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Wildcat Weekly

News from Westfield Elementary: October 18, 2024

WildcatWeeklyNews from Westfield Elementary: October 18, 2024

Westfield Principal Kristen Ulery

Westfield families:


Halloween is right around the corner, so I have included information about Halloween celebrations for those who may be trying to make plans. Please note that students are not allowed to bring any candy or edible treats to share with friends. All snacks will be provided by the room parents for your child's classroom. If you have concerns about allergies, please reach out to your child's teacher. If you do not want your child to participate in Halloween-related activities, please notify your child's teacher, and they can go to the LMC during the costume parade and party.


Have a great weekend!


Kristen Ulery

Westfield Principal

District seeking feedback on 2024 fall conferences

Community Consolidated School District 89 moved conferences to October this year. (In the past, they had been during the week of Thanksgiving.) The district has created a short survey to gather feedback about parent-teacher conferences.


All families are invited to participate in the survey: https://forms.gle/j2g4L5CT2faine5f9

Reminder: Students need to stay home when ill

It is early flu season. Health departments are offering tips on how to tell the difference between a cold and the flu and information on the flu vaccine. Your family’s doctor or the school nurse can help resolve any questions. More information about immunization, health, and dental resources are available at: www.ccsd89.org/Page/534

Halloween information

Students may wear Halloween costumes after lunch on October 31.


  • Please do not send your child in a costume or costume makeup to start the day. Students will change into their costumes after lunch.
  • Children who remain at school for lunch will bring their costumes to school in a bag and put them on after lunch and recess. The costumes should be ones that they can put on over their clothing independently.
  • All children leaving the building for lunch will exit Door #1 by the office. You will sign your student out on the clipboard in the office at lunch/recess time. Please let your child’s teacher know if you will be picking them up at lunch/recess. We ask that students stay home the entire lunch/recess if they are leaving to change. Please sign your child back in upon returning. The lunch/recess times are 11:45 a.m.-12:35 p.m.
  • All costumes should be non-violent and school-appropriate. Masks worn for the costume parade should not impede vision. No student should bring a pretend weapon of any kind to school.
  • If you do not want your child to participate in Halloween activities, please notify your child's teacher, and they will do an alternate activity in the library.


The costume parade will begin at approximately 2:15 p.m. Please park legally and drive carefully. Parents may stand along the front sidewalk to watch the costume parade. In case of rain, the parade will be held in the gym. A map of the parade route is below.


Class parties will be held from 2:30 to 3:20 p.m. Please contact your child's teacher for specific information about celebrations in their classroom. Kids may not bring food items to share with friends. All snacks will be coordinated by the teachers and room parents using the district's pre-approved food list. Only parents who have signed up to help with the party will be allowed to visit classrooms during the parties.

Donate socks to support those in need during Socktober

Happy October! This year, Student Council is bringing Socktober back again! Each night in the United States, an estimated 600,000 people live on the streets. This October, we want Westfield to show that even a small act of love, such as donating a pair of socks, can make a big difference in the lives of our neighbors who are homeless or in need.


For the remaining days of October, Westfield will be accepting donations of new socks. Each pod will work together to get sock donations. In each pod, you will find a box for collection. The pod with the most pairs of socks will receive a reward. Socks will be donated to DuPage PADS in Wheaton.

Monarch Book Challenge

Mr. Menneke invites students in kindergarten through second grade to participate in this year's Monarch Books Challenge.


Read as many books as possible from the list below by March 1st.


As you finish a book, circle it. When you finish a level, show Mr. Menneke to receive recognition.

  • If you read five books, you get to vote in the statewide Monarch competition.
  • If you read ten books, you’ll get a prize from the treasure chest.
  • If you read fifteen books you’ll get a free book.
  • If you read all twenty, you get your name on the Monarch Wall of Fame!

Parent Series: Dealing with anxiety and refusal (October 22)

At noon and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Laura Koehler, the Manager of Anxiety Services for Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, will discuss what to do when a child is experiencing anxiety at school. Participants will learn about the signs and symptoms of anxiety and how anxiety affects academic performance. Preview More info: https://bit.ly/4h1nnFj

Resources for helping your child through difficult times

Tragedy can affect a nation or a single family. Some crises happen suddenly while others build over time. Each situation can be difficult for children to understand and challenging for families to navigate. Our school has a counselor, social worker, and psychologist available to help students and families with strategies for transparent, age-appropriate conversations. The district has also posted additional resources at www.ccsd89.org/crisis

Thanks to school store volunteers

Thanks to the volunteers who helped with this week's school store. It was very popular!

Restaurant night at Pie Life on October 28

Pie Life Glen Ellyn has partnered with Westfield PTC and will donate a portion of proceeds from food sales. If you have not been here, this is a great opportunity to try some tasty pizza.

Spirit wear store online

Show your Wildcat pride by visiting the Westfield Spirit Wear site. There are many new logos and clothing this year that allow you to get the look you want!

https://apparelnow.com/westfield-elementary-spirit-wear-apparel

Save the date...Upcoming PTC events

Oct 28 - Restaurant night at Pie Life

Stay connected with the Westfield PTC

Please feel free to connect with the PTC via:

Students, families can report crises and threats through Safe2Help

Students and families can confidentially call, email, or text the Safe2Help tip line to report bullying, threats, or classmates in crisis. Students or families can call (844) 4-SAFE-IL, which is (844) 472-3345; text SAFE2, which is 72332; email Help@Safe2HelpIL.com; or submit tips through the online form. Safe2Help submissions are monitored every hour of every day. More info: https://bit.ly/3BPxObO


Be sure to review requirements before bringing food for other students

If you’re bringing food to the school for a holiday party or other event, be sure you know which foods are approved. You can see the holiday party food list at www.ccsd89.org/holidayfood and the pre-approved food list at www.ccsd89.org/preapproved.


Need tech support for your CCSD 89 device? Use this site

Families that need support for iPad or Chromebook issues should use the district’s online help system. Enter your contact information and some details about the problem at: https://bit.ly/89techsupport


Stay connected with CCSD 89 and Westfield

Stay connected with the latest news by following Community Consolidated School District 89 on Facebook (facebook.com/CCSD89), Twitter (@CCSD89), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/@CCSD89). You can also follow Westfield on Twitter at @Westfield89

Families can call school’s main number to report an absence

Parents who need to report their student’s absence can call the school’s general number, then press 1. To reach the nurse, press 2. The main office can be reached by pressing 3.

Kristen Ulery
Kristen is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters