News From Conyers Learning Academy
September 13, 2024
A Wonderful Start to the School Year!
The first full week of school was filled with excitement as we welcomed our students back to CLA. It was wonderful to see the kids and staff reunited and the positive energy in the building.
Our students were thrilled to see the changes we made to the building, especially the new paint and graphics on the ABLE and REACH floors. They've been busy learning their schedules, diving into engaging activities with their teachers and classmates, and making new friends.
We're so excited for the school year ahead and all the adventures that await our students!
Sincerely,
Matt Stary
Principal, Conyers Learning Academy
New year, new look!
New year, new smiles!
New year, new friends!
School Hours
School Hours
Monday - Thursday
9:20 am - 4:00 pm
Friday
9:20 am - 3:10 pm
Dates to Remember
September 18th - Parent Night Workshop (Follow link for more information)
- September 23rd - 27th - Safety Week (please see flier for details)
- September 24th - Parent Orientation and Pizza Night
- September 26th - Half Day of Student Attendance
- October 2nd - First PTA Meeting 6:30 PM (see PTA section below)
- October 9th - D15 Board of Education Meeting
- October 10th - PTA Movie night at CLA (see below for details!)
- October 14th - Indigenous Peoples Day - NO SCHOOL
School Calendar
Please click on this link for the D15 School Calendar.
Parent Orientation & Pizza Night
Join us for Parent Orientation Night on Tuesday, September 24th, from 6:00-7:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to bring your students and family members to CLA for an evening of fun and connection.
Enjoy a delicious dinner of pizza, salad, desserts, and refreshments. Siblings are welcome to join!
While you visit your child's classroom and chat with their teacher, your children can play and socialize on the playground. In case of rain, the event will be held in the CLA gym.
For more information, please see this flyer. Please RSVP by Thursday, September 19th. (Click here to RSVP)
We look forward to seeing you there!
Infinite Campus' Campus Parent is designed to provide real-time access to student information. The easy-to-use design displays what is currently happening in the classroom so you can understand, monitor, and participate in the educational process.
Announcements
Attendance
Grades & mid-term progress reports
Registration information
Transportation information
Pay fees
You can log into Campus Parent using the Campus Parent Web Portal or Mobile App.
Make sure you have your account set up for the new school year! To learn how to set up your account, watch tutorials, or access a help center, please visit the district website.
Transportation Information
All of your transportation information can be found in the My Ride K-12 App, district 15's new GPS Bus Locator. For more details and directions on how to download, follow the link to our district page.
Safety Week
September 23rd thru September 27th is safety week at CLA!
The safety of our students is always a top priority at our school. Our goal is not only to provide a safe environment, but to also prepare our students, staff, and school community to know how to respond if a crisis arises. To that end, each year, schools are required by Illinois School Code to conduct safety drills.
Here is the schedule for our upcoming drills:
- Monday, September 23rd: Lockdown drill
- Tuesday, September 24th: Fire drill
- Wednesday, September 25th: Bus evacuation drill
Join the CLA PTA!
Become a member of the Conyers Learning Academy PTA to help support our students and staff. Membership is open to everyone! (click here to sign up!)
Our first meeting is Wednesday, October 2nd at 6:30 PM.
Join us for Movie Night hosted by our amazing PTA!
This is a FREE event for all CLA families.
When: Thursday, October 10th from 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Conyers Learning Academy Gym
What: A special viewing of Disney's "Coco"
Please bring foldable chairs, blankets, beach towels, etc. for seating during the movie.
Snacks & drinks will be available for purchase.
FREE bag of popcorn for families who bring a non-perishable donation for the local food bank.
NOTE: ONE BAG OF POPCORN PER PERSON. THIS IS NOT A DROP OFF EVENT. PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
Please see this flier for details and click on this link to sign up for the event.
Volunteers Needed! Please reach out to the PTA if you are interested @ conyerspta@gmail.com
Stay connected!
- Follow us on Facebook!
- Email us at conyerspta@gmail.com with any questions.
MAP Testing
Second- through eighth-grade students in the REACH Program will be assessed at least two times a year (fall and spring) using the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing system.
