E-News for KCSD96

I want to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful experiences we've had so far this school year. Learning is in full swing across our district, and I invite you to check out the snapshots from each school below to see the engaging and dynamic learning taking place every day. Last week, Family Educator Conferences were held across the district. These were meaningful and productive conversations centered around our students' learning experiences. We want to thank our families for their collaboration in setting their children up for success in the classroom.

We've also been working on an exciting project across the district. Our community has been telling the unique story of KCSD96! Students, staff members, and Board of Education President Marc Tepper recently participated in a video shoot for the district. The videos will share unique perspectives about who we are as a district and the sense of belonging felt by students and staff. We are excited to unveil these exciting short videos this year on our digital communication channels.

Additionally, please remember that report cards will be issued on November 15th. More information will be shared by your principals in the coming weeks. Our next monthly E-News newsletter will also come out on 11/22.

Lastly, we want to take a moment to thank our incredible principals and assistant principals across the district in honor of Principal Appreciation Month. Please join us in recognizing our school administration team for their incredible passion and dedication to our community. We thank you for all that you do, this month and EVERY month!

If you plan to be out and about celebrating upcoming fall festivities, I wish you all a safe and joyful time with your families.

Sincerely,

Katie Sheridan

Superintendent

October 22nd: EARLY RELEASE DAY

November 5th: NO SCHOOL

November 8th: Report Period Ends, EC to 8th Grade

November 15th: Trimester 1 Report Cards Issued

November 19th: EARLY RELEASE DAY

November 27th: NO SCHOOL

November 28th: NO SCHOOL

November 29th: NO SCHOOL

As we approach the end of the report period on November 8th, Kildeer Countryside School District 96 is excited to remind families that Trimester 1 report cards will be issued on November 15th. This marks a significant moment to reflect on student progress and achievements. We encourage parents to review these reports with their children and celebrate their efforts and growth.

To view, parents will need to log into School Insight/TeacherEase. Returning families should have School Insight/TeacherEase log-in information. For new families or anyone who does not have an account established, you will soon be receiving an email from the district. If you have any questions, please reach out to your school's front office. If you forgot your password, please ensure you are selecting "Forgot Password" on the School Insight/TeacherEase log-in page. Thank you for your continued support in fostering a positive learning environment!

The Collaboratory at Twin Groves is a new state-of-the-art learning space for our middle school students. The innovative learning areas include a green screen video studio, a sound studio for music and podcasts, and editing equipment. Students in Mr. Dahlstrom's class have been using this space as they work collaboratively in groups on a project about colonial regions. KCSD96 will be building a Collaboratory at Woodlawn for the 25-26 school year.

Our young learners and staff celebrated their school spirit with a walk around Willow Grove Early Learning Center! Families excitedly cheered them on from the sidelines! There was even an appearance from Buddy the Bear.

Baking biscuits from scratch in Woodlawn's TASOL (The Art of Science and Living)! The curriculum focuses on life skills that students need for the future. This was a fun and sweet experience for our Wolves!

Reaching new heights! Our students work hard, and play hard! For a brain break, students at Prairie have been loving our gorgeous fall weather on the playground. PLAY is an essential part of a child's development and wellbeing, and allows them to better focus on their time in the classroom during instruction.

Thank you to Long Grove Fire for welcoming our 1st graders from Kildeer Countryside Elementary! Students received a tour of the facility, learned about the equipment, and enjoyed some delicious firehouse popcorn! It was a meaningful and memorable learning opportunity for our students.

Students engage with Ms. Lauren Rogers-Rivera in Country Meadows' Dual Language Program. It’s a Spanish/English two-way immersion dual language program, following the 50/50 model, where 50% of academic instruction is delivered in Spanish to enhance multilingualism.

Ivy Hall Marketplace! 2nd graders engaged in a fun, hands-on learning experience centered around the model of the market (including supply and demand)! Students developed concepts for their own businesses and sold either a product or a service to their classmates using play coins. Products included origami and clay figurines, while some of the services offered by students included dance and gymnastics lessons. Students set their own price, and learned the concepts of buying and selling.

We want to give a special shoutout to all of our middle school athletes on incredible seasons. In upcoming KCSD96 communication, we will be honoring and highlighting specific student achievement at the conference and state levels.

KCSD96 is dedicated to fostering strong partnerships with our community, offering a range of opportunities for parent engagement. Through these programs, we empower parents to actively contribute to and enrich the educational environment for all of our students.

PARENTS, please join us! On October 24th, Educator/Author/Speaker Michael Brandwein will be speaking at 7pm at Twin Groves Middle School. In partnership with D102 & D103, Brandwein will present, "Talking it Out: How to Have Great Communication with Your Kids to Build Positive Relationships, Model How to Express Feelings, and Facilitate Problem-Solving". Please join us for a nationally acclaimed, highly entertaining, practical presentation that is packed with specific things to do and say to improve family communication and teach your children (of all ages) essential skills for life. We look forward to seeing you there!

Guiding Coalition of Interculturalism

GCI is a learning community that reflects and connects the KCSD96 values of diversity and inclusion; aligns parents, educators, and students in cultural and educational experiences; and engages with a wide audience. This year our Bilingual Parent Advisory Council will merge with GCI to create a more cohesive group focused on cultural diversity, inclusion, and language support. We will align their missions to create a unified group that addresses both interculturalism and bilingual education and create one communication platform for parents, educators, and community members. GCI meeting dates for the 24-25 school year are:

• November 12th, 2024
• January 21st, 2025
• February 25th, 2025
• April 22nd, 2025

Meetings are at 6:30pm in the Educational Development Center at Ivy Hall Elementary (1072 Ivy Hall Lane). Please fill this Google Form to indicate your interest. For questions, please contact, Community Parent Liaison: lkhan-andrabi@kcsd96.org.

Thought Exchange Partnership

TEP offers parents the opportunity to share their thoughts and receive information about instruction, programs, and district initiatives. TEP is a committee that seeks parent feedback in developing student discipline policies and procedures related to the Student Handbook and provides information and feedback to the Board. District 96 values two-way communication, and a deep understanding of parent perception supports district planning and communication. TEP meeting dates for the 24-25 school year are:

• December 10th, 2024
• January 28th, 2025
• March 11th, 2025
• May 6th, 2025

Meetings are at 6:30pm in the Educational Development Center at Ivy Hall Elementary (1072 Ivy Hall Lane). Please fill this Google Form to indicate your interest. For questions, please contact, Community Parent Liaison: lkhan-andrabi@kcsd96.org.

This service designed to keep families in the loop with all District communication throughout the school year including school closings, severe weather notifications, safety alerts, and more.

You can participate in this free service* just by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our school’s short code number, 67587.

Parents and guardians, if you've already enrolled and remember receiving text messages in the past... no need to text YES again! You're already enrolled and will continue to receive texts. Thank you for staying in the loop!

Friday, August 2nd

Friday, August 9th
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