Sheridan Newsletter 9.23.22

September 23, 2022

Dear Sheridan Families,

Thank you all for the well-wishes this week! I am definitely on the mend so I appreciate all the positive thoughts. Please see all the good information below. A couple of highlights for special attention:

• Review the dismissal procedures

• Read the section about upcoming Paws for Patrick opportunities AND sign the waiver if interested

• Check out the Shark House event flyer

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Susan

Last year we collected cereal boxes for our own Domino Challenge and then donated the cereal to a local food pantry. This year, in honor of beginning our partnership with Paws for Patrick, we thought it would be nice to collect “Boxes of Biscuits” that we can build our domino challenge out of and then donate to local shelters and vet offices. Please see Box of Biscuits Domino Challenge Flyer for more information!

Dismissal review - Help it go as smoothly as possible

New and veteran families alike – we have made some updates to our dismissal routines, so please read the following. Here are ways that you can help:

Typical Dismissal Form

We have 3 primary ways students go home: bus rider, car line, and walker/biker. Each group exits the school a different way based on how you filled out the Dismissal Form at the beginning of the year. This is also where you can share the names of adults who have your permission to pick up your child from school.

Notes and calls

Green Notes are the best way to tell us if you have a dismissal change. Remind your child to turn in their note to their teacher, and please write as legibly as possible so we can read it and reach out to you with questions. Remember to write your child’s name on the note! This is often forgotten. We have extra green notes in the office if you need more.

For known absences, such as family trips, email or call us in the office. Please include both Mary Kay Hanlon (mhanlon@lfschools.net) and Shea Thiergart (sthiergart@lfschools.net) plus your child’s homeroom teacher on all attendance-related correspondence.

Calls to the office at dismissal time cannot be answered as we are using our phones to access the PA system throughout the building. If you are delayed and need to reach the school, please email us (info above) or call before 1:25pm Mondays/2:30pm Tuesday-Friday.

Car Line

You have probably noticed that car dismissal is a big operation! Please join the car line on Spruce, heading west. This will sometimes flow out onto Sheridan Road. It moves quickly if drivers are paying attention/off phones and have their name plate ready to show to the “caller”. We use walkie talkies to que up the children inside and they go outside in groups of 5 to the cones. Please do not exit your car, and do not park in the lot to collect your child; these slow us down tremendously. If you need another name plate, just let us know in the office.

If you are the first car to arrive, remember to wait until all three busses are in the front circle before you pull up. If you are blocking the way for the bus we will need you to move your car and circle back to the line.

Walkers and Bikers

Please wait for your walker or biker by the garden bed on the north side of the building. The children exit through a rear door and will be escorted by staff to the front. We have a staff crossing guard to get children safely across Sheridan Road if they are walking or biking without an adult.

Bus Riders, Champions, and 10-Ride Bus Passes

We utilize lists to make sure children are going home on their correct bus for the day. If your child is not taking the bus, please send a green note and write “no bus” in the comment area, plus info relevant for the day.

Kindergarten students must be met by an adult at the stop. The bus driver will not let the child off the bus if they do not see an adult waiting. Please communicate this to babysitters, grandparents, etc. who may be meeting children at the bus stop.

Going home on a different bus aka “bus jumping” is not allowed by the District. Essentially, your child must go home on the bus they are assigned to. Unfortunately, we cannot let students go home with a friend on a different bus, even if they have a pass purchased for the year.

For non-bus riders, a pack of 10 individual bus passes can be purchased for the occasional bus ride (generally home with a bus-rider friend.) Purchase the 10-pass at the D67 Web Store. You will receive a packet of 10 bus coupons in the mail. Please staple the bus pass to your child’s green note; we cannot let your child board the bus without the pass attached.

Champions students take the bus to Cherokee at the end of the day. We receive a weekly schedule from Champions and will write green notes for those students. If your child is deviating from the published schedule, please send a green note indicating their dismissal plan for the day. We may call you to confirm your child’s schedule to ensure they go to the right place at the end of the day.

We recognize that there have been some inconsistencies with the bus lately. Olson Bus Company is experiencing staff shortages, resulting in sub drivers who do not know the routes as well as established staff. Thank you for your patience; we have been told they are aiming to have regular drivers in place in early October. Though we have no control over the bus once it leaves Sheridan, we can call the bus company to inquire. Call the Sheridan office at 847-234-6299 to start that conversation.

