Terrace Families,

The fall weather is finally upon us. We had some wet and rainy days, but we were able to get our students outside for recess and mask breaks throughout most of the week. Please be aware of the weather, as it is getting a little colder outside. Please make sure your children have sweatshirts or jackets for the fall weather, and you may want to send an extra pair of shoes for recess for those wet days so they do not have to be in wet shoes after recess time.

Next month there will be a fall concert for students in grades 3 - 5, and we are very excited about that since we did not have any concerts last year. Unfortunately, due to safety and mitigation factors, our concert will not be able to accommodate a live community audience, so we are working on a way in which your children can still participate and allow you to be able to still view it from home via video recording. We know this may be disappointing for you, but we are happy that our students will get to participate since they missed it last year. This a a big step in the right direction!

I know you have received two communications from the district regarding SHIELD Testing for students. I wanted to summarize some of the points for you in case you still have questions:

• The SHIELD testing program, from the University of Illinois, is offering optional, free weekly saliva COVID-19 testing to all students. The test is simple, fast, and takes place at school during the school day.
• It IS NOT mandatory. However, it is encouraged for unvaccinated students and is a good mitigation strategy.
• Your child is automatically enrolled. If you wish to opt your child out of testing, please fill out this online form. If you cannot fill out the online form, please print off this form and send it to our office.
• Testing will begin the week of October 25. I do not yet know the date, but once I have the schedule, I will communicate that to all of you.
• Positive results will be communicated to families when we receive them, which is typically within 24 hours.
• Please see this SHIELD testing FAQ Document to learn more.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER UPDATES:

Halloween:
Next week, on Friday, October 29, 2021, we will be celebrating Halloween for grades 1-5 and on Thursday, October 28 for kinders. Please read the information below:

• Please remember that it is a half-day institute day, and dismissal will be at 12:00. There will be NO SCHOOL for ANY kindergarten students on Oct. 29.
• This year we plan to have a Halloween parade, weather permitting. We will be having our parade outdoors if it is not raining, and parents/families may watch the parade and take pictures outdoors. If it is raining, we will have the parade indoors, however, parents/families will not be permitted inside. We will take plenty of pictures and post them for you if that is the case. I will communicate with you next week regarding the parade route and where you can safely watch and take pictures.
• For kindergarten families, both morning and afternoon kinder students will have their parades on Thursday, October 28, and Mrs. Nielsen will communicate the times to you next week. Weather permitting, they will have a their parades outside as well, so feel free to come and take pictures outdoors. If it rains, we will keep them indoors, but parents/families may not come in to take pictures. Thank you for your continued patience with us during these challenging times,
• Costumes may be worn to school on Oct. 28 for kindergarteners and on October 29 for grades 1-5. Costumes may not contain: weapons of any sort, blood, cigars or cigarettes, and we should not be able to see any student’s bare stomach. In addition, please ensure that costumes are age-appropriate for school and are not overly scary. Masks for costumes may be worn only during classroom activities that allow for it, but they may not be worn during the entire school day. Face coverings still must be worn all day while student are in person at school.

Terrace PTC Fourth Grade Mixer:
Please join our PTC and other first grade families at the Fourth Grade Mixer tonight, Friday, October 15, at 6:00 p.m. This event will take place at the Terrace playground. Bring your families, meet other second grade families, and have a popsicle. It will be a great way to meet other second grade families!

Terrace PTC Spirit Wear Store:
Thanks to our amazing PTC, we now have a spirit wear store that is open for business 24-7. If you click here, you can view the items for sale and can make a purchase any time you would like. All items will be shipped directly to you. If you have any questions, please reach out to our PTC.

D62 COVID Dashboard:
Fr those of you who would like to keep up with D62 COVID cases and quarantines, D62 has a dashboard that has all of that information. The dashboard is updated several times per day. There also links to relevant guidelines around quarantining as well as an FAQ from IDPH. Please click here for access to the dashboard.

Dismissal:
Pickup at dismissal time continues to improve. Please understand that unfortunately our supervisors are not out there to direct traffic. They are there to help your children get into your vehicles safely and quickly. It is up to you, our community members, to be safe and patient as you wait for your students. Please, I ask you to be patient with us but also with one another. There is no rush to get into the front circle. If you follow the directions below, we will get your children to you more quickly with each passing day. Here are some way you can help us do that:

• Display the laminated sign you all should have received from your teacher. If you did not receive a sign, please contact your teacher to let them know.
• DO NOT wait or stand in front of a community member's driveway. The Des Plaines Police Department has asked me to remind you of this.
• Please do not double park on Westgate, get out of your car, and walk up to the front. If you want to park and get your child, please park in our parking lot.
• Do not drive to the left of the cars in the circle drive in order to leave the circle. This is dangerous and can hurt someone. Please be patient if the person in front of you is still loading their car.
• If your child is not outside when you drive up, you should leave the circle and make another pass. Please do not wait and hold up the line behind you.
• Remember, if you want to park and get out of your car to pick up your child, please tell your child to leave out of door 3 (blacktop door) so you can meet them there. We do not want to have too many people congregating in the front of the school at dismissal time.

Bus Drivers Needed:
We invite those interested to apply with First Student and join their team as a school bus driver.
Those interested can apply in one of two ways:

1. https://workatfirst.com/ and put in zip code 60007 when prompted
2. text 60007 to Buses (28737)

Incentives include:

• $21-22.50/HR Starting wage based on experience
• Paid training
• $2,500 - $3,000 sign-on Bonus/retention bonus (based on experience)
• Eight paid holidays
• Weekly pay
• Guaranteed 20 hours/week
• Free college opportunities

For more information, please contact Rick Walters with First Student at (847) 635-9877 x 209.

