Parent/Teacher Conferences
Every student came home with a pink letter from the school last week. It is a note from the teacher about Parent/Teacher Conferences. The note designates if a conference is requested and scheduled or not. Please be sure you see the note and you sign it and send it back to the teacher.
A Note from our Social Workers
Signs of Depression and Anxiety and Recommendations to Help Manage these Mental Health Concerns
Children in grades 3–5 may not always use words like “depressed” or “anxious,” but changes in behavior, feelings, or school performance can be clues. Watch for:
Mood changes: Frequent sadness, tearfulness, irritability, or quick shifts from happy to upset.
Withdrawn behavior: Pulling away from friends, avoiding play, or losing interest in favorite activities.
School changes: Drop in grades, trouble concentrating, frequent complaints of stomachaches or headaches with no clear medical cause.
Sleep and appetite differences: Sleeping much more or less than usual, or noticeable changes in eating.
Physical complaints: Recurring stomachaches, headaches, or complaints of feeling tired.
Worry and fear: Excessive worry about separation, school, or future events; persistent fears that interfere with daily life.
Irritability and anger: more tantrums, snapping at peers or adults, or low frustration tolerance.
Low self‑esteem: Negative self-talk, saying things like “I’m no good” or “Nobody likes me.”
Regressive behaviors: Regression to earlier behaviors (e.g., bedwetting, clinginess) after previously being independent.
Changes in play or creativity: Less imaginative play, fewer drawings or stories, or darker themes in play.
Here are suggestions you can do as a parent/guardian to help your child manage their depressive or anxious symptoms:
Listen without judgment: Create calm, distraction‑free time to ask how they’re feeling. Validate their feelings (“That sounds really hard”) rather than minimizing them.
Keep routines consistent: Regular sleep, meals, schoolwork, and family time reduce stress and provide security.
Encourage gentle activity: Daily play, outdoor time, or family walks can boost mood and reduce anxiety.
Limit screens and news exposure: Set clear, predictable limits and replace screen time with shared activities.
Teach simple coping tools: Practice deep breathing, counting, grounding (name 5 things you see), or a “worry box” to set worries aside for a while.
Support social connection: Arrange low‑pressure playdates or group activities with trusted peers or relatives.
Offer choices and small responsibilities: Giving your child manageable decisions and chores supports competence and control.
Model healthy emotional habits: Share your own age‑appropriate coping (e.g., “I’m worried too, so I’m taking a walk”), and show asking for help is okay.
Communicate with the school: Share concerns with teachers, the school counselor, the social worker, or other staff to coordinate supports and monitor changes.
Seek professional help when needed: If symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with daily life, contact your pediatrician or a child mental‑health professional. For immediate safety concerns (talking about harming self/others), seek emergency help right away.
The district has a resource to help families get connected with mental health services. The resource is called ReferralGPS. ReferralGPS matches you with mental health services. It is confidential and free to you. It provides easy access to providers that accept many insurance plans or offer sliding scale options. It connects you to community-based providers who are in your insurance network and have availability. It offers live support where you can schedule a time to speak with a care navigator. Best of all, it saves you time and effort in assisting you in finding providers that match your needs. To access this resource now, visit https://referralgps.com/find-help/D75 or you can reach out to Angela Markowicz (school counselor) amarkowicz@d75.org and/or Tania Fernandez (social worker) tfernandez@d75.org for assistance.
Valentine's Day at MG
We will not be having Valentine's Day parties at MG this year, but if your child would like to bring Valentine cards for his/her friends that is allowed. Your child must bring one for each classmate. We do not allow candy/food items with Valentines. Students can bring them on Thursday, February 12th. You will get more information from your child's teacher soon.
PIZZA THROWDOWN
Please join the D75 STEAM Foundation on Thursday March 5th at 5:30pm in the MPR at CSMS for our 7th annual Pizza Throwdown! We will have plenty of local pizza establishments donating their delicious pizzas as we once again raise funds for the D75 STEAM Foundation. Tickets are available now by either going to the website listed or scanning our QR code. We can't wait to see everyone on the 5th!
Our District is Hiring Paraprofessionals and Guest Teachers
Please visit the district website for more information on how to join our amazing D75 Team!
A Note from our PTO
BOX TOPS:
We are blown away by all the scanning and earning our D75 Community has done. We are just past the halfway point in raising $1,000 in Box Tops this school year! If you haven't downloaded the Box Tops For Education App yet, you can still do it! Simply go to your app store and download the Box Tops for Education App, enter code PNKN0SEQ (District 75 PTO Mundelein), scan a receipt with a Box Top eligible item, and you'll start earning for our schools! There are monthly bonus opportunities, don't forget to opt in! Once you start scanning, watch the Box Tops (and $$) add up for our schools!
Important Dates
1/23- NO SCHOOL due to cold temperatures
1/27- Tuesday After School Clubs
1/29- Thursday After School Clubs
2/3- Tuesday After School Clubs
2/5- Thursday After School Clubs
2/11- Parent/Teacher Conferences (5:00-8:00pm)
2/13- No School- Teacher Institute Day
2/16- No School (Presidents Day)
2/18- PTO Meeting (7:00pm at CSMS)
2/24- School BOard Meeting (6:00pm at District Office)
2/25- Leader in Me Family Night (6:00pm at MG)- Details to come
Do you want more information about your student?
Text the word YES to 79041 to receive text message notifications from their school. Click here for more information.
Find Information HERE
- RevTrack: this document has details. For help with payment and balances, please contact Patty DeLozier, pdelozier@d75.org or 847-949-2700 ext. 2014.
- PowerSchool: directions for parent accounts is HERE If you have any questions, contact Diana Solis via email dsolis@d75.org.
- Teacher contact info: our staff list is on our WEBSITE.
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