We had a fantastic return to school after winter break! Our 3rd graders kicked off the year by reviewing math procedures and facts through a fun, interactive activity in our "Place Value Hospital" (see pictures below). A huge thank you to all the parents who purchased items to help our students get into character and prepare for "Math Surgery." It was such a creative and engaging way to start the new year!

We also played a PBIS Edition of Jeopardy to reinforce our schoolwide expectations. Looking ahead, students will take the STAR Reading and Math Benchmark Assessments on January 14th and 15th. Reports will be sent home to show their progress (see below for more details).

Lastly, please remember to dress your child appropriately for the weather, as temperatures can fluctuate.

Wishing you all an amazing week ahead!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Peacock

We are excited to welcome our students to school each day! To maintain a healthy school environment, please keep your child at home if they are feeling unwell. Timely attendance is crucial—frequent tardiness or early departures disrupt the learning experience for all students. We encourage you to support your child's success by ensuring they have a consistent routine, eat nutritious meals, and get plenty of rest.

For any attendance-related matters, please be sure to communicate directly with your child’s teacher and the main office. Thank you for your cooperation in helping our students stay engaged and on track!

The winter benchmarking window provides a valuable opportunity to gather key data on our students' progress in both reading and math. One of the key indicators of success in our schoolwide improvement plan is the growth our students demonstrate on the STAR assessments, as well as their ongoing progress on common summative assessments throughout the year.

We encourage you to motivate your child to give their best effort during the winter STAR assessment on Tuesday, January 14th and 15th. The results will help us tailor our instruction to better meet their individual needs and support their continued growth. Thank you for your support!

We’re excited to invite you to our first Parent Advisory Meeting on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025, from 9:00-10:00 AM at Churchill School! To accommodate all parents, meetings will be held monthly, alternating between mornings and evenings.

January’s meeting will focus on Communication and Volunteerism, two key areas where we hope to strengthen our partnership with families and improve community engagement. If you’re interested in helping Churchill increase parent involvement and improve communication, we would love to hear your ideas.

Please take a moment to complete the form below and share your thoughts. We look forward to seeing you at the Parent Advisory Meeting on January 15th!

Thank you in advance,

Mrs. Peacock

Save the date! The PTA is inviting all District 153 families to our January 30, PTA meeting. Get to know other Homewood parents, hear about some new and exciting proposed budget changes that will benefit all of the schools, and engage in a discussion with Superintendent Scott McAlister and Director of Student Support Services, Melanie Mandisodza, about all things Special Education in District 153!

If you have specific questions for Dr. McAlister and Ms. Mandisodza in regards to this topic, in an effort to maximize our meeting time, please email those questions to president153@homewoodpta.org by January 27. Spread the word, can't wait to see you there!

Homewood PTA

Our 5th grade students will participate in a Human Growth and Development/Puberty presentation provided by Candor Health on Tuesday, January 28th. The session will be a 90-minute live virtual presentation, tailored to each gender, and led by a Candor Health facilitator under the supervision of school staff.

Later this week, keep an eye out for an email from our social workers, Mrs. Boehl and Mrs. Wesley, which will include additional details as well as the opt-out form.

Arrival Time:

• To ensure the safety of your student, the earliest they should arrive to school is 8:15am. We do not have supervision until 8:15am. The tardy bell rings at 8:30am. If you have any questions please call the main office at 708-798-3424.

Early Dismissal or Transportation Change:

• If a student needs to be picked up early or a transportation change is needed, please call the main office at 708.798.3424, before 2:30pm. You may also send a written note to school with your student. They must bring it to the main office.
• The next early dismissal is January 29th. The time for making changes on early dismissal days is before 11:15am.

Lunch Drop Off:

• Food delivery services such as Uber Eats, Door Dash, etc., are not allowed and will be returned.
• Parents/Guardians may drop off lunch for students 20 minutes before the lunch period begins.
• Lunch period times are:
• 3rd grade 10:40am
• 4th grade 11:30am
• 5th Grade 12:15pm

1. STAR Winter Bench Mark Testing - Tuesday, 1/14-Wednesday, 1/15/25
2. Band Concert - Friday, 1/17/25 at James Hart Gym, 6:30pm
3. Lost and Found Donation to Goodwill is Friday, January 31st. Please remind your student to check the lost and found to claim their items.