Wolverine News
January 23, 2026
Please copy both co-principals on communications:
Mrs. Bruebach at Robin_Bruebach@ipsd.org
Mrs. Stephens at Kim_Stephens@ipsd.org
Student Service Coordinators:
Mrs. Charlson at Allison_Charlson@ipsd.org
Mrs. Pechnik at Tanya_Pechnik@ipsd.org
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, March 16, from 12:00-7:00 PM. There will be no school that day. Teachers will not be meeting with all students, but teachers and parents may request to meet. Please mark you calendars.
The deadline for joining the Young Authors program has passed (January 6), but those students writing pieces are reminded to hand them in by the deadline, Feb. 6, 2026. (Late manuscripts will not be eligible for awards). Questions may be emailed to our LMC Director, Mrs. Happy, at Elizabeth_Happy@ipsd.org.
With winter weather upon us, here are some reminders that will help to support a smooth school day here at May Watts.
Recess:
1. Students will go outside for a 15-minute recess when real temperature and wind chill are 5 degrees or above. Please have students dress warmly with gloves or mittens, hats, scarves, boots, snow pants, etc., as you see fit.
2. Students who choose to play in the snow must wear boots.
3. Please label clothing with your child's last name. Lost items that are labeled will be returned. Unidentified items will be placed in the Lost and Found.
4. Unclaimed items will be donated to charity.
Car Line:
The car line procedures, both before and after school, may be adjusted to shorten the time that students are outside in the extreme cold.
1. The car line will be extended to allow students to enter the building at both Doors 7 and 9, allowing more students to enter the building more quickly.
2. Teachers will direct parents to drive forward through the back circle drive.
3. Please follow the teacher direction to pull forward as far as possible.
4. Please do not attempt to pass the cars on the left, but remain in the line.
5. Your kindness and patience are greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance for helping us to keep students safe.
May Watts School Hours
Student Hours:
- M/T/Th/F 9:05-3:35
- Students may begin entering the building when supervision begins at 8:50
- W 9:15-3:35
- Students may begin entering the building when supervision begins at 9:00
Office Hours:
- Monday-Friday 7:45-4:15
Morning Arrival
Students may enter the building during the following times:
8:50- 9:05 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
9:00-9:15 on Wednesdays
* Supervision does not begin before these posted times. Exterior doors will be closed at 9:05 (9:15 on Wednesdays). Students arriving after this time will need to be brought to Door #1 and signed in by a parent/guardian in the main office and will be marked with an unexcused tardy absence.
Bus Riders: If your child is eligible for bus transportation, refer to ParentVUE (posted after 4PM on 8/16) for the assigned bus stop location and time for pick up time (please arrive at least 5 minutes earlier than the posted time). Once at school, buses will pull into the front circle drive. Staff members will dismiss students from each bus. Students will enter the building through Door #2 and proceed to their classroom. Staff members will help escort students the first several days of school to ensure all students get to their respective classrooms.
Car Riders: Students who are car riders will be dropped off in the designated car line area (along the perimeter of the back staff parking lot) and enter the building through Door #7. Once staff supervision is present, and when your car is within the designated unloading zone, students will exit their car on the passenger side only. This is a “kiss and go” type drop off meaning no cars will ever park in the car line and the driver must remain in the car. Only students should exit the car. Staff members will help escort students within the building the first several days of school to ensure all students get to their respective classrooms. Car line ends at 9:05 (9:15 on Wednesdays). If a staff member is not present in the car line, DO NOT let your child exit the car. If it is after the 9:05 (9:15 time on Wednesday), bring your child to Door #1 and sign them in at the main office. Students arriving after the car line is complete will be marked with an unexcused tardy.
Cars should only enter the car line by coming north on Whispering Hills Dr. (proceeding from the intersection of Ada and Whispering Hills north toward the school) and turning right into the staff parking lot/car line. Refer to the Car Line map for specific directions of traffic flow.
Walkers: Students who walk to school will enter the building through Door #2 (with bus riders), Door #11 or Door #7 (if walking from the rear of the school building. Staff members will help escort students the first several days of school to ensure all students get to their respective classrooms. Students arriving after 9:05 (9:15 on Wednesdays) will need to be brought to Door #1 and signed in at the main office.
Bike Riders: If your child bikes to school, they must walk their bike on school property. Bike racks are available on the blacktop (in the rear of the building near the car line). Students who bike to school can enter the building through Door #7 with the car riders.
Right at School: If your child is registered with Right at School for before school care, you will use the car line drop off area in the staff parking lot (rear of the building) and enter at Door #7. There is a doorbell you will ring to notify the Right at School staff you have arrived. Students in the Right at School program will be dismissed from the Multi-Purpose Room at 8:50 to go to their classroom. Staff members will help escort students the first several days of school to ensure all students get to their respective classrooms.
