Please take a moment to read through the monthly newsletter as it is packed with important information about upcoming events, school updates, and highlights from our classrooms. Below you will find grade-level newsletters and updates.

We are excited to share Peacock, along with all District 10 Schools, achieved a summative school status of Exemplary. This means our schools are performing in the top 10% of all school in Illinois. View the letter from Mr. Benes about this distinguished achievement and Daily Herald article below.

6th Grade Newsletter

7th Grade Newsletter

8th Grade Newsletter

Our Student-Led Conferences will take place on November 13 and November 20. These conferences are valuable as we teach students to understand the learning process and encourage them to take ownership for their learning. This format helps build student independence, identify areas of strength and growth, and shares knowledge and skills learned throughout the first trimester. While students will present a portfolio of their learning, grade level teachers will be in close proximity to answer questions and provide additional insight on how your child is progressing through the curriculum.

Please see the letter below where you will be able to sign up for a twenty minute time slot on one of the dates above. Sign-up will be active on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

These conferences are Student-Led, your child will present the following:

• Student Work Samples
• Data Points (Attendance, Grades, IAR, and iReady Results)
• Goal Setting

Please note, grade level conferences will be student-led and teachers will be available to meet with you and your student during the scheduled time. Students must attend and bring their Chromebook.

Encore conferences will be scheduled with the individual teacher.

This month we started the District 10 Youth Advisory. The advisory is comprised of community leaders, intergovernmental representatives, school staff, and 7th and 8th grade Peacock students. Peacock students were nominated by teachers and completed an application process to be selected. We had a productive first meeting and look forward to gathering your feedback on community opportunities for youth in the near future. The advisory's work will anchor to the following goals:

• Bridge Between Youth and Stakeholders in Community

• Identify Community Needs and Opportunities

• Empower Youth Voice in Decision Making

• Develop Programs and Initiatives for Youth

• Encourage Youth Civic Engagement and Leadership

Starting Trimester 2, students in 6th and 7th grade, and 8th graders in the encore rotation, will transition to a new encore class (Art, Music, Spanish). Students will receive an updated class schedule on Wednesday, 11/6.

Additionally, we are happy to share that students will receive updated lunchroom assignments. These assignments were determined by gathering student input on peers they would like to sit with. Student feedback and focus groups were the drive that led to the change of increasing student choice during lunch. Students had the opportunity to list peers that they would like to sit with at lunch. All students that completed the input survey will have two or more preferred peers in their lunch group. Students will have an additional opportunity this school year to express interest in preferred peers at lunch for Trimester 3.

Join us in celebrating our students' academic and extra-curricular achievements at the Trimester 2 Honors Assembly. We will celebrate students who grew one level on the Spring 2024 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), met or exceeded learning standards on IAR, earned Honor Roll or High Honor Roll status for Trimester 1, and highlights achievements in extra-curricular activities. The assembly will begin at 8:15 a.m. at Peacock Middle. You can join the assembly virtually at this livestream link.

The libraries at Peacock, Franzen and Benson are always looking for an extra hand. As a volunteer you might check out books for the students, help shelve library materials, listen to a small group of children read aloud, assist with library projects … The possibilities are endless!

Volunteers are needed each day in some capacity. Your help would be appreciated one morning or afternoon each week, once or twice a month, during your student's library time or whenever you find you have some free time to spend at the school with the children!

Please complete the form below to volunteer in your child's library. Training will required prior to volunteering. Volunteers will be invited on an as needed basis. The school librarian will contact you to get you started!

Thank you,

Ashley Darling - Peacock Librarian

Anita DeValk - Franzen Librarian

Jennifer Susina - Benson Librarian

Peacock book fair is the week of November 11th thru the 15th. Students will go to the book fair during their ELA classes to shop. The book fair will also be open during student-led conferences if you would like to shop with your student.

November

1 - End of Trimester 1

4 - No School

5 - No School

7 - Peacock @ Wood Dale

8 - Report Cards Sent Home with Students

11-15 - Peacock Book Fair

12 - Peacock at Westfield

13 - Trimester 1 Honors Assembly @ 8:15 a.m.

13 - Early Release & Conferences

19 - Peacock vs Roselle

20 - Early Release & Conferences

21 - Girls' BB Tournament @ Westfield

25-29 - No School

December

2 - School Resumes

4 - Peacock & Franzen Choral Concert

*Check Peacock's student calendar for updates and event details.

Peacock's Average Daily Attendance currently stands at 97%. Our school goal is to always be above 95%. THANK YOU for helping us maintain our goal!!

Students must be in school at least half of a school day in order to participate in after school events and have an overall attendance of 92% present to participate in extracurriculars/school events.

In order to attend school, students must be in compliance with all DuPage County Health regulations. See the Health section for more information related to deciding when your child is too ill to be in school.

Attendance patterns are monitored regularly by school staff. If the number of days missed to school is equal to 5% of the total days that school has been in session, a referral will be made to the DuPage County Truancy Office. This means that the truancy officer will contact you for problem solving in order to improve the child’s school attendance. A student who misses 5% or more of school every year will lose ONE FULL ACADEMIC YEAR of learning before reaching high school graduation.

