Southwest Elementary Newsletter

A Note from Mr. Hofer

Dear Southwest Parents and Students,

District 228 needs your help. The Illinois Board of Education (ISBE) has made it mandatory for school districts to issue the 5Essentials Survey annually to students, staff, and parents. Our district will receive a score, tied to our Illinois Report Card, based on the participation rate of all three groups. I am asking that you please take 10 minutes to complete this short online survey that will not only help us fulfill this state mandate, but in addition give us meaningful data from you on how we are performing as a district.

Please take the 5Essentials survey at your convenience, anytime through March 13th. The survey may be taken on any electronic device, including your smartphone. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. Thank you for your support of District 228.

Also, we are still needed a few more volunteers for Fine Arts coming up on March 12th. Please sign up HERE if you are able to help.

Warm regards,

Brian Hofer

Principal, Southwest Elementary

bhofer@geneseoschools.org

PTA Update

Hello from the PTA!

We are still looking for Vendors for our Spring Vendor Market. If you, or someone you know would like to sign up to be a part, please click the link! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegjfJHsO43dD_EaUnkzpYEYo9cX6d_mZxEN9TezfrEfPBmow/viewform?usp=header

The Spring Vendor Market is March 28 from 12-4, please come and see all the fun items there are for sale and support small businesses!

PTA is still looking for volunteers for Circus Day! Cirque Amongus is coming back to Southwest Elementary School Tuesday, May 5, 2026! This a great day for students to have fun and learn how to be a circus performer. In order for this day to be a success we need 88 volunteers! Parents, Grandparents, Caretakers, please consider signing up and helping! (Volunteers must be 18 years and older) This will be an all day commitment from 8:00am-3:00pm with a performance at the end of the day! There will also be a volunteer training on Monday, May 4th, from 6-8pm. All volunteers need to try to come to the training as well. Thank you for your help! Sign up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CA8AD2CA4FAC70-62346411-circus

Below is a list of events for the month of March!

Thursday March 12 - PTA meeting @ 6:30pm. Childcare will be provided.

Friday March 27 - PTA School Store 7:30-8am

Saturday March 28 - Spring Vendor Market from 12-4pm

Looking ahead:

Spring Book fair April 13-18

Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8

2026-2027 Ladders to Learning Preschool Program

Ladders to Learning preschool screenings for the 2026-27 school year are coming soon!

Families with children ages 3, 4, and 5 are invited to schedule a screening on March 2, 3, or 4 at First Congregational Church in Geneseo. Ladders to Learning is a half-day preschool program designed to support young learners who are not yet eligible for kindergarten.

Appointment scheduling begins Monday, February 9. To schedule a time on or after that date, please contact Angela Krause, Preschool Parent Coordinator, at 309-945-0614.

Give your child a strong start on their learning journey! Learn more about Ladders to Learning:
https://www.geneseoschools.org/page/ladders-to-learning-preschool

March Calendar Items

March 2: Kindergarten Dr. Seuss Day

March 5: 4th Grade Symphony Day, Ag in Classroom

March 6: Full Day Teacher's Institute (No Student Attendance)

March 11: 5th Grade BizTown

March 12: Fine Arts Day & Polar Plunge Assembly, BOE Meeting @ 5:30, PTA Meeting @ 6:30

March 13: End of 3rd Quarter

March 16-20: Spring Break

March 27: School Store, 3rd Quarter Report Cards Posted

March 28: PTA Spring Market (1-4)

April 2: Ag in the Classroom

April 3-6: No School-Easter Break

April 6: IAR Testing Week

April 9: BOE Meeting 5:30, PTA Meeting 6:30

April 13: Book Fair Week

April 16: PTA Book Fair Night

April 17: PTA Book Fair Night

April 22: 2nd Grade Field Trip to Nahant Marsh

April 24: School Store, Kindergarten Field Trip to Children's Museum

April 27: 5th Grade Recorder Concert @ 7 p.m. @ GHS

April 28/29: 5th Grade Music Tryouts @ GMS (3:45-7:00)

April 29: 1/2 Day of School/Teacher In-Service, Code Red Drill

May 4: All Unit Choral Festival, Teacher Appreciation Week

May 5: Circus Day

May 7: Ag in the Classroom

May 8: 3rd Grade Pioneer Day

May 13: 4th Grade Giant Goose Field Trip

May 14: 3rd-5th Field Day/5th Grade Transition Day at GMS, Board of Education Meeting @ 5:30, PTA Meeting @ 6:30

May 21: Spring Programs (K-1: 8:30, 4-5: 9:30, 2-3: 1:30)

May 22: 1/2 Day of School/11:35 Dismissal

Pick Up & Drop Off

Southwest Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures

*It would help us a great deal if car riders and walkers were not dropped off or arrived until after 8 a.m. We understand that may not be possible but we appreciate your consideration. Any students showing up before 7:30 a.m. will be sent to SAFE and the parents will be required to pay the SAFE daily fee. Buses don't begin dropping off until after 7:30.

Health & Wellness

Students are asked to bring a water bottle to school each day because only the water refilling stations will be in use for students to use. Please make sure the bottle is well-marked with your child's name.

Changes in Transportation

If your child has a change in their normal routine for transportation:

Please send a written note to your child(ren)'s teacher informing them of the change.
Indicate on the note the name of anyone other than yourself that may be picking up your child.
If the change happens during the school day, a call needs to be made by 1:00 pm in order to ensure communication and changes get relayed on time.
Do not email transportation changes to your child's teacher as they may not be able to check their email during the school day.