID-19 and the flu within our area.
SCHOOL WELLNESS - 5ESSENTIALS SURVEY
Parents, students, and teachers across Illinois will once again have an opportunity to participate in the annual Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of your child’s school as it relates to the important elements of school effectiveness.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by the University of Chicago. All survey responses will be kept confidential. The state will provide survey results for individual schools only if a school has at least 20 percent of parents take the survey. If you have children attending more than one school, we ask that you complete the survey for each school.
To take this short survey:
- Visit 5 Essentials Survey Link
- Type and select “Dupage” as "County." (The county is the location of the school district's main office.)
- Type your school's name into the "School" field and select your school.
Beach Day | An LMC Family Event
This Tuesday, March 23rd is Beach Day! To keep Graham LMC traditions alive, build a sense of community, and show that reading is for learning and recreation, we invite you to create a special reading event in your home.
Set aside some time to read as a family for whatever length works for you. It may be on a beach towel, with a tasty summer treat or with sunglasses. Use your imagination to make it feel like the beach! There are no rules on what you read, how you read, or where you read. We are modeling that reading is for fun. It is a great chance for the students, families, and staff to reinforce the importance of recreational reading.
Snap a picture of your student enjoying Beach Day and share with Mrs. Shiles @ michelle_shiles@ipsd.org Your photo may make it into the morning announcements or weekly newsletter!
Fire Drill With The Fire Department
Monarch Student Choice Award
The Monarch Award is designed to encourage Illinois children to read critically and to become familiar with children’s books, authors and illustrators. This year, Graham K-2 students participated, and chose "How To Give Your Cat A Bath" by Nicola Winstanley, as their readers choice. Overall, more than 42,300 K-2 students in the state of Illinois voted for "Can I Be Your Dog?" by Troy Cummings as the overall winner.
How To Give Your Cat A Bath | Nicola Winstanley
Voted the winner of the Monarch Student Choice Award by Graham K-2 Students, this hilarious and clever "how-to," follows a little girl and a know-it-all narrator as they are thwarted by a cat who refuses to take a bath. This is the perfect read-aloud for fans of "Snappsy the Alligator" and "Interrupting Chicken".
Can I Be Your Dog? | Troy Cummings
Voted the winner of the Monarch Student Choice Award by Illinois K-2 Students, this heart-tugging dog adoption story is told through letters–deeply sincere and almost desperate pleas for a forever home–from the dog, himself!
Bluestem Student Choice Award
The Bluestem Award is designed for students in grades 3-5 who are ready for longer titles than can be found on the Monarch list. This year at Graham, K-2 students participated through voting, and chose "Max and the Midknights" by Lincoln Pierce, as their readers choice. Overall, close to 14,000 3-5 students in the state of Illinois voted for "Wedgie & Gizmo" by Suzanne Selfors as the overall winner.
Max and the Midknights | Lincoln Pierce
Voted the winner of the Bluestem Student Choice Award by Graham students in grades 3-5, this exciting adventure follows Max through struggles at knight school. But when evil in the form of bodkins threatens Byjovia, Max reunites the Midknights to save the kingdom.
Wedgie & Gizmo" | Suzanne Selfors
Voted the winner of the Bluestem Student Choice Award by Illinois students in grade 3-5, this hilarious and colorful new illustrated series covers the growing pains of blended families and the secret rivalry of pets.
V. Blanche Graham Elementary School
V. Blanche Graham Elementary School is a Prekindergarten through 5th grade school located in South Naperville. Opened in 1996, Graham is fortunate to have supportive parents and dedicated staff and students who come prepared and eager to learn. We are part of Indian Prairie Community Unit School District #204, which is dedicated to the mission to "Inspire all students to achieve their greatest potential."
Email: anna_mcintosh@ipsd.org
Website: http://graham.ipsd.org/
Location: 2315 High Meadow Rd, Naperville, IL 60564, USA
Phone: 630-428-6900
Twitter: @GrahamElem204