Dear Hunting Ridge Families,
It is hard to believe that February begins tomorrow! The school year is flying by, and our students are learning a lot. We cannot thank you all enough for your support of the Holiday Giving Initiative. We were able to help many of our families have a wonderful holiday season! Thank you for your generosity!
We are in the middle of the winter assessment season, with our second language learners taking the ACCESS test. This is an important assessment which measures our student's English language proficiency. Additionallly, all of our students have participated in winter benchmark assessments this month: FastBridge or CommonLit. Teachers and teams are using this data to drive their instruction and set goals for student progress.
We are looking forward to celebrating Valentine's Day on February 14, from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Thank you to all of our room parents and volunteers who are making this day special for all of our Hawks! We hope to see all of you at Open House on February 27, from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Please see more information about Open House below.
If there are any questions or concerns that you have, please feel free to reach out to us. We appreciate your partnership and support.
Warmly,
Kate Arenberg, Principal
Alison Friedman, Assistant Principal
Kimberly Johnson, Student Services Coordinator
Science Experiments in Kindergarten!
Students in Kindergarten were able to explore during science experiments this month!
Indi Cars in the Library!
Students are exploring Indi Cars in the Library and how to create their own paths!
Staff Highlight: 3rd Grade Team
In the coming weeks, third graders are excited to begin learning about the history of Illinois, Palatine, and its surrounding communities. As part of this unit, students will be working in small collaborative learning groups to explore a specific aspect of Illinois’ history. Students will then showcase their learning through a Lotus Diagram poster project. As part of this project, students will be sharing their part of Illinois’ history with their peers. You’ll be able to see the final product of these projects at Open House next month! Please mark your calendars for Thursday February 27th from 6:30-7:30 for Open House at Hunting Ridge. In the spring, third graders will revisit our learning from this unit by taking a special field trip to the Clayson House in Palatine to experience what life was like in our community back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. We can’t wait for our students to enjoy this experience!
3rd Grade Team:
Ms. Katsoolias, Mrs. Merle, Mrs. Pyrzanowski, Mrs. Stutzman, and Mrs. Trausch
From the PTA!
Hunting Ridge Chicago Wolves Game!
Join Hunting Ridge students, families, and friends at the Chicago Wolves hockey game on Saturday, February 22 at 7pm as the Wolves battle the Iowa Wild. Each person who attends will receive a FREE Chicago Wolves hat, and our school name will also appear on the LED matrix boards throughout the game. Everyone from Hunting Ridge will be seated in the same section so you can be sure to cheer on the home team with your classmates and friends.
2025 Meeting Schedule!
Save the date for our 2025 PTA meetings! All meetings are planned for 7 pm and in person in the school library. We have SO much planned for the second half of the school year and want to make sure you feel represented! Did you know there is a representative from the school admin team at every PTA meeting? The only way to make sure your opinions are heard is to join us at one of these meetings. The more the merrier, so join the community of parents, teachers, and neighbors who support our school.
Thursday, February 13- Virtual
Thursday, March 13
Thursday, April 17
Thursday, May 15
February Fundraiser!
Ready...Set...Play! Hunting Ridge is excited to launch our Dave & Buster’s Fundraising Campaign! Get a $20 Power Card, and 50% of your purchase will be donated to Hunting Ridge! Whether it’s a family day or a fun date night, you can play games, win prizes, and have endless fun while supporting a great cause! How it works:
Purchase your card online via our campaign page
Redeem your Power Card at your nearest Dave & Buster’s
Play and enjoy!
Campaign ends February 28, 2025. Get yours: grouprai.se/davebusters54273s
3rd/4th Grade Book Club
Hunting Ridge PTA 3rd/4th Grade Book Club will be reading the 2024 Newberry Medal Winner "The Eyes & The Impossible." Third and Fourth Graders interested in joining our Book Club will meet and eat lunch in the LRC on February 27 during their lunch period.
Register for Book Club here: https://forms.gle/iKudwBoBMkzptnK97
If you have multiple students in grades 3 and 4 please complete the form for each student.
Discounted books are able to be purchased through the PTA for $5 until 12 pm on Friday, January 31 using this link: https://hr-pta.givebacks.com/store/items/1151851
Books ordered through the PTA will be delivered to students in the classroom the week of February 5. Questions? Email eafuhrman@hotmail.com
Order Your 2024-25 Yearbook!
There's no better time to order your yearbook than today! Orders cannot be accepted after the online order window closes, so check it off the list now so you don't forget! Make sure your child's elementary school memories last forever.
Order: inter-state.com/order
Code: 91184M
Join the 2024-25 Hunting Ridge PTA!
We've got some big goals to reach, and you can help us! We're on the road to 338 members so we can match our membership count from last year. We're still at only 283 members, which puts us at about 84% of the way there. We've got so much planned for the rest of this school year, but we need YOU to make it happen. Join us and be a part of the amazing community behind Hunting Ridge Elementary School!
Attendance Matters! A Closer Look at Student Attendance
The winter months are the time of year when illnesses tend to increase. This is something that is often out of everyone’s control, and we truly appreciate your efforts to prioritize your child’s health, well-being, and with the benefits of attendance.