If your child has a medical condition that is contributing to missed school days, contact the school nurse.

All Chromebook information can be found in the newsletter below. Links to purchase extra chargers and optional Chromebook insurance is included.

ANY student is eligible to ride the late bus throughout the school year. Your child does not need to be an established bus rider that takes the bus to/from school. The late bus will run on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and leave school at 4:00 p.m. Tutorial (homework help) also runs on these days from 3:00-4:00. You can sign your child up for the bus service here. This service is FREE to students.

We highly encourage your student to get involved and try something new this year! Students can join any of the following clubs below by emailing or speaking with the listed club sponsor:

• Kindness Club- meets Tuesdays from 3-3:30 with Mrs. Jomarron
• Choir - Mr. Travis
• 6th Grade: Monday & Wednesday @ 7:10 a.m.
• 7th/8th Grades: Tuesday & Thursday @ 7:10 a.m.
• Band - Mr. Ranz
• Concert: Tuesday & Thursday @ 7:10 a.m.
• Symphonic: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday @ 7:10 a.m.
• Film Club- meets Tuesdays from 3-4 with Mr. Travis
• Newspaper Club- meets Wednesdays from 3-4 with Mr. Travis
• Library Helpers- meets M-F after school with Mrs. Darling
• Book Club- meets once a month with Mrs. Darling at lunch
• Battle of the Books- see Mrs. Darling for more information
• IMSA- applications will be available in September from Ms. Hill
• Intramurals meet before school starting at 7:25 in the gym. Student sign-up will be available soon!
• Young Authors- meets twice a month after school with Mrs. Darling

We strongly encourage students to take advantage of homework help during morning and after school tutorial. Students can drop-in to this support on an as needed basis.

Morning Tutorial:

• Begins 7:20 a.m. Monday - Friday
• Students will work with Mrs. Jomarron or Mrs. Rathje.

After School Tutorial:

• Begins 2:50 - 3:50 on Monday's, Tuesday's, and Thursday's
• Students will work with Mrs. Kusmierz, Mrs. Rathje, or Mr. Falasz.

We appreciate your partnership with reminding students that the school expectations of acting with integrity and speaking with good purpose when cheering on Charger athletic teams at home games. As we enter this season, please be reminded that any student who is absent during the school day is not eligible to attend extra curricular activities. Students must also meet eligibility criteria per the student handbook to participate as an athlete and attend as a spectator. We are excited about the basketball season and wish our Charger teams the best!

Additionally, all Peacock students attending away athletic games at Wood Dale JH, Roselle Middle, Medinah Middle, Westfield, or Spring Wood must have an adult supervisor accompany them.

All HOME athletic games are live streamed during the event here: https://itasca10.org/live.

Let's go Chargers!!!

The Illinois Holocaust Museum is offering an opportunity for 7th and 8th grade students to participate in a Day of Leadership. During this day, students will learn about the Holocaust and human rights, develop and create an action plan and have discussions with peers from other school about how to address social justice in their school, community, and world.

Please be aware, this is not just a one day field trip. These students will continuously work to develop and implement this plan and should be prepared for the commitment level required.

If your student is interested, please fill out the form below. This opportunity is limited to 10 students-5 in 7th grade and 5 in 8th grade. Grade level teams will select students from the list of interested students based on leadership qualities shown in the classroom.

For more information, please visit the link: Holocaust Museum Day of Leadership

The Girl Scout Troops are collecting leftover Halloween Candy from Nov. 1-15th. Please bring all candy to Peacock front office for donation.

Upcoming important dates

November 15- Trivia Night (adults only)

Marla's Lunch - Hot Lunch information

Questions or comments, reach out to denisedicianni@hotmail.com

• Itasca District 10 Registration Page.pdf

  Itasca District 10 Lunch at a Glance.pdf

District 10 Spirit Wear

The IPTO is proud to announce online clothing store that will also be linked on their website. Here are some details

• Store never closes
• Items ship directly to your house
• Shop from several school stores and all items will be placed in one shopping cart
  

Below are links to our school stores:

• Benson Primary School
• Franzen Intermediate School
  
• Peacock Middle School

If you need to update us on your child's medical, dietary, or any other health needs, you can reach out to Nurse Spears. Please drop-off any necessary medication for your child before August 15th.

Ms. Kim Spears at kspears@ndsec.org

REMINDER:

All students are required by State Law to obtain a physical examination from a licensed physician prior to entrance into 6th grade and middle school athletics. Also with participation in school athletics, a sports physical needs to be complete and an IHSA Concussion Acknowledgment & Consent Form needs to be electronically submitted. Please review all Health Requirements needed for your student(s) in the links. Transfer students are allowed thirty days to comply with this requirement.

Interested in a career with us? We are currently looking for paraprofessionals & substitute teaching staff. Building principals would be happy to answer any of your questions on potential employment opportunities. See this link for additional information & how to apply.