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News from Sundling Junior High
September 29, 2023
Letter from the Principal
Happy almost October! It is hard to believe that we will be finishing up the first quarter of school in next few weeks, on Friday, October 13th. Please be aware that 1st quarter Progress Reports will be available for families to view on Friday, October 27th after 4 PM. If you should have any questions or concerns about, please reach out to your child's teacher.
I want to thank all of our students, families, and staff for pulling together and supporting each other during the past few months of school. It has been a great start, focused on building relationships and a sense of community at our school. We still have much work to do, but feel strongly that this focus will help support strong academic and social emotional growth over the entire school year. The staff and administration are appreciative of your continued support, patience, and feedback. We could not do this without the support and help of our Sundling families and community.
There are several resources within this newsletter to support families. Please continue to reach out to me, Mr. Rice, Mr. Scafidi or your child's classroom teacher with ways we can support you and your child.
Thanks for all of your continued support of our school! It’s a Great Day to be a Paladin! #iagdtbap
Take care and stay well,
Jason Dietz
Principal
Sundling Clubs & Activities
Walter R. Sundling Clubs & Activities for 2023-24 include:
- Art Club
- Book Club
- Chess & Board Game Club
- Chorus
- Coding Club
- Creative Writing Club
- ESPN Announcements
- Math Club
- Musical
- Musical Stage Crew
- NJHS
- Peer Mentors
- Role Playing Games (DCC & WRS)
- Service Club
- Variety Show
- World Culture Club
- WRS Spirit Squad
- Yearbook Club
- Adding more as the year continues...
A Message from D211- Students Attending Athletic Events
Any elementary or junior high student that attends a Palatine or Fremd High School athletic event, must be accompanied by a parent/guardian for the duration of the event. If any student exhibits inappropriate behavior as deemed by PHS administration, they will be asked to leave the event. Inappropriate behavior includes but is not limited to: verbal and/or physical altercations, insubordination, and disruption.
Order your WRS Yearbook TODAY!!
Order your Sundling Yearbook NOW:
Order Deadline: March 15, 2024
Website: ybpay.com
Yearbook ID Code: 14528124
School Name: Walter Sundling Junior High School
Sundling Boys Basketball Registration 2023
Registration Opens: 9/29/2023
Registration Closes: 10/20/2023
7th Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts- October 23rd & October 24th 2:15-3:50PM
8th Grade Boys basketball Tryouts- October 25th & October 26th 2:15-3:50PM
Parent MUST complete registration (link below) and MUST have a completed and up to date physical on file in our nurse's office in order to attend tryouts.
🏀 REGISTRATION LINK 🏀
Palatine Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA)
Do you have a junior high school student who has aspirations to be their own boss? Encourage them to apply to be a part of the Palatine Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy! Applications are due 10/2/23. Details and the application are available at www.palatinechamber.com/yea.
8th Grade Families- High School Placement Test Information
Fremd & Palatine Class of 2028 Placement testing will take place on October 21, 2023 at your home high school. Students should arrive no later than 7:45am. The test will run from 8am until 11:15am. Students should bring their charged school issued Chromebook, two #2 pencils, and a calculator to testing. Information related to testing and the D211 Class of 2028 can be found here: https://adc.d211.org/domain/165.
If your child cannot attend on October 21st, please contact your high school to be scheduled to attend the make-up date scheduled for October 25. Please contact the high school directly if you have any questions, or need to attend the testing at a different time.
Minor Referral- Parent Communication (new)
As we continue to ensure that we remain strong “Partners in Learning” and to maintain open communication throughout the school year, we will be implementing a communication tool to help inform our parents when a student receives a minor or multiple minor referrals. A minor behavior referral is for a student who does something that is hurtful to anyone, something unsafe, or something that intentionally breaks the flow of learning, or a student who continues misbehavior after staff responds and redirects, and has attempted interventions and positive responses.
When a student receives a minor referral at school, the staff member will document this incident, and follow up with a standard email to keep you informed about the issue and how we can work together to support your child. We hope that by keeping these lines of communication open, we can resolve issues quickly and problem solve or plan if the need arises. If you do not receive the standard email, the staff member may look for other opportunities to connect such as a phone call, or meeting.
Minors are tracked monthly.
3 minors = Office Discipline Referral (ODR), parent contact
4 minors = Office Discipline Referral (ODR), lunch detention w/ team
5 minors = Office Discipline Referral (ODR), referred to administration, parent contact, and consequence issued (such as after-school detention)
Any minor past the 5th, in the same month, will automatically be referred to administration.
As we work out this new system and communication tool at Sundling, we always welcome any feedback to make it better, and of course support you at home.
