HB | August 2023 Newsletter

REGISTRATION

August 8th 10:30 a.m. | 1:30 p.m. | Thornwood Apartments

August 9th 11:00 a.m. | 6:00 p.m. | Brookwood Middle School

August 10th 11:00 a.m. | 6:00 p.m. | Brookwood Middle School

August 17th

1ST DAY OF SCHOOL!

DROP OFF | PICK UP

Vehicles are not allowed to park in the main lot during morning drop-off or during afternoon pick-up. Respectfully, we ask those wishing to park their vehicles to use the overflow lot (the lot we share with the church). There you may park your vehicle and safely exit to walk your child to the building. We have had several “CLOSE CALLS” during drop off/pick up that we hope to avoid by enlisting this new procedure. Thank you for understanding and helping us to create the safest situation possible for our families, students, and staff.

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

We are asking that every parent sign up for the Principal ClassDojo, as this is a great way for parents to stay informed about important events and information throughout the school year. Please contact the school office if you need help signing up for this awesome communication tool.

WELCOME BACK TO THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR!

Congratulations to Principal (Dubose)

My hope is that Summer did its good and perfect work to give everyone moments of fun, relaxation, and restoration. For all who attended our Summer School program and all who spent time reading and practicing their math skills, to you, I send Kudos! It is vitally important that learning never stops. Weeks and weeks of not practicing any skill could result in weakening of the skill: Weeks can make you WEAK! So, again, Kudos to those who continued learning. To those who could have done a bit more to keep those skills sharp, remember it is never too late! Picking up a book is NEVER a bad idea!

The first day of school is Thursday, August 17th

I can be reached at the school number (708) 7584520, by email rpenner@ brookwood167.org

Please continue reading for some great advice on how to end summer and prepare to return to school. We also have important information regarding what to expect in the first few weeks of school. Enjoy the last couple of weeks of Summer Break. I hope to see you all at the All-District Backto-School Bash on August 11, 2023.

Penner

(she’s

married now!)

“Here’s to a joyous life together as you embark upon this lovefilled journey.”

MISSION STATEMENT | WE BELIEVE!

BROOKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT 167 | MISSION STATEMENT

challenged to the highest level of academic and artistic excellence.

• In the importance of staff development opportunities based on best practices and educational research.

WE BELIEVE...

• Families shape their children’s motivation, confidence, and academic success by being interested and involved in their overall development.

• All students are unique and should be

• 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.

• In continuous improvement in all aspects of the school system to foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and integrity.

• In responsible stewardship of financial and physical resources.

Excellence... Potential... Achieve...

Brookwood School District 167, in partnership with parents and the community, will create a learning environment where all students excel at becoming lifelong learners and decision-makers.

“When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you.” --Walter

Payton

WE ARE COMMITTED TO:

1. Providing students with highly qualified teachers

BROOKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT 167 | VISION

“Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.” --Maya Angelou

2. Providing our staff with Professional Development

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 researchbased 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.

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME...

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.

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, taste or smell

• Fatigue from unknown cause

• Muscle or body aches

If you answer “YES”

REPORTING OF ABSENCE

To ensure that our students are excelling academically, students 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 can earn rewards and participate in fun activities. When your child must be absent, please inform the front office. Our absentee number is 708-757-2115.

TECHNOLOGY HELPLINE

If your child is having any technology problems, please get in touch with our help desk at (708) 300-3553 or email our help desk at helpdesk@ brookwood167.org

I am excited to share with you that our Superintendent and Board of Education will continue to provide our students with a set of school supplies to use at school and a set to use at home! If your child needs any additional resources or supplies for any of their classes, please get in touch with our school office at (708) 758-4520, so we can help provide them with all necessary and needed materials.

OPEN HOUSE | CURRICULUM NIGHT

AUGUST 31TH, 2023 | 5:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.

NAME CHANGE!

Effective immediately, the Principal we all love as Ms. Dubose will now be known as Mrs. Penner.

Summer 2023 saw the marriage of Ms. Ronisha Dubose and Mr. Alaric Penner, so a name change is called for.

