Westbrook School
May 8, 2020
From the Principal...
Dear Westbrook Families,
This week we celebrated Staff Appreciation and Nurse Appreciation Day! We are so fortunate to have such compassionate and hard-working professionals working with our children! It is an honor to be a part of the Westbrook family. We want to thank our incredible PTO for making our staff feel so special this week.
We have been busy planning for the end of the year. More information regarding supply pick-up and drop-off will be coming soon!
This is a friendly reminder that this coming Monday, like other Mondays, are teacher planning days. While your children are provided with work, the teachers are not available for questions on those days. Our teachers would be happy to answer any questions that you may have the following day!
Thank you again for your partnership! We feel so fortunate!
*Families, please remember to continue to take attendance by noon each day of remote learning. Thank you!
Parent/Guardian 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 2020-21 school year, please share it with me using this online form no later than May 15.
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.
Support and Resources for Families in Need
One of the things I love most about the Westbrook community is how people care about one another. Many parents and staff have asked me how they can best help during this difficult time for many of our families. We now have a very practical way to help. If you are in a position to do so, please consider donating some money using this form that will be given to D57 families in need. If you find your family in need of support, please fill out this form to request assistance.
Staff Appreciation - DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 13th
Karl Anderson, assistant principal, and I would also like to do something for our Westbrook team! We feel so lucky to have such a wonderful staff, and we want to do something extra special for them. We want to create a video to show how much they mean to us. WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are looking for volunteers who would be willing to answer one the questions below on camera and send us the short video:
What makes your child's teacher special?
Why is Westbrook special to your child or your family?
What is one thing that you appreciate about the teachers or staff at Westbrook?
What is one thing that you will remember about Westbrook?
It's super easy and will only take a few minutes! We want to keep this a secret from our teachers, so please don't tell anyone! If you are willing to help us, please email your video to kvonderhaar@d57.org. Include STAFF APPRECIATION in the subject of your email. Please submit videos by May 13th.
Golden Apple Nominations for Excellence in Teaching
Are there Pre-K–3rd grade teachers at your school who deserve recognition for superior service to your students, school, and community? With so much change in the world of education affecting school communities right now, say thanks to a teacher going above and beyond for students at your school with a Golden Apple Award nomination. Honor an outstanding Pre-K–3rd grade teacher by nominating them for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching today: https://www.goldenapple.org/nominate-a-teacher
Supporting D57 Music Students
Please support our students with a donation to District 57 Music Scholarships NFP. We provide scholarships to music students whose families need financial assistance with instrument rental, registration fees, private lessons, or any other costs associated with their participation in our school district's music ensembles. Since we can't raise funds at school concerts this year, this is our only means to meet what we anticipate will be a greater need next fall. Thank you for your generosity!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-our-music-students
Has Your Family Recently Moved or Are you Planning on Moving?
Planning for the 2020-21 school year is underway! If your child will not be returning to Westbrook for the 2020-21 school year, please email wb-office@d57.org. (This does not include 1st graders going to Lions Park or Fairview.)
Read Alouds
Our Westbrook staff will continue to add to our growing list of read alouds on our YouTube playlist. Please click here to access the playlist.
Instagram & Twitter
Are you following us? We have been so proud of our students for all the work that they have put in at home during this time. Please follow us! Our username is: westbrook_d57.
We are so grateful for the strong partnership that we have with our families. Have a lovely weekend!
We wish you and your family well. Happy Mother's Day!
Kristin Vonder Haar
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