The Patton Post

• PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE (NEW POST!)
• MORNING DROP OFF - IMPORTANT! (NEW POST!)
• NOTE FROM THE NURSE (NEW POST!)
• DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP WEEK (NEW POST!)
• BINGO NIGHT (NEW POST!)
• Staff Only Parking Lot - Important Information (2nd POST!)
• Food Drive Information (2nd POST!)
• Parent Teacher Conferences (Ongoing Post!)
• PRE-REGISTRATION: 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR - OPEN! (Ongoing Post!)
• Outdoor Recess (Ongoing Post)
• Book Fair - Volunteers Needed (Ongoing Post!)
• 4th and 5th Grade Homework Club (Ongoing Post!)
• R2E - Photo Request (Ongoing Post!)
• 2024-2025 Calendar (Ongoing Post)
• Dates to Know (Updated Post!)

It's hard to believe we are already more than half way through our school year! It seems to have gone so fast! We have many fun things coming up over the next few weeks including our 100th Day Celebration and our Valentine's Day Parties! As spring gets closer, Patton gets busier so please be on the look out for communications from classroom teachers regarding some of these fun events!

Our 2nd Grade students did an amazing job with their performance yesterday! They took us all on an "Aesop Adventure" and I know everyone was highly entertained! As always, I am so grateful to Mr. Whitaker and the 2nd grade teaching team for helping our students shine on stage. Thank you also to all of you for ensuring the children are ready and prepared to perform!

Getting up on stage can be a challenge and I am always completely blown away by how confident our Panthers are as the sing and dance!

I can't wait for 3rd Grade's show next month!

Winter MAP results were sent home via email from the District on Wednesday, January 29th.

I hope you all enjoy the weekend! Let's keep everything crossed that Punxsutawney Phil doesn't see his shadow on Sunday!

Ellie Chin

PLEASE READ!

During this time of year, we always see an increase in students being driven as it is too cold to walk or bike. Please note that the doors at the back of the building (doors 7 and 8) close promptly at 9:00 AM. If you arrive after the 9:00 AM bell has rung, your child/ren need to enter through the main entrance. Our amazing traffic team are on hand to help until 9:05 AM. After that, students will need to be signed in at the main entrance.

Please remember that we would like all students at their desks and ready to start their day at 9:05 AM. During the winter months the car line does take longer with the increased number of cars so please allow for this and leave a few minutes earlier.

Kindergarten Parents: Please note that, starting Monday, February 3rd, all KINDERGARTEN students should enter through DOOR 7 instead of Door 8. Our Kindergarten teachers have been talking to their students about this today and staff will be on hand to ensure all Kindergartners enter through the correct doors for the first few days. We know change can be difficult sometimes, but we appreciate you working with us and reminding your child of the door they should enter as you drop them off. This will save our kindergarteners a few steps during these cold days.

All 5th graders should continue to enter through Door 8.

Cold and Flu Season

There is a rise in common illness within our schools.

Please help us keep our students and staff healthy by following this guidance:

Consider keeping your child at home for a day of rest if they have any of these symptoms:

• Mild stuffy or runny nose and/or mild cough

• Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)

• Headache

• Stomach ache

Your child must stay home if they have any of these symptoms:

• Fever (100.4f or higher)

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Chills

• Feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches

• Frequent Cough, including congested (wet) or croupy cough

Your child may return to school when:

• Fever free for at least 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medication

• At least 24 hours since the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea

• 24 hours after starting antibiotics if prescribed by a provider

• Symptoms are improving and they are well enough to participate in normal activities

Help prevent the flu and other colds by teaching your children good hygiene habits:

• Wash hands frequently

• Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth

• Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Avoid sharing personal items, food, or drinks.

Illinois Department of Public Health fact sheets for common illnesses

• Flu

• Strep Throat

• RSV

• COVID

The week of February 3rd will be Digital Citizenship Week in District 25. Each day the morning announcements will focus on a specific digital citizenship topic to guide students to be safe, responsible, and respectful online. Each day will have a theme that reminds everyone of the focus of the day. Let’s get dressed up and learn about the best ways to be kind, safe, and responsible digital citizens!

Please come along next Friday, February 7th for the PTA'S annual family friendly Bingo Night! This is always such a fun event and I know this year will be no exception.

The event will be held in the Patton commons from 6:30-8:30 PM.

This is a gentle reminder that the parking lot behind Patton, on Patton Avenue, is for staff only. Please do not park in here at the end of the day when picking up students. If you are picking up your children, please drive through the pickup line.

If you meet your child on the blacktop and you are walking through the back parking lot, please use the sidewalks and please do not walk through the middle of the parking lot as cars are exiting at the end of the school day. Please make sure to use the sidewalks for safety. Thank you so much!

Also, please make sure that children are only crossing the street at the crosswalks. It is very dangerous for children to cross in the middle of the street as drivers are not expecting kids to be there. This is especially important during these winter months when car windows are not as clean and clear as they usually are and visibility is impacted.

