August 2023 Family Newsletter (English)

AUGUST 2023

FAMILY NEWSLETTER

SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE

Dear CCSD21 Families and Community Members,

It is hard to believe that the time has come for us to head back to school! You may notice a few changes, and a few new faces, as you return to your routines. We can’t wait to see you in a few weeks, but until then – enjoy the rest of your summer!

Dates to Remember:

● Thursday, Aug. 17 –Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m.

● Monday, Aug. 21 –Institute Day, No Classes

● Tuesday, Aug. 22 –Institute Day, No Classes

Respectfully,

Dr. Michael Connolly Superintendent of Schools

View the full video message here:

AUGUST 2023 Message

● Wednesday, Aug. 23 –First Day of Classes, Grades 1-8

● Thursday, Aug. 24 –First Day of Classes, Kindergarten Group A and Pre-K (Early Childhood)

● Friday, Aug. 25 – First Day of Classes, Kindergarten Group B

● Monday, Aug. 28 –Second Day of Classes, Kindergarten Groups A&B (All K)

For all other school calendar dates, click here

BUSINESS OFFICE UPDATES

Please join us to celebrate the completion of several new library and media centers (LMCs). Each ribbon-cutting will begin at 6 p.m. Please watch your email for further details:

● Thursday, Sept 14 – Field Elementary School

● Thursday, Sept 21 – London Middle School

● Wednesday, Oct. 4 – Kilmer Elementary School

Micheal DeBartolo Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations/CSBO

micheal debartolo@ccsd21 org

Tel. 847-520-2707

● Thursday, Oct. 12 – Frost Elementary School

● A snapshot of the many projects the district worked on throughout the summer!

● CCSD21 in ‘good position’ with student-based health center in CSCAO

● Field, Frost, Whitman, Tarkington parking lots to be reconfigured amid student arrival, dismissal improvements

● CCSD21 to convene district-wide transportation committee to examine hazardous bus routes, congestion issues

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATES

Our new look! You may have noticed that our August newsletter looks a little different We have redesigned the look and feel of this publication to be more user-friendly and easier to read Each CCSD21 department will still have its own section with a table of contents that will link to the full story on the website and, more importantly, the entire issue will be formatted to read like a magazine! We hope you like our new look Enjoy reading!

C ng Director of Communications cassandra.young@ccsd21.org Tel

847-520-2728

● Help us honor CCSD21’s 75th anniversary by contributing your story!

● Join us at the Buffalo Grove Days Parade! The district is planning to participate in this year’s BG Days Parade on Sunday, Sept 3, and we’d love for you to join us! The parade is scheduled to kick off around 11 a m and last about one hour If you are interested, either let your principal know or fill out this form Thank you!

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATES (CONT.)

● Here’s a helpful list of resources as we gear up for the 2023-24 school year!

● A future soccer star who’s always ready to learn. Meet Rising Star Carlos T.

What to do as you head back to school

Contributed by Sofia

Horwitz, communications intern and BGHS senior

With the first day of school inching closer for CCSD21 students and staff, it’s time to start preparing! Going back to school can be a tough transition, but with these tips, it can go smoothly. Here are some things to start doing:

1. Brush up on your math operations so they are fresh in your mind

2 If you haven’t picked up a book yet this summer, this is the perfect time to crack open a new story to tell your new teachers about!

3 While the district will provide students with school supplies, you still might want to pick up your favorite pen, journal or even a fresh new backpack!

4 Remember to stay organized with homework to start the year on a good note You can do this by using a planner or assignment notebook

5 The night before your first day, make sure to pack your lunch and lay out your clothes to have a stress-free morning

6 Start getting your sleep schedule back on track to be ready for those early mornings

7 Remember to stay positive and be ready to jump into the new year!

EQUITY & LEARNING UPDATES

You can make a difference in a child’s life! Volunteer to help children read. Click here for more details.

● CCSD21 middle schools to see exploratory/music scheduling changes for 2023-24

Beatrice Reyes Childress Assistant Superintendent for Equity & Learning

beatrice childress@ccsd21 org

Tel 847-520-2743

● CCSD21 to introduce STEM-focused ‘talented programming’ for 2023-24 school year

Join Us at The Indian Trails Library: Jumpstart getting ready for school by participating in the many events at the library in August Check out the calendar of events for specific activities and times for the month

EQUITY & LEARNING UPDATES (CONT.)

