What's Up Willowbrook
Back-to-School 2023 Edition
Principals' welcome
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we gear up for another school year, it's exciting to think that the first day of classes is just around the corner. On behalf of the dedicated faculty at Willowbrook School, we extend a warm invitation for you to explore our ePacket for the 2023-24 school year.
This year’s school theme is "Be Kind. Be Brave. Belong." Our aim is to instill in our Wildcats the power of kindness, the significance of embracing challenges with bravery, and the value of cultivating a sense of belonging within their school community. We encourage our students to forge new friendships, collaborate, and appreciate the unique qualities each individual brings. Through this theme, we empower our students to develop positive character traits and foster an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and respected.
Please note the change in our school day arrival and dismissal; Starting this year, children will be in attendance from 8:40 a.m.- 3:20 p.m. each day. School will commence on Wednesday, August 23 with the regular schedule for grades 1-5. Preschool and kindergarten students will have scheduled orientation visits on this day, and their first full day will be Thursday, August 24.
We encourage you to stay updated with school news and events through our weekly newsletter, "What's Up Willowbrook." This primary communication tool is sent via email every Friday. Furthermore, you can also find news and updates on our district website. Don't forget to visit the PTO website to sign up for exciting events and volunteer opportunities.
We sincerely appreciate your attention to the information included in this ePacket. Education is a shared responsibility, and your involvement plays a crucial role in fostering a successful learning environment. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Wishing you a fantastic new year ahead!
Scott R. Carlson, Ed.D.
Principal
847-498-1090
Erik Brekke
Assistant Principal & Assistant Director of Student Services
Important dates
Thursday, August 17
- Classroom teacher assignments available in Parent Portal
Friday, August 18
- PTO registration opens
Monday, August 21
- PTO Outdoor Movie Night - 8:00-10:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 22
- School supply drop-off and Meet the Teacher (grades 1-5) - 12:30-1:30 p.m.
- New student orientation - 1:30-2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 23
- First day of school (grades 1-5) 8:40 a.m.
- Preschool supply drop-off and Meet the Teacher:
Morning preschool students may visit between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.
Afternoon preschool students may visit between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
- Kindergarten supply drop-off and Meet the Teacher 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Your classroom teacher will send you a specific 30-minute time slot on August 18
Monday, August 28
- Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing window opens (grades 1-8)
Tuesday, August 29
- PTO Ice Cream Social 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 31
- Curriculum Night 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 7
- Picture day
September 27
Superintendent Dr. Emily Tammaru's "Conversation with the Community" open houses – 12:00-1:00 pm. & 6:00-7:00 p.m.
NEW school hours and absence policy
School day hours increase
We have increased the length of the elementary school day from 8:40 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. This extra 10 minutes allows for the required 30 minutes of unstructured play during lunch and returns 10 minutes of instruction to the school day.
Half day dismissal time is 11:45 a.m
Report absences through Parent Portal
For the 2023-24 school year, all parents must report student absences, late arrivals or early departures through the Parent Portal. Please do not contact the Health Office, School Office, or classroom teacher via phone or email.
For a step-by-step guide on how to report an absence, click here. Please be sure to include as much detail as possible when entering the reason for the absence.
If no information is in the Parent Portal by 10 a.m. and a student is absent, the school will attempt to contact a parent or guardian.
If the absence is medically involved, please report the absence first in the Parent Portal. Following this, you are welcome to contact the school Health Office to communicate with the nurse about the condition.
Questions? Please contact the front desk.
More handbook highlights
REMINDER ON STUDENT ATTENDANCE: Willowbrook will place an emphasis on student attendance this year; we ask for your help in making sure all students arrive on time (8:40 a.m.) and are ready to begin learning. We will also be tracking each student's attendance, as missing 10% or more of the school year results in your student being designated as chronically absent. Therefore it is important to only keep your child home when they are sick. Vacations and appointments should be scheduled on days when school is not in session.
Classroom assignments
Teacher assignments will be available within PowerSchool's parent portal by the end of the day on Thursday, August 17. You will receive an email from the district with login information. The staff spends a great deal of time developing class lists and many factors are weighed in those decisions. Our primary goal is to create a balance that will produce a productive learning environment in each classroom. Student placements are considered final.
