Welch Parent News
Week of 2.9.26
On the Prowl... What is coming up at Welch?
- Welch Robotics 3:35 - 4:30 PM
Tuesday, February 10th -
- 4th Grade Choir 8:00 AM
- 5th Grade Volleyball 3:35 - 4:30 PM
Wednesday, February 11th -
- 4th Grade Card Sharks 3:35 - 4:30 PM
- Welch Robotics 3:35 - 4:30 PM
Thursday, February 12th -
- Young Rembrandts 3:35 - 4:30 PM
Friday, February 13th -
- Friendship Celebrations 2:15 PM
Friendship Celebrations and Valentine Exchange
On February 13th, our students will participate in a teacher-planned Valentine Exchange. This is a fun way for our students to celebrate the friendships they have made in their classroom and at school. I know many of you may already be purchasing Valentine cards. If so, please review the following guidelines:
If your child chooses to participate, please include a Valentine for every student. Teachers will send a class roster OR number of students in the classroom by Monday, February 9th
Due to food allergies and health needs, we highly recommend a card only. If you choose to attach something to the card, it must be something non-edible, such as a pencil or eraser. Any food items will not be distributed.
Our final classroom parties of the year, celebrating friendship and community will take place the afternoon of February 13th. Volunteers help make these parties special for the kids. Crafts and games will be provided by the PTA.
Volunteer sign up: https://signup.com/go/DnHUSQd/
Students Fasting During Ramadan
Welch staff want to ensure that we have plans in place for our students that are fasting during Ramadan. If your child is observing Ramadan and fasting, please complete the form below by the end of the day on Thursday, February 12th. Please complete the form for each child.
Dismissal Reminder
Please note that the school day ends promptly at 3:35 PM. It is important that all students are picked up on time each day. Timely dismissal is necessary to ensure student safety and to allow staff to fulfill supervision and end-of-day responsibilities. We appreciate your cooperation in making prompt pick-up a priority.
5Essentials
Parents across Illinois once again have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of your child’s school as it relates to the important elements of school effectiveness.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by the University of Chicago. All survey responses will be kept confidential. The state will provide survey results for individual schools only if a school has at least 20 percent of parents take the survey. If you have children attending more than one school, we ask that you complete the survey for each school.
To take this short survey:
1. Visit 5Essentials Survey Link
2. Type and select “Dupage” as "County." (The county is the location of the school district's main office.)
3. Type your school's name into the "School" field and select your school.
The survey will be open through March 13, 2026.
Daily Snacks
As a reminder, students are invited to have a snack each day. The office does have some snacks, but we are unable to provide snacks to all of our White Tigers daily. Please remind your student(s) to bring a snack to have each day. Thank you.
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences
Spring conferences will be held on March 16 between 12:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Spring conferences are scheduled on an as-needed basis. Unlike the Fall, only 1 day of school (March 16) is dedicated to spring conferences, so appointments are limited. In the near future, teachers will reach out to families with whom they feel a conference is necessary.
If your child’s teacher does not feel a conference is necessary at this time, but you have a concern, please reach out to your child's teacher to let them know, and they will reserve a remaining conference time for you. Remember our staff is always available via email or phone any time you have questions or concerns.
Attendance Matters
Regular school attendance is essential to student learning and academic success. Currently, the district’s average absence rate is 5.12%, and Welch’s rate is slightly higher at 5.19%. Research and our own experience show a clear relationship between consistent attendance and student achievement—when students miss school, they miss critical learning opportunities that are difficult to replace.
Attendance letters were sent home this past week for students who are considered chronically absent. We value our partnership with families and want to support students in being present and engaged each day. If your family is experiencing challenges related to attendance, please reach out so we can work together to provide assistance and ensure your child is getting the most from their time at Welch
School Lunch Menu
Due to a national temporary shortage of Sunbutter, OrganicLife will replace Option 4 on the Elementary Lunch Menu to the ever-popular Power Pack beginning Monday, February 2nd.
The Power Pak includes yogurt, string cheese, and a packaged snack such as Goldfish, a muffin, or graham snacks.
Once Sunbutter becomes available again, the menu will reflect it as a regular offering.
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.
Wickedly Wonderful PTA Updates
💰 Coin Wars
February 9th through February 12th
A little friendly competition between grades makes this fundraiser especially fun. Start saving those coins and get ready to cheer on your grade!
🍿 Family Movie Night
Friday, February 6th at 6pm
A cozy, free night at school with a movie the kids will love. Bring a blanket and enjoy a fun evening together. We would love volunteers and your input on which movie we show. "K-Pop Demon Hunters" is currently in the lead!
Volunteer sign up: https://signup.com/go/tYEVmBW
Vote for the movie: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyQbKY7B056SBxBP5FBbwuETKTtUyimEuy3t18hN55Xw2TRQ/viewform__
💛 Friendship Classroom Parties
Friday, February 13th at 2:15 PM
Our final classroom parties of the year, celebrating friendship and community. Volunteers help make these parties special for the kids. Crafts and games will be provided by the PTA.
Volunteer sign up: https://signup.com/go/DnHUSQd/
We are very excited for the next couple of months and hope to see everyone at our events. Thank you, as always, for supporting the Welch PTA and our school community!!
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!