Thank you to our dedicated teachers and staff who work tirelessly to support and educate our students. Your commitment and passion make a significant difference in their lives.
To our parents and guardians, your involvement and support are crucial to our school’s success. We appreciate your active participation in your child’s education and in our school community.
Wishing everyone a joyful and restful summer break. We look forward to welcoming you back in the fall, refreshed and ready for another fantastic year.
Yours in Education,
Principal Penner
Brookwood School District 167 in...
partnership with parents and the community, will create a learning environment where all students excel at becoming lifelong learners and decisionmakers.
BROOKWOOD DISTRICT 167
MISSION STATEMENT
We Believe...
• Families shape their children’s motivation, confidence, and academic success by being interested and involved in their overall development.
• All students are unique and should be challenged to the highest level of academic and artistic excellence.
• In the importance of staff development opportunities based on best practices and educational research.
• In educating our children in a safe and nurturing environment
• The school system should teach students to think critically, enabling them to become contributing citizens in our global society.
• In continuous improvement in all aspects of the school system to foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and integrity.
• In responsible stewardship of financial and physical resources.
“Education is the passport to the future for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
-- Malcoim X with access to state-of-the-art technology.
BROOKWOOD DISTRICT 167 VISION STATEMENT
Our overall vision is to improve the achievement of all students, regardless of race, socio-economic status, gender, or ability levels (disabilities). We share the accountability of student achievement throughout the school. We believe in using research-based practices to achieve our goals. We promote school and community involvement because we believe that these partnerships help us meet all our students’ needs.
We Are Committed To...
• Providing students with highly qualified teachers
• Providing our staff with professional development
“Success is about dedication. You may not be where you want to be or do what you want to do when you’re on the journey. But you’ve got to be willing to have vision and foresight that leads you to an incredible end.” --Usher
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
reminder regarding medications...
If your student needs medication to be administered in the school setting, the medication and accompanying doctor’s orders must be provided by a parent or guardian to the school nurse.
Medication should NEVER be sent in with the student. No medication may be given without a doctor’s order. This includes inhalers, emergency epinephrine (EpiPen), daily medications, antibiotics, eye/ear drops, cough drops, over-the-counter medication, or any other form of medication.
doJo...
We ask that every parent sign up for the “Principal ClassDojo”, as this is an excellent way for parents to stay informed about important events and information throughout the school year.
Please contact the school office if you need help signing up for this excellent “FREE” communication tool! Ms. Jones is here to help.
district cHaracter tHeme of tHe montH...
Assertiveness & Confidence
VISITORS
If you need to come into the school for any reason, you will need to have a current Driver’s License that will be checked in our Raptor Security System. Raptor® provides a line of sight as to who is always in our school. The system provides school and district-wide reporting for all visitors, volunteers, and contractors that have signed in/out of our buildings. This is important for safety reasons.
Student Safety/ Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures
URGENT, YET A GENTLE
REMINDER!
Please do not park, stand, or stage in the apartment complex adjacent to the Hickory Bend parking lot.
This is private parking. Your vehicle will be subject to ticketing and towing.
IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE INFOMATION
Daily attendance is required. If your child anticipates being absent, please make sure the reason is valid. A student that is chronically absent is defined as a student who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause for more than 5% of the last 180 school days. This is a matter of concern as the Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 5/26-2a considers a truant rate of more than 5% of the last 180 days to be excessive.
Students who are frequently absent often miss important information being taught, fall behind, and lose interest in school. An improvement in attendance may help a student achieve better grades and feel better about himself/herself. Counseling services and tutoring will be provided to chronically absent students, along with a “Check-In and Check-Out” program of support.
If a student continues to be absent or tardy without a valid excuse, the Regional
Superintendent/South Cook Intermediate Service Center will be notified, and measures will be taken to address this concern more seriously. If your child is struggling to attend school consistently, it is essential that we work together to improve their attendance, as this will improve their chances for school success.