Health exam requirements
For all students new to District 30, state regulations require a State of Illinois Health Examination Form completed within the last 12 months. This must be on file in the health office prior to the first day of school. If your child does not have a Health Examination Form on file with all current immunizations, your child could be excluded from school.
Kindergarten students are also required to have a completed State of Illinois Eye Examination Form by October 15. The exam must have been performed on or after August 23, 2022, one year from the start of school.
Dental examinations are required for all Kindergarten and grade 2 students. Examinations must be completed within 18 months of the May 15, 2024 deadline. These forms can be obtained from the health office and are also available on our website. If you have questions, please call the front office at 847-498-1090.
If your student requires medication or a health care plan, please click here to download all of the necessary forms. If forms are not completed by the opening of school, we will abide by the health care plan from the previous year for those students with life-threatening food allergies or medical conditions.
New staff
Willowbrook welcomes 11 new staff members! Please give a warm Willowbrook welcome to:
- Dr. Emily Tammaru, Superintendent of Schools
- Erik Brekke, Assistant Director of Student Services & Willowbrook Assistant Principal
- Phoebe Cruz, Office Receptionist
- Sandie von Holst, Office Clerk
- Alexis Walley, Learning Behavior Specialist
- Marni Price, Learning Behavior Specialist
- Danna Hirsch, Instructional Assistant
- Evie Ligka, Instructional Assistant
- Kristen Naber, Instructional Assistant
- Martine Reif, Math Specialist
- Jess Boraca, Inclusion Specialist
School supply drop-off
Our teachers will be occupied with meetings and other preparations outside of this window. Therefore, if you are unable to visit within this window, you may simply send your student to school the following day with their supplies. Please note that NEW student orientation will commence at 1:30 p.m., immediately after the supply drop-off. A separate invitation will be sent to these students.
REMINDER: It's not too late to order your 2023-24 school supplies from School Tool Box. If you'd rather do the shopping, print a supply list before you go!
MAP testing
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing is August 28 - September 18
Following the start of the 2023-24 school year, the district's online adaptive assessment, Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), will be administered to all students in grades 1-8. The MAP testing window will open on August 28 and run through September 18. Students in grades 2-8 will take two assessments: reading and mathematics. Grade 1 will take mathematics only. Please check with your child's teacher about their testing schedule so there are no conflicts if appointments need to be scheduled during this time.
These assessment results will continue to be used (1) by teachers to assist them in differentiating lessons in reading/language arts and mathematics; as well as (2) to measure student academic growth. Students' fall assessment reports will be made available to parents later in the school year.
Curriculum Night
Our Curriculum Night will be held on Thursday, August 31. We invite all parents to attend this informative evening session. Please note - children do not attend this event.
The first round of classroom presentations begin at 6:00 p.m. for 3rd through 5th grade. A general presentation by the building leaders will be held in the school gym at 6:35 p.m., followed by classroom presentations for preschool through 2nd grade at 7:00 p.m.
- 6:00-6:30 p.m. Grade 3 - 5 classroom presentations
- 6:35-6:55 p.m. Principal presentation in the gym
- 7:00-7:30 p.m. PreK-2 classroom presentations
Each classroom teacher will provide an overview of the grade-level curriculum, teacher expectations, and projected activities for the year. If you are not attending a classroom presentation, please consider visiting music, art, physical education, library, or related service personnel.
Meet Superintendent Dr. Emily Tammaru
Join her for 'Conversations with the Community'
District 30's new Superintendent, Dr. Emily Tammaru, invites all who live within Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 boundaries to join her and a member of the Board of Education for "Conversations with the Community" at on Wednesday, September 27 at 12:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. at our district offices, 2374 Shermer Road in Northbrook.
You are welcome to ask questions and share more with her about what matters to you in our schools. Registration is not required, but you may RSVP to either time below to help us plan to accommodate attendance.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you September 27!
Bus transportation
First Student provides transportation for District 30 students. The types of services and fees approved by the Board of Education can be found at Transportation Services/Parents. For all transportation needs, please contact First Student at 847-724-7200.
Student arrival, dismissal and safety
Students should plan on arriving at school between 8:30 and 8:40 a.m. (outdoor supervision does not begin until 8:30 a.m.). Staff supervisors will open school doors at 8:40 a.m. and the tardy bell rings at 8:50 a.m. Students who arrive after the tardy bell must get a pass from the office before reporting to the classroom.
We ask students to enter and exit the building at their grade-level assigned entrance. Students should be picked up promptly after school, as outdoor staff supervision ends at 3:40 p.m. Please call the front desk if you will be delayed.
Car safety
Car drop-off and pick-up for kindergarten through 5th grade is in the front of the school (not on Happy Hollow Road). Preschool drop-off and pick-up, and the loading of school buses are in the back of the school. Please follow the guidance of our staff at drop-off and pick-up. They are there to ensure student safety and to facilitate a smooth flow of traffic.
No left turns are allowed into the circular drive at any time. Enter the drive from the east.
For your child’s safety, students should ONLY exit on the passenger side of the car. Parents should remain in the driver’s seat.
Drop-off and pickup on the inner circle only. Do not double park.
Children should remain in their seats until the car comes to a complete stop.
There is no parking in the circular drive from 8:30-9:00 a.m. and 3:10-3:40 p.m.
Parents should not park in the staff parking lot when dropping off or picking up their children.
Drivers should turn off engines when they arrive at school and when they expect to be parked.
Cell phone usage is not permitted within the school zone.
Crossing guards
The Glenview Police Department will continue to post a crossing guard from 8:00-8:45 a.m. and 3:00-4:00 p.m. at Pfingsten Road and Keenan Lane. We strongly encourage students to cross at Keenan if they walk or ride a bike from/to the west of Pfingsten. There will also be a crossing guard at the intersection of Greenwood and Happy Hollow Road from 8:20-8:45 a.m. and 3:00-3:45 p.m.
School visitor policy
All visitors to the building must check in at the front desk to receive a visitor badge or lanyard. Any approved volunteer must submit a driver’s license to complete the check in process and be allowed to enter the school building. This practice also extends to parents who may wish to visit with their children at recess. We consider the playground to be an extension of the school property and our recess supervisors are expected to refer all adults/visitors to the front desk.
Quest lunch service
Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 continues its partnership with Quest Food Management Services to provide quality food services to your student. We are happy to offer a preorder system via myMealOrder!
- The meal will consist of an entree, side, fresh fruit, and vegetable, including milk or water.
- All orders must be placed at least 3 days in advance.
Visit mymealorder.com to open an account, learn more about our preorder system, and view the menu.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ashley Jenkins, Food Service Director for Quest at ajenkins@questfms.com.
Child care
District 30 has an Intergovernmental Agreement with Northbrook Park District that allows before- and after-school care to students in K-5th grade at Willowbrook School. District 30 provides the facility while the park district provides the program and staff management with all revenues going to the park district.
This Adventure Campus Program offers the ability to participate in before- and/or after-school care on days when school is in session and on select teacher institute days, conference days, and holidays.
Contact the Northbrook Park District at 847-291-2995 or visit their webpage nbparks.org for more information.
After-school clubs
Willowbrook School offers a variety of staff-sponsored clubs during the school year. These clubs are inspired by staff interest/passion and are free to students. However, space is limited. Clubs run from 3:20 to 4:20 p.m. for a period of 8 to 16 sessions. The fall club sign-up window is from August 28 to September 6.
'What's Up Willowbrook' & staying connected
What's Up Willowbrook is a communication that our school sends out weekly to families and staff on Fridays. All copies will be sent electronically to the email addresses that families previously provided us using the online registration system. By now, you should have completed the online registration process so that you can receive all of our school's communications. The next issue will be emailed on Friday, August 25. Please contact the office if you do not receive this edition by Saturday, August 26. What's Up Willowbrook is also posted on the district website.
Important information is sent home throughout the year in What's Up Willowbrook so please make sure to take the time to read each week's issue. We don't want anyone to miss out on seeing notices about current or upcoming events at the school.
Other ways to stay connected with what's happening in our schools include:
Willowbrook School
Main Office: 847-498-1090
Health Office: 847-400-8860
Location: 2500 Happy Hollow Road, Glenview, IL, USA
Website: district.30.org/willowbrook
Facebook: facebook.com/ngsd
Twitter: @district30