Sincerely,
The Administrative Team at Sundling
D15 Mental Health Awareness Reminder
Following the recent comprehensive mental health screening process in later September, there will be a Mental Health Awareness program through Erika’s Lighthouse. This program provides school staff the opportunity to teach students about mental health and teach them how to seek help if they are concerned about themselves or a friend. Students participating in this mental health awareness program will be reminded that hope and help is available in a variety of places including their own school.
The student program consists of a PowerPoint presentation that includes a mental health awareness video, a group discussion and ends with a student exit form in which students can choose to ask to talk with a school mental health professional. Self-referred students and students referred by peers will be interviewed by a school mental health professional, and parents will be notified.
8th Grade Presentation: October 11th (during PE classes)
7th Grade Presentation: November 2 (during PE classes)
We are enclosing a copy of community resources and good mental health tips so that you have information and resources about depression and its related risks. If you do NOT wish your child to participate in the Mental Health Awareness program in school, please contact your building principal. If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in this program. If you have already reached out to opt out, you do not need to respond again.
D15 Erin's Law- Reminder
On January 24th 2013, Governor Quinn signed into effect Public Act 097-1147, also known as Erin’s Law. Erin’s Law was named in honor of Erin Merryn, a brave young woman who has crossed the country advocating for laws that will increase awareness of sexual abuse against children. This law has passed in 37 states, Illinois being one of them.
One of the law’s requirements is that schools provide an age/developmentally appropriate presentation to all students relating to sexual abuse and safety skills, which may include a variety of discussions, activities, videos and/or role play scenarios. These topics include concepts such as; safe and unsafe touches, getting help, boundaries, and empowerment. The purpose of this presentation is to provide students with tools needed for personal safety. We also strive to provide a nurturing and caring environment to openly discuss these topics, if a student desires.
Nationwide, 1 in 3 girls, and 1 in 5 boys, will be the victim of child sexual abuse by the age of 18. Strangers were just 3% of the offenders in cases of victims under age 6, and 5% of youth ages 6-11. Only one in 10 abused children tell someone. Through this program, aimed at educating and empowering students, we want to provide your child with the knowledge and skills to use if ever affected by sexual abuse.
Trained staff members will be presenting these lessons, in their classrooms, by winter break to meet the requirements of this law and to offer a safe space to students.
If you have any questions or would like additional information on the Erin’s Law presentations, please contact your building’s clinician or administrator. If you would like your child to opt out of these lessons please email or call your building principal. The District 15 website also has a list of parental resources for your reference.
WRS Family Assistance
If you are someone who is in need of community resources, please fill out this form. After you have completed and submitted it, one of the social workers will reach out to assist you.
October 2023- Important Dates
Monday, October 9th- No School (Indigenous Peoples Day)
Tuesday, October 10th- No School (Teacher Plan Day)
Wednesday, October 11- Mental Health Awareness Presentations (8th Grade)
Wednesday, October 11- WRS PTA Culver's Dine & Share 5:00 PM-8:00 PM
Friday, October 13th- End of Quarter #1
Monday, October 16th- Quarter #2 Begins
Thursday, October 19th- WRS PTA Black & Orange Fall Fest 2:30-4:00 PM
Saturday, October 21st- 8th Grade High School Placement Testing (PHS & FHS) 8:00am
Wednesday, October 19th- D15 Board of Education Meeting
Tuesday, October 24th- 7th Grade Fall Band Concert 7:00 PM
Wednesday, October 25th- WRS PTA Papa John's Dine & Share 4:00 PM- 8:00 PM
Wednesday, October 25th- WRS PTA Meeting 7:00 PM
Thursday, October 26th- 8th Grade Fall Band Concert 7:00 PM
Friday, October 27th- Quarter 1 Progress Reports Available in Infinite Campus (4:00pm)
WRS PTA Membership
The PTA is excited at the possibility of providing fun activities for our students this year. We need the support of our Sundling community to make it happen. For $7 for single membership or $12 for family membership you can help create a memorable year for our kids.
Two Ways to Become a Member!
• Sign up online at: https://sundlingpta.new.memberhub.store/store
(There is a MemberHub service change of 75¢ (Individual) and 92¢ (Household) to join online.)
-OR-
• Return this form to the school office in an envelope marked “PTA MEMBERSHIP” along with exact cash or check (payable to: “Sundling PTA”)
Walter R. Sundling Junior High School
Website: www.ccsd15.net/WRS
Location: 1100 North Smith Street, Palatine, IL, USA
Phone: 847-963-3700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.dietz.1217
Twitter: @SundlingJH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrsjhpaladins/