Character Counts in Highland Park and at North Shore School District 112:

The Character Counts Committee of the City of Highland Park selects and presents the “Robert Barnard Character Counts Pillar Awards.” The Committee is now seeking nominations from the following categories: Residents, Business Owners, Employees and Students. Nominees are required to live, work or attend school within the North Shore School District 112 boundaries, or attend Highland Park High School.
To be considered, a nominee’s beliefs, attitudes, and actions should consistently exemplify the following Six Pillars of Character:

* Trustworthiness: integrity, honesty, reliability and loyalty
* Respect: valuing all people; living by the Golden Rule; honoring the dignity, privacy and freedom of others; courtesy; politeness, tolerance, and acceptance of differences
* Responsibility:  fulfilling duties, accountability, pursuing excellence, and exercising self-control
* Fairness: Being just, impartial, and having both a willingness to listen and openness to different viewpoints
* Caring: Being compassionate, kind, loving, considerate and charitable
* Citizenship: Doing one’s share, helping the community, playing by the rules and respecting authority and law

The application is at this link, and the deadline is March 1, 2012. For more information please contact Don Miner, Manager of Youth and Senior Services, at (847) 432-4110.

Attention 5th grade parents!  On Friday February 10th there will be a sale during lunch hour for 5th graders interested in purchasing Northwood Junior High wearables.  Cash and Carry only. Items will range in price from $5-$15. Great recent styles at phenomenal prices. Don’t miss out!!

EARLY RELEASE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2012
1st-5th 8:40-1:00 PM
AM-Kindergarten attends 8:40-11:26 AM
NO PM-Kindergarten

*Students should bring their own lunch.  NO HOT LUNCH on this day. Please make sure your child knows his/her plans to getting home at 1:00 PM on this day. Thank you!

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Dear Wayne Thomas Parents,

Conferences are coming:
Wednesday          March 14           4-8 pm
Thursday                  March 15   12-8 pm
Friday                  March 16         8-12 am

Please note that District 112 has provided staff with this time to meet with parents to review student progress, answer questions, and set goals for the next grading period. During this time, arrangements are made for many specialists and resource teachers to be available as well. Therefore, it is important that parents adhere to the established conference schedule. If you are unable to attend your scheduled conference due to other family commitments, your child’s progress report will be mailed home and you will have an opportunity to contact the classroom teacher for a phone conference. When families within classroom request special appointments outside of the scheduled conference dates, planning for daily instruction is compromised, which affects the entire classroom.  Thanks for your cooperation.

Mrs. Deely
Principal

 DEAR PARENTS PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT:
Moses Workshop Newsletter Version 3-17-12

PARENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDARS for WEDS 2/29
The District 112 PTA/O Presidents Council is hosting a district-wide presentation and Q&A session for parents on the topic of “Internet Safety for Pre-teens and Teens”.  Please join us for this interesting, interactive and informative event!

Date:  Wednesday, 2/29
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Elm Place Jr. High Auditorium
Audience: Parents or Guardians of District 112 students – most applicable for grades 4 and up
Description of adult-only event:
This topic, presented by Deputy Karen Kates of the LC Sheriff’s Office, is eye-opening and informative, covering such current topics as protecting your child from identify theft over the internet, helping your child safely maneuver social networking sites, the dangers of chat rooms, internet crimes against children, family guidelines for home computer use and more.  Attendees will:
learn strategies for protecting your child from internet predators
participate in a live demonstration of internet chat rooms
learn methods to protect your child and safeguard against compromises to safety and identity theft

Deputy Kates will be joined by Deputy Chief of Criminal Investigations George Manis, who will both provide opportunities for questions and answers.  Come learn from experienced law enforcement officers!

EARLY RELEASE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2012
1st-5th 8:40-1:00 PM
AM-Kindergarten attends 8:40-11:26 AM
NO PM-Kindergarten

*Students should bring their own lunch.  NO HOT LUNCH on this day. Please make sure your child knows his/her plans to getting home at 1:00 PM on this day. Thank you!

Attention 1st and 2nd Grade Parents!!!!
Due to a conflict, the 1st-2nd Grade Spring Sing that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 7 will now take place on Thursday, March 8 at 7pm.  It will still be held at Elm Place.  Please note the change from earlier announcements.

