Principal's Message 2.17.12

NWEA MAP Test Scores 

MAP Test Scores will be coming home today, Friday, February 17th.  Accompanying your child's reading and math scores is a letter explaining the assessment for each grade level.

Students that were identified as needing additional formal intervention based on winter assessment scores also received a letter indicating the type of service recommended. L.E.A.P. and Reading Support are both Tier 2 interventions, or interventions that are provided in addition to classroom instruction.  Based on children’s assessment data, some students qualify for L.E.A.P., a reading intervention offered two days a week, or Reading Support, which is available four days a week.  Educators continue to review students’ assessment data after each testing period to determine if either support is needed.

The children who received formal intervention since the fall will also receive their data and a letter indicating the need to either continue or discontinue the identified service.  If your child did not bring home an additional letter you can assume that he/she did not qualify for additional interventions at this time.  I remind you that even if you child does not qualify for L.E.A.P. or Reading Support he/she continues to have access to daily intervention in the classroom. 

Upcoming Events

* Incoming 6^th Grade Parent Evening * April 10^th * Twin Groves Cafeteria

Reminders

Please remember to register younger siblings for kindergarten.  The deadline for registration is March 1^st and several families still need to complete the online process. Please contact Mrs. Winston at Willow Grove Kindergarten Center if you have additional questions or concerns. 

PTO Highlight

Pizza Bingo will be on Friday, February 24th at 6pm in the MPR & Gym.  Please go to the  PTO Newsletter to learn more about this exciting event.

Principal's Message 2.10.12

Highlight of the Week

This week we held our Principal's Coffee which focused on Developing Positive Relationships and Behaviors in Your Child.  Miss Sauer shared with parent visitors fun ideas to foster responsibility in children, strategies for making friends, various resources to help expand parent knowledge, and activities to do at home with kids.  I would like to thank Miss Sauer for her excellent presentation.  Our next Principal Coffee will be on the topic of  Applying Technology to Enhance Learning which will be held on Thursday, March 22nd at 9am.  More information will be out shortly.   

Willow Grove Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration should be completed by March 1st.  If you know of any families in the area that have a child of kindergarten age, please pass along this information to them.  

PTO Highlight

Pizza Bingo will be on Friday, February 24th.  Please go to the  PTO Newsletter to learn more about this exciting event.  

Keyboarding Program

District 96 students will begin using Custom Typing, a web based software, with all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students for the remainder of the school year.  This program is a tool that will teach and reinforce keyboarding skills.  Custom Typing focuses on correct finger placement along with increasing speed and accuracy. There is a progression of lessons interspersed with games to encourage practice.  This month, your child will be provided his/her own account and will be able to log in to Custom Typing at school and at home.  Teachers have access to an online resource which will allow them to monitor the progress of each student.


Because Custom Typing is a web based program, there is no software to be installed, and a student can use the program from any computer with an Internet connection.  There will be keyboarding homework.  If you do not have access to the Internet at home, please let your child's classroom teacher know and we will work together to provide your child the practice they need.


Keyboarding skills for all students are increasingly important.  As we increase the amount of technology available to students daily in the classroom, more teachers are using internet and software based vehicles for instruction such as Google Docs, Edmodo, Google Blogger, and Word to name a few.  With this increase in technology use, it only makes sense to increase students' skills in keyboarding.  In the near future, state exams will require students to complete extended writing responses via computer and type their essays in a single sitting.  It is our goal to ensure that the mechanical skills required to do so are not a barrier for students' effective and clear communication.

Parent Opportunities

Incoming 6^th Grade Parent Evening * April 10^th * Twin Groves Cafeteria.  More information to follow.  

Pennies for Patients
Pennies for Patients officially started today.  We've had wonderful donations so far.  The penny drive will continue through February 21st with all donations going to the Leukemia Society.  The Student Council has set a "meets" goal of $750.00 and an "exceeds" goal of $1,000.00  No donation is too small.  Thank you for helping our students contribute to this philanthropic activity and developing their sense of helping others and good citizenship.

Valentine’s Day Parties

Students are looking forward to celebrating Valentine’s Day Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 PM.  While we would like to accommodate everyone, only those parents that have signed up to help at the party through the classroom room parent are able to attend in the afternoon.  If you are signed up to volunteer and you have not already scanned your license through the RAPTOR security system we recommend that you do so before Tuesday.  This will ensure that you badge is printed for you when you arrive on Tuesday.   

