Cougar Connection

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful and restful holiday season with your friends and family. It’s hard to believe we are already nearing the halfway point of the school year. We’ve had an amazing first half, and I’m excited to see all the growth and accomplishments the second half will bring.

As we kick off 2025, I want to remind everyone that school starts promptly at 7:55 AM, and students can arrive as early as 7:35 AM. Starting the day on time helps set students up for success, so we appreciate your efforts in ensuring punctuality.

We will begin MAP testing from January 14–17. Testing will take place on Tuesday and Thursday, with makeup sessions scheduled in between. To help your child perform their best, please ensure they get plenty of rest and enjoy a healthy breakfast. MAP testing gives us valuable insight into their progress so far and helps guide our focus for the remainder of the year.

While we hope for mild weather, winter can bring unexpected challenges. Please stay updated with district and school communications regarding any potential weather-related disruptions. For your reference, the eLearning plan is outlined below.

Thank you for your continued support, and here’s to a fantastic second half of the school year. Cheers to 2025! We look forward to welcoming our students back on Tuesday, January 7th.

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 degree: 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!

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to all our amazing contestants who participated in the School Bee—you’ve made us so proud!

Special shoutout to our top winners:

Christopher B. (4th Grade)

Grayson A. (5th Grade)

Lora Yousef (5th Grade)

Thank you to Mrs. Collins for organizing such a fantastic Spelling Bee event!

Our school winners will advance to the District Bee this January 10th. Let’s cheer them on as they prepare for the next level!

We will begin our Winter NWEA MAP testing on January 14th. Testing will take place on Tuesday and Thursday, with makeup sessions scheduled in between.

This assessment provides one important data point that helps us measure your child's progress in their learning and identify areas to focus on for the remainder of the year.

To help your child do their best, please ensure they:

• Get plenty of rest the night before,
• Eat a healthy breakfast, and
• Arrive at school on time.

Thank you for your support as we work together to help our students succeed. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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.

Thank you to all who participated and volunteered for our Santa's Secret Holiday Shop. The students enjoyed shopping for friends and family and it was a huge success.

Here are a few upcoming events for the PTO:

SUPER BOWL SQUARES

The PTO will be selling 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! Write your number you would like here and then go to Cheddar Up to purchase the ticket. https://superbowl-football-squares.cheddarup.com

3rd Quarter Hot Lunch

Hot lunch deadline is January 14th. Don't forget to sign up for Hot Lunch for 3rd Quarter.

https://hot-lunch-2024-2025-3nd-quarter.cheddarup.com

Below is the link to volunteer for 3rd Quarter Hot Lunch. Please only sign up for 3 spots per quarter.

https://www.signupgenius.com/.../508084EAEA82DA0F85...

Daddy-Daughter Dance
Save the Date for Daddy/Daughter Dance on February 21st from 6-8 PM. More information to come.

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

Thank you for your support!

Second-quarter student report cards will be available in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal on Friday, January 24, at 3 p.m.

How to Access Student Report Cards

1. Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

2. Select Documents in your Message Center

3. Click 24-25 School Name under Report Card, and a pop-up window displaying your student’s report card will open in a new browser. If you cannot view your student’s report card, please ensure pop-up windows are enabled in your web browser.

Please call your school office if you need assistance accessing your Parent Portal.

1/7 Classes Resume

1/10 District Spelling Bee

1/14 - 17 MAP Testing

1/20 NO SCHOOL MLK Day

1/24 Report Cards Issued

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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