Haskin Happenings
Reach For The Stars
Dear Haskin Families,
As the leaves fall and the weather turns crisp, we’re focusing on Responsibility as a core value of the Heart of Haskin! Just like the trees let go of their leaves, we’re encouraging our young learners to “let go” of needing reminders and taking on their own responsibilities. From remembering their favorite cozy sweater to lending a helping hand to a friend, we’ll be celebrating students who show these “big kid” habits with Heart of Haskin Awards, classroom cheers, and fun activities.
Teachers will lead discussions and hands-on activities to help students practice responsibility both at school and at home. You can support these habits by talking about how being responsible can be as easy as helping set the table or getting ready each morning. Small actions go a long way!
Please look closely in this newsletter for important updates on our upcoming Veteran’s Day celebrations, Parent Pathways for Preschool families, and Parent-Teacher Conferences. We look forward to connecting with you and sharing in these special events!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Martha Nenni
Principal
Sandwich Early Learning Center &
Lynn G. Haskin Elementary
October 30 - Cake Roll Fundraiser Pick Up 3:00-4:00
October 31 - Halloween
November 1 - 1st Grade Hoover
November 1 - First Day of American Indian Heritage Month
November 5 - Election Day - NO SCHOOL
November 7 & 8 - Safe Passage - Erin's Law
November 8 - 2nd Grade Discovery Center
November 11 - Veterans Day Recognition
November 11 - 15 - Kindness Week (please schedule of events below)
November 12 - Picture Retakes
November 18-December 6 - Franklin Mall food drive collection
November 19 - Parent Pathways (Preschool)
November 22 - Report Cards sent home
November 22 - YMCA Field Trip (K-3)
November 25 - NO SCHOOL Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 26 - NO SCHOOL Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 27th-November 29 - NO SCHOOL Fall Break
Parade Information:
- AM PreK: We will hold this parade at 9:30 on the back blacktop. Parents/Guardians are welcome to attend along with younger children to see their older sibling(s) and their classmates. You may line the black top. Students will exit after their parade through the K-3 wing.
- PM PreK & K-3: The parade will start at 1:15. Students will be walking out of the door by Central Office (faces the MS), walking in front of the building along the sidewalk, and back inside by the gym doors. Guests of the parade can line the circle drive in the front of the building and along the side parking lot by the gym. Please leave the sidewalk for students.
- If we have inclement weather, we will parade through the inside of the building and guests will unfortunately not be allowed to enter as we will exceed capacity and screening for security purposes for during school hours.
Students are invited to wear their costumes with the following guidelines:
Students will change into costumes after lunch and must be able to put on independently.
If a student's costume includes a mask it will not be able to be worn while at school except for a picture and the parade.
Please limit costume accessories, as these can potentially serve as a distraction to our daily learning. Weapons (play swords, knives, guns, etc.) are not allowed.
Halloween Parties:
- These will follow the parades.
- The celebrations are coordinated by teachers for PreK rooms and by H.O.P. for the K-3 classrooms.
- PreK celebrations: One parent/guardian may attend for each student, no siblings
- K-3: Only designated adult helpers coordinated through H.O.P. who have been approved as volunteers will be able to accompany the students back to the classrooms for the parties.
Treat Policy:
Celebrations and positive reinforcement are an important part of our district’s culture of supporting students. Often students bring treats or snacks to school to share on special occasions. Due to food allergies and other health concerns, we are only allowing a minimal amount of preapproved treats to be consumed at the classroom party. We still encourage healthy eating habits and promote non-food items such as pencils, stickers, bookmarks, or other small items in place of food treats. All Curricular activities involving food will be dealt with individually.
Early Learning Essentials for Parents of our Littlest Learners
Attention Preschool Families! This series is designed to empower families with practical strategies to support young children's development and set them on a path for lifelong learning. Join us to connect with other parents, gain insights into early childhood milestones, and explore ways to create a nurturing learning environment at home.
Our Parent Pathways sessions are designed to provide a supportive and interactive hour for families. Each session begins with 25-minutes led by our parent educator, where parents can learn valuable insights and strategies, while preschool students are supervised and engaged in play in classrooms. Following the parent session, families will enjoy a 25-minute activity to practice new ideas together.
