Welch Parent News
Week of September 1, 2025
On the Prowl... What is coming up at Welch?
Week of September 1st -
- iReady Benchmark Assessments
Monday, September 1st -
- No School - Labor Day
Tuesday, September 2nd -
- Safety Drill - Hold In Place
Wednesday, September 3rd -
- White Tiger Wednesday with Popcorn!
- Safety Drill - Fire Drill
Friday, September 5th -
- Picture Day!
Arrival and Dismissal
Please note that during the period of time when children are arriving in the AM or being dismissed in the PM, no adults, without an appointment, will be allowed into the schools. Any adult, without an appointment, who wishes to go into the school to talk with the administration or drop something off at the school will need to wait until arrival/dismissal procedures are completed for the students or call the office for assistance.For all elementary schools, adults without an appointment will not be allowed between 8:50 - 9:10 a.m. Monday-Tuesday, and Thursday- Friday. On Wednesday, that time is 9:00 - 9:20 a.m
Safety Drills
Our school’s highest priority is the safety of our students and staff. In order to maintain a safe environment, it is necessary that we practice our emergency and crisis response plans.
We are required by the Illinois School Safety Drill Act (105 ILCS 128/1) to conduct a minimum of six safety drills per school year to ensure that our staff and students know their role and are prepared to act during a potential crisis. These safety drills are designed to protect students from danger in and around a school.
We do not conduct surprise drills. We teach students that drills are for practice, and when we are practicing, we want to learn and grow from these experiences.
This upcoming week we will be practicing and talking through what we do in a fire drill and a hold the building and teach drill.
These safety drills, including the required law enforcement lockdown drills, are designed to protect students from danger in and around a school. Lockdowns are intended to secure a school and to keep out a threat. The types of emergencies that could require a school to lockdown include the possible presence of an intruder, dangerous situations taking place in the vicinity of the school, hazardous materials spill or fire, or other type of accident that could pose a threat to the safety of staff and students.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns!
Winter Weather - Coats and Boots
As the colder weather approaches, we want to make sure all of our students are comfortable and ready to learn each day. If your child is in need of a warm coat or boots this season, please let us know.
We understand that these requests are personal, and we will handle all communication and support with care and discretion. Our goal is simply to ensure that every child is prepared for the winter months.
If you would like assistance, please complete the form below by Friday, September 12th.
Additional Lunch
Please complete this form if your student has permission to purchase a second lunch entree and/or second meal. Each student will need this form completed in order to purchase a second entree or meal. The cost is as follows: Breakfast - Second Meal $3.75; Lunch - Second Entree - $4.40 and Second Meal - $5.75; regardless of Free/Reduced Lunch status, EVERYONE who takes a second entree and/or meal will be charged these amounts.
iReady Assessment
Indian Prairie School District 204 administers i-Ready benchmark assessments in the fall, winter, and spring to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Welch will be administering these assessments starting next week. The i-Ready assessments evaluate student academic performance and growth in the areas of reading and mathematics. i-Ready is an online, computer-adaptive test that matches the difficulty of test questions to the proficiency level of each student. As students answer questions correctly, they will get more difficult questions. As students answer questions incorrectly, they will get easier questions. The assessment adapts to find the precise proficiency level of each student in the quickest, most efficient way possible. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning. Many students will see material teachers haven’t taught. This is an intentional part of the design of the adaptive assessment. Students may see above-grade level material and below-grade level material. The assessment is designed for students to get about 50% of the questions correct and 50% incorrect to help identify their proficiency on a range of skills in reading and math. Individual student scores will be available through Parentvue. The assessment results are used by teachers and administrators to assist with instructional planning and differentiation at the grade, classroom, and student level. Should you have any questions regarding i-Ready, please contact your child's teacher!
