River Trails Monthly

February 2023

In this newsletter...

Video of the Month
Question of the month
2023-2024 registration information
Curriculum update
And more!

It’s hard to believe that February 27 marks the beginning of our third and final trimester of the year. The thought of spring stirs feelings of both excitement and anxiety. Excitement, because the days continue to lengthen and the weather (usually) improves. Anxiety, because there is still much to accomplish and so little time left in the school year. I know it can be a challenge to find the sustained energy needed to finish strong.

There is no better time than now to refocus for those final few months. What can you do to meet those end goals? How can you help your children stay on track? These are some of the ways I refocus myself and recalibrate through the last stretch of the school year:

Remember your WHY – It’s pivotal to remember what’s important to you. What were the goals you set in August and why did you set those goals in the first place?
Baby Steps – Break your goal down into smaller, more manageable steps. I like to backwards map from the end of the year so that I know exactly how much time I have for each step.
Attitude is Key – Keep a positive mindset. Wake up each morning and smile. Set your mind on positivity and surround yourself with those who encourage you.
Lean on Others – Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Rely on your team and supporters. They will be there for you.
Be Patient – Sometimes, accomplishments take longer than we’d like. Hard work is a journey and sometimes we learn more along the way. Be proud of the progress you’ve made.

I hope everyone is ready for a rewarding third trimester. Our schools have some excellent resources to support our students and families. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to help end the year on a positive note.

If video doesn't play here, you can also access it at youtu.be/RpjwYbDXLAM.

Watch more of our videos

What is something you love about your child's school?

Answers are anonymous. Thank you for participating!

2/20: No School -- Presidents Day

2/21: Board of Education Meeting

2/23: Kindergarten Registration Night at Prairie Trails

3/13: Registration Opens for All Grades

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?

Tuesday, Feb 21, 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.

Parent/Guardian Survey

We need your input! If you have not done so already, please participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Parent and Guardian Survey. Your responses will remain confidential and will not be connected to the identity of you or your child.

Survey results will help us to better understand the conditions at your child’s school and to guide improvement. For the survey to be validated, we need at least 20% of our parents to take the survey.

Visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ to participate. Thank you for your support!

2023-2024 Kindergaten Registration

Do you have a child entering kindergarten in the 2023-2024 school year? It’s time to register!

Our district is hosting a Kindergarten Registration Night on Thursday, February 23 at Prairie Trails School from 4 to 8 p.m. This is an in-person event and you will need to reserve a timeslot by visiting rtsd26.org/kindergarten. Even if you already have a student in the district, you should attend Registration Night for your new kindergarten student. It is not necessary to bring your child to this event.

Registration for All Other Grades

Beginning Monday, March 13, families will be able to register their students for the 2023-2024 school year. This is required for all students. More information will be shared as we get closer to that date.

Prairie Trails

February Newsletter
Next PTC Meeting: Tuesday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m.

Euclid

February Newsletter
Next PTC Meeting: Wednesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. (Board Only)

Indian Grove

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

River Trails

February Newsletter
Next PTC Meeting: Wednesday, March 15 at 7 p.m.

Assessment

We have entered our busiest testing season of the year. Please be on the lookout for building-specific information and testing schedules. In February, 3rd and 5th grade students will take the CogAT assessment. In March, 3rd-8th grade students will take the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). Also in March, 5th and 8th grade students will take the Illinois Science Assessment. You can always find the full district assessment calendar on our website.

Elementary Math Pilot

We are making excellent progress with trying out new math materials in grades K-5. We have been busy gathering feedback from teachers and students as we seek to find materials that develop procedural fluency, build strong conceptual understanding and provide opportunities for the authentic application of concepts. We plan to train all teachers on new materials beginning in April for a fall 2023 rollout. If you have any questions regarding the math pilot, please contact kseifert@rtsd26.org.

Internet Safety Presentation

Did you miss the Internet Safety Presentation on February 1? You're in luck! You can watch a recording of the hourlong conversation with guest speaker Devorah Heitner, author of "Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World."

The video is available at rtsd26.org/internet.

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

Free Dental Exam

Coming up in April, the Miles of Smiles, Ltd. dental program will be visiting our district. This is a program that offers free dental exams to students of all grades and also fulfills the mandated dental exam for anyone entering kindergarten, 2nd, 6th and 9th grades.

In order to have your child participate, you will need to fill out a permission form. Once fully completed, the permission form should be returned to your child’s teacher by March 15.

All children who return a completed permission form will receive a dental exam. Following the exam at school, you will be notified if further dental treatment is needed.

*Important Note: Please make sure to fill out the entire permission form.

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

Thursdays at RTMS are Chef's Choice days. This week the kitchen served these delicious-looking fish tacos with avocado, slaw, peach salsa and limes!

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.

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.