Welch Parent News
Week of September 8, 2025
On the Prowl... What is coming up at Welch?
Tuesday, September 9th
- Severe Weather Drill
Wednesday, September 10th
- ALICE Drill with Law Enforcement
- PTA Night at Culvers : Take the night off from cooking, and pick up dinner at Culver’s, 509 S Rt 59 in Aurora, from 5 - 8pm. Mention Welch when you order, and 15% of profits will benefit our PTA.
Thursday, September 11th
- Wear Red, White, & Blue!
Friday, September 12th
- PTA Meeting 9:30 AM
- NVHS Marching Wildcat Runout Show at Welch! 6:00 - 6:20 PM
Safety Drills
Our school’s highest priority is the safety of our students and staff. In order to maintain a safe environment, it is necessary that we practice our emergency and crisis response plans.
We are required by the Illinois School Safety Drill Act (105 ILCS 128/1) to conduct a minimum of six safety drills per school year to ensure that our staff and students know their role and are prepared to act during a potential crisis. These safety drills are designed to protect students from danger in and around a school.
We do not conduct surprise drills. We teach students that drills are for practice, and when we are practicing, we want to learn and grow from these experiences.
This past week we practiced and talked through what we do in a fire drill and a hold the building and teach drill.
This upcoming week we will practice a severe weather drill and an ALICE drill with law enforcement.
These safety drills, including the required law enforcement lockdown drills, are designed to protect students from danger in and around a school. Lockdowns are intended to secure a school and to keep out a threat. The types of emergencies that could require a school to lockdown include the possible presence of an intruder, dangerous situations taking place in the vicinity of the school, hazardous materials spill or fire, or other type of accident that could pose a threat to the safety of staff and students.
We will be conducting this year’s first law enforcement drill on September 10, 2025, and may add additional drills throughout the school year. A few notes about the law enforcement drill:
• Before the drill, teachers will use age-appropriate lessons with their classes and talk the students
through the procedures. This review and practice will help to alleviate unnecessary stress or anxiety.
• On the day of the drill, we will announce reminders prior to the actual drill to ensure that all
students/staff feel prepared. No simulations that mimic an actual active shooter event will occur during the drill, and parents and guardians have the opportunity to exempt their child from participating in the drill.
• During the drill, no one will be permitted in or out of our school. This closure may last for 10-15
minutes.
• The lockdown drill is meant to be practice only, and not stressful or scary in nature. At your request, your student may be exempt from participating in the law enforcement drill.
• Teachers will reflect upon the drill with students after it has been completed.
• Members of the District/School Safety Committee and Naperville Police Department will be observing the drill and debriefing with staff following its conclusion.
When talking with your children at home about safety drill procedures, you don't have to be specific about the types of emergencies that require a lockdown; you can just explain to your child that this is one of the safety drills all schools are required to practice. Indian Prairie School District utilizes standard language throughout the district for situations within the school (Hold in Place and Teach) that require everyone to stay in place until the situation is resolved. For situations occurring outside of the school (Secure the Building and Teach), the school will be secured, and no one will be allowed to enter/exit the building.
When we partner with you to protect our children, these drills become a smooth practice that develops into a habit, supporting fast, efficient procedures in emergency situation. We hope that we will never have to utilize this procedure in a real situation, but it is important for us all to prepare for and practice the process of staying safe at school.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call Julie Vogel at 630-428-7200.
Winter Weather - Coats and Boots
As the colder weather approaches, we want to make sure all of our students are comfortable and ready to learn each day. If your child is in need of a warm coat or boots this season, please let us know.
We understand that these requests are personal, and we will handle all communication and support with care and discretion. Our goal is simply to ensure that every child is prepared for the winter months.
If you would like assistance, please complete the form below by Friday, September 12th.
If you have any gently worn coats, boots, and/or snow pants, we will GLADLY take them! We will have a collection bin in our main entrance for the next two weeks and will accept them at any time, even after the drive is over! Thank you!
Author Visit - Karina Yan Glaser
Welch is excited to welcome New York Times Bestselling Author Karina Yan Glaser on September 18. Karina will be speaking to grades 3-5 about her newest book The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli. Karina will also be autographing books for students who purchase them through PushCoin. If you would like to order a personalized copy you can find the information here. https://store.ipsd.org/#!/products/HBBAZ7KNV6
Https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VdkqfzekRel8wvdm_O1JmdsPGupuxnmZ/view?usp=sharing
Orders must be in by September 16 to guarantee personalization. After that they will be signed but we cannot guarantee they will be personalized.
