Good Evening K9 Families,

Welcome Back!

It has been so wonderful to have students back in the building after winter break! We hope you had a relaxing time with family and friends and enjoyed special moments with loved ones.

This week, our teachers and students hit the ground running, diving into exciting lessons and making great progress in their learning. The energy and enthusiasm in the classrooms have been inspiring, and we are excited for all that this semester will bring!

Below, you’ll find important updates and information about winter outdoor recess guidelines, attendance and transportation reminders, upcoming PTA events, and our Miles of Smiles program. This program offers free dental services to students and is a fantastic way to help keep their teeth healthy and bright! It also fulfills the State of Illinois dental requirement for Kindergarten and 2nd-grade students. Regular dental care is vital to a child’s overall health and success at school, so we encourage families to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Children First,

Marie Zlotnikov, Principal

Samantha Helland, Assistant Principal

Bundle up for winter fun! Students will enjoy outdoor recess whenever the temperature is above 20 degrees. When snow falls, please send your child with the "Magic 5": snow pants, jacket, gloves, hat, and boots, so they can make the most of their playtime.

We kindly ask all families to notify both the classroom teacher and the main office if your student will be absent for any reason. Clear communication helps us ensure accurate attendance records and maintain a safe, organized school environment.

Additionally, if there are any changes to your child’s transportation plans—such as switching from a bus rider to a car rider—please inform the main office directly. Our office staff will relay the information to the appropriate teacher.

Lastly, for the safety and efficiency of our drop-off procedure, please pull all the way forward in the car line and have students exit the vehicle on the side of the school.

Thank you for helping us keep everything running smoothly!

We kindly ask that families do not park at Ira Jones when dropping off students. Please be sure to pull into the designated car line to ensure a safe and smooth drop-off process for everyone. Following this procedure helps keep traffic flowing and ensures the safety of all students.

Additionally, please avoid pulling up to the front of the school before 8:30 a.m. Arriving early causes our preschool parents to get stuck in the car line. To help keep traffic flowing smoothly, please wait until after 8:30 before lining up to drop off students.

Please remember to turn off your car while waiting to pick up your student after school. Running cars pose a safety risk for students and teachers walking up and down the car lines, and it's also important to reduce the fumes in the air for everyone’s health. Thank you for helping us keep our school environment safe and healthy!