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EARLY RELEASE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2012
1st-5th 8:40-1:00 PM
AM-Kindergarten attends 8:40-11:26 AM
NO PM-Kindergarten

*Students should bring their own lunch.  NO HOT LUNCH on this day. Please make sure your child knows his/her plans to getting home at 1:00 PM on this day. Thank you!

THE HOMEWORK CLUB IS FULL!
We can’t accept any additional students. Thanks!

FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN:
CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER CARS ON SUMMIT AVE.  IT IS NOT SAFE.  WE RELY ON YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR YOUR CHILD.  THANK YOU.

Attention 1st and 2nd Grade Parents!!!!
Due to a conflict, the 1st-2nd Grade Spring Sing that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 7 will now take place on Thursday, March 8 at 7pm.  It will still be held at Elm Place.  Please note the change from earlier announcements.

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Dear Parents,

Here are some strategies to help you child find a winning homework routine.

Try planning a regular time each day when family members do quiet activities.  You’ll help your child focus by limiting distractions.  For example, he/she can do homework in the kitchen after school while you pay bills or cook.  Or everyone can read in the living room while he/she works in his/her room.
Schedule short periods of work to fit your child’s attention span.  If he/she has an hour of homework, he/she can spend 30 minutes and then take a break (have a healthy snack or shoot hoops) before finishing up.
Tip- Have your child keep track of time and stay on task by setting an alarm clock to signal the break.
Before your child starts, help him/her put his/her assignments in order.  Take a look at your child’s assignment notebook.  Have you noticed he/she gets more done when he/she does written work first?  If so, he/she can complete his/her math worksheet, then practice spelling words and finally study science.
Tip- Suggest that your child rank homework from hardest to easiest and tackle the more complicated work first.
If your child’s classroom teacher requires you to sign the assignment notebook, when you sign it make sure your child has all of the completed work in his/her take home folder.
Thanks for your support.  As always if you have any questions or concerns about   homework, please contact your child’s teacher.

Sincerely,

Maureen Deely
Principal

REQUEST FOR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
When a student will be out of school two (2) days or more for reason of personal illness or other excused reasons, parents may request homework assignments by calling 224 765 3900 Requests made by 12:00 noon will be available for parent pick-up after 3:30 P.M. Homework assignments will be placed on the homework cart located just inside the front doors of school.

HOMEWORK POLICY/PROCEDURES FOR VACATIONS
The only excused absences are those caused by illness or family emergencies. The school cannot endorse a child be taken on a vacation when school is in session. It is critical for students to take part in the classroom activities. No amount of paperwork can substitute for a child’s presence during class discussions or meaningful, hands-on experiences. We recognize that some vacations are unavoidable. We ask parents to recognize that the classroom is a dynamic situation and to predict how much new information will be covered is impossible. Classroom teachers will not be providing specific class work prior to a vacation, nor will tests be administered early. Instead your child will be given a list of appropriate academically related activities to complete, if you so desire. Once your child returns to school, he/she will be given all make-up work.

DEAR WAYNE THOMAS FAMILIES PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PDF:
Academic_Excellence_Award_2011

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FROM THE WAYNE THOMAS HEALTH OFFICE

Dear Parents,

From our past experience with lice at the school, the key to battling this inconvenient pest is prevention. It should be a part of a daily routine for any parent to check at least once a week throughout the year. This is especially true during and after your child attends camp, and after long vacation breaks from school. Doing routine head checks at home are easy to undertake compared to what entails when your child has had a case of head lice. Letting the school know if your child has/had lice is also helpful in preventing it’s spread in his/her class, and with their playmates.

REMEMBER, anyone can get lice, it is non-discriminatory bug, and any head of hair is the same to this creature. It has been in existence since the dawn of man, it is resilient, and the only sure way to combat it is PREVENTION. Practice “safe heads” techniques and teach them to your children. What follows is a list of precautions we can all take to help keep lice away.

Tell your child to avoid head/hair contact with other kids.
Comb/brush sharing, and headband/ hat/ scarf/ coat sharing should be discouraged.
Label each family member’s hairbrush or comb, and do not share.
If your children insist on having sleepovers, read them the riot act about not touching heads or sharing pillows, brushes, hair accessories, clothing or any other personal items that might have come in contact with a child’s hair.
Vacuum upholstered seat backs in your car after car-pooling if you know there is a current outbreak.
Beware of helmets—not just bike helmets, but Little League batting helmets (invest in your own and label it clearly)
If you discover lice or nits in your child’s hair, be diligent in checking the infested child’s hair.

