Watts Summer Gazette
The May Watts Elementary School Summer Newsletter- Volume 11
State of May Watts
Past
To say that the past two years have been challenging is an understatement. Regardless of who you are, how old you are or where you are from, the pandemic took its toll on all of us. By the end of last year, however, we started to see a more typical school setting and we are all hopeful that we will see that trend remain throughout this year.
Fortunately, the impact of the pandemic was not always negative. We were forced to step outside our comfort zones, especially in the teaching profession, which allowed us to grow instructionally. One of the biggest changes was with how we teach and manage the social-emotional well-being of the students. The Second Step social-emotional learning curriculum became instrumental in our efforts to bring kids back into school. Additionally, we added the Zones of Regulation, which is a program designed to help students identify and manage their emotions. There is no question that the students returned with social-emotional challenges, but we were up to the task.
Through it all, we continued to have the unwavering support of the May Watts parents and PTA. The partnership between home and school was evident and was key to the success of our students. Parents worked with us as we navigated all of the constraints presented to us by Covid protocols while maintaining a high level of support for their children at home.
The PTA did everything that it could to bring back as many of the events as possible and we were able to reap the benefits of past contribution. All you need to do is walk by the front of the school to see our new wolverine statue or enter the building to see the new mural on the wall of the foyer. Thank you to all of you!
Present
As the school year is about to begin, we are looking forward to focusing more on curriculum and instruction. Student SEL needs will still be met through the Second Step and Zones of Regulations programs, but, at the same time, we are excited to implement a new social studies curriculum and to continue our focus on equity and small group instruction, particularly in the area of reading.
We eagerly await the reinstatement of such iconic PTA events such as the Fun Run, Science Fair and Multicultural Night that provide students with more opportunities to commiserate, learn and show off their many talents. The district is also investing in capital improvements to make our physical plant more comfortable when they install air-conditioning in the LMC and fun when they renovate the playground next summer.
All in all, it looks like full steam ahead this year, so buckle your seat belts and enjoy the more familiar ride!
Future
This will be my final year as a public school educator. I have been blessed to be a part of this wonderful school community for the past several years and it has been my pleasure to serve as the principal. Our school is diverse, vibrant, positive, rigorous and fun. This is largely due to the work of the incredible teachers who come to work each day with a love for students and a high level of expertise. When you add the incredible support provided by our parent community, there is no doubt in my mind that the school will continue to flourish regardless of who assumes the principalship next year.
Thank you to all of you who have allowed me to be a part of something special. I will miss you all and will always reflect on my time at Watts with happiness and satisfaction.
GO WOLVERINES!!!
What Is the Latest Guidance for Schools?
Important School Start-up Dates and Times
8/4/22: New Family Orientation (6:00-8:00 PM)
- Any incoming kindergartner and parents (6:00-6:45 PM)
- All new first through fifth grade students and parents (7:00-7:45 PM)
- Please enter through Door #2 and proceed to the gymnasium for a short welcome by Principal LeCrone
8/9/22: KDG Screening by appointment (9:00AM-12:00 PM)
8/12/22: Class Lists Available on ParentVUE @ 4:00 PM
8/15/22: Institute Day (No classes)
8/15/22: Meet and Greet (9:00-9:45 AM)
8/16/22: Institute Day (No classes)
8/17/22: Teacher Workday (No classes)
8/18/22: Classes begin for students in grades 1-5
8/18/22: KDG Appointments (9:30 for last names A-L; 10:15 for last names M-Z)
8/19/22: First Full Day for KDG
8/30/22: PTA Sponsored Ice Cream Social (6:30-8:00 PM)
9/5/22: No School- Labor Day
9/6/22: No School– Institute Day
9/13/22: Student Pictures
9/15/22: Curriculum Night (6:30-8:00 PM)
9/22/22: PTA General Membership Meeting (7:00 PM)
Class Assignments 2022-2023 Available on ParentVUE
Students and parents can find out class assignments by accessing ParentVUE on Friday, August 12, 2022 after 4:00 PM. Once you log into ParentVUE, click on the category on the left called "Class Schedule" where you will be able to view your child's teacher assignment.
