Patterson Elementary Announcements
October 23, 2026
Hello Students and Families,
It was so nice to see some of you at the PTA meeting this week and at our first night of parent-teacher conferences last night! Our goal is 100% particiapation in parent-teacher conferences as our home/school partnership is a key part of student success! Parent-Teacher conferences will continue on Monday, 11/2 from 8:00am-3:00pm and 4:30-8:00pm. If you still need to sign up, please contact your child's teacher! Thank you to the PTA for providing the staff with a yummy taco bar for lunch and dinner yesterday!
Our pumpkin decorating contest brought alot of excitement to the burrow this week! Our students and families are so creative! We had 60 families participate, check out some of the pictures below!
As a reminder, quarter 1 report card grades have been posted in your parent vue account as of 4pm today, 10/23. If you have any questions regarding your child's report card, please reach out to your child's teacher.
Picture Retake Day is coming up this week on Wednesday, 10/28 from 9:05-10:15am. If your child was absent on picture day, we have them on the list to participate in picture retake day. But, if your child was here and you would like them to have a retake, please email your child's classroom teacher to let them know so we can ensure they get their picture taken. More information can be found below.
We are very excited very our Fall Costume parade and Fall parties happening on Friday, 10/30. Please check out all the details below. It is important to review appropriate costume guidelines.
Upcoming Events for the week of 10/26:
Monday, Oct. 26th: Pumpkin Contest Winners announced, pumpkin pick up from the pumpkin contest
Tuesday, Oct. 27th: Last day to pick up pumpkin from the pumpkin contest
Wednesday, Oct. 28th: Picture Retake Day from 9:05-10:15am
Friday, Oct. 30th: Fall Costume Parade 2:15pm, Fall Classroom Parties 2:30pm- Please see more info. below
Monday, November 2nd: NO SCHOOL- Parent Teacher Conferences 8:00-3:00pm, 4:30-8:00pm
Tuesday, November 3rd: NO SCHOOL- Election Day
Wednesday, November 4th: School Resumes
Have a wonderful weekend!
Michelle Hebenstreit, Principal
#630-428-6503
4th Grade Math Fluency Practice
Kindergarten reading and engaging in "Creepy Carrots" Projects
Students enjoying checking out books and reading in a comfy spot in the LMC!
Important Dates
October 22 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30PM- 8:00PM
October 23 - NO SCHOOL - Institute Day
October 26 - Pumpkin winner announced
October 26 - 27 - Pumpkin pick up days
October 28 - Picture Retake Day
October 30 - Fall Costume Parade at 2:15pm & Fall Parties 2:30-3:15pm- more info. below
November 2- NO SCHOOL- Parent/Teacher Conferences 8:00am-3:00pm & 4:30pm-8:00pm
November 3- NO SCHOOL- General Election Day
November 11- Veteran's Day All school Assembly at 9:45am- see more info. below
November 13- PTA Family Event Bingo for Books at Patterson- more info. to come
November 16- PTA Meeting at 9:30am at Patterson or join virtually
Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Wow! Wow! Wow! What an amazing turn out and display of creativity for this year's Pumpkin Decorating Contest! Staff and students alike have been in awe at the 60 pumpkins on display and marveling at the character selections and artistic choices! Thank you to the families that participated!
Staff will continue the voting process throughout the day on Friday and winners will be announced to students on Monday.
Pumpkin Pick-Up
Monday October 26 - After 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday October 27 - During regular school hours.
If your pumpkin is not picked up, it may be discarded.
Questions? Contact Mrs. Dobroski
Our fall costume parade will take place on Friday, October 30th at 2:15pm. Parents and guardians are invited to attend the costume parade which will be outside, weather permitting, around the side and front of the building. Students will exit the building using Door 10 which is on the far right side of the building when looking directly at Patterson. Students and staff will walk around to the front of the building and will reenter through the far left door, Door 2. Parents and guardians can line both sides of the sidewalk.
Please ensure costumes are school appropriate for elementary students. There should be no gory/bloody costumes or face paint and no weapons of any kind at school with costumes. Students will change into their costumes prior to the parade.
The fall party will take place Friday, October 30th at 2:30pm immediately following the parade. Only parents who have signed up through the PTA will be allowed to enter the building at Door 2. During the fall party, parent volunteers have planned crafts and games for the students. Please do NOT send in any candy or food items on this day. Students are NOT allowed to pass out any food items.
If you do not want your child to participate in the costume parade and/or fall party, please let your child's teacher know so that they can engage in an alternate activity.
Parent-Teacher Conferences for preschool, elementary, middle and high school will take place on Monday, November 2, 2026 the conferences will be offered from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm and 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm.
Please check your conference time in your parentvue account. If you can no longer make your conference time OR you still need to sign up for a time, please reach out to your child's teacher. Our goal is for 100% family participation as this is a great opportunity to check in with your child's teacher to learn about what is going well and what your child is working on.
