The Buzz at Westbrook
November 15, 2019
From the Principal...
Dear Westbrook Families,
Parent-Teacher Conferences:
Thank you to all of the families that were able to attend our conferences! We look forward to seeing many of you next week for our last day on November 19. We strongly value our partnership with you in supporting your child and helping him or her to flourish! I hope you found this experience to be valuable. Please take a moment to share your feedback by taking this short survey.
Erin’s Law
As you may know, Erin’s Law mandates that sexual abuse prevention education for public school children in Illinois and many other states across the country. More information about Erin’s Law can be found by clicking here. Mrs. Ryno, our social worker, will be presenting a developmentally-appropriate lesson on this topic to each classroom beginning on the week of December 3rd.
Our early childhood and kindergarten classes will hear the book Your Body Belongs to You by Cornelia Spelman. This book shares the message that a child’s body is his or her own in developmentally appropriate language. Our first grade classes will hear the book It’s MY Body by Lory Freeman. Mrs. Ryno will lead all classes in a brief discussion that is designed to empower and educate students and will cover the following concepts:
Safe touch vs. unsafe touch
The safety rule (No one should touch your private parts except to keep you clean and healthy)
Secrets
Saying no
Identifying and learning to tell safe, trusted adults
When someone breaks the safety rule, it is not the child’s fault
If you have questions about the content of the program, please feel free to contact me at kvonderhaar@d57.org or Lisa Ryno at lryno@d57.org.
All students will be included in the sexual abuse prevention programs, unless a parent or guardian contacts me to request that their child not participate. Please notify me of this decision via email by Wednesday, November 20th, so we can arrange an alternate plan for your child.
PTO Acknowledgements
Thank you to Jacki Kochanski, Kristen Benwitz, Sarah Deitch, and Katlyn Lubrano, the Staff Appreciation Team, for coordinating dinners for the Westbrook Staff during conferences. Thank you to our PTO LRC Chairperson, Jen Slesicki, and to all of the wonderful parent volunteers who have helped to make our Book Fair successful! Every single Westbrook Student will receive a book from the Book Fair, thanks to the generosity of the Westbrook PTO. Thank you to Rachael Boris for helping to coordinate our first Family Connections Night tonight! We look forward to seeing many of you there!
It’s still not too late to become a member. Click here to become a member!
Westbrook Professional Learning
At our last staff meeting, we continued our discussion about Conscious Discipline. In the book, Dr. Bailey discusses the importance of downloading calm in ourselves first before helping students calm down and access executive thinking skills by using the following steps:
Upload calm into your body.
Mirror and notice the child’s body language. “Your _____ is going like this (demonstrate).”
When the child makes eye contact, take a slow, deep breath.
Offer the child choices or provide specific instructions.
Click here for more information about Conscious Discipline.
Instagram & Twitter
Please follow us on Instagram and Twitter! Our username is: westbrook_d57.
Have a warm weekend!
Kind regards,
Kristin Vonder Haar
A Note from the Nurse
Do you have a picky eater?
Having a fruit or veggie as a snack at Westbrook is helping students get on the right track toward healthy eating. Please click HERE to read some helpful tips from the Mayo Clinic.
Remember...set a good example and choose the proper food for good health.
Enjoy your weekend!
Julie Tworek, RN
Westbrook School Nurse
Westbrook Office Reminders!
Let’s start the day on time!
Doors open at 9:10am for AM classes and 1st grade
Doors open at 1:10pm for our PM classes
To report an absence:
Parents are able to fill out an online form to report a student absence from Westbrook. Click here: https://www.d57.org/ReportanAbsence.aspx
Another option is to call the attendance line: 847-394-7340 press #1 to leave a message.
Student Dismissal changes: It is very important to receive your child’s change in dismissal as early as possible.
Please email the office (wb-office@d57.org) and your teacher with changes to your child’s dismissal plan.
If it is late in the day, please call our office 847-394-7340
Cold Weather
Friendly reminder to please label jackets, hats, gloves, boots, etc, so if lost, they can easily be returned!
Westbrook Calendar:
November 19.....................................................................................Parent - Teacher Conferences
November 15.............................................................................................Report Cards Distributed
November 15..........................................................PTO Family Fun Night - Animal Quest 6:30pm
November 20...............................................................................................PTO Meeting, LRC, 7pm
November 21...............................................................Board of Education Meeting, Fairview, 7pm
November 25-29............................................................................Thanksgiving Break - No School
December 2.............................................................................................................Classes Resume
December4.................................................................................................1st Grade Special Lunch
December 5.................................................................Board of Education Meeting, Fairview, 7pm
December 10.......................................................................Ed Foundation Meeting, Fairview, 7pm
December 18.............................................................................................. PTO Meeting, LRC, 7pm
December19..................Board of Education Meeting and Pubic Hearing on Levy, Fairview, 7pm
December 23-January 3...........................................................................Winter Break - No School
January 6................................................................................................................Classes Resume
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