The students might actually get a kick out of an alliterative name:

Principal Penner has a nice ring to it! Principal Penner picked a peck of pickled peppers…

PLEASE JOIN OUR CLASSDOJO’S AND STAY INFORMED!

ClassDojo is a global community of more than 50 million teachers and families who come together to share kids’ most important learning moments, in school and at home —through photos, videos, messages, and more.

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.” From

the mobile app, parents view their child’s feedback, and can message directly with teachers and school leaders. Please 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, or email, rpenner@ brookwood167.org. All you will need to provide is your cell phone number or email address.

GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED!

DOJO WE BELIEVE...

Kids have always learned together in physical spaces. Today, they learn in virtual spaces, too. Now that ClassDojo has connected a worldwide community of teachers, kids, and families, we’re building that virtual space for everyone...

Curriculum Night /

Open House

Thursday, August 31

OPEN HOUSE

ANTI-BULLY PLEDGE

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.

Please join us for our annual Open House on Thursday, August 31st, 2023, 5:30pm - 7:30pm. 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 an opportunity to visit the Book Fair, pick up your child’s “HOME DEVICE,” and tour the building. We look forward to seeing all of our All-Star Families during Open House.

VISITORS

If you need to come into the school for any safety reasons, you must have a current Driver’s License that will be checked in our Raptor Security System. Raptor® provides a line of sight for those always in our school. The system provides school and district-wide reporting for all visitors, volunteers, and contractors signed in/out of our buildings. This is important for safety reasons.

POWERSCHOOL

At PowerSchool, we believe that for students to succeed, they need to feel connected to learning in a personal way.

All Longwood teachers use an online grading system called PowerSchool that they update every Thursday.

We encourage you to check your child’s progress regularly. This program is entirely confidential; therefore, you will need an access username and password to see your child’s progress.

If you need your username and/or password, please get in touch with 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.

“Education is the passport to the future for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

-Malcolm X

FANTASTIC FOUR (4) KEY ITEMS TO CONSIDER FOR THE RETURN TO SCHOOL

Start practicing routines before school starts back

Staying calm and being organized in the morning will help you and your child feel positive about the day ahead. It will also help you reduce stress, which is good for everyone's wellbeing. 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.

It’s Not Too Late to Start Reading and Math

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, even closed captions for their favorite cartoon show, etc.). Trips to the grocery store can be full of practice with numbers at any level of math, from recognizing and identifying numbers to calculating the cost per ounce for their favorite juice.

Every Moment is a Teachable Moment

Every day is a new day in our adult lives and in the lives of our children. The main difference between the two is usually adults have seen what children are just realizing 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…” as a way 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.

Listen to Their Hearts

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 is feeling helps to calm the anxieties so the start of the year can be met with focus and clarity.

PBIS | POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTENVENTIONS & SUPPORT

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (P.B.I.S.) will again be at the core of our climate and culture. We have three goals: Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. With our goals front and center in our minds every day, we plan to enjoy a positive environment in every area of our school.

Challenging thoughts to consider:

• How can our three (3) behavior goals make a difference in our students’ behavior outside of school?

• If our families begin the conversation now, will our All-Stars return to school ready to thrive with positive behavior?

Let’s help our students remember to be Safe, Respectful, and Responsible in all walks of life, especially while at school. Start the conversation now and keep it going all year long. We will certainly do the same here at Hickory Bend.

CHAMPIONS | BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

Champions is a Before & AfterSchool Care Program available to our Brookwood families. Please get in touch with Champions as soon as you can to secure your spot. Space is limited.

Champions Family Support

Phone: (800) 246-2154

ChampionsHelp@kc-education.com

HEALTH TIP

One precaution to help stop the spread of germs is to not share personal items.

Some of these include water bottles, lip balms, hats, hairbrushes, and EarPods. These items should only be used by the individual to whom they belong.

PRECIOUS INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES | 8:30AM - 3:10PM

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. This will mean 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 patient as they learn to be 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. We understand that things may happen that lead to extenuating circumstances, and 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.

ALL-STARS, ARE YOU PREPARING FOR THE RETURN TO SCHOOL? PREPARE NOW SO THAT COMING BACK TO SCHOOL WILL BE SMOOTH SAILING!