ISSUE: 002 / OCTOBER YEAR: 2021
HICKORY BEND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GREETINGS HICKORY BEND COMMUNITY... It’s hard to believe we are already in the month of October! September was spent reconnecting to the school environment and getting to know each other. I’ve come to know our students as the most eager learners, the most kind souls, and the happiest children around. My warmest “Thank You” is extended to our families that have gone above and beyond to ensure their child is not only in attendance, but on-time and focused towards learning. Our Open House, School Tours, and Book Fair were all successful events because you partnered with us to navigate the challenges of covid restrictions. In the end, our students benefit from the continued support.
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 teaching children how to Be Safe, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful. This work is through PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). For the first six (6) 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 punished, but has the opportunity to modify his/ her behavior to demonstrate the appropriate behavior. We believe that devoting a significant amount of time working on expectations is beneficial to all of our students. Now that we have practiced these skills to fluency, we will begin documenting “reteaching” opportunities that your child may have had. We use this documentation for informing us of additional supports students may need to assist them with demonstrating expectations. Occasionally students may need even more
assistance and will require an office discipline referral. Our goal is to provide the support students need to significantly decrease the amount of reteaches as well as office discipline referrals. 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. A paper copy of our expectations will be coming home on Friday, October 8th, 2021 in your child’s take-home folder. In these new and changing times, it is very important to keep the lines of communication open. Please reach out to your child’s teacher or me if you need support in accessing the materials for learning or if you need clarification regarding schedules and activities. We want you and your child to feel engaged and supported. We are here to help and do not want you to miss important learning opportunities. Many thanks for your continued support. Sinceely, Principal Dubose rdubose@brookwood167.org
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
What is ClassDojo?
Reporting of Absence(s): 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 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 ClassDojo.
ClassDojo is a school communication platform that teachers, students, and families use every day to build close-knit communities by sharing what’s being learned in the classroom home through photos, videos, and messages. *Students and parents will be linked to their class through a code provided by the teacher*
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 x5218, or email, rdubose@ brookwood167.org. All you will need to provide is your cell phone number or email address.
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.
GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED!
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Our afterschool programs are off to a fantastic start. Choir with Mrs. Westerfield is held both before school and afterschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Although we will have to reimagine what a Choir Concert looks like this year (due to covid restrictions), we are excited to have the opportunity to gather in song and we look forward to using our creativity to bring the music to our families. “Chasing Our Dreams” Boys Running Club made history as the very first team to take on the Trails Challenge in Mount Prospect, IL on Saturday, October 2nd, 2021. Joined by four (4) other teams, their strength and endurance was put to the test as they blazed through both man-made and natural obstacles in a 1.5 mile race. The boys showed teamwork and grit, helping one another fight all the way to the finish line. Thank you to Ms. Burras and Ms. Menos for sponsoring this club. Wednesday, October 6th, 2021, will see the start of the Fall HB Spirit Squad. Sponsored by Ms. Brown and Ms. A. Richards, the Squad will show us all how to display pride in our school during special events and assemblies. With thirty (30) students in grades 1 through 4 for the Fall Squad and a nearly full roster for the Spring Spirit Squad, I believe the All-Star pride will ring loud and proud! Let’s Go All-Stars!!!
VISION Our
overall
Vision
becoming lifelong learners and decision makers.
is
to
improve the achievement of all students, regardless of
•
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.
We are Committed to: •
Providing students with highly qualified teachers
•
to state-of-the-art technology. •
The school system
confidence, and
should teach students to
academic success by
think critically enabling
being interested and
them to become
involved in their overall
contributing citizens in
development.
our global society.
All students are unique
POWERSCHOOL
environment with access
Families shape their children’s motivation,
In educating our children in a safe and nurturing
We Believe:
race, socio-economic status, gender,
•
•
In continuous
All Brookwood teachers use an online grading system
and should be challenged
improvement in all
to the highest level of
aspects of the school
called “PowerSchool” that
academic and artistic
system to foster a
they update every Thursday.
excellence.
culture of excellence,
In the importance of
accountability and
staff development
integrity.
check your child’s progress
In responsible
regularly. This program is
opportunities based
•
on best practices and
stewardship of financial
educational research.
and physical resources.
We
encourage
completely
you
to
confidential;
therefore, you will need an access username and password to see your child’s
•
Providing our staff
progress. If you need your
with professional
username and/or password,
development
MISSION Brookwood School District 167,
in
partnership
with
please contact the school office at (708) 758-4520. There is a PowerSchool app available for your cellular
parents and community, will
phone that makes it easy for
create a learning environment
parents to stay updated on
in which all students excel at
their child’s progress.
+1 708-758-4520 +1 708-758-0364 www.brookwood167.org
600 E. 191st Place Glenwod, IL 60425
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.
STUDENT SAFETY DROP-OFF & PICK-UP PROCEDURES Students 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
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.
HICKORY BEND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
This is
important for safety reasons.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES I am excited to share with you that this school year, Brookwood School District 167 will be providing 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 contact our school office at (708) 758-4520, so we can help provide them with all necessary and needed materials.
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 YOUR COOPERATION!