Patterson Elementary Announcements

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Hello Patterson Families!

We had another fantastic week in the burrow full of fun and learning!

Thank you so much to the PTA, especially the Hospitality Committee, and all families for showering the staff with appreciation this week! Everyone has felt the love and kindness from all of you! Patterson is truly a great place to be!

Way to go to our 3rd graders who worked really hard on researching important people and preparing for the Wax Museum! The students memorized speeches and dressed as the important people they researched. They did a fantastic job! I am so proud of each and every one of them!

We hope you can join our last PTA meeting of the year on Monday, May 12th at 9:30am at Patterson or you can join virtually here: https://meet.google.com/ffy-eheo-yja

We are looking forward to celebrating the contributions of all of our PTA members! We are so lucky to partner with you all and appreciate all the support you give to the school!

Thank you to those who have already registered your students for the 2025-26 school year. We have about 87 families currently registered. Registration is completed all online. More information can be found by clicking HERE. Staffing allocations are based upon student enrollment, so please complete your registration as soon as possible. Registration needs to be completed for ALL students, returning or new to Patterson. If you have any questions regarding registration, please call the main office line at #630-428-6500. If you know you are moving or not returning to Patterson, please let the office know by completing the form below.

Check out below to see what else is happening around the burrow!

Have a nice weekend!

Mrs. Michelle Hebenstreit, Principal

michelle_hebenstreit@ipsd.org

#630-428-6503

May 12 - PTA General Meeting at 9:30

May 13 - 5th grade visit to Gregory Middle School

May 16 - 5th grade Fest 1:45pm-3:15pm outside weather permitting

May 20- Incoming Kindergarten Screening 9:30am-6:00pm

May 21- 2nd Grade Field Trip

May 23- Burrow Store Open

May 26- NO SCHOOL- Memorial Day

May 27- RAMP it Up Day

May 30- Whole School Assembly with BMX Biker Matt Wilhelm at 2:00pm

June 3- Last Day of School for students

Here are a few important news items from the LMC!!

• As we start winding down the year here are some important dates and information from the LMC. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!
• All books will be due back to the LMC on May 23. We will start sending out overdue notices the following school day. If we do not receive your student's books back by the end of the year we will mark them lost.
• Grades 2-4 will keep their Chromebooks over the summer. All of the resources on the SSO will be available until July 31. Resources will not be available until school starts as the district needs time to update accounts.
• K-1 students will not have Chromebooks during the summer. 1st graders will receive new Chromebooks in 2nd grade, and KDG student will have Chromebooks in their 1st grade classrooms. All SSO resources are available for use on a home device until July 31.
• Grade 5 will turn in their Chromebook and chargers on June 2. They must be free of damage and must turn in the charger they were issued. **If you student will be in a summer math class from the district, more information to follow.
• If you are moving, please return all materials before the last day of school. The district will charge for all materials not received.
• INFORMATION FROM THE DISTRICT:

• District 204 is aware of a concerning trend that has recently surfaced on social media platforms like TikTok. Some students across the country—and in some cases locally—have been participating in a challenge that involves inserting foreign objects into Chromebook charging ports in an attempt to cause an electrical short.
  

  This behavior is not only destructive but also dangerous. It poses a serious safety risk to students and can result in significant damage to the device. If it is determined that a student intentionally damages a Chromebook in this manner, families will be assessed the full replacement cost of $344.

  We ask for your help by speaking with your child about the importance of using school-issued technology responsibly and the serious consequences of damaging school property—especially in ways that can cause harm.
  

  As always, our priority is to keep students safe while ensuring that all technology remains available and in working condition to support their learning.

• THANK YOU to all our families for supporting the Patterson Birthday Book Club. Students are so excited to get their picture inside a book, and to have other students check out their selection. I have 5th graders who go and find their birthday book from when they are in KDG and share it with everyone! We had a record number of particpants this year...227 Books were added to our library! Such a great way to promote community, and literacy! 💖 📚

• Sometimes we get Naperville Public Library books turned into us, and they get our books. NO WORRIES! NPL gets the books to us, and we send them over to via interoffice mail.

Thank you again for all of your support!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email or phone: dawn_maly@ipsd.org or 630.428.6500 x 55358.

Happy Reading! Mrs. Maly, LMC Director

Congratulations to this week's Champions! We are so proud of your hard work in following Patterson Expectations of Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible.

