Parent Newsletter

What a wonderful week it has been at Prospect! Our teachers and staff have spent the week learning, collaborating, preparing classrooms, and getting ready to welcome our Panthers back. The excitement for Tuesday is contagious, you can truly feel it throughout the building!

One thing we are especially excited about this year is the dedicated time we have built into our mornings to strengthen our classroom communities. Students in grades K–4 will begin each day with a Morning Meeting, and our 5th graders will participate three days a week due to their Spanish schedule.

Morning Meetings will give students intentional time to connect with their teachers and classmates, build relationships, create a positive classroom culture, practice important social-emotional skills, and simply have some fun together! We want every child to start the day knowing, “I belong here. I am an important part of this classroom and our Prospect community.”

Our theme this year is Shine Bright, Do What’s Right, and we can't wait to see all the ways our Panthers will shine. Even more importantly, we want every student to feel like they shine bright—because every Panther brings something special to Prospect.

We can't wait to see our Panthers on Tuesday and begin an amazing year together!

🎒 First Day of School Arrival

To help make the first day a smooth and exciting experience, please review the arrival information below.

• Staff will be outside beginning at 8:25 AM to welcome students and families.
• Teachers will meet their classes in the designated grade-level areas (see map below), greet students, and take first-day photos.
• Classes will enter the building together at the 8:40 AM bell.
• If you have any questions, any staff member will be happy to help.
• If you need to visit the front office or health office, please enter through the front entrance.

🎒 What to Bring on Tuesday

• Backpack
• Water bottle
• Lunch/lunch box-
• Any supplies requested by your child’s teacher
• PE/gym shoes
• Art Smock
• If you didn't purchase school supplies through the PTO, please bring your grade level school supplies. (Nicky folders may be purchased in the office.)

Please write your child’s name clearly on the outside of the lunch box and water bottle.

🌞 Morning Arrival (8:25–8:40 AM)

• Staff supervision begins at 8:25 AM.
• Students may enter the building at 8:25 AM through their designated doors (see map) and report directly to their classrooms.
• At 8:40 AM, all side doors are locked. Students arriving after 8:40 must enter through the front office with a parent, who will sign them in.

Car Line

• Enter the Prospect circle drive from Chicago Avenue.
• Pull forward as far as possible before stopping.
• Students should exit from the passenger side onto the sidewalk.
• Children may exit anywhere along the sidewalk once your vehicle has stopped. Waiting until you reach the front door slows the entire line.

🌙 Afternoon Dismissal (3:05–3:15 PM)

• Car Riders exit through the front entrance.
• Walkers exit through their designated grade-level doors (see map).
• Please establish a meeting place if your child walks home with friends.
• Students may not remain on the playground after school. They must go home before returning to play.
• Supervision ends at 3:15 PM. Students not picked up by then will wait in the office.

To help us keep our lunchroom clean, healthy, and organized, we ask that all students bring a separate water bottle or drink packed inside their lunchbox for lunchtime. This should be separate from the water bottle your child uses throughout the day in the classroom.

• Log in to Skyward Family Access: http://skywardfamily.d181.org
• Click on the Fees & Fee Payments under an individual student
• Scroll down to Available Optional Fees
• Next to the specific Milk you would like to order, click Add to Fees
• Click Make a Payment within the Fees tab to pay for the Milk in RevTrak

All K–5 students have lunch/recess from 11:25 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

• K–2: Recess 11:25–11:50 | Lunch 11:50–12:15
• 3–5: Lunch 11:25–11:50 | Recess 11:50–12:15

Prospect is an open campus, and students may go home during the lunch/recess period.

Students Going Home for Lunch/Recess
If your child is going home for lunch, they should let their classroom teacher know each morning. Students will be dismissed directly from their classrooms, so please establish a clear pick-up/walking-home plan with your child in advance.

Students returning from lunch must enter through the main entrance and may not rejoin their class at lunch or recess once they have left campus. Teachers will take afternoon attendance to ensure all students have returned.

If lunch plans change, please notify both the classroom teacher and the school office.

Lunch at School
Please send your child to school with a lunch each day. While we understand occasional situations arise, we discourage regular lunch drop-offs or deliveries during the school day.

During inclement weather, students will participate in indoor recess.

VILLAGE OF CLARENDON HILLS

Prospect Avenue Train Crossing Closure for Construction

Dates of Closure -Thursday, August 20 - Friday, August 28

The Village of Clarendon Hills would like to notify residents that BNSF Railway is closing the Prospect Avenue railroad crossing for a full crossing replacement, which involves replacing all three tracks, crossing tops, and asphalt.

Construction Schedule

• Work begins: Thursday, August 20 at 9:00 a.m.
• Expected completion: Friday, August 28 at 5:00 p.m.

During construction, both the roadway and pedestrian crossings at the Prospect Avenue railroad crossing will be closed.

Please Plan Ahead

Pedestrians: Pedestrians may use the pedestrian railroad crossing located just east of the main train depot. Please use caution, remain alert, and follow all railroad crossing signals.

Motor Vehicles: Motor vehicle traffic will need to use the Hinsdale or Westmont railroad crossings while the Prospect Avenue crossing is closed.

School Traffic: Please be aware that school begins Tuesday, August 18. Residents should expect heavier traffic near the schools, particularly around 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. during school drop-off and pick-up times.

The Village appreciates your patience and cooperation as this necessary railroad construction is completed. Please allow additional travel time, use alternate routes when possible, and exercise extra caution in the area.

Thank you for helping keep our community safe during this construction project.

The building is ready, our teachers are ready, and now we just need our Panthers! There is such wonderful energy throughout Prospect right now, and I cannot wait to open the doors Tuesday morning. Whether your child is beginning their very first day at Prospect or walking in for their final first day as a 5th grader, we want every Panther to know they belong, they are valued, and they have something special that makes them shine. Here’s to a wonderful school year!