Cougar Parent Connection

Dear Carman-Buckner Families,

As we move into March, we can feel the excitement of Spring Break approaching. Warmer days are ahead, but before we get there, we want to remind our families that attendance still matters—every single day.

Each school day is an opportunity for learning, growth, and connection. When students are present, they build relationships, develop strong routines, and stay on track with their learning. Missing even a few days can make it harder for students to catch up, and we want to ensure every child is set up for success! Please help us by making attendance a top priority as we finish out the weeks leading up to break.

As the seasons change, so does the weather! Please be sure students are dressed appropriately for those unpredictable spring temperatures. Mornings can still be chilly, and as we enjoy outdoor recess, some days may be muddy. We encourage families, especially in our younger grades, to send a spare set of clothes or shoes just in case.

Thank you for being our partners in education! Your support in ensuring students come to school every day, ready to learn makes all the difference. Let’s finish this stretch strong!

Main Office Phone Number: 224 - 303 -1500

School Office Hours: 8:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Principal: Mr. Robert Silva

Assistant Principal: Ms. Allie Lichtenstein

Culture & Climate Specialist: Mr. Maurice Young

Lead Administrative Assistant: Ms. Denise Goolsby

Administrative Assistant: Ms. Jada Rice

Language Liaison: Ms. Martha Aleman Torres

Nurse: David Anslow

For all medical related questions, please contact Nurse Anslow at 224 - 303 - 1503.

Wednesday, March 5: Family Game Night 4:30-6:30 PM

Wednesday, March 12: Early Release (K-5); No School Pre-Kindergarten

Tuesday, March 18: Report Card Pickup 3:15-5:15 PM

Monday, March 24-Friday, March 28: Spring Break

Monday, March 31: School Resumes

For the safety of our children, we require that all visitors (including parents/guardians) check in at the main office when visiting our school. This procedure allows us to carefully protect the safety of our school environment and issue you a visitor’s sticker, a “signal” to our students and staff that you have checked in with us. We encourage families to visit their child’s classroom and be involved in their education. However, teachers cannot stop and discuss a student’s progress during instructional time. Please get in touch with your child’s teacher to set up a time to visit the classroom.

All visitors must check in using the vestibule at the entrance of the building. Visitors are requested to provide the reasoning for entering the building and will be directed to the main office to sign in and get a visitor pass. No visitors should be present in the building without a visitor's sticker.

If you a bringing an item to your child, including a lunch, Ms. Lechuga or one of our secretaries in the vestibule can assist you. The lunch may be dropped off in the main office and your child will be called down to pick up the item. If you would like to wait to hand the item to your child, you may wait in the main office.

We want to remind you of the importance of regular school attendance. If a student has missed 10 or more days, they are considered chronically truant. Students who miss more than 10% of instructional days are placed on the federal chronic absenteeism list. Early releases and tardies also count toward a student’s daily attendance. If you received a note during Parent-Teacher Conferences to set up an attendance meeting, please contact 224-303-1517 to schedule the meeting at your earliest convenience.

Excused absences include:

• Illness (provide proof of a doctor's note).
• Appointment (doctor, dentist, etc., with appointment notice or reminder).
• Bereavement (funeral).
  
  

Vacations and inclement weather are considered unexcused absences. Please report family emergencies and transportation difficulties to the main office. A doctor's note is needed upon return to school if a child has missed three days due to illness.

If your child is absent, please get in touch with our secretaries, Ms. Goolsby and Ms. Rice, at (224) 303-1500 or our Attendance Liaison, Ms. Lechuga, at (708) 309-8228.

Attendance calls will occur daily for all students marked absent after 9 AM for AM PreK, full-day PreK, and all K-5 students. Calls will occur after 12:30 PM for students in PM PreK.

We understand that sometimes absences are unavoidable due to illness or family emergencies. In these situations, your communication with us is vital. It allows us to support your child and ensure they receive any necessary make-up work. Parents should call the attendance line by 8:30 AM to report your child's absence. When absences are not reported to the main office, our Attendance Liaison Ms. Elvia Lechuga, will contact families. Failure to notify the main office, or respond to Ms. Lechuga, will result in an unexcused absence. We also encourage you to take the lead in scheduling appointments and family trips outside of school hours whenever possible to minimize disruptions to your child's education.

It's important to understand that tardies and early dismissals significantly impact your child's attendance and learning. Every minute of missed instruction accumulates throughout the school year. For instance, if a student misses just fifteen minutes of instruction each day, this adds up to an hour and fifteen minutes of missed learning each week. Over time, these missed minutes can lead to gaps in your child's education, affecting their overall academic progress. Let's work together to ensure our students arrive on time and stay the entire school day to maximize their learning opportunities.

Arrival

Breakfast begins at 8:00 AM in our gym. Students may enter through Door #10 (the main office) and head directly to the gym. Students in Kindergarten (Door #9), First (Door #17), and Second (Door #17) grades who do not plan on eating breakfast may wait for their teacher at their assigned door. Third, fourth, and fifth-grade students may utilize the playgrounds and blacktop in the back of the building and wait for their teachers. The morning bell rings at 8:20 AM, with instruction beginning promptly at 8:30. Students who arrive after 8:30 will be marked tardy and must sign in at the main office. Breakfast will be available for tardy students.

