New Field ES Weekly Updates

Dear New Field families,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a winter break full of time with family, friends and loved ones. It was so wonderful to welcome back our students today - I missed their energy, exuberance and general zest for new experiences.

As we launch into 2025 we welcome you back with a few community events this week. I hope you can attend one of these upcoming engagement opportunities:

• BAC Meeting: Wednesday, 1/10 at 9:00 AM
• Healthy Student Market: Thursday, 1/12 at 2:30 PM
• Coffee with the Principal: Friday, 1/13 at 9:15 AM

Our students will also have the joy of learning about classical music and performance with an interactive assembly with the Axiom Brass Quintet. Students will engage in pre-learning, attend the professional music concert, engage with musicians and have extension learning activities available to them. We know that people learn in a variety of ways and expanding Arts education opportunities for students is a critical component of holistic development. I am excited to see a new interest bloom for children tomorrow!

Next week our students across K-4 classrooms will take online, adaptive assessments in reading and math during the middle-of-year assessment window. These are nationally-normed assessments that help us monitor student growth and achievement as compared to peers across the nation and as aligned to the common core state standards. While the tests are low-stakes for students, our educators use these assessments to help provide targeted instruction, adjust lessons and support individual or small group learning goals for students. Please be sure to send students to school next week well rested and prepared for their middle-of-year assessments.

• K-2 students take an adaptive test called iReady. You can learn more about this nationally normed, adaptive assessment by clicking here.
• Students in grades 3-4 will take the STAR360 assessment. Click here to learn more about this nationally normed, adaptive assessment.

Additionally, for students that speak English as a second language, the ACCESS assessment window opens on January 15 and will continue through February 15. Students will be assessed on their English proficiency and growth, where applicable, across the four language domains: listening, speaking, read and writing. Testing dates are dependent on your child's classroom.

Interested in learning more about the ACCESS assessment? Come to our BAC meeting! Wednesday, January 10 at 9:00 AM.

Wishing you all a great start to 2025!

Warmly,

Conrey Callahan

Principal, New Field ES

BAC EMPOWERS Bilingual Parents.

As a member, you will:

• Advocate for equitable access for bilingual students.

• Connect with other parents & share experiences.

• Promote cultural diversity.

BAC EMPODERA a los padres bilingües.

Como miembro, podrás:

• Abogar por el acceso equitativo para los estudiantes bilingües.

• Conéctese con otros padres y comparta experiencias.

• Promover la diversidad cultural.

AGENDA

Welcome and Opening/Bienvenida y apertura

Bringing Technology Into Your Home by Mr. Mac

Llevando la tecnología a su hogar por Mr. Mac

ACCESS (1.15.25 - 3.4.25) Review/Revisar

& Hands-On Experience/Experiencia práctica

Search for “ACCESS Home Support”/Busque “Ayuda a domicilio”

Search for “ACCESS Practice Test”/ Busque "Prueba de práctica de ACCESS"

BAC Local Calendar/Calendario local de BAC

The Healthy Student Market is Thursday, January 9 from 2:30 - 3:30 PM in our cafeteria.

New Field distributes free, healthy groceries to families. Please bring a reusable bag for your groceries. Each family is eligible for one grocery bag of goods.

______________________

El mercado de comida saludable es jueves 9 de enero a las 2:30 - 3:30.

New Field distribuye alimentos saludables y gratuitos a las familias. Por favor traiga una bolsa reutilizable para su comida. Cada familia es elegible para una bolsa de comestibles.

January's Coffee with the Principal will take place Friday, January 10 at 9:15 AM.

We hope to see you there!

Meeting Agenda Items:

• Middle-of-Year Testing (iReady, STAR360, ACCESS)
• Quarter 2 Report Cards & Attendance Updates
• Upcoming Community Events: Volunteers Needed!
• New Field Clothing Closet & Community Donations
• General Q&A

As often as possible, New Field will send students outside for recess. To help you plan accordingly, please be aware of the following general guidelines:

• All students have recess for at least 30 minutes per day

• Generally, students will go outside for recess when the temperature and/or wind chill is above 22 degrees Fahrenheit

• Students will go outside for recess in light snow/ precipitation

• Students will go outside for recess when there is light or residual snow on the playgrounds

Please be sure to send your children with warm clothing, including hats, gloves and coats.

Click here for more information.

Do you need assistance with warm clothing? New Field can help! Email: newfieldcps@gmail.com or stop by our main office between 9:00 -10:00 daily.

New Field proudly runs a community clothing closet to support families in need. We also use our clothing closet to provide a change of clothing when students have a bathroom accident during the school day or another urgent need arises.

Please consider donating your gently used clothing. New Field needs unisex clothing, particularly PANTS AND SOCKS in sizes 4-12.

Families, has New Field provided you with a change of clothing in the past? Do you no longer need this clothing? Please wash and return loaned items to our main office.

Thank you for helping to keep kids in school and families able to stay at work during the school day! A donation means students can engage in uninterrupted learning and parents can stay at work or at home as a caregiver.

• New Field Family Handbook
• New Field Community Google Calendar
• Healthy Celebration Snack Policy & Recommended Snacks
• ISBE Outdoor Activity Guidelines
• CPS Meal Viewer
• e-Absence & ASPEN Parent Portal