Winston Campus Elementary
November 20, 2022
Quick Reminder: No School November 21-November 25
Parent/Teacher Conferences November 21-22
School Resumes: November 28
Important Information:
We are Home of the Eagles! Our school colors are Blue and White. Our main office phone number is 847-963-7500. Winston Campus Elementary School.
School Hours
Monday–Thursday
Gr 1-6 - 7:35 a.m.– 2:15 p.m.
AM ECDEC- 7:35 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
PM ECDEC- 11:40 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Lunch- 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Friday:
Gr 1-6—7:35 a.m.– 1:25 p.m.
AM ECDEC—7:35 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
PM ECDEC- 11:15 a.m - 1:25 p.m.
Lunch—11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Principal: Ms. Marilynn Smith, 847-963-7505, smithm3@ccsd15.net
Assistant Principal: Mr. Jack Olson, 847-963-7504, olsonj@ccsd15.net
Student Services Coordinator: Ms. Megan Kivarkis, 847-963-7470, kivarkim@ccsd15.net
Elementary Secretary: Valerie Johnson, 847-963-7580, johnsonv@ccsd15.net
School Nurse: Menka San Pietro, 847-963-7502, sanpietm@ccsd15.net
PTA President: Mrs. Victoria West, wcepresidentpta@gmail.com
- If your child will not be in school due to illness or other circumstances, please call the attendance line at 847-963-7501 before the start of the school day. When reporting an absence, please make sure to include your child’s full name, teacher, date of absence, and reason for absence.
- #MoreThanEver Be sure to Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe!
- Connect with your teacher and do your best!
Important Dates:
- November 21 - WCE Fall Book Fair
- November 21 - Parent Teacher Conferences, NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE
- November 22 - Parent Teacher Conferences, NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE
- November 23-25 - Thanksgiving Break NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE
- November 28 - School Resumes
- November 28 - SPARK Meeting
- November 29 - MPAC Meeting
- December 5 - WCE PTA General Membership Meeting
- December 7 - D15 Parent University - Hour of Code
- December 8 - MPAC
- December 13 - Board of Education Meeting
- December 14 - Parent University: Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Children
- December 15 - WCE PTA Rec Night
- December 22-January 6 No School Due to Winter Break
A Look Back at the Week!
Fun in the Classrom!
WCE Wing Store!
WCE Specials Newsletter #4:
August 19th, 2022- November 11th, 2022
Music Class:
In K-1, we are working on exploring steady beat, rhythm, as well as different instruments and movement activities
In 2-3, we are exploring ostinatos, sixteenth notes, composing music, and eventually we will start a class composition
In 4-6, we are exploring the elements of music, specifically rhythm and melody. We will start talking about scales, chords, and harmony next!
Information about recorders for 3rd graders will be coming soon!
Gym Class:
In K-4 kids are working on teamwork, learning how to take turns and spatial awareness through gameplay
In 5-6, we are playing slap ball which helps students work on hand eye coordination, reaction time and teamwork
During Halloween week we will be playing a student favorite, Midnight Madness
Activities to look forward to
Volleyball
Badminton
Please remember to send gym shoes with your students on the days they have P.E
Art Class:
All students began the year reviewing the Elements of Art: color, line, shape, form, value, texture, and space.
Students are also learning to use supplies responsibly and effectively. We’ve practiced following directions, learning routine, and exercising imagination.
Intermediate grades have been watercolor painting, and have learned about color schemes and qualities of specific colors, such as warmth or coolness.
Next students will investigate printmaking and portraiture.
Contact Information:
Kevin Holt
Comprehensive Music Teacher
(847) 963-7452
Alex Soto
Physical Education
(847)963-7457
Marcy Taylor
Visual Art
(847)963-7462
Last Call for FALL Book Fair!