Attendance Updates
We know that balancing health and attendance can be challenging, and we appreciate your continued efforts to ensure students are at school when they are well enough to attend. Here’s our school’s attendance rate so far this year:
January 2025- Year to Date Attendance: 94.82%
As a school, we have set a goal of 96% for the Year to Date Attendance rate. We need your help in achieving this goal! We’re proud of the effort our families have made to keep attendance strong, even during a challenging season. Let’s continue to work together to make this a successful school year for all students!
Tips to Promote Student Health
Encourage frequent hand washing: Regular hand washing includes using soap and warm water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, and drying hands thoroughly. Singing the "Happy Birthday" song twice is a great way for younger children to time themselves!
Stay home when sick: Use our district guide to help determine if your child can attend school or should stay home. If your child is showing symptoms of illness, such as a fever or persistent cough, please keep them at home until they are symptom-free for 24 hours.
Healthy habits: Make sure your child gets enough sleep, eats nutritious meals, and stays hydrated.
Thank you for your partnership and support. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
From District 15- Upcoming Registration Information
Every student—new and returning—must register for school each year. Please plan to register early and take time to ensure your contact information and your child’s emergency contact information are correct and up to date. Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open in February, but we encourage families to start preparing their documents as soon as possible. Learn more about the registration process on our website.
Incoming Kindergarten Welcome Night!
Join us for our Incoming Kindergarten Welcome Night on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.! This is an opportunity for parents and guardians who will have kindergartners in the 2025-2026 school year to visit and tour our school, learn about the all day kindergarten program, and meet the school administration. Parents and Guardians will also be able to complete the registration process during this event. We hope to see many of you there!
From District 15- FastBridge Report Access
District 15 is committed to supporting the academic growth of every child. To monitor progress, we use the FastBridge Learning assessments for all students grades K-2 and grade 3 students in Bilingual Classrooms. All K-5 students receiving intervention services also participate in Fastbridge assessments. Results from winter assessments are now available to parents via the Infinite Campus. Please see more details here.
E-Learning Days During Inclement Weather - What to Expect
On e-Learning Days, students and staff will transition to virtual learning from home, following their regular school schedule. Live instruction will be provided online through a Google Meet to ensure continuity of learning. This means:
For grades K-2, students should sign in to Seesaw through Clever and click on the Google Meet link to join their virtual classroom session. In Seesaw, students will also access activities and assignments as directed by their teacher.
For grades 3-8, students should sign in to Google Classroom and join the virtual classroom and access assignments set up by their teachers.
PreK students will be asynchronous meaning that they will not be online virtually. Teachers will have activities planned and sent home the day before an eLearning Day.
Please review the guidelines we follow when making decisions about inclement weather days.
From District 15
In an effort to ensure families are informed, we are sharing information in accordance with ISBE guidance released last week. In summary, D15 maintains the following practices:
Student Privacy Protections: Federal and state privacy laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Illinois School Student Records Act (ISSRA), protect student information. D15 will not share student records or information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without properly executed and signed legal documentation and/ or parental consent.
The Right to Education: Every child is entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE), regardless of their background or status. As outlined by the U.S. Supreme Court in Plyler v. Doe, D15 does not inquire about or collect information regarding a student’s or family’s immigration status.
To prepare for any potential scenarios, our office and administrative staff have been trained on how to respond to ICE inquiries at our schools. We will communicate with legal counsel to ensure that we understand and uphold the rights of our students and families. ICE agents will not be granted access to school buildings unless they provide credentials, a judicial warrant signed by a judge, and a clear rationale for their visit. Our legal team will review all documentation before any further steps are taken.
If you have any questions or if your child requires additional support at school, please contact the school office. D15 is committed to ensuring every child feels safe so they are able to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
District 15 Information
D15 e-Flyers: https://www.ccsd15.net/e-flyer
Learn 15 Information: https://www.ccsd15.net/families/learn15
Upcoming Events
Monday, February 3, 2025: District Spelling Bee @ 7:00 p.m.- Walter R. Sundling Middle School
Tuesday, February 4, 2025: 5th Grade Band Concert @ 7:00 p.m.- Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Thursday, February 13, 2025: Monthly PTA Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.- VIRTUAL
Friday, February 14, 2025: Classroom Valentine's Day Celebrations @ 1:00 p.m.
Monday, February 17, 2025: NO SCHOOL- President's Day Holiday
Wednesday, February 19, 2025: Monthly Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.- Walter R. Sundling Middle School
Saturday, February 22, 2025: PTA Night out at the Chicago Wolves Game @ 7:00 p.m.
Monday, February 24, 2025: 5th Grade 2-Ball Competition @ 4:00 p.m.- Falcon Park Rec Center
Thursday, February 27, 2025: PTA 3/4 Book Club @ 11:30 a.m.- School Library
Thursday, February 27, 2025: OPEN HOUSE from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Hunting Ridge School- All are welcome!
Tuesday, March 11, 2025: 1/2 Day for Students with Dismissal @ 11:25 a.m./PM Staff Institute Day
Thursday, March 13, 2025: Monthly PTA Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.- School Library
Monday, March 24- Friday, March 28, 2025: Spring Break! NO SCHOOL!
Monday, March 31, 2025: SCHOOL RESUMES!
Thursday, April 3, 2025: Incoming Kindergarten Welcome Night from 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.- School MPR
Kate Arenberg, Principal
Hunting Ridge Elementary School
1105 W. Illinois Ave.
Palatine, IL 60067
847-963-5305