Southeast Elementary August/September 2017

“Empowering All Learners to Succeed in Their World.”

Southeast Mustang News 718 S. Locust Street, Sycamore IL

Phone: 815-899-8219

Fax: 815-899-8221

Aug/Sept 2017

Message from Mr. Ekstrom

School Hours 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The school day starts promptly at 8:30a.m.

Please have your child here between 8:10a.m. and 8:25a.m. to visit a zone and prepare for their day. Students who arrive right at 8:30a.m. (or after) will be marked tardy.

We are so ready for the new school year. The classroom teachers are very busy establishing classroom routines, expectations, and empowering students to be life-long learners. As I walk around the building, I am excited about all the great things occurring inside our school. Students are learning our expectations for the hallways, morning zones, cafeteria, specials, and in the classroom. Make sure you review the five voice levels we have at Southeast. Parent-teacher communication is a very important part of the education process, so make sure you check your child’s folder each day/week.

The core value for the month of September is Responsibility. The definition of responsibility from the Sycamore CUSD 427 strategic design states, “Responsible individuals know, understand, consider, and accept the impact and consequences of personal decisions and actions. They reflect on the results of their work and apply this new learning to subsequent tasks.” School is a safe place to make mistakes and then learn from those mistakes.

Finally, children learn by your model. When your child sees you read the newspaper, a book, or even an instruction manual they take note and realize what an important skill reading is. It is also important to read to or with your kids.

Sincerely, Mark Ekstrom Southeast Elementary School Principal

PLEASE NOTE The Sycamore School District will charge a $25.00 service fee for any returned checks and will not accept checks written after receiving a returned check for any reason.

Birthday Reminders Birthdays may be celebrated at school where it fits with classroom schedules (usually the end of the day). To encourage a healthier lifestyle it is recommended that alternative offerings be considered (i.e. Birthday Book Club, pencils, stickers, fruit, etc.). If children bring small treats to share with the entire class, it must be bought from a store - no homemade goods.

Birthday party invitations will not be distributed at school.

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Lunch Account Information All students have an account for purchasing breakfast ($1.50), hot lunch ($2.70), milk ($.55) and juice ($.40).

When students purchase breakfast, lunch or milk from the cafeteria, the amount is automatically deducted from their account. Parents may add money to their child’s account online by going to the district website at syc427.org, go to the drop down “For Parents”, then “food service”, and then click the link for webstore. Parents will need to have their child’s ID number to add money online. ID numbers may be obtained by calling the school.

Parents may also add money to their child’s lunch account by sending funds (cash or check) to school with their child.

Questions concerning charges and balances should be made directly to the food service office at 815-899-8155.

Staff Changes at Southeast

Library News

The 2016-17 school year has come and Saddle Up and Read - Fall Book Fair brought with it staff changes at Southeast.

The annual Southeast Fall Book Fair will run from September 18 to September 22.

Both Mrs. Jacob and Mrs. Reynolds retired Many volunteers are needed to make it a success. last spring. Mrs. Strohm has moved to second Please click her to donate your time. grade. This year we welcome Mrs. Tracy http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f084fa4ae29a2 fa7-southeast2 Minnihan to kindergarten and Mrs. Jill Henson to the fourth grade team. Mr. Rob Stover has Library Volunteers Needed Year Round returned to PE. We also welcome Ms. Meghan Your library also needs a few great volunteers who Dienst as the new speech pathologist, Ms. can come in weekly or biweekly for just a few hours Karly Zuker in the social work office and Mrs. to help with the regular library work. Volunteers help shelve books, assist kids, straighten the Kori Mauch in the nurses office. Three yearlibrary, prepare new books and hang long student teachers will be in the decorations. Your time donation allows us to run building, Ms. Jeslyn the extracurricular programs that your kids love like Book Blazers, Harry Potter Club, and Battle of Linares (4CH) Ms. the Books. Please click here to become a regular Makayla Schenkel library volunteer..

(4W). http://tinyurl.com/SELIBVOL17

Front Office Notes The front office has a few reminders for the new year.

Welcome

Please inform the office ... … if your child/ren will not be attending school for the day. Please try to call before 9:00 a.m. … if your child/ren will be arriving late or leaving early; even if you email or send a note to the teacher.

Mornings are hectic in the classroom and the teacher may forget to inform us. … if your telephone/cell/work number or contact information has changed. In the case of an emergency we rely on the information provided by you.

Please feel free to contact the office with any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to the new school year and helping your child succeed.

