Bobcat Bulletin

Hello Bobcat Families,

What a fantastic start to the school year! It was wonderful to see so many of you last week at Curriculum Night and Movie Night Mania. Our calendar for the year is just getting started, so be sure to check the Brookdale PTA Calendar to save the date for all our upcoming community events!

Movie Night Mania & Fundraising Success Thank you to all our volunteers and families who donated to our first IPEF fundraiser of the school year. Movie Night Mania was a huge success, raising over $4,000 for a great cause—with half of those funds coming directly back to Brookdale! We are finalizing total expenses and will share the final donation amount soon. Thank you for your incredible support! Brookdale Team IPEF Is now up to 23 students, staff, and community members! Today's the final day to join if interested (See below.)!

Fall iReady Benchmarking Screenings This week kicks off our fall Universal Benchmarking Screenings using iReady. Students complete these assessments three times a year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) to help us measure growth and achievement relative to our School Improvement Goals. Results from iReady, combined with classroom assessments, help us allocate student support effectively and ensure we meet every child where they are so they can reach their full potential. Click here for more information about iReady.

Show Your Bobcat Pride This Friday! We love how proud our students are to be Bobcats! On the first Friday of each month, students show their school spirit by wearing blue and yellow/gold. We can't wait to see that Bobcat Pride shining bright at the Bobcat Den this Friday!

Thank you, as always, for your remarkable support and partnership. We look forward to a great week ahead!

Respectfully,

Dr. Keeley Schmid

Proud Principal, Brookdale Elementary

We begin our fall benchmarking this week. Check out more about the iReady assessment below. We will share information throughout the year on how these results, along with classroom assessments, are used to allocate supports for our students to grow to their greatest potential! Results on the fall benchmarking assessment will be available in ParentVUE on Friday, October 9th.

Birthday Books are Back! Check out all the information on Birthday Books this year (Click picture to view as a link). Purchasing of the Birthday Books will be available on PushCoin starting September 1st.

It's time to sign up for choir this year! Choir is open to all 4th and 5th grade Bobcats and is a great opportunity for our Bobcats to explore the arts beyond the classroom in D204! See the sign up link below. See our Choir Director, Mrs. Marycate Anton, with any questions!

As we work together to ensure a safe environment for all of our students, staff, and families, we want to provide some important reminders regarding the use of electric bikes (e-bikes) and scooters (e-scooters).

With an increasing number of students riding e-bikes and e-scooters to and from school, we are seeing a higher frequency of safety incidents on campus. While these devices may seem convenient, they present safety concerns for both riders and pedestrians, especially during busy arrival and dismissal times. For that reason, e-bikes and e-scooters are not permitted on school property.

We also want to make families aware of local regulations. E-bikes and e-scooters are not allowed on sidewalks and must follow the same traffic laws as bicycles. In most municipalities, Class 3 e-bikes require riders to be at least 16 years old, and state law prohibits operating low-speed e-scooters unless the rider is at least 18. Riders are required to use bike lanes or remain near the curb, and at night must have proper lights and reflectors.

We encourage parents to talk with their children about these rules and remind them to walk, ride traditional bicycles, or use other safe methods when traveling to and from school. If unsafe or illegal use is observed in the community, parents are encouraged to contact their local police department.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students and school safe.

For more information on the specific laws in your community, please visit the following links:

Naperville Police Department: E-Bikes, E-Scooters and Other Electric Mobility Devices

Aurora Police Department: E-Bikes, E-Scooters, and Bicycles: Know the Law

Village of Bolingbrook: Guide to the E-bike and Electric scooter Ordinance

Plainfield Police Department: Let’s Talk E-Bikes & E-Scooters

Weekly Checkout Limits

• Kindergarten: 1 book during Quarter 1; 2 books for the remainder of the year

• 1st & 2nd Grade: 2 books

• 3rd, 4th & 5th Grade: 3 books

Returns & Renewals Please help remind your child to bring their books back each week so they can swap them for new ones. If your reader needs extra time to finish a book, they can easily renew it by letting Mrs. Walsh or Mrs. Sadler (LMC Assistant) know during their visit.