Additional Lunch
Please complete this form if your student has permission to purchase a second lunch entree and/or second meal. Each student will need this form completed in order to purchase a second entree or meal. The cost is as follows: Breakfast - Second Meal $3.75; Lunch - Second Entree - $4.40 and Second Meal - $5.75; regardless of Free/Reduced Lunch status, EVERYONE who takes a second entree and/or meal will be charged these amounts.
School Lunch Menus
Daily Snack
Each classroom has a time during the day to enjoy a HEALTHY snack. We ask that the snack be NUT free. Suggested snacks include fresh fruits and vegetables, crackers, granola bars, pretzels, and goldfish. Please don’t send candy, cookies, cakes, chips, pudding, soda, and other dessert-like items.
Student Health Forms and Medication
Students entering kindergarten and new students to the district, must present proof of the required state of Illinois physical examination and immunizations. The student history portion of the examination form must be completed and signed by the parent. If this is not completed, the student will be excluded from school on October 16, 2025. Out-of-state physical examinations written on approved forms, which meet current state of Illinois requirements, are acceptable if they are less than one year old.
All students entering kindergarten and second grade are required to present proof of an oral health examination completed by a licensed dentist. This will be due prior to May 15, 2026.
A vision examination is required of all students entering kindergarten or enrolling in an Illinois public school for the first time. Written proof of having been examined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches or a licensed optometrist will be required. This will be due October 16, 2025.
If your student needs medication administered during the school day, please refer to the information below: https://www.ipsd.org/departments/health-services/medication-at-school. All medications must be turned in with the appropriate forms and order.
Volunteering at Welch
You can make a significant impact by volunteering in our school! Your unique skills and experiences will help our students succeed. Whether you prefer a set schedule or occasional opportunities, there’s a role for you.
Ways You Can Help:
There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities at Welch. Opportunities include roles within your childs' classroom, the LMC, PTA, and more, ensuring a perfect fit for every volunteer. No matter where your interests lie, there's a way for you to get involved and make a difference at Welch!
How to Get Started:
- Complete the Consent Form: When you click on the link, and a new window will open with the document. In the new window, click the download button (pictured below), and fill out and save the form on your computer.
Click the Consent Form you prefer here: English or Spanish. - Complete the Application: Go to the online application to fill in more information and upload the form: English or Spanish.
- Approval: After submitting your application for review, you will receive an email informing you of your approval status or if additional information is needed.
- Placement: Once your application is approved, you will work with the building or school organization on any volunteer opportunities that are available.
For more information, please contact:
Jeannie Dina
Assistant Director of Community Relations
jeannie_dina@ipsd.org
Phone: 630-375-3017
Wickedly Wonderful PTA Updates
🎉 Silent Auction - LIVE NOW
Our Silent Auction is live and waiting for your bids. This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year and every dollar raised supports our students and staff. Start Bidding Here.
Baskets will be on display at Multicultural Night and winners will be announced at 7:30 PM that evening.
🍔 Culver’s Night Out - Wednesday, September 10th 5 - 8 PM
Take the night off from cooking, and pick up dinner at Culver’s, 509 S Rt 59 in Aurora, from 5 - 8pm. Mention Welch when you order, and 15% of profits will benefit our PTA.
📅 PTA Meeting - Friday, September 12th at 9:30 AM
Join us for our next PTA meeting at Welch. We’d love to see you there and share updates on upcoming events.
🌍 Multicultural Night - Friday, September 19th 6 - 8 PM
Celebrate the many cultures that make Welch so special with food, performances and fun.
👉 Please sign up here to participate: Sign Up for Multicultural Night.
🐾 Spirit Wear
Our 2025 - 2026 spirit wear collection is here. Visit the Spirit Wear Page to see all available options, including a direct link to order from Deb’s Embroidery. Deb’s has a wide variety of Welch gear in different colors, styles and sizes, from bows and caps to hoodies, tees and flannels.
📲 Stay Connected
Don’t miss any updates! Follow us on social media for reminders, photos and the latest news:
Bread Tags
Welch will be collecting plastic bread tags to donate to SCARCE for recycling in partnership with Danielle Cares for Chairs. Plastic bread tags are those square clips commonly used to seal bags around a loaf of bread, bagels, or even produce. If you are trying to reduce your plastic use, they can be hard to avoid. Further, plastic bread tags are not recyclable in your curbside recycling bin. Therefore, millions end up in landfills each year, just adding to our disposable plastic problem. it takes about 260,000 bread tags to purchase a basic wheelchair – so every bread tag counts! We will have collection bags at Welch, so please feel free to bring yours in or send them with your child!