Cougar Connection

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It is hard to believe that we are already approaching our 100th day of school this week! The school year is flying by, and we are so proud of the hard work and growth we are seeing in our students. On Wednesday, February 5th, individual grade levels will be participating in various 100th-day activities to celebrate this milestone. A special congratulations to our 5th graders, as this marks their 1,000th day of school!

We have recently completed our Winter MAP testing, and we are thrilled with the progress our students have made. MAP score reports will be sent home this week—great job to all of our students for their dedication and perseverance!

As we navigate the unpredictable winter weather, please ensure your child comes to school with a coat, hat, and gloves so they can comfortably go outside when conditions allow.

Additionally, we have several exciting activities planned this month with our PTO and schoolwide events. Please take a moment to review the newsletter below for more details.

Thank you for your continued support—we appreciate all you do to help make this school year a success!

Warm regards,

Principal Julie M. Simpson

As winter temperatures set in, we kindly ask that students come to school prepared with a coat, hat, and gloves.

25 degrees and above: Outdoor recess as usual.

20-24 degrees: Shortened outdoor recess.

Below 20 degrees: Recess will be indoors.

Please help ensure your child is ready to enjoy the fresh air comfortably.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students warm and safe!

We are excited to share that this year we have incorporated Spirit Assemblies each quarter to bring our students together, celebrate their achievements, and have some fun! Our next Spirit Assembly will take place this Friday, February 7th.

To help us celebrate, we encourage all students to wear school colors or their class shirts on Friday. This is a great way to show school spirit and make the event even more special!

Thank you for your support—we look forward to another fantastic assembly!

As temperatures drop and winter weather begins, we’d like to take a moment to review our Emergency Closing notification protocols and eLearning Day plan.

If emergency days are needed due to snow or extreme cold, families will receive notification via an email/text message, and an alert will be posted on our District website. KSD 140 also communicates school closure information through the District’s social media accounts and the Emergency Closing Center (ECC). Detailed school closing information can be found here.

If an emergency closing day is needed, the District may elect to use an eLearning Day instead of a traditional “snow day” that has to be made up at the end of the school year. Please refer to our eLearning Day Overview to review specifics of the plan, including school hours and access to D140’s digital platforms.

Now would be a great time to ensure your contact information is up-to-date. Please log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal to check your contact information and make any necessary changes.

Here are a few upcoming events for the PTO:

SUPER BOWL SQUARES

It isn't too late to participate in the Super Bowl Squares for the second year. It is $20 a square and the payout is as follows:

$50 reverse numbers every quarter

$150 – 1st Quarter

$300 – 2nd Quarter

$150 – 3rd Quarter

$400 – Final score of game

Feel free to share with family and friends! Go to the Facebook PTO page, write your number in the comments, and then go to Cheddar Up to purchase the ticket. https://superbowl-football-squares.cheddarup.com

Daddy-Daughter Dance

The Annual Daddy/Daughter Dance is scheduled and tickets are on sale until February 13th! The dance is on February 21st! Buy your tickets here... https://ties-tiaras-keller2025.cheddarup.com

PTO Meeting/Joining the PTO

Our next meeting will be in the Keller Commons Thursday, February 6th at 2:45pm. We are still looking for an individual interested in becoming the new President next year. If you would like to be more involved with the PTO Board, please contact the PTO.

If you have any questions, please contact the PTO at helenkellerpto@gmail.com

Thank you for your support!

2/5 100th Day of School

2/7 School Dismissed at 11:10 AM 1/2 day for Students (Teacher Institute Day)
2/7 All School Assembly - Wear School Colors
2/14 Valentine's Day

2/17 No School - President's Day
2/21 Daddy/Daughter Dance 6:00 PM.

3/3 No School; Casimir Pulaski Day
3/24 - 4/1 Spring Break
4/2 Classes Resume

4/4 3rd Quarter Ends

KSD 140 uses the ParentSquare messaging platform to keep parents and guardians informed and engaged with our schools and the District.

• Receive messages from the school via email, text, or app notification
• Choose to receive information as it comes or all at once with a daily digest at 6 p.m.
• Communicate in your preferred language
• Direct message teachers and staff
• Sign up for parent-teacher conferences
• Sign forms & permission slips, sign up to volunteer, and more all from your desktop or mobile device

We encourage parents to access their accounts by visiting parentsquare.com/signin and REGISTERING using the email or phone number listed in Infinite Campus.

For even greater convenience, please download the ParentSquare app (available free for iOS and Android devices).

D140 prioritizes comprehensive strategies to support students' mental, emotional, and physical health. Please click Health Information to review our resources. Together, we can create a nurturing environment where every student can thrive.

Times may be uncertain, but rest assured, we are here for you and your family. As we forge ahead together, please know we have resources to help. Do not hesitate to reach out to your Social/Emotional leaders at Keller:

School Counselor

Erin Kennedy

ekennedy@ksd140.org

School Social Worker

Maureen Hegji

mhegji@ksd140.org

Helen Keller Elementary School

7846 W. 163rd Street, Tinley Park, IL 60477

Phone: 708-532-2144

Website: ksd140.org/keller

Principal Julie M. Simpson. jsimpson@ksd140.org

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