HB | November Newsletter

November 2017

Hickory Bend NEWSLETTER

Mrs. Shawn Jackson | Principal Hickory Bend Elementary School

A Note From The Principal...

Dear Parents/Guardians, Can you believe it is November and Thanksgiving is right around the corner? We want you to know that we are thankful for each and every family at Hickory Bend!

Thanksgiving is always a meaningful holiday for family and friends to celebrate life’s blessings. During Thanksgiving dinner many families take a moment to let each person say aloud what he or she is thankful for.

“It’s all about setting a positive tone for your children.”

During the break you may want to help your child or children create a family tree, make a collage from family photos or collect some of their favorite recipes to become part of your family’s traditional holiday meals.

It is the staff’s desire at Hickory Bend to have a partnership with parents working together where each child is successful.

Parents! you play a tremendous role as our partners in developing your child’s learning ability. It is hard to believe we have completed the first quarter of the school year.

(708) 758-4520

Hickory Bend Elementary School Mrs. Shawn Jackson | Principal

600 E. 191st Place Glenwood,IL 60425

NURSES CORNER

IT’S COLD & FLU SEASON AGAIN!

HEALTHY HABITS!

It’s that time of year again, the dreaded [Flu Season]! Parents I ask that you remember to please keep your child at home if he/ she is sick. We want to be proactive and ensure that we do not expose well students to contagious germs.

[Healthy Habits] are important. Studies have shown school children who wash their hands are 33% less likely to be absent from school and have 50% less sick days than their peers who do not wash their hands.

If your child is experiencing some or all of the flu symptoms listed below, we ask that you please consider if he/she is well enough to attend school.

We would like parents to encourage their children to wash their hands with soap and warm water or waterless hand sanitizer. It is also important to use tissue when possible to cover sneezes. If a tissue is not handy children can be taught to cough or sneeze into their elbow.

It’s not always easy to tell the difference between a cold and the flu, but here are some general symptoms that may help differentiate between them:

FLU SYMPTOMS

COLD SYMPTOMS

Remind your children to wash their hands or sanitize: •

When they get home

•

Sudden Onset

•

Slow Onset

•

High Fever

•

"NO" (or mild) fever

•

Severe Exhaustion

•

Mild Exhaustion

•

After playing

•

Severe or Hacking Cough

•

•

Usually "NO"

Whenever their hands are dirty/sticky

•

Dry Cough

•

Headache

•

Decreased Appetite

•

Chills

•

Muscle aches

headache

•

Normal Appetite

•

Usually "NO" muscle aches

•

Sore Throat

If your child has the flu please do not send him/her to school for 24 hours after he/she is free from fever without medication.

Please reinforce to your child the importance of good hygiene by covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing, proper disposal of nasal secretions, and frequent hand washing.

•

from school

•

After handling pets

After using the bathroom

•

After eating

•

After they cough or sneeze

Healthy Habits include:

• • • • •

Hand washing; Staying away from sick people; Staying home if they have a temperature; Eating a good healthy diet; Getting plenty of rest and exercise.

Practicing healthy habits promotes optimal health!

Cold & Flu season Is Here!

GOOD TO KNOW...

REPORT CARDS AND YOUR CHILD There are two ways to respond to your children when they come home with grades.

Here is a poem that speaks to that: I got two A’s the small boy said.

I got two A’s the small boy said.

His voice was filled with glee,

His voice was filled with glee,

His father very bluntly asked,

His father proudly said, “That’s great;”

“Why didn’t your get three?”

I’m glad you belong to me.

Mom, I’ve got the dishes done,”

Mom, I’ve got the dishes done,”

The girl called from the door.

The girl called from the door.

Her mother very calmly said,

Her mother smiled and softly said,

“Did you sweep the floor?”

“You’ve made me happy today.”

“I mowed the grass,” the tall boy said,

“I mowed the grass,” the tall boy said,

“And put the mower away.”

“And put the mower away.”

His father asked him with a shrug,

His father answered with much joy,

Did you clean off the clay?”

“You’ve made me happy today.”

Helpful Questions?

In order to help your child have a successful school year, you need to know what will be expected of them academically from now until June.

You can find out by asking some questions.

Take this list with you to your next parentteacher conference. And don’t forget to take notes.

1. What skills and knowledge will my child be expected to master this year?

- What will my child learn this year in key subjects; like math, science, history and English?

- How do you inform students about academic standards that they are expected to meet? What kind of projects and assignments have you planned that will help my child meet higher academic standards?

2. How will my child be evaluated?

- How are grades determined in your classroom?

The children in the house next door

Children deserve a little praise

Seemed happy and content.

For tasks they’re asked to do

The same things happened over there,

If they’re to lead a happy life,

But this is how it went.

So much depends on you.

3. What can I do to stay more involved in my child’s academic progress?

- What can I do at home to complement what is happening in the classroom?

- How can I know on a daily basis what homework has been assigned?

4. How do you accommodate differences in learning?

- What if my child is a slow learner and falls behind, or is a fast learner and is bored?

School Hours

NOTES...

8:30am - 3:10pm Students are tardy after 8:35am Tardiness causes a loss in learning time.

Please make every effort to get your child to school on time.

