Welcome Back to WHS for 2019- 2020

Welcome back to the 2019-2020 School Year at Hammerschmidt!

Our school theme for this coming school year:

"One School, One Family, Connected for Success!"

Through the D44 Strategic Planning process last year, a philosophy statement, core values and goals were developed to guide our future success.

The following D44 core value helped to inspire this year's WHS Theme:

In an effort to capitalize on the power of meaningful relationships, this year's primary focus will be on strengthening our "WHS Family." Together we are much stronger than the sum of our parts. By connecting with our students, our families, and one another, we can truly make Hammerschmidt a fun, exciting, and safe place to learn and grow. We are "One School, One Family, Connected for Success!"

Please join me to help strengthen these relationships, so that we can take advantage of all the benefits that out Hammerschmidt Family has to offer. In addition to setting my own goals in this area, I challenge each of you find your own ways to strengthen the bond with our WHS staff and fellow community members.

I would like to invite you to share a photo of your family. Submitted photos will be displayed in our LRC as a way to celebrate all the members that make up our Hammerschmidt School Community. Click on the link below to upload a family photo.

If you have a split or blended family, please feel free to submit more than one, or share in whatever way you are comfortable with!

CLICK HERE to upload a family photo

Have you completed your student's 2019-20school year registration yet?

Sign in today to verify and update any phone numbers, health concerns or emergency contacts.

Also, pay your registration fees by August 8th to avoid a late fee of $20 per a student.

Each new school year provides us an opportunity to extend our well-wishes and welcomes to some outgoing and incoming staff members. The staff changes for 2019-20 are outlined below.

Please join me is wishing our former kindergarten teacher, Heather Gleason, the best of luck as she embarks on a new journey away from District 44. Heather's family recently moved to the Minneapolis, MN area. She will be greatly missed here at Hammerschmidt.

Ms. Wolski previously served as our Infinity Math teacher here at Hammerschmidt. Her time was split between two schools. For this coming year, D44 has added Infinity Reading to the accelerated/ enrichment offerings in Grades 3, 4, and 5. With this change came the need to have a full time staff member in each of the elementary buildings. Instead of spending the afternoons at WHS, Ms. Wolski will now be full time at Butterfield School.

After serving as Health Assistant for many years, Ms. Schroeder has relocated to Texas. She was a valued member of our office team, and was a consistent, positive presence for students in the health office. We wish her the best in this new chapter away from Hammerschmidt.

After teaching Grade 2 for many years, Ms. Kookoothe will transition to the Kindergarten team to serve Hammerschmidt's youngest learners. Kindergarten is where Ms. Kookoothe first started in District 44.

Ms. Lynch will also be transitioning to the newly formed kindergarten team at Hammerschmidt. Ms. Lynch has been teaching fourth grade for the last 5 years.

Instead of teaching 4th Grade, Ms. Traficanti will take on the new full time Infinity Math and Reading Teacher position at Hammerschmidt. With the addition of Infinity Reading this year, this position became full time in each of the buildings. Ms. Traficanti will bring her many years of intermediate teaching experience to this new role.

Yes, it is true that Ms. Koch retired at the end of last year. Fortunately for us, it is also true that Ms. Koch has agreed to join us a maternity leave substitute to start the year in kindergarten! Shortest retirement ever!

Despite the fact that Ms. Markos retired from Hammerschmidt after a long and successful career as a Grade 1 teacher, she has continued to serve the students and families in a variety of roles. Last year, Ms. Markos filled long term sub positions in both Grade 3 and kindergarten. This year she will start the year in Grade 2 as a maternity leave substitute.

Brianna Meath joined WHS last year as an Instructional Assistant. In the spring, she served as a maternity leave sub in second grade. She graduated from Lewis University in 2017. We are proud to welcome her as Grade 2 teacher for the 2019-20 School Year!

