Early Learning Center Family News
December 2022
TRANSLATE NEWSLETTER / TRADUCE BOLETÍN
STEP 1 / PASO 1
STEP 2 / PASO 2
STEP 3 / PASO 3
Upcoming Events
Friday, December 9th
- No School for Preschool
- AM Parent Participation Event
Monday, December 19th
- Spirit Week: Colorful Day
Tuesday, December 20th
- Spirit Week: Superhero Day
- Spirit Week: Sports/Jersey Day
- Pajama Day
Friday December 23rd- Friday January 6th
- No School for Students - Winter Break
Monday, January 9th
- Classes Resume
- Board of Education Meeting at 7:00 PM
- No School for Preschool
- AM Parent Participation Event
Dear Preschool Families,
On Friday, December 9th, 2022 preschool students will not have school. However, we will be hosting a parent participation event at the Early Learning Center from 9:00-10:00 AM. Please join us for a day of winter-themed sensory activities and art projects. Families will have the opportunity to create fake snow, explore using snowman sensory bags, assemble pipe-cleaner snowflakes and use a variety of materials to make winter scenes. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP here by Wednesday, December 7th.
With only a few weeks until our winter break, please continue to prioritize students' daily, on-time attendance. When our students are present at school and ready to learn, we can ensure they receive the high-quality instruction they deserve. If you are experiencing any challenges regarding your child's attendance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us so we can support you. Thank you for your partnership in educating your children.
We are looking forward to a fun filled spirit week prior to leaving for break. See the spirit days listed below. I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season, and I hope you are able to spend time doing whatever it is that you love most this time of year.
Thank you all for your continued partnership and support!
Sincerely,
Barb Golik
Principal
Weather Reminders
As the temperatures become colder each day, we want to remind families to please send students to school dressed appropriately for the weather.
- Our students go outside between 25° F and 90°F and spend 20-25 minutes outdoors on most days.
- If your child is in need of winter clothing (coats, mittens, hats, boots, etc) please contact the Early Learning Center office at 847-827-4165 or firststeps@emsd63.org.
Activity Boards for Absences
In the event that a student is absent, they may choose to engage with activity choice boards (sorted by grade level bands):
Choice boards are not meant to replace in-class learning, rather, they are designed to keep students engaged in learning activities if they are able to do so while absent.
Completion of choice board activities is optional and not required by District 63, which means that work should not be turned into school and students should not expect grades or feedback from teachers.
Winter Weather Emergency Closing Information
Take a minute to review D63's Winter Weather Closing information.
A few key points:
- If school buildings close, students shift to remote learning.
- Decisions to close school are made jointly with other area school districts.
- When students need to stay home, expect an email, text, and phone call. Information will also be posted on our website and social media.
Notes from the Nurse
Preschoolers depend on their vision to learn tasks that will prepare them for school and every experience is an opportunity for growth and development. They use their vision to guide other learning experiences. From ages 2 to 5, a child will be fine-tuning the visual abilities gained during infancy and developing new ones. They are developing the visually-guided eye-hand-body coordination, fine motor skills and visual perceptual abilities necessary to learn to read and write. Steps taken at this age to help ensure vision is developing normally can provide a child with a good “head start” for school. Many experts believe that approximately 80 percent of learning comes through a child’s eyes. According to the American Public Health Association, about 10% of preschoolers have eye or vision problems.
All preschoolers are screened yearly as directed by the State of Illinois for vision and hearing. Vision and hearing screenings were conducted in late October. Screenings continue throughout the school year as new students start or to catch students who were absent on screening day. Parents of students who did not pass the screening were notified by email. If you were notified your child did not pass the screening, please make an appointment with an eye doctor as soon as possible and ask that an eye exam form be filled out. Please return completed forms to the school nurse. The Illinois Eye Exam form can be found here.
All preschoolers who will move on to kindergarten in August 2023 are required to have a vision exam by a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist turned into the school nurse by October 15, 2023.
Students who will start kindergarten August 17, 2023 are also required to have an updated physical and immunizations turned into the school nurse by the first day of school. A dental exam is due May 15, 2024. Forms can be found here.
Avoid the rush, make appointments soon.
REPORTING ABSENCES
If your child has to miss school due to illness or any other reason, please submit via the Parent Portal.
How to use the Parent Portal to report your child’s absence:
- All absences must be submitted on the morning of the day your child will miss school - NOT the night before. Once you log into the Portal, you’ll choose your child’s name and navigate to a list of online forms. Select and complete the “Absence Form,” and then submit.
- Review detailed, step-by-step instructions.
- You can find these instructions at any time on our website: www.emsd63.org/attendance.
- Questions? Contact the Early Learning Center main office at 847-827-4165
Family Resource Center - Fall Programs
The ELC will be collecting new or gently used Winter Gear (i.e. coats, hats, gloves, scarves, snowpants, and boots) to donate to the D63 Marketplace.
School Hours
- 8:40 AM - School begins
- 11:10 AM - School ends
PM
- 12:15 PM - School begins
- 2:45 PM - School ends
Email: firststeps@emsd63.org
Location: 10000 Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 827-4165