Cougar Chronicle

Please remember that classroom instruction at Cooke begins at 8:30 am each day. Student drop-off is from 8:00 am-8:20 am. Please ensure that your child is entering the building well before the 8:30 tardy bell so they do not miss important learning in their classroom. If you choose to park and walk your child to the building, make sure to use the student crosswalk. Please do not walk your child across the bus lane and through incoming car traffic lanes. The crosswalk is to ensure everyone's safety. Thank you for partnering with us at Cooke to help keep all students safe and to support your child's learning.

We are at a 48% completion rate as of Friday, March 11th! Let's keep it going!
Please complete one survey for each of your children!

Our goal is at least 75% completion! If Cooke receives the highest completion rate for parents in the district, students will receive a surprise at the close of the window in March! (there is another school at 49%!)

GREAT JOB COOKE FAMILIES!


Complete the survey using the link below. Be sure to click SUBMIT at the end or it will not provide us the feedback. Remember - If you have more than 1 student, complete one for each!

Link to survey: http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/

Attendance Percentages: Week of 3/10/25 -3/14/25

At Cooke we would love to have perfect attendance, however Cooke's weekly attendance goal is 96%. It is important that students are at school daily and on time. Please make sure that your child arrives to eat breakfast by 8:15. If your child does not need breakfast, students should be in the school building before 8:30. Daily instruction begins at 8:30. Thank you!

1st: 93.63%

2nd: 96.60%

3rd: 92.82%

4th: 95.80%

5th: 95.59%

SCHOOL TOTAL: 94.71%

We are excited to announce the launch of this year's Kids Heart Challenge in partnership with the American Heart Association! Your child should have received a flyer in their backpack recently.

This program teaches students valuable lessons about maintaining heart health and preventing heart disease. By registering for the challenge, your student will receive a FREE wristband and join their classmates in learning about heart-healthy habits.

Families who wish to support this initiative can make donations to the American Heart Association. Please note that all donations must be made ONLINE ONLY - no cash or checks will be accepted at school.

To register for the Kids Heart Challenge and make a donation, here https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageNavigator/ym_school_search.html

We encourage all families to complete Finn's Mission in your KHC Headquarters. This important component teaches hands-only CPR, helping to create a community of lifesavers within our school.

The Kids Heart Challenge runs through March 21st. Your participation helps save lives and promotes heart health awareness in our community. Please reach out with any questions.

Thank you,

Mr. Rathge

Good morning!

Cooke University's "Helping Animals in Need" is once again collecting items to be donated to W.A.G.S. Waukegan (Waukegan Animals Getting Saved). Items may be dropped off in the box outside the music room. Donations will be accepted through Wednesday, April 16. Please see the attached flyer for more specific details. Thank you!

Ms. Clevenger

Parents,

Please reach out to your child's teacher to see which supplies your student needs. Usually by this time in the school year, students have run out of or lost a lot of their supplies. Classroom teachers will be able to tell you which supplies need to be replenished, and if there are any other materials or items they need to make sure that your child is well-prepared for learning every day here at Cooke.

Parents:
Please ensure that your children are coming to school prepared for the day's weather. Students must participate in recess daily by law (unless noted by a doctor) and will be expected to go outside. Students cannot call home to get clean clothes if their clothes get dirty in the mud. You may send an extra change of dry clothes in their backpack if you would like for them to have in case of a recess accident.

The Cooke Expectation is that if the real feel temperature is less than 50 degrees, students should wear long sleeves outside. (Sweater, Sweatshirt, Jacket, etc.)

It is Waukegan School District policy that families cannot send in food treats, birthday cakes, or drinks in recognition of a student's birthday. In addition, balloons, balloon bouquets or other inflatable objects/toys are not permitted. If you’d like to send or bring in pencils, pens, erasers, etc. for each child in the classroom, you are more than welcome to do so. Other families have donated a book to the classroom library in their child’s name as an alternative option.

For this day, you are also welcome to join your child at lunch. You can sit at the lunch table with your child and his/her class, and you can bring a special lunch if you wish. Please be sure you are only providing lunch for your own child.

Please know that whatever a family chooses to do (or not to do), we will always help your child feel special on his/her birthday. When in doubt, just ask your child’s teacher – s/he will be happy let you know what non-food treats will be most appreciated by the class in the limited time available to celebrate birthdays.

Check out the list below of some possible non-food treats that you can send in with your child to pass out to their classmates for their birthday.

• Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
• Pencils, pens, crayons or markers
• Bubbles
• Erasers or pencil toppers
• Mini Slinkies
• Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers
• Bouncy balls
• Finger puppets or novelty toys
• Play-Doh
• Rings
• Pop-Its
• Mini notepads
• Playing cards
• Bookmarks
• Stickers
• Stencils

This flyer was sent home at the beginning of the year. Fill out the bottom portion of the form and return it with $10 (exact cash only please). This form can be returned at any time during the year, but must be received a minimum of two days before your child's birthday to ensure your message is displayed. Thank you!

Welcome Cooke Cougars! Use this code to join the Cooke PTO Facebook page for useful information throughout the year.

It's easy to earn money for our school! Download the Box Top app, scan your receipt within 14 days and let the money add up! Help out with this easy way to support the Cooke PTO!

https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=TVVU4T6M

Please call the attendance line if your child will be absent and unable to participate in instruction for the day.

Cooke Attendance Line: 224-303-1759

• Parents/Guardians,
  Beginning Monday, March 3, please use the form linked below if you have a change in your child's transportation or will be picking them up early from school for any reason. Do not call the office as was done in the past. Please only use this form. This will allow us to have accurate record of changes made to student routines for their safety!
  
  All changes in transportation for the day MUST be made by 2:00 PM the day of by completing the form!
  https://forms.gle/r2oagz4r2fvzsWYq9

  Please reach out to Dr. Jensen with any questions.

  Thanks,

  Dr. Jensen & the Cooke Office Staff

March 17-19 - Outdoor Education Trip - Grade 5

March 17 - ISIBINDI Day

March 24-28 - Spring Vacation - NO SCHOOL!

March 31 - Students and Staff Return

April 4 - Popcorn Day

April 7 - District Institute Day - NO SCHOOL for students

April 9 - House Day/Early Release

April 14 - Dojo Store Opens

April 16 - Dojo Store Closes at 4pm

April 18 - NO SCHOOL (Good Friday)

Early release days are the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Here are the remainder of our early release days (dismissal at 1:03) for the 2024-2025 school year:

4/9

4/23

5/14