Forest Hills Weekly Update
9/20/21-9/24/21
I hope this message finds you ready to enjoy the upcoming weekend. We've sure been busy here at Forest Hills as we continue to settle into our routines and procedures, build our stamina and dive into this year's learning.
Here is what's happening next week and beyond...
Upcoming Dates
Monday, September 20: D101 Board of Education Meeting at McClure (6:30pm)
Tuesday, September 21: Coding Club (grades 4-5) (3:30-4:30pm)
Wednesday, September 22: FUSION (5th Grade) (3:45-5:15pm)
Thursday, September 23: Tech Club (grades 4-5) (3:30-4:30pm)
Monday, September 27: IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) Testing Window Opens (4th/5th only)
Week of September 27: Fall Student Climate Survey
Monday, September 27: PTA Meeting (7:00pm)
Wednesday, September 29: Half Day Early Dismissal (11:30am)(AM Kindergarten attends)
Thursday, September 30: Superintendent's Office Hours at Forest Hills (3:00-5:00pm)
Forest Hills Common Expectations
- Our goal is provide structure and support for students to be the best they can be for themselves and for others in their learning community.
- The framework we utilize in talking about expectations is through being Respectful, Responsible and Safe.
- Students in each class developed the expectations for their classroom environment.
- Students also brainstormed rules/norms that were curated to develop our school-wide common area expectations (hallways, recess, bathrooms, etc.)
- There are progressive steps that staff will utilize in supporting students in managing their actions and behavior (conversations, interventions, reflection sheets, logical consequences, parent communication, office visits, etc.)
Ms. DiGiulio, our new school social worker, and I have made our way into most classrooms this past week (with a few to finish up with on Monday) to talk with students about how they are a part of a community, their actions impact others, strategies for keeping themselves calm and regulated, along with overviewing the school-wide norms and expectations.
Just like all learning, students grow and develop these skills in different ways, and learning doesn't happen in just one session. Staff will review, teach and reinforce these expectations throughout the year.
Care vs. Concern (Formerly Known As Bullying) Conversations
The following week (starting 9/27), all students in 1st - 5th grades will take our Fall Climate Survey; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders will take the survey at home with your guidance, and 4th-5th graders will take it at school. The survey helps us gauge and measure what matters most to us -- our students' wellbeing and thoughts/feelings about school. Parents of 1st-3rd graders, please watch for more information regarding the survey on Monday, September 27.
Forest Hills Buddy Program
The way the program will work is that primary classrooms will be matched with intermediate classrooms, and students within those classrooms will be paired together. The Buddy Classroom pairings are as follows:
Kindergarten AM and 3G
Kindergarten PM and 3B
1K and 4H
1B and 4R
2U/2K and 5M
2D and 5L
Once a month, Buddy Classes will get together for an activity, as a way of getting to know one another. Some examples of potential activities could include: reading books, playing games, working on an art project, something theme or holiday related, etc.
Over the next few weeks, students will be meeting their buddies and hopefully, starting to build some meaningful relationships with one another.
Health Concern...Who Do I Contact?
Liz Hahn (ehahn@d101.org) AND
Joan Krillic (jkrillic@d101.org).
We are excited to have Joan back with us at Forest Hills part-time! Mostly, Joan will work Monday/ Wednesday/Friday and Liz will work Tuesday/Thursday. Emailing them both will help facilitate good communication and get you a timely response.
School Calendar
Western Springs Parks Town Hall Meeting
Have a wonderful weekend!
Rachel
Rachel Corrough
Email: rcorrough@d101.org
Website: www.d101.org
Location: 5020 Central Avenue, Western Springs, IL, USA
Phone: (708)485-5184
Twitter: @corrough