WHS Principal Post - October 2022

October brings lots of fun and excitement to our Hammerschmidt community. Below you will see a preview of dates for the coming months!

Each month a different grade level has a chance to showcase something that is special to them, or something they are proud of. We started with Grade 5 in September. See the video of what our Grade 5 stars chose to spotlight!

Next month I will share the Grade 4 student showcase items. They are currently being collected and displayed through this month of October.

In our efforts to increase student voice and collaborative voice here at WHS, two separate boxes have been created and are ready to access by the students.

• WHS Student Suggestion Box: students have the chance to offer feedback to make our school better!

• I Wish You Knew: Students have a way to share things that they wish we knew about them.

The submissions from both of these boxes will be reviewed regularly in the spirit of continuous improvement and enhanced relationships here at Hammerschmidt.

For kindergarten students and students new to Hammerschmidt School, the State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination (Physical) and Immunization Form should have been turned in to the Health Office prior to the first day of school. If you have not yet turned in this form, please do so as soon as possible. A scanned copy can be emailed to jkurtz@sd44.org, faxed to 630-620-3733, or mailed/dropped off at the school. This form must be completed and submitted to the Health Office by October 15, 2022 in order for your child to remain in school.

In addition, a State of IL Eye Examination Report completed by an eye doctor is due on or before October 15, 2022 and a State of IL Dental Examination Form completed by a dentist is due on or before May 15, 2023.

Please contact Jenn Kurtz, Certified School Nurse, at 630-827-4681 with any questions!

If it is known that the child will be absent for a number of days, this should be reported at the time of the first call. If the child will be absent for a period of time for other than an illness, you need to notify the classroom teacher and office. If a student is to be absent for a longer time than originally reported, the school should again be notified.

Excused absences are recorded for pupils who miss school because of personal illness or quarantine, bereavement, serious family illness, observance of a major religious holiday, or other acceptable reasons approved by the school principal.

Student should be kept home if:

· Fever – 100 degrees or higher

· Vomiting or diarrhea

· White patches in the throat or tonsils

· Difficulty swallowing or talking

· Persistent cough/extreme congestion

· Rash

· Red or irritated eyes which may be pink eye

Please do not send a child back to school until:

· Temperature is normal without medication for 24 hours

· No vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours

· Breathing comfortably without medication

· On antibiotics for 24 hours for pink eye

· On antibiotics for 24 hours and temperature has returned to normal for strep throat

· Rash is identified and note from doctor that it is okay to return

For our current

COVID Protocol

Symptoms:

If an unvaccinated or vaccinated student or staff member is experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms, they must remain home from school until either results from a COVID-19 test are received OR they have completed an isolation period of at least 5 days, where Day 0 is the date symptoms started.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include the following:

· Fever (100.4°F or higher)

· New onset of moderate to severe headache

· Shortness of breath

· New cough

· Sore throat

· Vomiting

· Diarrhea

· New loss of sense of taste or smell

· Fatigue from unknown cause

· Muscle or body aches from unknown cause

RETURNING AFTER BEING SYMPTOMATIC

If symptomatic, student or staff member cannot return to school unless:

The student has received a negative COVID-19 test.; OR

The student has remained home for a minimum of 5 days, has been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, AND seen improvement of other symptoms (loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation.)

For in depth information, please consult Healthy=Here.

The district is currently exploring ways it can expand and build upon foreign language offerings for all students. Maria Martin, Director of Language Acquisition and Equity, led the Board of Education through a review of the current structure and potential changes.

“The shift to a lottery system last spring at the middle school showed us there is interest from our parents to access greater language offerings. And we are seeing this same need from our English speaking elementary families. Together, this is what has triggered us to look beyond our current offerings,” Martin said.

Please click here for more information.

TAKE A MOMENT TO COMPLETE THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE SURVEY

To determine the best match for District 44 students, families are asked to complete this survey no later than October 15, 2022. Information from the survey will be analyzed by the district to determine parent interest and student need. From that, additional communication and information will be shared with staff and parents.

Join us from 6-8 pm on Wednesday, November 2 for our inaugural Connect 44 Center Celebration. The goal of the event is to create connection through collaboration, celebration and conversation. Some activities include a student art showcase, musical performances, recreational activities, education sessions for parents and more. Please look for further details i

As much as we all truly love our four legged friends, we ask that dogs are not present on our school property during morning drop off and afternoon pick up. Thank you for your support and cooperation with this.

Below you will find a short video outlining the safety protocols for morning arrival and afternoon pick up!

Click on the video below!

"Two Rivers Nation: Princesses" is a program that has been around 80+ years with the goal of connecting Dads with their K-5 Daughter(s) through Monthly Events (Roller Skating, Daddy Daughter Dance, Enchanted Castle, etc ...), Fall & Spring Campouts, and Monthly Gatherings. If you are a Dad looking to connect more with your Daughter & other Grade School Dads, don't miss out on this amazing opportunity! For more information or to join the Lombard Princesses, contact Justin Ahlgrim at justin.ahlgrim@gmail.com or 630-991-7774.

Thank you to everyone who placed an order for WHS Spirit Wear. We will be sending out an email with a pick-up date/time once the orders are in!