The computer-based MAP tests measure individual student achievement in three academic areas: reading, language, and math. These tests dynamically adjust to a student's performance level, providing more accurate results.
- Testing Window: September 11th - September 20th
- Grade Levels: 2nd-8th grade
- Subjects: Reading, language, and math
- Testing Method: Computer-based
Please refer to this letter sent on September 6th for additional details.
FastBridge Assessments
District 15 is committed to supporting the academic growth of every child. To monitor progress, we use the FastBridge Learning assessments. These assessments help us understand how students are developing key foundational skills in reading and math.
Students take these assessments in the fall, winter, and spring. They are tested in the primary language of instruction used in their classroom. For students enrolled in the Dual Language Program, assessments are conducted in both English and Spanish. Each assessment session is brief, taking approximately 20-25 minutes per student.
All students in kindergarten and first grade are assessed in early reading and early math skills. Reading assessments may focus on key skills such as recognizing sounds at the beginning of words, identifying letter sounds, breaking words into parts, recognizing common words by sight, reading syllables, and reading simple sentences. Math assessments may include identifying numbers, understanding number order, matching numbers to quantities, and learning about place value.
All students in second grade and third grade students in Bilingual classrooms are assessed by reading three, 1-minute, grade- level passages. Math assessments are focused around math fact automaticity (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). These assessments are also administered to students in grades 3-5 who score below the 15th percentile on the MA assessment. For more information about the FastBridge assessments, please visit our website: FastBridge Assessments.
You can access your childās FastBridge percentile scores in early-October through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. If we believe your child could benefit from additional support, your school will reach out to discuss next steps.
If you have any questions or concerns, please donāt hesitate to contact your childās teacher.
The Nurse's Corner
Important Health Information for the School Year
Click here for the monthly Health Newsletter!
Immunizations and Health Exams:
As the school year gets underway, please ensure your child's health records are up-to-date and on file with the school nurse. This includes current immunizations and a recent health exam.
Grade-Specific Requirements:
Certain grade levels may require additional exams, such as eye or dental checkups. Please visit the school's health information webpage for specific requirements by grade.
Submitting Health Records:
All required health documents are due by the start of the school year. You can submit them in the following ways:
- Drop them off at the school office.
- Email them to vojackd@ccsd15.net
- Fax them from your doctor's office to 847-963-3406.
Please don't hesitate to contact the school nurse at 847-963-3400 if you have any questions.
Grade-Specific Requirements:
Kindergarten:
- Physical (Health) Exam form with current immunizations -(English/Spanish)
- Eye Exam form (English/Spanish)
- Dental Exam form (English/Spanish)
Second Grade:
Sixth Grade:
- Physical (Health) Exam form with current immunizations (English/Spanish)
- Dental Exam form (English/Spanish)
All Forms are due to the health office by October 15th, 2024. Please call the nurse's office at 847-963-3402 if you have any questions and we will be happy to assist you.
Nutrition Services
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program
For the 2024-25 school year, CLA will continue to be a part of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. This means that ALL students will receive free breakfast and lunch regardless of their economic status.
The CEP program DOES NOT automatically extend a waiver of student fees for families. In order to receive a waiver of student fees based on low household income or financial hardship in the family, an application must be completed and returned to the school. Please use the following link for more information and to apply now! Student Fees/Waivers
Every Day Counts: Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow
Nine Days or Less for School Success!
Dear Parents/Guardians,
As we begin another school year in District 15, I want to highlight the importance of daily attendance in your childās academic success.
Regular attendance is key to academic achievement and personal growth. Each day in District 15 offers new opportunities for learning, and we ask that you prioritize your childās presence in school. Research shows that attendance directly impacts academic performance and helps students feel more connected to their school community.
This year, every District 15 school is encouraging all families to commit to missing 9 days or less for school success. Every lesson, discussion, and interaction contributes to your studentās progress, both academically and socially. Being in school not only fuels learning but also opens doors to extracurricular activities and social connections.
While we understand that occasional absences may happen due to illness or other circumstances, please ensure your student stays in communication with their teachers and promptly completes any missed work.
Thank you for your partnership in making this a successful year of growth and learning.
