Willow Family Update

Hello Willow Families,

We are officially a few days away from the start of the school year. We are so excited to welcome the kiddos and look forward to seeing you all next week. This communication contains a lot of information so be sure to review this carefully.

Also, we still have about 50 students who have not provided their school physicals. Please provide those to Nurse Soto at kattia.soto@hsd153.org before the first day of school. If your child's physical has not been submitted, they will not be able to attend school until it is submitted.

Can't wait to see all Willow Wildcats on Thursday.

Take care,

Ms. Gordon

August

12 - Class Placements Emailed

21 - School-wide Supply Drop-Off

22 - First Day of School (All students in Willow)

24 - Back to School Party (Homewood Village Hall Parking Lot)

30 - Early Dismissal (11:40 am)

September

2 - No School (Labor Day)

Walter is Willow's therapy dog. Many of the children know him from last year, but this year he will be fully integrated into Willow's school day. When you see him, he is very friendly and loves a good rub and treat, but please ask his handler, Ms. Spain, first! If you have not yet given consent or declined for your child to interact with Walter, please contact the main office beginning Monday at 8 am.

There have been some changes in food services. In particular, please note that lactose free and soy milk are now available as a replacement to the standard carton of milk. However, there must be a medical note on file for it to be apart of your child's lunch or you will be charged $1 if your kiddo chooses this.

On the first day, students will line up according to the map below. Paw prints with room numbers will indicate where each class will line up. There will be staff wearing Homewood t-shirts around the school to assist you with any needs you may have. Teachers will walk their students into the building at 8:00 am. Please line up outside the building at the designated areas on the map below.

The school day for kindergarten, first and second grade students starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 2:50 p.m. Monday through Friday. Pre-kindergarten and students in the Early Childhood programs will session times are 8:15-10:45 am for the AM session and 11:45-2:15 pm for the PM session.

In the morning, playground supervision begins at 7:45 am. No student should arrive to school before this time as there is no staff supervision. Students should line up at 7:55 am and will enter the building with their teacher at 8:00 am. Students arriving after 8:00 am are tardy and must enter the building through the main office door with an adult. All students should be picked up at 2:50 pm at dismissal. There is no school supervision after school. If your child rides a bus and will need to go home a different way, please contact the main office no later than 2 pm.

If your child will be absent or starting the school day late, please contact the school office on the dedicated attendance line at 708-647-2200 before 8:00 am. You may also notify the office by sending an email to kimberly.tufts@hsd153.org.

Many children walk to school, some are dropped off by car, and some ride the bus. As a result, the streets around the school are filled with cars, buses, and children just before 8:00 a.m. It can get chaotic! If possible, please walk to school. Meeting up with friends and walking to school together is a great way to start the school day!

BUS:

District 153 has designated that all Willow students who live outside a 1.5 mile radius are eligible to ride the bus. You should have received an email informing you of the bus number your child is assigned to. Bus route information and the morning pick up times can be found here. Please arrive at least 5 minutes early to your child's bus stop's assigned time. Please be sure that a parent or caregiver is waiting at the bus stop after school. In addition, for the safety of your child, it is important that they only ride the bus to which they have been assigned.

CAR:

Parking around the school in the morning can be challenging. If you wish to park and walk your child to their line, please park on designated neighboring street. THE CUL-DE-SAC IS CLOSED FOR BUSES ONLY. You may drop your child off through the car line on Willow or Gladville. It is important that kids are ready to exit the car when the supervisor opens the door. DO NOT U-TURN AFTER DROP-OFF on any streets surrounding the school as this is a danger to all students traveling to and from Willow.

A crossing guard is typically stationed on Willow Road at the cross streets of Highland Ave, Page Ave, and Gladville Ave. There are additional crossing guards at Willow Rd and Dixie Highway and in back of the school on Gladville Ave. Please pay attention to the crossing guards. They understand the traffic patterns around the school and are looking out for the safety of all Willow students. Please follow their directions as they are trying to keep all children and families safe.

All students will have their lunch and recess between 10:45 am and 1 pm. In the event you need to drop off your child's lunch, please do so before lunchtime. We will not accept lunch send by a vendor such as Uber Eats, GrubHub, etc. Students can bring a lunch from home or order a school lunch. The lunch menu can be found here. We strongly suggest lunches be NUT-FREE.

Here is the link to the federal application form for reduced or free lunch.

Breakfast is available every morning from 7:45 am to 8 am. Any student may join breakfast during that time. Cost varies based on whether you qualify for full, free, or reduced lunch. Students will enter through Door B, and a supervisor will assist them.

