Graves (K-5) Sailor Newsletter
October 6, 2023
*Para español por favor haga clic en "Translate” en la esquina superior al lado derecho.
Parents and students in grades Kindergarten - 5th Grade,
We can't believe we have already started another month of school!
Teachers have been working very diligently in making sure they get to know their students strengths and areas of improvement. Please make sure you check your child's progress report and if you have any questions and/or concerns don't hesitate to reach out to the teacher.
Please see the following newsletter for important information.
UPCOMING EVENTS/IMPORTANT DATES 📃 📷 🎃
Friday, October 6th: Progress reports sent home with students
Saturday, October 7th: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Remembrance Day
Monday, October 9th: Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day (No School)
Thursday, October 12th: Kindergarten Field Trip to Siegel's Farm
Thursday, October 26th: Fall Picture Retake Day (More information coming soon)
Friday, October 27th: Graves PTO "Trunk A Treat"
Tuesday, October 31st: Halloween Parade & Celebrations
Friday, November 3rd: SD 104 Day of the Dead Event
Friday, November 10th: End of Trimester PBIS Celebration
Meet our Newest Team Member
I'm thrilled to be joining the Graves team and working with its amazing students and their families!
I've been an educator for almost 20 years now, and this is my first year as Associate Principal in the district. I split my time between Walsh and Graves schools.
My journey in education began as a physical education teacher, where I spent the first 7 years of my career. For the past 11 years, I've been a building administrator, serving as a Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, and Principal in both an elementary and middle school.
My family and I live nearby in Garfield Ridge for the past 16 years, just on the other side of Harlem. My wife and I are blessed with three wonderful kids, and we love spending our free time playing sports together. We enjoy baseball, softball, wrestling, football, volleyball, and gymnastics.
I'm excited to meet the Graves Community and kick off the 23-24 school year!
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE
All meetings are scheduled for 7pm on the second Wednesday of the month.
JOIN US!
October 11, 2023
HMS/Graves Multi-Purpose Room
November 8, 2023
Walsh Elementary School (Walsh Spotlight)
December 13, 2023
HMS/Graves Multi-Purpose Room
January 10, 2024
Walker Elementary School (Walker Spotlight)
February 14, 2024
HMS/Graves Multi-Purpose Room
March 13, 2024
Wharton 5th Grade Center (Wharton Spotlight)
April 10, 2024
Admin Center
May 8, 2024
HMS/Graves Multi-Purpose Room (Graves Spotlight)
June 12, 2024
Admin Center
MESSAGE FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT
I am pleased to announce that Cook County School District 104 is now able to offer an e-Learning program for our students when needed. The “e” in “e-Learning” stands for electronic, or online, learning. These e-Learning, or online lessons, will be used to prevent lost instruction from snow days or other building emergency days; eliminating the need to add “make up” days at the end of the school year.
An e-Learning day allows teachers and students to interact through a virtual classroom setting allowing students participate in learning from home. The e-Learning days are designed to avoid interruptions in instruction that occur when school cannot be held due to severe weather conditions or other building-wide emergencies (Utility interruption, structural damage, etc.). In accordance with the Illinois School Code up to five (5) e-Learning days can be used each school year. The District’s e-Learning Plan is available for review on our website www.sd104.us.
We are excited to provide this online learning environment to our students; and believe this will enhance the learning opportunities for all of our children. Please contact your building principal if you have any questions related to the e-Learning program.
Sincerely,
Troy J. Whalen
Superintendent
SOCIAL WORKER CORNER
October is Bullying Prevention Month
This month we will speak to students on how to prevent bullying and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
What is Bullying?
Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behavior that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening. Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices. Bullying behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.
What bullying is NOT:
- single episodes of social rejection or dislike
- single episode acts of nastiness or spite
- random acts of aggression or intimidation
- mutual arguments, disagreements or fights.
These actions can cause great distress. However, they do not fit the definition of bullying and they’re not examples of bullying unless someone is deliberately and repeatedly doing them.
The History Channel has provided a list of Latino inventors who have shaped our world.
Did you know that Hispanic people played pioneering roles in inventing the color television, the artificial heart, and CAPTCHA technology?
Click on the links above for more interesting facts!
Graves Halloween Parade & Celebration
Our Annual Halloween Parade is back!
On Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Graves students will parade around the school starting at 1:30PM (Weather Permitting). You are invited to spread around the building as students will parade all the way from door #3 and back around.
Students will be allowed to dress up or dress in Orange/Black. Costumes must be appropriate for school and should not come with masks, weapons or face paint.
After the parade, students will go back into their classrooms for their Halloween Celebrations.
Students are welcome to bring in a treat to share with their classmates.
Please make sure that candy is pre-packaged and store bought (no cupcakes).
Thank you for your understanding as we continue keeping our students and staff safe.
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
Sweatshirt Sale
An order form for school polos, sweat shirt and hooded sweat shirts was sent home with
students last week.
If you are interested in purchasing, please return order form and money to your child's teacher by Wednesday, October 11th.