A student who misses ten (10) days is 25% less likely to enroll in college. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to graduate and
find good jobs. I commend the families for instilling in their children the importance of being present daily.
I commend the families for instilling in their children the importance of being present daily. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s attendance, please reach out to our Social Worker.
Mr. Darryl Thompson (708) 758-5350 dthompson@brookwood167.org
REMINDER | RETURN YOUR AT-HOME DEVICE
Home device returns started May 20th
(Chromebooks and iPads). Please have your child bring their home device to school with them to turn them into their teacher. Please ensure that the device, charger and bag are sent in regardless of the condition. You will be notified of any items that have not been returned so you can make arrangements to return the missing items or purchase the replacement item.
If you have any questions, please reach out. We appreciate your cooperation.
keep tHem Home...
If a child has any symptoms listed below, they should stay home in the morning or go home if these symptoms first occur at school.
WHen a cHild can return to scHool is based on tHe specific symptom tHey Have:
• Fever of 100.4 or higher
• New onset of moderate to severe headache
• Shortness of breath, new cough, sore throat
• Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain from unknown cause
• New congestion/runny nose
• New loss of sense of taste or smell
• Fatigue from unknown cause
• Muscle or body aches
If you answer “YES” to any of the above, your child “MUST” stay home. Please call the school before 8:30 a.m. to report your child’s absence (708) 757-2110 (Option #1).
please leave tHe folloWing information:
• Students full name with spelling of the last name
• Reason for absence
• Your name and relationship to the student
reporting a student’s absence...
Parents must call the school to report their child absent before 8:30 a.m. The number for reporting absences is (708) 757-2110 (Option #1). Official attendance will be reported every morning by 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 Class Dojo.
reporting a student’s early dismissal...
• Please call the main number (708) 758-4520 at least (45) minutes “PRIOR” to the early dismissal.
• In order for your student to be excused, you must sign them in and out in the main office; otherwise, their absence will be marked as “UNEXCUSED”.
• Students full name with spelling of the last name
• Reason for absence/tardy/early release
• Your name and relationship to the student please leave tHe folloWing information...
ClassDojo
Healthy communication between the school and home is essential; we are working to provide numerous ways for this vital communication. To help suppress paper usage, we will continue providing information as much as possible using digital communication.
We encourage you to do tHe folloWing to Help us communicate WitH you:
• Please ensure we have an accurate email address. If you are not receiving Dojo messages from us, it probably means we have incorrect information on our end.
• Please sign up for the digital tools that Brookwood School District and the school have provided. These include:
• Class Dojo
• Power School Parent Portal
• Please talk with your child’s teacher about Google Classroom and how it can be used as a communication tool.
• Please follow us on Facebook
• Please visit our website at www.brookwood167.org
• Please feel free to email us or call us at (708) 758-4520
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, email, rpenner@brookwood167.org. All you must provide is your cell phone number or email address.
GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED!
Breakfast/Lunch
We will send home a menu each month so you know what is being served and can plan accordingly.
Breakfast: Breakfast is served daily in the school cafeteria from 8:10 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Lunch: Hot lunch is free for all students. This includes entrée, fruit, milk, and dessert. If you pack lunch for your child, please keep a healthy choice of foods. Parents will not be allowed to bring their child fast food. Any questions, please contact Janice Machnikowski, Food Services Manager at (708) 758-5190.
Technology Help Desk
If your child is having any technology problems connecting to their teacher’s Google Classroom, please get in touch with our help desk at (708) 300-3553 or email our help desk
helpdesk@brookwood167.org
Please leave a detailed message with your name, child’s name, phone number, and the issue you are having with the device.
All SD 167 teachers use an online grading system called PowerSchool that they update regularly.
We encourage you to check your child’s progress regularly. This program is entirely confidential; therefore, you will need an access username and password to see your child’s progress.
If you need your username and/or password, please get in touch with the school office at (708) 758-4520. A PowerSchool app for your cellular phone makes it easy for parents to stay updated on their child’s progress.
