River Trails Monthly

January 2023

In this newsletter...

Welcome back video
Important survey information
Question of the month
Upcoming internet safety event
2023-2024 registration information
Kid Squad changes
PTC Family Night at the Chicago Wolves game
And more!

Happy New Year, River Trails Families!

Later this month you will have an opportunity to offer crucial feedback to the district. On January 24, a survey called the 5Essentials Survey will open for parents and guardians. This is an anonymous survey administered online by the University of Chicago on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Why does it matter?

District 26 is always looking to improve and your input is critical. This survey provides valuable data that we can use to ensure our students are receiving the best possible education. However, in order for the survey to be an effective barometer, we need to obtain a high percentage of responses from parents and guardians at each school.

The survey will also be completed by teachers and students, giving us a comprehensive picture of the school environment. There are five areas the survey considers essential for judging school success and improvement:

Effective Leaders
Collaborative Teachers
Involved Families
Supportive Environments
Ambitious Instruction

We will share more information once the survey is open. Thank you in advance for helping to make our schools the best they can be.

Watch more of our videos

Answers are anonymous. Thank you for participating!

Who is someone at RTSD26 who deserves a shout-out?

1/16: No School -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

1/17: Kid Squad Returns to Euclid and Indian Grove

1/17: Board of Education Meeting

More events can be found on your school's online calendar:

Every Friday, we post a gallery of photos taken by teachers and staff throughout RTSD26. The goal is to give you a glimpse into what the day looks like at our schools. You can find an archive of past galleries on our website.

Photo Galleries

A gallery of photos taken each week by teachers and staff throughout RTSD26

rtsd26.org

Event Information

Next Board of Education Meeting

When?

Tue, Jan 17, 2023, 07:00 PM

Where?

River Trails Middle School and livestreamed at rtsd26.org

location_on Open maps

What does the Board do? How do they operate? Can I attend meetings?

Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about our school board.

Kid Squad Changes in 2023

Beginning next Tuesday (January 17), Kid Squad will return to being hosted at Euclid and Indian Grove rather than the Weiss Community Center.

Kid Squad is a cooperative program between River Trails D26 and the River Trails Park District. It is designed to offer quality before and after-school care for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. For more information or to learn how to register, you can review Dr. Megerle's November message about the program.

2023-2024 Registration

Kindergarten Registration Night will be on Thursday, February 23 at Prairie Trails School. Registration for all other grades will be open at a later date. More details will be communicated with families in the coming weeks.

Prairie Trails

January Newsletter
Next PTC Meeting: Tuesday, January 24 at 6:00 p.m.

Euclid

January Newsletter
Next PTC Meeting: Wednesday, February 8 at 7 p.m.

Indian Grove

January Newsletter
Next PTC Meeting: Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m.

River Trails

January Newsletter
Next PTC Meeting: Wednesday, January 25 at 7 p.m.

Internet Safety Presentation

Wednesday, February 1, 6:30 p.m. at Prairie Trails

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Are you interested in learning how to help your children navigate life in a digital age? Join us on Wednesday, February 1 for a presentation on internet safety with guest speaker Devorah Heitner, author of "Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World."

First email account. First gaming avatar. First social media account. First smartphone. First group chat. There are many milestones involved in growing up in the digital age. This talk informs parents how kids, tweens and teens use screens and how parents can mentor kids as they encounter and master these new digital experiences. Audiences leave with a powerful message: Limiting or monitoring technology is no substitute for mentoring our kids.

Need technology support? Fill out a support form and someone from our technology department will be in touch.

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This is a combined PTC event! Families from all four schools are invited. To order tickets visit fevo.me/district26ptc.

Bilingual Family Workshops

The Illinois Resource Center (IRC) is offering free workshops designed for bilingual families. These workshops cover a variety topics related to raising a bilingual child. They are offered in English and Spanish.

Check out this flyer for more information or to register (Spanish version)

Check out our Community Wall for local programs and events that might be of interest to your student or family.

RTSD26 Community Wall

Food Service Survey

Our food services department wants your feedback! Please complete this short survey to help us ensure we are offering students the best possible lunch and breakfast.

Pre-K Snack Change

Beginning January 17...The new pre-k snack on Tuesdays will be a sunbutter and jam sandwich along with fresh vegetables.

Breakfast Changes at Indian Grove

Beginning this week and for the remainder of the 22-23 school year, breakfast is no longer being offered in the cafeteria at Indian Grove. If your student does need breakfast, please complete the pre-order form here. Breakfast costs $1.90 for all students, payments can be made by using MyMealtime.

The Board of Education approved this change at their November meeting due to the low demand for breakfast at Indian Grove. A survey will be sent in the spring to determine if it will be offered for the following school year. Breakfast will remain the same at the other three schools.

Do you have questions about breakfast or lunch? Contact Kelly Diaz, director of food services, at 224-612-7675 or by emailing kdiaz@rtsd26.org.

Influenza Information

Flu season is upon us. Recently Dr. Carie Cohen, our assistant superintendent for student services, sent an email with some information about influenza. You can review that email on our website.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also offers some good tips on how to manage the flu if your child gets sick.

You can find an assessment calendar for the 22-23 school year on our website. If you have any questions about these assessments or other curriculum-related matters, please contact Assistant Superintendent Kristy Seifert at kseifert@rtsd26.org.

We need substitutes!

Interested in choosing your own hours and making a difference in our students' lives? Consider becoming a substitute teacher for RTSD26! Visit the district website to apply. You can find information about licensure by visiting the Illinois State Board of Education website.