On behalf of all the staff at Kennedy School, I would like to wish all of our families a very restful, peaceful and joy-filled holiday season.

Take time to relax and enjoy time with family & friends making beautiful memories. Please remember the magic of the season and set aside some time to see the world through the eyes of a child! We look forward to seeing you all again in 2018!

Like many other school districts, Schiller Park District 81 is experiencing higher than usual absenteeism rates in its schools, due to fever, cough, etc. Some of these point to influenza-like illness, which the nursing staff is monitoring in conjunction with Cook County Health & Hospitals System guidelines.

With the arrival of cold and flu season, the Cook County Health & Hospitals System (CCHHS) is recommending increased awareness and precautions to help control and prevent the spread of influenza (flu). The CCHHS has created a fact sheet in both English and Spanish which lists important guidelines.

A student should not be in attendance and will be sent home with any of the following:

• Temperature of 100 degrees or above, or with incidents of vomiting and/or diarrhea. Student may return to school when free of above symptom(s) for 24 hours without any fever reducing medication or other medication to relieve symptom(s).

• Symptoms related to possible communicable diseases (skin rashes, redness of eyes, swollen glands, etc.)

• Excessive drainage from eyes, ears, persistent earache, constant cough or painful sore throat accompanied by enlarged lymph nodes.

• Students with (or having the potential to transmit) an acute infectious disease or parasite(ie.live head lice and/or nits present within ¼ inch of scalp).

Any student returning to school with a cast, crutches or other debilitating injury or illness requiring an activity restriction must report to the school nurse. A doctor’s note is needed when a student is able to return to normal school activities (ie PE, recess) after an injury on illness.

A doctor’s note stating that the child may return to school is needed when a child has been absent from school for five or more consecutive days.

A student will not be excused from physical education without a note from the parent, physician or school nurse. A parental note is acceptable for two days, thereafter, a note from a physician is required. Notes should include reason for excuse, and length of time student should be excused from physical education classes.

Winter is upon us and cold weather is fast approaching. Please keep in mind when the temperature is 30 degrees and above the children will continue to line up outside as well as go out for recess.

It is important that they are adequately prepared for the cold temperatures. At this time of the year every child should be wearing a coat, hat, scarf and gloves when leaving the house in the morning. When there is snow on the ground boots are necessary.

The Six Flags Read to Succeed program has started! If you would like your child to participate, they will need to fill out the Student Reading Log that went home with your children & record 6 hours (360 minutes) of reading by Friday, February 16th. These forms need to be turned in to your child's classroom teacher upon completion. Each child who returns their reading log will receive a ticket to Six Flags Great America! Happy Reading! Remember, reading on MyOn counts as time reading, too!

Make time each week for family reading! Not only is this quality time to spend with kids, but it feeds their brains! Reading to and with your child supports the love of literacy. Reading in front of your child models the importance of reading! Take a few moments each night to read together as a family, to read aloud to your child, or to listen to your child read. Remember, it doesn't always have to be a book! You can read magazines, articles, poetry, something on the Internet, a recipe, pamphlet, brochure, etc. Reading is EVERYWHERE!

Let's celebrate family reading! Share your photos from home of your family taking opportunities to read! You can email them to Mrs. Kartsimas (mkartsimas@sd81.org), tweet them and tag us @SPKennedy81, or mention/tag @kennedyschool81 on Instagram!