Newsletter
October 2018
A Note from the Principal
Dear KG Parents,
There is a new feeling of excitement at KG this school year. I view it on a daily basis, especially today as I’m writing this on the eve of our first school dance of the year. We’ve made many positive changes within the school. The additions of nearly twenty new students, two new teachers, and new school schedule have the hallways buzzing. Hopefully, your kids are noticing the difference as well. Our goal is to do things differently than we’ve done in the past.
We have expanded several opportunities this school year to encourage students to get involved depending on their interests including:
Fifth Graders being eligible to participate in junior high athletics
Reinstituting the Math Team for grades sixth through eighth
Creation of the Robotics Club for grades fourth through eighth
Girls’ Night and Boys’ Night activities after school
The month of October is filled with informational presentations on health and safety awareness for our students. We have fire safety, bus safety, and earthquake preparedness drills during the month to help ensure our students know what to do in these types of emergencies. Hopefully, we will never have to encounter such situations at school, but the recent hurricane is a reminder that we have to be prepared to react swiftly and properly when faced with such disasters. I hope that all District 91 families that were affected by Florence are safe and starting the recovery or rebuilding phase of their lives.
There are lots of activities going on at KG this time of year. Our softball and baseball teams had very successful seasons, and now it’s our girls’ and boys’ basketball teams that will keep my nights busy. The Junior Beta Club will have their induction ceremony to welcome new members into their service organization. Getting involved at school or in the community helps students develop their social skills and provides a richer educational experience, building a sense of community. Encourage your child to join one activity this school year. Remember to follow me on Twitter @KG_Hornets to catch glimpses of the latest happenings at KG. Go Hornets!
Sincerely,
John Jennings
Principal
Attendance Reminders
As a protection to the children, the District requires parents/guardians to contact the Attendance Office at (815)838-0737 ext 1 PRIOR TO 9AM whenever a child will be late to school or will be absent. The message must contain the following information:
Student first and last name, their grade or teacher name
Detailed reason for the absence/tardy (students that are not called in or are called in without a reason are considered TRUANT and will be reported as such)
An automated call is sent out to parents/guardians who have not called in their child by 9AM and have not signed in by 9AM, and to parents/guardians that merely indicate their child “will not be in school” or are “out due to a family emergency” requesting the parent/guardian contact the attendance office immediately to advise the details for the absence. Family emergencies may be considered an excused absence depending on the details provided.
If you fail to contact the attendance after the automated call has gone out, staff members will call you for the details of the absence. If no contact is made, you will receive a letter as a last resort and the child is placed on the Truancy List.
When is a student considered tardy?
Any student who is not in their classroom when the tardy bell rings is considered tardy to school (8:35 on regular days, 9:30 on late start days, or 12:25 for afternoon PK & K students)
Students tardy to morning band are considered tardy to school
Junior High students are also considered tardy to class if they are not in their respective class at the start of said class, unless a staff member has issued a pass.
Whenever a child is tardy to school, they must sign in at the office. Failure to sign in will result in a truancy call being placed to the parent/guardian. A reason for all tardies must be entered. Entering “tardy or late” is not a reason for the tardy.
Student attendance is crucial to student success. Appointments during the school day are discouraged. If your child needs to be dismissed any time during the school day (e.g., dental or doctor appointment), please notify the attendance office prior to the absence. See student/parent handbook on our website regarding make up work. All students leaving school prior to regular dismissal time is required to be signed out by a designated responsible adult in the office.
Any student reported as ill for four consecutive days is required to provide a signed and dated doctor’s note in order to return to school.
When is a child Truant?
Any child that accrues nine or more absences for any reason during the school year is considered truant.
Any child not called in for an absence.
Any child called in but no reason provided for the absence.
