Wildcat Weekly
News from Westfield Elementary School: December 17, 2021
I hope that this holiday season and this break from school brings a time of joy and refreshment for each of you!
Matt McDonald
Thank you to all the families who participated in ‘Penny Wars’ fundraiser!
We would like to thank everyone who donated to the ‘Penny Wars’ fundraiser. The winning teams will be announced when students return from winter break. The district’s two Student Board Members, Jillian DeMayo and Kavya Uppal, organized this fundraising competition to support CCSD 89 students who do not have stable housing situations. More info: https://bit.ly/3GqsM5u
All schools will be closed December 20 – January 3 for winter break
All CCSD 89 schools will be closed from December 20, 2021, to January 3, 2022, for winter break. (January 3 will be a Teacher Institute Day with staff in the buildings.) Students will return to classes on a regular schedule on Tuesday, January 4. The district's administrative offices will be closed on December 23 and December 24, as well as December 30 and December 31.
New Years around the world
Help Westfield celebrate 2022 : NEW YEARS AROUND THE WORLD
In January, we will be celebrating our NEW YEAR! Please help us by sending in small items that represent celebrations from all over the world - bringing in the NEW YEAR! We will display these in our case by the main office for all of the students to see with your family name on them.
Have a wonderful holiday season!
Tammi Madden and Westfield Staff
Upcoming events
December 20-January 3: Winter break
January 4: School resumes after winter break
January 11: PTC Meeting @ 12:15 p.m. via zoom
January 14: HALF DAY (Morning attendance for students)
January 17: NO SCHOOL (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
January 19: Blood drive at Glen Crest
January 24: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.
January 31: Preschool applications can be submitted
Westfield loves our parent volunteers!
A big thank you to Cate Cosme and her team of volunteers for making Westfield’s First Annual Tree Trim a success! The kids had so much fun decorating the ornaments and admiring the beautiful trees in their pods this week.
Thank you to Sara Fort and Isabel Rubinas and their parent volunteers for a festive holiday school store! Students had a great time shopping for their families and, of course, themselves!
Thank you to Joan Klaus and all the room parents and volunteers for donating their time, crafts, snacks, and goodies to make sure our kids have a fun time in their classroom winter parties!
Thank you to Elizabeth Altergott for all the delicious restaurant nights so far this school year.
Thank you to Sara Fort for a fun Mom’s Night Out at Enchantments.
Thank you to Jackie Rickert for coordinating a whimsical day of shopping at The Gnome Colony.
Thank you to Deanna Killackey for making our kids’ artwork come to life with the Square 1 Art fundraiser.
And a holly jolly thank you to JoAnn Gantar for her cheerful portrayal of Westfield’s own Elf on the Shelf! She spread so much cheer to our kids as they searched for her each morning at drop-off this week. We wish you all a happy and healthy winter break!
If you have any pictures that you would like to submit to the memory book, please send them to yearbookwestfieldptc@gmail.com.
A message from Square 1 Art
The Square 1 Art elves are busy putting the final touches on your keepsakes. Unfortunately due to staffing issues and high demand, Square 1 notified us that orders are delayed and will not arrive to school before winter break. Not to worry, though! We understand that these may be holiday gifts and plan to maintain close contact with Square 1 to track the delivery. PTC volunteers will arrange for items originally scheduled to ship to school to be delivered to your doorstep.
Families who directed their online order to be shipped directly to their home should have received an update via email from Deanna Killackey. Please check your emails for UPS shipping details. We apologize for any inconvenience, but know the wait will be worth it. Thank you again for supporting our students and school!
January PTC meeting
Mark your calendar to attend our next PTC meeting on January 11, 2022, at 12:15 PM on Zoom.
Stay connected
Please feel free to connect with the PTC via:
Our private group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Westfield-Elementary-Parent-Teacher-Council-100644981375276
Our website: https://www.westfieldptc.org
Our email: westfieldptc@gmail.com
Parents can submit student vaccination records to school nurse
If your child has completed their COVID-19 vaccination, families can submit a copy of the student’s vaccination card to the school nurse. The COVID-19 vaccine is not required.
Providing your student's vaccination record will help the nurse determine the next steps when your student has symptoms or has been a close contact. Students who do not show proof of vaccination will follow the isolation and quarantine rules for unvaccinated students.
You can drop off or email a copy of the front and back of the card our school nurse, Colleen Smith (csmith@ccsd89.org), or you can submit it here: https://forms.gle/tUubb7pFNVTxX7BM9
We’re hiring! Work with students on a schedule that follows school calendar
CCSD 89 is accepting applications for classroom aide positions at all five schools. Many of the positions are ideal for someone looking for a work schedule that mirrors the student’s school-day schedule. The daily schedule follows school hours with holidays, weekends, and summers off. Aide positions include health and dental insurance. More info: https://bit.ly/3vWhCSd
District increases pay rates for substitute teachers
CCSD 89 has increased the pay rate for substitute teachers. The new rate for a daily sub is $120 per day, with an increase to $135 after 15 days of subbing. Long-term subs can earn $140 per day. More info: https://bit.ly/3AV9QJ8
Make sure your contact info is up to date
When school buildings need to close due to extreme weather, information will be released through a phone message, as well as the district’s website (www.ccsd89.org), Facebook page (facebook.com/CCSD89), and Twitter account (@CCSD89). The district’s messaging system uses contact info supplied by guardians so it is important you contact the school secretary and update your records if they have changed. Even when school is open, students should dress for the cold. Students will continue to go outside for recess as long as the weather remains above 10 degrees.
‘Snow days’ will now be online learning days
In the event that severe weather closes school buildings, teachers will now provide live or recorded lessons that students would participate in through their Chromebook or iPad. The school day would follow regular school hours, including a break for lunch. When there is a forecast of severe weather, students should plan to bring their Chromebook or iPad home the day before. The district will make every effort to communicate a potential online learning day as early as possible. More info: https://bit.ly/3oX1UCW
Students can share their feedback via suggestion boxes
CCSD 89 Student Board Members Jillian DeMayo and Kavya Uppal have brought back suggestion boxes, where students can share their ideas for how to make their school an even better place. Students can fill out a yellow card and drop it in the box. DeMayo and Uppal updated the boxes and created a commercial to encourage students to share their ideas: https://youtu.be/4a8hk4Op-AQ
Families can submit 2022-23 preschool pre-registration documents starting January 31
Families interested in having their child attend CCSD 89 preschool in the 2022-23 school year will be able to fill out the application and submit the preschool residency documents starting 8 a.m. Monday, January 31. The application time will close at 5 p.m. Friday, February 4. If there are more applicants than open spots, students are selected via a lottery. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3DR2JCN
Most recent fliers:
Free Christmas Toy event (December 16-18)
B.R. Ryall Basketball League (winter)
Healing from the pandemic presentation (January 25)
Free nurse training through College of DuPage (January)
English conversation circle (every Tuesday)
Practical English class (every Thursday)
Illinois Rental Assistance Program
DuPage County low-cost dental clinic
Westfield Elementary School
Attendance phone: (630) 858-1222
Online backpackEmail: info@ccsd89.org
Website: www.ccsd89.org/westfield
Location: Westfield Elementary School, Mayfield Lane, Glen Ellyn, IL, USA
Phone: (630) 858-2770
Facebook: facebook.com/CCSD89
Twitter: @westfield89