Our Lost & Found is overflowing with sweaters, water bottles, lunch boxes, and more! If your child is missing anything, please stop by and take a look during Parent/Teacher Conferences. All items will be donated on 11/3 if they are not claimed.
At Indian Prairie School District, the safety, security, and well-being of our students, staff, and school communities is our absolute highest priority. To ensure our schools remain safe, welcoming, and focused environments for learning, we are reaching out today to provide an important reminder regarding district safety expectations and student conduct.
No weapons or guns of any kind are allowed on school property. Additionally, toy guns, look-alike guns, BB guns, gel blasters, or water guns/blasters are not allowed on school property. This also includes pocket knives, key knives, 3D printed and look alike knives. Bringing any item that looks like a weapon to school is a significant violation of school rules. Any student who brings any of these items to school will face serious disciplinary consequences, which may include suspension or expulsion as well as legal action.
Please talk with your child and remind them of our strict policies related to these types of items on campus. Thank you for your continued support, vigilance, and commitment to keeping all of our Indian Prairie students, staff, and schools safe.
How do I mark my child absent from school?
-ParentVUE app or website (preferred option), or
-Call your school’s attendance line. Found on each school webpage.
Since quarter one is coming to a close, check out Quarter 1 Attendance update from the district.
What’s New with ParentVUE?
ParentVUE has a new mobile app! If you haven’t upgraded to the new version, please do! Click HERE for instructions.
It’s easier than ever to provide documentation about your child’s absences in the ParentVUE app.
Start by snapping a photo of an appointment card or other absence documentation.
Click the blue “Report Absence” button (next to your student’s photo).
Next, scroll to “Upload Note or Document” (at the bottom of the screen).
Choose “Generate PDF” to find the “Gallery” option. Find your photo and attach it!
Did You Know…
If your child is absent from school, but the absence hasn’t been submitted to the school, 204 Connect will now send an automated alert via text, phone call, and email –two hours after the start of the school day.
If you receive this notification, no worries –it’s simply a reminder to enter your child’s absence in ParentVue or call the school attendance line.
We’re also using 204 Connect to help keep you in the loop about your child’s school attendance! 204 Connect will automatically send you a text, call, and email if your child reaches 5 or 9 days of absence.
On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Patterson Elementary School will honor those who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces by hosting a very special Veteran’s Day celebration led by the Chorus. An All-School Student Assembly will be held in the gym at 9:45 a.m.
We invite any Patterson family members (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) who served, or are serving, in the United States Armed Forces to join us as our Guests of Honor. If you have a family member who will be able to join our celebration, please click the link to fill out the information below and return it to the Patterson office by Friday, November 6th.
If you know of someone who would like to be a special speaker for the event, please contact kari_rothmeyer@ipsd.org and Michelle Hebenstreit, michelle_hebenstreit@ipsd.org .
Veterans who will attend our celebration as a Guest of Honor should meet in the front office at 9:20 a.m. before moving to the gym, where they will be seated. Please make sure to bring your id. All of these veterans will be recognized for their service to our country during the program. If possible, they should wear a symbol of their branch of service (uniform, hat, ribbons, or medals). There will be a small reception immediately following the assembly.
As a special part of our celebration, we are planning a picture montage of any veteran with a relation to Patterson students and staff. You can also fill out the Patterson Heroes attached sheet or pick one up in the front office to be hung up in the hallway to remember those who are serving or those who have served. Pictures can also be emailed as attachments to kari_rothmeyer@ipsd.org
Please start sending your photos as soon as possible so they can be displayed in the hallway at the beginning of November.
Please click this link HERE to complete the RSVP and Patterson Hero Picture which can be turned in to the office with attention to Michelle Hebenstreit and Kari Rothmeyer.
Music:
Hello Patterson Families~
Your children are having a great start to the school year in music class at Patterson! We are dancing, singing, reading rhythms and playing instruments! Please check out our websites for more grade level specific information. Thanks!
-Mrs. Rothmeyer: Website
-Mr. Duym (Website coming soon)
PE:
PE has been going great! Classes are doing a really good job of following class expectations and working very hard on their fitness while in class. We have been focusing on throwing with opposition and doing all kinds of fun activities that require them to step using their opposite foot,
All grades also participated in a fun game called Jurassic Park Tag. We played for two days and classes had to problem solve on how to survive the dinosaurs and the dinosaurs had to problem solve how to "hunt" other players. Lots of discussion and outside the box thinking was being had!
K-2 classes have been reviewing their locomotor movements which include hopping, galloping, and skipping. All students are doing a great job and in the coming months 2nd grade will be assessed on all three.
