Each day I do many walkthroughs into our classrooms. It allows me to see what our students are working on, ask them questions about their learning, and it helps me to better know our teachers' instructional styles. This week I was impressed by how well our students are utilizing their technology skills in their learning. Aside from knowing how to use Seesaw and Zoom, I observed our students creating presentations on their iPads and then using them to present to their classmates. In second grade, for example, I watched some presentations that students created on their devices but then also displayed for their classmates to see. I also sat in with some third graders as they created presentations about the planets in our solar system. These presentations included editing and using music and other effects in their presentations. It was refreshing to see our students leveraging their available technology in innovative ways outside of the new ways that they have had to adjust to this past year. Your children are resilient and extremely creative and talented, and sometimes we see that come out more in what they create through using their technology tools. So, kudos to them, and kudos to our amazing staff for teaching them these important 21st century skills!
In-person families, to the extent possible, it is important that if your student is an in-person student that they come to school in person each day unless they are sick or in quarantine. We have many families who are just opting to keep their children home remotely here and there, and the back and forth does cause a disruption to the teachers' ability to plan and teach accordingly. We realize that sometimes there are extenuating circumstances, but please do your best to send your children to school every school day unless they have symptoms or are in quarantine. Thank you in advance for working with us.
Our second language students completed ACCESS testing this week, and we are extremely proud of their perseverance and effort. Next week our 3rd - 5th graders will begin the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), which will begin on Tuesday, April 20.
Don't forget that PTC spring spiritwear orders went home in materials bags last week as well as the Dutch Mill Bulbs order forms. Please consider supporting our PTC, as they use any funds they receive to help improve our school for our students and staff. As an example, they just recently purchased new folding tables, which the PTC has used for book fairs, Terrace Toyland, and many other events that they host at Terrace. We thank them for that, and we look forward to the future when we can hopefully get back to having those events in person again at Terrace.
Remember, if you, your student, or anyone in your family is struggling in any way, please know we are here to help you and support you. You can reach out to me directly or to Mrs. Greenwood, our social worker. We are here to help you if you need it.
PLEASE READ THESE OTHER IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
Cardinal Call-Outs:
On Fridays we acknowledge our students who consistently demonstrate our expected behaviors (Be Safe, Be Ready, and Be Responsible). Please click here to view our Cardinal Call Outs for the week of April 12. Congrats to the students who have been recognized this week!
Upcoming Assessments:
IAR (3rd - 5th) - April 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29
Please remember that these assessments will only be administered to our in-person students. The assessments cannot be administered remotely, so our district will not be mandating that remote students come to school in person to take them. On school days where in-person students will be testing, our remote students will engage in asynchronous learning during the testing period. That information will be communicated to you by the teachers when the testing dates get closer.
Quarantine Expectations:
If your child is required to quarantine for any reason, they are expected to join their classroom remote learning session for the entire day. If the student is sick and unable to attend remote classes, please call the office to report the absence.
New IDPH Guidelines:
The daily D62 Student Self Certification Forms have been updated to reflect the new IDPH guidelines. Runny nose, congestion, and abdominal pain are no longer considered COVID symptoms and have been removed from the form. Students will not be excluded from school for these isolated symptoms.
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. As of right now, 58% of Terrace families have registered for next year. 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 in the office at 847-824-1501.
Materials Pickup:
Our next pickup will be Thursday and Friday, April 22 - 23 from 4:00 - 6:00. Your teachers will send you reminders when these dates get closer. If you cannot make one of the timeframes listed below, we will do our best to work with you. Please contact your child's teacher(s) or the main office to arrange an alternative time. Please see the information below for your planning:
- Schedule
- April 22 - Grades K-2 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- April 23 - Grades 3- 5 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- Procedures
- Families will pull up in the front circle in their cars. Please do not walk-up to the building.
- Cars should have signs with student names and teacher names clearly visible for staff to see easily.
- Staff will bring new materials to car and collect prior materials along with the bags you initially received.
- For families with multiple students, you can pick up materials on one day. That day will be the day you pick up for the youngest sibling.
Food Distribution:
Boxes containing meals for a week will be distributed every Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Algonquin Middle School. Should you not be able to pick up meals at that time, you may call the kitchen office at (847) 789-5630 on Wednesdays between 11:00 a.m. and noon to arrange for the pick up of emergency boxes.
Meals will be provided to any child (age 18 and under), regardless of financial need. Child(ren) does (do) not have to be present when picking up meals. Transportation will not be provided.
We appreciate our partnership with Arbor Management in continuing food service to our students.
D62 Technology:
The District Technology Department is pleased to announce they have expanded their technology support hours into the evenings on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Families are encouraged to email [email protected] during this time or call the tech helpline at 847-824-8115 and leave a message to generate a help desk ticket. A member of the technology team will answer help desk tickets in the order they are received during the evening support hours.