These are the dates of our Parent Pathways events from 5:30 - 6:30 pm.
November 19th
December 17th
January 21st
February 18th
March 18th
April 15th
May 20th
We kindly ask that non-preschool children have pre-arranged supervision at home, though infants may stay with parents if necessary. Please note that no diapering services will be available during play supervision.
Each month we will send a Google Form to inform you of the upcoming event's topic and ask for your RSVP.
November 17th's Topic: Establishing Routines at Home
Activity: Making Playdough
The importance of routines and ideas on how to easily implement them at home.
Dear Parents,
My name is Renee Hallman. I am excited to introduce myself as the new Parent Educator for the Early Childhood Program at Haskin. I grew up in Michigan. I have lived in Sandwich since 1988. I love to travel and visit big cities, but I’m a small town girl at heart. I am a wife to my high school sweetheart. I’m the mom of two thoughtful sons, who married dynamic women, and I am a Grandma to three loving grandchildren. My family is my pride and joy! I’ve also been a Harley Mama, taking numerous trips on the back of a motorcycle. I love to watch football and attend my older two grandchildren’s sporting events. I treasure my small group of friends that I consider family. When time allows, I like to cook simple meals, but I leave baking to someone else. As I age, I’m trying to be more mindful of my health and living a balanced life.
I have been working in Early Childhood my entire adult life. I have been an Assistant Teacher, an Early Childhood Teacher, Director Qualified, and a Mentor, coaching other Teachers. We all have many titles, but being a parent is probably the most challenging and yet the most rewarding. Did you know that 90% of brain development happens in the first five years of a child’s life? Parenting is a tremendous responsibility and takes a lot of hard work! There is no such thing as a “perfect” Parent. We all make mistakes. I know I did! The more you learn about young children, the better parent you become. I believe in the importance of guiding children with love and patience, but to do that, adults need a support system and knowledge.
To help navigate this important job of raising a child, Haskin has created a new enrichment opportunity for you. “ Parent Pathways: Early Learning Essentials for Parents of our Littlest Learners” I would like to welcome you to join myself, other parents and specialists once a month for a workshop full of information and resources. This will be a two-part event; a family project, and time just for parents. Childcare for Preschoolers will be provided.
We will learn and discuss specific topics each month. Together, we can talk out challenges and come up with solutions. My intention is for parents to build a community where they can interact comfortably with other parents, learn about Child Development, gather information about local resources available in Sandwich and DeKalb County, and become empowered to succeed.
I am truly looking forward to meeting all of you,
Renee Hallman
On Monday, November 11th, we will celebrate Veterans Day by hosting a group of local Veterans for an assembly. This ceremony will include the presentation of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, a short concert by the Sandwich High School Band, and the introduction of Veterans to the audience. Please encourage your students to wear our nation's colors (red, white, blue) or camouflage to honor our special guests.
Your student(s) will come home with a "Veteran's Star" paper. If you would like to honor a family member, friend, neighbor, etc., for their service to our country, please complete and decorate a star and return it by Wednesday, November 6th. We will display these STARS in the hallway.
Please click the Button above and complete the form so we know who to expect.
What is it?
A program created in to bring male role models into schools to have a positive impact on students. You join your student for a school day to support learning.
Who can sign up?
Male role models of our students such as Dads, Grandfathers, Uncles, Brothers, and/or other Father Figures.
How do I sign up?
Click this link: https://forms.gle/AXMAfTDGdDFNcEy69
November 14th is World Diabetes Day
In the United States, about 30 million adults and 200,000 people under the age of 20 have diabetes. Here are some website resources for Diabetes:
Dental Reminder:
Completed Proof of School Dental Exam forms are required for current Kindergarten and second grade students by May 15th. If you are unable to obtain the required dental exam, please complete the Dental Exam Waiver Form.
Flu season is here!
Protect yourself and your family this season with an annual flu vaccine for everyone who is 6 months and older. Seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and last as late as May. Visit www.flu.gov for more information.