As the APT’s mission this year is Community, we have carefully thought about ways to build, partner and support our D67 student community. One way we intend on building a supportive community for our students is by partnering with Paws for Patrick to offer monthly visits of comfort dogs. We feel this provides our children a unique opportunity to connect with these special animals. Paws for Patrick is a local non-profit and their main mission is to connect young people with Emotional Support Animals (ESAs).

District 67 and the D67 APT are working with Paws for Patrick to provide students with opportunities to engage with comfort dogs at school. The comfort dog visits are intended to be a light-hearted break in routine offering students a chance to have fun and smile.

If you would like to give your child permission to participate in this program, please read the attached waiver/permission slip and complete this form by no later than 9:00 AM on Monday, October 3. Families wishing to opt OUT should not fill out the waiver/permission slip.

Please stay tuned for more details about your student's building visits. We are so excited about this partnership and the positive experiences this will provide for our students. For more information, please visit the Paws for Patrick website (https://www.pawsforpatrick.org) or reach out to Ann Kiesling, the Paws for Patrick APT Liaison (thekieslings@gmail.com).

Parents/guardians who wish to discontinue bus service for their students for the 2022-2023 school year have until September 30th to contact Natalia Martinez, nmartinez@lfschools.net, to request a cancellation and refund. No transportation refunds will be issued after September 30th.

School Districts 65, 67, and 115 will co-host the second annual Great Full Market with Beacon Place and Quest Food Management Services on Sunday, October 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Great Full Market is a free farmers market and family festival for residents of Waukegan. The event will take place on the grounds of Beacon Place located at 603 S. McAlister Ave. in Waukegan.

The Great Full Market, hosted this year on World Food Day, provides members of the Waukegan community the opportunity to pick up fresh produce, dry goods such as beans and rice, and other pantry items, all at no cost. Families can also enjoy hot chocolate, churros, and activities including soccer, Lotería, face painting, and crafts led by Lake Forest and Lake Bluff students.

If you would like to volunteer, please use link.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to the Great Full Market, please visit our website.

If you are or know of a family in need, or you would like to make a monetary donation to Project F_LL, please check the Lake Forest Schools website-Project F_LL for more information or use the QR Code on the right.

For other events and information, please visit the Food Services page of the website.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered for Picture Day and the Book Fair this week!

Upcoming dates:

• Thursday, September 29th, Spirit of 67 Foundation Home Tour

• Friday, October 14th, Aaron Reynolds Visiting Author

• Tuesday, October 18th, 7:00 - 8:30 Community Safety Series, Topic: The Role of the SRO Location: Deer Path Middle School

Friday, October 28th, 5:00 - 6:30 pm Sheridan’s Monster Bash - More info to come!

Sheridan’s next APT meeting is Wednesday, November 16th at 9:00am.

Everyone is welcome.

Enjoy your weekend!

Elyse Butler

Sheridan APT President 2022-2024

esminnick@yahoo.com

Join us Monday September 26th for our Early Release Story Time at the Lake Forest Library! The kids will enjoy interactive stories, movement, music and STEAM with an art project or science experiment! This week’s featured books will be those by Aaron Reynolds, our visiting author! REGISTER using the link below! 2:45-3:15 pm.

Early Release Storytime: Aaron Reynolds Books | Lake Forest Library

Ready to feel like a VIP and tour some of the finest indoor AND outdoor spaces in our community? Bring your neighbor, good friends, or family to embrace the beauty and “tastes of the town" all the while giving back to benefit our schools and students. The countdown is on!!! The 2022 Home & Garden Tour is happening rain or shine! As an attendee or volunteer, it’s a beautiful and inspiring event you surely don’t want to miss! Hometour2022.givesmart.com

Visit the Green Backpack or the front page of your school website to view the latest programs offered in our community.

New this week...

• CROYA Big Wheel Grand Prix! Friday, Sept. 30th 5:00pm-7:30pm in the CROYA parking lot. All 7th-8th graders welcome! For more information check out our flyer! Big Wheel GP Flyer: https://croya.com/wp2015/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/09302022-Big-Wheel.pdf
  
  
• Lake Forest High School Girls Feeder Basketball Program. The Lake Forest Feeder Program is for 5th-8th graders to prepare for high school basketball - 4th grade can participate in summer and fall clinics.