HEADLINESSCHOOLBEFORECHAMPIONS&AFTERPROGRAMNEWSLETTER august
should arrive at school no earlier than 8:10 a.m. and be picked up after school no later than 3:15 P.M. If a student is being dropped off or picked up, the driver must adhere to the one-way sign at the entrance of the parking lot. Drivers must NEVER go the wrong way in the parking lot as this is unsafe for students and staff. Thank you for being so cooperative. Safety Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures
Hickory Bend Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 / i Champions is a before and after school care program available to our Brookwood families. Please contact Champions as soon as possible to secure your spot. Space is limited Champions Family Support | Phone: (800) 246-2154 ChampionsHelp@kc-education.comStudents
Student
It is hard to believe that we are on the brink of a new school year. As parents prepare their children for another successful school year, they indeed look at them with love and pride in their hearts. Your children are growing and changing right before your very eyes. Our world is changing just as rapidly! As we enter the new school year, we must remember that we are responsible for our students and community’s success and well-being. We will ensure our students are supported and will reach their highest Ourpotential.district-wide character theme of the month is Determination and Flexibility. As an All-Star Community, let’s agree to see these traits manifest in how we start this school year: adapting to whatever changes may come and striving to succeed despite any Ichallenges.lookforward to a year of growth, success, and memorable times. Let’s Go All-Stars!
“This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will -Taylorchange.”Swift
School Hours Students’ school day is from 8:30 a.m. until 3:10 p.m. Students should not arrive earlier than 8:10 am. Quote of the Month “Education is the passport to the future for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
-Malcolm X Ronisha Dubose rdubose@brookwood167.orgPrincipal
PRINCIPAL’SCORNERFAMILIES,BEND
HICKORYDEAR
01 / Hickory Bend Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022
WELCOME TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Hickory Bend Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 / 02
• All-Star News - Weekly school newsletter that will be sent home on Fridays
ToAttendance/Absences/Tardiesensurethatourstudentsexcel academically, they must attend school daily and be on time. When students are tardy, they miss valuable instruction, primarily in reading and language arts. Attendance will be tied into our school’s PBIS expectations in which students will be able to earn rewards and participate in fun activities. When your child has to be absent, please inform the front office. Our absentee number is 708-757-2115. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (P.B.I.S.) will again be at the core of our climate and culture. We have three (3) goals: Be Safe, Respectful, and Responsible. With our goals front and cen ter in our minds, we plan to enjoy a positive environment in every school area. Challenging thought to consider: How can our three (3) behavior goals make a difference in our student’s behavior outside of school? Let’s help our students remember to Be Safe, Respectful, and Responsible in all walks of life, especially at school. BE SAFE RESPECTFUL RESPONSIBLE
COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION
Positive Behavior Interventions & Support (PBIS)
Our teachers do an excellent job of communicating with families. Here is where you can stay informed proactively:
• School and District Website - www.brookwood167.org
• ClassDojo - It is essential that you sign up for the Principal’s ClassDojo. If you have not already joined, an invitation will be sent to you during the first week of school. To join, you will need either your phone number or email address.
• A phone call or an email is an efficient way to communicate with your child’s teacher. Please remember that our teachers are with students throughout the day and will return the call/email as soon as possible. At times, this may be the next school day.
03 / Hickory Bend Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 ANTI-BULLY PLEDGE... IF MY CHILD IS SICK, WHEN SHOULD I KEEP THEM HOME? When a child can return to school is based on the specific symptom they have. • Fever of 100.4 or higher • New onset of moderate to severe headache • Shortness of breath, new cough, sore throat • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea • Abdominal pain from unknown cause • New congestion/runny nose • New loss of sense of taste or smell • Fatigue from unknown cause • Muscle or body aches If you answer “yes” to any of the above, your child MUST stay home. Please call the school to report your child’s absence (708) 708-757-2115 (Option 1.) If a child has any symptoms listed below, they should stay home in the morning or go home if these symptoms first occur at school. We make a COMMITMENT to stand against bullying. We will treat others with RESPECT and KINDNESS. We will have the COMPASSION to not be a bully. We will have the COURAGE to not be a bystander. It is our RESPONSIBILITY to help others and to report bullying.
MINUTESINSTRUCTIONALPRECIOUS
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
It is crucially important that we maximize instructional time for all students. Instruction begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:10 p.m. on regular dismissal days.
We are excited to announce that Brookwood School District 167 will provide students with a set of school supplies for school and home again this school year! Therefore, there are no school supplies lists. However, if your child needs additional resources, please get in touch with the school office at 708-758-4520.
To be clear, for teachers to begin active instruction at 8:30 a.m., all students must be seated and ready to receive instruction at 8:30 a.m. Our doors open at 8:00 a.m. for students to enter the building, receive optional breakfast (free to all students), and prepare for the day. Our learning environment begins with a calm focus when our students arrive before the start of instruction. Students who enter the classroom after the start of instruction are generally in a hurried rush, slightly discombobulated, and suffer lost learning opportunities. Thus, it is crucially important that all students enter the building promptly and are ready to receive instruction by 8:30 a.m. On the other end of the school day is the opportunity to maximize learning by continuing instruction through 3:10 p.m. Students will not walk out of the building promptly at 3:10 p.m. On the contrary, students will need a few minutes to gather their belongings and safely exit the building. As our student body consists of the youngest students in our district, it is essential to be mindful of the need to be patient as they learn to be both responsible for their belongings and safe during the dismissal process. We promise we won’t tarry unnecessarily! So, please be patient as our dismissal procedures will not begin until 3:10 p.m. Every minute of the instructional day is valuable. While understanding extenuating circumstances, we highly discourage late arrivals and early dismissals. We are here to educate our All-Stars. We appreciate all efforts given by our families to help us protect the precious few instructional minutes we have with our students.
