Silas Family Newsletter 26-27 #4

Mrs. Keever, Principal

Ms. Cooper, Dean of Students

Mrs. Bernardi, Dean of Students

Mrs. Miller, Secretary

Mrs. Prater, Secretary

Mrs. DeJaynes, Nurse

Ms. Stinson, Counselor

Email: jkeever@galesburg205.org

Website: https://silas.galesburg205.org/o/swes

Location: 460 Fifer St, Galesburg, IL 61401

Phone: (309) 973-2015

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silaswillardelemschool

Instagram: @205SilasWildcats

#silaswildcats

#thisis205

Galesburg 205 Vision Statement: Empowering students to realize their potential to Thrive.

Silas Willard Vision Statement:

Silas Willard Elementary School will create a dynamic learning environment where students demonstrate kindness, respect, and perseverance. Through consistent high expectations, we will provide an equitable experience that prepares students to thrive as lifelong learners.

Galesburg 205 Mission Statement: Through collaboration with families and our community, our schools will develop the potential of students in a safe, equitable, and engaging learning environment, which advances high performance and excellence for all.

Silas Willard Mission Statement:

Silas Willard Elementary School welcomes all learners. We cultivate perseverance through high expectations for every student to ensure each learner's unique strengths and needs are met, without exception.

Students have settled into their routines here, and I have seen some amazing learning happening this week. First grade students are taking care of caterpillars, second grade students are reviewing phonics skills, third and fourth grade students are already reading, writing, and learning new math concepts, and kindergarten learned their colors this week!

Benchmark testing is complete, and teachers will make sure to communicate scores with families during parent teacher conferences in the fall.

Please make sure to check dates below. Parent teacher conferences are listed as well as some fun opportunities coming up!

Thank you,

Mrs. Keever

Please download the Class Dojo App. This will be our primary mode of communication with families this year. More information will come from your teacher. We will NOT be using Rooms anymore.

If you want to change your child's regular way home, please contact the office before 2:30 p.m.. We will make sure that your child's teacher receives the note. Office Phone: 309-973-2015.

Please do not message the teacher since we can't ensure that they will see the message before dismissal.

The Traffic Advisory Committee recently reviewed a safety concern regarding families crossing Fremont Street near Bateman Street, rather than using the designated pedestrian signals at Seminary and Willard. Please do not cross on Fremont near Bateman.

CHARLIE MEETS THE WILDCATS!

On Friday, the winners of the “Meet Charlie Challenge,” Silas Willard Elementary School, had the opportunity to meet Carl Sandburg College’s new mascot, Charlie, in person!

The Wildcats earned this special honor through outstanding attendance, positive behavior, and completing BINGO cards filled with acts of kindness during the first week of school. And the ENERGY was AMAZING!

Charlie’s friends also shared small tokens of congratulations with the students and, even more importantly, reminded them of the “PROMISE” the Carl Sandburg College Foundation, the City of Galesburg and Galesburg CUSD #205 have made to their future.

Friday was about much more than meeting a mascot. It was about helping our young people understand that the choices they make TODAY can open doors for them TOMORROW.

Right now, they’re proud Silas Willard WILDCATS.

Before long, many will become Galesburg SILVER STREAKS.

And one day, we hope to welcome them to Sandburg as CHARGERS!

That’s what community partnership looks like—encouraging our students at every step of their journey and reminding them that their community believes in their POSSIBILITIES.

Wildcats Silver Streaks Chargers

The journey has already begun!

Every student receives free breakfast and lunch everyday. Breakfast is served in the classroom at 9:00 a.m.. Students are offered all breakfast items served, but they do not have to take every item. If a student is late, they are offered breakfast.

Lunch is served in the cafeteria each day.

Lunch Schedule:

11:00-11:30

1st grade:

11:30-12:00

Kindergarten:

12:00-12:30

3rd grade:

12:30-1:00

4th grade:

12:35-1:05

If a student would like an extra milk or extra lunch, you can bring money to put on the student's lunch account to pay. Students can bring this money to the office or you can add money online.

Students have three recesses a day. Students have a 15 minute morning recess, 10 minute after lunch recess, and a 15 minutes afternoon recess. Classes also have opportunities throughout the week for extra recess. This exceeds the minimum 30 minute requirement for unstructured play time.

