WHS Principal Post- May 2020

The final month of our WHS 2019-20 school year has arrived. May has historically been at time for culminating events, performances, open house, field day, classroom field trips, classroom parties, fifth grade farewell, schoolwide clap outs, and boundless energy.

While this year has taken an unexpected detour, we remain committed to providing as much fun, recognition, and closure as possible given the reality we are living in.

You can find some of our initial plans below:

District 44’s last day of school (Remote Learning) is May 29. District 44 received word from the governor’s office this week that we DO NOT have to make-up days that we were closed due to COVID-19. Therefore, our final last day will be May 29.

We are in the process of planning a WHS "Reverse" Parade. In a traditional parade, people come to you. A "REVERSE" parade is when you come to it!

Essentially, each family will have an opportunity to come to Hammerschmidt and cruise the parade route in your cars during a specified period of time. The WHS Staff will be on hand to cheer and congratulate you on the completion of this crazy school year.

More details including the parade route and specific grade level times will be coming in next week's Friday email blast! (Friday 5/15) Stay tuned!

The tentative date for this parade will be Friday, May 29th. (Rain Date- June 1st)

In order to honor social distancing guidelines, as well as abide by the “stay at home” order, we will not be allowing students into the buildings. Instead, our staff will gather all students’ belongings, including medications, into a labeled bag. At the middle school, this will include student hall and P.E. lockers. Families will have an opportunity to pick-up their items on Wednesday, June 3rd. Based on last name, families will be provided a specific day and time which will be communicated closer to June 3. If your family needs access to your child’s medication prior to June 3, please contact your child’s principal.

Grades K-8 Device Collection

Families will turn-in their child’s device while picking-up their items on June 3. Families should be prepared to turn in all district-issued devices and equipment, including chargers and styluses along with any LRC books or other district materials

VIRTUAL PTA Meeting - Tuesday, May 12 at 7pm

We will be voting in our new Executive Board and invite all current PTA members to join this meeting and vote. Voting will be the first item on the agenda, so please join at the start even if you can't stay on for the entire meeting. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the RAISE YOUR HAND option as that's how we will conduct the vote.

Topic: PTA

Time: May 12, 2020 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://csd99.zoom.us/j/93197665298?pwd=Z0Q2emNHQ2duQ0RnM0FwT2RyWTN5Zz09

Meeting ID: 931 9766 5298

Password: 768031

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,93197665298# US (Chicago)

The Nominating Committee has worked hard to put together the following slate of nominees. A huge thank you goes out to each of these women for dedicating themselves to continuing the mission of the PTA to provide support to WHS and all of our children. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Julie Settles before Tuesday's meeting.

President: Lisa Greenfield

1st VP: Jennifer Maercklein & Amanda Shafer

2nd VP: Heather Villardito

Treasurer: Jean McCahill

Secretary: Amanda Perryman

Council Rep: Holly Forsyth

This Saturday was supposed to be our 3rd Annual Stars and Spike's 5K Event. Our planning team wanted to provide an opportunity to anyone who wants to participate virtually. Play the short video below for details!

Please share all your pictures and videos of your participation. Wear red, white, and blue or other American themed gear to honor this year's theme "Miles for the Military!" We are going to put a highlight video together and want to include you!

Upload your Stars and Spikes Virtual 5K Pictures and Videos Here

Below you will find the resources shared from our WHS P.E. Staff!

If you haven't yet had a chance to try some of these activities, detailed directions are linked below! Have fun!

• Field Day Activities (PDF)

• Video Clips for Activities

• Official Scorecard

*All resources on this page by openphysed.org

Below you can find some great resources that are intended for parents and staff. I hope you find something of interest here!

Parent and Staff Resources for Remote Learning

If you like Harry Potter, you need to check out this website!

Here you will find all sorts of great activities and challenges for the book in addition to guest readers reading aloud each chapter!

Click Here the Harry Potter Read Alouds and Resources

We can not thank you enough for the very touching video that was created and shared with our staff. I have personally watched it about a dozen times and every time my cheeks hurt from smiling. This incredibly thoughtful gesture brightened the days of our entire staff! Hammerschmidt is the BEST! Thank You!!

Communications: Where to Find Information You Need During This Challenging Time

We understand that our families are being inundated with information about all aspects of their lives during this challenging time. Therefore, we are committed to making sure you know where to go to find all the important communications related to your child's e-learning experience.

Our Remote Learning website now includes the "Communications Hub." Here you will find all district communications, listed in timeline format. We also continue to post to our own school websites.

In addition, we encourage you to follow the District 44 Facebook Page, District 44 Twitter and District 44 YouTube Channel.

What to Do if Your Device Breaks

If your device breaks or malfunctions….

Moving forward, should your device break, we ask that you visit the "Technology Support" button of the Remote Learning website. Here you will find helpful information to troubleshoot issues you may be experiencing. Additionally, you may complete a form if you are in need of more specific support.

Food Distribution: We Are Here to Serve You

Every Monday, from 9-11 am, food will be provided to any family in need at Glenn Westlake Middle School. During your visit, you will be provided a week's worth of food, which include breakfast and lunch options. No questions asked.

Want to learn more about our efforts to serve you? Click here for a short video, highlighting the efforts of our community to ensure our families have access to what they need.

Information about the Northern Illinois Food Bank is also provided below:

Apply for P-EBT SNAP Benefits. This is a special benefit that can help you buy food for your school age children 3 to 17 years

old and 18 to 22 years old (in high school), who would receive National School Lunch Program free or reduced-priced meals

when schools are in session.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO on P- EBT SNAP BENEFITS

Click on the link provided to access the additional resources from the Northern Illinois Food Bank"

Additional Resources from Northern IL Food Bank

Click on the file below to access a list of local community resources!

The Star Cast crew would like to know what is happening with WHS students outside of school hours! If you have a news story or event that you would like WHS to know about, please fill in the following link. Please keep in mind that the StarCast Productions come out once they are complete (without a set timeline). If you know of an event date ahead of time, please give adequate time to get it into the Starcast.

Share your news with us by clicking on the link below.

CLICK HERE- To share your student news with us!

The Glenbard Parent Series has established a GPS Take 5 video library highlighting presentations of their most recent speakers with bite-size videos for both students and families. A new thread to the video library is the Take 5 PREVIEW series videos from speakers to be hosted in the 2020-21 school year. The videos are filled with insights to assist families at this most challenging time. Posted today, find videos of Phylis Fagel author of Middle School Matters and Dr Tina Payne Bryson the author of the YES Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity and Resilience In Your Child. New videos will be added regularly.

WHS PTA FACEBOOK PAGE:

Join the WHS PTA Facebook Page so you will always have the most up-to-date info for all of the events happening throughout the school year!

Click on the button below to see the latest from D44's Virtual Backpack!

Email: ddanielski@sd44.org
Location: Wm Hammerschmidt Elementary School, Hammerschmidt Avenue, Lombard, IL, United States
Phone: 630-827-4207
Twitter: @ddanielski