The students did a great job on their Winter Map tests this week. I am so proud of their effort on these tests this week. Access testing has started at Greenbrook School for all our EL learners. They will be taking a listening, speaking, and writing test. This includes all EL students in Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Our schoolwide goal for 2nd trimester is to win a Gator Cafe at Greenbrook. We are working as a whole school to collect Gator Gotcha and earn a puzzle piece every week. If we complete the puzzle we can earn "The Gator Cafe". Our lunchroom will transform into a cozy cafe were students can enjoy special treats and choose their own seating arrangement. Winter is here and we want to remind everyone that Elementary students have a supervised recess period every day during lunch. Every effort is made to have the children spend at least part of this time outdoors. Therefore, it is important that students dress according to the weather conditions. During the winter, children go outside unless the wind chill factor is below 10 degrees. Keeping a hat, a pair of gloves and a scarf in your child’s backpack is a good idea. Having them wear boots and snow pants to school when there is snow on the ground is also a good idea. Students will not be allowed to play in the snow unless they are wearing snow pants and boots.

Our dismissal process works at its best when everyone follows the process. We can get all students out safely and in a timely manner when we follow the guidelines. As you know, we have 4 color groups that will go in order. Red being the first color, followed by Orange, then Green, and finally Purple. Students will exit the building once their color group has been called. It's imperative that we follow the order of the color groups. If your student is in the Green Group and you are pulling in with the Red group, you will not be able to pick up your student until Green has been called. When we don't have to correct color group vehicles in the lot, it produces massive back-ups in the neighborhood and vehicles are pulling around other vehicles, which is a major safety issue. We ask that you have your color card visible on your dashboard and please follow the correct color order ( RED, ORANGE, GREEN, PURPLE) . Cars that are not in in the correct group will be asked to vacate the line. Thank you for your understanding.

Here are a couple of reminders about dismissal. Following these will help us improve the speed of our dismissal greatly.

For Car Riders:

• Please make pull up as far as possible to pick up your children (remember only Kindergarten and 1st grade should get in the first line, all other grades should go around to where those grades are dismissed from).
• Please stay in your car at all times. We have plenty of staff that will get students safely to their car.
• Please wait in the neighborhood until your color group is called before entering the parking lot.
• Please do not park in the parking lot and get out of your car, this causes numerous safety issues and makes it hard for our staff to make sure students get places safely.
• Our dismissal order (with estimated times) is: Red group (3:20), Orange group (3:22), Green Group (3:25), Purple Group (3:28).

For Walkers:

• 2nd-5th grade walkers will come out to meet parents and family members by the Early Childhood Center. All Kindergarten and 1st grade walkers will come out by the green sign near the entrance. Please do not walk up to the teacher's classroom doors, you can wait in the grass and on the benches and our staff will help dismiss the children safely to you.

For All Families:

• If you are ever going to change your child(ren)s mode of transport, please call the school office (630-894-4544) before 3:00PM (2:15PM on Wednesday's) to make sure your child gets dismissed the correct way.

Thank you again for your help with this. We are excited to have all of the student's back in the building! If you have any questions, please call the Greenbrook school office at 630-894-4544.

Monday, January 20-No School

Thursday, January 23- School Board Meeting @ 7:00 Spring Wood

Friday, January 31- Wendy's Dine and Donate

Dear Gator Families,

As we move further into the school year, it is essential to remember the critical role that continued academic practice at home plays in reinforcing the concepts learned in the classroom. Consistent engagement with learning materials outside of the classroom helps solidify new skills , build confidence and fosters lifelong learning.

Here are some ways to support your child’s academic growth at home:

1. Set a regular routine: Designate a quiet space each day for homework or independent reading. Consistency is key to building good habits.

2. Practice, Practice, Practice: Encourage your child to regularly review recent lessons. Practice problems, flashcards or listen to books online.

3. Explore Educational Websites: Websites like Khan Academy offer interactive lessons and practice in subjects ranging from math to languages arts.

Check out the following websites!

• https://www.readingbear.org/

• https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/

• https://storytimefromspace.com/library/

• https://storylineonline.net/

• https://www.mathlearningcenter.org/curriculum/family-support

1. Read Together: Reading at home supports language development and strengthens comprehension skills. Ask questions about the story to promote critical thinking.

2. Use Educational Apps: Apps like Prodigy for math and Epic! for reading offer engaging, educational content tailored to your child’s age and ability.

By incorporating these strategies, you can help your child achieve success and develop strong academic habits. Together, we can ensure their continued growth and success!

Website: https://greenbrook.esd20.org/
Location: 5208 Arlington Circle, Hanover Park, IL, USA
Phone: (630)894-4544