Graves (K-5) Sailor Newsletter

*Para español por favor haga clic en "Translate” en la esquina superior

We hope to see everyone later tonight at our Trunk OR Treat family event and later this month at our

Fall Parade.

Please see the following newsletter for important information.

Wednesday, October 1 – Friday, October 31: National Bullying Prevention Month

Wednesday, October 22: Unity Day (see flyer below for more information)

Friday, October 24: SD 104 "Dia de los muertos" Event

Wednesday, October 29: Pink Day

Friday, October 31: Fall Parade 1:00 p.m. (see flyer below) & Celebrations

Friday, October 31: PBIS Student of the Month and Monthly Grade Level Event

Please remember that every Wednesday is a late start 8:50AM-2:50PM

All meetings are scheduled for 7pm on the second Wednesday of the month.

JOIN US!

November 11, 2025

Walsh Elementary School (Walsh Spotlight)

December 9, 2025

Admin Center

January 13, 2026

Walker Elementary School (Walker Spotlight)

February 10, 2026

Admin Center

March 10, 2026

Wharton Elementary School (Wharton Spotlight)

April 14, 2026

Admin Center

May 12, 2026

Graves Elementary School (Graves Spotlight)

June 9, 2026

Admin Center

Stay connected - find all district and community events all in one place.

Check out the following page for links and details on upcoming workshops, as well as

fun Family and Community events!

The week of October 20th-24th we celebrate our amazing principal Guillermina Arteaga,

for her dedication, leadership, and the positive energy she brings

to our school community each and every day.

On Friday, October 31, 2025 Graves students will parade around the soccer field starting at 1:00PM (Weather Permitting). You are invited to spread around the field (inside fence area) as students parade in their costumes. They will come out through #5, go around the soccer field and then back into the building through door #9.

Students will be allowed to wear a costume or dress in Orange/Black. Costumes must be appropriate for school and should not come with masks, weapons, or full face paint.

After the parade, students will go back into their classrooms for their Fall Celebrations.

Students are welcome to bring in a store purchased treat to share with their classmates.

Please make sure that candy is pre-packaged and store bought (no cupcakes).

As a reminder, if your child has any allergies please make sure they know which treats they can and can not accept.

If you prefer that your child does not participate in these events, please let their teacher know.

We ask that parents do not send in birthday treats for students to distribute. Please read below, as taken from the 2025-2026 District 104 Handbook:

Treats & Snacks [K-5] 1.80 Due to health concerns and scheduling, no birthday treats are allowed. Treats will be limited to certain school-wide celebrations.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all students and staff are invited to wear PINK

on Wednesday October 29, 2025

The fall weather is here! Students will continue going out for recess every day. Please make sure that your child wears appropriate sweater/jacket to school.

It is recommended that you write your child's name on their belongings as there's always plenty of items left over after lunch/recess.

Once again we have accumulated a large quantity of items left behind by our students.

If you know your child has lost any of these items please reach out to the school office

(708) 458-7260 or stop by door #2 to take a look.

October Focus – Self-Regulation
All children experience big feelings. Teaching self-regulation skills helps them manage emotions in healthy ways. Practice calm-down strategies such as deep breathing, stretching, or squeezing a stress ball. Modeling these strategies as adults (“I feel frustrated, so I’m going to take a deep breath”) helps kids learn that it’s okay to pause and regroup.

🕸 Spooky season is here—and with it comes some spooky illnesses! As we head into fall, it’s important to take steps to stay healthy and prevent the spread of germs!

• Hand washing is the single most important way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Use soap, warm water, and disposable paper towels, and wash your hands frequently.

• Along with practicing good hand hygiene, talk to your healthcare provider about vaccines for influenza and COVID-19 to help keep your family protected this season.

• “Once a week, take a peek!” Please check your child’s hair weekly to help prevent a lice outbreak in your home.

• Open the windows and let the fresh air in! Well-ventilated rooms help reduce the number of airborne germs indoors. Airing out rooms daily, even in the winter, helps prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses.

• Upcoming Screenings: Hearing and Vision screenings will take place at Graves and HMS on October 21st and 22nd. If your child wears glasses, please make sure they bring them to school on these dates.

We are ready for a safe, healthy, and happy school year! ❤️

Nurse Tina, Nurse Anita & Ms. Oli

Please help us raise money for our student's PBIS events by scanning the following QR Code!

