First Days of School
We had a wonderful 2.5 days of school this week. Everyone is settled in and engaged in learning. Our new food service program, Organic Life, has been very well received by students with many positive comments about the fresh salads. We ended our week today with our annual Welcome Back to School assembly where we introduced new teachers, recognized our new 1st graders, and also recognized any new student who has just joined our Prairie family. Parker the Prairie Dog sadly had another engagement this morning and was not able to attend our assembly but he'll be here again soon.
We had a wonderful 2.5 days of school this week. Everyone is settled in and engaged in learning. Our new food service program, Organic Life, has been very well received by students with many positive comments about the fresh salads. We ended our week today with our annual Welcome Back to School assembly where we introduced new teachers, recognized our new 1st graders, and also recognized any new student who has just joined our Prairie family. Parker the Prairie Dog sadly had another engagement this morning and was not able to attend our assembly but he'll be here again soon.
Bus Note
Clarification
Please read
carefully and help us to keep all of our boys and girls at Prairie safe. Thank you so much for your support
and understanding. Our main objective is
to make sure that your children are safe and accounted for at all times.
Our District 96 Transportation Policy has become more specific in a few ways:
- A daily written note will continue to be required when changes occur.
- Emails to office staff and teachers will not be accepted because we cannot guarantee they will be read prior to dismissal.
- Phone calls to office staff will not be accepted to change a child's typical routine with the exception of emergencies.
- Riding buses for parties and scouts continues to be not allowed. Play dates are also considered an unacceptable use of transportation resources. With a note sent in your child's backpack in the morning, your child can be claimed at parent pick up to go home with another family. We sincerely appreciate your support in keeping our students safe and accounted for by picking up children at school that have play dates together.
You can find more
information in the Parent/Student Handbook by using this link: Link to
Handbook.
Here is the
transportation excerpt from the Handbook:
Changes to the typical/assigned routine must be
communicated in a daily written note; no email will be accepted. Due to
capacity restrictions, the request will be considered by the building principal
(at the middle-school level, by the Assistant Principal), who will determine
whether there is adequate seating on the bus to accommodate additional riders.
Emergency changes to the typical routine must be communicated by phone call to
the school. Riding an unassigned bus for birthday parties, scouts,
carpools/play dates, etc., is not considered appropriate use of transportation
resources. Permission for such reasons is reserved for emergencies only or
at the discretion of the principal. A
student attending Willow Grove School is not allowed to ride a bus other than
the one to which he or she is assigned, or to get off a bus at a stop other
than his or her assigned bus stop under any circumstances.
9.4-a. Removal of a Child from the Bus. Parents
may not remove their child from the bus if the bus is at a location other than
at the child's assigned bus stop. In the event of a delay or malfunction, bus
drivers are not authorized to release students to parents. Only the building
administrator may allow students to be released from a bus route, and then only
to the child's parent or guardian. The
bus company will send another bus to continue the route.
A Note from Mrs. Williams ~ Band Director5th grade students are eligible to join the school band this year! I was at Prairie yesterday to talk to the students in their music classes about band and demonstrate the different instruments of the band for them. Tuesday, September 4, they will also have the opportunity to actually try playing several instruments (fun!), to see if they like it, and find what instrument they might be most successful on. Students that find that they are successful when trying an instrument may decide to join the band this year! Yesterday students were given more detailed information about how to join band. If you did not see this flyer, all of this information is on my webpage, which you can access from the Prairie School website. There will be an informational meeting for 5th grade parents to find out more about this musical opportunity, and how to rent an instrument, on Tuesday evening, Sept. 4, at 7:00 p.m. at Woodlawn Middle School. The actual Beginning Band Registration night will be from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6 at Twin Groves Middle School. Who knows, your child may be a star as we 'Strike Up the Band' this year at Prairie!
Plan ahead to DO THE DASH on Sept. 23
Join District 96 families, teachers, and staff for the 2nd annual District 96 Dash. The 5k walk/run will step off from Twin Groves Middle School, 2600 N. Buffalo Grove Rd., at 8:30 a.m. on Sun., Sept. 23. REGISTER ONLINE (each registered runner and walker will receive a T-shirt) and mark your calendar for this fun family activity that all ages will enjoy. All the PTOs in District 96 are working together to sponsor this event and will donate the proceeds to the District 96 Kids in Need Fund. If you are unable to run, please consider making a DONATION.
**Please know that THE DASH is a separate event from Prairie's Schoolyard Scamper.
PTO Happenings
The Prairie PTO is looking forward to seeing all families at the Back-to-School Bash on September 6th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. Don't miss this great opportunity to mingle with friends and enjoy some delicious ice cream. Don't forget, Special Lunch orders are due by August 30th. For more PTO news, please check out the PTO newsletter.
Safety Patrol News from Miss Cotter
The Prairie PTO is looking forward to seeing all families at the Back-to-School Bash on September 6th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. Don't miss this great opportunity to mingle with friends and enjoy some delicious ice cream. Don't forget, Special Lunch orders are due by August 30th. For more PTO news, please check out the PTO newsletter.
Safety Patrol News from Miss Cotter
Safety Patrol will soon be up and running! We are currently finalizing our patrols and Safety Patrol schedules for the year. If your child applied to be on Safety Patrol at the end of last school year, he or she has received their letter of acceptance as of August 24. If your child would still like to apply, there are a few spots still open! Please see Miss Cotter for application forms.
Our first Safety Patrol meeting will be during the first week of September with patrols starting the following week. Look for informational paperwork coming home with your patrol member during the last week of August.
Safe Snack List
District 96 has posted a Safe Snack List on each school's homepage. Please refer to this list when providing birthday treats for your child's classroom. Some classrooms at Prairie have a specific safe snack list. If your child is a member of an allergen restricted classroom, please refer to the safe snack list on the teacher's webpage. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Evans, school nurse. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in creating a safe environment for all of our students.
Safe Snack List
District 96 has posted a Safe Snack List on each school's homepage. Please refer to this list when providing birthday treats for your child's classroom. Some classrooms at Prairie have a specific safe snack list. If your child is a member of an allergen restricted classroom, please refer to the safe snack list on the teacher's webpage. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Evans, school nurse. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in creating a safe environment for all of our students.
Important Dates
Tuesday, August 28th - Grades 1 - 3 Curriculum Night from 6:30pm - 7:30pm, Parents only please
Wednesday, August 29th - Grades 4 & 5 Curriculum Night from 6:30pm - 7:30pm, Parents only please
Monday, September 3rd - Labor Day, No School
Thursday, September 6th - PTO Back to School Blow Out - Enjoy ice cream & dancing
Monday, September 17th - Rosh Hashanah - No School
Wednesday, September 19th - PTO General meeting at 9:30am