Right At School: 
If you are looking for before or after school care, please click here for more information.

School Breakfast & Lunch:
School breakfast and lunch will be free again this year. 

Congratulations to these terrific Terrace students for setting a positive example of what it means to be safe, to be respectful, and to be responsible. Congratulations also to Mrs. Schaefer's class for earning the Courageous Cardinal this week!

I would also like to recognize Mr. Lynch and Mrs. Vega Lopez as our Star Staff Members of the week. We appreciate all that they do for their students, families, and colleagues. 

​Terrace Families,

We are really fortunate with the amazing weather we have had this week. Our students are truly benefitting from spending time outdoors to both learn and play. One new thing you may notice near the playground is a Buddy Bench. A Buddy Bench is a place where a student can go and sit when they may be lonely or do not have anyone to play with, and it serves as a signal to others to come over and try to include that student in their play group. Mrs. Djurdjevic and out student council have been hard at work painting the bench, and it is almost fully completed.

Just this week I observed another math lesson, and it is exciting to watch out students interact with our new math resources. Something new this year is that some Terrace students who may be struggling in math may qualify to work with a math interventionist to help catch them up to grade level expectations. Mrs. Butera, our former second grade teacher, is our math interventionist and is working with some of our students each and every day. We look forward to seeing the progress that they make over the course of the school year.

Some of our clubs have begun again this year, and we are truly glad to have them back! After school Dance Club has already met once and will resume their schedule again next week. Before school, many students have been coming early to participate in Sports Club. Today I warmed up with the students, and it was wonderful starting the day with some exercise and some fun.

Don't forget that next Thursday and Friday will be student non-attendance days, as it will be Family/Teacher Conferences.

Please feel free to read the brand new Terrace Times, which is linked at the top of this page.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER UPDATES:

Family/Teacher Conferences:
Conference sign-up will be concluding this Wednesday, October 06. You may register for one 20-minute conference time with your child's teacher for either October 07 from 2:00 - 8:00 or October 08 from 8:00 - 2:00. To sign up, please go to https://terrace62.youcanbook.me/, where you will find the teacher's name, see the available time slots, and then you will be able to choose the time you want. Just fill out the information that is asked of you, and you should be good-to-go. An email will follow confirming your time. If you have any problems or do not have access to a device or the Internet, you can contact the main office, and Mrs. Bojarski will be able to schedule you in for an available time slot.

Please note that this year all conferences will be done remotely via Zoom. If you will not be able to schedule a conference during these timeframes, our staff will be more than happy to accommodate a time outside of this schedule. Remember, if you feel there is a need for an in-person conference, please reach out to your child's teacher after you have signed up for your time. Our goal is 100% participation with all of you.

Terrace PTC Second Grade Mixer:
Please join our PTC and other first grade families at the Second Grade Mixer tonight, Friday, October 01, at 6:00 p.m. This event will take place at the Terrace playground. Bring your families, meet other second grade families, and have a popsicle. It will be a great way to meet other second grade families!

Terrace PTC Spirit Wear Store:
Thanks to our amazing PTC, we now have a spirit wear store that is open for business 24-7. If you click here, you can view the items for sale and can make a purchase any time you would like. All items will be shipped directly to you. If you have any questions, please reach out to our PTC.

2021 District 62 Winter Greeting Card Design Contest:
All District 62 students are invited to enter the 2021 Winter Greeting Card design contest. The first place winner's design will appear on a greeting card that is sent to community leaders and displayed on the district’s website and social media. In addition, the first place winner will be honored at the Monday, November 15, 2021 Board of Education meeting. The first place winner will also receive a framed copy of their card and first place certificate. All participants, including second and third place winners, will receive certificates.

Deadline: October 13, 2021 to Mrs. Bojarski in the front office.

Please visit the district website for additional information and the parent release form: 
English
Spanish
Polish

D62 COVID Dashboard:
Fr those of you who would like to keep up with D62 COVID cases and quarantines, D62 has a dashboard that has all of that information. The dashboard is updated several times per day. There also links to relevant guidelines around quarantining as well as an FAQ from IDPH. Please click here for access to the dashboard.

Dismissal:
Pickup at dismissal time continues to improve. Please understand that unfortunately our supervisors are not out there to direct traffic. They are there to help your children get into your vehicles safely and quickly. It is up to you, our community members, to be safe and patient as you wait for your students. Please, I ask you to be patient with us but also with one another. There is no rush to get into the front circle. If you follow the directions below, we will get your children to you more quickly with each passing day. Here are some way you can help us do that:

• Display the laminated sign you all should have received from your teacher. If you did not receive a sign, please contact your teacher to let them know.
• DO NOT wait or stand in front of a community member's driveway. The Des Plaines Police Department has asked me to remind you of this.
• Please do not double park on Westgate, get out of your car, and walk up to the front. If you want to park and get your child, please park in our parking lot.
• Do not drive to the left of the cars in the circle drive in order to leave the circle. This is dangerous and can hurt someone. Please be patient if the person in front of you is still loading their car.
• If your child is not outside when you drive up, you should leave the circle and make another pass. Please do not wait and hold up the line behind you.
• Remember, if you want to park and get out of your car to pick up your child, please tell your child to leave out of door 3 (blacktop door) so you can meet them there. We do not want to have too many people congregating in the front of the school at dismissal time.