Lastly, one game we played that is easy to play at home was FITNESS UNO! Kids loved this version and had some great exercise. I told all classes to challenge their parents and sibling to a game!
Mr. Folley
Art:
Fall is in full swing in the art room! We’ve been busy creating some fun fall projects that you’ll be seeing soon!
There is still time to sign up for Artsonia, our online art gallery where you can view your child’s artwork and purchase keepsakes featuring their art if you’d like. If you need the Artsonia class code to sign up, please feel free to email either hannah_logsdon@ipsd.org or b_schloderback@ipsd.org.
Mrs. Logsdon and Miss Schloderback
🍂 A Season of Gratitude! 🍂
Parent–Teacher Conferences make for long days, so we're treating our amazing Patterson staff to some well-deserved meals as a thank-you for all they do for our kids! 💚🐾
🌮 Thursday, Oct. 22: Lunch catered by Dos Bros
☕ Monday, Nov. 2: Continental breakfast & snacks
A big thank you to our PTA Hospitality Committee for making it happen! 🧡
Volunteers Needed!
Looking to get involved at Patterson?
There are many great volunteer opportunities available through the Patterson PTA-whether you have an hour or a few, there's a way to help!
Please fill out the Google Form or contact us with any questions at info@pattersonpta.com.
All PTA Volunteers must be current PTA members.
Breakfast and Lunch Information
Students can eat breakfast before school or can purchase breakfast at school. Students may bring a lunch from home or can buy lunch from school. White milk or chocolate milk are also available for purchase. To purchase breakfast, lunch, or milk, you will need to fund your child's pushcoin wallet. Cash/checks are not accepted. For information on funding wallets through Pushcoin, please click here: https://www.ipsd.org/Page/2623
Recess and Lunch Times:
2nd Grade 10:55-11:30
4th Grade 11:20-11:55
5th Grade 11:45-12:20
3rd Grade: 12:10-12:45
1st Grade 12:35-1:10
Kindergarten 1:05-1:40
Each grade level will also have a snack time. Information regarding snack time will be provided by your child's classroom teacher.
Menus can be found on the district website under Departments- Food Service. You will need to select Patterson as the school or August menus are below.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
The safety of our Patterson students, staff, and families is an upmost priority to our team. During meet and greet, each teacher will have a form for parents/guardians to notify your child's teacher and our office team how your child will be dismissed each day. Please make sure to complete this form when visiting your child's classroom.
Staff will be present at all entrances being used for arrival and dismissal to supervise students.
Bus routes will be visible in Parentvue. If your child is a bus rider, I would recommend using the Mystop app. More information regarding bus transportation can be found on the district website HERE: https://www.ipsd.org/Page/183
Similar to last school year:
- On the first day of school, your child will receive a backpack tag that is color coded by bus, car rider, walker, biker, or YMCA. Pleaase leave this tag on your child's backpack for the duration of the school year.
- Door 11 will be used for the dismissal of Kindergarten students only. Siblings that wish to "pick up" their kindergarten sibling will meet them outside Door 11.
Arrival Procedures:
- Students may enter the building through Doors 1,2,11 or by the back rike in the back of school at Door 9 and should NOT arrive before 8:50am or 9:00am on late start day.
- Car Riders will pull into the front circle drive. Please remember there are no cell phones while driving on school property. Please do not let your child leave the car until you see a staff member outside. Parents should remain in the car. Students should be able to independently unbuckle and open the car door.
- Big Bus Riders will be dropped off at the bus pad and a staff member will walk the students inside the building through door 2.
- Small bus riders will be dropped off in the side lot and will be met by a staff member and walked inside.
Dismissal Procedures:
- Dismissal will begin at 3:35pm.
- Kindergarten walkers or car riders will exit the building through Door 11 and will be escorted by a staff member. Students will not be released unless they see an older sibling or parent.
- All other students will be dismissed from Door 1, 2, or out Door 9 by the bike rack.
- Car Riders will all have car numbers which you will receive at Meet and Greet or the first day of school. You will receive 2 copies of your car number in case you have more than one vehicle that will be picking up your child or in case you lose one. If you have a Kindergarten student in your family, your car number will have a K next to it to indicate to staff and safety patrol that those students may need extra assistance. Please have your car number visible in your window. Car Riders will use the front circle drive. Students will be dismissed to the gym where they will watch for the car number to appear on the screen. Students will exit through Door 1 or 2. Parents/Guardians, please be respectful and patient of staff directing the carline. Kindergarten students will be escorted to the carline by our 5th grade safety patrol, their older sibling, or an adult.
- Big bus riders will be dismissed to the gym and will be walked by a staff member to the bus pad out through the gym door.
- Small bus riders will be dimissed through the gym door, Door 4, in the side lot and will be escorted by a staff member to the bus.
For more detailed information and to view our arrival/dismissal map, please click HERE.