HB | February 2023 Newsletter

NEWSLETTER

HEADLINES

CHAMPIONS BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

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.com

Beginning Tuesday, September 7th, 2022, vehicles will not be allowed to park in the main lot during morning drop-off or during afternoon pickup. 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.

DEAR

HICKORY BEND FAMILIES,

We Love Our All-Stars!

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

As I consider the District’s character theme for the month of February, I remember a quote by Malinda Gates that says, “Optimism isn’t a belief that things will automatically get better; it’s a conviction that we can make things better.”

My goal for Hickory Bend is always to be led by optimism and for that optimism to be combined with the courage to work towards our next greatest level. There is nothing we cannot achieve if we believe in our ability to do great things.

School Hours

Students’ school day is from 8:30 a.m. until 3:10 p.m.

Students should not arrive earlier than 8:10 a.m.

If ever you have questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our staff. No question is too small, and no concern is too big for us to handle as a team.

As always, we look forward to working in partnership with our families to ensure our AllStars continue to grow and succeed

That being said, we can’t hold on to optimism if we are not present for the work! I have mentioned this in previous newsletters, but I reiterate the importance of attendance in school: it is the best way to support learning and growth. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of school. In our District, that boils down to about 17-18 days which is only about 2 days per month! Please, please, please work at all costs to ensure your student is in school daily. Being on time and staying for the entire day is also crucially important. We only have our students for a few short hours, and we don’t want them to miss anything! If you can pull the young ones from their warm beds and get them to school, we are confident that we can take care of the rest.

Attendance/Absences/Tardies

To ensure that our students excel 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 708-757-2120.

COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION

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

• All-Star News - Weekly school newsletter that will be sent home on Fridays

• 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.

SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW...

KAILEY UHTER (4TH GRADE)

SPREADS KINDNESS IN THE COMMUNITY

How do we know Kids can Make a Change??? Because Kailey Uhter (4th grader and KMC participant) was inspired to reach beyond the walls of Hickory Bend to do more!

With a simple request for her parents to supply her with art supplies, Kailey said, “we have been doing good things for kids, but I want to do something nice for the elderly.” She went on towards a goal of one hundred (100) cards of kind words to share with the residents of Village Woods Assisted Living in Crete, IL. As an act of kindness and service, she delivered the cards to the residents on Martin Luther King’s Day.

BAND

4th grade is an exciting year as it presents the students with the opportunity to join the District Band.

Our students benefit from “during the day” band lessons with Mr. Mitch Canning. Some of the sounds coming from the instruments during these first few beginner lessons might sound a bit immature.

OH, but wait… soon they will make sounds that truly sound like music to our ears!

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.

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) 708-757-2120 (Option 1.)

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.

POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTENVENTIONS & SUPPORT (PBIS)

A major focus area of learning for our K-4 students is that of behavior. Maintaining a physically and emotionally safe learning environment is a priority before we can expect our children to learn academic content. In each area of the school, we have developed expectations that we use to teach children how to Be Safe, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful. This work is through PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). For the first few weeks of our school year, we model and practice what these expectations look like and sound like. When we observe students who struggle with following the expectations, the student is not automatically punished but is instead reminded of the expectation and given the opportunity to modify his/her behavior to demonstrate the appropriate behavior. We believe that devoting a significant amount of time to working on expectations is beneficial to all of our students.

Now that we have become well acquainted with these skills, the expectation is that students demonstrate the skills in every area of the school day. When students need constant reminders or when behavior becomes disruptive, we will take the necessary steps to reteach the skills and remind students of the expectations. Our goal is to provide the support students need to significantly decrease the number of distractions and unwanted behaviors. A paper copy of our expectations was sent home in your child’s take-home folder. Please take time to review the expectations with your child(ren). We appreciate all the support families have shown in working collaboratively toward student behavioral success.

SOME of the 2:00 pm Dismissals Canceled…

Please note the following 2:00 pm dismissals have been canceled and we will be in school for the FULL DAY on the following dates:

• March 3rd, 2023

• May 5th, 2023

POWERSCHOOL

All Brookwood 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 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) 758-5350. A PowerSchool app for your cellular phone makes it easy for parents to stay updated on their child’s progress.

TECHNOLOGY HELPLINE

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 desk

helpdesk@brookwood167.org

Please leave a detailed message with your name, child’s name, phone number, and the issue you are having with the device.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“There is only one person in the world who’s responsible for your success, and that’s you!”