Bus Drivers Needed:
We invite those interested to apply with First Student and join their team as a school bus driver.
Those interested can apply in one of two ways:

1. https://workatfirst.com/ and put in zip code 60007 when prompted
2. text 60007 to Buses (28737)

Incentives include:

• $21-22.50/HR Starting wage based on experience
• Paid training
• $2,500 - $3,000 sign-on Bonus/retention bonus (based on experience)
• Eight paid holidays
• Weekly pay
• Guaranteed 20 hours/week
• Free college opportunities

For more information, please contact Rick Walters with First Student at (847) 635-9877 x 209.

Right At School: 
If you are looking for before or after school care, please click here for more information.

School Breakfast & Lunch:
School breakfast and lunch will be free again this year. 

Congratulations to these terrific Terrace students for setting a positive example of what it means to be safe, to be respectful, and to be responsible. Congratulations also to Mrs. Sharko's class for earning the Courageous Cardinal this week!

I would also like to recognize Mrs. Schaefer and Ms. Siguenza as our Star Staff Members of the week. We appreciate all that they do for their students, families, and colleagues. 

Terrace Families,

Sign-up for Family/Teacher Conferences will go live early this evening. You may register for one 20-minute conference time with your child's teacher on either October 07 from 2:00 - 8:00 or on October 08 from 8:00 - 2:00. To sign up, please go to https://terrace62.youcanbook.me/, where you will find the teacher's name, see the available time slots, and then you will be able to choose the time you want. Just fill out the information that is asked of you, and you should be good-to-go. An email will follow confirming your time. If you have any problems or do not have access to a device or the Internet, you can contact the main office, and Mrs. Bojarski will be able to schedule you in for an available time slot.

Please note that this year all conferences will be done remotely via Zoom. If you will not be able to schedule a conference during these timeframes, our staff will be more than happy to accommodate a time outside of this schedule. Remember, if you feel there is a need for an in-person conference, please reach out to your child's teacher after you have signed up for your time. Our goal is 100% participation with all of you.

MAP reports will be coming home today with our third, fourth, and fifth grade students. If you have any questions regarding the scores, you may contact your child's teacher or wait until Family/Teacher Conferences.

​If you can, please try and stop by the PTC Book Fair. It will be outside on the blacktop after school today from 4:30 - 6:30 and tomorrow morning from 10:00 - 12:00.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER UPDATES:

Terrace PTC Book Fair:
This year‘s Fall Book Fair will be held outside on the blacktop at Terrace Elementary School on the following dates:

Friday, September 24 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Saturday, September 25 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm  

Popcorn and concessions will be available for purchase. 

If you prefer to shop online the link is: www.scholastic.com/bf/terraceelementary

The students will get a chance to browse the book fair during the day with their teachers and create their wish list for purchases.

Terrace PTC Spirit Wear Store:
Thanks to our amazing PTC, we now have a spirit wear store that is open for business 24-7. If you click here, you can view the items for sale and can make a purchase any time you would like. All items will be shipped directly to you. If you have any questions, please reach out to our PTC.

2021 District 62 Winter Greeting Card Design Contest:
All District 62 students are invited to enter the 2021 Winter Greeting Card design contest. The first place winner's design will appear on a greeting card that is sent to community leaders and displayed on the district’s website and social media. In addition, the first place winner will be honored at the Monday, November 15, 2021 Board of Education meeting. The first place winner will also receive a framed copy of their card and first place certificate. All participants, including second and third place winners, will receive certificates.

Deadline: October 13, 2021 to Mrs. Bojarski in the front office.

Please visit the district website for additional information and the parent release form: 
English
Spanish
Polish

D62 COVID Dashboard:
Fr those of you who would like to keep up with D62 COVID cases and quarantines, D62 has a dashboard that has all of that information. The dashboard is updated several times per day. There also links to relevant guidelines around quarantining as well as an FAQ from IDPH. Please click here for access to the dashboard.

Dismissal:
Pickup at dismissal time continues to improve. Please understand that unfortunately our supervisors are not out there to direct traffic. They are there to help your children get into your vehicles safely and quickly. It is up to you, our community members, to be safe and patient as you wait for your students. Please, I ask you to be patient with us but also with one another. There is no rush to get into the front circle. If you follow the directions below, we will get your children to you more quickly with each passing day. Here are some way you can help us do that:

• Display the laminated sign you all should have received from your teacher. If you did not receive a sign, please contact your teacher to let them know.
• DO NOT wait or stand in front of a community member's driveway. The Des Plaines Police Department has asked me to remind you of this.
• Please do not double park on Westgate, get out of your car, and walk up to the front. If you want to park and get your child, please park in our parking lot.
• Do not drive to the left of the cars in the circle drive in order to leave the circle. This is dangerous and can hurt someone. Please be patient if the person in front of you is still loading their car.
• If your child is not outside when you drive up, you should leave the circle and make another pass. Please do not wait and hold up the line behind you.
• Remember, if you want to park and get out of your car to pick up your child, please tell your child to leave out of door 3 (blacktop door) so you can meet them there. We do not want to have too many people congregating in the front of the school at dismissal time.

Bus Drivers Needed:
We invite those interested to apply with First Student and join their team as a school bus driver.
Those interested can apply in one of two ways:

1. https://workatfirst.com/ and put in zip code 60007 when prompted
2. text 60007 to Buses (28737)

Incentives include:

• $21-22.50/HR Starting wage based on experience
• Paid training
• $2,500 - $3,000 sign-on Bonus/retention bonus (based on experience)
• Eight paid holidays
• Weekly pay
• Guaranteed 20 hours/week
• Free college opportunities

For more information, please contact Rick Walters with First Student at (847) 635-9877 x 209.

Right At School: 
If you are looking for before or after school care, please click here for more information.

School Breakfast & Lunch:
School breakfast and lunch will be free again this year. 