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05 / Hickory Bend Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 TECHNOLOGYHELPLINE All Brookwood teachers use an online grading system called “PowerSchool” that they update every Thursday. POWERSCHOOL If your child is having any technology problems connecting to their teacher’s Google Classroom, please contact our help desk at (708) 300-3553 or email our help helpdesk@brookwood167.orgdesk We encourage you to check your child’s progress regularly. This program is confidential; therefore, you will need an access username and password to see your child’s progress. If you need your username and password, please contact the school office at (708) 758-4520. A PowerSchool app for your cellular phone makes it easy for parents to stay updated on their child’s progress. Please join us for our annual Open House. The Open House will present an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and get to know our staff. You will receive information about Curriculum and Instruction, have a chance to visit the Book Fair, pick up your child’s “home device,” and tour the building. We look forward to seeing all our All-Star Families during Open House. Thursday, September 1st | 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. OPEN HOUSE
• In the importance of staff development opportunities based on best practices and educational research.
• In educating our children in a safe and nurturing environment with access to state-of-the-art technology.
• The school system should teach students to think critically enabling them to become contributing citizens in our global society.
Brookwood School District 167, in partnership with parents and the community, will create a learning environment in which all students excel at becoming lifelong learners and decision-makers.
• In responsible stewardship of financial and physical resources.
STATEMENTVISION
Our overall vision is to improve the achievement of all students, regardless of race, socio-economic status, gender, or ability levels (disabilities). We share the accountability of student achievement throughout the school. We believe in using research-based practices to achieve our goals. We promote school and community involvement because we believe that these partnerships help us meet the needs of all of our students. WE ARE COMMITTED TO 1. Providing students with highly qualified teachers 2. Providing our staff with professional development
• All students are unique and should be challenged to the highest level of academic and artistic excellence.
WE BELIEVE • Families shape their children’s motivation, confidence, and academic success by being interested and involved in their overall development.
Hickory Bend Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 / 06
STATEMENTMISSION
• In continuous improvement in all aspects of the school system to foster a culture of excellence, Accountability, and integrity.
EVERY MOMENT IS A TEACHABLE MOMENT 04 LISTEN TO THEIR HEARTS
FANTASTIC FOUR (4) KEY ITEMS TO CONSIDER FOR THE RETURN TO SCHOOL
01 Staying calm and organized in the morning will help you and your child feel optimistic about the day ahead. It will also help you reduce stress, which is good for everyone’s well-being. One of the best ways to stay calm and get organized is to have an evening preparation routine and a morning routine for school. Starting these routines in the last couple of weeks of summer will promote a smooth transition when it is time to go back to school. Today is a great day to read a book. Starting now, set aside time for reading every day. Encourage reading the world around us (advertisements, billboards, closed captions for their favorite cartoon show, etc.). Trips to the grocery store can be full of practice with numbers at any math level, from recognizing and identifying numbers to calculating the cost per ounce of their favorite juice.
START PRACTICING ROUTINES BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS BACK 02 IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO START READING AND MATH 03 Every day is a new day in our adult lives and our children’s lives. The main difference between the two is usually adults have seen what children realize for the first time. In this way, every moment is a teachable moment. Pause to reflect on the things that seem simple and menial. Ask questions that make your child say, “Hmmm… I think…” to stir their imagination, increase their attentiveness, and show them how to be more reflective. Capitalizing on random moments can quickly add up to a child who becomes thoughtful and aware of the world around them. Is your child excited about going back to school? Do they dread ending summer vacation for a return to the land of academia? What are they worried about? Why are they excited? Start the conversation rolling, so there is time to steer their hearts and minds in the right direction. We all have anxieties about something at some point in life. The Back-to-School season is a big deal for students (and parents). Talking about how everyone feels helps to calm the anxieties so the start of the year can be met with focus and clarity.
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From the mobile app, parents view their child’s feedback, and can message directly with teachers and school leaders. join my ClassDojo so you can stay informed on what is happening at Hickory Bend School. If you would like to join, please accept the invitation that we emailed to you or texted you, or contact the school at (708) 758-4520, email, rdubose@brookwood167.org. All you will need to provide is your cell phone number or email address. INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED! is ClassDojo?
What
GET
Please
Hickory Bend Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 / 08 CLASSDOJO PLEASE JOIN OUR CLASSDOJO’S AND STAY INFORMED! It is important that you sign up for the Principal’s Class Dojo. I post important information such as if a bus is running late, important reminders regarding picture day, graduation information and other important topics. PLEASE SIGN UP TODAY! ClassDojo is actively used in 90% of U.S. K-8 schools. ClassDojo is a free app that helps build amazing classroom and school communities. Teachers give feedback to students for any skill, like “Working Hard” and “Being Curious.”
SCHOOLBENDHICKORY
VISITORS If you need to come into the school for any reason, for safety reasons, you will be required to wear a mask, and you will need to have a current Driver’s License that will be checked in our Raptor Security System. Raptor® provides a line of sight as to who is always in our school. The system provides school and districtwide reporting for all visitors, volunteers, and contractors that have signed in/out of our buildings. This is important for safety reasons.
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