● CCSD21 designs unique plan for incoming kindergarteners: To create a smooth transition for incoming 2023-2024 kindergarten students, Community Consolidated School District 21 has designed a unique plan for the first days of school, specifically tailored to meet the needs of our young learners This schedule enables kindergarten teachers to have dedicated time with students each day, fostering a deeper understanding of each individual and facilitating their smooth transition into school within a play-based environment Later this month, parents will receive a notification in ParentSquare with information regarding which day their kindergartner will attend their first day of school See the school schedule below

○ Wednesday, Aug. 23 – No school for kindergarteners

○ Thursday, Aug. 24 – Group A – Kindergarteners attend a full day of school from 9 a m to 3 p m (No school for Group B kindergarteners)

○ Friday, Aug. 25 – Group B – Kindergarteners attend a full day of school from 9 a m to 3 p m (No school for Group A kindergarteners)

○ Monday, Aug. 28 – All kindergarteners begin a regular full-day schedule

This schedule does not apply to students in specialized programs

For detailed information, please contact your student’s school office.

Jitter Juice for the First Day of School! As our elementary schools return to session later this month, Community Consolidated School District 21 and our food service partner OrganicLife intend to hold a “Jitter Juice” promotion during breakfast on the first day of school! Students will be able to grab a cup of the colorful water, which is paired with the fun back-to-school book “First Day Jitters” by Julie Danneberg.

The book tells the story of Sarah, who is “experiencing a jumble of feelings” in anticipation of her first day at a new school. The full series, other titles of which include “Big Test Jitters” and “Picture Day Jitters,” contains a number of fun topics that teachers could build on during the year, as well

OrganicLife also intends to donate a copy of the book to each of our elementary school libraries as the day ends

Did You Know… As a district, we are proud to celebrate the diversity of our learning community! During this month, many countries around the world celebrate their day of independence Many people in our community acknowledge their native country’s independence by displaying a flag, participating in festivals or parades Some communities celebrating in the month of August include India, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Uruguay and Kyrgyzstan If you’d like to learn more, click on the links! If there is a celebration that we missed, don’t hesitate to reach out and share it with our Language Services Department

HUMAN RESOURCES UPDATES

Virtual Hiring Fair on Aug. 11! Know a teacher, teaching assistant, social worker or psychologist who is looking for a new opportunity? We have a virtual job fair scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11. Read more about it here.

Robert Gurney Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources

robert gurney@ccsd21 org Tel 847-520-2724

Becoming a Substitute in District 21: We had some wonderful new sub candidates that applied to work with us this past spring and throughout the summer. Many of these subs are from our community! We’re excited for these additions to our sub group but we’re not done yet. We are continuing to hire subs each month. Please let your neighbors and friends know that we are still hiring throughout the school year.

Whether you want to help us out one day a week or every single day, the choice is yours

Below is the link for people to apply:

● Sub Application

In addition, we have a virtual sub hiring fair coming up on Friday, Aug 18, from 10 a m to 1 p m

We still have openings in our sub pool for the following positions:

● Secretary - $100/day

● Health Assistant - $100/day

● Teaching Assistant - $125/day

● Teacher - $137/day

● Long term teacher (more than 10 days in the same classroom) - $220/day

In addition, any subs who work 100 days this year will receive a $1,000 bonus at the end of the year.

Here is information from the Illinois State Board of Education about becoming a teaching assistant or teacher sub:

How to Apply for a Short-term Substitute License

● How to Apply for a Short-term Substitute

LicenseVideo

● How to Apply for a Short-term Substitute

LicensePresentation

HUMAN RESOURCES UPDATES (CONT.)