Congratulations to these terrific Terrace students for setting a positive example of what it means to be safe, to be respectful, and to be responsible. Congratulations also to Mr. Becker's class for earning the Courageous Cardinal this week!

​I would also like to recognize Mrs. O'Brien as our Star Staff Member of the week. We appreciate all that she does for her students, families, and colleagues. 

Terrace Families,

Next week I will be sending you more specific information regarding Family/Teacher Conferences, which will take place on October 07 from 2:00 - 8:00 and on October 08 from 8:00 - 2:00. The connection between home and school is critical, and we thank you for taking the time to have these important conversations so we can continue to support your child(ren) this year. 

We will be hosting Family/Teacher Conferences this year virtually via Zoom, as we did last year. While we will conduct our meetings virtually this year, we do understand that there may be some unique circumstances under which you may need to meet with your child’s teacher in person. We will also support this platform but request that you follow our safety protocols of wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing. If you request an in-person meeting, we ask that you contact your child’s teacher directly. If a teacher requests an in-person conference of you (if you are comfortable with that), they will contact you directly as well.

Conference sign-ups will go live next Friday evening, September 24. I will send sign-up instructions with my weekly message next Friday.

Thank you for all your support as we wrap up our first month of school here in District 62. We are very proud of all of our students and look forward to meeting with you next month. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER UPDATES:

Terrace PTC Book Fair:
This year‘s Fall Book Fair will be held outside on the blacktop at Terrace Elementary School on the following dates:

Thursday, September 23 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Feriday, September 24 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Saturday, September 25 from 10 am to 12 pm  

Popcorn and concessions will be available for purchase. 

If you prefer to shop online the link is: www.scholastic.com/bf/terraceelementary

The students will get a chance to browse the book fair during the day with their teachers and create their wish list for purchases.

Terrace PTC First Grade Mixer:
Please join our PTC and other first grade families at the First Grade Mixer tonight, Friday, September 17, at 6:00 p.m. This event will take place at the Terrace playground. Bring your families, meet other first grade families, and have a popsicle. It will be a great way to meet other first grade families!

​Terrace PTC Spirit Wear Store:
Thanks to our amazing PTC, we now have a spirit wear store that is open for business 24-7. If you click here, you can view the items for sale and can make a purchase any time you would like. All items will be shipped directly to you. If you have any questions, please reach out to our PTC.

D62 COVID Dashboard:
Fr those of you who would like to keep up with D62 COVID cases and quarantines, D62 has a dashboard that has all of that information. The dashboard is updated several times per day. There also links to relevant guidelines around quarantining as well as an FAQ from IDPH. Please click here for access to the dashboard.

Vaccine Clinic:
District 62 is once again partnering with the Illinois Department of Public Health to host a vaccine clinic open to those aged 12 and older. All members of the community are welcome.

The clinic will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on September 22, at Algonquin Middle School, 767 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines.

To schedule the appointment, call (847) 824.1205. Walk-ins are welcome.

The Pfizer vaccine will be available for those 12 years of age and over and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available for those 18 years of age and over.

Can't make this event? Find a clinic near you by visiting www.coronavirus.illinois.gov

Hotline: 1-833-621-1284

Dismissal:
Pickup at dismissal time continues to improve. Please understand that unfortunately our supervisors are not out there to direct traffic. They are there to help your children get into your vehicles safely and quickly. It is up to you, our community members, to be safe and patient as you wait for your students. Please, I ask you to be patient with us but also with one another. There is no rush to get into the front circle. If you follow the directions below, we will get your children to you more quickly with each passing day. Here are some way you can help us do that:

• Display the laminated sign you all should have received from your teacher. If you did not receive a sign, please contact your teacher to let them know.
• DO NOT wait or stand in front of a community member's driveway. The Des Plaines Police Department has asked me to remind you of this.
• Please do not double park on Westgate, get out of your car, and walk up to the front. If you want to park and get your child, please park in our parking lot.
• Do not drive to the left of the cars in the circle drive in order to leave the circle. This is dangerous and can hurt someone. Please be patient if the person in front of you is still loading their car.
• If your child is not outside when you drive up, you should leave the circle and make another pass. Please do not wait and hold up the line behind you.
• Remember, if you want to park and get out of your car to pick up your child, please tell your child to leave out of door 3 (blacktop door) so you can meet them there. We do not want to have too many people congregating in the front of the school at dismissal time.

Bus Drivers Needed:
We invite those interested to apply with First Student and join their team as a school bus driver.
Those interested can apply in one of two ways:

1. https://workatfirst.com/ and put in zip code 60007 when prompted
2. text 60007 to Buses (28737)

Incentives include:

• $21-22.50/HR Starting wage based on experience
• Paid training
• $2,500 - $3,000 sign-on Bonus/retention bonus (based on experience)
• Eight paid holidays
• Weekly pay
• Guaranteed 20 hours/week
• Free college opportunities

For more information, please contact Rick Walters with First Student at (847) 635-9877 x 209.

Right At School: 
If you are looking for before or after school care, please click here for more information.

School Breakfast & Lunch:
School breakfast and lunch will be free again this year. 

Congratulations to these terrific Terrace students for setting a positive example of what it means to be safe, to be respectful, and to be responsible. Congratulations also to Mrs. Nielsen's classes for earning the Courageous Cardinal this week. I would also like to recognize Mrs. Hanstad as our Star Staff Member of the week. We appreciate all that she does for her students, families, and colleagues. Way to go, everyone!

​Terrace Families,

This week brought us some beautiful weather for our teachers and students to enjoy. Many classrooms went outside for instruction during the day. Mask breaks were frequent, and PE and recess time was fun for our students. We love to see our students playing with one another and socializing during the school day. We continue to work on teaching and reminding our students how to play appropriately and safely with one another, as is typical at the beginning of the school year, especially with our primary students. They are making good progress, and it is a joy to watch them having fun together outside.

