Cowlishaw News
11/5/2021
Parent Teacher Conferences
We are pleased to offer individualized parent/teacher conferences on Thursday, November 18th, or Monday, November 22nd. Conferences begin every 20 mins. All conferences on Thursday, Nov. 18 will be in-person. If you require an in-person conference, please select a time on Thursday. If a virtual conference can work for you, please select a time on Monday, Nov. 22nd. Parents may schedule conferences in Parent Vue starting on Wednesday, November 10th at 10:00 am until Tuesday, November 16th at 6:00 pm.
Here is the link to the scheduling tutorial video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0yh9Ktf9Sw
In the Fall, we would like every parent to meet with their homeroom teacher. Specialists that work with your child can be invited to the homeroom conference as needed. If you have a need to meet with a P.E., Art, Music teacher, or other specialists, please email them directly.
Covid Vaccine Clinic
Indian Prairie School District 204 and Naperville Community Unit School District 203 will offer an opportunity for children ages 5 - 11 to receive the COVID-19 vaccination on November 13 (dose 1) and December 4 (dose 2). The Pfizer vaccine will be offered.
Children ages 5 - 11 receiving the vaccine must have a parent/guardian accompany them. Please bring a form of identification with you on the day of the vaccine clinic. Register here.
The clinic will be held from 8 am - 3 pm at Kennedy Junior High School located at 2929 Green Trails Drive, Lisle, IL 60532.
Scholastic Fall Book Fair
Cowlishaw school is excited to host the 1st Book Fair in November. All proceeds help us purchase new books to add to our school library for all students to enjoy.
The in-person fair will be in our LMC from 11/8-11/12. Online shopping will start on 11/5 and will end on 11/18/2021.
1. Preview days for students will be Friday, Nov. 5th and Monday, November 8th . All students in Kindergarten – 5th grade will fill out a "Wish List" listing the books they would like to purchase. Please look for these "Wish Lists" to come home.
2. STUDENTS may shop our in-school fair during school hours. Parents, please send the Wish list back with your child with cash or a check made out to: Cowlishaw Elementary School. Please enclose the Wish list and the payment in an envelope/Ziplock bag so that nothing gets lost.
Don’t forget to calculate tax - the tax rate is 7.75%!
NEW DIGITAL PAYMENT OPTION – Scholastic secure eWallet. Cowlishaw eWallet
Parents may deposit funds in whole dollar amounts. This digital payment option can be used at the in-school Book Fair or online at the Virtual Book Fair, where you'll discover an expanded selection of over 5,000 products.
After the Fair, remaining eWallet funds are not returned to a credit card but instead, become a gift card balance that can be used online with Scholastic or to fund an eWallet for a future Book Fair.
3. PARENTS will not be allowed to enter the building to shop in-person. Parents may shop online using the secure Scholastic website Cowlishaw Book Fair
All orders will ship directly to your home with free shipping for orders over $25.00.
Thank you for your support!
Packages for Patriots
Cowlishaw will once again participate in Packages for Patriots from November 1st through November 11th. We will be collecting items for our soldiers. We will collect: Halloween candy, gum, nuts, trail mix, sunflower seeds, instant coffee, Chapstick, microwave popcorn, beef jerky, cans and bags of tuna and chicken salad kits, and Nissin Cup Noodles (not bags of Ramen). If you wish to participate, please send the items to school with your child.
Thank you for joining the Cowlishaw Koalas to support our soldiers!
Boundary Committee
At its April 12, 2021, meeting, the Indian Prairie Board of Education heard a presentation from RSP & Associates regarding the most recent enrollment study, which provided analysis through the 2025-26 school year. The firm previously conducted enrollment studies in 2012 and 2017 with a 98 percent accuracy on enrollment projections.
The district saw its highest enrollment levels in the 2008-09 school year with 29,570 students. Enrollment is projected to drop below 25,000 students in the 2025-26 school year. Over the next five years, the district's elementary enrollment will increase by approximately 220 students, and middle and high school enrollment will each decrease by 600 students. Declining enrollment is a trend occurring both regionally and nationally due to fewer children being born.
Of the district’s 21 elementary schools, four are expected to be over 100 percent capacity and 14 are expected to be under 75 percent capacity. Three middle schools are expected to be over 100 percent capacity while the remaining four middle schools are expected to be under 75 percent capacity. Metea Valley High School is currently over capacity and is expected to remain as such, while Neuqua Valley High School is expected to be under 75 percent capacity.
The Indian Prairie Board of Education determined a boundary review is necessary to balance enrollment in areas that are over or under capacity. A committee made up of community representatives from across the district was formed to help with the boundary adjustment planning. A series of boundary committee meetings, facilitated by RSP & Associates, were held beginning on July 7, 2021. The committee reviewed enrollment projections and building capacities, which led to suggestions of various concepts for development into boundary scenarios.
During the Boundary Community Forums, community members will hear from the district’s superintendent and school board president. RSP & Associates will present an overview of the boundary process, enrollment, and building capacities. Forum attendees will then have the opportunity to view boundary adjustment concepts, provide feedback and submit questions, followed by a public comment session. The community’s feedback will be incorporated into the final proposals that will be created and presented to the Board of Education for approval.
Public comment sign-up will be available beginning at 6:30 pm at each of the community forum locations. Due to the number of individuals expected to sign up, one minute per person will be allowed for public comment with a total time of 30 minutes. Individuals speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting will be allowed to speak at only one community forum giving the opportunity to speak to more people at the subsequent forums. If all first time speakers have had a chance to speak, then those who wish to repeat their comments at subsequent forums will be given a chance to speak.