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Charting from the Nurse Reminders on ways to stay healthy: * Wash hands frequently with soap and water, especially before eating, after using the restroom or after changing diapers. * Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. * Avoid kissing, hugging and sharing cups or utensils with people who are ill. * Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys, doorknobs, keyboards - especially if some one is sick. * Keep your children home from school if ill. Please remember your child must be fever free (less than 100°) without the use of medication, diarrhea free and vomit free for 24 hours. This is school district policy and your child will be sent home if these rules are not followed. This is for the protection of all students and staff.

Thanks for your help in keeping the school environment safe and healthy for everyone.

Important Southeast Guidelines There a several Southeast students with severe peanut/tree nut allergies.

To keep every child safe at Southeast, tree nuts in the shell are not allowed within the school.

Tree nuts in the shell includes any nut that still has it’s shell, especially peanuts and pistachios.

Your child may still enjoy the benefits of these healthy snacks but please remember to remove the shells before sending them to school.

Religious Exemption to Vaccination Requirement Illinois has recently passed a law that will require parents to complete a Certificate of Religious Exemption form and have it signed by a health care provider in order to be complaint with the religious exemption to vaccines. This form is still being developed by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Please be aware that you will need to have this certificate completed this fall, once it is available. Please contact the school nurse with any questions regarding this new requirement.

Injury Recovery Has you child incurred an injury and needs to be excused from PE and recess? Please remember that a doctor’s note must be received in the nurses office in order for your child to be excused.

Also, a doctor’s note must also be brought to the nurse’s office in order for your child to be released back to PE and recess.

Important Health Room Policy Cough drops are not allowed at Southeast, including in the health room. If your child has a severe cough that requires a suppressant, please keep him/her at home.

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Cleaning House? Don’t throw it away…bring it to the ART ROOM! We are always in need of recyclables to use in Sculpture and Collage.

Can you help out with any of the following: scrapbook paper yogurt or other plastic containers with lids sandpaper Styrofoam gift wrap pipe cleaners cardboard tin foil toilet paper tubes jars (spaghetti, salsa, etc.) paper towel tubes toothpicks shoe boxes nuts, bolts, washer, etc. (anything to press in clay) any crafty supplies (buttons, ribbon, sequins, etc.) plastic but realistic toys of animals, cars, etc. for drawing, still life materials such as fake fruit, bowls, cups anything with an interesting shape!

The Art Room is always looking for parent volunteers to help in class, hang work, etc. If you are interested, please email Mrs. Squires at msquires@syc427.org.

Visitor Procedures Southeast Visitor

We welcome your involvement in your child’s education. To insure the safety of our children and to maintain a quality learning environment we ask that you adhere to the following procedures when visiting Southeast.

1. On entering the school, report to the office, sign in and list the reason for your visit and pick up a visitor pass.

2. All visits to the classroom need to be pre-arranged with the classroom teacher.

3. If younger siblings are brought with you, it must be cleared with the classroom teacher.

Siblings are not allowed to accompany chaperones on field trips.

4. If volunteering in a classroom, confidentiality of students’ abilities, behaviors, or discipline matters is a necessity.

5. If the teacher is not in the classroom when you arrive, please wait outside the classroom for that teacher.

6. Please drop off items for your children in the office. Office personnel will deliver those items to the classroom. We want to minimize the disruptions to the classroom instruction.

7. If you need to drop something off for a teacher, please leave it with office personnel.

8. Impromptu visits may not be allowed due to classroom schedules. Always pre-arrange visits with the teacher.

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Orchestra and Band Sign Up 4th grade students: Orchestra sign-up night will be Wednesday, August 31 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. in the Sycamore Middle School Orchestra Room.

5th grade students: Band sign-up night will be Wednesday, September 7 from 6:30-

8:30 p.m. and Thursday, September 8 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at North Grove Elementary School.

OSCAR Are you looking for quality child care either before or after school? The Sycamore School District offers OSCAR to help with that need.

The program is available from 6:00-8:10 a.m. and again from 3:00-6:00 p.m. It is also available on early dismissal days and some no school days.

OSCAR is a great place for children to receive homework help, positive social opportunities and recreation time.

Take Root!

Take Root! is an event that offers community members to gather together to enjoy an evening of delectable appetizers and wonderful music all while raising funds in support of the Sycamore schools.

Amazing things are happening in Sycamore schools, and we couldn’t be more thankful for your part in it.