Families must ensure children arrive at school on time. For student safety, avoiding disrupting traffic flow by parking or double parking in the drop-off/pick-up lane behind the school or in the staff parking lot off McAlister Avenue is crucial. If you need to enter the building or walk your child to their designated entry door, please park in the spaces next to the staff parking lot. Additional parking is available on McAlister Avenue. Helmholz Avenue is reserved exclusively for bus drop-off before school, pick-up after school and is closed to all other traffic.

Dismissal

Dismissal is at 3:03 PM. We ask families to follow the same procedures outlined above. Parents who park and pick-up their children should not block the parking lot lanes. Punctual pick-up is highly recommended. Students who stay after school must have a proper note and signed participation agreement from their classroom teacher or after-school club staff. It's crucial for parents to notify the main office if they are ever running late to pick up their child, as it helps ensure the safety and well-being of the students.

Kindergarten students dismiss from Door #9.

First and Second grade students dismiss from Door #17.

Third grade students dismiss from Door #16.

Fourth grade students dismiss from Door #1.

Fifth grade students dismiss from Door #3.

Third, fourth, and fifth-grade students may walk home from school. Upper elementary students may also pick up their younger siblings before walking home. Students in Kindergarten and first grade are signed out with their teachers during dismissal. Any student picked up after 3:13 PM must be signed out with a staff member at Door #10, regardless of age.

To ensure a smooth dismissal, we ask parents to notify the main office if their child will have an alternative dismissal plan. Our students who are provided transportation services will always be placed on the bus or in their cab unless contact is made with the main office or a note is provided stating the student will be picked up. The safety of our students is our number one priority. No student will be released to an adult not listed as an approved contact in the child's Infinite Campus. Please stop by the main office if you want to add or remove someone from your child's portal.

PreKindergarten Arrival and Dismissal

Full-day PreKindergarten students will arrive and dismiss from the outside door of their classroom [Mono- Ms. Bryant Door #6 and Dual- Ms. Chuga Door #7]. Parents must sign their child in and out daily. Students who take the bus will be transitioned from the bus to the school with a paraprofessional's assistance.

Half-day PreKindergarten students will enter and exit through Door #9. Classroom paraprofessionals will assist with arrival and dismissal. Parents must sign their child in and out daily. Students who take the bus will be transitioned from the bus to the school with a paraprofessional's assistance.

If your child needs to leave school early, we ask that a parent or guardian come to the main office to sign them out. We will call your child to the office upon your arrival. Please try your best to avoid picking up your child during lunch/recess or 30 minutes before dismissal.

Early Release Schedule

Carman-Buckner has Early Release days throughout the school year. These occur on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Student dismissal on early release days will be at 1:03 PM. The following dates reflect our early release schedule:

September 11 & 25

October 9 & 23

November 13

December 11

January 15 & 29

February 12 & 26

March 12

April 9 & 23

May 14

These days are an excellent opportunity to schedule doctor and dental appointments.

Early Release Days- PreKindergarten Schedule

PreKindergarten classes will have asynchronous learning on the following dates:

September 11

October 9

November 13

December 11

January 15

February 12

March 12

April 9

May 14

PreKindergarten classes will follow their normal schedule on the following dates:

September 25

October 23

January 29

February 26

April 23

Transportation services are provided through IL Central Bus Company. All bus riders will be picked up from their classrooms at 2:55 p.m. by a paraprofessional and brought to their bus line. Buses depart promptly by 3:05 p.m. Students will be placed on the bus unless the main office or your child's teacher is notified of a change in pick-up. This call must be made by 2:00 p.m. Please assist us with ensuring your child is aware of their change in pick-up by contacting your child's teacher and the main office by 2:00 p.m. to avoid your child being placed on the bus. Please notify the main office if you want your child removed from the bus list.

Families and community volunteers enrich our schools by supporting educational activities, providing additional resources, and fostering a strong sense of community. Their involvement enhances student learning experiences and helps create a positive school environment. All volunteers must complete the district's volunteer process to maintain a secure and welcoming space for our students and staff.

HACES Parent Mentors

Carman-Buckner Elementary School is proud to partner with HACES to continue our Parent Mentor program. Parent mentors work with classroom teachers to provide additional support to students for two hours per day, four days a week, for a minimum of 100 hours. Our parent mentors are supported by weekly training on classroom instructional practices and leadership training. Parent mentors will receive a stipend at the end of the 100 hours. Please contact the main office, our our Parent Mentor Coordinator Ms. Maria Gallegos, if you are interested in this fantastic opportunity.

Parent-Teacher Organization

Joining the PTO offers parents a unique opportunity to actively participate in their child's education and school community. Through the PTO, parents can collaborate with teachers and staff to enhance school programs, organize events, and fundraise for essential resources. This involvement not only strengthens the school community but also allows parents to directly impact their child's learning environment directly, fostering a sense of partnership and support that benefits everyone.