Welcome Back!

Now that the calendar has flipped to August (and Target's Back-to-School section is up in full force!) it's time to start thinking about the start of the school year. We do still have some good weeks left of summer, but the time feels right to reach out and share some information and to let you know that we're already looking forward to seeing the kiddos on August 21.

Please take a few minutes to read this message carefully, as it does contain some important information you'll need for the start of the year. You can also expect the much anticipated "Class List" share at 4:00 this afternoon. Families will receive grade level emails containing class lists. Please note that the class list development process is quite involved and comprehensive, with many factors being considered. The staff and I do our very best to create balanced classes which we feel will best serve individual students, as well as the collective group. We're looking forward to a new year of friendships and positive learning environments.

We have several new staff members to welcome to Forest Hills and D101 this year. Please join me in welcoming:

• Ms. Kellie Ryan (.5 Resource Teacher and at FH every afternoon and at LL in the mornings)

• Mrs. Anna Rowley: Teaching Assistant
• Ms. Liza Gabrek: Teaching Assistant
• Isabella Martucci (Forest Hills Occupational Therapist–Kim Freund will still be at FH, but only in ECE)
• Anna Ignarski (Forest Hills Early Childhood Physical Therapist)
• Katie Carberry (Physical Therapist for the District)

Forest Hills Certified Staff:

We are sad to share that Resource Teacher Stephanie Kariott and Teaching Assistants Kristen and Emma Gurka have all moved on to positions outside of District 101 and won't be back at Forest Hills this year. We'll miss them, but wish them well in their new ventures! Interviews are under way for these vacancies.

School hours remain the same as last year.

Student supervision begins at 8:25, so please do not have students arrive at school prior to that time. Also, when students arrive at school, they should report to their line-up location, and not play unsupervised at the parks.

South East Entrance (Door #2): Kindergarten and Grade 1

Main Entrance (Door #1): Grades 2 and 3

North East Entrance (Door #6): Grades 4 and 5

ALL students will enter through doors on Central Avenue.

A few important reminders about the arrival/dismissal process:

• Central Ave. is ONE WAY (north to south)
• Please take arrival/dismissal with a "Kiss 'n Go" approach. Parents/caregivers should remain in the vehicle at all times during the process. Should you wish to park and wait at the doors, please do so NORTH of the building on Central or Fair Elms or on 51st Street.

Please find a map HERE for a visual of arrival/dismissal. I appreciate your cooperation with these procedures with the hope of creating the safest experience possible for everyone (especially kids!).

***There may be some parking/traffic changes from the Village of Western Springs around the Forest Hills perimeter that won't be finalized until the week of August 19. Please watch for a stand alone message detailing those changes.

All students will eat lunch in the gym and have recess outside on either the north or south playgrounds. One change for this year is that 3rd grade will eat first and then go outside for recess. Historically, 3rd grade has gone outside for recess first, however, space considerations in the lunchroom have made this shift necessary.

11:40-12:00

Grades 1, 2 & 3 eat in the gym

Grades 4 & 5 outside for recess

12:05-12:25

Grades 1, 2 & 3 outside for recess

Grades 4 & 5 eat in the gym

Students are still able to go home for lunch. If your child will be going home for lunch, they will exit and return back to school through the main entrance. Please just communicate that information to classroom teachers and Erin McLaughlin.

OUTSIDE LUNCHES: Please note that while students are welcome to have food from fast food or outside establishments, we ask that you hand deliver them to the table in the foyer and clearly mark them with your child/rens' name(s). Deliveries from Door Dash, Uber Eats, Jimmy John's, etc. are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED, as they create a safety issue with drivers coming to the wrong door and generates much confusion amongst students. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

We are always happy to welcome parents as a part of the Forest Hills lunch program!

If you are interested in volunteering for lunch supervision, please email Alexis Cheff (asorto@hotmail.com) She will happily work with you on any type of time you are able to give.

If you are interested in being paid for lunch supervision, please also email Alexis Cheff (asorto@hotmail.com), but also include me on the message, so that I can assist in facilitating those next steps.

