Parent/Teacher Conferences

Thursday, October 10 from 8 AM - 8 PM

Friday, October 11 from 8 AM - 12 PM

See below for more information about our Winter Gear Drive.

Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day Holiday

AM classes DISMISS EARLY at 10:25 AM

If your child rides the bus home from our morning session, drop off at your home or child care will be 25 minutes early.

PM classes START EARLY at 11:25 AM and DISMISS EARLY at 1:30 PM

If your child rides the bus to school for our afternoon session, pick up will be 25 minutes early from your home or child care and the bus at the end of the day from Haines Center will drop off 50 minutes earlier.

General Election Holiday

Same schedule as October 30.

Nov 25-27: Non Attendance Days (Offices Open)

Nov 28-29: Thanksgiving Break

Dear D303 Early Childhood Families,

This letter is to inform you about Erin’s Law (Illinois Public Act 097-1147), an Illinois law passed in February, 2011 that requires public schools to provide child sexual abuse prevention education for all children in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades. Named after sexual abuse survivor Erin Merryn, Erin’s Law will be implemented again this year in all District 303 Schools. Please note that Erin’s Law is not connected to The Keeping Youth Safe & Healthy Act (Senate Bill 818).

Between now and the end of the school year, several lessons will be facilitated by our school social worker (Melissa Plodzien, Katherine Dybas) and psychologist (Serena Concha, Kaitlyn Ayala) teams along with the classroom teacher utilizing the Second Step Child Protection Unit. This age-appropriate instruction will help students recognize unsafe situations, keep themselves safe, and learn how to respond to unsafe situations. Common themes across all grade levels include:

• Identifying safe touch versus unsafe or unwanted touch

• The Safety Rule About Touching (The Touching Rule): Private areas are not for others to touch, except to keep a child clean and healthy

• Steps to Stay Safe

• Understanding the difference between good and bad secret

For more information about Erin’s Law, please visit the links below.

For more information about the Second Step Child Protection Unit Scope and Sequence for grades pre-kindergarten-5th, please view the link below.

If you have any questions, please contact your building principal Jennifer Mursu at jennifer.mursu@d303.org or by phone at 331-228-3400.

Thank you for your support,

Jennifer Mursu

Director of Early Childhood

The Teacher Appreciation Committee (TAC) needs your help!! First thing on our agenda this year is to help out at Haines by doing various tasks like copying, labeling, laminating etc. Please consider signing up for a time slot (or several) if you are able to by clicking this link HERE!

We are also planning a dinner for the teachers on the first night of Parent/Teacher conferences and there are still several spots that need to be filled. You can click HERE to see the signup genius link. You'll notice that there are also sign up spots for items for our Woo Hoo Wagon. For those of you who are new this year, the Woo Hoo Wagon is a cart loaded with snacks and beverages for the staff to choose from as a little pick-me-up during the school day.

We will be collecting donations of preschool size winter gear in the Haines Early Childhood lobby. Clean, gently used winter boots, snow pants, gloves, mittens, hats, and coats will be accepted and distributed within our school community.

Parent/Teacher conference appointment scheduling will open Friday, September 27 at 8 am. Sign up will close on Monday, October 7 at 11:59 PM. Our goal is to meet with each family to partner on behalf of each child attending Haines Center.

It is not necessary for your child(ren) to attend. If you are not able to arrange child care we would still like you to participate. We would rather you bring your child(ren) with you so we have the opportunity to partner with you.

If transportation is a barrier to attending a parent/teacher conference please notify Tricia Sabathne, Child and Family Educator (CAFE) as soon as possible: tricia.sabathne@d303.org OR 331-228-572

For other accommodations needed for a successful parent/teacher conference, including an interpreter, please contact your child's teacher as soon as possible so we can make the appropriate arrangements for your appointment.

Children and families that celebrate Halloween are beginning to feel the excitement of the approaching holiday. For many students, the changes that come along with school parties/holidays and the adjustments in daily routines can present some challenges and uncertainty.

With that in mind, we have determined that on October 31st, the children will be invited to wear a costume to school should they want to dress up. We ask that students not wear masks that cover their entire face or bring any weapons as part of their costumes. We also ask that safety for walking/navigating the school environment is considered when choosing a costume. For those who do not wish to dress up, that would be just fine.

Teachers will be carrying out their daily schedule with perhaps some special thematic stories, songs and activities but they will be doing their best to create a typical day for the students.

We will not be hosting classroom parties with parents in attendance nor serving “holiday” treats, food or candy. Please do not send those items for your child to hand out to their classmates.

Please contact your child’s teacher or the D303 Early childhood at Haines office with any questions you might have.

Your influence on how your child grows and develops is immense. We are proud to partner with you in your child's early learning journey. Making sure your child attends school for the full 2 1/2 hours when they are healthy helps us play our part.

Please contact your child's teacher or Tricia Sabathne, Child and Family Educator (CAFE), if you are experiencing barriers to arriving on time (car riders and walkers) or catching the bus (bus riders) so we can partner regarding possible solutions.

tricia.sabathne@d303.org

331-228-5727

To report a student absence:

• Main Haines building number- 331-228-3400
• Press 1 for the Early Childhood Center
• Press 1 for the Attendance line
• Clearly state your child's name and the reason for their absence.
• If you do not provide a reason for their absence OR do not call the absence will be unexcused.

Bus riders: There is no need to call transportation to report an absence. Drivers stop at each designated stop even when children are absent to stay on schedule for the rest of the route.

Playgroups at our Haines Family Resource Center offer children, ages 0-5, and a caregiver a safe, quality, and educational play opportunity. Connect with other caregivers (parents, grandparents, babysitters, etc.) to share experiences, learn from each other, and build social networks.

Times:

• 9:35 - 10:35 am
• 12:05 - 1:05 pm Spanish
• 1:05 - 2:05 pm

**There is no fee for this program. Playgroups meet every Monday school is in session. Once you are registered you can attend whenever it works for you.

District 303 is proud to partner with the Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) to offer our families broader access to information sessions and resources that support their child’s development.

For decades, GPS has been offering free programs that aim to empower and strengthen families, individuals and communities. As a partner organization, District 303 will support promoting upcoming programs and their importance to our local community.

D303 will host the 4th annual Pathways Night at Compass Academy on October 30. This career fair welcomes employers and educational institutions supporting careers that don't require a 4-year college degree. If you are a business owner and wish to participate in Pathways Night, please complete this form. More information for students and families interested in attending will be available in the next few weeks.

Website: https://ec.d303.org/
Location: 305 S 9th St, St Charles, IL 60174
Phone: 331-228-3400, Press 1 for Early Childhood