This week we celebrated National Teacher Appreciation Week. I cannot begin to describe to you the hard work and dedication that our teachers have demonstrated this year. No teacher, anywhere in the world, was ever trained to teach during a global pandemic. Their jobs changed radically. All of a sudden last March they could not enter their school to teach their students. They had to learn on the fly how to teach solely over Zoom with electronic devices. They had to figure out how to meet the needs of students who did not have Internet. They had to plan how to get all of their students' school supplies back to all of you in a safe way. All of this while also worrying if and how the pandemic would impact them and their loved ones.
Fast-forward to this past fall, and teachers had to figure out how to teach their students both who were in person AND remote...at the same time. Let me just tell you that our teachers now can make this look easy. However, it is far from simple. There has been so much to learn and manage so they could execute sound instruction that meets the needs of their students right in front of them as well as at home. The amount of time they have dedicated, outside of the school day, to plan sound lessons for your children is staggering. Terrace teachers didn't sit back and let the pandemic alter their creativity and expertise. They worked hard to figure out a way to engage their students regardless of where they were learning. Simply put...the Terrace staff has been amazing.
Our families and community have been extremely patient and gracious with us this past year. I cannot thank you enough for your support of my staff during this very challenging school year. I am so very proud of the teaching staff at Terrace, as they met this challenge head-on, always keeping your children and their social-emotional and academic growth at the forefront of every decision over the course of this school year. Your children mean everything to them, and they have all gone above and beyond to show them, and you, how much they care.
Please join me in thanking them, as we are all very fortunate to have such a fantastic staff teaching our students.
Here are a few other updates:
A new Terrace Times is linked at the top of this page.
Next week on Friday, May 14, two of our third grade students will be Friday Forecasters on the WGN 6:00 a.m news. A little after 6:30, Adam and Alex Zaabel will be interviewed by weatherman Paul Konrad. Shortly thereafter, the boys will give the weather forecast using the data from our Weatherbug weather station that sits atop the roof of our school. WGN is a Weatherbug partner, and Terrace is a Weatherbug school. I cannot wait to see the boys representing Terrace on the WGN News. I hope you tune in!
Field Day is right around the corner, on Friday, May 21. I have emailed a survey to all of our remaining remote families in order to invite their students to join us during their Field Day hour.
Our ABC end-of-year countdown is in full gear! Next week there will be a specific theme day Monday - Friday. Here are the theme days:
Monday, May 10: L - Letter Day (write a friendly letter to someone)
Tuesday, May 11: M - Mismatch Day (wear mismatched clothes)
Wednesday, May 12: N - Nature Day (spend some time outside exploring nature)
Thursday, May 13: O - Outside Day (spend as much time as possible outside)
Friday, May 14: P - Pajama Day (wear comfy pjs)
All LMC books are due back next Friday, May 14th. Please help your child(ren) locate any books, and return them to Terrace as soon as you can.
This year, although we are not having PTC meetings or events in person, the PTC board has still be working behind the scenes with fundraising and in keeping our staff's spirits up. Next year, they will be in need of some additional support, as they are looking for a new treasurer. If interested, please contact the PTC at [email protected].
The PTC Book Fair is back! This time, we are hosting a drive-thru book fair. Mark your calendars for May 19 and May 20 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Families will have a chance to drive through the book fair in front of Terrace. All purchases support our school! A virtual preview event will happen on Seesaw during that week. All students that complete a wish list are entered into a raffle to win FREE BOOKS! Please contact Heather Giver with questions at [email protected].
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.
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 May 03. Congrats to the students who have been recognized this week!
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, May 26 - 27 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
- May 26 - Grades K-2 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- May 27 - 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.