Thank you to all the WALKERS and ROLLERS who participated last week! If you walked or biked at all during the week, please fill out this participation form by TODAY. All students who BIKED 3 or more days will receive a $10 gift certificate to J&R Cycle in Villa Park. (Names will be submitted to J&R over the weekend and certificates delivered to classrooms in about a week). Students who WALKED 3 or more days will be entered into a raffle for a WHS Leading with Heart water bottle. There will be one winner per grade level. (Water bottles to be delivered to winners next week).

Support WHS PTA by signing up for Givebacks here. You securely link your credit/debit cards under the Hammerschmidt PTA and then every time you use that card at a participating business, you earn cashback and Givebacks will also automatically give a percentage back to WHS PTA. SO EASY!! Plus, the first time you spend at a participating business they give WHS PTA $5. BONUS: Johnny Coco's, our next dine out location, is a participating business so you and WHS PTA earn up to 5% back on your order. For more details click here.

The Annual PTA Reflections is a FREE art contest open to ALL WHS students. Students are invited to create art based on this year's theme “Show Your Voice!” Follow the link to find the official rules and student entry form for this year's program as well as specific rules for each of the six art categories: Dance Choreography, Music Composition, Film Production, Photography, Literature, and Visual Arts.

PTA Reflections 22-23 - Follow this link information on:

• Official Rules & How to Enter

• Student Entry Form

• Art Category Specific Rules

Remember you can enter multiple entries and in multiple art categories! Each submission will require its own entry form and Artist Statement.

All entries are due to the WHS office by Friday, October 21st. More information regarding collection of entries will be made available in the coming week. Be creative! Have fun!

We will be having a “Start Your Art” Workshop on October 13th! To sign up, visit this link:

Please contact Samantha Baker with any questions.

GHOSTS, GOBLINS, MONSTERS AND MORE WILL COME WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR.

WHS PTA is hosting their annual ADULT ONLY Halloween Party on 10/22 at O’Neill’s Pub at 236 E. St. Charles Road in Lombard. There will be costume contests, DJ, raffles, prizes, food and lots of fun!

Here are ways you can help:

• Raffles/Prize Donations - We are seeking raffle donations. Do you have or know a local business that would be willing to donate? (tickets to games, museums and other events/restaurant gift cards/gift baskets…)

• Sponsors - Promote your business and sponsor a portion of the event.

• Sweet Treats - Any WHS families with a baking business that can put together some sweet treat baskets to raffle off.

• Liquor Pull - Donations of unopened bottles of wine/liquor

• Volunteers Needed - Decorating the day of the event, helping out at the event and more.

Reach out to Michelle Greco Lenzey 630.664.4221 or Allison DeCicco 630.664.7311 for more information.

Click HERE for flyer.

WE NEED TRUNKS, TREATS AND VOLUNTEERS!

We are SO excited about our 3rd Annual WHS Trunk or Treat! WHS Trunk or Treat is October 28 from 5:30 - 7:00 PM. Trunks will be set up in and around WHS Circle Drive! We need your help! If you are interested in volunteering a trunk, treats or time, please complete this form by Friday, October 14th so that we can better plan this great event for WHS families! More details to come as we get closer!

WHS TALENT SHOW - FRIDAY 11/11/22:

The WHS Talent Show is LIVE and IN PERSON on Friday, November 11, 2022 at 7pm in the WHS gym. We can't wait to see our talented kiddos shine on stage and behind the scenes. Click on the Registration Form to read more about how your student can get involved and important required dates. There is a role for everyone! QUESTIONS? Please email Kate Temple.

Talent and Crew must be registered by Monday, October 3.

Attention: ALL Amazon Shoppers! WHS PTA has signed on with the Amazon Smile program for another great fundraising opportunity. How does it work? Go to www.smile.amazon.com from your app or desktop.

You use the exact same account login as Amazon.com. When prompted to select a charity, simply search for Hammerschmidt PTA and begin shopping. All of your account settings are the same as through the regular Amazon.com site. You will find the exact same prices, selection and shopping experience as the traditional Amazon site, but when you use www.smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase price back to the PTA. It is that easy!!! Click Here for flyer.

We are planning an exciting school year and we need your help! Choose to become a member of an organization that benefits your children. Dues are $10.00 per adult or $15 per family of which $4.50 goes to the Illinois/National PTA & the remaining portion helps fund our activities and programs at WHS. We encourage at least one parent to join and/or you (or grandparents, family members etc.) can donate which 100% goes directly to WHS PTA to help support the many amazing programs and clubs, field trips and teacher/staff appreciation efforts that WHS PTA offers throughout the school year. You will receive a copy of the WHS school directory as a benefit of your WHS PTA membership. The school directory comes in handy for play dates, car pools, homework help, group projects and more! Join here today! Donate here today!

How Can I Get Involved in WHS PTA.

Did you know you can Subscribe to the digital PTA and school calendar? Visit Events and then click subscribe. You can choose iCal, outlook or Google calendar and it will automatically add the events to your calendar.

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

Join other parents, high school and middle school students, and professionals to learn about issues facing today’s youth. The Glenbard Parent Series engages top experts, parents and school staff to become proactive and informed in pursuit of the mutual goal to strengthen our communities. Programs are free and open to the public. Click on the link below to see the 2022-2023 lineup of speakers.

GPS-- Glenbard Parent Series - 2022-2023

The D44 school calendar for 2022-2023 has now been updated on our school and district websites. Click on the link below to access printable versions:

2022-2023 D44 School Calendar

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