February conferences will take place on Friday, February 14th. School will NOT be in session on this date. These conferences will take place over one day and slots will last 10 minutes. The signup will close Friday, February 7th so please be sure to book a slot before then.

Our signup genius link will is live and can be found HERE for anyone who would still like to book some time with their child/ren's teachers!

These conferences are always a great way for you to connect with your child(ren)'s teacher, spend time in the classroom and hear about your child's school life! We appreciate the ongoing partnership and collaboration that is shared in the Patton community. Please note that there is only one conference time slot for each student.

Fourth and Fifth Grade Parents: The conference times are for meeting with your child's homeroom teacher. If your child has a different teacher for math and you have specific math questions, please email him or her directly.

Our wonderful Student Council has organized this amazing food drive for Journeys: The Road Home Please consider sending in canned and non perishable food items between January 27th and February 7th for this food drive!!

Journeys: The Road Home is based in Arlington Heights and provides shelter and social services to people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

Please see the list of most needed items below!

Pre-Registration for families with incoming new and kindergarten students for the 2025-2026 school year is OPEN!

If you would like to pre-register a new student, please begin the registration process by visiting www.sd25.org/Registration and clicking on the 2025-2026 Pre-Registration drop down.

If you know of any new families to the area or have neighbors with school age children that you think might be interested, please share this information with them!

Please be mindful that students will go out for recess every day as long as the wind chill is above zero, it is not raining, and the blacktop and fields are not too saturated and muddy. Please ensure your Panthers come to school dressed for the weather. If there is snow on the ground, students will not be able to play on the field or the playground unless they are wearing snow pants and boots. They will need to remain on the blacktop only if they do not have appropriate snow gear. Gloves and hats are important when the weather is cold even if students choose not to bring boots and snow pants.

Please note that the blacktop does still have puddles, slush, and snow. When students do not wear snow pants and are running and playing, they may still get wet. Having an extra set of pants at school is a great idea!.

Students are encouraged to bring in a bag of snow gear each day "just in case" - this also helps minimize any classroom disruptions with items being dropped off after school has started. Please ensure all items are labeled clearly so we can reunite any lost gloves/hats/boots with their owners quickly and easily.

It is important to have students bring their snow gear bags home with them every day so clothes can dry, and the over the weekend so they can be washed and "refreshed" for the following week! Snow gear does not fully dry when left in the bag.

We appreciate your partnership and help so that everyone can enjoy their recess time.

Patton Panthers, get ready to turn the page to an exciting adventure! Our Patton Elementary School Book Fair is just around the corner.

We are in need of parent volunteers to work our Book Fair. Details below!

Date: February 11-14, 2025

Location: Patton Elementary School

Please sign up for a ~1 hour shift using the Sign Up Genius Link below.

Responsibilities will include:

• Helping students create wish lists to take home as they visit the book fair/keep books organized & orderly (Feb. 11-12 shifts)

• Help students purchase books/keep books organized & orderly (Feb. 13 shifts)

• Help parents/students purchase books/keep books organized & orderly (Feb. 14 shifts)

First shift of the day will help with minimal set-up needed to start the day and the final shift will help shut down the book fair for the day.

Volunteers will be trained on the cash register. (Don’t worry - we’ve been assured it’s simple!)

Spread the word and let’s get these shifts filled. Thank you so much for your support of this awesome opportunity for our students.

Volunteer by clicking here! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F44ADAF28A0FDC16-54356220-patton#/

Please accept our apologies but the link for Homework Club included in last week's Post did not appear to work! It is working now so we are very sorry to anyone that tried to signup but was unable to!

4th and 5th Grade homework club provides a quiet space for students to complete assignments or read in a relaxing setting. Mr. Morkert will be available to answer questions and provide help when needed.

It is important that you note whether you will pick up your child or if they will walk home. Mr. Morkert will bring the kids to the front doors at 4:25pm. Please be there waiting at this time.

Please reach out if you have questions. (tmorkert@sd25.org)

This club will run on Thursdays, 3:35-4:40pm.

If your child is interested, please sign up here and be sure to enter your child's name when signing up!

Keeping with our school theme this year - Regulate to Elevate - we are looking to fill our bulletin board in the Commons with photos of staff and students being their best, regulated selves. If you haven't already, please send a photo in with your child. They can be turned in to the Office or to classroom teachers. (Photos will not be able to be returned.)

Should you want to print this calendar as well, please click HERE.

• Friday, February 7th - Family Bingo Night (PTA SPONSORED)

• Thursday, February 13th - 100th Day of School

• Thursday, February 13th - Valentine's Day Classroom Parties

• Friday, February 14th - NO SCHOOL - Parent Teacher Conferences!

• Tuesday, February 18th - 5th Grade Band Performance at Thomas Middle School

• Thursday, February 27th - 3rd Grade Musical Performance

Please be sure to click on the Patton PTA website button above for information about other upcoming events

Main Line: (847) 398-4288
Fax #: (847) 394-6681
Absence Procedure
Twitter: @AHSD25Patton