Parent/Teacher Conferences
1st Trimester Progress Reports
As the first trimester is coming to an end, we wanted to remind parents of some important dates:
Nov. 18th: 1st-6th* grade Progress Reports Issued (Parents access Report Cards through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal) (*Kindergarten Progress Reports issued Feb. 3)
November 21 and 22: Fall Parent Teacher Conferences
K-6 Standards Based Grading
This school year, our elementary schools started transitioning to a standards based grading system for the math, reading, homeroom, 6th grade science and music report card areas. This type of grading system has been used with reading for the past several years. Instead of providing a letter (term) grade, teachers reported on several grade level performance descriptors to inform parents of a student’s development in this area. This approach allows teachers to better provide feedback to students and families on a student’s learning progress.
This year, we have expanded this approach to other areas and have incorporated new performance descriptors, which are directly tied to the Illinois’ learning standards. This year’s report card will feel very familiar to most parents with some new updates and adjustments.
These adjustments are:
State Standards are listed in place of previous descriptors for Homeroom, Reading, Math, Music, and 6th grade science only.
By expanding the report card’s existing Reading area grading system, no term (letter) grades are included in Reading, Math, Music, 6th grade Science.
Social and emotional learning standards have replaced the effort grade previously present in all content areas with the exception of Art and Physical Education.
K-6 Mastery Scale for Assessing Learning
Along with the shift to standards based grading, we are also adjusting and consolidating our mastery scale. In the past, different grade levels used different mastery descriptions and this year K-6 will begin using the same mastery scale (see scale to the right). The purpose of utilizing a mastery scale for standards-based grading is to identify what a student knows, or is able to do, in relation to these learning targets, as opposed to simply averaging grades or scores over the course of a grading period. Additionally, it shows student performance levels on essential standards over time.
Given the progression of learning, you will see various “N/A” reported for standards and descriptors within subject areas throughout the year; this is to be expected as shifts are made to reporting levels of mastery based on what students have been taught and assessed. When you see “N/A” on the report card for certain standards, it means that they were not assessed during that given trimester.
These progress report shifts are based on providing clear communication to families and students, along with linking our learning targets to State expectations.
Dual Langauge Report Card Guidance
Boletín de Calificaciones de los Estudiantes de Lenguaje Dual
En resumen, en los grados K-2, la sección de artes del lenguaje sirve para informarle sobre el desarrollo del idioma español y la alfabetización de su estudiante. La sección del “segundo idioma” le informa sobre el desarrollo del idioma inglés y la alfabetización de su estudiante.
En los grados 3 y 4, la sección de artes del lenguaje sirve para informarle sobre el desarrollo del idioma inglés y la alfabetización de su estudiante. El desarrollo del idioma español y la alfabetización se encuentra al final de la sección de artes del lenguaje. (Más información aquí.)
Dual Language Report Card
In summary, in grades K-2 the language arts section serves to inform you about the Spanish language and literacy development for your student. The second language section informs you about the English language and literacy development for your student.
In grades 3-4, the language arts section serves to inform you about the English language and literacy development of your student. The Spanish language and literacy development is found at the end of the language arts section. (More information here.)
Cold Weather: Please Dress Appropriately
Cold Weather is nearing. Please send students to school dressed for the weather. Students must have on winter boots and snow pants to play in the snow at recess time. With the chilly temperatures, please remember to send your child to school with the appropriate winter clothing (Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Winter Coat, Snow Pants, Snow Boots). Please contact your child's teacher or the office if you need assistance providing the appropriate winter clothing for your child.
Arrival and Recess in D15
Students generally line up outside for arrival and go outside for recess every day, so they should dress appropriately for the weather. Exceptions are made only when a child brings a doctor's note excusing him/her from outdoor recess.
Staff members provide playground supervision. If students are not following behavior expectations, a staff member will address the behavior with the student(s). Based on the behavior, the child may speak to an administrator.
Cold weather: Indoor recess is determined based on the following guidelines:
- If the temperature outside, together with the wind chill, is below 0°F, all students will remain inside for the entire lunch hour.
- If the temperature outside, together with the wind chill, is between 0°-10°F, the preferred procedure is a rotation of 20 minutes for lunch, a 20-minute outdoor recess, and a 20-minute indoor recess. However, at the principal's discretion, students may be kept inside for the entire lunch hour.
- If the temperature outside, together with the wind chill, is above 10°F, students will have regular outdoor recess.