Book Care Guidelines To help us keep our library collection in great shape, please remind your child to:

• Keep food and drinks away from books while reading.

• Store books safely out of reach of pets (dogs love a good book chew!).

Become a school volunteer!

You can make a significant impact by volunteering in our schools. 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.

How to help:

There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities in the district with options available at each school, including Boosters, fine arts, LMC (library), PTA, and IPPC (Indian Prairie Parents’ Council). No matter your interest, there's a way for you to make a difference in our schools.

How to get started:

1. Complete a consent form and application: Visit the district’s volunteer program webpage to fill out two forms: a consent form, then an online application. First, complete the consent form, then upload it within the online application.

2. Approval: After submitting your application for review, you will receive an email informing you of your approval status or if additional information is needed.

3. 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:

Matt Hanley
Assistant director, community engagement

matthew_hanley@ipsd.org

(630) 375-3017

*Applications last for one year. You will receive a notification one week and one day prior to the expiration to renew your application.

We have a variety of clubs offered throughout the year at Brookdale. We will publish a list soon with all the clubs being offered this year.

*These are only clubs sponsored by Brookdale staff. Any outside company who rents space through D204 at Brookdale is advertised through the district communication system. Sign-up for outside companies is not coordinated by Brookdale.

Does your child love reading and talking about books? Then the Brookdale Bookworm Club may be a club they would like to join!

The Brookdale Bookworm Club open to 4th Graders ONLY and run by Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Sadler.

We will be meeting during the school year to talk about books we are reading, create video book talks about the books and talk about ways we can promote the love of reading at Brookdale.

Brookdale Book Worms will meet after school from 3:45-4:45 p.m. on the following dates- Sept. 22nd & 29th, October 20th & 27th, Nov. 17th, Dec. 15th, Jan. 26th, Feb., 23rd, March 23rd and April 27th.

Click on the link to sign your child up for the Brookdale Book Worms!

Brookdale Books Worms is open to the first 25 students that sign up. Sign up below.

Thank you to everyone who joined our Brookdale Team IPEF this year! We are again the largest team of all 34 schools--way to represent, Bobcats!

We can't wait to take to the streets of Downtown Naperville representing the Bobcats! Don't know what Team IPEF is? Check out the video below (Several of our Bobcat Dream Team featured!) and get more information here!

Brookdale Team IPEF 2026

Staff

• Danielle Batchelder

• Kristin Cibulka

• Betsy Cunningham

• Carolyn Lenc

• Diana Perotti

• Khadisia Persaud

• Emma Ryan

• Keeley Schmid

• Linnea Schmidt

• Leah Steinhauser-Walsh

• Bri Turska

Staff Family

• Aria Batchelder

• Lila Batchelder

• Jacob Isaacson

• Alyssa Persaud

• C.J. Schmid

• Brad Turska

• Gregory Walsh

Parents

• Stephanie Blecha

• Laura Burgess

• Rachael Paul-Heinz

Students

• Nora Blecha

• Henry Heinz

This school year, elementary students will participate in scheduled early release days, with dismissal at 1:00 PM on September 24, 2026, December 15, 2026, and February 4, 2027.

Knowing the operations of Brookdale helps to ensure a smooth school year!

Check out the link here for all the logistical information about Brookdale Elementary. We make updates to this each year, so even if you are returning, it is good practice to review it each year.