A few staff members will not be returning to Willow this year. We wish them well in their new placements and career endeavors:

Nicole Veazey - School Psychologist

Melissa Lawson - Principal

Gerry Maya - Custodian

Ken Shells - Custodian

Yolanda Collins - Teacher

Oneida Haymond - Teacjer

Barrett Harmon - Permanent Sub

Charmaine Lando - Assistant

Joyce Ford - Assistant

Jessica Korso - SEL Teacher

Trisha Butcher - Interventionist

Kimeon Cruikshank - Teacher

Kristin Goesel - Teacher

Please join me in welcoming the following new staff members to our Willow community:

Megan Whalen - Assistant

Heather O'Malley - Assistant

Leslie Powell - Second Grade Teacher

Emily Johnson - First Grade Teacher

Dave McManus - Second Grade Teacher

All families are invited to visit Willow School to drop off school supplies, meet the teacher and see your child's classroom. Please be on the lookout for information from your child's teacher regarding sign-up time frames.

This year, all students in Pre-kindergarten through 2nd Grade at Willow will start on Thursday, August 22nd. As we get closer to the first day of school, I will send a communication regarding line up/dismissal, staffing updates, breakfast/lunch, and any other pertinent information for you to be prepared for day 1.

Class placements will be emailed on August 12th to all families. If you are fully registered and do not receive your placement after that date, please contact the main office at 708.798.3720.

Don't be left with FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) for the first day of school! If you haven't already, please provide your child's health records directly to Nurse Soto via email at Kattia.Soto@hsd153.org or by dropping them off to Willow's main office.

All incoming students, both pre-k and kindergarten, AND new students to Willow must have updated school physical exam forms completed. Please click this link to review the required documentation.

If your child requires any additional prescribed medication, please contact the nurse and complete any medication authorization forms ahead of time.

Please see the summary from the nurses in District 153:

Deadlines & Exclusion Dates

Homewood School District 153 has established the following exclusion dates in order for students to meet the requirements for health exams and immunization records as described by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Appointment cards will NOT be accepted.

• • Willow School – First day of student attendance
  • Churchill School – October 1
  • James Hart School – October 1

New students transferring into Willow School from out of state/country must submit their most recent required physical (see below) and complete immunization record within 30 days of registration to avoid exclusion from school.

New students transferring into Churchill or James Hart Schools from out of state/country must submit their most recent required physical (see below) and complete immunization record by October 1, or within 30 days if registered after the start of the school year (whichever is more lenient) to avoid exclusion from school.

Health Exams

A student must have a School Physical Exam within one year prior to entering:

• • First year of pre-school
  • Kindergarten
  • 6th Grade

7th and 8th graders who wish to participate in sports must have a new Sports Pre-Participation Physical Exam submitted each year. While the school physical form can be used in place of a sports physical, a sports physical will not qualify as a school physical. Please be sure to have the correct form completed by your student's practitioner.

Immunizations

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health Guidelines, students must show proof of basic immunization and required boosters for:

• • Diphtheria
  • Tetanus
  • Pertussis
  • Polio
  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Varicella
  • Haemophiluis Influenzae Type B (required for pre-school only)
  • Meningococcal (6th-8th graders)
  • Pneumococcal (24-59 months)
  • Hepatitis B (required for pre-school and 6th-8th graders)
  • Tdap (required for 6th-8th graders)

Additional Requirements

Lead Screening: Students entering pre-school and kindergarten must show proof of lead screening.

Dental Exams: All Illinois children in Kindergarten, 2nd, and 6th grades are required to have an oral health exam by a licensed dentist prior to May 15 of the school year.

Eye Exams: All Illinois children enrolling in Kindergarten and any student enrolling for the first time in an Illinois public, private, or parochial school are required to have an eye exam before the first day of school. The exam must be completed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Waiver: The Department of Public Health shall establish a waiver for children who show an undue burden or lack of access to obtain either a dental or eye exam.

Religious Objection: Children whose parents or legal guardians object to health or dental examinations, or to the required immunizations, may submit and Illinois Certificate of Religious Exemption from their doctor’s office. In the case of an outbreak, any student without proof of immunization on file will be excluded from school according to IDPH Communicable Disease School Nurse Guidance.

These required health examinations, immunization and lead screening may be obtained at the doctor’s office or clinic of your choice. If you need information on other local resources, please call the nurse at your student’s school.

Website: https://willow.hsd153.org/

Location: 1804 Willow Road, Homewood, IL 60430
Phone: 708-798-3720