Eye Exam Reminder for Kdg./new to Illinois students
We Need Substitute Teachers and Substitute Paraprofessionals!
Do you want to make your own schedule?
Do you have at least 60 credit hours or an Associate's Degree?
You can be a Substitute Teacher and would be making a significant impact on our school with your support!
As a Substitute Teacher, you would make $120 daily or $140 after a total of 10 days in the district.
Here is the link to the DeKalb ROE for a Substitute Teacher packet.
You can easily become a substitute Paraprofessional as well with just a High School diploma and earn $14 an hour. Here is the link for the DeKalb Paraprofessional licensure.
Happy November! I hope that everyone has recovered from the fun of Halloween. November is such a wonderful month to focus on gratitude and giving thanks. As the busy holiday season approaches, it is always nice to take a moment and reflect on all that we have and how we can give back to others. At Haskin, we are doing this by focusing on our core value of Responsibility and how we can be dependable, keep promises, and honor our commitments to both ourselves and others. I hope that you and your family are able to take some time during this month to take a moment, breathe, and be thankful.
Another thing that we are focusing on at Haskin this month is kindness. We are celebrating Kindness Week during the week of November 11th, which includes World Kindness Day on Wednesday, November 13th. We are going to have a fun spirit week, coloring contest, and school-wide kindness activities to involve everyone being kind to one another.
Our Kindness Club has been very successful and the students really seemed to enjoy our first meeting. We are all looking forward to our next meeting on Tuesday, November 19th. Thank you so much to all of our families who allowed their students to participate with us, and a very special and heartfelt thank you to our volunteers. There is no way that we would be as successful as we are without you!
I am available to chat with you if you have any questions or concerns or need any help. Please feel free to reach out. I am available at 815-786-8812 x24007 or at rhaskins@sandwich430.org.
Have a wonderful November and Thanksgiving holiday!
Student absences need to be called in by 8:15 am (815-786-8812) on the day of the absence for the safety of your student. There is an answering machine here at school, so you can call at any time to let us know if your student will not be present. An automated system will take calls before 7:00 a.m. If your child is not at school and we have not been contacted we will send out reminder messages. If contact cannot be made, please note that the absence will be considered UNEXCUSED. Please know that if you receive an attendance letter it is part of our policy. If attendance is a concern you will receive a phone call from Mrs. Nenni or the office staff.
Students shall be permitted no more than seven (7) excused absences, including vacations, per school year, based upon parental/legal guardian confirmation for the reasons of the absence. After the student has been excused seven times in one school year, additional excused absences for illnesses may only be verified through a written medical statement from a physician. For our full attendance policy, please refer to our student handbook.
Next month, on November 7th & 8th, Lynn G. Haskin will host professionals from Safe Passage into our classrooms to speak with our students about Erin's Law. Please read over the information below. After reviewing the provided information, if you would like your student(s) removed from the classroom during Erin's Law presentations, please let your student(s) teacher know.
What is Erin’s Law?
Erin’s Law, or Illinois Public Act 097-1147, requires public schools to provide child sexual abuse prevention education for children in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades.
How is Erin’s Law taught at Lynn G. Haskin?
In order to meet the requirements of Illinois Public Act 097-1147, Haskin Elementary utilizes a local community resource called Safe Passage. Safe Passage social workers provide age-appropriate instruction that will help students recognize unsafe situations, keep themselves safe, and how to respond to unsafe situations. This year, Safe Passage's staff will visit each classroom and deliver an in-person presentation. Common themes instructed at all grade levels include:
- Identifying safe versus unsafe or unwanted touching
- The Safety Rule About Touching (The Touching Rule): Private areas are not for others to touch, except to keep a child clean and healthy
- Understanding the difference between good and bad secrets
Any further questions regarding Erin's Law?
If you have further questions regarding Erin's Law, please click here to view additional information provided by Safe Passage. Once you've reviewed the information provided by Safe Passage, if you have additional questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact the main office at 815-786-8812. If you'd like to opt your student from Safe Passage's Erin's law presentation, please contact your student(s) teacher and let them know.