-Jeremy Anderson

MISSION STATEMENT

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.

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 challenged to the highest level of academic and artistic excellence.

• 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.

• 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.

VISION STATEMENT

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

ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL!

During these brutally cold few weeks in our calendar year, it is important to remind our families that attendance in school is the best way to support learning and growth.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of school. In our District that boils down to about 17-18 days which is only about 2 days per month!

Please, please, please work at all costs to ensure your student is in school daily. Being on time and staying for the entire day is also crucially important.

We only have our students for a few short hours, and we don’t want them to miss anything! If you can pull the young ones from their warm beds and get them to school, we are confident that we can take care of the rest.

RESOURCEFUL TIPS...

• Help them use different methods to find answers

• Support them when they struggle but allow THEM to work it out.

• Rather than giving answers to questions, give questions to help lead them to answers

• Ask children for their help and suggestions.

• Coach your child more often than you control your child; show that you have confidence in their ability

IT’S FLU SEASON

Don’t give the flu a chance to infect you!

Flu season starts in October and peaks in February. Influenza (flu) is a contagious, airborne transmitted respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, pneumonia, and though rare, can lead to death. Symptoms may last over two weeks and can include: fever/chills, body aches, fatigue, headache, congestion, cough, breathing issues, sore throat, and vomiting/diarrhea.

There are several things you can do to help prevent your student from becoming ill such as making sure that they are properly dressed for the weather (warm clothes, hat, heavy coat, gloves, and a scarf), getting the proper amount of sleep at night, children’s multivitamin, Vitamin C, get vaccinated, practice good hygiene, and decontaminate.

If you need assistance or have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our School Nurse, Nurse White at (708) 758-4520 ext. 5229 or via email at ewhite@ brookwood167.org

• If your student needs medication to be administered in the school setting, the medication and accompanying doctor’s orders must be provided by a parent or guardian to the school nurse. Medication should NEVER be sent in with the student. No medication may be given without a doctor’s order. This includes inhalers, emergency epinephrine (EpiPen), daily medications, antibiotics, eye/ ear drops, cough drops, over-the-counter medication, or any other form of medication.

REMINDER REGARDING MEDICATIONS

KMC (KIDS MAKING CHANGE)

For the month of December, the KMC Crew hosted the sale of Candygrams at Hickory Bend! The candygram consisted of a special note & a candy cane to be gifted to the receiver! The cost was $1 for each candy gram. The kids worked hard & planned to donate their proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in the United States that helps fulfill the wishes of children with critical illness between the ages of 2+1⁄2 and 18.

When combining the sales with some generous donations we received, the children were able to make an astounding donation of FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS ($550)! Way to be selfless and show your care and concern for others! We are so proud of the 4th graders who show up every week to help others in our after-school club.

SPELLING BEE

After advancing from the Classroom Spelling Bee, two (2) students in each class (grades 2-4) participated in the Schoolwide Spelling Bee.

The grade-level winners from the Schoolwide Bee have advanced to the District-wide Spelling Bee.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR SPELLERS!

SCHOOL BEE WINERS

• Michael Walker (2nd Grade, 2nd Place)

• Christian Hopkins (2nd Grade, 1st Place)

• Jayceon Harris (3rd Grade, 2nd Place)

• Chase Anderson (3rd Grade, 1st Place)

• Sophia Lawrence (4th Grade, 2nd Place)

• Ayden Chism (4th Grade, 1st place) - Overall Winner

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

Please plan to attend our Parent-Teacher conference event on February 8th, 2023, between 10:30 am and 6:30 pm (Lunch break for staff is 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm; no conferences are held during this time). During this time, you will have an opportunity to speak one-on-one with your child’s teacher regarding their progress and how you can support them from home. Additionally, you will be able to pick up the 2nd Quarter Report Card and complete the 5-Essentials Parent Survey. You may contact your child’s teacher to set up an appointment time, but walk-ins are also welcome. We look forward to partnering with you to support our students.

4TH GRADE ANNOUNCERS

Thank you, 4th Grade Announcers, for helping us to start the day with great energy and positive vibes!

CLASSDOJO

What is 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.”

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, email, rdubose@brookwood167.org. All you will need to provide is your cell phone number or email address.

GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED!

HICKORY BEND SCHOOL

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.