Gower West News

Please drive carefully and cautiously in and around school during arrival and dismissal hours. We have families that walk and drive and we want to make sure that everyone arrives safely and on time.

Regular school attendance is vital for your child. School starts at 7:45am that means if your child is arriving via car they need to be arriving at 7:35am so that they have time to enter the building and walk to their classroom, put away their things and be ready for learning at 7:45am. We have noticed that some students are frequently arriving late arriving between 7:50-8:15 which means that many students are missing essential parts of their education. Math or Reading for many grade levels starts at 7:55. If students are late they are missing this instruction and learning opportunity in addition to disrupting the learning of those who arrive on time.

Please do your best to have your child arrive on time to class by getting to school at 7:35am.

We want to recognize and thank our families for your partnership in supporting consistent attendance as we reach the second half of the school year and approach our 100th day of school. Illinois law defines “chronic absentee” as a student who misses 10 percent of school days within an academic year, about 18 days of an average 180-day school year. Your support of regular attendance is essential for academic growth, social development, and building lifelong learners.

The 4th grade students spent the morning to learning about different disabilities and accommodations that may need to be provided to help them understand how living with a variety of disabilities might impact their lives. Thank you to the Foundation for coordinating this event and to the parents who volunteered to run the stations.

Please remember to send your child to school dressed for the weather! We will venture outside each day as long as the "real feel" temperature is higher than 15 degrees (according to weather.com). We highly encourage students to wear hats, gloves, snow pants and warm coats daily!

When snow is on the ground, snow pants and boots are required to play in the field. (Those students without snow pants and boots will play on the plowed blacktop or playground equipment.) We are outside for 25 minutes so bundle up! Playing outside is always more enjoyable when we are warm!

We are looking for parent volunteers to help run the Junior Achievement program at Gower West! This is a great opportunity to work with students in your child’s class--no prior teaching experience required!

Junior Achievement is a program that offers age-appropriate curriculum that teaches financial literacy, community connectedness, and entrepreneurship. Parent volunteers will work with the teacher to set up a weekly 45-minute session for 5-6 weeks. All materials and training are provided. Minimal preparation required.

Fourth grade sessions will run Jan-Feb. To volunteer, please complete this form as soon as possible.

We can only accommodate two (2) parent volunteers in each classroom, so first come first serve. Thank you so much for your time--this program is only possible with our amazing parent volunteers! If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Lynn Salahi lsalahi@gmail.com.

Front Row Frenzy 2025

Purchase raffle entry for chance to win FRONT ROW seats to events this school year! Each winner will have up to 6 reserved front row seats and one premier parking spot. For the events with no seating, you can win one reserved premier parking spot. Each event will have 4 winners. You can purchase unlimited entries for your chance to win!

February 13th: 1st Grade Music Program

Stop selling entries 2/10 at 11:59pm and draw winner 2/11 at 8am

http://go.rallyup.com/grade1

Text code “grade1” to 33100

February 27th: 4th Grade Event Parking

Stop selling entries 2/24 at 11:59pm and draw winner 2/25 at 8am

http://go.rallyup.com/grade4

Text code “grade4” to 33100

March 13th: Kindergarten Music Program

Stop selling entries 3/10 at 11:59pm and draw winner 3/11 at 8am

http://go.rallyup.com/kindergarten

Text code “kindergarten” to 33100

March 26th: 3rd Grade Wax Museum Parking

Stop selling entries 3/23 at 11:59pm and draw winner 3/11 at 8am

http://go.rallyup.com/grade3

Text code “grade3” to 33100

There will be a Tuesday and Friday session. BAM's spring session-- starting Tue Feb 18 and Fri Feb 21.