With excessive absences:
Student is placed on truancy watch list
Parent Notification Letter is sent
Principal will contact the parent/guardian
Meeting is required to create an attendance improvement plan
Home visit by the Truancy Officer
Final Notice of Truancy Letter
Truancy Hearing at the Will County Regional Office of Education
Court Hearing on Truancy
Vacations During the School Year
Vacations during the school year are discouraged and are considered unexcused absences. Valuable educational experiences are lost and grades can be affected. If a family vacation is unavoidable during the school year, the parents are responsible to complete and submit the “Pre-Arranged Absence Form” to the attendance office at least one week before the planned absence in order to give teachers time to assign homework. All work provided is due upon the student’s first day back. This includes taking any tests. Up to one week of missing work will be provided and the last school day prior to the pre-arranged absence.
National School Lunch Program
Our District Office has mailed out letters to all households that are direct certified to receive school lunches at no cost. Be sure you are completing and submitting the monthly lunch order forms on time in order for our lunch coordinators to have the correct lunch for your child/children each day.
Letters have also gone out to households that have applied for the National School Lunch Program via the 18-19 application form. Be sure to check your letter to find out if your child is qualified to receive free or reduced lunches. If your application letter indicates your application has been denied and you do not understand why, please contact Mrs. Krumlinde at lkrumlinde@d91.net or (815)838-0737 ext 1104. If your letter indicates your application has been approved, it will show either for free or reduced lunches. Free lunches are at no cost, reduced lunches are 40 cents per day. Be sure you are completing and submitting the monthly lunch order forms on time in order for our lunch coordinators to have the correct lunch for your child/children each day.
Our District Office is awaiting new applications for some children that qualified for a 30 day carryover period. Letters and applications were mailed out to these families. If you have not already submitted your new application, please be sure to do so by September 28 to avoid any break in lunches. Applications were sent home the first day of school, are available to print from our website, or can be picked up at either school office.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Registration Fee Waiver Applications
Over the next few weeks, the District Office will be evaluating requests for fee waivers that have been submitted. Letters will be mailed once a determination has been made. If your fee waiver is not approved, you may need to provide more information (such as proof of income). If your letter from the District Office indicates that your income exceeds the guidelines, be sure to contact Mrs. Krumlinde to set up a payment plan if you are unable to pay in full by the due date. Be advised the District has now instituted a carryover fee per child for any family that carries a balance from one school year to the next.
Parent Connect Information
Lockport School District’s student data system enables students and parents (grades 4-8) to be able to view student information such as demographics, assignments, grades, and student account balances via access through our Parent Connect portal.
Parents/guardians that attended Open House in August should have received the sign in information that night. Our system is set up that the student, parent and a non-custodial parent all can have separate, secure log in information. Students regularly access the system during class time.
If you did not attend our Open House and would like to have your login information, please contact Mrs. Krumlinde at lkrumlinde@d91.net to request the letter be emailed to you. A non-custodial parent may also email Mrs. Krumlinde directly to receive their own login information. Login information generally remained the same from last year for parents of returning students, but if you have misplaced or forgot your login information, please send an email!
Nurse's Notes
All physicals are due October 15, 2018. This includes all sixth grade students AND any new/transfer student. ALL 6th graders will need to show proof of recent meningococcal conjugate vaccination (MCV). All 6th graders will be required to show proof of one dose received on or after 11 years of age. This vaccination will prevent your student from a severe form of bacterial meningitis as well as other illnesses caused by this bacterium. In addition to receiving the MCV, 6th grade students need to provide proof of having one dose of Tdap and two doses of Varicella Vaccine. Please remember to complete and sign the health history portion on the top of page 2. Visit the Health and Wellness section of the District 91 website to find appropriate forms and more information about physicals, immunizations, dental and eye exams.
If you feel that your child will need any medicine during the school day: cough drops, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, be aware that the office is not allowed to dispense these without a medication authorization form on file. These forms are available in the office and on the District 91 website. A physician’s signature is not required for over the counter medications that are brought to school. An authorization form is also required for inhalers and epipens, even if your child carries these devices on them throughout the day. Please complete the epipen or inhaler authorization form found on the District 91 website.
