Rhodes Bulletin

Greetings to our wonderful Bessie Rhodes Community,

As summer comes to a close and we prepare to embark on a new academic journey, we are thrilled to welcome you back to school! Whether you are returning to our community or joining us for the first time, we are excited to start this school year together. Please check out our calendar of events here.

This year, we continue our commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive environment where every student feels safe, valued, and empowered to learn. Our dedicated teachers and staff have been hard at work preparing engaging lessons and exciting activities, all designed to inspire curiosity and a love for learning.

We are especially eager to build on our tradition of excellence with our focus on service-learning projects and global citizenship. Our students will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful projects that extend beyond the classroom, encouraging them to make a positive impact in our local and global communities.

As we begin this new school year, let's embrace the opportunities that lie ahead with open minds and hearts. We encourage you to get involved, stay curious, and make the most of the experiences and friendships that await.

Here's to a fantastic year filled with growth, discovery, and countless achievements!

Welcome back, and let's make this school year our best one yet!

Warmest regards,

Charlise Berkel

Principal

Sarah Antrim-Graf

Assistant Principal

We are readers! Please consider sending in a photo of your student/your student and family or friends reading. Ms. Hubbard is creating a lovely bulletin board right outside the library featuring our readers. Your student may give them to their classroom teacher or if you prefer to send a digital copy, please send it to hubbardt@district65.net.

The Free/Reduced Meal Application is now available! Please follow this link to complete the application at your earliest convenience.

A NEW meal application must be submitted every school year. In order to ensure benefits are received by the first day of school, Thursday, August 22, families are required to submit a completed online meal application by Thursday, August 15, 2024.

There are students who will qualify for free meals without an application. If you receive an email from us confirming your student’s meal status for this school year, you DO NOT need to submit a meal application for the upcoming school year. Your student(s) will automatically receive free meals. Please ensure that each of your students are listed in the emailed letter that you receive. If you notice a discrepancy, we ask that you call the D65 Nutrition Services office (847-859-8130) as soon as possible.

Join Our PTA and Make a Difference!

As we kick off another exciting school year, we invite you to join our Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and become an active participant in our school community. The PTA plays a vital role in supporting our students, teachers, and staff by organizing events, raising funds, and advocating for a positive learning environment.

Being a part of the PTA is a fantastic way to stay connected with the school and contribute to your child's education. Whether you have a little time to spare or can commit to regular involvement, your participation is invaluable. From planning fun events and volunteering at school functions to supporting teacher appreciation initiatives and helping with fundraising efforts, there are many ways to get involved and make a meaningful impact.

Strong family-school partnerships are essential for student success, and we encourage everyone to join us in creating a vibrant and supportive community. Your voice and talents will be welcome and appreciated.

Once PTA meeting dates and times are finalized, we will publish them in the school newsletter and on the Rhodes calendar. We invite you to come, share your ideas, and learn more about how you can get involved. Let's work together to make this school year a memorable and enriching experience for all our students!

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Kind regards,

Rhodes PTA

Dear SACC Families,

To enroll your child for SACC Fall 2024, click here to begin your student's 2024-25 enrollment forms. If you should have any questions related to enrollment please feel free to contact Charlotte Carter Manager of Extended Care at carterc@district65.net, 847-859-8078 or Steven Frost SACC Assistant Coordinator at frosts@district65.net, 847-859-8118 to secure your spot today.
We look forward to another fantastic semester filled with growth, exploration, and fun at each SACC site. Thank you for being part of our community!

Warm regards,
SACC Management Team

Parents must call in absences, indicate symptoms, and, after 3 days of illness, we must have a note from the doctor.

• DISTRICT 65 HEALTH AND WELLNESS POLICIES--CELEBRATIONS INVOLVING FOOD. Please review this link and select Healthful Food and Beverage Options for School Functions. We cannot pass out treats that do not conform to this policy.

• All rising 6th graders are required to have physicals and dental exams. Please see the link to the letter and the forms.

• The tardy bell rings at 8:05. Please plan to have your student here by 8:00. Students arriving late miss instruction and are marked tardy.
• Please send your student with a water bottle and change of clothes including socks every day.
• Please be sure to send your student with winter coat, hat and gloves. When the "feels like" temperature is above 20 degrees and it is not raining we will be outside for morning entry and recess.

All health forms regarding the dispensing of medications can be found on the website Here is the link: https://www.district65.net/Page/2444

Covid-19 and other illnesses:

• We will continue to encourage students and staff to remain home when sick or showing signs of illness. It's critical that we reduce the spread of illness to others. A student with a fever cannot return to school until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication. Students with vomiting and/or diarrhea may not return to school until they are 24 hours free of vomiting or diarrhea without the use of medication.
• Classroom letters will be sent for single confirmed COVID-19 cases as well as for outbreaks (defined as 5 or more [or 20% of population] connected cases).
• In the event of a classroom outbreak, masks will be recommended indoors within that classroom.
  

• When can a student return to school after testing positive for COVID-19? Individuals who test positive for COVID are required to stay home for a minimum of 24 hours fever-free without using fever-reducing medications and symptoms are improving overall. Upon a student's return and for the 5 days following, the CDC recommends enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitted mask, and physical distancing from others while indoors as much as possible.

  
  

• There will be no Remote Learning Classrooms this year. Students will be allowed to make up missing work without penalty.
• We strongly encourage practicing good hygiene habits and keeping up-to-date with all necessary vaccinations, including COVID-19 and influenza.

Ms. Charlise Berkel, Principal/Directora, berkelc@district65.net (847) 859-8451

Ms. Sarah Antrim-Graf, Assistant Principal/Subdirectora, antrimcambiums@district65.net or (847) 859-8456

Ms. Krystalle Williams, School Health Office/Asistencia, Requisitos Médicos, williamsk@district65.net (847) 859-8452

Mx. Cáliz Rodriguez-Lara, Administrative Assistant/Asistente Administrativo, rodriguezlarac@district65.net (847) 859-8453

Website: https://rhodes.district65.net/about/school-overview
Location: 3701 Davis Street, Skokie, IL, USA
Phone: (847)859-8450
Twitter: @RhodesSchoolGS