CHAMPIONS | BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Champions is a Before & AfterSchool Care Program available to our Brookwood families. Please get in touch with Champions as soon as you can to secure your spot. Space is limited.
Champions Family Support Phone: (800) 246-2154
ChampionsHelp@kc-education.com
Precious Instructional Minutes |
8:30 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
It is crucially important that we maximize instructional time for all students. Instruction begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:10 p.m. on normal dismissal days.
To be clear, in order for teachers to begin active instruction at 8:30 a.m., all students must be seated and ready to receive instruction at 8:30 a.m. Our doors open at 8:00 a.m. for students to enter the building, receive optional breakfast (free to all students) and prepare for the day. When our students arrive prior to the start of instruction, our learning environment begins with a calm focus. Students who enter the classroom after the start of instruction are generally in a hurried rush, slightly discombobulated, and they suffer lost learning opportunities. Thus, it is crucially important that all students enter the building in a timely manner and are ready to receive instruction by 8:30 a.m.
On the other end of the school day is the opportunity to maximize learning by continuing instruction through 3:10 p.m. This will mean students will NOT walk out of the building promptly at 3:10 p.m. On the contrary, students will need a few minutes to gather their belongings and safely exit the building. As our student body consists of the youngest students in our district, it is important to be mindful of the need to be patient as they learn to be both responsible for their belongings and safe during the dismissal process. We promise we won’t tarry unnecessarily! So, please be patient as our dismissal procedures will not begin until 3:10 p.m.
Every minute of the instructional day is valuable. While we are understanding extenuating circumstances, we highly discourage habitual late arrivals and early dismissals. We are here to educate our All-Stars. We appreciate all efforts given by our families to help us protect the precious, few instructional minutes we have with our students.
PBIS Starts Now!
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (P.B.I.S.) will again be at the core of our climate and culture.
We have three (3) goaLs:
• Be Safe
• Be Respectful
• Be Responsible
With our goals front and center in our minds every day, we plan to enjoy a positive environment in every area of our school.
chaLLenging thoughts to consider:
• How can our three behavior goals make a difference in our students’ behavior outside of school?
• If our families begin the conversation now, will our All-Stars return to school ready to thrive with positive behavior?
Let’s help our students remember to be Safe, Respectful, and Responsible in all walks of life, especially while at school. Start the conversation now and keep it going all year long. We will certainly do the same here at Hickory Bend.
Education Facts
Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports
As a part of PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports), teachers, administrators, and support staff have the responsibility to TEACH positive behavior expectations to our students.
This education results in students knowing precisely what is expected of them and a framework of evidence-based behavioral supports and interventions in an integrated curriculum to enhance the social behavior and academic atmosphere for our diverse body of students throughout the school.
Lessons take place in several ways, and the environment for the expectations. For example, teachers will do short lessons each week on a specific expectation, the staff on lunch duty will discuss lunchroom expectations, and on Fridays, students complete a Kahoot or Blooket quiz to review the expectations they have been learning about all week. Posters or anchor charts have been created for different building areas to remind the students and staff about the expected behaviors.
While these strategies may not eliminate all problem behaviors, they create consistency, predictability, and a more positive atmosphere. They teach new skills to help children get their needs met. The solid foundation will help even if challenging behaviors persist by creating a bedrock for additional support layers.
Here are places to seek additional information:
• Parenting with Positive Behavior Support: A Practical Guide to Resolving Your Child’s Difficult Behavior
• Home and Community Based Positive Behavior Support Facebook Page
• Home and Community PBS Website
• Parent Center Hub Positive Behavior Supports Resource Collection
• Intensive Intervention: An Overview for Parents and Families
• The Association for Positive Behavior Support
• Getting Behavior in Shape at Home
• Family Resources for Challenging Behavior
• The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) Resource Library
Summer School
All Brookwood School District students in grades K-7 were allowed to participate in Brookwood School District 167’s Summer School Program to reinforce Reading and Math skills and to regain any learning loss. The program will run from Tuesday to Thursday, 8:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., from June 11, 2025, to July 17, 2025.