I have also been observing how our students are working in their classrooms, and I have been impressed with how hard they are trying. I got many glimpses of our students working with our new Bridges math materials. These hands-on manipulatives and resources are a great way to engage our students. Students seem to really like them, and our teachers are doing a great job incorporating them into their lessons.

Finally, I had the pleasure of going into each classroom to recognize our students who completed their summer workbooks that they received last May if they attended here. I was able to give them a certificate and take their pictures (which you can see below), and their classroom peers applauded and cheered for them. The students were very proud of themselves, and we were proud of them as well.

Over the next couple of weeks more information will come out regarding the PTC Book Fair, Picture Day, and Family-Teacher Conferences. So please stay tuned for news about those upcoming events.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER UPDATES:

D62 COVID Dashboard:
Fr those of you who would like to keep up with D62 COVID cases and quarantines, D62 has a dashboard that has all of that information. The dashboard is updated several times per day. There also links to relevant guidelines around quarantining as well as an FAQ from IDPH. Please click here for access to the dashboard.

Vaccine Clinic:
District 62 is once again partnering with the Illinois Department of Public Health to host a vaccine clinic open to those aged 12 and older. All members of the community are welcome.

The clinic will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on September 22, at Algonquin Middle School, 767 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines.

To schedule the appointment, call (847) 824.1205. Walk-ins are welcome.

The Pfizer vaccine will be available for those 12 years of age and over and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available for those 18 years of age and over.

Can't make this event? Find a clinic near you by visiting www.coronavirus.illinois.gov

Hotline: 1-833-621-1284

Terrace PTC Spirit Wear Store:
Thanks to our amazing PTC, we now have a spirit wear store that is open for business 24-7. If you click here, you can view the items for sale and can make a purchase any time you would like. All items will be shipped directly to you. If you have any questions, please reach out to our PTC.

Terrace PTC Book Fair:
The book fair is coming your way soon! Please plan to stop by the PTC Book Fair after school on either Sept. 23 or Sept. 24. It will be held outdoors just like last year. Look for more details to follow.

Dismissal:
Pickup at dismissal time continues to improve. Please understand that unfortunately our supervisors are not out there to direct traffic. They are there to help your children get into your vehicles safely and quickly. It is up to you, our community members, to be safe and patient as you wait for your students. Please, I ask you to be patient with us but also with one another. There is no rush to get into the front circle. If you follow the directions below, we will get your children to you more quickly with each passing day. Here are some way you can help us do that:

• Display the laminated sign you all should have received from your teacher. If you did not receive a sign, please contact your teacher to let them know.
• DO NOT wait or stand in front of a community member's driveway. The Des Plaines Police Department has asked me to remind you of this.
• Please do not double park on Westgate, get out of your car, and walk up to the front. If you want to park and get your child, please park in our parking lot.
• Do not drive to the left of the cars in the circle drive in order to leave the circle. This is dangerous and can hurt someone. Please be patient if the person in front of you is still loading their car.
• If your child is not outside when you drive up, you should leave the circle and make another pass. Please do not wait and hold up the line behind you.
• Remember, if you want to park and get out of your car to pick up your child, please tell your child to leave out of door 3 (blacktop door) so you can meet them there. We do not want to have too many people congregating in the front of the school at dismissal time.

Bus Drivers Needed:
We invite those interested to apply with First Student and join their team as a school bus driver.
Those interested can apply in one of two ways:

1. https://workatfirst.com/ and put in zip code 60007 when prompted
2. text 60007 to Buses (28737)

Incentives include:

• $21-22.50/HR Starting wage based on experience
• Paid training
• $2,500 - $3,000 sign-on Bonus/retention bonus (based on experience)
• Eight paid holidays
• Weekly pay
• Guaranteed 20 hours/week
• Free college opportunities

For more information, please contact Rick Walters with First Student at (847) 635-9877 x 209.

Right At School: 
If you are looking for before or after school care, please click here for more information.

School Breakfast & Lunch:
School breakfast and lunch will be free again this year. 

Congratulations to these students for completing and turning in their summer workbooks! Way to go!

Congratulations to these terrific Terrace students for setting a positive example of what it means to be safe, to be respectful, and to be responsible. Congratulations also to Mr. Hurwitz's class for earning the Courageous Cardinal this week. Great job!

Terrace Families,

This week most of our students completed their fall benchmark assessments. Our kindergarten through second grade students took their Fastbridge assessments in both the areas of reading and math, and our third through fifth grade students took their reading and math MAP assessments. The data we receive from these assessments help our staff plan for differentiating their instruction to meet the academic needs of each individual student. If you have questions about the assessments or how our staff uses the data, please contact your child's teacher for more information.

Our teachers are continuing to prioritize the social and emotional needs of our students. Each classroom teacher begins the day with a morning meeting and a circle activity. This is a wonderful way for our students and teachers to begin the day. In a circle, the teacher will pose a question, and each student will go around in a circle and answer the question. Classmates must actively listen when someone is speaking. This is a great way for students to find their voices and to build trust with their classmates and their teacher. It is also a great way for them to get to know one another better. Building a classroom community is extremely important, and I give a lot of kudos to my staff for making this a priority.

Today our first group of students were recognized for being safe, respectful, and responsible (see photo below). Throughout every week, students are issued Cardinal Cards by staff if they are noticed demonstrating these expected behaviors. Then, each Friday, teachers randomly pull a name out of a box where all the Cardinal Cards are kept, and those students come down to the office where they receive a little prize, have their name announced to the entire school, and have their picture taken for my weekly message. Students love this, and they get very excited when their name is called. Congratulations to our first recipients!

