Weekly Update 10/23/23-10/27/23
Upcoming Dates
Monday, October 23: Band Sectional Lessons
Tuesday, October 24 : Orchestra Sectional Lessons
Tuesday, October 24: Lockdown Drill (10:15am)**changed from 10/26
Tuesday, October 24: Draw and Paint For Life (3:30-4:30pm)
Wednesday, October 25: 5th Grade Band & Orchestra Rehearsal at McClure (7:30am)
Wednesday, October 25: FUSION (3:30-5:15pm)
Thursday, October 26: Picture Retakes
Thursday, October 26: Chess Wizards (lunchtime)
Friday, October 27: Sticky Fingers Cooking (3:30-4:30pm)
Tuesday, October 31: Halloween Parties (2:15-3:00pm) and Parade (3:00pm)
Wednesday, November 1: LATE ARRIVAL (10:00am) (AM KDG: 10-12; PM KDG: 1:30-3:30)
Tuesday, November 7: PTA Book Fair (3:30-5:30pm)
Wednesday, November 8: PTA Book Fair (8:45am-5:30pm)
Blue Ribbon Celebration Succees!
Upcoming Lockdown Drill
As a reminder, please know that staff handles these drills in a very developmentally appropriate and reassuring way for students, as to not alarm or frighten them. Teachers overview the purpose (another way to keep ourselves safe, just like we practice fire drills and tornado drills) and practice, prior to the official drill with the local authorities.
Again, we certainly hope this is nothing we ever need to put into action, however will be prepared in the event it is ever necessary.
IMPORTANT: Parent-Teacher Conferences
Monday, November 20: 9:00-12:00, 1:00-5:00, 6:00-8:00 (IN PERSON)
Tuesday, November 21: 9:00-1:00, 2:00-6:00 (VIRTUAL)
We hope this mix of "in person" and "virtual" options meets everyone's need. Please be respectful of this time that is set aside for this purpose and not ask to schedule conferences outside of this designated time.
Once again, we will use PTC Wizard, the online sign-up tool. The site will go live at 8:00am on WEDNESDAY, November 1 and will remain open until Friday, November 17 at NOON.
PLEASE CLICK HERE OR SEE THE ATTACHED INFORMATION BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CONFERENCE SIGN-UP.
School Picture Retakes
If you would like to prepay for pictures, please go to:
https://orders.vangoghphoto.com/prepay/
School Code for Forest Hills School- 20052702
If a student is retaking their photos- please ask them to bring photos and return them to our photographer.
They will have a new picture taken- new package will be printed.
Fall Student Climate Survey Results
“I feel like I’m a part of my school community.”--98.7% “I have friends at school.”--100% “There is a grown-up at school I can talk to.”--97.4% “I feel safe at school.”--97.4% “Have you been bullied at school (since we’ve been back this year)?”-- 92% responded NO. Students will take the survey again in February and May, as we deeply care about students' perceptions of their learning environment and connections with others at school.
Halloween at Forest Hills!
- Students should wear regular clothes to school in the morning, and change into their costumes at lunchtime. We understand that many families opt to take their children home at lunch to change. Please make sure to communicate your child/ren's lunch attendance that day to their classroom teacher, should it differ from their usual plan.
- AM Kindergarten should wear their costumes to school and are welcome to return for the parade in the afternoon. (See more details from Mrs. Barritt.)
- Costumes should be appropriate for school. (No weapons, excessive gore or blood.)
- Classroom parties will take place from 2:15-3:00pm. (Kindergarten will vary a bit.)
- The Halloween Parade will begin promptly at 3:00pm and will follow the route below, starting at the YELLOW STAR (Kdg/1st Grade SE Doors).
- Spectators are welcome to attend.
- In the event of rain, the parade will be held indoors, for students only. (Due to safety protocols, we are unable to have all spectators inside the building.)
- Families can plan to pick up students at their usual dismissal locations.
D101 Special Services Parents Night Out
Culture of Appreciation Reminder
Send a message of gratitude to staff HERE!
Word From WSFEE
Do you have a Big Idea and just don't know where to start? WSFEE is here to help - contact grants@wsfee.org and we can help you through the grant writing process. Grants help support everything from school and classroom libraries to STEM supplies to buddy benches and lunch tables. Remember to visit wsfee.org or follow WSFEE on Facebook or Instagram (@wsfee_d101) to hear about events, donations and sponsorship opportunities throughout the year.
INFO FROM PREVIOUS UPDATES, BUT STILL RELEVANT...
Student Ownership Attribute–EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS
It has been WONDERFUL to spend time in each of the classrooms these first few weeks of the year, as we’ve re-launched our Student Attributes with students and staff. This month, we’re learning what EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS do and how we can strive to be one.
Our D101 definition of EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS is: Effective communicators are people who can share their thoughts and feelings with others in a simple, clear way that works!
Some of the components we discussed at the various grade levels:
Words are powerful–choose them carefully!
“HOW” you say something is often as important as “WHAT” you say.
LISTENING is a really important part of being a good communicator!
We communicate with our bodies and our words.
Words can bring people together.
Make sure what you are communicating is TRUE.
Digital communication can be tricky–think before you “speak” (5th grade)
We’re discussing these talking points in connection with the following grade level texts:
Kindergarten: Click, Clack, Moo…Cows That Type, by Doreen Cronin
1st Grade: Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker… by Christianne Jones
2nd Grade: Quiet Please, Owen McPhee… by Trudy Ludwig
3rd Grade: Mr. Peabody’s Apples… by Madonna
4th Grade: Mango, Abuela and Me… by Meg Medina
5th Grade: Nerdy Birdy Tweets…by Aaron Reynolds
Although this is our collective focus for the month of October, we’ll always be practicing being EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS throughout the year, and will be using these skills as a part of our November focus–COLLABORATION! Stay tuned for more information about COLLABORATION next month!
2023-24 School Calendar
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