Dear Braeside Families,

Thank you for a fantastic first day of school! Your children brought so much joy and energy back into our building, and it has been wonderful reconnecting with them. We're truly excited for the year ahead and grateful for the positive start we've had. To capture some of the special moments from our first day, I’ve put together a short welcome back video featuring a few photos from the first day.

Monday and Tuesday will be warmer days and we will be sure to take excellent care of the kids by rotating them through cool spaces, ensuring they have access to water, and keeping them in the shade when they are outside. Please be sure to send their reusable (and labeled) water bottle and dress them in lightweight clothing!

Have a great weekend, and we look forward to seeing all the Bobcats on Monday!

Jamie

• 8/29 (6:00 - 7:00 pm)- Parent/Guardian Open House
• 8/30 (9:00 - 10:00 am)- PTO General Meeting
• 9/2- No School Labor Day
• 9/3 (times vary)- MAP Reading Assessment
• 9/4 (times vary)- MAP Math Assessment
• 9/8 (1:00 - 3:00 pm)- Back to School Bash
• 9/9 (9:20)- Fire Drill
• 9/12 (10:50)- Severe Weather Drill
• 9/13 (times vary)- Bus Evacuation Drill

On Tuesday September 3rd and Wednesday September 4th students will be taking the NWEA MAP Growth Assessments in Reading and Mathematics.

Fall assessments help to determine each student’s specific learning needs. None of these assessments are achievement tests and each assessment increases our opportunity to provide quality instruction, intervention and extension in a cohesive and aligned manner. Students should focus on getting a good night's rest, eating a healthy breakfast the morning of, and arriving to school on time.

You can find your student's MAP testing schedule below. We appreciate your support in making every effort to have your student in school on these days to avoid missing future class time for make-up assessments.

2% or Chocolate Milk is available for purchase for the school year. Parents/guardians who would like their student to receive milk at lunch should log in to the Parent Portal and follow these steps to purchase milk before the first day of school.

1. Click Food Service
2. Click My Accounts
3. Click Optional Payments
4. Select Either Chocolate Milk or White Milk
5. Checkout

Our lunch supervisors will do their best to ensure students signed up for milk receive it daily.

Thursday, September 19th* is Picture Day! Please view the flyer below for ordering information. A paper copy will be sent home with your student soon. This is a prepay site and ordering will be closed at Midnight the day of Picture Day to process the orders. If parents miss prepaying they will have a chance to order pictures with their child's Ticket Code.

Why Preorder?

When placing an order after Picture Day with a Ticket Code a shipping fee will be added on and picture packages will be shipped directly to the home. Ticket Codes will be delivered with the bulk picture package order approximately three weeks post Picture Day.

Please note: students who are absent 9/19 or who wish to retake their original photo can do so on Monday, October 28th.

All students will be issued an iPad within the first few days of school. The iPad will help to facilitate student learning by providing access to district-approved educational applications and resources. These iPads are equipped with tools and apps that enhance the learning experience, support classroom activities, and enable students to complete assignments and projects efficiently. The device ensures that students have access to the necessary digital tools for their education, both in and out of the classroom.

Beginning this year, your student's iPad will primarily remain at school. Teachers will not be sending students home with their iPads unless a specific assignment or project needs to be worked on at home, which will be on a very limited basis (if at all).

Please take a minute to review the linked iPad FAQ, which will answer some basic questions about your student's iPad and how it will be used.

The 112 Foundation is hosting their annual FUND Run 5K and Family Walk on Saturday September 30th. All Braeside families are invited to join their classmates and friends on the beautiful grounds of Ravinia Festival for this favorite all-district event. All proceeds from the event support a need based scholarship fund for D112 students.

Help us defend our championship streak by ensuring Braeside maintains the highest participation rate for the SIXTH year by registering and participating in this family friendly event that supports a great cause!

PTO Membership/Student Activity Fee (one per student) for the 2024-25 school year is available now and can be purchased by following the link: https://www.braesidepto.org/activityfee

The Student Activity Fee is an annual cost per student that covers the following: school assemblies, supplies for 2 Room Parent led classroom activities, Field Day t-shirts and treats and overall cost and fees associated with operating the PTO website.

Once an Activity Fee has been paid, please make sure your information is listed correctly in the directory and enter your student’s classroom teacher. Members gain access to secure portions of the PTO website including the Family Directory, class lists and are able to make PTO purchases through the website and app.

The Back to School Bash is Sunday, 9/8, from1-3pm - games, music, ice cream and more!

We hope to see you there! On Monday, August 26 we will share more information regarding volunteer opportunities and ticket sales via email and social media.

Room Parents are a group of volunteers working specifically to support their child's homeroom teacher. Room Parent responsibilities include supporting a fall classroom activity and spring service project activities. Additionally, room parents promote and gather classroom support for Braeside events, assisting the PTO during Teacher Appreciation Week and Educating Outside the Lines programming as well as collecting money for, and organizing, holiday and end of the year gifts.

If you are interested in serving as a Room Parent this school year, please complete and submit the form below by Friday, August 23rd.