The Buzz at Westbrook School
March 5, 2021
From the Principal...
Dear Westbrook Families,
At last night’s Board of Education meeting, the decision was made to move to a full in-person model with a tentative start date of April 12th. Families will continue to have the option of keeping their child(ren) remote or moving from the hybrid model to the remote model. More communication will be coming from Dr. Aumiller regarding a description and implications of this change in learning models. All families will be asked to complete a form indicating the decision to have their child(ren) attend full in-person or to participate in remote learning. Families will also have the option of noting their preference to remain with the current teacher. If you have questions regarding the models, please don’t hesitate to reach out after receiving the communication from Dr. Aumiller. We are here to help!
Picture Day
We will be having Picture Day on March 16th and March 17th at Westbrook School! Please check your email for more information.
Making Learning Visible
At Westbrook, we strive to foster a deep love of learning within each of our students. John Hattie, an educational researcher, spent over 15 years analyzing the most effective teaching and learning strategies. He explained the importance of making teaching and learning visible. When learning is visible, the student knows what to do and how to do it. The teacher knows how learning is occurring and how to help students to continue to grow. Students can make their learning visible in a variety of ways: discussions, sharing their thinking on whiteboards, drawing, labeling pictures, singing, sharing work on Seesaw, self-assessing, and more! We can make our learning visible by asking questions, seeking feedback, articulating what we are learning and why, asking for help, and supporting our peers in learning new things!
Growth Mindset
We want our students to realize that effort and hard work helps our brains to grow!
The term “growth mindset” comes from Dr. Carol Dweck from Stanford University. People who have a “fixed mindset” believe that intelligence or talents are static. People who have a “growth mindset” believe that their talents and intelligence can grow! Research shows that through practice, our brains actually change! The neurons in our brains build new connections and strengthen others when we practice! We can make our brains strong by working hard, trying our best, and learning from our mistakes!
Wishing you and your family well,
Kristin Vonder Haar
Follow Us on Twitter and Instagram
Please follow us on Twitter and Instagram! Our username is: westbrook_school_d57
Our wonderful PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) also has an Instagram account! Their username is: westbrookpto
District 57's Next Superintendent
Upcoming Westbrook Dates
March 5 - Half Day 1st Grade Only - All Students Remote
March 5 - No School for Circle of Friends and Kindergarten
March 22- March 26 Spring Break, No School
March 29 - Classes Resume
March 31 - Westbrook PTO Meeting
April 2- No School - Buildings Closed
April 6 - Staff Institute Day - No School
PTO READ AWAY - MARCH
PTO READ AWAY
March Read Away Calendar
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