Please see the following presentation for more information on how you can help our school.

Please take a moment to view the following videos

and have a conversation with your child regarding Bullying.

More information on Unity Day coming soon!

Check out our attendance percentages for the month of September!

We know times are tough but we appreciate everyone's efforts in making sure our Graves Sailors are present and ready to learn! They couldn't have done it without their parents help!

In the event of any absence, the student’s parent or guardian is required to call the school before 8:00 a.m. to explain the reason for the absence. If a call has not been made to the school by 10:00 a.m. on the day of a student’s absence, a school official will call the home to inquire why the student is not at school. If the parent or guardian cannot be contacted, the student will be required to submit a signed note from the parent or guardian explaining the reason for the absence. Failure to do so shall result in an unexcused absence.

Student attendance is critical to the learning process. A parent or guardian who knowingly and willfully permits a child to be truant is in violation of State law. Truancy is therefore a serious issue and will be dealt with in a serious manner by the school and district.

Students who miss more than nine regular school days without valid cause are chronic truants. Students who are chronic truants will be offered support services and resources aimed at correcting the truancy issue. A student who misses 10 consecutive days of school without valid cause and who cannot be located or, after exhausting all available support services, cannot be compelled to return to school is unenrolled.

D104 Action Plan for Truancy:

The District has a truancy intervention plan in place which will be implemented via social worker and administrators after a student starts being truant. For example, truancy letter sent home, student and parent meeting, and more. For more information, please look over our districts handbook.

9 days of absences

o A truancy letter regarding absence concerns (indicating the dates of absences) will be mailed. A copy will be placed in the student’s temporary file.

o Meeting with the student (when appropriate)

18 days of absences

o A truancy letter will be mailed and added to their file.

o The building administrator will contact the family/guardian regarding concerns.

o Future absences will be marked as Truant unless accompanied by a doctor's note.

o An attendance intervention plan can be implemented via social worker and administrator.

21 Days of absences

o A truancy letter will be mailed on each subsequent absence and added to the file.

o The building administrator will facilitate meeting with parent to discuss concerns.

o Social worker will provide resources for student and/or family counseling as well as agency support.

o Attendance intervention plan will be restructured as needed. o Potential Involvement of the

Summit Police Department

o Contact the Intermediate Service Center for truancy

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays

Entrance 7:50a.m.

Dismissal 2:50p.m.

(Doors open at 7:30 for breakfast)

Wednesdays (Late Start)

Entrance 8:50a.m.

Dismissal 2:50p.m.

(Doors open at 8:30 for breakfast)

Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Grade: Door #4

3rd, 4th, 5th Grade: Door #5

For student safety, no students should be outside on the school grounds before

7:30AM (M,T,TH,F) 8:30AM (W)

For the safety of our staff and students, please do not bring dogs onto school property.

Thank you for your support!

Just a reminder that students should be taking care of their technology devices, especially when they take them home.

As stated in the student handbook the policy states:

The district will assume the cost of parts and labor associated with all repairs deemed due to natural failure. If the technical department determines a failure due to damage, the student will be responsible for any hardware costs needed to return the device to a functional state. The district will assume all labor costs associated with damage repairs. Cosmetic damage will not be charged or repaired.

• Sleeve/Cover Replacement ($10)
• Charger Replacement ($25)
• Keyboard Replacement ($25)
• Touch Screen Replacement ($115)
• iPad Replacement: ($300)
• Chromebook Replacement:

- $250 for a new device, Year 1

- $200 for a device that is 2 years old

- $150 for a device that is 3 years old

- $100 for a device that is 4 years old

Please review this months lunch menu with your child.

Take a look at all the learning that has been going on!

As always, we want to thank our staff for making sure our students are learning!

Thanks again for everyone's support in our PBIS Spirit Day

Take a look at some of our creative hairstyles!

If anyone is interested in participating in the Summit Park District Trunk Decorating participants must bring treats to pass out and decorate their trunk.

Set-up time will be from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, as the event will begin promptly at 3:00 PM.

Please remember that the previous information is for students in grades Kindergarten-5th only.

For more information about our PreK program please contact the

Pre-School Director, Kathleen Dunn at 708-546-7151 or at kdunn@sd104.us