Notes from Mr. Harris

Welcome to another exciting school year at Willow Bend! As the Principal of this wonderful school, I am thrilled to open our doors and hearts to all of you, both new and returning families, as we embark on a journey of learning, growth, and togetherness.

Our school is more than just a place for education - it is a vibrant community where students, teachers, and families come together to create an environment of curiosity, creativity, and mutual respect. We are committed to providing a nurturing and supportive atmosphere where every child feels valued, encouraged, safe, and inspired.

This year, we have many exciting plans in store! From engaging classroom projects to school-wide events that will bring us all closer together. There will be countless opportunities for our students to explore new ideas, develop important skills, and make lasting friendships. Our dedicated team of teachers and staff are eager to guide your children through these experiences, helping them grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

Speaking of our dedicated staff, we have MANY new faces joining our Willow Bend Family. Here is a list of those new staff starting at Willow Bend this year:

Lya Ruiz - BiK

Megan Schellinger - Bi1st

Cindy Torres - Bi2nd

Rebecca Cisneros - Bi3rd

Lisa Carmody - ⅘ LEAP

Michelle Newby - 5th

Lissete Cabrera - Bi4th

Cristina Verdin - SW

Lauren Oda - Itinerant Teacher

Marcia Taylor - ART

Jennifer Perez - BiAcademic Interventionist

Kelly Hamann - BiReading Specialist

Jillian Conrad - BiResouce - Spanish

Nicole Yoo - OT

Melissa Forde - OT -

Cindy Jensen - K/1 LEAP

Mary Alberts - ⅔ LEAP

Catrina Fodor - LDResource

Marie Rhebergen - Speech

Dhivya Balaram

Monica Harding

Karina Ruiz

Luisa Hernandez Posada

Jill Wenz

Judy Knuerr

Vanessa Macias

Mariam Awad

Judy Sroda Swoch

Tatiana Delgado Rodriguez

Letty Pezzella - Clerical

Megan McFalls - Assistant Principal

Communication and collaboration between home and school are key components of our success. We encourage you to stay connected with us throughout the year - whether through our newsletters, teacher communications, Sheila's reminders, or by attending our family events. We ask that you think about volunteering for our PTA events throughout the school year. (You don't have to do them all!) Your involvement makes our community stronger and enriches the educational experiences of all our students.

There is a lot of information in this first communication, please read all of it. I promise, they will not all be this lengthy.

Thank you for being an essential part of our school community. Together, we can make this school year one filled with achievements, joy, and meaningful connections. I look forward to working with you and celebrating the many successes we will achieve together.

Warmest regards,

Mr. Harris

Principal

This Thursday, August 22, from 3:30 to 4:30, we will have our Kindergarten Roundup. This will be held in the SOUTH parking lot of Willow Bend by the basketball court. We will have students put on wristbands that will signify which class they will be in, giving the students a chance to meet some of their new classmates. This is also a great time to make connections with families. We, along with the PTA, will have popsicles and water for the students. This is a very casual event. We encourage students to play on the playground and just get to know each other. We hope to see you there!

Below are the directions if you are dropping off your children in a vehicle. If you are having your students take the bus, only buses are allowed in the front drive in the morning and for pick up. If you are a walker this year, there is a new crosswalk just north of the bus lane. We are fortunate enough to get Mrs. Kathy Nordin as our Crosswalk supervisor - she is the same one that was at Central Road last year. Please remind your students to always listen to her when crossing.

IF there is an occasion that you want your child to walk home or ride in a car with someone new, PLEASE write a note to the teacher AND send an email to Sheila Broz at brozs@ccsd15.net to let us know. Thank you!

Student drop off and pick up will be the same as it was last year. In the morning, you will enter our parking lot, driving north off of Barker, taking a right into our drive. You will then drive all the way around our parking lot to drop off your children. You will then EXIT our parking lot and take a RIGHT out onto Barker. It might be faster to take a left out of our parking lot, but that will cause traffic back up and could cause an accident, so please take a right as you exit. They may exit your vehicle starting at 8:10 am. I will be out there almost every morning to assist.