STUDENT HOURS | 8:15 a.m.- 12:15 p.m.
Arrival | 8:15 a.m.
Morning SEL Meeting/Breakfast | 8:15 a.m.- 8:30 a.m.
1st Session Reading or Math | 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
2nd Session Reading or Math | 9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Your child is expected to be in attendance and on time each and every day during learning hours to maximize instructional effectiveness. Your child is expected to fully engage in the learning activities and demonstrate cooperation and a positive attitude towards the learning process. Your child must adhere to the District’s Acceptable Use of Internet Policy.
Parent Expectations: ==================
Ensure your child is in attendance every day for the entire 16-day summer program. Remind students of expected behavior (PBIS- Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible).
boosting kids’ matH skills over tHe summer
Summer is a perfect time for children to relax and enjoy themselves, but it’s also an opportunity to reinforce and enhance their math skills.
here are severaL strategies to heLp kids stay sharp in math during the summer months:
1. Incorporate Math into Daily Activities
Everyday activities can be turned into fun math lessons. Cooking offers practical experience with measurements and fractions. Grocery shopping can teach budgeting, addition, and subtraction. Even a trip to the park can include counting steps, measuring distances, or exploring geometric shapes in the environment.
2. Use Educational Apps and Games
There are numerous educational apps and games designed to make learning math enjoyable. Apps like Khan Academy, Prodigy, and Math Playground offer interactive challenges and tutorials that can keep kids engaged while practicing their math skills.
3. Set Up a Math Challenge
Create a summer math challenge with a series of problems to solve or goals to achieve. This can be a fun competition with rewards for completing certain tasks, such as solving a puzzle or mastering a new concept. Parents can find ageappropriate math challenges online or create their own.
4. Encourage Reading with a Math Twist
There are many books that incorporate math concepts into engaging stories. Titles like “Sir Cumference and the First Round Table” or “The Math Curse” make math fun and relatable. Reading these books can help children see the practical and enjoyable side of math.
5. Visit Educational Museums and Exhibits
Many science and technology museums have exhibits that involve math. These interactive exhibits can show the realworld application of math principles and spark curiosity. Some museums even offer summer programs or workshops focused on math and science.
6. Engage in Hands-On Projects
Projects like building a birdhouse, creating a garden, or even setting up a lemonade stand can involve various math skills. Measuring materials, calculating costs, and estimating profits help children apply math in practical and enjoyable ways.
7. Hire a Tutor or Attend a Summer Math Camp
For kids who need a bit more structured help, a math tutor or summer math camp can be very beneficial. These options provide personalized instruction and can address specific areas where a child might be struggling, ensuring they are ready for the upcoming school year.
By integrating these activities into the summer routine, parents can help their children maintain and even improve their math skills in a fun, stress-free way. This balanced approach ensures that children return to school confident and ready to tackle new mathematical challenges.
family engagement
Family Formal (Masquerade Ball)
We would like to express our genuine appreciation for you taking the time to attend our event. With an attire theme of “Masquerade Ball,” our families really showed up and showed out!
student engagement
HB’s Got Talent!
Singing, dancing, drawing, drumming, acting, choreography, duets, puppet theater, game show hosts, and a lot of smiles!
It’s just what we do here at Hickory Bend. Congratulations to all of our Talent Show participants.
You Were Marvelous!
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
June 3rd 2nd Grade Field Trip | Brookfield Zoo
June 5th Step Up Ceremony | 4th Grade | 1:30 p.m.
June 6th Kindergarten Graduation | 10:00 a.m.
June 10th Board of Education Meeting | District Office @ 7:00 p.m.
June 11th Summer School Begins | @ BJHS
June 19th No Summer School | Juneteenth Celebration