If you have any questions, please contact the Graves Office
School Hours
Please remember that it is important for students to arrive to school on time.
If your child is TARDY please go with your child to door #14 to sign a tardy slip.
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
Entrance 7:50a.m.Dismissal 2:50p.m.
Wednesdays (Late Start)
Entrance 8:50a.m.
Dismissal 2:50p.m.
Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade: Door #2
3rd and 4th Grade: Door #3
For student safety, no students should be outside on the school grounds before
7:30AM (M,T,TH,F) 8:30AM (W)
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BE ON TIME!
School Hours
Please remember that it is important for students to arrive to school on time.
If your child is TARDY please go with your child to door #14 to sign a tardy slip.
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
Entrance 7:50a.m.
Dismissal 2:50p.m.
Wednesdays (Late Start)
Entrance 8:50a.m.
Dismissal 2:50p.m.
Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Grade: Door #2
3rd, 4th, 5th Grade: Door #3
For student safety, no students should be outside on the school grounds before
7:30AM (M,T,TH,F) 8:30AM (W)
OFFICE HOURS
7:30a.m. - 4:00p.m Monday - Friday
(708) 458-7260
REMINDER: No Dogs allowed on School Property
ABSENCES
In the event of any absence, the student’s parent or guardian is required to call the school before 8:00 a.m. to explain the reason for the absence. If a call has not been made to the school by 10:00 a.m. on the day of a student’s absence, a school official will call the home to inquire why the student is not at school. If the parent or guardian cannot be contacted, the student will be required to submit a signed note from the parent or guardian explaining the reason for the absence. Failure to do so shall result in an unexcused absence.
TRUANCY
Student attendance is critical to the learning process. A parent or guardian who knowingly and willfully permits a child to be truant is in violation of State law. Truancy is therefore a serious issue and will be dealt with in a serious manner by the school and district. If chronic truancy persists after support services and other resources are made available, the school and district will take further action, including:
D104 Action Plan for Truancy:
The distract has a truancy intervention plan in place which will be implemented via social worker and administrators after a student starts being truant. For example, truancy letter sent home, student and parent meeting, and more. For more information, please look over our districts handbook.
👩⚕️ A Note from the Nurses' Department 👩⚕️
Welcome October!
- Hand washing is the single most important way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Use soap, warm water and disposable paper towels and wash your hands frequently. Teach children to wash their hands, too. Hand washing reduces the number of microorganisms on hands that can spread communicable diseases.
- Flu season is upon us! Along with hand hygiene, talking to your doctor about the influenza vaccine can help protect you and your family against the Flu!
“Once a week, take a peek” Please check your child’s hair weekly to prevent a lice outbreak in your home.
- Open the window to let the fresh air in! Well-ventilated rooms help reduce the numbers of airborne germs inside. Airing out the rooms is important, even in the winter. Respiratory diseases easily spread from coughs and sneezes. Opening the window at least once a day lets the germs out and fresh air in.
- As a reminder, kindergarten students without a current health exam and proof of kindergarten immunizations will be excluded from school on Monday 10/16/2023 per Illinois State Board of Education school code.
Enjoy the long weekend!
Nurse Anita, Nurse Tina & Ms. Oli
See the below the state mandated requirements for each grade level:
Preschool
History/Physical/Immunizations Form & Lead Screening
Kindergarten
History/Physical/Immunizations Form
Dental Examination Form
Vision Examination Form
Second Grade
Dental Examination Form
New to District
History/Physical/Immunizations Form
Dental Examination Form
Vision Examination Form
*Please send copies of school physicals/immunizations/dental & vision exams with your students as soon as possible.
Graves School Fundraiser
Order forms will be sent home with students next week!
Graves PTO Updates & Events
The following forms have been sent home with our students.
If interested, please fill out and return as soon as possible.
GRAVES BREAKFAST & LUNCH MENUS
We have noticed that a few of our students have not been eating the school lunch as they do not like what is being served.
Please review this months lunch menu with your child.
SD 104 FAMILY EVENTS
SAVE THE DATE!
SD 104's Día de los Muertos Event
More information coming soon
“Fall in Love with Fall”
Thanks again for everyone's support on our first PBIS fundraiser.
Students looked great and are ready for the Fall!
Students of the Month Spotlight
The following Graves students were chosen to be our
STUDENT OF THE MONTH
as they have demonstrated how to be
-RESPECTFUL
-RESPONSIBLE
-SAFE
OUR STUDENT SAILORS AT WORK!
GRAVES ADMINISTRATION
Guillermina Arteaga
Oscar Guillén
Assistant Principal
Kathleen Dunn
Pre-School Director
STAY CONNECTED!
Download our District App
Please download our free district app to stay up to date with district information. Search Summit School District 104 in your App Store.
School Webpage
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
Facebook:
Summit School District 104
Instagram:
@summitschooldistrict104
Please remember that the previous information is for students in grades Kindergarten-5th only.
For more information about our PreK program please contact the
Pre-School Director, Kathleen Dunn at 708-546-7151 or at kdunn@sd104.us