Please be aware that students trying out for or participating in a 6th, 7th, or 8th grade team sport must have a current sports physical on file in order to tryout or participate.
When calling in a child’s absence from school, please provide the reason for the absence, including cold, vomiting, diarrhea, and especially a fever. This helps the office stay informed of illness trends and provides the information required by the state.
Guidance
Welcome to another exciting year of Guidance classes at Kelvin Grove! The goal of the guidance program is to teach and reinforce positive skills to promote healthy social and emotional development that will enhance students' success at school and in life.Throughout the school year, Miss Garren (social work intern) and I will be going into each fourth and fifth grade classroom once a week for Guidance classes.We have some exciting changes in the guidance curriculum this year and we are off to a good start with our Second Step lessons. The Second Step program focuses on social-emotional development and aims to “transform schools into supportive, successful learning environments”. This program has been used at Milne Grove and will be implemented this year in grades 4 – 8 as well. Fourth and fifth-grade students will receive instruction during the guidance period, while the 6th – 8th grade students with receive instruction during the advisory time from their teachers.
Similar to programs used in the past, the 4th and 5th grade students will begin learning about Empathy and Respect. Following this lesson the students will work on topics such as active listening, being assertive, respecting differences, and emotion management. Several weeks will be spent on managing emotions such as anxiety and frustration. With each lesson, a “homework” assignment will be sent home with the student to be done with a family member or a friend. These assignments are meant to help you know and reinforce the positive life skills your child will be working on with us!
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the Guidance program, please contact me. I would love to hear from you!
4th Grade
ELA
Students have been reading short stories from the basal reader. Students should be re-reading the stories at home for additional practice.
Students should be practicing spelling words for the tests on Tuesdays.
Math
Please work with your child on fact fluency.
Students can use the think central online component of the Go Math Series to practice concepts learned.
Science
Students have been learning about Animal and Plant Parts.
Students will soon be learning about Sense Receptors of Animals.
Social Studies
Students have been learning about the geography of the United States.
Students will soon be learning about Americans and their History.
Please check your child’s agenda, home folder and teacher website daily.
MRS. CLARK / MS. ANDERSON - 4th / 5th PE
In our PE class, students are just finishing up our track and field unit to kick off the year. They have learned how to pass the baton for relay races, ran all the running events in track, and practiced the correct form of the high jump and shot put. In October, we will be focusing on flag football skills. The students will learn how to properly catch and throw the football, run routes in a game, and will get to play a variety of lead-up games.
5th Grade
Welcome back to another school year! Emails are being sent home weekly with information pertaining to your child’s education in all sebject areas. Please be sure to read these emails.
Fifth grade students are back in full force with academics. We have read different genres of literature in reading. In language students have learned about the various parts of speech, along with declarative, interrogative, exclamatory and imperative sentences and identifying the subject and predicate in a sentence. We started the year off in science studying our unit on recycling, and are now learning about the cycles of nature. Students learned about the 3 R’s, as well as, how long it takes for items to decompose in a landfill. In Social Studies we are learning about the first people of North America.
We are looking forward to a great school year. Party sign up information is located on your teacher’s website. Please remember to check your child’s agenda daily, along with your teacher’s website for updated homework and test information. Any questions or concerns please email your child’s teacher.
Fifth Grade Teachers
4th & 5th Grade Technology Class
Welcome back to school! Students are working on organizing their Google Chrome by creating bookmark folders and bookmarking important websites they will need to use throughout the year in technology class as well as their other classes. The main focus in technology class is learning different technology terms and their definitions. Click on the following hyperlink to test how well you know your technology terms- Find the Technology Terms Website Link.
