HB | March 2024 Newsletter

“Women’s

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

--Albert Einstein

From tHE PrinciPal...

ronisHa PEnnEr | PrinciPal

“At Your Service And with A Spirit of focuSed collAborAtion”

March Madness rules the sports world, but for school, March is just another month for our students to continue growing and learning as much as possible. March is also the important month of State Testing for our 3rd and 4th graders. It is so important that our students know the value of being able to demonstrate their knowledge and skill, but in the process, let’s continue to work together to remind them of how unique and wonderful they are just being themselves. Testing days are best handled with little to no anxiety. We all know this to be nearly impossible! So, remember to let your All-Star know how much they are loved regardless of ANYTHING!

District Character Theme of the Month: “Perseverance and Patience”

Our school is a fun place to be. We are serious about learning, and we are serious about fun, too. Maintaining a healthy balance of hard work and rewards is key to a happy childhood (and adulthood!) Our students are growing through the many experiences and opportunities we share. Continue reading to see how we make Hickory Bend a place where children come to enjoy school: the learning part and the fun part.

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.

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”...

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.

Family EngagEmEnt nigHt: Black History montH cElEBration

to our all-star families

,

We want to express our genuine appreciation for you attending our Black History Program on Tuesday, 2/27/24.

Your support is much appreciated, and it contributed to its success!

We hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed planning the event. From Bottle Buddies created by our Kindergarteners and the Sensational Singers performance to the family collaboration project and student wax museum, we had so much fun diving into Black History and sharing everything we learned with our families.

thAnk You AgAin for Your AttendAnce!

HaPPy 100tH day

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…

pizzA with the principAl!

Actually… Pizza, Popcorn, and Punch with the Proud Principal! Good behavior leads to good times! The All-Stars are saving their Dojo Points to purchase a special afternoon treat, Pizza with the Principal, on February 13th, 2024.

with greAt behAvior leAding the wAY, let the good timeS roll!

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

Parents... We Need Your Help!

5eSSentiAlS SurveY

We are askiNg that all PareNts comPlete the 5esseNtials survey!

This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school.

As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.

The survey gathers data on five (5) indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains.

these five (5) iNdicators that affect aNd Predict school success are:

• Effective Leaders

• Collaborative Teachers

• Involved Families

• Supportive Environments

• Ambitious Instruction

Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement.

Your identity and survey responses will be kept confidential and never connected to you or your child.

• The survey takes about 10 - 15 minutes to complete

• Select the necessary language to complete the survey (English or Spanish)

• Choose Parent Survey

• Enter the name of your county and the name of your child’s school

• Advance to survey questions

• Answer all applicable questions

• Click Submit Survey

iar | illinois assEssmEnt oF rEadinEss

March is our month for the “BIG STATE EXAM!” While we have confidence in our students’ ability to perform well on the exam, many of our students experience “test anxiety” which keeps them from performing at their highest level. Alleviating test anxiety for elementary students requires a combination of strategies that address their emotional, cognitive, and physical needs.

here are some tiPs to helP:

• Teach Relaxation Techniques: Teach simple relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, or progressive muscle relaxation. Encourage students to practice these techniques regularly, not just before tests.

• Encourage Positive Self-Talk: Teach students to recognize and challenge negative thoughts. Encourage them to replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations, such as “I studied hard, and I can do my best.”

• Promote Healthy Habits: Encourage students to get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, and engage in physical activity. A healthy lifestyle can help reduce stress and anxiety.

• Provide Supportive Feedback: Offer constructive feedback that focuses on areas for improvement rather than criticizing mistakes. Help students see mistakes as opportunities for learning and growth.

• Encourage Perspective: Remind students that a single test does not define their worth or intelligence. Encourage them to focus on doing their best rather than aiming for perfection.

By implementing these strategies, families can help elementary students manage test anxiety and perform to the best of their abilities.

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.