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 we when practicing, we want to learn and grow from these experiences. We will conduct our safety drills on the following days and times this school year:

Building Evacuation/Fire

Thursday, August 20th at 9:55am--Complete

Tuesday, September 1st at 2:15pm--This Week

Wednesday, October 21st at 10am

Severe Weather

Wednesday, August 26th at 9:35am

Tuesday, March 2nd at 2:45pm

Law Enforcement Drill

Tuesday, September 15th at 9:55am with our School Resource Officer

Bus Evacuation

Friday, October 2nd starting at 9:00am

Menus are available on school websites. Please note that due to ongoing supply chain issues, menus are subject to change. As much advance notice as possible will be provided to the affected schools.

If you believe your family may qualify for free or reduced priced meal benefits, please complete a Household Eligibility Application. (English Application | Spanish Application)

Please make sure your students have adequate funds on their PushCoin account. Even if your family receives free or reduced meals, a la carte items are “extras” that get charged to their account. You can deposit funds to their account at www.pushcoin.com. Setting up a PushCoin account and reviewing balances and purchases is at no extra cost.

The Indian Prairie School District Food Service section of the district's website is one stop for all of this information and more!

We value your voice at the table! You do not have to be a member to attend, only to vote!

Benefits to attending:

• We do provide free childcare
• Dinner on us--Pizza provided!
• Earn a "ticket" to join your child for lunch any time during the school year for attending (1 per attending adult).
• Come be part of your child's PTA!

*Volunteer Approval Process (Above) Required Prior to Volunteering!

Calling all enthusiastic and caring male role models (dads, grandfathers, uncles, etc)! Ignite a positive impact in your child’s educational journey through our remarkable Men of Brookdale (MOB) program. Join in on the playground and in the lunchroom and help play games, open containers, and have fun with your child and peers.

There are two sessions each day:

🐾 10:45am-12:25pm (Grades 5/3/4)

🐾 12:15pm-1:50pm (Grades 2/1/K)

Volunteers can sign up for one or both sessions at this link: Men of Brookdale - Sign up. Dates are available for a couple of Fridays each month. It’s fun, simple, and rewarding! If you have any questions, email Ben Kalnicky at bkalnicky@uwalumni.com.

*Volunteer Approval Process (Above) Required Prior to Volunteering!

To help relieve our school office from the heavy flow of parents/students who enter the building in the morning, volunteers may serve as the morning greeter at the main entrance from 9:00-9:30am (9:10-9:45am on Wednesdays).

Responsibilities include:

🐾 Welcoming visitors.

🐾 Setting up the day's lunch menu choices on the bulletin board.

🐾 Checking in tardy students.

🐾 Directing parents to the office.

🐾 Collecting items that parents drop off and delivering items to classrooms.

Click here to sign up for a shift!

The PTA is an organization of parents, staff, and community members committed to enriching the school experience for all students and staff at Brookdale. With exciting programming, events, and tons of resources offered to our Bobcats each year, we work hard to ensure that Brookdale stays at its best!

Joining the PTA gives you the opportunity to make a difference in your student's time at Brookdale. Plus, meet new people and get to know the staff in a fun environment. The PTA will connect you to important school happenings and resources that benefit your child. And importantly, joining the PTA strengthens our community - we need your unique perspective to make a difference! Yearly membership is $20 for a single adult and just $30 for a family membership (two adults). All proceeds go back to benefit Brookdale! Sign up today! http://www.brookdalepta.org/membership/

Show that Bobcat pride with a collection of Brookdale wearables perfect for everyone in the whole family! Shop the sale now to get your Brookdale gear for the whole family by our first Spirit Day on Friday, September 25. All items ship directly to your home. For a limited time, get up to 35% off and free shipping on orders over $85. Happy shopping!

Brookdale Spirit Wear Shop

Monday, August 31st

• Fall Benchmarking Begins

Tuesday, September 1st

• Birthday Books Open in PushCoin

Wednesday, September 2nd

• No scheduled school events

Thursday, September 3rd

• No scheduled school events

Friday, September 4th

• 1st Spirit Day!
• It's Bubble Gum Time! @3:35-3:45pm on Blacktop (Bus riders/RAS have a sale just for them!)