Meet and Greet
Kindergarten- Door 11
First Grade- Door 1
Second Grade- Door 11
Third Grade- Door 1
Fourth Grade- Door 1 (for students in Rooms 124 and 125)
Fourth Grade- Door 11 (for students in Rooms 126 and 127)
Fifth Grade- Door 3
Monday, Aug 15, 2022, 09:00 AM
May Watts Elementary School, South Whispering Hills Drive, Naperville, IL, United States
New Family Orientation
All incoming Kindergartners and any first through fifth graders new to the May Watts community may bring their parents to an orientation on Thursday, August 4, 2022. KDG students and parents are welcome between 6:00 and 6:45 PM. New students in first through fifth grade are welcome between 7:00 and 7:45 PM. Please enter through Door 2 and proceed to the gym where Mr. LeCrone will welcome you and introduce you to some staff members. A member of the May Watts Parent-Teacher Organization will also provide information about how they support the school and how you can get involved. Following the introductions, students and their parents will participate in a special activity that will allow them to gain a better understanding of the building. Please note that new families who are attending Watts due to the boundary changes were offered this same orientation in the Spring. Please plan on joining us, however, if you were unable to attend the previous orientation.
Kindergarten Orientation
All Kindergartners are invited to attend a short orientation on Thursday, August 18, 2022. Parents should plan on attending the half-hour orientation session with their child. Students with a last name that begins with A-L should come at 9:30 a.m. and students with a last name that begins with M-Z should come at 10:15 a.m. Please do not send your child on the bus on August 18th. The first full day of attendance for Kindergarten students is Friday, August 19, 2022.
PTA Ice Cream Social
All families are invited to a whole-school Ice Cream Social on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 from 6:30-8:00 PM. The PTA-sponsored event will be held on the playground and blacktop behind the school. Please come help us celebrate the beginning of the new year with a complimentary sweet treat or two!
The Three Watts Core Values
In an effort to promote positive behavior across all school settings, the students at Watts will be introduced to the Three Watts Core Values:
Be Safe
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Mini-lessons relating to our social-emotional learning curriculum (Second Step) will take place weekly throughout the school year to assist in formal instruction of positive, expected behaviors as a requirement to meet the Illinois State Emotional Learning Standards. During the first days of school, all students will participate in a school-wide rotation to learn the behavioral expectations and procedures of each common area within the school (e.g., LMC, hallways, bathrooms, arrival/departure, etc.). Additionally, a component of the Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (P.B.I.S.) system is reinforcing students that demonstrate positive behaviors within school. Your student can earn rewards for their great behavior. Make sure to ask your children what that looks like!
Arrival and Dismissal Information
May Watts Elementary School was built as a "walking" school, so parking and pick-up areas are not ideal, but we have tried to address some of the issues for the optimal safety of our students. Please read and follow the procedures below.
Kiss and Ride
1. The "Kiss and Ride" zone is the diamond marked Drop-Off zone located in front of the school on Whispering Hills Drive. If driving your child to school, you may "kiss" him/her good-bye. The child may then exit from the passenger side of your vehicle. The Kiss and Ride zone extends south to Ambleside Circle.
2. There is ONE drop-off line for the entire Drop-Off zone. Students can be dropped off anywhere in the diamond-marked drop-off area. You do not have to be at the front of the drop-off zone.
3. Once the student is clear of your car, use your turn signal and exit carefully into traffic on Whispering Hills Drive. You do not have to drive through the entire zone after dropping off students.
4. DO NOT:
- enter the drop-off zone at Parkfield Ct. You must enter the drop-off zone where it begins near Ambleside Circle and pull forward as far as possible to the car in front of you.
- pull into the zone in front of other vehicles already in the Kiss and Ride zone.
- stop in or block the back parking lot driveway
- leave your vehicle. Parked cars may be ticketed
5. It is illegal to make a U-turn or use a cell phone in a school zone.
School Drives
Cars may not enter the front circle drive or the back drive between 8:15 and 9:20 a.m. and 3:15 and 4:00 p.m. This includes parents who are picking up children early from school, so plan accordingly. It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus, even in our driveway and parking lot. The license plate numbers of violators will be turned into the police department.
Crossing Guards
PLEASE DO NOT CROSS WHISPERING HILLS DRIVE WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A CROSSING GUARD! We have crossing guards positioned in two spots near the school. It is the law that drivers obey these crossing guards. When a crossing guard is in the intersection, all drivers at the intersection must stop. Please be kind to our crossing guards who give such valuable service for the safety of our children.
Parking
Please adhere to the procedures outlined by the posted signs to determine valid parking spaces. Curbs that are painted red indicate no parking zones. Violators may be ticketed.