2.3.12

Highlight of the Week
This week the Prairie staff hosted two school districts for our February 1st Professional Learning Community (PLC) visit.  School District #1 from Bismarck, North Dakota and The Milton School District from Milton, Wisconsin spent the entire day at Prairie learning about the great work we do every day.  We took them on a virtual tour through data depicting the achievement gains District 96 has made since becoming a PLC.  Our visitors attended two team meetings that were rich in data discussions which informed instructional planning for the upcoming week.  They were also able to tour 1st grade Team Read and 4th grade intervention block time where they learned how our staff flexibly groups students for reteaching and extension teaching for each target.  Our visitors were very enthusiastic about what they saw and learned on Wednesday.  They shared:  

• "I can tell everyone is well invested in making this all work!"
• "You can tell teachers 'walk the talk' and aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves."
• "What a wonderful day.  I learned so much to take back!  Thank you for the opportunity."
• "This visit was fabulous.  Lots of info and materials that are useful!"
• "Obvious how much you all care.  Very impressive group.  Your knowledge is infectious."   

... and many other positive comments.


I would like to thank Mrs. Lanie Spivack, Miss Suzy Cotter, and Miss Stacey Steinberg for being a part of the Prairie PLC presentation team and helping to make this visit such a wonderful success.   


Positively Prairie Program Parent Feedback

We have been working with and growing our Positively Prairie Program for half the school year.  Students have been very excited about the program's focus on expected behaviors and good manners and they most certainly enjoy the WOW slips they receive as positive reinforcement for being kind, respectful, responsible, and ready.  Our Friday announcements are lots of fun listening to our theme song, Who Let the Dogs Out, play over the P.A. as students names are read during announcements.  We have had fun and exciting assemblies this year as well which are conducted by our Positively Prairie Student Leadership Team.  The Positively Prairie Committee would like your feedback regarding the program.  Please take a few minutes to complete the Positively Prairie Parent Survey so your input can be taken into account as we move forward with the program.  Thank you!

Please RSVP

Are you planning on attending the upcoming Principal's Coffee focusing on Developing Positive Relationships and Behaviors in Your Child on Monday, February 6th at 9:00am or 6:30pm?  If so, please respond through our electronic RSVP.  If you are unable to access the RSVP, please email Dr. Pfaff, cpfaff@kcsd96.org, with your reply.  We look forward to seeing you soon. 

PTO Highlight

Pizza Bingo will be on Friday, February 24th.  Please go to the  PTO Newsletter to learn more about this exciting event.  

Thank You to PTO Staff Appreciation Committee

Prairie teachers and staff send out a big thank you to the Staff Appreciation Committee for wonderful luncheon on Thursday.  We appreciate the time and energy that went into preparing this wonderful meal for us!   

Pennies for Patients

This year the Student Council has dedicated its fundraising efforts to the Leukemia Society through the Pennies for Patients Fund Drive.  The Pennies for Patients Fund Drive will officially start on February 10th and end on February 21st.    

Students are asked to bring in change or cash to support this great cause.  Students will be coming home today with a change bank to hold money for the fund drive and may start bringing coins and bills in on February 10^th.  A thoughtful way to help your student raise money for this project is by doing chores.  Looking in couch cushions, cars, dryers, and on the tops of dressers, could produce some loose change too.  Students may wish to ask friends and family for a donation as well.  Do not engage in door-to-door solicitation.  

The Student Council set a "meets" goal, which is to raise $750.00.  Our "exceeds" goal is $1,000.00.  If you would like to give a check from your family or business, please   

make it out to "Prairie Activity Fund" and we will write one check from the school to the Leukemia Foundation.  With your help, this will be a very exciting and rewarding campaign.

New Food Service Options for Elementary Schools

2^nd Entrée

As of February 1^st, students will have the opportunity to purchase a 2^nd entrée (i.e., the main course only) at a price of $1.25.  This option is available only after first purchasing or obtaining a complete Type A Meal (Full price = $2.60).  Students previously had only the option to purchase an entire 2^nd meal (i.e., entrée, sides and beverage) for $2.60.  Just as with the purchase of an entire 2^nd meal, the student will need to return to the serving line to purchase the 2^nd entrée.  The cashier will have the student complete a logbook entry in which he or she will check off the additional item purchased and sign off on the entry.

