The Buzz at Westbrook
October 18, 2019
From the Principal...
Dear Westbrook Families,
The Storybook Pumpkin Display has been growing in the Westbrook LRC! The students and staff love to see the pumpkins dressed up like our favorite book characters, including Elephant and Piggy, Captain Underpants, Scooby-Doo, and more! (Photos by Dr. Mary Gorr.)
We will be celebrating Halloween on Thursday, October 31st with a morning parade and an afternoon parade to accommodate our morning and afternoon sessions. If you decide to send in goodie bags/treats, please no food items. Thanks!
On Halloween Day, many families may want to pick up their first grader during the lunch hour (11:50am - 12:50pm) to put on their costumes. First graders should only wear their costumes in the afternoon. We ask ALL first grade families complete this form by noon on Monday, October 28th.
Halloween schedule for Westbrook:
AM Circle of Friends and AM Kindergarten Parade - 10:45am
PM Circle of Friends, PM Kindergarten and First Grade Parade - 2:30PM
*In case of inclement weather, we will not be able to move the parade(s) inside our building due to space restrictions. Families will be notified via email by 9am for the morning parade and 1pm for the afternoon parade if the parade(s) will be cancelled due to inclement weather.
Thanks to all who were able to attend our Coffee with Principals event. Karl Anderson, assistant principal, and I shared different strategies from Conscious Discipline, which is the focus of our staff book study this year. To view the presentation, please click here. This handout has a description of strategies that were shared.
Along with teaching academic standards across all content areas, Westbrook staff members are also responsible for teaching Social Emotional Learning Standards. In an effort to do this effectively, each teacher utilizes several different approaches. Classroom meetings are held to teach and discuss a variety of topics related to these standards, our school social worker visits classrooms for lessons on these standards when needed, and teachers utilize literature as a means of teaching students about how to treat one another, interact positively, and face challenges.
We also utilize a school-wide positive behavior system that recognizes when students are safe, ready, and kind through bee tickets and bee sash winners. Our staff book study also focuses on ways that adults can support the growth of emotional intelligence in children. As a school, we are committed to fostering academic, social, and emotional growth in our students.
Westbrook will hold parent-teacher conferences on the following dates*:
Tuesday, November 12 from 4:20-8:20pm
Thursday, November 14 from 4:20-8:20pm
Tuesday, November 19 from 4:20-8:20pm
*Please note that Kindergarten teachers have an additional sign-up time during the day to accommodate their AM and PM parents.
Conference sign-ups are NOW OPEN. Click on the link on Westbrook School’s homepage.
You may now access the site and sign-up for conferences with your child's classroom teacher, specials (art, music, PE), special education teachers, as well as related services staff.
Step-by-step directions of how to sign-up for a conference can be found here.
Please follow us on Instagram and Twitter! Our username is: westbrook_d57.
Enjoy your weekend! Thank you for your support!
Kind regards,
Kristin Vonder Haar
Have you ever wondered why some people put teal pumpkins in front of their homes? Teal is the color of food allergy awareness. A teal pumpkin indicates that non-food treats (such as stickers, bookmarks, or glow sticks) are available. Many of us are affected by food allergies. According to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), 1 in 13 children in the United States have food allergies.
Westbrook Calendar Reminders
October 24..........................................................D57 Parent Tech Info Session, Fairview, 6:30pm
October 25........................................................................................PTO Walk Pancake Breakfast
November 4......................................................................................No School - Staff Institute Day
November 6................................................................................................1st Grade Special Lunch
November 7.................................................................Board of Education Meeting, Fairview, 7pm
November 12, 14, 19.........................................................................Parent - Teacher Conferences
November 13.....................................................................................................Picture Re-Take Day
November 20...............................................................................................PTO Meeting, LRC, 7pm
November 21...............................................................Board of Education Meeting, Fairview, 7pm
November 25-29............................................................................Thanksgiving Break - No School
December 2.............................................................................................................Classes Resume
December4.................................................................................................1st Grade Special Lunch
December 5.................................................................Board of Education Meeting, Fairview, 7pm
December 10.......................................................................Ed Foundation Meeting, Fairview, 7pm
December 18.............................................................................................. PTO Meeting, LRC, 7pm
December19..................Board of Education Meeting and Pubic Hearing on Levy, Fairview, 7pm
December 23-January 3...........................................................................Winter Break - No School
January 6................................................................................................................Classes Resume
Westbrook School for Young Learners
Email: wb-office@d57.org
Website: https://www.d57.org/westbrookschoolforyounglearners_home.aspx
Location: 103 Busse Road, Mount Prospect, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 394-7340
Twitter: @westbrook_d57