Sincerely,
Matt Stary
Principal, Conyers Learning Academy
Partners for Our Communities
Partners for Our Communities (POC) empowers underserved people to develop self-sufficiency and become leaders in their communities. We build partnerships with other community organizations, connect families with local resources, and remove barriers to access. POC is proud to provide a skilled, culturally sensitive staff that is bilingual and bicultural. Please click on the flier (English/Spanish) for more information.
Community Events
Parent Night Workshop
The United Palatine Coalition and District 15, along with a few other local agencies, will be hosting a parent night workshop entitled, Starting the School Year Strong!
Join us for a free parent workshop targeting students 3-14 years old. Learn tips families can use at home to develop skills for a positive school year. Use this opportunity to ask the experts your questions.
Topics include:
Tips to calm and reduce anxiety
Mindset for a healthy relationship
Tools for a successful school year
Importance of daily routines
Time for questions!
Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Time: 6:30-7 pm - meet local service providers; 7-8 pm - panel presentation followed by audience questions
Location: Palatine Library, 700 N North Ct, Palatine.
Registration: Please register here: https://forms.gle/KJqv1vEVwPBnCJew6
See event flyer for more information.
Childcare and translation services will be offered.
For more information contact Anne Campbell at acampbell@upcoalition.org
Staff Spotlight
Debbie Vojack
Debbie (Deb) Vojack has been a dedicated nurse for 26 years, and this is her 7th year at CLA. In addition to caring for our students, she also has three children of her own: two girls and a boy. Her twins are 21 years old and just graduated college, with one attending the University of Missouri (Mizzou) and the other transferring to North Central College in Naperville. Her youngest daughter is a sophomore at the University of Iowa.
Debbie has been married for 25 years and recently adopted two kittens. She's a passionate reader, puzzle enthusiast, and loves to travel. In fact, she's visited 43 states and 12 countries!
We're grateful for Debbie's dedication and contributions to CLA. Thank you, Nurse Debbie!
Jas Blancarte
Jas Blancarte is approaching her one-year anniversary with District 15 and at CLA! As our dedicated secretary, Jas is the heart of our busy front office; supporting families in both English and Spanish and keeping our staff organized.
Jas loves the warm and welcoming atmosphere at CLA and appreciates the supportive and collaborative team spirit.
Outside of work, Jas enjoys spending time with her boys, her husband Danny, and their fur-baby Bentley. Jas, we're so grateful for your hard work and dedication!
Karen Flor
Karen Flor, our dedicated Certified School Nurse, has been a valuable member of District 15 since 2017, and is in her her first year supporting the students at Conyers Learning Academy.
Karen has three grown daughters and two grown stepsons. She's an adventurous spirit who loves to explore the world and learn new things. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking with her family, and spending time with her hairless cat, who she insists thinks he's a dog!
Karen has been a school nurse for many years, becoming a Certified School Nurse in 2013 and a Nationally Certified School Nurse in 2019. She's fortunate to work with the fantastic building nurses and evaluation teams to provide support to our students. Welcome to the team, Karen!
New CLA Website!
New Website!
Come check out our new and improved website!
Follow us on Social Media
D15 News
From the District
Please click on this link for the latest D15 newsletter!
Multilingual Department
Our Spanish Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee would like to invite our D15 families to our 4th Annual Welcome Back to School Picnic on Saturday, September 21, from 10:00-1:00 pm at Winston Campus. Please see this flier for details.
CLA Office Team
Our wonderful administration and office team are here to support our students and families however we can. We are looking forward to connecting with you at CLA at the events we have planned for the upcoming year. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office or email us directly.
Matt Stary - Principal (starym@ccsd15.net)
Christy Loh - Assistant Principal (lohc@ccsd15.net)
Jamin Blancarte - Secretary (blancarv@ccsd15.net)
(Se habla espaƱol)
Lynn Erdmann - Clerical (erdmannl@ccsd15.net)
Debbie Vojak - School Nurse (vojackd@ccsd15.net)
Claudia Roayne - School Nurse (ronaynec@ccsd15.net)
Matt Stary
Principal - Conyers Learning Academy - Therapeutic Day
Email: starym@ccsd15.net
Website: https://cla.ccsd15.net/
Address: 2800 Central Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Phone: 847-963-3480