Munhall Bulletin
October 22, 2021
Munhall Elementary School
Email: heather.miller@d303.org
Website: http://munhall.d303.org/
Location: 1400 South 13th Avenue
Phone: 331-228-2600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Munhall-Elementary-1459358344296891/
Twitter: @MunhallD303
Principal Note
CogAT Testing for 3rd and 5th Grade Students
October 2021
Dear Parent:
Between November 8 and November 19, 2021, 3rd and 5th graders will be taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). The test consists of three short sections, 90 minutes of total test time, broken into nine 10-minute tests. Your school will have a more specific schedule of days and times for your child.
The CogAT is not an achievement test. Instead, it measures a student’s verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning abilities which can facilitate their learning and problem-solving. The scores may be used to adapt instruction and programs to the needs and abilities of students. Information is also used as a piece of information for student programming such as Academically Talented. For more information on Academically Talented students click here: https://district.d303.org/programs/academically-talented. Student results will be sent home in December. We appreciate your support of our academic programs and your partnership in facilitating your child’s learning.
In-person Students
If your child is attending school in-person, they will take it in school. Your building principal will communicate the exact dates for testing.
Remote Students
If your child is a remote student, you have the opportunity to test at school during the testing window. The CogAT must be taken in-person. There are no remote options. If you do not wish for your child to be in a school at this time to take the CogAT, there will be optional CogAT dates offered during the summer of 2022. However, students can only take the CogAT once every nine months.
Please feel free to contact your building principal or one of the people below if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Cindy Ruesch
Director of Staff, Family, and Student Services
Academically Talented Program Coordinato 331-228-4919
331-228-6738
Mr. David Chiszar
Exec. Dir. of Assessment & Accountability
331-228-4919
Early Release Day Next Wednesday
We will have an Early Release Day next Wednesday, October 27th. Students will be dismissed at 2:10 p.m. and will follow normal dismissal procedures.
Fall Parties
- Fall Parties will take place on Friday, October 29th. Parties will generally begin at 2:00. However, some grade levels may have their parties earlier in the day based on when their students go to specials classes.
- We will be limiting the number of parent volunteers to two. Volunteers for our first party of the year will typically be room parents, or those identified by the teacher. We will be mindful of creating a rotation for future parties so parents have access to volunteering at a later date. All parent volunteers will be required to provide proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test a maximum of 72-hours from the date of the party.
- The parties will include activities that are craft-based, and/or games that follow social distancing guidelines. There will be no food at the parties.
- Room Parents/Party Volunteers will be allowed in the building at 1:55 pm.
- There are no quarantine guidelines for party supplies. Therefore, room parents can bring materials the day of the party, as opposed to dropping them off three days early to quarantine like they had to last year.
D303 Bus Evacuation Drills
All students who ride D303 transportation will participate in an annual bus evacuation drill on Monday morning. Students are taught, and practice, the procedures for evacuating a bus in case of emergency. This drill is conducted by D303 transportation staff, with support from our staff here at Munhall.
Erin’s Law
Dear Munhall School Families,
This letter is to inform you about Erin’s Law (Illinois Public Act 097-1147), an Illinois law passed in February, 2011 that requires public schools to provide child sexual abuse prevention education for all children in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades. Named after sexual abuse survivor Erin Merryn, Erin’s Law will be implemented again this year in all District 303 Schools. Please note that Erin’s Law is not connected to The Keeping Youth Safe & Healthy Act (Senate Bill 818).
Between now and the end of the school year, several lessons will be facilitated by Mrs. Gina Rockwell, school social worker, and Mrs. Kati Smith, school psychologist, along with the classroom teacher utilizing the Second Step Child Protection Unit . This age-appropriate instruction will help students recognize unsafe situations, keep themselves safe, and learn how to respond to unsafe situations. Common themes across all grade levels include:
- Identifying safe touch versus unsafe or unwanted touch
- The Safety Rule About Touching (The Touching Rule): Private areas are not for others to touch, except to keep a child clean and healthy
- Steps to Stay Safe
- Understanding the difference between good and bad secret
For more information about Erin’s Law, please visit the links below.
For more information about the Second Step Child Protection Unit Scope and Sequence for grades pre-kindergarten-5th, please view the link below.
Second Step Child Protection Unit Scope & Sequence
If you have any questions, please contact me at Jarrod.Buxton@d303.org or by phone at 331-228-2600.
Physical Education and Recess
Weather in the months of October and November can be unpredictable. Please send your child to school with a jacket or hooded sweatshirt, which they can wear to PE and recess. We will be outside for PE and recess each day unless there is rain, snow, or other forms of inclement weather.
Have a great weekend!
Jarrod Buxton, Principal
PTO Trick-or-Treat/Costume Parade Friday, Oct. 29th 5-6PM
The PTO is hosting an outdoor trick-or-treat and costume parade Friday, October 29th from 5-6pm. The whole family is invited to share in this community event. Volunteers can sign up on the Toolkit. Masks are strongly encouraged.
Sign up to volunteer here: https://munhallpto.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteer/82751