Many years ago Ms. Lindsey Rakosnik attended Hammerschmidt as a student. She went on to Glenn Westlake Middle School, Glenbard East High School, and then to the University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign. Lindsey joined our Hammerschmidt Staff in January of last year as a support teacher for the Grade 3 team. She also served as a long term maternity leave sub in Grade 2. Prior to joining WHS, she served as a Grade 4 teacher at Hannah Martin Elementary School in Lake in the Hills. She will be a Grade 4 teacher this year at Hammerschmidt.

Ms. Babincsak has filled many roles as Hammerschmidt in the past. These included morning supervision, bus supervisor, lunchroom supervisor, part-time office clerk, and substitute health assistant. Donna will now serve as full-time health assistant in the Hammerschmidt office.

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Jessica Anderson to Hammerschmidt as a kindergarten teacher. While growing up in Villa Park, Jessica has spent the last 8 years teaching kindergarten in Kentucky. She graduated from Illinois State University in 2010 and received her Masters of Arts in Literacy from Western Kentucky University in 2014.

Please welcome Mr. Kevin Jost to Hammerschmidt as a Grade 4 Teacher. Kevin's most recent experience was teaching Grades 6, 7, and 8 at St. Joan of Arc School in Evanston, however he also has experience as a Grade 4 and Grade 5 teacher. He went to National Louis University and graduated in 2011.

Due to the larger class sizes in Grade 4, Ms. Kristen Rosemeyer will join the grade 4 team as a certified teacher. She will support all the students and teachers across the grade level. Most recently Kristen completed her student teaching in Grade 5 at Hillcrest Elementary School in Downers Grove. Prior to that she served as an Instructional Assistant in Grade 4 and Grade 5 at St. Joseph School also in Downer's Grove.

We are pleased to welcome Ms. Amy Mook to the Hammerschmidt Staff as in instructional assistant. She will support an incoming kindergarten student. As a former parent WHS, and a current D44 and GEHS parent, she knows our Lombard school community well. You may find her teaching yoga around town.

Mr. Daniel Grajczyk comes to us from Glenn Westlake Middle School. While his most recent experience is serving as a night custodian, Dan has experience serving as a head custodian at both the elementary and middle school levels. Please join me in welcoming Dan to our Hammerschmidt Team!

Monday 8/12- Class Placement letters will be dropped in the mail. Families should receive them by Wednesday, 8/14.

Thursday, 8/15- PTA Supply Kit Pick Up Session 1, 5:30- 7:00 p.m.

Friday 8/16-

• PTA Supply Kit Pick Up Session 2, 8:00- 9:30 a.m.
• WHS PTA "Back to School Pool Party" at Paradise Bay Water Park (7-9pm)

Tuesday 8/20- Student Supply Drop Off/ Classroom Visitation 12:30- 1:15 pm, WHS PTA Sponsored Popsicle Social- 1:15pm on Playground

Wednesday 8/21- First Full Day of School (Except Kdg. students- the first 3 days of school will be 1/2 days for Kdg. students)

Thursday, 8/29- Fall Curriculum Night at WHS (6:30-8pm)

Friday, 8/30- Early Release Day, student dismissal is 1:15 p.m.

I know there is great anticipation for students and families to see which teacher your children have been placed with.

Hard copy letters indicating class placement will be mailed out on Monday, August 12th. Arrival to your home mailbox should be no later than Wednesday, August 14th.

** New Kindergarten students will not be assigned a permanent classroom teacher until after the second week of school. Individual assessments will help our team balance the students into four heterogenous classes.

The annual Classroom Sneak Peek & Student Supply Drop Off period will take place on Tuesday, August 20th from 12:30- 1:15 p.m.

Parents and students are welcome to come and get a sneak peek in their child's classroom. This is also a great time to drop off any school supplies that would make it easier on in the first day.

This opportunity will last from 12:30- 1:15 p.m.

The Classroom Sneak Peek & Student Supply Drop Off is completely OPTIONAL. If you are unable to attend, students can bring their supplies on the first day of school.

Immediately after the classroom "Sneak Peek" and supply drop-off, please join WHS families on the WHS Learn and Play Gardens for a "Popsicle" social.

Click on the link below to get the most recent news from District 44:

Lombard District 44 Update

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