Bulldog Bulletin

It has been a fast and fun-filled December! A very special congratulations goes out to all of our 101 Dalmatians musical participants! Our young performers put on 3 incredible performances last week; Friday for their peers, Friday evening, and Saturday. It is evident that all their hard work and ongoing rehearsals paid off! I am so proud of our talented group; each show was incredible! An additional thank you goes to our parent community who supported at every practice, helped prepare costumes, make up, props and more. Thanks to the collaboration of our community, the musical was a great success- we appreciate you!

I also want to recognize our band and orchestra students who have entertained students this week! Our musicians greeted students at arrivals this morning, and performed during lunch as well. Our celebrations and excitement will continue next week with more spirit days as we close out our time together in 2023. Next week we have full school days on Monday and Tuesday, while Wednesday is an early release day.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Ms. Colleen Conway

Joanie's Closet is collecting new or gently used, clean boots & snow pants. (sorry we are not accepting any other items at this time)

DROP OFF LOCATION – District 95 Administration Office
832 South Rand Road (next to Walmart)

Collection dates: ends February 1st, 2024

Donation box will be inside the building, please do not drop off anything outside.
Thank you for supporting Joanie’s Closet - providing basic needs to help District 95 students and their families achieve their full potential.

A fun-filled and memorable evening awaits you and your special little someone on Saturday, February 10, 2024. This “dressed-up” affair is sure to be the talk of the town! Don’t miss this popular family event which features dancing, a craft, photo keepsake, raffle baskets, and more!!

Valentine’s Dance: Saturday, February 10th, 2024

Tickets go on sale January 8th!

The event will be held at May Whitney Elementary School from 6pm–8pm and is open to grades pre-k through 8th. Children must be accompanied and supervised by a parent!

Joanie’s Closet is a committee under the District 95 Educational Foundation that serves under-resourced District 95 students and their families, in collaboration with the community, by providing basic needs to help students achieve their full potential.

Can't make it to the dance but still want to donate? Joanie's Closet is always looking for financial assistance and is greatly appreciative of monetary donations! Click here to make an online donation.

We wanted to take a moment to emphasize the crucial role that regular school attendance plays in your child's education and overall development, especially in light of the specific definition of "chronic absenteeism" according to the state of Illinois.

The state of Illinois defines "chronic absenteeism" as missing 10 percent or more school days within an academic year, with or without a valid excuse. This definition underscores the significance of ensuring your child's regular presence at school, as extended absences can have lasting consequences for their education.

Here are some additional reasons to prioritize regular attendance:

• 1. Learning Opportunities: Consistent attendance allows your child to engage fully in the learning process, ensuring they don't miss out on important lessons, discussions, and hands-on experiences that are essential for their academic growth.
• 2. Building Relationships: Regular attendance helps your child build relationships with teachers, peers, and other school staff. These connections can be valuable for their social and emotional development.
• 3. School Designation: One of the many factors the state uses when evaluating school and assigning them a designation includes chronic absenteeism. One of the things you can do to help support the school is to ensure your child regularly attends school.
• 4. Academic Success: Studies consistently show a strong link between regular school attendance and academic success. Missing school can lead to gaps in knowledge and skills that can be challenging to overcome.
• 5. Future Opportunities: A good attendance record can have a positive impact on your child's future educational and career opportunities. Many colleges and employers place a high value on a history of punctuality and commitment.

We understand that there may be times when your child needs to miss school due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances. In such cases, please ensure you communicate with the school to provide necessary documentation and stay updated on your child's assignments.

Thank you for your support in ensuring that your child attends school regularly, in compliance with the state of Illinois's definition of chronic absenteeism. Your involvement in their education is invaluable, and together, we can help them achieve their full potential.

Parents can access Health Office visit information through ParentVUE. Once logged in (either on the web portal or using the app), select “Health” and “Nurse Visits” to see a log of when your student visited the Health Office. For more serious illnesses or situations, parents can expect to receive a phone call from a Health Office staff member or building administrator. Please reach out to the school nurse with any questions you might have regarding office visits.

The Lake Zurich Police Department (as well as Hawthorn Woods and Kildeer departments) have prescription drug drop boxes for anyone who wishes to safely dispose of their unused/expired prescriptions. These drop locations are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; please keep these resources in mind as you do any end-of-year cleaning!

We want to inform you of a significant update that will come into effect on January 1, 2024, regarding overdue fee balances and their impact on student participation in fee-based activities within our school community.

Effective January 1, 2024:

Students with overdue fee balances will be excluded from participating in fee-based activities. Families that have a payment plan in place – and are current in their payments - are not considered to have an overdue balance and are exempt from this exclusion.

Any fee-based activities are subject to exclusion including the following:

• Athletic participation

• Non-curricular fine arts/performing arts events

• Extracurricular clubs

• Participation in social events such as Homecoming, Prom, and all other dances

• Participation in the high school graduation ceremony

Additionally, please note that the following fees are not eligible for any waiver or reduction:

• Yearbooks (except for 12th grade)

• Parking permits

• Replacement ID fees

• Replacement planner fees

• Summer enrichment classes/camps

• Summer athletic camps

• Non-district summer school classes

• Little Bears preschool

• Little Leader's tuition-based preschool

• Any fines/fees levied against the student for the destruction of District property, including but not limited to books, devices, or other school-owned materials or school property

We understand that participation in these activities is important for the student’s overall school experience. To ensure uninterrupted participation, we urge all families to address any outstanding fee balances as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your fee balance, apply for fee waivers, or wish to set up a payment plan, please contact the District 95 Business Office at 847-540-4943 or email the Business Office at businessoffice@lz95.org.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Sarah Adams Elementary School Principal

Colleen.Conway@lz95.org