Through a partnership with the Kishwaukee YMCA, OSCAR offers other opportunities to participate in weekly activities like sports and swimming lessons. All activities, except swimming, will be located at Southeast and are included in the OSCAR fees.

Your generosity not only opens doors for our educators, it opens doors to undiscovered passions in our students – passions that may someday change the world.

For more information on OSCAR please contact the out of school care office at 815-899-8213.

For more information on this worthwhile event please visit sycamoresef.org

Congratulations... … to 2017 Sycamore High School graduate Richard Napier for receiving the Southeast Scholarship. The Southeast PTO presents a $500.00 scholarship to a Sycamore High School senior who fulfills the requirements of having attended Southeast for a minimum of two years, will be attending a University, College, Jr. College or Vocational school full-time and completes the scholarship application.

Thanks to the Scholarship Committee for organizing and choosing the scholarship winner.

IPM Policy Statement For School Pest Management Policy Statement Structural and landscape pests can pose significant problems to people, property, and the environment; however, the pesticides used to solve these problems carry their own risks. It is therefore the policy of Sycamore School District to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs and procedures for control of structural and landscape pests.

IPM Procedures It is the policy of Sycamore School District to utilize IPM principles to manage pest populations adequately. While the goal of this IPM program is to reduce and ultimately eliminate use of toxic chemicals, toxic chemicals may become necessary in certain situations. The choice of using a pesticide will be based on a review of all other available options and a determination that these options are unacceptable or are infeasible, alone or in combination. Cost or staffing considerations alone will not be adequate justification for use of chemical control agents. The full range of alternatives, including no action, will be considered.

When it is determined that a pesticide must be used in order to prevent pest levels from exceeding action thresholds, the least-hazardous material will be chosen. The application of such pesticides is subject to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7USC 136 et seq.), School District policies and procedures, Environmental Protection Agency regulations in 40 CFR, Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, and state and local regulations.

Pest Management Pests will be managed to reduce any potential human health hazard or to protect against a significant threat to public safety prevent loss or damage to school resources, structures or property prevent pests from spreading in the community, or to plant and animal populations beyond the school site enhance the quality of life for students, staff, and others Parents/Guardians may request to receive notification before the application of pesticides to school grounds or structures.

To register to receive notification, please contact the business office at 815-899-8100 or vmillhou@syc427.org.

NOTICE In compliance with the 1986 Federal AHERA law, we are hereby notifying all interested parties of the location of the district’s asbestos management plans. Every school building has a copy in the office, which can be viewed with a prior notice.

Location of asbestos containing building materials and assumed asbestos containing building materials will be listed by building in the management plan. All district management plans are also on file at the Administration Office.

Southeast Sundries Lunch Protocol

If you plan to have lunch with your child please adhere to the following protocol.

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Notify the office before 10:00 a.m. of your plan to visit.

Arrive right at your child’s lunch time. Check in at the office.

Go directly to the cafeteria. Your child will meet you there.

When your child goes back to class, you check out at the office.

Parent Portal

Please remember soda is not allowed in the cafeteria for both students and parents. We also request that parents not attend recess.

PTO News

The school messenger application which will send email along with emergency phone messages is linked to the portal. All parents will be automatically entered into the email portion of the system.

The PTO would like to invite all parents to the meeting held every month at 6:30 p.m. Please check the school calendar for the correct date each month. Your attendance is appreciated.

You will be required to use the access code emailed to you in July. If you have misplaced the code, please contact communications@syc427.org.

The staff at Southeast does not have access to your code.

Also, PTO meeting minutes can be found on the website at www.syc427.org. Under Visit Our Schools, choose Southeast. Click on PTO. Scroll down to find attachments of all meeting minutes from the current school year.

Donations The health room is in need of gently used elastic waist pants as well as new underwear (no boxers) in small sizes. If you have either of these items and are willing to donate them to the health room please either send them with your child or drop them by the office. Please note that we are well stocked with shirts and are not in need of that donation.

The current Music Booster Newsletter is now available at www.sycamoremusicboosters.com , in the Newsletters section of the website.

Early Childhood Screening Early childhood screening is for children from birth to 5 years whose parents are concerned about developmental delays. If a parents feels their child is not reaching developmental milestones in speech, large or fine motor skills or social interactions a 30 minute screening can be set up between 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on the following dates: September 22, 2017 November 17, 2017 Screenings are held at South Prairie Elementary School, 820 Borden Ave., Sycamore.

Additional dates may be available in 2018. Appointments and questions can be addressed to Marijo Schwartz at 815-899-8210, extension 1301.