TELL EVERYBODY!!!! Come out of the closet. Your hours of nitpicking and laundering will be for naught if lice in a friend’s head remain undetected. Inevitably, the pests will return to your child’s hair.

If you have any questions, or need illustrations of lice/nits to see, please feel free to call Nurse Kathy at 224-765-3909.

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It’s time for the 5th Annual Family Skate Night, Friday,
January 27^th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.  Don’t forget there’s no school the next day so you have no reason not to be there!! Look for the registration form in your students backpack. We need volunteers to help work the night of the event, and we need help with nut-free baked goods for the bake sale.  We especially need cakes for the cake walk. If you have any questions or want to volunteer please call Stephanie Orsi (847)682-6774 or Elaine Wexler (847)433-8978.
link: http://www.waynethomaspta.com/Libraries/Downloads/Family_Skate_Night_2012.sflb.ashxlink:

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Emergency Closing Communications
Any time dire weather is predicted, it’s natural to want to know if school will be closed.  Decisions to close school are generally made by 5 a.m. that school day, and are usually driven by factors such as roadway conditions or dangerously unsafe temperatures.  If school is closed or there is a change in start time, that information will be posted clearly on the district and all school websites, and families who have opted to will receive email and phone notifications.  If school remains open as usual, no special announcements will be made. Click here for more information on emergency closing procedures and communications.

DEAR PARENTS PLEASE ATTACHED WORKSHOP FLYER
APS Workshop Flyer 2-14-12

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ALL AFTER  SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE CANCELED TODAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 20TH

Wayne Thomas implements PBIS:  Year 3

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive systems approach to establishing the behavioral supports, social culture and are needed for all students in a school to achieve social, emotional, and academic success.

As a Response to Intervention model, PBIS applies a three-tiered system of support, and a problem-solving process to enhance the capacity of schools to effectively educate all students.

The principles and practices of PBIS are consistent with federal education mandates such as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004).  PBIS integrates state school improvement initiatives including Systems of Support, Standards Aligned Curriculum, and Response to Intervention to assist schools in meeting Illinois’ educational goals and mandates.

Students have learned about expectations for routines around Arrival/Dismissal, Lunchroom, Recess, Bathroom and Assembly. Also, students have learned about how to resolve conflicts with Stop, Walk and Talk.

How can you help? We will be collecting small prize items to use as rewards for the children.  Any small left over treat bag items or similar items would be appreciated. Please send any donations to Mrs. Deely.  We appreciate your support. Thanks.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Deely
Principal

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ISAT TESTING FEBRUARY 27- MARCH 6

Dear Wayne Thomas Parents,

We will be administering the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) to eligible students in third, fourth and fifth grades from February 27- March   6.  These tests show how well students and schools are performing relative to the State Learning Standards.  Students in third grade will be assessed in reading and math; fourth grade students will be assessed in reading, math and science; and fifth grade students will be assessed in reading and math.  The results of these state tests will be reported to you on the School Report Card in the fall.  The Wayne Thomas staff will review the results, along with other information, to help us improve our school program.  You will receive information about your child’s performance, as well.

Attendance during this testing period is extremely important.  Please avoid scheduling any non-emergency doctor or dentist visits during this time.  In addition, please make sure that your child has a good night’s sleep and has a nutritious breakfast during this testing period.

Sincerely,
Maureen Deely
Principal

DEAR FAMILIES PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING LINK:

http://triblocal.com/highland-park-highwood/community/galleries/2012/01/wayne-thomas-geography-bee/

Winter Intervention Cycle Starts Today!

January 17, 2012

Dear Parents,

I would like to inform you of an academic initiative. Wayne Thomas has scheduled a supplemental, thirty-minute academic intervention period into the school day, after lunch from 12:40 to 1:10 each day.  This time allows teachers to offer additional instruction to students based upon their reading, writing or math skill levels. Entry into the groups is based upon Curriculum Based Measurements (CBM), and teacher input.  During the intervention period, a Wayne Thomas staff member will supervise a peer who will be in close contact with your student’s assigned teacher will instruct your child. As with all flexible instruction groups, students may move from one group to another depending upon periodic, teacher-administered assessments of their academic skills.  Typically, student progress is assessed weekly and reviewed every six weeks.

If you have any questions please contact your child’s teacher or me.

Sincerely,

Maureen Deely
Principal

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