Silas Family Newsletter 25-26 #1
Dear Silas Willard Families,
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! If you are a returning family, we welcome you back to Silas. If you are new, we are excited to partner with you to make this a successful year. I am returning as principal for my second year at Silas, and I am ready to make this year one to remember!
Our staff has been working hard all summer to prepare for the first day of school. The custodial staff has done an outstanding job, and the building is clean and ready for learning to take place. Teachers and paraprofessionals have been attending trainings, reading books, and learning more strategies to help all students excel.
This year our theme is "We are the Wildcats." We will continue to follow "The Wildcat Way" each day and build our Silas Willard community. Each month we will focus on a different character trait and discuss a different wildcat that represents Silas. Our focus is to remember who we are and how we can be the best version of ourselves each day. This makes Silas a wonderful place to learn and have fun each day!
Make sure to be on the lookout for continued communication about the upcoming school year through email, the Galesburg #205 app, and social media. This year we will use "Rooms", and you will need the Galesburg #205 app to use this and message your child's teacher. We are ready to partner with you so that your child can have an amazing experience and school year here at Silas.
"We are the Wildcats", and we are ready for a year of fun and learning!
Thank you,
Mrs. Keever
Principal, Silas Willard Elementary
Our district takes student attendance very seriously and we are committed to seeing that every child is at school unless there is an excused reason for absence or tardiness. Studies have shown that when students are consistently at school they are more likely to achieve their dreams.
What Parents and Students Can Do:
Ensure children arrive to school on time.
When absent, be sure to make up missed work.
Communicate with school and seek support when needed.
Call when your child is absent from school or unavoidably late ASAP at 309-973-2016.
Know attendance is required on early dismissal days.
Return to school after appointments.
Plan appointments outside of school day.
Call within one hour of the start of school or send a note within 48 hours of the return to school.
For minor health issues—come to school.
Please call the Silas Willard Front Office to let us know of any absences. 309-973-2015
Steps taken if you do not make contact with the school:
1. Automated Call: Parents/Guardians will receive an automated call stating your child is not in attendance.
2. School Call: The school secretary or outreach worker will follow up with the family IF the family does not call the school after the automated call.
3. Unexcused Absence: The absence will be recorded as "unexcused" if no contact can be made with the family.
Examples of Unexcused Absences:
- No phone call/email to explain a student's absence
- Returning to school after 3 consecutive days of absence with no doctor's note.
- Oversleeping
- Transportation issues
Examples of Excused Absences:
- Illness
- Medical appointment
- Observation of a religious holiday
- Death in the family/funeral service
- Family Emergency
CHAMPS is a proactive approach to classroom management.
Origins of CHAMPS Classroom Management
CHAMPS is part of Randy Sprick's Safe and Civil Schools and is a research-based program with over thirty years of classroom research.
The CHAMPS acronym stands for:
- Conversation: Can students talk to each other during this activity?
- Help: How do students get the teacher's attention and their questions answered?
- Activity: What is the task/objective? What is the end product?
- Movement: Can students move about during this activity?
- Participation: How do students show they are fully participating? What does work behavior look/sound like?
- Success: When students meet CHAMPS expectations, they will be successful!
Benefits of CHAMPS Classroom Management
According to Safe and Civil Schools, CHAMPS strategies are easy to implement and will:
- Reduce classroom disruptions and office referrals
- Improve classroom climate
- Increase student on-task behavior
- Establish respectful and civil interactions