Lunch and Recess Times
Lunch is 20 minutes long and recess is 15 minutes. Students will have recess first and then go inside. The lunch/recess periods for the 2025 - 2026 school year are as follows:
Kindergarten - 12:10 - 12:45 PM
Grade 1 - 10:55 - 11:30 AM
Grade 2 - 1:00 - 1:35 PM
Grade 3 - 11:20 - 11:55 AM
Grade 4 - 11:45 AM - 12:20 PM
Grade 5 - 12:35 - 1:10 PM
Parents are always welcome to drop off lunch for their child(ren); however, we ask that parents do NOT bring lunches for other children. This presents a problem for the school staff in that we do not know if other parents have approved the lunch. In addition, other children may feel excluded. If on occasion a lunch needs to be brought to school, please be sure to drop it off by 11:00AM in the “I Forgot” bins located outside of our main entrance.
School Lunch Menus
Daily Snack
Each classroom has a time during the day to enjoy a HEALTHY snack. We ask that the snack be NUT free. Suggested snacks include fresh fruits and vegetables, crackers, granola bars, pretzels, and goldfish. Please don’t send candy, cookies, cakes, chips, pudding, soda, and other dessert-like items.
Student Health Forms and Medication
Students entering kindergarten and new students to the district, must present proof of the required state of Illinois physical examination and immunizations. The student history portion of the examination form must be completed and signed by the parent. If this is not completed, the student will be excluded from school on October 16, 2025. Out-of-state physical examinations written on approved forms, which meet current state of Illinois requirements, are acceptable if they are less than one year old.
All students entering kindergarten and second grade are required to present proof of an oral health examination completed by a licensed dentist. This will be due prior to May 15, 2026.
A vision examination is required of all students entering kindergarten or enrolling in an Illinois public school for the first time. Written proof of having been examined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches or a licensed optometrist will be required. This will be due October 16, 2025.
If your student needs medication administered during the school day, please refer to the information below: https://www.ipsd.org/departments/health-services/medication-at-school. All medications must be turned in with the appropriate forms and order.
Volunteering at Welch
You can make a significant impact by volunteering in our school! Your unique skills and experiences will help our students succeed. Whether you prefer a set schedule or occasional opportunities, there’s a role for you.
Ways You Can Help:
There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities at Welch. Opportunities include roles within your childs' classroom, the LMC, PTA, and more, ensuring a perfect fit for every volunteer. No matter where your interests lie, there's a way for you to get involved and make a difference at Welch!
How to Get Started:
- Complete the Consent Form: When you click on the link, and a new window will open with the document. In the new window, click the download button (pictured below), and fill out and save the form on your computer.
Click the Consent Form you prefer here: English or Spanish. - Complete the Application: Go to the online application to fill in more information and upload the form: English or Spanish.
- Approval: After submitting your application for review, you will receive an email informing you of your approval status or if additional information is needed.
- Placement: Once your application is approved, you will work with the building or school organization on any volunteer opportunities that are available.
For more information, please contact:
Jeannie Dina
Assistant Director of Community Relations
jeannie_dina@ipsd.org
Phone: 630-375-3017
Picture Day!
Welch Picture Day will be held on September 5, 2025. New this year, parents will be able to view their child(ren)'s images, order packages and select the image for our yearbook (please remember to do so before it’s selected for you). All orders will be delivered to your home.
To view and order photos from Picture Day: You’ll receive an email when your images are ready to view online. Or, you can search for them at vipis.com shortly after photos are taken. If you need further assistance, contact VIP at support@vipis.com.
Bread Tags
Welch will be collecting plastic bread tags to donate to SCARCE for recycling in partnership with Danielle Cares for Chairs. Plastic bread tags are those square clips commonly used to seal bags around a loaf of bread, bagels, or even produce. If you are trying to reduce your plastic use, they can be hard to avoid. Further, plastic bread tags are not recyclable in your curbside recycling bin. Therefore, millions end up in landfills each year, just adding to our disposable plastic problem. it takes about 260,000 bread tags to purchase a basic wheelchair – so every bread tag counts! We will have collection bags at Welch, so please feel free to bring yours in or send them with your child!