Limited A la Carte Offerings

Elementary students will also now have a limited a la carte menu available to them for an additional charge starting in February.  Aramark will display a la carte menu signage and work to educate the children, emphasizing that the items on the snack table are considered “extra” and should be purchased only if the child has obtained parent permission to do so.  The items to be offered are shown below.  Students may purchase them through the normal serving line.  If a child who brought lunch from home wishes to supplement his or her meal with an a la carte item, the child may go through the serving line to do so.  As students who bring their own lunch may not have their lunch ID cards available to them once in the cafeteria, those purchasing an a la carte item will also be asked to complete a logbook entry, checking off the extra item(s) purchased and signing off on the entry.

Please discuss these new options with your child and feel free to contact the Food Service Department at 847-325-2592 if you have any questions or concerns.

Elementary a la Carte Items

Teddy Grahams.........................................0.80

Whole Grain Cereal Bars..........................0.50

Mozzarella Cheese Stick...........................0.60

Baked Gold Fish.......................................0.65

Danimals Yogurt.......................................0.65

Red-Fat Otis Muffins (Asst. Flavors)........0.75

Honey Pretzel Twist .................................0.90

Rold Gold Mini Twists..............................0.90

Principal's Message 1.27.12

Highlight of the Week

This past Wednesday, the 5th graders gave their final whole class choral concert.  The Sound of Music was a wonderful production with many of our 5th graders giving solo or duet performances on the piano and through song.  The performance was very well attended.  Thank you to all the parents, grandparents, and other family members that came out to see the students perform.  A huge thank you to Mr. Dan Nagle for his creative vision and direction of our young performers.


MAP Testing
Students in grades 2 - 5 took the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) reading assessment this week.  Next week, students in grades 2 - 5 will take the math portion of the assessment.  During the week of February 6th, first graders will take both the reading and math assessments.  As you recall, teachers use the results of these assessments to examine students' growth over time.  We look forward to sharing your child's results with you in the near future.  If you have any questions regarding MAP testing, please contact your child's teacher.

PTO Highlight

Please go to the  PTO Newsletter to learn about upcoming PTO events.  

Parent Presentation
On Thursday, February 2nd, District 96 will be presenting Understanding 21st Century Learning.  We look forward to seeing you at Twin Groves at 7:00pm.   

Please RSVP

Are you planning on attending the upcoming Principal's Coffee focusing on Developing Positive Relationships and Behaviors in Your Child on Monday, February 6th at 9:00am or 6:30pm?  If so, please respond through our electronic RSVP.  We look forward to seeing you soon.   

New Food Service Options for Elementary Schools

2^nd Entrée

As of February 1^st, students will have the opportunity to purchase a 2^nd entrée (i.e., the main course only) at a price of $1.25.  This option is available only after first purchasing or obtaining a complete Type A Meal (Full price = $2.60).  Students previously had only the option to purchase an entire 2^nd meal (i.e., entrée, sides and beverage) for $2.60.  Just as with the purchase of an entire 2^nd meal, the student will need to return to the serving line to purchase the 2^nd entrée.  The cashier will have the student complete a logbook entry in which he or she will check off the additional item purchased and sign off on the entry.

Limited A la Carte Offerings

Elementary students will also now have a limited a la carte menu available to them for an additional charge starting in February.  Aramark will display a la carte menu signage and work to educate the children, emphasizing that the items on the snack table are considered “extra” and should be purchased only if the child has obtained parent permission to do so.  The items to be offered are shown below.  Students may purchase them through the normal serving line.  If a child who brought lunch from home wishes to supplement his or her meal with an a la carte item, the child may go through the serving line to do so.  As students who bring their own lunch may not have their lunch ID cards available to them once in the cafeteria, those purchasing an a la carte item will also be asked to complete a logbook entry, checking off the extra item(s) purchased and signing off on the entry.

Please discuss these new options with your child and feel free to contact the Food Service Department at 847-325-2592 if you have any questions or concerns.