Junior High CAD
We have begun reviewing proper sentences, using capital letters, punctuation, and good grammar. We also started filling in organization webs and writing a paragraph. We have reviewed addition, subtraction, time and money so we are ready to continue learning. In Science, we are learning about living and non-living things, plants and animals. Everyone is reading!
LASEC Academy
LASEC Academy students are having a great start to the year! We just finished reading Wishtree by Katherine Applegate and are currently working on a personal narrative. Our students were able to choose an event from their life and tell a short story. We can’t wait to see what they can come up with!
6th Grade
Sixth Grade has been running very smoothly! Students are adjusting well to moving around from class to class, and are having next to no issues with their lockers! September begins our PBIS incentives. The first PBIS reward requirement is no white slips between September 6th and September 28th. The incentive is Outdoor Activities. Midterms are September 28th, and report cards will be sent home the following week. The sixth grade recently finished their Fall Benchmark MAP testing, and we are busy setting growth goals to shoot for during the Winter testing. Please make sure you are subscribed to our weekly emails, where we detail upcoming tests, quizzes, and important information.
7th Grade
Seventh grade is off to a good start this 2018-2019 school year. We have been sending out weekly emails to parents to let them know what students are doing, please let the office know if you have not received those emails. In ELA, students have completed two short stories, we’ve worked with the first units of Sadlier, continued to complete our Reading Logs and will begin our first novel study shortly. In math, students are wrapping up their study of integers and moving into rational numbers. In Science, we are exploring the microscopic world of cells, and we discovered the difference between living & nonliving organisms. In Social Studies, we are discussing what life was like in The Early American Colonies.
8th Grade
READING-LANGUAGE ARTS
Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop: https://www.sadlierconnect.com/@1952592
The eighth grade classes begin each class session with either silent reading or journal writing. Vocabulary study using the online Sadlier Connect program takes place on a regular basis. After each unit of study, the students will take a final assessment covering the words of the unit. Study guides are given for each test, so make sure that your child is completing the study guide and using it to prepare for the final test. Reading short stories from our Literature text will be our focus in reading for a majority of the first trimester. Assignments based on each story need to be completed in a timely manner. Final tests are given after the stories have been discussed and analyzed.
SOCIAL STUDIES - Discovery Education
Online Textbook: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/
United States History (Civil War to Present)
Students will be examining the Civil War, as well as postwar issues through the process known as Reconstruction. We will also begin to explore the wave of westward expansion following the Civil War. This movement was encouraged by government politics, the completion of a transcontinental railroad, and growing opportunities for European immigrants, African Americans, and people looking for increased wealth. Students will be provided with notes and a study guide for the final assessment. Students will also be working on a project/presentation researching a country of their choice. A rubric will be provided explaining the criteria for the project.
SCIENCE -StemScopes
Online Textbook:http://stemscopes.com/ (login with school email and password)
Students will continue our unit “The Earth and the Solar System”.
Through our studies of the solar system, we will have answered the questions:
What is the universe? What goes on in stars? What are the predictable patterns caused by Earth's movement in the solar system?
After completing the unit “The Earth and the Solar System”, students will begin the unit “The History of Planet Earth”. They will explore the geologic history of the Earth, plate tectonics, and seafloor spreading. Our anchor question will be, “What clues can tell us about a planet’s past and help us predict its future?” Students will be provided with notes and a study guide for final assessments.
Math
Online Textbook:https://my.hrw.com/ (login with school email and password)
During the next month, we will be working on Unit 2 of the Go Math Grade 8 Series, Proportional and Nonproportional Relationships and Functions. The unit consists of four modules. First we will cover Proportional Relationships using the slope of a line and rates of change to analyze. Then we will cover the Nonproportional Relationships and learn about the properties of straight lines. Once proportionality is complete, we will begin working on the writing of Linear Equations and finally addressing Functions. Reading and analyzing graphs will be an important part of this topic.
Since the Unit covers four modules, the students will be quizzed after the completion of the proportionality modules. Upon completion of the unit, an overall assessment will be given.
