Cougar Connection

Dear Keller Families,

February has been an exciting and eventful month at Keller! We celebrated our 100th day of school, enjoyed a school spirit assembly, and recognized our students’ growth in MAP scores. Our Wonder Writing Program continues to inspire creativity, and we had a fantastic turnout for the Daddy/Daughter Dance—thank you to all who attended and made it such a special evening! Seeing our students arrive each day with big smiles and enthusiasm for learning is truly the highlight of our days.

As we move into March, we look forward to another great month, though it will be a shorter one with spring break at the end of the month. With the weather starting to warm up, students will be enjoying outdoor recess again. Please make sure they are dressed appropriately for the changing temperatures by sending them with a coat and proper attire for the day.

Additionally, we appreciate your participation in the 5 Essentials Survey. Your feedback is incredibly valuable as we reflect on what we’re doing well and identify areas for improvement. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and for your continued support of our school community.

Wishing you all a wonderful March!

Warm regards,

Principal Julie M. Simpson

Tuesday, 3/4- Reading is Relaxing - Wear your pajamas or the color BLUE
Wednesday, 3/5 - Dress for Success - Wear your very best outfit or the color YELLOW
Thursday, 3/6 - You got this! Reading is NO sweat! Wear your favorite sweats or the color GREEN

Friday, 3/7 - School Spirit Friday! Wear your best school gear or school colors

Padlet Link - Keller's Reading Week Padlet

For Read Across America Week, we invite you to share a photo of yourself or your family enjoying a good book! Be sure to include the book in your picture. We can’t wait to see our Keller community come to life through the joy of reading!

Directions on how to add a photo to Padlet:

To add a photo to Padlet, tap the plus (+) button at the bottom of the Padlet. Then, select the upload button that appears, and choose a photo from your device. If you'd like, you can add a title or description to your photo. Once you're ready, tap Publish, and your photo will be added to the Padlet. Thank you!

If you have not done so already, please be sure to take the Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey by March 28. We must get a 20% parent response rate for our results to be reported.

This survey assesses a school’s culture and climate and provides insight into strengths and weaknesses on the five key factors that research shows are predictive of school success - effective leaders, collaborative teachers, involved families, supportive environment, and ambitious instruction.

Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.

Thanks for your support!

Join us at Grissom Middle School on Wednesday, March 19, at 6:30 pm for Safe Kids: A Parent’s Guide to Digital and Real-World Risks, an informative presentation by the Tinley Park Police Department.

This parents-only event provides essential information on cyberbullying, online enticement, internet safety, tobacco, vaping, and marijuana prevention, juvenile law, and the dangers of underage drinking.

Parents are invited to submit questions or topics of interest by Monday, March 17, so our presenters can tailor the presentation to attendees' interests and come prepared with answers to the questions.

Grissom Middle School is located at 17000 S. 80th Avenue, Tinley Park.

Dave and Buster Power Cards are on sale from March 1 - March 31st. They are $20 each and can be used at all Dave & Busters. These cards do not have an expiration. Stock up now.

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

Thank you for your support!

3/3 No School; Casimir Pulaski Day

3/11 - ISA testing 5th grade ONLY

3/24 - 4/1 Spring Break
4/2 Classes Resume

4/4 3rd Quarter Ends

4/7 - 4/11 IAR testing 3rd - 5th grade ONLY

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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