Elementary a la Carte Items

Teddy Grahams.........................................0.80

Whole Grain Cereal Bars..........................0.50

Mozzarella Cheese Stick...........................0.60

Baked Gold Fish.......................................0.65

Danimals Yogurt.......................................0.65

Red-Fat Otis Muffins (Asst. Flavors)........0.75

Honey Pretzel Twist .................................0.90

Rold Gold Mini Twists..............................0.90

Principal's Message 1.20.12

MAP Testing

On Monday we will begin administering the Measures of Academic Progress (M.A.P.) assessment to all students.  As you recall, the M.A.P. assessment is administered to students three times a year in the areas of reading and math.  This assessment allows educators to examine students’ progress in these content areas over time.  This assessment is also used to reevaluate students’ need for intervention outside of the regular education classroom.  We look forward to sharing your child’s results with you.  

Willow Grove Kindergarten Registration is Now Open

Kindergarten registration for the 2012-2013  school year began on January 3, 2012.  Students must be 5 years old  on or before September 1, 2012.  Registration will be accepted at Willow Grove Kindergarten and Early Childhood Center between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm when school is in session.  Please bring an original birth certificate (not a copy), travel visa, or passport for the enrolling student.  Additionally please bring two proofs of residency:  tax bill or monthly mortgage statement or current lease agreement AND utility bill or home insurance bill or driver's license.  Any questions please call Willow Grove's Administrative Assistant Sue Winston at 847-541-3660.

Principal Coffee

Our first Principal Coffee presentation will focus on the social-emotional topic Developing Positive Relationships and Behaviors in Your Child. This presentation will occur on Monday, February 6th, at 9am and 6:30pm.  Miss Erin Sauer, Social Worker, and I look forward to seeing you there.

PTO Highlight

The Go Roma fundraiser is this Thursday, January 26th.  Please stop by Go Roma to help raise funds for Prairie School.  Other exciting PTO events can be found in the PTO Newsletter. 

K.I.D.S. Mini-Grant Opportunity

Our students are invited by the District 96 Foundation to be creative and suggest their ideas for making their classrooms and our school a better place to learn. The Foundation is again accepting nominations online for K.I.D.S. mini-grants (Kids Initiating a Difference in School). Please encourage your child to apply. Find the KIDS MINI-GRANT LINK on the front page of the District website. The last day K.I.D.S. mini-grant proposals will be accepted is Monday, January 31st. Questions? Contact Foundation President Wright Chase at wwc11@aol.com.

Family Nutrition Learning Opportunity

Is improving what your family eats one of your New Year’s Resolutions? Nutrition for children is the topic of the daytime Parent-To-Parent Network program next Wednesday., January 18th (9:00 a.m. at Sunset Foods in Long Grove, 2nd floor). If you want more information about this free program featuring dietician Dave Grotto, please call the public info coordinator at 847.459.4260, ext. 7722.

Principal's Message 1.13.12

Highlight of the Week
Today we had our second Positively Prairie assembly of the school year.  The Positively Prairie Student Leadership Team provided our students with positive and negative examples of behaviors that depicted our Positively Prairie tenets of being kind, respectful, responsible, and ready.  Students in the audience watched mini-skits and then applauded for the positive behavior.  Students leaders did a really nice job of illustrating appropriate behaviors.  Also at our assembly today, Parker the Prairie Dog made an exciting appearance dancing and dribbling a basketball to get everyone pumped up.  Mr. Nagle closed our assembly with our beloved Prairie School Song.  


Box Tops for Education
Thanks to all families for saving and sending into school Box Tops for Education.   This week we received a check from Box Tops for $200.  As always, this money goes back into the Student Activity Fund and is used for programs and activities that directly benefit our kids.  Please keep clipping!!  


Willow Grove Kindergarten Registration is Now Open
Kindergarten registration for the 2012-2013  school year began on January 3, 2012.  Students must be 5 years old  on or before September 1, 2012.  Registration will be accepted at Willow Grove Kindergarten and Early Childhood Center between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm when school is in session.  Please bring an original birth certificate (not a copy), travel visa, or passport for the enrolling student.  Additionally please bring two proofs of residency:  tax bill or monthly mortgage statement or current lease agreement AND utility bill or home insurance bill or driver's license.  Any questions please call Willow Grove's Administrative Assistant Sue Winston at 847-541-3660.


