Graves (K-5) Sailor Newsletter

*Para español por favor haga clic en "Translate” en la esquina superior

We can't believe we have already started another month of school!

Teachers have been working very diligently in making sure they get to know their students strengths and areas of improvement. Please make sure you check your child's progress report and if you have any questions and/or concerns don't hesitate to reach out to the teacher.

As a reminder, these progress reports offer a brief snapshot of your child’s early development. At this stage, teachers are still completing beginning-of-year assessments and establishing classroom routines, which take time to settle. These early reports are just the starting point, and will include more standards as students are further exposed to the curriculum.

We encourage you to stay in regular contact with your child’s teacher to receive timely updates and support your child’s growth throughout the year.

Please see the following newsletter for important information.

Monday, September 15 – Wednesday, October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

Wednesday, October 1 – Friday, October 31: National Bullying Prevention Month

Friday, October 3: Progress reports sent home with students

Tuesday, October 7: Ronald McDonald Care Van at Graves/HMS

Friday, October 10: Teacher Institute Day (no school for students)

Monday, October 13: Indigenous Peoples' Day (No School)

Friday, October 17: PBIS Spirit Day: Crazy Hair Day (Please see flyer below for more information)

Wednesday, October 22: Unity Day (more information coming soon)

Friday, October 31: Fall Parade & Celebrations

Friday, October 31: PBIS Student of the Month and Monthly Grade Level Event

Please remember that every Wednesday is a late start 8:50AM-2:50PM

All meetings are scheduled for 7pm on the second Wednesday of the month.

JOIN US!

October 14, 2025

Admin Center

November 11, 2025

Walsh Elementary School (Walsh Spotlight)

December 9, 2025

Admin Center

January 13, 2026

Walker Elementary School (Walker Spotlight)

February 10, 2026

Admin Center

March 10, 2026

Wharton Elementary School (Wharton Spotlight)

April 14, 2026

Admin Center

May 12, 2026

Graves Elementary School (Graves Spotlight)

June 9, 2026

Admin Center

You will soon be receiving your child’s NWEA MAP assessment report. This report is one way we measure academic growth, but it is important to remember that our students are learning to read, write, and speak two languages. Because of this unique journey, their progress may look different compared to students who are learning in just one language.

Learning in two languages is a tremendous advantage that takes time to develop, and we are very proud of the effort and growth our students show every day.

The History Channel has provided a list of Latino inventors who have shaped our world.

Did you know that Hispanic people played pioneering roles in inventing the color television, the artificial heart, and CAPTCHA technology?

Click on the links above for more interesting facts!

Celebrates Native American culture and heritage, and recognizes the challenges

they continue to face.

NO SCHOOL: MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2025

On Friday, October 31, 2025 Graves students will parade around the school (Weather Permitting)

followed by classroom celebrations.

More information coming soon!

After School Clubs are in full effect!

If you have any questions regarding clubs please email

Rosa Serna at rserna@sd104.us and Claudia Martinez cmartinez@sd104.us or call the front office.

Please remember to pick up your child on time.

The fall weather will be here soon! Students will continue going out for recess every day. Please make sure that your child wears appropriate sweater/jacket to school.

We ask that parents do not send in birthday treats for students to distribute. Please read below, as taken from the 2025-2026 District 104 Handbook:

Treats & Snacks [K-5] 1.80 Due to health concerns and scheduling, no birthday treats are allowed. Treats will be limited to certain school-wide celebrations.

October Focus – Self-Regulation
All children experience big feelings. Teaching self-regulation skills helps them manage emotions in healthy ways. Practice calm-down strategies such as deep breathing, stretching, or squeezing a stress ball. Modeling these strategies as adults (“I feel frustrated, so I’m going to take a deep breath”) helps kids learn that it’s okay to pause and regroup.

❤️October is sudden cardiac awareness month! We have four AED's on our campus ensuring we are prepared should SCA arise!

• Kindergarten students must submit a current health exam and proof of immunizations by October 15th in order to avoid school exclusion per Illinois State Board of Education school code. Thank you to those who have turned them in already!

• Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will be at HMS/Graves 10/7: only students who turned in signed consents will be seen.

• Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is on the rise in Illinois; it spreads through respiratory droplets and contact, and children should stay home if they have a fever, cannot maintain hygiene (such as excessive drooling), or have open uncovered blisters. Prevention includes good handwashing, cleaning surfaces, and not sharing food, drinks, or utensils

• Washing your hands is the most effective way to prevent the spread of back-to-school germs!

• When you send your student to school, you are attesting that your student is in good health and ready for learning. Follow these guidelines on when to return to school for our top three symptoms of illness:

-Fever (100.0 or higher): The student may return to school after being fever free 24hrs without fever reducing medication.