Dismissal Procedures at Watts
Dismissal begins at the following times:
3:33 - Walkers and car riders dismissed (door #7 and #11)
3:35 - Bus riders dismissed
Based on your response on the May Watts Transportation Form (linked above), your child will always be dismissed from school in one of the following ways/locations:
Bus Riders: If your child is eligible for bus transportation, refer to ParentVUE for the assigned bus stop location and time for the drop off time (please arrive at least 5 minutes earlier than the posted time and know that routes may run late the first few weeks of school). Students can only ride the bus they are assigned to. Refer to the My Stop app for estimated arrival time for your child’s bus.
Car Riders: Car riders will exit door #7 and be brought to the back blacktop (inside the gym in instances of bad weather) where they will line up in order based on their assigned car line number. Parents/drivers should display their assigned car line number (distributed on the 1st day of school) in the front of their windshield. This allows staff members to see and call out the car numbers and alert students that their ride has arrived. Once in the loading zone, students will enter their car on the passenger side only. Refer to the Car Line map (below) for specific directions and traffic flow.
*Students should be independent in buckling themselves into their seat. Drivers/adults must stay in the car while in the loading zone. If necessary, you may pull ahead and out of the loading zone to quickly buckle your child in. Cars will then proceed out of the staff parking lot and turn right onto Whispering Hills Dr. to head north from the school.
Walkers:
- Door #11 (front of building): This dismissal location is intended for students who will always have an adult walk to the front of the school to meet them. A teacher from the grade level will escort students through the building and out Door #11 (front of building - south end). If meeting your child(ren), you can meet them in the grassy area in front of the school.
- Door #7 (blacktop in rear of building) **This dismissal location is the most flexible and ideal option as it accommodates families who may walk/bike/drive to school at any point in the school year. Students/families will be assigned a car line number on days they may drive. If walking, families can meet their child(ren) on the blacktop. If biking to school, the blacktop is where the bikes are parked. This option gives consistency for students/teachers in dismissing them to the same location on a daily basis and avoids parents/guardians needing to make frequent calls to the office to change dismissal plans.
Walkers/bikers are expected to use the cross walk with the posted crossing guard (Whispering Hills Dr. & Meadowland) if crossing the street. Parents/guardians meeting their children at school must either walk or park on neighborhood streets and NOT within the painted car line area along Whispering Hills Dr.
Bike Riders: Students who bike to/from school will exit the building through Door #7 with the car riders and get their bike from the bike racks on the blacktop. Students must walk their bikes on school property.
Right at School: If your child is registered with Right at School for after school care, they will be dismissed to the Multi-Purpose Room at dismissal time. When you arrive to pick them up, you will park in the staff parking lot (rear of the building). There is a doorbell at Door #7 for you to ring to notify the Right at School staff you have arrived.
Lunch, Recess, and Snack Information
All students will have a 15 minute recess and 20 minute lunch period. This year, recess will be right before lunchtime.
Lunch: Students may bring a lunch from home or purchase a lunch from school. Information regarding the district's food service, lunch menu or Online meal and fee payments can be found on the
Indian Prairie School District Food Service website. An allergy table is available in the Multi-Purpose Room for students who need an allergy-safe lunch space.
Recess: All students will have a 15 minute recess immediately before lunch, as well as an additional 15 minute recess period with their classroom teacher, throughout the school day. All students are expected to go outside for the lunch/recess unless otherwise indicated by weather conditions. Students will be going outside provided the temperature/wind chill is above 5 degrees. Decisions are made based on the information provided by the local weather service. It is important that students come prepared to go outside for recess each day. Appropriate clothing items are needed and are expected.
Food Service: 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!
Snack & Water Bottle Information
Snack: Students in every grade will be given time to eat a healthy snack at a designated time throughout the day. Please send your child with a snack item that can be quickly and independently eaten in the classroom. Snacks should not require utensils to eat. Examples of preferred snack items include fresh fruits (apple, banana, grapes, etc.), vegetables, crackers, protein bars, dry cereal. If allergies exist that require alternate snack items within a classroom, you will be notified.
Water Bottle: Students are encouraged to have a water bottle with them at school every day. Water fountains are available throughout the school for drinks of water or to refill the bottles.
Forgotten Items - Drop Off Bin
Absences
If your child will be absent from school on a given day, you are expected to notify the office. The most efficient way to report an absence is in ParentVue. Please use the notes section to indicate the reason for absence (illness, vacation, doctor appointment). Families may also call the office at (630)428-6700, and then press #3 by 9:10 a.m. The school office will contact families of a student which has not been reported.