I hope you all have a wonderful long weekend. See you Tuesday!

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER UPDATES:

Terrace PTC Spirit Wear Store:
Thanks to our amazing PTC, we now have a spirit wear store that is open for business 24-7. If you click here, you can view the items for sale and can make a purchase any time you would like. All items will be shipped directly to you. If you have any questions, please reach out to our PTC.

Dismissal:
Pickup at dismissal time continues to improve. Please understand that unfortunately our supervisors are not out there to direct traffic. They are there to help your children get into your vehicles safely and quickly. It is up to you, our community members, to be safe and patient as you wait for your students. Please, I ask you to be patient with us but also with one another. There is no rush to get into the front circle. If you follow the directions below, we will get your children to you more quickly with each passing day. Here are some way you can help us do that:

• Display the laminated sign you all should have received from your teacher. If you did not receive a sign, please contact your teacher to let them know.
• DO NOT wait or stand in front of a community member's driveway. The Des Plaines Police Department has asked me to remind you of this.
• Please do not double park on Westgate, get out of your car, and walk up to the front. If you want to park and get your child, please park in our parking lot.
• Do not drive to the left of the cars in the circle drive in order to leave the circle. This is dangerous and can hurt someone. Please be patient if the person in front of you is still loading their car.
• If your child is not outside when you drive up, you should leave the circle and make another pass. Please do not wait and hold up the line behind you.
• Remember, if you want to park and get out of your car to pick up your child, please tell your child to leave out of door 3 (blacktop door) so you can meet them there. We do not want to have too many people congregating in the front of the school at dismissal time.

Bus Drivers Needed:
We invite those interested to apply with First Student and join their team as a school bus driver.
Those interested can apply in one of two ways:

1. https://workatfirst.com/ and put in zip code 60007 when prompted
2. text 60007 to Buses (28737)

Incentives include:

• $21-22.50/HR Starting wage based on experience
• Paid training
• $2,500 - $3,000 sign-on Bonus/retention bonus (based on experience)
• Eight paid holidays
• Weekly pay
• Guaranteed 20 hours/week
• Free college opportunities

For more information, please contact Rick Walters with First Student at (847) 635-9877 x 209.

Right At School: 
If you are looking for before or after school care, please click here for more information.

School Breakfast & Lunch:
School breakfast and lunch will be free again this year. 

Congratulations to these terrific Terrace students for setting a positive example of what it means to be safe, to be respectful, and to be responsible. Congratulations also to Ms. Stearn's class for earning the Courageous Cardinal this week. Way to go!

​Terrace Families,

Thank you to all those who were able to attend Curriculum Night virtually. Most of our teachers recorded their sessions, so if you were unable to make it, please reach out them to see if they have a recording that they can share with you.

Today we practiced our safety drills and reviewed common expectations with our students. We practiced two fire drills, two severe weather drills, and two lockdown drills. We also reviewed our common expectations in different areas of the building. Our students and staff did an amazing job today, and I couldn't be more proud of them.

​Pickup at dismissal continues to improve. Please understand that unfortunately our supervisors are not out there to direct traffic. They are there to help your children get into your vehicles safely and quickly. It is up to you, our community members, to be safe and patient as you wait for your students. Please, I ask you to be patient with us but also with one another. There is no rush to get into the front circle. If you follow the directions below, we will get your children to you more quickly with each passing day. Here are some way you can help us do that:

• Display the laminated sign you all should have received from your teacher. If you did not receive a sign, please contact your teacher to let them know.
• Please do not double park on Westgate, get out of your car, and walk up to the front. If you want to park and get your child, please park in our parking lot.
• Do not drive to the left of the cars in the circle drive in order to leave the circle. This is dangerous and can hurt someone. Please be patient if the person in front of you is still loading their car.
• If your child is not outside when you drive up, you should leave the circle and make another pass. Please do not wait and hold up the line behind you.
• Remember, if you want to park and get out of your car to pick up your child, please tell your child to leave out of door 3 (blacktop door) so you can meet them there. We do not want to have too many people congregating in the front of the school at dismissal time.

Thank you for your continued patience and for working with us.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER UPDATES:

Terrace PTC Spirit Wear Store:
Thanks to our amazing PTC, we now have a spirit wear store that is open for business 24-7. If you click here, you can view the items for sale and can make a purchase any time you would like. All items will be shipped directly to you. If you have any questions, please reach out to our PTC.

Bus Drivers Needed:
We invite those interested to apply with First Student and join their team as a school bus driver.
Those interested can apply in one of two ways:

1. https://workatfirst.com/ and put in zip code 60007 when prompted
2. text 60007 to Buses (28737)

Incentives include:

• $21-22.50/HR Starting wage based on experience
• Paid training
• $2,500 - $3,000 sign-on Bonus/retention bonus (based on experience)
• Eight paid holidays
• Weekly pay
• Guaranteed 20 hours/week
• Free college opportunities

For more information, please contact Rick Walters with First Student at (847) 635-9877 x 209.

Vaccine Clinic:
A friendly reminder: District 62 is once again partnering with the Illinois Department of Public Health to host a vaccine clinic open to those aged 12 and older. All members of the community are welcome. For those coming in for your first vaccine, we will assist you with making an appointment for your second vaccine. The clinic dates are as follows:

3 p.m. to 7 p.m., August 30, Chippewa Middle School, 128 N. 8th Avenue, Des Plaines 
3 p.m. to 7 p.m., September 1, Algonquin Middle School, 767 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines

To schedule the appointment at Chippewa, call (847) 824-1503. To schedule the appointment at Algonquin, call (847) 824-1205.