Inclement Weather guidelines:

• Students may attend recess outside on days the temperature feels like 20 degrees or above and not raining.
• On days of inclement weather, recess is held inside and monitored by teaching staff.
• Jackets/Coats must be worn if the temperature is below 60 degrees. If students do not have a jacket/coat they can borrow from the lost and found and go outside.
• Students may not stay inside due to illness if their class is going outside without a doctor's note.

1. Read together every day. You can read the morning news at breakfast, share a story after supper, or cuddle up for a book at bedtime. A daily reading routine is something everyone can look forward to.
2. Talk and build vocabulary. Interesting conversations build vocabulary, language skills, and knowledge about the world. Talk is a child’s best source of exposure to new words and ideas.
3. Model reading. Kids want to do what the grownups do. Make sure your kids get to see you reading and hear you talk about it.
4. Point out print. Read and talk about the words you see in the world around you. There’s lots to read—signs, recipes, cereal boxes, instruction manuals, bus schedules, news, maps, and menus.

Practicing math facts is a great way to practice math at home!

Our district takes student attendance very seriously and we are committed to seeing that every child is at school unless there is an excused reason for absence or tardiness. Studies have shown that when students are consistently at school they are more likely to achieve their dreams.

What Parents and Students Can Do:

• Ensure children arrive to school on time.

• When absent, be sure to make up missed work.

• Communicate with school and seek support when needed.

• Call when your child is absent from school or unavoidably late ASAP at 309-973-2016.

• Know attendance is required on early dismissal days.

• Return to school after appointments.

• Plan appointments outside of school day.

• Call within one hour of the start of school or send a note within 48 hours of the return to school.

• For minor health issues—come to school.

Please call the Silas Willard Front Office to let us know of any absences. 309-973-2015

Steps taken if you do not make contact with the school:

1. Automated Call: Parents/Guardians will receive an automated call stating your child is not in attendance.

2. School Call: The school secretary or outreach worker will follow up with the family IF the family does not call the school after the automated call.

3. Unexcused Absence: The absence will be recorded as "unexcused" if no contact can be made with the family.

Examples of Unexcused Absences:

• No phone call/email to explain a student's absence
• Returning to school after 3 consecutive days of absence with no doctor's note.
• Oversleeping
• Transportation issues

Examples of Excused Absences:

• Illness
• Medical appointment
• Observation of a religious holiday
• Death in the family/funeral service
• Family Emergency

Student are required to come to school each day unless there is an emergency outlined above. Please click the link below for more information about attendance and truancy through the Regional Office of Education.

Truancy Procedures from the Regional Office of Education:

Truancy staff identify students through system of referrals by the participating school district, which then initiates steps that lead to the following:

• Step 1: Upon the student receiving 3 unexcused absences the Parent/Guardian will be sent Letter 1.
• Step 2: Upon the student receiving 6 unexcused absences the Parent/Guardian will be sent Letter 2.
• Step 3: Upon the student receiving 9 unexcused absences a citation for truancy will be written. ​​
• Step 4: Upon the student receiving 12 unexcused absences the Parent/Guardian will be sent Letter 3.
• Step 5: Upon the 15th unexcused absence the Student, Parent/Guardian will be sent a Legal Notice to Appear before the Truancy Review Board in the County they reside.
• Step 6: Upon any additional unexcused absences after the Truancy Review Board a petition to the State Attorney of the County resided in will be filed.

CHAMPS is a proactive approach to classroom management.

Origins of CHAMPS Classroom Management

CHAMPS is part of Randy Sprick's Safe and Civil Schools and is a research-based program with over thirty years of classroom research.

The CHAMPS acronym stands for:

• Conversation: Can students talk to each other during this activity?
• Help: How do students get the teacher's attention and their questions answered?
• Activity: What is the task/objective? What is the end product?
• Movement: Can students move about during this activity?
• Participation: How do students show they are fully participating? What does work behavior look/sound like?
• Success: When students meet CHAMPS expectations, they will be successful!

Benefits of CHAMPS Classroom Management

According to Safe and Civil Schools, CHAMPS strategies are easy to implement and will:

• Reduce classroom disruptions and office referrals
• Improve classroom climate
• Increase student on-task behavior
• Establish respectful and civil interactions

Each month students will focus on the monthly themes above. Teachers will provide explicit, direct skill instruction in these areas so that our school community as a whole becomes stronger.

Click the headline above to visit our virtual backpack to learn about opportunities and activities available in the area for children.