Register to run and raise funds for Patterson! Extended registration for Team IPEF runs through May 30 - that is the last day we can guarantee your shirt size. Run, walk, and raise funds as a Team IPEF Charity Hero in the Naperville Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K on October 19. 50% of funds raised go to your favorite IPSD 204 school and 50% to IPEF-funded district-wide programs. Returning this year: any student who registers with a parent only needs to meet a $25 charity fundraising minimum! Students must be 6 years old by Race Day (October 19) to participate in the 5K or 10K and at least 14 years old to participate in the half marathon. Gather your friends and family to register and join the fun! Learn more and register HERE for Team IPEF today!

Take a look below at this virtual opportunity to learn about becoming an elementary parent. Mrs. Hebenstreit, Patterson Principal, will be part of the panel.

Starting school is a big step for children and their families! Becoming an Elementary School Parent is a helpful presentation designed to guide parents and guardians through this exciting transition. You’ll learn what to expect as your child begins full-time school and discover ways to support their emotional growth. The event will end with a panel discussion featuring experienced staff from Indian Prairie School District 204, who will answer your questions and share valuable insights. Childcare is available for children ages 3-10, provided by the YMCA Safe and Sound program. Please click here<https://forms.gle/eTr3HthqkwRSKztV7> to register for the event.

Welcome incoming Kindergartners for the 2025-2026 school year!

Please take a moment to view this slideshow with information about Kindergarten at Patterson. ***If you have an incoming kindergartner, please click the link below to complete the student information form on SLIDE 3.***

Kindergarten Information Slideshow

*This can also be found on Patterson's webpage.

*If you know a family that has an incoming kindergartner, please share the link above with them.

Save the Date:

Incoming Kindergarten Screening will take place on Tuesday, May 20th at Patterson. Parents/guardians will bring their incoming kindergarten child to Patterson on this day. Children will go with a staff member to engage in early literacy and numeracy tasks and/or engage in English Language Proficiency tasks while parents/guardians complete student information and learn about Kindergarten at Patterson.

Please click the link to sign up for a timeslot on Tuesday, May 20th: Kindergarten Screening Sign Up

You can also visit the district's website by clicking HERE for more information.

All students in grades K-5 have participated in Spring iReady assessments this week. Makeups will be done next week, the week of May 12th.

Please review the 5th Grade Parent Letter, for upcoming 5th Grade Celebration event details!

Yard Sign Pick Up

If you ordered a Yard Sign, pick up will be Friday, May 9th from 3:40 pm-4:30 pm outside of Patterson near the Gym. If you can’t pick up your Yard Sign at this time, please email carrie.giacobbe@gmail.com to make alternate pick up arrangements.

Celebration Slideshow

If you have not done so already, please submit your photos for the 5th Grade Celebration Slideshow ASAP! We hope for all students to be included! Instructions are in the Parent Letter. Pictures for the 5th Grade Celebration slideshow

5th Grade Fest

The 5th Grade Fest is Friday, May 16th during the school day at Patterson. 5th Graders please wear Patterson Spirit Wear or Patterson Green, gym shoes and bring a water bottle!

5th Grade Gregory Middle School T-Shirts

Shirts will be delivered to the school and sent home with your student before the last day of school.

Trolley

If your student would like to participate in the 5th Grade Last Day Trolley, please complete the sign up and send payment per the Parent Letter ASAP! Trolley

*If you are planning to help chaperone a field trip with your child, you do need to complete the volunteer process.

In order to volunteer, you must complete the online process which is required by the district. Please click the link below for directions. This is for any volunteer regardless if you are part of the PTA.

Become A Volunteer Today!

Our amazing teachers and staff truly felt the love — from the thoughtful treats to the festive decorations, every detail made a difference.

Here’s a quick look back:

🥯☕️Patterson Patisserie served up a cozy breakfast to start the week.

🥤🍪Crema di Classe delighted with Italian sodas and cookies.

🍿🍫A sweet & salty snack table brought the midweek boost.

🧆🥗OPA! A Mediterranean lunch added bold flavor and summer vibes.

🎁🛍️The week was wrapped up with a creative twist — a design-your-own pencil pouch station filled with fun goodies!

A huge THANK YOU to our incredible PTA Hospitality Committee for planning such a meaningful week of appreciation, and to all the families who supported these efforts through fundraisers and donations.

As an additional thank-you, the PTA was proud to gift each Patterson staff member a $20 Downtown Naperville Gift Card — valid at over 150 shops, spas, and restaurants — to show our heartfelt appreciation for all they do.

We’re so grateful to be part of a community that values and uplifts its educators every step of the way.