MRS. CLARK/ MS. ANDERSON 6th-8th PE
In our PE class, students are just finishing up our track and field unit to kick off the year. They have learned how to pass the baton for relay races, ran all the running events in track, and practiced the correct form of the high jump and shot put. In October, we will be focusing on flag football skills. The students will learn how to properly catch and throw the football, run routes in a game, and will get to play a variety of lead-up games and flag football mini games.
Technology Class
Welcome back to school! Typing is an important skill every child should work on in order to prepare for their future. Like anything in life, practice makes perfect. Practicing typing as little as 10 minutes a day will make a HUGE difference. We have begun our weekly typing in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade on Typing.com. Students have a set of lessons they are working on in class and a set of lessons they are working on at home. Please see the list of assignments below and help encourage your child to use proper typing technique so they can see improvement in their individual typing skills as the trimester progresses.
6th Grade Technology Homework
7th Grade Technology Homework
8th Grade Technology Homeowrk
Art
Welcome Back All Kelvin Grove Artists!
I hope your summer was memorable and it was wonderful to see all parents at Expectation Night. If any questions were left unanswered, please feel free to contact me anytime.
The fall months ahead yield many wonderful projects for all grades. Each Kelvin Grove artist has created their own personal sketchbook for all pre planning, practicing, and brainstorming prior to projects assigned. We will also be completing many creative writing assignments in our sketchbooks as well. All students will have an ongoing book of their art journey in the 2018/2019 school year!
The fourth grade artists will begin the year the year exploring artists that focus on still life paintings within their career - such as Paul Cezanne. Students will studying the size, shape, and spacing of fall objects with a goal of achieving realism within their work. In fifth grade, students have been investigating the color scheme within the eyes of animals. Students have researched and selected an animal eye for inspiration to complete an emphasized animal eye with good use of color and blending techniques.
The sixth, seventh, and eighth grade classes have created a personal place card and display holder to identify their seat in class and an artist portfolio which will secure all projects, informational handouts, and sketch work. Each grade level will focus on specific guidelines that their portfolios’ must follow.
Art Club Update
An informational meeting took place on Wednesday, September 19th for all interested students. Meetings are on Wednesdays from 3:10 - 4:00. If your child is interested and did not attend the informational meeting, additional art Club permission slips are available in the art room or office for your convenience. Please refer to the Art Club section of my webpage for a complete list of dates and other important information.
Thank you and have a wonderful and creative year!
Mrs. Cravens
BAND
Welcome to the thirty-two new band members of the Kelvin Grove Beginning Band. It is great to see such enthusiasm to learn an instrument here at KG! Lessons will be weekly during the school day, so please help your child to bring their instrument and music on the correct days. Just a reminder: after school band rehearsals for beginning band wind players will begin on Tuesday, November 6 from 3:15-4:00.
We have a couple of fundraisers coming up in October.
1) Avon sales will begin on Tuesday, October 9. Students will be bringing their Avon brochures home that week. Please be looking for them in your child’s backpack. All orders and money will be due no later than Wednesday, October 31.
2) Ad book forms have been handed out the students, have been sent by e-mail and can be found on the band webpage. All Ad Book forms and money need to be turned in to Mrs. Plagman or Mrs. Randolph no later than Tuesday, October 23.
Thank you for your continued support of the Band & Chorus fundraisers!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by phone (838-0737 x1139) or e-mail (nplagman@d91.net).
Nature Club
Nature Club has begun and this year we have many new members to welcome! Mrs. Schaller and Mrs. Soulian are co-sponsoring Nature Club and are excited for what this year will bring. Nature Club meets on Thursdays after school in Mrs. Soulian’s room at KG, all fourth and fifth grade students are welcome to attend, extra forms are in the main office at KG. We will be spending time in our garden as long as weather permits, please dress in clothing that can get muddy! See you there!