HB | February 2024 Newsletter

HICKORY BEND SCHOOL

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

We look forward to our families joining us for this year’s Black History Month Celebration. We will again enjoy our Live Museum and a dance performance from the Global Girls. This year’s theme will be Great Acting and Great Speeches. Our students are eager to shine, so please mark your calendar and plan to attend on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

600 E. 191st PlacE

glEnwood, il 60425

URGENT, YET A GENTLE REMINDER!

Please do not park, stand, or stage in the apartment complex adjacent to the Hickory Bend parking lot.

This is private parking. Your vehicle will be subject to ticketing and towing.

Hickory

ronisHa

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”

--Albert Einstein

From tHE PrinciPal...

ronisHa

As we find ourselves at the midway point of the school year, it’s crucial to reflect on our progress thus far and rekindle our motivation to excel. Despite the challenges we may have encountered, both academically and personally, now is not the time to lose sight of our goals.

Maintaining focus is key to successfully navigating the remainder of the academic year. Let’s remind ourselves of our initial aspirations and recommit to them with renewed determination. Whether improving grades, mastering a new skill, or reaching a personal milestone, staying focused will help us stay on track.

Excellence is not merely a destination but a journey of continuous improvement. Each day presents an opportunity to strive for greatness, to push beyond our limits, and to exceed expectations. Let’s embrace this mindset and pursue excellence in everything we do.

As we embark on the second half of the school year, let’s support one another, stay resilient in the face of challenges, and remain steadfast in our pursuit of excellence. Together, we can achieve remarkable things.

All-Star Community, keep your eyes on the prize, stay focused, and make the rest of this school year a testament to our dedication and determination.

I can be reached at the school number (708) 758-4520, by email rpenner@brookwood167.org

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

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” --Vince Lombardi

• 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 decisionmakers.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO:

1. Providing students with highly qualified teachers

2. Providing our staff with Professional Development

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

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.

rEPorting an aBsEncE

To report absences, please call the attendance line at (708) 757-2110, Option 1. Please call the school before 8:30 a.m. to report your child’s absence.

PlEasE lEavE tHE Following inFormation:

• Student’s full name with the spelling of the last name

• Reason for absence/tardy/early release

• Your name and relationship to the student

• Please call the main number (708) 758-5350 at least 45 minutes PRIOR to early dismissal.

For your student to be EXCUSED, you must sign them in and out in the main office, or their absence will be marked as unexcused.

Official attendance will be reported every morning at 9:00 a.m. If your child joins a teacher’s classroom late, they will be marked tardy in PowerSchool, and you will be notified through the Principal’s Class dojo.

ATTENDANCE/ ABSENCES/ TARDIES...

Parents must call the school to report their child absent before 8:30 a.m. The number for reporting absences is (708) 757-2115.

Official attendance will be reported every morning by 9:00 a.m.

communication & inFormation

Healthy communication between the school and home is essential, and we are working to provide numerous ways for this vital communication. To help suppress paper usage, we will continue providing information using digital communication as much as possible.

We eNcourage you to do the folloWiNg to helP us commuNicate With you:

• Please ensure we have an accurate email address. If you are not receiving any Dojo messages from us, then it probably means we have incorrect information on our end.

• Please sign up for the digital tools that Brookwood School District and the school have provided.

• these iNclude:

- Class Dojo

- Power School Parent Portal

• Please talk with your child’s teacher about Google Classroom and how it can be used as a communication tool.

• Please follow us on Facebook

• Please visit our website at www.brookwood167.org

kEEP tHEm HomE...

If my chIld Is sIck, when should I keep them 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.

if you aNsWered “yes”...

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 answered “YES” to any of the sympthons, your child MUST stay home!

Please call the school to report your child’s absence (708) 758-5252 (Option 1).

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 who they belong to.

visitors...

If you need to come into the school for any reason, 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 District-wide reporting for all visitors, volunteers, and contractors that have signed in/ out of our buildings.

This is important for safety reasons.

aFtEr scHool mattErs...

Our afterschool activities are the place to be! Violin, Sensational Singers Choir, book clubs, Number Wizards, Drama Club, and the Lego Club are fun ways for our students to remain engaged at Hickory Bend.

After-school activities play a vital role in a child’s overall development, offering a well-rounded education beyond the traditional classroom setting. They provide a safe, supportive environment for personal growth, skill development, and pursuing passions, making them an integral part of a student’s educational journey.

Club opportunities change throughout the year.

If your child is not currently involved, please stay tuned for coming opportunities.

HalFway day

In a special celebration marking the “Halfway Point” of the school year, 3rd graders delved into the exciting realm of fractions on “Halfway Day” .

The morning kicked off with captivating books and BrainPOP videos, setting the stage for an immersive learning experience.

The 3rd-grade teaching team took it up a notch by organizing a rotation system, where students explored different fraction activities in each teacher’s room. From using Skittles and M&Ms for hands-on learning to diving into a task card game, the day was packed with interactive lessons.

The icing on the cake was the chance for all 3rd graders to connect with more students through group rotations, fostering community, and making “Halfway Day” memorable.

“Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.”

-Nicholas Murray Butler

Family EngagEmEnt nigHt: Black History cElEBration

We look forward to our families joining us for this year’s Black History Month Celebration.

We will again enjoy our Live Museum and a dance performance from the Global Girls. This year’s theme will be “Great Acting and Great Speeches.”

Our students are eager to shine, so please mark your calendar and plan to attend on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

sPElling BEE winnErs!

congratulatIons to lennox Jefferson for wInnIng the hIckory Bend spellIng Bee!

Performing in an intense competition with the top 2nd - 4th-grade spellers, Lennox displayed linguistic prowess and prevailed overall!

Next Stop: The Brookwood 167 District Spelling Bee, February 8, 2024.

The top-grade spellers will accompany Lennox as they compete against others from our Brookwood 167 family to represent the District at the Regional Spelling Bee.

good luck to all!

•

•

•

•

•

scHool suPPliEs

Once again, our Superintendent and Board of Education have decided 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) 758-5252, so we can help provide them with all necessary and needed materials.

tEcHnology HElP dEsk

If your child is having any technology problems connecting to their teacher’s Google Classroom, please get in touch with 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.

CLASSDOJO

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 & STAY INFORMED!

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...

all-stars… caught BeIng awesome!

A group of students celebrated their classmate’s birthday during Winter Break and enjoyed a fantastic time together.

Others ride-share and hang out together after school while one set of parents finishes their workday.

Thanks to technology, our students chat, and video call each other often to stay connected with another Amazing All-star. How awesome it is to share friendships during and outside school! This will only strengthen their bonds and allow them to practice social skills.

*Reminder: Even when students share time after school (whether live or in-person), adult supervision is recommended to help monitor their social habits and behavior.

aden wIllIam’s BIrthday party: Just some all-stars havIng fun together

All Hickory Bend School 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.

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

ParEnt/tEacHEr conFErEncEs

Thursday, February 15th, 2024 | 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

If you wish to discuss your child’s progress, teachers will be available during the times listed. You do not need an appointment to attend. If you would like a specific time, don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teachers through Class Dojo, email, or by calling the school at (708) 758-4520.

Conferences should average about 10-15 minutes; accommodations will be made by the teacher if more time is needed (The last conference time can be honored as late as 6:15 p.m.). Students are encouraged to attend with their parents!

Parents, Parent/Teacher Conferences are welcome anytime throughout the school year. We welcome and encourage parent involvement and partnerships. We must work together for the success of every child.

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.