Absentee Line is: (708) 757-2120

Thank You! We want to give a special shout out to our guest teachers, [Mrs. Tessling] and [Mrs. Anderson-Ward]. They have given of their time, talent and wisdom to our students from August until November.

Words cannot tell you how grateful we are to you for stepping in and stepping up to the challenge of working with our students.

We truly appreciate all that you have done here at Hickory Bend and will sincerely miss each of you.

THANKS AGAIN!

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!

WARM CLOTHING NEEDED! With the return of fall and the falling temps are on the horizon, please be reminded that warm clothing is necessary for all students when they come to school.

We do go out each day for recess weather permitting.

PBIS PUMPKIN PAINTING PARTY! Students at Hickory Bend celebrate "Hispanic Heritage Month" from September 15th—October 15th. Every day, a new Spanish word and facts are discussed at announcements.

During the month, Fridays were set aside for the children to recite the American pledge in English and Spanish. This year, Mrs. Hines, Mrs. Guzman and Ms. Williams celebrated the month in the classroom by reading books about the Hispanic culture. We also had an assembly where the Thornton Township Mexican Dance Group performed.

[PBIS] sponsors reward events periodically that students are able to pay Allstar bucks to participate. On Wednesday & Thursday, PBIS sponsored a pumpkin painting party.

Parents, Guardians, Friends & Family, Your support and participation is truly appreciated for our fundraising activities this month. We had “Dining for Dollars” at Culvers and the "Affy Tapple Sale". As well as the continued collection of "BoxTops".

Students choose to participate in this activity by paying $75 Allstar bucks. This event was a huge success; Hickory Bend students had lots of fun painting their own design and were able to take their pumpkins home.

These activities could not be [successful] without your assistance!

Thanks so much to Horace Mann Insurance for purchasing the pumpkins!

Classroom Parties!

Parents at Hickory Bend we only have three (3) classroom parties for the year; they are as follows: • Fall party

• November 21, 2017

• Winter Party

• December 20, 2017

• Valentines Day Party

• February 14, 2018

Students are asked to pay $5.00 per student, for the three (3) parties. If you have not already sent the money for this year, please do so as soon as possible.

Parents below is a list of class sizes so that you are aware for birthday cupcakes and party treats: KDG

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Angell (18)

Wagner (15)

Hines (18)

Roberts (20)

Brandt (16)

Szotek (12) Gajewski (19)

Nyhan (17)

Skinner (21)

Crowel (21)

Lucas (16)

Torres (17)

Newman (18)

Binning (20)

"REAL MEN READ" We are so pleased to have the men in our community dedicating their time to come to Hickory Bend to assist our Hickory Bend boys with reading. Some of the gentlemen are dads while others are grandparents, uncles, friends and even fathers of students who have gone on to the middle school.

Boys from kindergarten through fourth visit with the mentors once a week for a thirty-minute period to read exciting and adventurous material. As the boys read they take great pleasure in discussing the topic and sharing their ideas. They also feel good about asking relevant questions. One of the most meaningful questions asked by several boys is if the volunteer can come everyday.

If you are interested in volunteering and assisting our students, please feel free to contact the office at (708) 758-4520.

Baugher (17)

BUS EVACUATION DRILL We participated in our bus evacuation drill of the 2017-2018 school year which was conducted

by First Student Bus Company.

Our students learned what to do in the event of an emergency while riding the bus. The importance of talking in a quiet voice, keeping the aisle clear and sitting back to back was explained, modeled then practiced by the students.

The students also practiced an emergency exit through the back door of the bus. The students will participate in another bus evacuation drill this school year to ensure they are familiar with the bus evacuation drill procedures in the event of an emergency.

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• • • • •

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"WINDMILL ACRES" KDG TRIP The Kindergarten classes attended their annual field trip to [Windmill Acres].

They saw a puppet show, went on a hayride, picked pumpkins, played on the playground, fed the animals and walked through a corn maze. It was a beautiful day and all the children had a great time!

RED RIBBON WEEK

MOTHER & SON, PIZZA & FUN

Students at Hickory Bend had the opportunity to celebrate Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon celebrations began in 1985 in honor of [Enrique “Kiki” Camarena]. Mr. Camarena joined in the fight against illegal drugs with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. He knew that this was a dangerous task, but he wanted to make a difference. He gave his life in the fight against drugs. To honor Mr. Camarena, his family and friends wore red ribbons.

As the story spread across the country, others began to wear red ribbons also.

Now each year nationwide school activities are completed to encourage students of all ages to make good choices of remaining drug and alcohol free.

We celebrated from October 24th to October 28th; Each day of the week we have selected days, Monday “My future is Bright, No drugs in sight” we wore our neon clothing. Tuesday is “Red—y to live a DrugFree Life”,we wore red. Wednesday “I have the Power to Not do Drugs, Real Heroes don’t do Drugs—dress like a superhero,; Thursday wear your boots to “Boot out Drugs,“ and Friday Smarties choose to be drug free, dress like a Nerd — PBIS Nerd Day.

"PBIS SPORTS DAY ATTIRE" PBIS sponsored a “Sports Day” in the month of September. Once a month PBIS sponsors an all-school "FREE" event. For the month of October was “Nerd Day”; Friday, October 27th, November will be "Pajama Day" and December will be an all week celebration of "Holiday Attire"! Yeah!!!