Welch Parent News
Week of September 29, 2025
On the Prowl... What is coming up at Welch?
Tuesday, September 30th -
- Chorus 4th Grade ONLY 8:00 AM
Wednesday, October 1st -
- White Tiger Wednesday!
- Fire Drill with Fire Department
- 2nd Grade Harry Potter Club 3:35 - 4:30 PM
- 4th Grade Playground Club 3:35 -4 :30 PM
Thursday, October 2nd -
- 2nd Grade Harry Potter Club 3:35 - 4:30 PM
- Camp Connections Club 3:35 - 4:30 PM
Friday, October 3rd -
- White Tiger Sorting Assemblies
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL IMMUNIZATION, PHYSICAL, AND HEALTH FORMS ARE DUE BY OCTOBER 15TH FOR ALL KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS AND NEW STUDENTS TO DISTRICT 204. STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT SUBMITTED THE APPROPRIATE FORMS WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM SCHOOL ON OCTOBER 16TH UNTIL FORMS ARE COMPLETED AND TURNED IN.
White Tiger Houses and Sorting Assemblies
To continue to support our ongoing goal of cultivating strong relationships throughout our school community we will be introducing a house system this year for all of our students (and staff!). The core goals of this include:
- Foster cross grade level relationships and strengthen the connection to our amazing school
- Build student ownership and mutual accountability
- Strengthen our PBIS and SEL practices
What does this look like?
All students will be placed in one of four "houses". This will be driven by our White Tiger mascot. (Think Harry Potter, but without the wands or magic!). On Friday, October 3rd, all White Tigers will be sorted into their "house" and together will participate in some fun games! We encourage ALL White Tigers to dress in their house color (indicated below).
Our entire school remains our "Pride". The four houses have been named after characteristics of white tigers: Aurora, Harmony, Valor, and Ember.
Aurora House (Represents Brilliance & Hope) - Wear BLUE
Inspired by the northern lights and the glow of a white tiger’s coat—symbolizing positivity, curiosity, and bright thinking.(Students from KM, 1M, 2MK, 3B, 4C, 5A, Daly)
Valor House (Represents Courage & Strength)- Wear BROWN
Reflects the fierce bravery of tigers—encouraging students to be bold, resilient, and stand up for what’s right.
(Students from KK, 1C, 2EK, 3J, 4O, 5N, Luporini)
Harmony House (Represents Kindness & Unity) - Wear GREEN
Symbolizes peaceful cooperation, respect for all, and the quiet power of working together.
(Students from KC, 1W, 2V, 3M, 4K, 5K, McKinney)
Ember House (Represents Passion & Determination) - Wear RED
Though white tigers may be cool in color, this name reflects the fire within—drive, motivation, and never giving up.
(Students from KH, 1B, 2O, 3A, 4L, 5P, Wild-Leon)
Fall iReady Benchmarks are Complete!
This fall, Indian Prairie School District 204 administered the i-Ready assessments to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. These Illinois Learning Standards aligned assessments provide comprehensive insight into student learning across multiple domains for both reading and mathematics. The purpose of these assessments is to evaluate student academic growth toward end of year expectations. These assessment results are used by teachers and administrators to assist with instructional planning and differentiation at the grade, classroom and student level.
What is Measured?
Depending on grade level, reading measures assess phonological awareness, phonics, high-frequency words, vocabulary, comprehension of literature and comprehension of informational text; and mathematics measures assess number and operations, algebra/ algebraic thinking, measurement/data, and geometry. These areas of performance are summarized in an overall reading and mathematics score.
How To Access Your Child's Scores
Your child’s score reports will be available within ParentVUE starting on Friday, October 10, 2025. To access the reports, click on the “Documents” section in ParentVUE then look for iReady Score Report. Information concerning the interpretation of your child’s individual report may be accessed at:
Document: https://i-readycentral.com/download/?res=39944&view_pdf=1
Video: https://i-readycentral.com/videos/video-understanding-i-ready-diagnostic-data-for-families/
Should you have any questions regarding your child’s iReady results, please contact your child's classroom teacher.
IAR Parent Assessment News
Over the past 18 months, the State Board has been working on right-sizing the benchmark ranges for all State assessments. You will see on your child’s IAR and ISA results coming out in October with new performance levels for Math, ELA and Science. These shifts show that the old benchmarks were too high in ELA and Math and too low in Science. The new ranges give a more accurate picture of student learning. We won't be able to compare proficiency rates going forward to prior years, but you can still track your own student's growth by comparing their score or their Student Growth Percentile, since those measures are not affected by the new performance levels. Please click on link below to learn more!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kU5GmxkB75geDxDg_TIOg8gLeSghLg9j/view?usp=sharing
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.
Wickedly Wonderful PTA Updates
We’d love to see as many parents as possible involved in our PTA events this year! Your time and support make such a huge impact—not only for our school community, but also for your own child. To make it even more fun, every event you volunteer for will earn you an additional lunch with your child at school. It’s a wonderful way to give back, connect with other families, and create special memories with your student. We hope you’ll join us!
🐾 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:
Pop Tabs
Start saving those shiny little pop tabs! We’re gathering them to help families stay close to their sick or injured children at the Ronald McDonald House. Every tab you bring in adds up—and with the help of United Scrap Metal, each pound of tabs helps raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana. Bring your tabs to the office or classroom 239 in the 5th grade hallway, and let’s see how many pounds we can collect together!
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!