Windsor Back to School 24-25

Windsor Families,

We are looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow for the first day of school!

This weeks newsletter is a repeat from last week. If you ever need to look back at a newsletter, all of the newsletters are archived on the Windsor School website: https://www.sd25.org/domain/577 If you scroll down and click on Wildcat Weekly you will see a list of archived newsletters.

*We are still actively hiring teaching assistants and recess supervisors, if you or someone you know would be interested in becoming a teaching assistant or recess supervisor, please apply via the district website.

Thank you,

Mrs. Anastacio and Mrs. Soprano

Thursday, August 29th- First day of school!!!

Wednesday, September 4th- Curriculum Night

6:30-7:00- Grades 3-5, Ms. Higgins, Ms. Harder, Mr. Freese, Ms. Angelus, and Ms. Keough

7:00-7:10- Transition time

7:10-7:40- Grades K-2, Ms. Klaw, Mr. Pupillo, Ms. Blau

When you arrive at Windsor for your child's teachers designated time, you will head straight to the classroom to hear their presentation.

As referenced in Dr. Kaye's letter sent last Wednesday, August 14, 2024, the District updated its medication management procedures. For your convenience, we have put together a one page reference sheet for parents/guardians dropping medications this year. Please reference the sheet linked below prior to dropping off medications.

Medication Drop Off Reference Sheet

Arrival

On the first day of school, our students will line up on the blacktop behind the school. Teachers' names will either be chalked on the walls of the building or on a piece of paper hanging on a window. Teachers will also be standing holding up a sign with their name on it. Teachers will report to blacktop at 8:45am. This is a good time for a first day of school picture! Students should stand in their teachers line, teachers will begin bringing in their students at 9:00am. If you arrive after 9am, you should bring your child to the front office and we will make sure your child gets to their classroom. We highly recommend walking to school, if you need to drive, please plan to park along the street surrounding Windsor and walk to the blacktop behind the school.

*There will not be supervision on Windsor Drive, please do not drop your child off on Windsor Drive. If you have to drop your child off at school on the first day, please drop them off in the front circle of Windsor.

Dismissal

Dismissal will be the same on the first day of school as it will be on every day going forward. Please see information below for daily pick-up instructions.

Beginning the second day of school, August 29th we will have staff in two locations to greet your children as they get out of your vehicle starting at 8:50AM. We have many staff members stationed both outside and inside Windsor to help your child find their classroom. Only students can enter the school during arrival, no parents are permitted to enter the building.

Please note: Our staff cannot assist your children in getting out of your vehicle so please have them ready to exit the car with backpacks and other belongings ready to go on the passenger side.

If you live East of Windsor School: Windsor Drive

Please prearrange your drop off and pick up with your child(en). Children are responsible for knowing where to meet you after school.

Drop off and pick up are on Windsor Drive for those who live east of Windsor.

Morning Drop and Go:

-Supervision begins at 8:50am, doors open at 8:55am.

-Please pull all the way up Windsor Drive past the school building to let your child out of the car.

-Parents should not exit their cars in the drop-and-go line on Windsor Drive in the morning.

-If you would like to walk your child to their door, you need to park on an alternate street and walk up.

-Kindergarten students will walk to Door 7 to enter the building

-1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students will walk to Door 6 to enter the building.

-4th and 5th grade students will walk to Door 8 to enter the building.

-Students who walk to school or ride their bikes will enter the building through Door 6 or 8.

-Door 6 is located on the East side of the building along Windsor Drive by the bike racks.

-Door 8 is located on the East side of the building South of Door 6 and 7 by the playground area.

Afternoon Pick-up:

-Dismissal is at 3:35pm.

-Please pull all the way up on Windsor Drive past the school building for pick-up.

-Please be mindful of others when picking up your child. If you exit your car to wait for your child, once you have your child, please move your car off Windsor Drive so that others can pull in.

*Please note: All kindergarteners will enter and exit through door 7, if your kindergartener has an older sibling, the sibling should exit Windsor on the East side of the building through door 6 or 8. Please prearrange a meeting spot with your children.

If you live West of Windsor School or are an Instructional student drop off and pick up are in the front circle.

Please prearrange your drop off and pick up with your child(en). Children are responsible for knowing where to meet you after school.

Morning Drop and Go:

-Supervision begins at 8:50am, doors open at 8:55am.

-Please pull all the way up to the car in front of you in the Front Circle to let your child out of the car.

-Parents should not exit their cars in the drop-and-go line in the front circle. If you would like to walk your child to the doors, please park in the lot and walk up.

-Instructional students will enter through Door 12.

-All other children (1st-5th grade) will enter through Door 12 to the right of the main doors. Door 12 is on the West side of the building South of the Main Entrance near the Gym.