-Vomit: The student may return to school after being free of vomiting for 24hrs.

-Diarrhea: The student may return to school after being free of diarrhea for 24hrs.

We are ready for a safe, healthy, and happy school year! ❤️

Nurse Tina, Nurse Anita & Ms. Oli

Please help us raise money for our student's PBIS events by scanning the following QR Code!

Please see the following presentation for more information on how you can help our school.

All donations will help fund school wide PBIS events we have planned for our students

throughout the year.

Please see the attached flyer for more information……

Please take a moment to view the following videos

and have a conversation with your child regarding Bullying.

More information on Unity Day coming soon!

In the event of any absence, the student’s parent or guardian is required to call the school before 8:00 a.m. to explain the reason for the absence. If a call has not been made to the school by 10:00 a.m. on the day of a student’s absence, a school official will call the home to inquire why the student is not at school. If the parent or guardian cannot be contacted, the student will be required to submit a signed note from the parent or guardian explaining the reason for the absence. Failure to do so shall result in an unexcused absence.

Student attendance is critical to the learning process. A parent or guardian who knowingly and willfully permits a child to be truant is in violation of State law. Truancy is therefore a serious issue and will be dealt with in a serious manner by the school and district.

Students who miss more than nine regular school days without valid cause are chronic truants. Students who are chronic truants will be offered support services and resources aimed at correcting the truancy issue. A student who misses 10 consecutive days of school without valid cause and who cannot be located or, after exhausting all available support services, cannot be compelled to return to school is unenrolled.

D104 Action Plan for Truancy:

The District has a truancy intervention plan in place which will be implemented via social worker and administrators after a student starts being truant. For example, truancy letter sent home, student and parent meeting, and more. For more information, please look over our districts handbook.

9 days of absences

o A truancy letter regarding absence concerns (indicating the dates of absences) will be mailed. A copy will be placed in the student’s temporary file.

o Meeting with the student (when appropriate)

18 days of absences

o A truancy letter will be mailed and added to their file.

o The building administrator will contact the family/guardian regarding concerns.

o Future absences will be marked as Truant unless accompanied by a doctor's note.

o An attendance intervention plan can be implemented via social worker and administrator.

21 Days of absences

o A truancy letter will be mailed on each subsequent absence and added to the file.

o The building administrator will facilitate meeting with parent to discuss concerns.

o Social worker will provide resources for student and/or family counseling as well as agency support.

o Attendance intervention plan will be restructured as needed. o Potential Involvement of the

Summit Police Department

o Contact the Intermediate Service Center for truancy

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays

Entrance 7:50a.m.

Dismissal 2:50p.m.

(Doors open at 7:30 for breakfast)

Wednesdays (Late Start)

Entrance 8:50a.m.

Dismissal 2:50p.m.

(Doors open at 8:30 for breakfast)

Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Grade: Door #4

3rd, 4th, 5th Grade: Door #5

For student safety, no students should be outside on the school grounds before

7:30AM (M,T,TH,F) 8:30AM (W)

For the safety of our staff and students, please do not bring dogs onto school property.

Thank you for your support!

Just a reminder that students should be taking care of their technology devices, especially when they take them home.

As stated in the student handbook the policy states:

The district will assume the cost of parts and labor associated with all repairs deemed due to natural failure. If the technical department determines a failure due to damage, the student will be responsible for any hardware costs needed to return the device to a functional state. The district will assume all labor costs associated with damage repairs. Cosmetic damage will not be charged or repaired.

• Sleeve/Cover Replacement ($10)
• Charger Replacement ($25)
• Keyboard Replacement ($25)
• Touch Screen Replacement ($115)
• iPad Replacement: ($300)
• Chromebook Replacement:

- $250 for a new device, Year 1

- $200 for a device that is 2 years old

- $150 for a device that is 3 years old

- $100 for a device that is 4 years old

Please review this months lunch menu with your child.

The following students had 100% Perfect Attendance for the month of September and were recognized with a certificate for their accomplishment.

We know times are tough but we appreciate everyone's efforts in making sure our Graves Sailors are present and ready to learn! They couldn't have done it without their parents help!

The following Graves students were chosen to be our

STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER

as they have demonstrated how to be

-RESPECTFUL

-RESPONSIBLE

-SAFE

As a reminder, students are allowed to wear their

"Student of The Month" T-Shirt with blue jeans on Fridays!

Take a look at all the learning that has been going on!

If anyone is interested in participating in the Summit Park District Trunk Decorating participants must bring treats to pass out and decorate their trunk.

Set-up time will be from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, as the event will begin promptly at 3:00 PM.

Please remember that the previous information is for students in grades Kindergarten-5th only.

For more information about our PreK program please contact the

Pre-School Director, Kathleen Dunn at 708-546-7151 or at kdunn@sd104.us