The Buzz at Westbrook School
April 30, 2021
From the Principal...
Dear Westbrook Families,
Our students, families, and staff have demonstrated incredible flexibility and resilience this school year. I have been so proud of our school community and the strength, adaptability, and perseverance that have been displayed throughout this school year. As we plan for next year, we are reflecting on this school year, what we have learned, what has worked well and what hasn’t, and what our students may need to start the school year off strong. Our remote learning models required us to rethink our teaching and learning practices to meet the needs of our students. Remote learning has allowed us to build new and different connections with each other that were not possible with in-person learning. We were introduced to grandparents, aunts/uncles, and pets. Family members were often sitting alongside our students as they learned letter names/sounds through Jolly Phonics, listened to our social worker talk about big problems and little problems, practiced counting by tens, read stories on RazKids, and got their wiggles out through movement breaks. We are grateful that Zoom allowed us to make these connections with our students and our families. Our students added to their technology toolboxes by learning different programs like Zoom, Seesaw, and Boom cards. We tinkered with new ways to communicate with families through programs like Seesaw. This tool also provided students with a new way to make their thinking visible and give and receive feedback. Our students have demonstrated resiliency in the face of so many challenges this year. We are so proud of our learners and all of their hard work.
Family Feedback Form
Among our many important responsibilities later this spring, the Westbrook staff and I will engage in our work to create the groups of children that will comprise next year's classes. The class placement process is one that takes a considerable amount of time and collaboration among teachers and will not be truly finalized until August. In creating classes, we strive to take into account the social, emotional, academic, and creative aspects of every child. Our goal is form balanced heterogeneous classes in which each child can succeed.
Your thoughts about your child's preferred learning style, peer relationships, previous school experiences, etc. are certainly valued. Consistent with past practice at Westbrook, however, please know that we are unable to honor requests for specific teachers. If you have additional information that you feel is important for us to consider when placing your child in a class for the 2021-22 school year, please share it with me using this online form no later than Friday, May 14.
If you are the parent of a first grader, please feel free to participate in this process, as I will share your feedback with the Fairview and Lions Park principals.
Information will be sent next week from the district about the plans approved last night at the Board of Education meeting for families needing or wanting continued remote learning. This may limit our abilities, at times, to accept input in situations where students will be learning remotely. For example, if there is a small number of first graders who will be learning remotely, there may only be one potential teacher and mix of classmates.
Collaborative Art Project
Westbrook students and staff will be working collaboratively to create a beautiful art installation for our school! The phrase "Anything is Possible" will be proudly displayed on the fence between our parking lot and school. This art piece will be a daily reminder to our students and our school community that through hard work and perseverance, anything is possible! The sky is the limit for our young learners, and we can't wait to see what they will accomplish!
We would love for all of our students to be a part of this collaborative art project! Our in-person learners have been painting small segments during the school day. Our remote learners will have the opportunity to come paint a segment of the art project after school on Tuesday, May 3rd. Weather permitting, we will be painting the letters outside in the front of the school. (If it rains, we will be in the gym.) We will practice social distancing. Paintbrushes will be sanitized between uses.
If your child is learning remotely and you would like for your child to participate, please sign up for a time to come in and paint a small square!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4FA9AD2FABF49-anything
Wishing you and your family well,
Kristin Vonder Haar
Follow Us on Twitter and Instagram
Please follow us on Twitter and Instagram! Our username is: westbrook_school_d57
Our wonderful PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) also has an Instagram account! Their username is: westbrookpto
Upcoming Westbrook Dates
April 26 - May 9- Scholastic Virtual Book Fair
May 3-7 - Staff Appreciation Week
May 19 - PTO Meeting 7pm
May 20 - Last Day of School for Circle of Friends Preschool
May 21 - Half Day for FIRST GRADE ONLY, No school for Kindergarten
May 31 - Memorial Day - No School
June 1 - Last day of School
Busing Information:
- First Student Bus Company offers a notification system called Bus Bulletin to notify parents/guardians when there are bus delays of approximately 10 minutes or more. If you would like to receive instant notification when delays or incidents affect your student’s bus, please register with Bus Bulletin. Please click here to sign up!
- It is a good idea to program First Student in your phone to call for any pick up/drop off questions. First Student can be reached at 847-635-9877
Are you Moving?
21/22 PTO School Supply Kit Order Forms
Westbrook School for Young Learners
Email: wb-office@d57.org
Website: https://www.d57.org/westbrookschoolforyounglearners_home.aspx
Location: 103 Busse Road, Mount Prospect, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 394-7340
Twitter: @westbrook_d57