The Buzz at Westbrook School

Dear Westbrook Families,

We are excited to share some important updates with you for the upcoming weeks at Westbrook School.

Our students will be delving into the joys of fall, family, and feasts in the coming weeks. As the season unfolds, we can't help but look forward to our annual Fall Walk for Westbrook fundraiser on Wednesday, October 4th. Our students will embark on an “Animal Adventure” around Westbrook this year. The PTO will invite parents to join us and cheer on our Westbrook students. Please see the Walk for Westbrook classroom event times. We extend our gratitude to our dedicated PTO for their efforts in making this event memorable for our students.

We value the partnership between parents and teachers in your child's education. Fall parent-teacher conferences will be held on November 1st, 2nd, and 9th. Sign-ups will open on Friday, October 6th at 4 PM. Look for the sign-up link in our newsletter on October 6th. The sign-up period will remain open until Friday, October 27th. Parents will have the flexibility to choose between an in-person conference or a Zoom conference.

District 57 continues to partner with the Mount Prospect Police Department for "Fist Bump Friday." On Friday, October 13th, officers will be present at Westbrook during arrival times at 9:10 AM and 1:10 PM. Officers will be on our grass area for students who want to give a fist bump. This initiative fosters connections between students, families, staff, and our local officers.

Please remember that there is no school on Monday, September 25th. Students will return on Tuesday. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 26th, when our students can capture those picture-perfect smiles during their assigned classroom time. Picture retakes will also be available on Wednesday, November 8th.

On Friday, October 6th, we have a half-day institute day. Only first-grade students will attend school at Westbrook from 9:20 AM to 12:20 PM. Lunch will not be needed for first-grade students on this day. Our Kids’ Corner program will be available to first-grade students from 7:00 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. Please communicate this schedule change to your private daycare providers. Circle of Friends and Kindergarten students will NOT attend school on half-day institute days. Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, October 9th, is a non-attendance day.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our Westbrook community. We look forward to a wonderful fall season filled with memorable learning experiences.

For Your Children,

Danielle Crandall

HR Imaging will be here on Tuesday, September 26th. Information on how to order will be sent home next week.

Bring your smiles!

Monday, September 25th - No School

Tuesday, September 26th - Picture Day (retakes 11/8)

Tuesday, October 3rd - PEPS Meeting, Westbrook LRC, 6:30 PM

Wednesday, October 4th - Walk for Westbrook Schedule

(Rain Date:10/5)

Friday, October 6th - Half Day, Institute Day (Only 1st grade attends 9:20am -12:20pm)

Conference Sign-Up opens in the Westbrook Newsletter

Monday, October 9th - No School

Tuesday, October 10th - PTO All School Laser Assembly 11:00 AM/1:30 PM

Friday, October 13th - 1st Grade Special Lunch

MPPD “Fist Bump Friday” 9:10 AM & 1:10 PM

Wednesday, October 18th - PTO, Westbrook Staff Lounge 7 PM

Thursday, October 19th - Lunch with the Principals Roy/Zei

Friday, October 20th - Institute Day, No School

Tuesday, October 24th - All School Hot Reads Assembly 9:30 AM / 1:30 PM

October 24th - October 26th - Hearing and Vision Screenings, LRC

Friday, October 27th - Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Up Closes

Saturday, October 28th - PTO Trunk-or-Treat, WB Parking lot, 10am -12pm

Tuesday, October 31st

AM EC/Kinder Parade: 10:45 AM

AM Kinder Party: 11 - 11:40 AM

PM EC/Kinder/1st Parade: 2:30 PM

PM Kinder/1st Party: 3 - 3:40 PM

November 1st, 2nd, and 9th - Parent-Teacher Conferences

For more dates, check out the district calendar: D57 Calendar

Tips to help reduce separation anxiety.

Get your student excited about the day!

Take the focus off drop-off and on the day ahead. Talk about all the good things that will happen, such as the chance to play with a new friend or take part in an activity they’ve talked about. Excitedly anticipate the goodness of the day.

Give them a reminder of you!

It might be a tiny piece of a blanket or T-shirt that you’ve slept in and smells like you. Whatever it is, it should be a small, tactile memento of you. Something that they can stick their hand or their pocket to touch or put up against their face when they are feeling sad.

Explain EXACTLY when pickup is!

Don’t say that you’ll be there at the end of the day or even at noon or 3 p.m. Instead, talk to your student about pickup time in terms of what activities they’ll be doing immediately before you see them again. So, if you’ll see them after lunch, tell them, “‘OK, you’ll eat lunch and then I’ll be there.’”

PEPS (Partnering with Educators and Parents to Support student needs) is a networking group for parents of children with special needs in any of the District 57 schools.

Check out the PEPS newsletter here.

SPECIAL LUNCH

Special Lunch orders for 1st grade students are due

FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR on Friday, September 29th.

Click here to order.

If you are interested in volunteering to help distribute lunches, click here to sign up.

VOLUNTEER IN THE LRC

Interested in volunteering at Westbrook’s Library (also known as the Learning Resource Center/LRC)? LRC volunteers:

• Assist the librarians with shelving as well as checking books in and out
• Assist with special projects
• Read aloud to classes

Get to know Westbrook teachers, staff, and students all while freeing up the LRC staff to do what they do best: teach and assist our kids! Volunteer as much or as little as you can. All help is appreciated! Click here to sign up.

BECOME A MEMBER

Help support the PTO and all we do. Your membership helps us keep the PTO running. Funds raised during the membership drive help support the PTO website, the family directory, and other administrative costs. Any funds raised beyond covering those costs will go directly back to Westbrook students. Gifts with membership include a Westbrook car magnet and Buzz the bee holographic sticker. Click here and become a member today!

WALK FOR WESTBROOK

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Walk for Westbrook. The PTO depends on the funds raised from this event to run programs for the entire year. We appreciate your support. If you have not yet donated, please click here to learn more about how your donation helps Westbrook and how you can contribute.

The Walk for Westbrook will take place on October 4th (October 5th rain date). During the walk, students will go on an "Animal Adventure" around Westbrook school. On their adventure, they will be led by Room Rep parents as they visit six different animal-themed stations. At each station, they will be challenged to complete an obstacle and earn a sticker for their Animal Adventure badge. After earning all six stickers, students will visit the Westbrook Animal Adoption Center and pick out an animal friend of their own to bring home! We will also send home a cardstock activity with instructions about how students can create a habitat for their new friend!

Parents are welcome to attend the Walk for Westbrook and cheer their students on as they complete their "Animal Adventure." Each class will begin their walk at a different time. Classes will begin the walk exiting from Door 2. The schedule is below.

Walk for Westbrook Schedule

Hope to see you there!

Email: wb-office@d57.org
Website: https://www.d57.org/westbrookschoolforyounglearners_home.aspx
Location: 103 Busse Road, Mount Prospect, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 394-7340
Twitter: @westbrook_d57