Our costs have increased, but we’re committed to keeping membership fees the same so everyone can stay involved and have a voice. To help bridge the gap, we’ve introduced Gold, Silver, and Bronze donation levels for those who’d like to contribute a little extra. Our basic membership remains $20, and every dollar directly supports our students, teachers, and school programs.

A PTA membership is valid for the entire school year, so be sure to select the 2025-2026 school year when signing up.

If your family is currently facing financial hardship but would still like to be a PTA member, please contact our principal confidentially for assistance. We want every family to feel welcome and included.

We are so grateful for all our incredible volunteers this year! Whether you helped with a PTA Committee, Class Parties, Field Trips, Mystery Reader, Field Day, Greeter Desk, or gave your time in any other way. — we want to celebrate you!

Please join us for a Volunteer Appreciation Reception during our final PTA General Meeting:

🗓 Monday, May 12

🕤 9:30am

📍 Room 107

If you plan to attend, please RSVP by Friday, May 9 at 5:00pm using the link below:

We’re switching things up for our big fall fundraiser for 2025—and we’re looking for a few awesome volunteers to help make it happen!

This fundraiser powers our entire PTA budget for the year. That means we’re not constantly asking families for donations, and we’re able to keep all our events—like Bingo Night, Science Fair, Wheel of Wisdom, Multicultural Night, and more—free and accessible to everyone.

This year, instead of partnering with an outside company like Orange Ruler, we’re running the fundraiser ourselves. That means more of the money raised goes directly to supporting our school and students.

The good news: we already have a payment platform in place, and we’re using last year’s fundraiser as a starting point—so we’re not building from scratch. Now we get to focus on the fun part: picking the theme, choosing the prizes, and planning a celebration event to replace the Orange Ruler Fun Run that the kids will love!

We’re hoping to get a head start now so we’re not scrambling in the fall. If you’re creative, organized, or just excited to be involved, we’d love to have you on the committee.

Interested? Email us at info@pattersonpta.com—we’d love to hear from you!

Stay cool all summer long with Patterson spiritwear.

Use code SUMMER at checkout

Make school supply shopping easy! Patterson has partnered with Educational Products, Inc. to help you save time and money on school supply shopping. All kits will be shipped to your home before school begins in August. Kits are offered as a service, be sure to check out the complete school supply list at the website below.

Patterson School ID: PAT025
Orders will be charged tax at checkout.

Complete School Supply Lists for Patterson Elementary can be found on the IPSD 204 District Website Here: https://www.ipsd.org/Page/2548

Gregory Middle School Supply Kits

Save Up to 40% on Supplies with EPI

Starting Now thru June 22nd!

Go to educationalproducts.com/shoppacks

Enter the school ID, GRE022 (3 letters/3 numbers)

Follow the directions to complete your order.

Keep your online confirmation as your receipt.

6th Grade: $55.00

7th Grade: $55.00

8th Grade: $50.00

A shipping fee of $7.95 per pack plus tax will be applied at checkout.

6th Graders, you have a choice of a School Supply Kit with an Expandable File Folder or 5 Pocket Folder.

School supplies will be shipped directly to your home.

Please DO NOT use a P.O. BOX or the school address as your ship to address.

For questions, please contact Kim Gilbert at 217-979-7796

Volunteer for a PTA Committee

There are many different PTA committees that could use your help. Time commitments vary, so you can volunteer even if you don’t have a lot of time. If you are interested in volunteering, please email the PTA at info@pattersonpta.com.

Visit the PTA website.

Due to an increase in the dues we are required to pay to the Illinois PTA and National PTA, our local PTA is adjusting membership options to remain sustainable while continuing to keep membership accessible for all families.

We’re committed to maintaining the standard PTA membership at $20, ensuring every family can stay involved. To help offset increasing expenses, we’re introducing optional “Membership + Donation” tiers for those who are able and willing to give a little more. These additional contributions are entirely voluntary but deeply appreciated—every dollar supports our students, teachers, school programs, and PTA-sponsored events.

In addition, we are proposing a small adjustment to the discounted rate for Additional Family Members and Faculty, increasing it from $10 to $12.

These proposed changes are designed to ensure our PTA remains financially stable so that we won’t need to make further adjustments to membership rates for the foreseeable future.

In accordance with our bylaws, any proposed change to membership dues requires 30 days’ notice and a vote by the general membership. This vote will take place at the upcoming May PTA General Meeting.

If your family is currently facing financial hardship but would still like to be a PTA member, please contact our principal confidentially for assistance. We want every family to feel welcome and included.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our school community!