Hour of Code!
2022-23 Spelling Bee Announcement
It’s that time of year again when our students begin preparing for our annual series of Spelling Bees!
Each year District 15 students in grades 4 - 6 at our Elementary Schools participate in Classroom Bees to determine students that will be eligible to participate in our school spelling bee. Classroom Bees will take place during the beginning weeks of December. Our School Spelling Bee will be held on Thursday, December 15th at 1:00pm in the Winston Campus Elementary Gym. Only students eligible for the School Spelling Bee will be brining home an invite for their parents to attend.
The winner from each building participates in the District 15 Annual Spelling Bee which includes D15 students from grades 4 - 8. This year’s district bee will be held on Wednesday, February 1st, at 7:00PM. All School Bees will take place prior to Winter Break and comprehensive study guides will be provided to the District Participants (School Winners), prior to Winter Break.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee organization incorporates both spelling and vocabulary components in their competition. At District 15 we also have vocabulary rounds at the School and District levels of competition. Rounds 5, 10 and 15 will be vocabulary rounds. In those rounds, students will be given a word and two choices of the definition. Students who respond with the correct definition will continue on in the bee.
Please see the resources below. If you have any questions, or need help accessing the information, please contact your school coordinator. SPECIAL NOTE: Students can be asked to spell/define any word regardless of their current grade level.
Good Luck to all of our participants!
Resources
Scripps Spelling Bee website Parent Page
How to Study for a Spelling Bee, written by Dr. Jacques Bailly, Scripps National Spelling Bee announcer and former National Champion.
Dear District 15 Families,
As part of our regular Parent University series, District 15 has partnered with psychologist and educator Dr. Doug Bolton to speak with parents/guardians surrounding the growing mental health needs of our students. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns existed surrounding the overall well-being of school-age children as it relates to mental health needs. As we moved through the pandemic, practitioners saw a rise in such needs, as did our schools. That said, however, as challenging as the pandemic has been on so many of us, the disruption of this pandemic has pushed us all to find resilience during a time of remarkable uncertainty and stress.
That is why District 15 has partnered with Dr. Doug Bolton. He will share some of the valuable “lessons learned” about how to use stressful times to build resilience in our children because doing so will help them both now and in the future as they face unexpected challenges. We hope you are able to join us on Wednesday, December 14 at 6:30 p.m. for a presentation entitled: Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Children in a Post-pandemic World.
Dr. Doug Bolton is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Director of School Consultation for Formative Psychological Services. He has spent over 20 years as a psychologist and principal at North Shore Academy and at a K-12 therapeutic school in nearby Highland Park. Dr. Bolton provides consultation, supervision, and professional development to parents, educators, and clinicians throughout northern Illinois as he is passionately committed to creating communities that help foster student and staff resilience. District 15 leadership, as well as our certified staff, benefitted from a similar presentation by Dr. Bolton in August, and know you will find his presentation not only thought provoking, but useful in your role as parent/guardian.
Again, we hope you are able to join Dr. Bolton on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, for our final Parent University of 2022. The session will be held in the Walter R. Sundling Junior High Auditorium. The presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. and will include time for a Q & A.
Your partner in education,
Laurie Heinz
Superintendent of Schools
Winston Campus Elementary School PTA!
Our PTA provides vital support to our school, offering over 25 programs for our children and families. We are fortunate to have parent volunteers who can be seen each and every day working with students and supporting our school.
Please join the Winston Campus Elementary PTA! With your donation, you will become a part of an organization that helps support your child's school. Your PTA provides such programs as the Recreation Nights, the Science Fair, the Back to School Picnic, a Birthday Book for each child, the school calendar, and the monthly newsletter. Plus only PTA members will receive the school directory listing. Download and fill out the membership form, and get involved!
WCE PTA Fundraising Opportunities!
Save the Date: January 12 Multicultural Night!
Winston Campus Elementary School
Website: www.ccsd15.net/WCE
Location: 900 East Palatine Road, Palatine, IL, USA
Phone: 847-963-7500
Facebook: facebook.com/WCEaglesD15
Twitter: @WCEaglesD15