We're so grateful to our parent lunch supervisors as they help ensure lunchtime is a safe and enjoyable experience.

School safety is ALWAYS at the forefront of our minds. As such, please note the following safety procedures and expectations.

• Entrances: You will notice clear signage on all external doors indicating that ALL visitors (any person who is not a current Forest Hills student or active staff member with a key) MUST enter and check in through the main office. Even if your child spots YOU knocking at the Forest Hills doorway, we explicitly teach all students and reinforce with our staff the need to point to the signage, point to the main office, and NOT open any external doors, even for known/trusted adults, unless they are staff members.

• Staff Identification: All District 101 staff members wear lanyards, clearly indicating for students, staff, and all that they are registered members of our D101 staff and thus able to enter/exit buildings and supervise students. All visitors (including parent volunteers in classrooms, in the library, etc.) will need to wear our visitor lanyards at all times within the building.

• Visitor Procedures: All visitors will be required to enter through the main office, check in with our Administrative Assistant (Mrs. Erin McLaughlin), and trade their government-issued ID card (Driver’s License) for a “Visitor” lanyard; they will be required to check out again, as well, to return the lanyard and retrieve their ID. This will serve as a visual marker of safety and purpose for any adults not within our D101 staff, so that our students, staff, and community have a clear understanding that any “other” adults are safe and authorized to be within our space.

• Visitor Purpose and Destination: We will also ask that visitors to the building remain only in the spaces for which their entry is authorized, without wandering through the building or entering any additional spaces. This will help all of us understand the purpose, role, and need for our volunteers, and to maintain safe entry/exit procedures for all “other” adults.

Again, we appreciate you following these established procedures as we work to ensure our buildings are as safe as possible.

We are still working with First Student to finalize bus routes and times for this school year. I'll share that information as soon as it is available. If your child will be new to utilizing the bus this year, please reach out to Erin McLaughlin at emclaughlin@d101.org to ensure we can add your child to the list.

If your child will need any medication administered at school, please feel free to drop it off anytime during school hours on Monday, August 19, Tuesday, August 20 or during school hours, beginning Wednesday, August 21. We do need a doctor’s order to administer medication at school. A link to the form can be found HERE.

Please watch for a "Welcome Back" message on Monday, August 12 from the PTA. We're looking forward to another wonderful year of PTA events, activities and support!

If you ordered school supply kits through PTA/The Write Stuff, please know the kits will be delivered to Forest Hills prior to the first day of school. We will make sure they are in your child’s classroom and staff will help them unpack their supplies. If you did not order a kit, please have your child bring in their supplies on the first day of school, or over the course of the first few days. HERE is a link to the supply lists.

Please be on the watch for a message next Friday detailing the updated District 101 Elementary School Handbook. It will contain many important District-wide policies and procedures, including an updated policy on smart devices. I'd appreciate it if you'd take a few minutes to read it thoroughly and familiarize yourself with the content.

If you would like more information about the Right At School before and after care program, please see the included flyer or visit their website at https://rightatschool.com/.

Please find the 2024-25 calendar HERE (subscribable Google Calendars) attached below.

Thursday, August 15: New Family Information Night (6:00-6:45pm)

Wednesday, August 21: First Day of School (FULL DAY!)

Sunday, August 25: PTA Welcome Back Social (4:30-6:00pm)

Thursday, August 29: Curriculum Night (6:00-7:30pm)

Monday, September 2: NO SCHOOL--LABOR DAY

Wednesday, September 11: School Pictures

Friday, August 9, will begin the regular schedule of Friday communications. Get excited for the start of a fun and learning-filled year!

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s start of the school year, please don't hesitate to reach out. If your enrollment plans have changed, please let us know as soon as possible.

Enjoy the remaining days of summer. We are greatly looking forward to seeing everyone in just a few weeks!

Sincerely,

Rachel

Email: rcorrough@d101.org
Website: www.d101.org
Location: 5020 Central Avenue, Western Springs, IL, USA
Phone: (708)485-5184
Twitter: @corrough