● CCSD21 hires two for assistant principal roles at Holmes, London

● My Why – Gabe Gyrogy, Custodian at Frost Elementary School

INFORMATION SERVICES UPDATES

● CCSD21 boosts number of security cameras by 20% as part of summer work

● CCSD21’s Chromebook refresh cycle to target kindergarteners, third and sixth graders

Mike Frantini Chief Technology Officer

mike frantini@ccsd21 org

Tel 847-520-2732

With the start of the school year fast approaching, we want to let you know of a few ways that families can learn about student classroom assignments:

● PowerSchool Parent Portal (K-8): On Aug 14 at 3:30 p m , the Parent Portal will be open for both parents and students Schedule and classroom assignments are viewable in the parent portal

● Parent Square Message (K-5): By 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 14, parents of students in grades K-5 will receive a parent square message with the same information that is available in Parent Portal about homeroom teacher assignment.

● SchedulePick Up/Locker Setup (6-8): Students in grades 6-8 will be able to attend a schedule pickup at their middle school. At this time, students can walk their schedule and test out their locker combinations. Please watch for communication from your middle school principal about dates and times as these are building-specific.

SUPPORT SERVICES & SCHOOL SAFETY UPDATES

Kim Cline Assistant Superintendent for Support Svcs & School Safety kim clilne@ccsd21 org

Tel 847-520-2717

OMNI, Old National Bank to co-host Aug. 18 free public benefit workshop on building, protecting credit score OMNI Youth Services and Old National Bank are scheduled to co-host a free public benefit workshop on building and protecting your credit score at 5 p.m. on Aug. 18 at its office at 210 Wolf Road, Wheeling. The workshop, which will only be available in Spanish, will provide attendees a chance to learn about reading credit reports and scores, whether opening a checking/savings account will affect their immigration status, and how to improve their credit score following an eviction, among other topics.

Pre-registration is required, and details can be found in the attached flyer (only in Spanish).

The event also serves as an opportunity for families to sign up for OMNI’s Holiday Gift Program, but attendees must live in Wheeling, Prospect Heights or on the Cook County side of Buffalo Grove There will also be a raffle drawing, and the winner must be present

Illinois STAR NET - Workshops for Parents: CCSD21 is part of Illinois’ Support and Technical Assistance Regional NETwork (STAR NET) Region II For more than 25 years, Illinois STAR NET has been committed to helping young children reach for the stars STAR NET Region II does that by providing enriching opportunities for professional development and family education STAR NET sends out a workshop calendar twice a year and will often add more workshops during a school year Here are some upcoming workshops to consider:

● Families! Looking at Children Through New Eyes: A Sensory Processing Approach – Tuesday, Sept 26 – Click here for more information and to sign up

● Choices and Consequences: Setting Limits Through Play – Thursday, Oct 12 – Click here for more information and to sign up

● Family Game Night! Supporting Skills and Extending Learning Through Fun at Home –Tuesday, Dec 12 – Click here for more information and to sign up

● Occupational, physical therapy services in CCSD21 – what to know

SUPPORT SERVICES & SCHOOL SAFETY UPDATES (CONT.)

Erin’s Law Parent Information Session

Erin’s Law, House Bill 6193, was signed on January 24, 2013. This law requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention curriculum for grades pre-K through 12. Erin’s Law has now been passed in over 37 states.

In response to the state mandate of educating students about Erin’s Law, CCSD21 will be hosting a curriculum called, Be Seen and Heard - a prevention oriented child sexual abuse program for all students. This curriculum is designed to create an age-appropriate, safe and engaging environment where students will learn about the difference between safe and unsafe touch, the difference between safe and unsafe secrets, and the importance of speaking up to trusted heroes and adults. (Each year the students will learn new concepts and strategies for keeping their bodies safe )

Parents are invited to attend a special information meeting to preview the concepts of the “Be Seen and Heard” curriculum prior to the schools holding the presentations A “Be Seen and Heard” presenter will be available after for a Q&A session Join us on Tuesday, Sept 5, at 6 PM via Zoom CLICK ON THIS ZOOM LINK for the parent presentation

If you do NOT wish your child to participate in these lessons, please contact your student’s school Information on the exact date in each school will be shared in the school newsletter

The presentation will be in English, here is a link to the presentation in Spanish

BOARD OF EDUCATION

July 27, 2023 Board Meeting

The livestream video of the April 27 Board of Education meeting can be viewed here

Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting of Community Consolidated School District 21, Wheeling, Cook County, IL, will be held on August 17, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the CCSD21 Community Service Center and Administrative Office, 959 W. Dundee Rd., Wheeling IL, 60090