The community forums will be held in the auditoriums at Indian Prairie’s three high schools on the following dates.
Monday, November 8, from 7 - 9 pm
Waubonsie Valley High School, Enter Door #33
Tuesday, November 9, from 7 - 9 pm
Neuqua Valley High School, Enter Door #7
Wednesday, November 10, from 7 - 9 pm
Metea Valley High School, Enter Door #1
Those unable to attend the forums will have online access to a video of the meeting presentation beginning Thursday, November 11, as well as the PDF map concepts and a survey feedback tool.
For more information on the boundary process, visit www.ipsd.org/boundaries.
Safety Drill
Per the School Safety Drill Act covered under Illinois Statute (105 ILCS 12/20), this notification is being provided to parents and guardians of students attending Cowlishaw. On 11/11/2021 at 2:00pm, Cowlishaw will conduct a lockdown drill that will include school staff, students, and Naperville law enforcement agency representative(s).
We understand that some parents/guardians may want to opt out of this type of drill for their child. As the parent/guardian of a student attending Cowlishaw, you have the option to exempt your child, for any reason, from the drill. If you choose to exempt your child from the drill, please notify Cowlishaw’s Title One Facilitator at (630) 428-6160 or email Nicole_jordan@ipsd.org no later than the day of the drill.Thank you for your continued support.
Stop*Walk*Talk
All students recently participated in a grade level lesson focused on the Stop-Walk-Talk strategy. Stop-Walk-Talk is designed to teach students how to stand up to behavior they feel is offensive or inappropriate. Stop-Walk-Talk consists of teaching students to use 3 simple and progressive steps to deal with problem behaviors.
STEP 1: Indicating through words and gesture to STOP
STEP 2: If the problem continues WALK away
STEP 3: If the problem continues after walking away, finally TALK with an adult
Students were also taught how to respond if they are given the “Stop” signal. The student receiving the “Stop” signal should immediately stop what he or she is doing, take a deep breath, and then go on with their day following the Cowlishaw Rules of Thumb.
Additionally, students were taught the difference between a problem behavior and bullying. The definition of bullying was presented as a behavior that occurs on more than one occasion, that involves a power differential, and causes one to feel unsafe. A problem behavior is something that makes you feel uncomfortable or annoyed.
The goals of the Stop Walk Talk lessons are:
To empower students
To promote self-advocacy and self-determination
To decrease bullying and bullying related issues in school
To promote a self-reliant, responsible, and safe climate and atmosphere
To remove barriers that interfere with positive peer interactions and academics
To create a positive school climate
PTA Updates
GiftMart
This year we will be once again collecting toys for under-resourced families in Indian Prairie School District 204!
By invitation, parents and/or guardians are invited to the Giftmart Toyshop where they can purchase new toys for $2.00 per toy. 100% of the proceeds made from the sale of each toy will be donated back to each invited school to fund much needed resources.
Please consider donating a new, unwrapped toy that is safe for children ages 6-12. No stuffed animals or board games, please. There will be a Giftmart Toy Box located inside of Metea and Waubonsie Valley High Schools, Granger, Crone, Gregory and Fischer Middle Schools, and in Cowlishaw, Fry, Graham, Georgetown, Gombert, Kendall, May Watts, McCarty, Owen, Patterson, Petterson, Welch, and Young Elementary Schools from November 6th – December 6th.
Thank you for your generosity and participation!
Toy Wish List Attached
Amazon Link: https://a.co/9kmzGaCowlishaw Birthday Book Club Is Back!!!
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A FUN WAY TO HONOR YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY?
Cowlishaw’s LMC has the answer! Donating a book to Cowlishaw’s LMC helps to build our library collection and make your child feel special at the same time.
At some time during the month of your child’s birthday, we will invite your child to come down to the LMC and choose a book from the birthday cart. If your child’s birthday is in June, July or August, we will invite him or her to come down to the LMC during the month of his or her half birthday. There will be a flat $10.00 price for each book.
When your child chooses a book, we take his/her picture to put in the front of the book with a bookplate commemorating the donation. Your child’s name will go up on the Birthday Book Club bulletin board in the LMC, and your child will be the first to check out the book he/she chose! What an opportunity!
The registration for Cowlishaw’s Birthday Book club can be found in the PushCoin Webstore.
Please see the document below if you need help with accessing the Webstore:
How to access the IPSD Webstore
Thank you for considering this program!
It’s a great way for your child to feel special and to support the Cowlishaw LMC at the same time.
Lunch and Breakfast Service
This year, we will continue to provide a grab and go style lunch at no charge to all Cowlishaw students. Please visit the IPSD website for more information on the free meal program and for menu options.
Elementary School Hours
Regular Hours:
Arrival: Doors open at 8:50. Bell rings at 9:05. Students should be in class and ready to learn at 9:05.
Dismissal: 3:35 Every Day
WEDNESDAY Hours
Arrival on Wednesdays ONLY-Doors open at 9:00 and bell rings at 9:15.
Dismissal: 3:35
Cowlishaw Koalas
Email: sarah_maldonado@ipsd.org
Website: http://cowlishaw.ipsd.org/
Location: 1212 Sanctuary Lane, Naperville, IL, USA
Phone: 630.428.6100
Twitter: @cowlishawkoalas