Wescott Word
February 9, 2024
Important dates
Wednesday, February 14
PTO Ice Cream Day
Tuesday, February 13
Order your PTO Special Lunch by noon
Wednesday, February 21
PTO Special Lunch
Lunar New Year at Wescott
Lunar New Year celebrates the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar, which is February 10 in 2024. It is the most important holiday in China, and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea, Vietnam, and countries with a significant overseas Chinese population. While the official dates encompassing the holiday vary by culture, those celebrating consider it the time of the year to reunite with immediate and extended family.
At Wescott, Mrs. Manning and Mr. Coaxum have organized our 3rd annual Lantern Festival, featuring lanterns created by children across the school in a variety of artistic disciplines. This display also features original songs by Mr. Coaxum, which are sung by students and streaming through our halls.
Today, students had a virtual author visit with Natasha Yim, who discussed her book "Lunar New Year." In the LMC, students have been reading Lunar New Year books, making crafts & Mrs. Marsh has decorated. What a wonderful celebration!
Parent-Teacher Conferences Feb. 21- 22
This winter, we will again offer parents live, online interactions with our teachers during Parent-Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, February 21 (4:30-8:00 p.m.) and Thursday, February 22 (12:00-8:00 p.m.). Conferences are one of the most valuable tools we have to foster our strong partnerships between home and school. We will continue to use Zoom and a Zoom Directory will be shared with you closer to the start of conferences. If you wish to meet with your classroom teacher in-person, please contact them directly via email.
Conference registration will open on Wednesday, February 7, at 6:00am and will continue through Friday, February 16, at 3:00pm.
Conference scheduler login information will be sent to the primary contact email for your student, along with step-by-step instructions for registering. Please keep an eye open for this information. Registration codes and directions are also available in Parent Portal on the form called Student Information for the 2023-24 School Year.
During conferences, your classroom teacher will discuss academic and social-emotional goals, discuss how the learning experience is progressing at school and at home, and share details about the classroom community with you. This is a collaborative meeting between families and teachers when we can answer your questions. We are so proud of our students and their strong start. Thank you so much for your ongoing support and partnership.
Take Illinois 5Essentials Survey
You input will impact Wescott's success!
Now through March 29, parents, students and teachers are asked to participate in the 11th annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This anonymous survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school and allows you to share your thoughts on important elements of school effectiveness.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to the five indicators below that can affect and predict school success:
Effective Leaders
Collaborative Teachers
Involved Families
Supportive Environments
Ambitious Instruction
Your participation will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
Click here or below to take the survey please visit and select the appropriate survey to begin.
For more information or to view previous years’ reports, please click here. If you have questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Survey Support at 866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.
Running Club starts March 11
Calling all runners! Wescott is offering a weekly after school Running Club for 3rd-, 4th- and 5th-grade students. In this club, students will go outside (weather permitting), build their running stamina and play various running games. This club is a great way to prepare students who are interested in participating in our annual Lew Blond Run, which will take place May 18, 2024.
The club will be held on Mondays for 3rd-graders and Wednesdays for 4th- and 5th-graders from 3:20-4:20 p.m. , beginning March 11, running eight weeks through May 8. Membership for this club will be limited. Priority is given to students who have not participated in a club yet this year. Parents will be required to arrange transportation of their child from school grounds. Since crossing guards are not on duty, any student who walks home needs parental permission.
In order to participate in running club, students will need to have an updated sports physical in the office. Forms will be shared once the list of students is finalized.
Please note, completing this form does not guarantee admission. Ms. Georgis and Ms. Price will contact you if your child is in the club. For any questions, please email ageorgis@district30.org or aprice@district30.org
Attention 5th Grade Parents !
Help build the Maple PTO Executive Board by Feb. 23
The Maple PTO is seeking three members of our community to join the 2024-26 Executive Board. This is a great way to make a meaningful difference! To nominate yourself or others, please click here or on the button below. All nominations are anonymous.
The open positions are Co-President, VP of Communications, and Co-VP Committee Liaison. Nominations are due by Friday, February 23.
After the nominations are closed, the Nominating Committee will reach out to discuss the roles with the nominees, gauge interest, and answer any questions. The 2024 Nominating Committee members are Indu Agarwal, Tricia Brown, Janelle Duthie, and Reem Given. If you have questions in the interim, please feel free to contact maplepto@district30.org. Thank you!
K & Pre-K intake now open!
KINDERGARTEN INTAKE
District 30's full-day 2023-24 Kindergarten Program will be held at both Willowbrook and Wescott Schools. Kindergarten Intake for the 2024-25 school year is now open.
To be eligible for kindergarten, your child must have been born on or before September 1, 2019, as evidenced by an official birth certificate or passport. Proof of residency in District 30 is also required, as well as the filling out of an affidavit form.
Important links:
- Wescott Intake
- Willowbrook Intake
- Enrollment (links and info on establishing District 30 residency)
Questions? Please call Willowbrook at 847-498-1090 or Wescott at 847-272-4660.
PRESCHOOL INTAKE
The 2024-25 District 30 Kid Connection Preschool will be held at Willowbrook School only. The preschool program is days a week for 2.5 hours a day and follows the District 30 school calendar.
Three-year-old students attend the morning class and the 4-year-old students attend in the afternoon. Preschool Intake for the 2023-24 school year is now open.
Please visit our District 30 Preschool page for the intake link, tuition information, and a list of documents needed to register.
Wescott Madness
From the PTO
Thank you to all the parent hosts! We have a record number of parties this year to offer the kids! Please get all information to the co-chairs by February 16! Email connie.j.park@gmail.com or laurenbeslow@gmail.com with any questions!
On Friday, February 23, the teacher raffles will be released! Please be on the lookout.
Bus riders
Dear Parents,
Please help us keep our bus lines moving smoothly and follow these guidelines. We ask that all of the changes in bus practices for your student(s) are called in by 3 p.m. the day of the expected schedule shift.
Summer School signup starts Feb. 15
Save the date!
Mark your calendars for the 2024 District 30 Summer School Program! Important dates:
- Registration opens for in-district families - February 15
- Program dates - Tuesday, June 11 through Friday, July 12
- Holidays - No Summer School :June 19, July 4-5
To explore course offerings, FAQs and learn about the registration process, please visit our website. Additional questions? Please email Summer School Co-Principals Ms. Ashley Grosshuesch and Mrs. Lainie Levin and Administrative Assistant Mrs. Nancy Lifshitz at summerschool@district30.org.
Health reminder
Club Corner
Drop-off
Help support the Wescott PE Program!
Make a difference
The Wescott Helping Hands Committee is collecting pop tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House. The pop tabs will be recycled and the money is used to help support the families that stay there. Students can bring their pop tabs to their teachers for collection. Classes are collecting pop tabs all year long!
Learn about community events!
Want to know what's going on around the community? District 30 uses a "Virtual Backpack" to share community information while saving paper, costs, and lightening the loads our students bring home. Please click the button below to view upcoming Community Events.
Wescott School
Main office: 847-272-4660
Health/Attendance Office: 847-400-8760
Location: 1820 Western Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062, USA
Website: district30.org/wescott