Dogs
Finally, please avoid bringing your dog to school during student pick up time. Our front sidewalks and grassy areas are very congested at the end of the day. With all of the excitement of dismissal time we are putting children, including younger siblings of Watts students, at risk of being bitten by one of the number of dogs that accompany owners.
PushCoin Payment Platform
Indian Prairie School District 204 uses PushCoin as a single payment platform with the following user-friendly features:
- Mobile-friendly website
- Free electronic funding option with eCheck
- Email notifications with detailed purchase information
- Low account balance alerts
- Ability to check your student’s transaction history
- Transfer funds between students within the same family
Parents/guardians will be required to create a user account in PushCoin prior to using the new system. Instructions for signing up and registering your child to your account are at the link below. Instructions are also posted at Online Fee Payments.
2022-2023 School Meal Information
Child nutrition programs have been essential throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring kids continued to get the nutrition they need. We understand the coming school year will be a significant transition for families as we return to pre-pandemic meal programs with paid, free, and reduced-priced eligibilities for students. Children need healthy meals to learn. Indian Prairie School District 204 offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.60; High and Middle School lunch costs $2.80; and Elementary School lunch cost $2.75.
Schools had federal flexibilities during COVID so they could serve all kids free meals. Some of those options expired, so we can no longer serve all meals free anymore. Instead, families will do what they did before COVID. The school district will take applications and use family income to qualify kids for free, reduce-price, or paid meals. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price is $0.30 for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, use the Household Eligibility Application, found here. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information.
Schools are also facing the same challenges many grocery stores and other places are having with getting all the food and supplies they need. When this happens, school nutrition professionals are doing everything they can to serve healthy meals to your child. Sometimes that means needing to swap out some foods for others because some foods are easier to get. School meals must meet strong nutrition standards, and we are continuing to work hard to serve students the nutritious, delicious meals they need to learn and grow. Please be patient with the school nutrition professionals striving to serve our kids. They are committed to making sure our kids get the healthy meals they depend on.
Bus Transportation Information
In order to find your child’s bus stop location and pick up times, you will need to log into ParentVUE, click on "Student Info" on the left navigation menu and scroll to bottom to find "Transportation Information". Students should be at the assigned bus stop at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled pick up time.
All students who live over 1 ½ miles from Watts will be bussed. If your child will not be taking the bus because of day care arrangements and/or if you are driving them daily, please submit a written letter or email to the office so we know not to place your child on the bus.
Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Staff Who Are Changing Schools or Positions
Good luck to Ann Covert and Angie Kiselyk as they transition from several years as teachers in fifth and first grade respectively, to our second grade team!
New Staff
Retirees
Curriculum Night
Curriculum Night has been scheduled for Thursday, September 15, 2022 from 6:30-8:00 PM. Mr. LeCrone will provide an overview of the school year and classroom teachers will provide an overview of the curriculum and general classroom information for the upcoming school year. Curriculum Night will be an in-person event.
Thursday, Sep 15, 2022, 06:30 PM
May Watts Elementary School, 800 South Whispering Hills Drive, Naperville, IL 60565
Other Important Tidbits
- Though all of our classrooms are air-conditioned, the first few weeks of school can be quite warm. Please consider sending your child to school with a spill-proof water bottle each day for a little relief from the heat (water bottles can actually be brought into school at any time). Students should also dress comfortably and appropriately.
- Remember, Kindergarten students as well as all students who are new to the Illinois Public School System are required to have current physical and vision exams, prior to the first day of school.
- Dental exams are required for students entering grade K and 2.
- The building principal, Mr. LeCrone, sends out a weekly newsletter, Principal's News, during the school year that will be sent as a Connect-Ed email notification.
- More information about the policies and procedures at Watts can be found online in the Parent Handbook.
- All visitors are required to buzz in at the main door (Door #1). After buzzing in, a visitor will be asked to state their name and purpose for entering the school building. Once the visitor has gained entry into the building, he/she should stop in the main office for assistance. Any visitor who would like access to the building while school is in session will need to obtain a badge from the office. In order to print a badge, our secretaries will need a form of identification (e.g. drivers license) so that it can be scanned into the Raptor system. Thank you in advance for adhering to our entrance policies in order to ensure the safety of our students and staff members.
May Watts Elementary School
Email: brian_lecrone@ipsd.org
Website: watts.ipsd.org
Location: 800 S Whispering Hills Dr, Naperville, IL, United States
Phone: (630) 428-6700