-Students who ride their bikes should enter through Door 6 (East side by bike racks).

Afternoon Pick-up:

-Dismissal is at 3:35pm.

-Please pull all the way up in the front circle, almost to the parking lot exit, so we can fit as many cars as possible into the pickup line.

-Parents should not exit their cars in the car line.

-Instructional students are picked up in this line. You may be asked by a staff member with a walkie-talkie who you are here to pick up. If you are not an instructional parent, just let the staff member know that. Your child will come out when the bell rings on their own.

-Students will exit Door 12.

-If your child is attending our satellite CAP site, Rec Park, your child will meet in the Commons, CAP will take attendance and then escort the students out to their bus.

*Please note: All kindergarteners will enter and exit through door 7, if your kindergartener has an older sibling, the sibling should exit Windsor on the East side of the building through door 6 or 8. Please prearrange a meeting spot with your children.

*Very Important: Please discuss these procedures with your child so they know which door to enter or exit prior to the first day of school. Your child's teacher will not know if you live east or west of the school.

**We will not have staff supervising students on the playground anytime before school starts. Please do not drop off your child early to play on the playground. Students are not permitted to play on the playground before school. We will open doors for student entrance at 8:55. Door supervision begins at 8:50am.

Be sure to check out our Windsor Website www.sd25.org/windsor

and the Windsor PTA website https://windsorpta.org/. Both are filled with so much information including after-school club information, PTA sponsored event, evening events, volunteer opportunities, etc. The PTA has a Windsor PTA Facebook Page which we encourage you to join.

Each Friday, Mrs. Anastacio will send home a SchoolMessenger email to inform you of important information or upcoming events. If you do not receive that Friday Update, please call the office so we can rectify the situation. If you have not joined the PTA we would encourage you to do so. There are so many opportunities for you to get involved at Windsor and we love our parent volunteers! The PTA/school calendars are on the PTA and Windsor websites. With PTA access you also get access to Directory Spot which will provide you with the contact information of all of the students in your child's class. Please note, we do not allow birthday invitations to be handed out at school, Directory Spot is a great way to invite your child's school friends.

Each teacher has an email address and during Parent Information Night will share how they prefer to communicate with you. Teachers no longer have voicemail so please email or call the office if you need to speak with a teacher.

Please check out the links for important breakfast and lunch information:

Where can I view the school lunch menu? Click Here

How does my student order a school lunch? Click Here

How do I pay for my child’s meals? Click Here

How do I apply for free & reduced meals? Click Here

*Breakfast services start the second day of school.

We are so excited to continue our work with our children following the expectations of the Wildcat Way. Our staff and students have truly embraced the Wildcat Way. Our mission statement: We strive to provide an environment that nurtures and develops character in each of our students through explicit teaching, modeling and authentic experience. We learn that the choices we make have an impact on the world around us. We see the power in kindness, safety, and responsibility; and we are important. The Wildcat WAY has been developed to let students know that “We are kind, Always safe and responsible, because You are Important.” We will be sending home our expectations so that you can reinforce those with your children.

All visitors are required to enter through the front doors of Windsor School, all of our exterior doors are locked. Please ring the buzzer and one of our front office staff will ask what they can help you with. Please state the reason for your visit. If you are dropping off an item for your child, they will ask you to please leave it on the cart out front with a post-it note that states your child’s name and classroom teacher. We will be sure to get that item to your child. Utilizing this system reduces the amount of visitors entering the school each day for safety reasons. If your visit requires you to enter the building, please be sure to bring your state ID with you. Our front office staff will scan your ID and make you a badge. All visitors are required to wear a badge with a red lanyard. All of our students know that all adults in the building should be wearing a lanyard with a badge, if they do not see one, they know they are to alert a teacher.

We hope that you will become a member of our very active PTA. We are extremely proud of the partnership that we have with the PTA and are so appreciative of all the work they do for Windsor School. The ABC/25 Foundation (http://abc25foundation.com/) is another way to become involved. The Foundation supports the schools within the district with both large and small grants each school year. Windsor will receive a membership grant of $2,500 if we have 25 families join the foundation.

Absences/Tardies:

We prefer you report your child's absence online, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd692piwt06CLm3kTcaMsZUNA-Cpt0f0XYjU71GUm9XBBuamQ/viewform but if you need to call, please dial our main office line and listen for the prompts: (847) 398-4297.

To sign in and out your child for late arrival, early dismissal or doctor appointments, you can use any of the QR codes in the front office or the one shown here. Be sure to bring your cell phone in with you when you come.

Email: Lanastacio@sd25.org
Website: https://www.sd25.org/windsor
Location: 1315 East Miner Street, Arlington Heights, IL, USA
Phone: 847-398-4297
Twitter: @WindsorWildcats