The Pfizer vaccine will be available for those 12 years of age and over and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available for those 18 years of age and over.
 
Can't make this event? Find a clinic near you by visiting www.coronavirus.illinois.gov

​Hotline: 1-833-621-1284

Right At School: 
If you are looking for before or after school care, please click here for more information.

School Breakfast & Lunch:
School breakfast and lunch will be free again this year. 

Very fun recess today!!

Terrace Families,

What an exciting first week of school! It has been so wonderful to see all of our students back in school in person. Additionally, we welcomed our brand new kindergarten students this week. They are really enjoying getting to know our school.

Next Friday we will be practicing our safety drills and reviewing common expectations with our students. We will practice fire drills, severe weather drills, and lockdown drills. Our goal is not to scare our students, however we do want to teach them what to do in these situations that hopefully will never arise. If you have questions about these drills, you can ask your child's teacher.

Next Thursday, August 26 will be Virtual Curriculum Night. Like last year, grade level teams will invite you to a Zoom meeting where you will learn about what a typical day will look like and the different content areas that will be taught. We will have three sessions. Session 1 will be from 5:30 - 5:50, session 2 will be from 5:50 - 6:10, and session 3 will be from 6:10 - 6:30. The first session will be dedicated to our classroom teachers. Session 2 will be dedicated to our specials teachers, and session 3 will be a repeat of session 1 with our classroom teachers. We realize some families have more than one student here, so that is why we will give you two opportunities to hear from the teachers. This is how we did this when we could have you here in person. Early next week I will email a schedule and the Zoom links to all of you.

​I wanted to take this opportunity to remind all of you that we are still working to get our dismissal time down by a few minutes. This usually takes the first couple of weeks of school, but we want to get your children to your vehicles as quickly as possible. Here are some way you can help us do that:

• Display the laminated sign you all should have received from your teacher. If you did not receive a sign, please contact your teacher to let them know.
• Please do not double park on Westgate, get out of your car, and walk up to the front. If you want to park and get your child, please park in our parking lot.
• Do not drive to the left of the cars in the circle drive in order to leave the circle. This is dangerous and can hurt someone. Please be patient if the person in front of you is still loading their car.
• If your child is not outside when you drive up, you should leave the circle and make another pass. Please do not wait and hold up the line behind you.
• Remember, if you want to park and get out of your car to pick up your child, please tell your child to leave out of door 3 (blacktop door) so you can meet them there. We do not want to have too many people congregating in the front of the school at dismissal time.

Thank you for your continued patience and for working with us. Hopefully by next week's end we will have our system down so we can have dismissal done in a shorter amount of time.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER UPDATES:

Summer Workbooks:
Students present at the end of last school year received a summer workbook that was designed to support math and reading skill-building at their current grade level. The goal was for every student to complete at least 75% of the workbook before he/she returned to school this August. Students who completed at least 75% of their workbook will be recognized by me and their classroom teacher, and they will receive a certificate of completion. These workbooks will be due to the classroom teacher next Friday, August 27, 2021.

Right At School: 
If you are looking for before or after school care, please click here for more information.

School Breakfast & Lunch:
School breakfast and lunch will be free again this year. 

A couple of happy fourth graders during the first week of school!

Terrace Families,

I am extremely excited that in a few short days from now your children will be coming back to school for the 2021-2022 school year! We have been very busy planning for their return, and we are optimistic that this year will see all of us feeling more of a sense of normalcy here at school. I wanted to take this opportunity to briefly highlight all the mitigation strategies and procedures we will be employing at the start of school so you and your children have an idea of what to expect. Please read the following closely:

• The wearing of face masks is required for all students and staff when inside the building at all times except for when eating or drinking. Masks do not need to be worn outside.
• There will no longer be the need for you to certify your students each morning.
• We will not be temperature-screening upon arrival any longer.
• When students have symptoms, please keep them home out of an abundance of caution.
• Hand sanitizing and hand washing is important and will be frequent in school.
• Social distancing will be 3 feet or more in the classroom and no less than 6 feet during lunch.
• We will continue to contact trace virus-related cases involving staff and students. In situations where individuals are not vaccinated but all contacts involved are wearing masks, they are not required to quarantine as long as other mitigation measures are in place (i.e. social distancing, cleaning, etc.). Quarantined children will be provided with a packet of learning (hard copy or digital) to engage in from their home and they may be able to check in with a teacher as needed. We expect students who test COVID-19 negative to return to school as quickly as possible.
• There will be paid bus service this school year.
• All students (walkers and those being dropped off) will enter only the main entrance Door #1 (except those riding buses, who will enter Door #9) upon arrival to school. Like last year, they will come directly inside and wait outside of their classrooms.
• For dismissal, we will have the same procedure as last year. Walkers will go out the side Door #3 off of the blacktop. Students whose families are parking and walking up for pickup will also go out Door #3. Students getting picked up in the front circle will exit the main entrance Door #1. Students riding buses will exit Door #9.
• Currently no visitors are permitted inside the school except for the office. For the time being, events such as Curriculum Night will be virtual (more information will be communicated to you in a week or two from the teachers).
• Students will travel to their specials classes this year as long as at least 3 feet of social distancing can be maintained. In cases where that is not possible, specials will go to teach in those particular classrooms.

Although these strategies will be in place to help keep our students and staff safe they are less restrictive than last year and will enable us to do much more as we would in a typical school year. I even plan to resume my principal lunches with students, and I cannot wait!

