HB | September Newsletter

ISSUE: 001 YEAR: 2021

HICKORY BEND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GREETINGS HICKORY BEND FAMILIES...

Welcome to a new year at hickory bend!

I am excited to announce myself as the new principal of this all-star school. I believe in my heart that every child can learn and has the right to a high quality education. As your principal, i am here to ensure all students have access to toptier educational experiences that lead to growth and student achievement.

When i consider the word T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More), i am drawn to call upon the entire hickory bend team of stakeholders (including our t􀀕achers, staff, students, parents, extended families and community members). All are invited to be in partnership with our school and to share in every student’s learning experiences and activities throughout the year.

Parents/Guardians have a critical role in the education of their children and in our schools.

Years of research and numerous studies reveal that the children of parents/guardians who are involved in their education do better in school and in life than the children of parents who are not involved. We encourage you to participate in school activities as they occur throughout the year and to support education in your home.

Our staff is here to help your children. If we, as adults, work together, then children will have the best opportunity to have a great learning experience here at Hickory Bend Elementary.

As we return to fully in-person learning after eighteen (18) months of remote and hybrid instruction, we have a heightened focus on physical safety and the social-emotional wellbeing of our students. In addition to following the CDC mitigation guidelines (mandating masks be worn, ensuring social distance where we can, and encouraging hand sanitation), we also understand the direct relationship between a child feeling safe at school and achieving their highest potential.

As such the first part of our day every day is our

Morning Meeting and SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) Instruction, a time for our students and staff to prepare for the day, discuss what they are feeling, and LEARN HOW to manage what they are feeling so that the day can be successful.

Please work to have all students in school ontime/early so that we can maximize our learning time. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast, students enter the classroom at 8:15 a.m., and instruction starts promptly at 8:30 a.m.

In the same way, we end our instructional day at 3:10 p.m. and ask that our students are not hurried away with early dismissals. As we work together to protect our instructional time of 8:30 a.m. - 3:10 p.m., we know that we are giving our students the best chance at being successfuI.

We welcome your call or visit if you should ever need further information.

Ms. Ronisha Dubose, PRINCIPAL rdubose@brookwood167.org

TECHNOLOGY HELPLINE If your child is having any technology problems connecting to their teacher’s Google Classroom, please contact our help desk at (708) 300-3553 or email our help desk: helpdesk@brookwood167.org

What is ClassDojo?

Reporting of Absence(s): Parents must call the school to report their child absent before 8:30 a.m. The number for reporting absences is (708) 757-2115. Official attendance will be reported every morning at 9:00 a.m.

If your child joins a teacher’s classroom late, they will be marked tardy in PowerSchool, and you will be notified through the Principal’s ClassDojo.

ClassDojo is a school communication platform that teachers, students, and families use every day to build close-knit communities by sharing what’s being learned in the classroom home through photos, videos, and messages. *Students and parents will be linked to their class through a code provided by the teacher*

Please join my ClassDojo so you can stay informed on what is happening at Hickory Bend School.

If you would like to join, please accept the invitation that we emailed to you or texted you, or contact the school at (708) 758-4520 x5218, or email, rdubose@ brookwood167.org. All you will need to provide is your cell phone number or email address.

ClassDojo is actively used in 90% of U.S. K-8 schools.

ClassDojo is a free app that helps build amazing classroom and school communities. Teachers give feedback to students for any skill, like “Working Hard” and “Being Curious.”

From the mobile app, parents view their child’s feedback, and can message directly with teachers and school leaders.

GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED!

OPEN HOUSE/CURRICULUM NIGHT SEPTEMBER 9TH, 5:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.

Our faculty will be here to welcome you and inform you about our curriculum, standards, and procedures, as well as answer any questions you might have. You will be able to follow your child’s schedule and visit the classrooms your child attends each day. We will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. Students are encouraged to attend this activity with their parents.

If you would like to schedule a conference with a teacher, you can schedule this at any time.

VISION Our

overall

Vision

becoming lifelong learners and decision makers.

is

to

improve the achievement of all students, regardless of

•

or

ability

levels

(disabilities).

We share the accountability of

student

achievement

throughout the school. We

•

believe in using researchbased practices to achieve our goals. We promote school and community involvement because we believe that these partnerships help us meet the needs of all of our students.

We are Committed to: •

Providing students with highly qualified teachers

•

to state-of-the-art technology.

•

The school system

confidence, and

should teach students to

academic success by

think critically enabling

being interested and

them to become

involved in their overall

contributing citizens in

development.

our global society.

All students are unique

POWERSCHOOL

environment with access

Families shape their children’s motivation,

In educating our children in a safe and nurturing

We Believe:

race, socio-economic status, gender,

•

•

In continuous

All Brookwood teachers use an online grading system

and should be challenged

improvement in all

to the highest level of

aspects of the school

called “PowerSchool” that

academic and artistic

system to foster a

they update every Thursday.

excellence.

culture of excellence,

In the importance of

accountability and

staff development

integrity.

check your child’s progress

In responsible

regularly. This program is

opportunities based

•

on best practices and

stewardship of financial

educational research.

and physical resources.

We

encourage

completely

you

to

confidential;

therefore, you will need an access username and password to see your child’s

•

Providing our staff

progress. If you need your

with professional

username and/or password,

development

MISSION Brookwood School District 167,

in

partnership

with

please contact the school office at (708) 758-4520.

There is a PowerSchool app available for your cellular

parents and community, will

phone that makes it easy for

create a learning environment

parents to stay updated on

in which all students excel at

their child’s progress.

+1 708-758-4520 +1 708-758-0364 www.brookwood167.org

600 E. 191st Place Glenwod, IL 60425

VISITORS If you need to come into the school for any reason, for safety reasons, you will be required to wear a mask, and you will need to have a current Driver’s License that will be checked in our Raptor Security System.

STUDENT SAFETY DROP-OFF & PICK-UP PROCEDURES

the driver must adhere to the one-way sign at the entrance of the parking lot.

Students should arrive at school no earlier than 8:10 a.m. and be picked up after school no later than 3:15 p.m.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!

If a student is being dropped off or picked up,

Raptor® provides a line of sight as to who is always in our school. The system provides school and districtwide reporting for all visitors, volunteers, and contractors that have signed in/out of our buildings.

HICKORY BEND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

This is

important for safety reasons.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES I am excited to share with you that this school year, Brookwood School District 167 will be providing students with a set of school supplies to use at school and a set to use at home! If your child needs any additional resources or supplies for any of their classes, please contact our school office at (708) 758-4520, so we can help provide them with all necessary and needed materials.

Drivers must NEVER go the wrong way in the parking lot as this is unsafe for students and staff.