Office Hours beginning on Monday, Aug. 12th:

8:00am-4:15pm

School Hours:

Monday,Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday:

• School Start Times
• First Bell- 8:50am
• Last Bell 9:05am, Students are expected to be in their seats by this time
• School End Times:
• Dismissal Bell 3:35pm

Wednesday (Late Start, Staff engage in Professional Development before school):

• School Start Times
• First Bell- 9:00am
• Last Bell 9:15am, Students are expected to be in their seats by this time
• School End Times:
• Dismissal Bell 3:35pm

If your child arrives after the last bell, please park in the circle drive and walk your child to Door 1. You will need to come in and sign your child in at the greeter desk or front office.

The safety of our Patterson students, staff, and families is an upmost priority to our team. During meet and greet, each teacher will have a form for parents/guardians to notify your child's teacher and our office team how your child will be dismissed each day. Please make sure to complete this form when visiting your child's classroom.

Staff will be present at all entrances being used for arrival and dismissal to supervise students.

New this year:

• On the first day of school, your child will receive a backpack tag that is color coded by bus, car rider, walker, biker, or YMCA. Pleaase leave this tag on your child's backpack for the duration of the school year.
• Door 11 will be used for the dismissal of Kindergarten students only. Siblings that wish to "pick up" their kindergarten sibling will meet them outside Door 11.

Arrival Procedures:

• Students may enter the building through Doors 1,2,11 or by the back rike in the back of school at Door 9 and should NOT arrive before 8:50am or 9:05am on late start day.
• Car Riders will pull into the front circle drive. Please remember there are no cell phones while driving on school property. Please do not let your child leave the car until you see a staff member outside.
• Big Bus Riders will be dropped off at the bus pad and a staff member will walk the students inside the building through door 2.
• Small bus riders will be dropped off in the side lot and will be met by a staff member and walked inside.

Dismissal Procedures:

• Dismissal will begin at 3:35pm.
• Kindergarten walkers or car riders will exit the building through Door 11 and will be escorted by a staff member. Students will not be released unless they see an older sibling or parent.
• All other students will be dismissed from Door 1, 2, or out Door 9 by the bike rack.
• Car Riders will all have car numbers which you will receive at Meet and Greet or the first day of school. Please have your car number visible in your window. Car Riders will use the front circle drive. Students will be dismissed to the gym where they will watch for the car number to appear on the screen. Students will exit through Door 1 or 2. Parents/Guardians, please be respectful and patient of staff directing the carline.
• Big bus riders will be dismissed to the gym and will be walked by a staff member to the bus pad out through the gym door.
• Small bus riders will be dimissed through the gym door, Door 4, in the side lot and will be escorted by a staff member to the bus.

***VERY IMPORTANT: If your child is a car rider, please do NOT exit your car in the carline. Students need to be able to open the car door and get in their car independently. Thank you for staying in your car to help move the carline along quickly.

For more detailed information and to view our arrival/dismissal map, please click HERE.

Registration is open for YMCA Safe 'n' Sound Program for before and after school care. We are lucky that Patterson is a site for this program. For more information or to register your child click the link: YMCA Safe 'n' Sound

Per the district parent/student handbook, please remind your child of the rules regarding cell phones and smartwatches.

All electronic devices must be kept powered-off or silenced and out-of-sight during the regular school day unless: (a) the supervising teacher grants permission; (b) use of the device is provided in a student’s individualized education program (IEP); (c) it is used during the student’s lunch period, or (d) it is needed in an emergency that threatens the safety of students, staff, or other individuals.

We appreciate your support in helping us priortize learning and instruction during the school day. Please note that in elementary school, we do not allow use of electronic devices during lunch.

• Students in Grades 2-5 all have Chromebooks that will travel to and from school daily. Grades K-1 will keep their Chromebooks at school in a charging cart in the classroom to use throughout the day.
• Please keep all chargers at home, do not send them to school. Students are responsible for charging their Chromebooks at home for the school day. We do not have the capability to charge Chromebooks during the day for students. Thank you for helping students be successful here at school!
• Students take home Chromebooks every night for charging to be ready for the next day of learning at school. Each grade level has different expectations on homework or practice at night on Chromebooks. Please contact your child's teacher for more information on what is required.
• Just a reminder that Chromebooks are for schoolwork only. Students are allowed to access their dashboard (SSO) that has multiple items for them to use. Other sites allowed are Mrs. Maly's LMC page with activites or their teacher's Google Classroom which may have items for them to access.
• For information regarding District 204 Student Data Privacy please click here.
• For more information regarding SOPPA (Student Online Personal Protection Act) and how it is applied in District 204 please click this link.