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER UPDATES:

Supply Drop-Off:
At the end of last year, we had hoped to be able to have Supply Drop-Off in-person this year. However, out of an abundance of caution, we will still have Supply Drop-Off, but we will do a drive-through version so that students do not have to carry all of their supplies to school on the first day. Supply Drop-Off will take place on Tuesday, August 17 between 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. As a reminder, please arrive through the front circle drive right off of Westgate Road. We ask that you clearly label the bags with your child(ren)’s name and homeroom teacher (as I shared in my last communication, you can find your child(ren)’s classroom teacher for the upcoming year in the D62 Parent Portal). A staff member will come to your vehicle to get the supplies from you. Then they will bring them to the classroom. If you cannot make it during this time, please do not worry. There will be plenty of staff members helping our students as they arrive to school on their first day.

Supply Lists:
If you still need to view our supply lists, please click here.

School Breakfast & Lunch:
School breakfast and lunch will be free again this year. 
​
iPad Return:
All students will receive a brand new iPad and charger for the new school year. Therefore, all returning students will need to bring back their iPads and chargers starting on the first day of school. Within the first few days, we will swap out the old one for the new ones. Returning students who do not bring their old iPad will not receive their new one until it is brought in. New students will receive their devices as soon as we can get them ready. Please be patient as we work to do that.

Staffing Changes:
This year, the following staff members will be joining Terrace:

• Jackie Williams - STEP
• Lisa Butera - Math Intervention
• Agnes Pondo - Reading Intervention
• David Lynch - Literacy
• Melissa Dane - Speech (1 day per week)

Summer Workbooks - Students present at the end of last school year received a summer workbook that was designed to support math and reading skill-building at their current grade level. The goal was for every student to complete at least 75% of the workbook before he/she returned to school this August. Soon after school starts, students who completed at least 75% of their workbook will be recognized by their teacher and principal, and they will receive a certificate of completion. Please hold on to the workbooks until your teacher asks for them to be brought in so their completion can be recorded. We will then send it back to you when we have seen them. Thank you!

Terrace Families,

I have had a difficult time putting into words how to sum up this school year. I have written several versions of this final weekly message of 2020-2021, and I have had to delete and start over several times. I have finally realized that what I really want to do is something far more simpler than that. I want to express my gratitude.

I am grateful for the Terrace staff. All of them. Every adult in this building, including our dedicated substitutes and our lunch server, have gone above and beyond to help create a safe and healthy learning environment for our students. I have been in awe of what they have accomplished in what will likely go down as the most difficult school year of their lives.

I am grateful for our amazing students. Whether they learned in person or remotely, our students demonstrated that they have a lot of grit and determination and talent. They wore their masks, kept their distance, and followed all of our new rules. They showed us that they can adapt and change much easier than we could have hoped for, and I am so proud of each and every one of them.

I am grateful to work in District 62, where were have been one of the only school districts in our surrounding area to have all of our students coming to school in person each and every day if they wanted to. It was truly a heroic effort to make that happen, but we did it, and I am proud of what we were able to accomplish for our students.

Finally, I am grateful for all of you, our Terrace families. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigated this challenging school year together. As we had to change how we did business, you had to change your expectations as well. We could not have gotten through this year without one another, and I appreciate all of your support of me and my staff. Thank you.

I wish your families a very safe and healthy summer. Enjoy your time together, and try to appreciate the little things in life. Take good care.

Dr. Stein

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER UPDATES:

Grade Levels 2021-2022:
Kindergarten - Mrs. Nielsen
1st Grade - Mrs. O'Brien & Mrs. Schaefer
2nd Grade - Mrs. Sharko & Ms. Stearns
3rd Grade - Mrs. Ales & Mrs. Hanstad
4th Grade - Mrs. Djurdjevic & Mr. Hurwitz
5th Grade - Mr. Becker

Staffing Changes:
Next year, the following staff members will be joining Terrace:

• Jackie Williams - STEP
• Lisa Butera - Math Intervention
• Nadia Qazi - Reading Intervention
• David Lynch - Literacy
• Melissa Dane - Speech (1 day per week)

*A special thank you to Ms. Frandria, who will be moving on from Terrace next school year. I can't thank her enough for all of her hard work with our students this year, and on behalf of the Terrace staff, I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors. I would also like to thank Mr. Patenaude, who did a wonderful job keeping our kiddos active this year. He will be assigned elsewhere in the district next year, and we wish him the best of luck.

Summer Workbooks - Each student will be receiving a summer workbook that will support math and reading skill-building at their current grade level. Our goal is for every student to complete at least 75% of the workbook before he/she returns to school in August. Soon after school starts again in August, students who completed at least 75% of their workbook will be recognized by their teacher and principal, and they will receive a certificate of completion. Please hold on to the workbooks until August so you can send them back in so their completion can be recorded. We will then send it back to you when we have seen them. Thank you!

Summer Food Distribution:
D62 will distribute boxes of meals to last for two weeks on Monday, May 24, 2021 at Algonquin Middle School from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We will then take a month-long hiatus whereupon food service will resume on Monday, June 28, 2021. 
The summer schedule will include the distribution of meal boxes for two weeks being distributed between 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m at Algonquin Middle School on:

• Monday, June 28, 2021
• Monday, July 12, 2021
• Monday July 26, 2021
• Monday, August 9, 2021

Meal distribution is available to Maine West during the month of June.  ​

Online Registration:
Please do not forget that registration for 2021-2022 is also open for all new kindergarteners, new students, and for our returning students. Please take the time to register when you have a few moments. If you have any questions about the registration process, please contact Mrs. Bojarski before June 14 at 847-824-1501.

Clapping out our fifth graders on the final day of elementary school for them. We will miss them and wish them the best of luck in middle school.