Graves (K-5) Sailor Newsletter

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

Please see the following newsletter for important information.

Thursday, December 11: Graves PTO Family Posada Night 6:00p.m.-7:30p.m.

Thursday, December 11: 3rd Grade Field Trip - AlphaBet Soup Little Red Riding Hood at Moraine Valley (uniform required)

Monday, December 15 - Friday, December 19: WINTER SPIRIT WEEK (see flyer below for more information)

Thursday, December 18: K-5 Winter Holiday Show 1:00 p.m.

Friday, December 19: Early Release Day (Dismissal at 1:50PM)

Monday, December 22 - Friday, January 2: Winter Break

Monday, January 5: Classes Resume

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!

December 9, 2025

Admin Center

January 13, 2026

Walsh Elementary School (Walsh 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

Congratulations to our Turkey Trot Winners!

They each won a Turkey for running the most laps within their grade levels.

Check out our attendance percentages for the month of November!

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

The following students had a special celebration today for having perfect attendance

for the first trimester.

(August 20, 2025 - November 4, 2025)

Thanks again to all the families in making sure our Graves Sailors attend school!

Trimester 2: November 17, 2025 - February 26, 2025

Celebration will be scheduled sometime in early March!

Students will be having classroom celebrations on the last week of school.

Your child's classroom teacher will reach out with more information.

*Reminder, if you do not want your child to participate in any of the holiday activities reach out to your child's teacher to let them know.

The winter weather is here! Students will continue going out for recess when the weather permits and dismissal every day . Please make sure that your child wears appropriate sweater/jacket to school.

Per Illinois State Guidelines

- if the REAL FEEL is 32 degrees or higher, students will have OUTDOOR RECESS.

- if the REAL FEEL is 31 degrees or lower, students will have INDOOR RECESS.

Thanks to everyone's donation to our PBIS program!

As a reminder, the money raised will be used for future student celebrations.

December – Problem-Solving
When children face challenges, they may feel stuck or frustrated. You can guide them by asking:

1) What’s the problem?

2) What are some choices?

3) Which choice will work best?

4) How did it go?

Practicing these steps at home builds confidence and problem-solving skills they can use at school and with peers.

Book:

What Do You Do With a Problem

What Do You Do With A Problem? En Español

Ms. Soria has been assisting Mrs. Campuzano since the beginning of the school year and will

be taking over when she leaves for maternity leave.

Oh Snap, December is here bringing festive fun and winter weather! Here are a few reminders to help our students enjoy a safe and cheerful month!

Healthy Hands for the Holidays

With holiday events, classroom celebrations, and chilly weather keeping us indoors, germs can spread quickly. Please remind children to wash their hands after school activities, before eating, and when they return home. Clean hands help keep everyone feeling well so they can enjoy every gingerbread, candy cane, and cozy moment of the season.

Weekly Lice Checks
We are still seeing occasional cases of lice. Before holiday gatherings, please continue to “take a peek once a week.” Catching lice early helps prevent spreading at home or school. Remember: lice prefer hair, not houses, so early detection is the key.

Fresh Air Matters
Even when it is cold, short periods of fresh air and open windows help reduce indoor germs. A few minutes of ventilation can make a difference during the height of cold and flu season.

Holiday Treats & Dental Health
Seasonal treats are part of the fun, but brushing and flossing twice a day helps protect teeth. Drinking water after sweets can also help. A quick brush after enjoying gingerbread cookies keeps smiles bright through winter break.

Speaking of teeth.. Miles of Smiles Dental Program will be coming to HMS & Graves on Monday & Tuesday, February 2-3, 2026. Permission slips are due 12/17. If you would like to sign up online, please click on the QR Code attached or link PowerForm Signer Information | Docusign

Stay Warm & Winter Ready

Please send students to school with coats, hats, gloves, and layers. Outdoor play is still part of our day, and staying warm helps keep children comfortable.

Wishing our school community a warm, joyful, and healthy December! ❄️

Nurse Tina, Nurse Anita & Ms. Oli

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

Regular daily attendance and arriving on time are

critical components of the educational process.

Please remember that our doors open as early as 7:30/8:30(W) to avoid any traffic/morning rush.

It is important for students to arrive on time so that they begin their day on a positive note.

Arriving a few minutes late may not appear to be a big problem, but when the student enters the classroom the rest of the class has already begun their daily morning routines.

Class instruction begins as soon as the bell rings, and it is not possible to recover all the learning that takes place in the classroom when multiple tardies have been accumulated.

Letters for excessive tardies have been sent home.

Additionally, research indicates that a student who has excessive tardies

will eventually begin having additional absences.

It is crucial that your child gets to school on or before

7:50AM (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays) & 8:50AM (Wednesdays).

We want your child to be successful.

Please help us make a change. Every minute late is a missed learning opportunity!

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!

Please review this months lunch menu with your child.

Stay connected - find all district and community events all in one place.

Check out the following page for links and details on upcoming workshops, as well as

fun Family and Community events!

Come out and support the District 104 Band program at their annual Breakfast with Santa Event on Sunday, December 14th, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The event will feature performances by the band, an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast buffet, photo opportunities with Santa Claus, and raffle baskets/giveaways. All proceeds from the event go to supporting the band with new instruments, new music, and travel opportunities!

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