Parent pick up will be the same as last school year. In the afternoon, you will enter our parking lot, driving north off of Barker, taking a right into our drive. You will then drive all the way around our parking lot and line up to pick up your children by the BASKETBALL COURT. When picking up your children, Please have a sign of your children's names and grade level in your car window. Adults will be out there to escort your children to their cars. Please drive carefully as you exit, taking a RIGHT onto Barker.

If you are wanting to apply for Free or Reduced lunch, please stop into the office and fill out a form. This needs to be done for all students that may qualify. We do not automatically get that this year at Willow Bend.

Meet the Teacher will take place on Tuesday, September 3rd from 1:45-2:30 at Willow Bend. Students will be able to find their classroom, meet their teacher, and drop off school supplies. Families are encouraged to drop off any forms for the health office and/or any medication that has been prescribed to be taken during the school day as well as any emergency medications that could be needed at school.

You are encouraged to drop off any needed forms and medications for our Health Office any time between now and September 3rd. Please take a moment to review the important medical information below. We look forward to a healthy and happy school year!

• Physical Exam forms are required for students entering Kindergarten.
• Eye Exams are required for Kindergarten.
• Dental Exams are required for Kindergarten and Second grade.

• All students new to District 15 will require a current physical exam with all immunizations up to date (Certificate of Child Health Examination), and students new to the State of Illinois will require an eye examination. This form is available in the school office, online, and here: State of Illinois Eye Examination Report.

• All students must provide proof of immunizations by October 15, 2024 or the student will be excluded from school. The list of current immunizations can be found on the district website here: IDPH Health Requirements.

• Students with health conditions such as asthma, epilepsy/seizures, severe allergies, and diabetes require the emergency action plan completed by their physician along with the Medication Administration Forms, signed by the physician and parent, for any medications required at school. Please bring these forms and medications on or before the first day of school. These forms are available in the school office, online, and here.

• Asthma Action Plan

• Seizure Action Plan

• Allergy Emergency Action Plan

• Medication Administration Form

• Diabetic Medical Management Plans must be brought in along with medication and supplies prior to or on the first day of school in order for the student to attend.

If your child requires any of these health documents and you have not done so already, kindly make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. If you have any questions regarding the above requirements, or any other content related to your child's health and wellbeing at school, you may contact our school nurse at krausa@ccsd15.net. Stay safe and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Students greatly benefit from consistently attending school. We appreciate you taking note of our school hours and striving to have your children here and on time each school day. One of the after effects of Covid has been an increased number of absences for some of our students. We will be closely monitoring student attendance and reaching out to families to offer support if/when student attendance wanes for your child (ren). As a point of reference, missing 9 days in a school year is considered chronic truancy. Our monitoring points will be at three, six, and then nine days of absence. Students should remain home if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea , or running a fever greater than 100.4, otherwise they should be in attendance. Thanks in advance for your attention to this important topic.

You may come and park in the front drive during school hours, just not during arrival and dismissal.

Monday - Thursday

8:25 am - 3:05 pm

Friday

8:25 am - 2:15 pm

Noon Hour-11:30-12:30 pm

Morning Arrival- 8:10-8:25 am

On Friday, September 6, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, we will be having our annual Back to School Picnic. The PTA and many staff will be there to share in the experience. There will be a dunk tank, Kona Ice, a food truck, temporary tattoos, and a visit from the Rolling Meadows Fire Department. Please join us in starting our school year out right with an afternoon of fun and laughs. Also, please consider joining our newly established PTA, we can use all the help we can get this year! Hope to see everyone there!

The state requires all school to perform several drills throughout the school year. We will be conducting several fire drills, lock down drills, a shelter in place, and a relocation drill. If you have any concerns about your child(ren) participating in these drills, please contact me or Sheila Broz.

Recess at Willow Bend will take place outside as much as possible. Students need to get outside! With that being said, please send your children with the proper clothing. They should wear warm clothes during the cold months of the year such as boots, hat, gloves, snow pants, and a warm winter jacket. If you are in need of these items, please reach out to our social workers, Mrs. Sherry Thomas or Mrs. Cristina Verdin.

Email: harrisr@ccsd15.net
Website: www.ccsd15.net
Location: 4700 Barker Avenue, Rolling Meadows, IL, USA
Phone: (847)963-7300