K.I.D.S. Mini-Grant Opportunity
Our students are invited by the District 96 Foundation to be creative and suggest their ideas for making their classrooms and our school a better place to learn. The Foundation is again accepting nominations online for K.I.D.S. mini-grants (Kids Initiating a Difference in School). Please encourage your child to apply. Find the KIDS MINI-GRANT LINK on the front page of the District website. The last day K.I.D.S. mini-grant proposals will be accepted is Monday, January 31st. Questions? Contact Foundation President Wright Chase at wwc11@aol.com.


Family Nutrition Learning Opportunity
Is improving what your family eats one of your New Year’s Resolutions? Nutrition for children is the topic of the daytime Parent-To-Parent Network program next Wednesday., January 18th (9:00 a.m. at Sunset Foods in Long Grove, 2nd floor). If you want more information about this free program featuring dietician Dave Grotto, please call the public info coordinator at 847.459.4260, ext. 7722.


Snow and Recess
We finally have some beautiful snow covering our landscape.  Please remember that for students to be able to play in the field when snow is present, they must have snow boots and snow pants.  

The Human Growth and Development Unit 

This annual curricular unit will be taught from January 17th-23rd to all third,  fourth and fifth grade students.  The unit will deal primarily with the informational aspects of human growth and development.  Instruction will be provided by Mrs. Androjna and Mrs. Lehtman.  If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact either of our P.E. teachers.

Principal Coffee

Thank you to all parents who responded to our online Principal Coffee Survey.  Our first presentation will focus on the social-emotional topic Developing Positive Relationships and Behaviors in Your Child. This presentation will occur on Monday, February 6th, at 9am and 6:30pm.  Miss Erin Sauer, Social Worker, and I look forward to seeing you there.

PTO Highlight

Please visit the PTO Newsletter to learn about upcoming PTO events and news. 

Principal's Message 1.6.12

Welcome Back ~ Happy 2012!


Highlight of the Week
It has been so much fun this week hearing about students' winter break adventures.  Many students stayed home and enjoyed relaxation time with family and friends.  Other students enjoyed traveling near and far during the holidays.  The Prairie staff is happy everyone is back safe and sound.


Today we had an assembly featuring The Rope Warrior through the PTO Cultural Arts Program.  This exciting assembly featuring David Fisher conveys a message of positive character, life-long physical fitness, intertwined with amazing rope jumping feats that most of us could only dream of doing.  Be sure to ask your child what their favorite part of today's assembly was as Mr. Fisher's performance was an exciting part of their day.  Thank you PTO Cultural Arts Program for sponsoring this assembly and to all our families and teachers who support the PTO in their work of providing quality programs for our students.


Isn't it supposed to be cold right now?
With our recent unusual weather, please stay tuned into the weather reports in the event temperatures should quickly turn cold.  Students may not need mittens, hats, and warmer coats one day but require them the next.  Please remember that we do have outdoor recess when the temperature &/or wind chill is 10 degrees or higher.  Thank you for helping your child to be properly prepared for morning outdoor line up and recess.

The Human Growth and Development Unit 

This annual curricular unit will be taught from January 17th-23rd to all third,  fourth and fifth grade students.  The unit will deal primarily with the informational aspects of human growth and development.  Instruction will be provided by Mrs. Androjna and Mrs. Lehtman.  If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact either of our P.E. teachers.

Principal Coffee
Thank you to all parents who responded to our online Principal Coffee Survey.  Our first presentation will focus on the social-emotional topic Developing Positive Relationships and Behaviors in Your Child. This presentation will occur on Monday, February 6th, at 9am and 6:30pm.  Miss Erin Sauer, Social Worker, and I look forward to seeing you there.

4th Grade Parent Math Night

4th grade parents districtwide please join us on Wednesday, January 11th at 7pm at Prairie for a presentation from our Math Specialist, Mrs. Arlene Steinberg.

PTO Highlight

Please visit the PTO Newsletter to learn about upcoming PTO events and news. 

Upcoming Choir Concerts

• 5th Grade Choir:  Tuesday, January 24th at 7pm
• 2nd Grade Choir: Tuesday, February 21st at 7pm
• 4th Grade Choir:  Thursday, April 12th at 7pm