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The Grove Grizzly

May 2024

The Grove Grizzly May 2024

September 16th, 2024

Note from the Principal...

Our Grove students did an excellent job practicing our safety drills and procedures this week. We are required to conduct three fire drills per year, so students will participate in two more all school fire drills over year.


I encourage parents to talk to their children at home about emergency procedures and safety in their homes following our safety week at school. The following are some suggested steps for families to take with children at home:

  • Plan how to get out of the house if there is a fire, discuss different escape routes, and make sure students know stop, drop, and roll

  • Identify a relocation site to meet as a family in case of an emergency

  • Teach kids how to call 911 and post other emergency numbers where kids can easily locate them

  • Identify a trusted neighbor whose door children can knock on to call for help or if they need to get out of the house and need a safe place to go

  • Ensure all fire, smoke, and Co2 detectors have batteries and be sure to have a working fire extinguisher that is easily accessible

  • Put together an emergency kit or first aid kit and make sure children know where to locate it easily

  • Identify a location for the family to go in the case of a tornado

  • Discuss kitchen safety and establish guidelines for using kitchen tools and appliances


Be sure to also check out the information in the Grizzly regarding our upcoming Safety Week and Family Movie Night! Tickets and concession packages are on sale now!! Please note, tickets are not included in movie night packages and must be purchased separately. PTO is also looking for sponsorships, see the flyer below!! Thank you for your support of Grove Avenue School.

NEW Information from Specials Classes

Click on the link to the newsletter and take a few minutes to see what learners are doing in each of our special areas!!

Running Club

Running Club lasts for 6 weeks. 10/14 will be the last day at Grove and the district Fun Run will be at Ron Beese Park on October 21st.

Running club students must be picked up at 3:20.

Mondays- 1st and 2nd Grade

Tuesdays- 3rd and 5th Grade

Thursdays- 4th and 5th

Early Release Dates

Please mark your calendar with the following important information:


Friday, September 27th - Early Release for Elementary Students: 8-10:45am

Thursday, March 20th - Early Release for Elementary Students: 8-10:45am

Thursday, April 17th - Early Release for Elementary Students: 8-10:45am

**Every Wednesday Elementary School Dismissal is at 2:10pm


If your child has a change to their dismissal transportation on early release days, please inform the front office and classroom teacher.

Grove Family Picture Wall and Humans of Grove Avenue Site

We look forward to seeing and adding family pictures that were taken this past week to our Grove Avenue Family picture wall in the main hallway of the school! We are also inviting families to submit a little blurb about their family to be included in our Humans of Grove Avenue web page that we have created just for Grove Families! A QR code will be added next to the picture of each family picture up on the wall, which will take individuals to the story of each family. Please click on the link to the Humans of Grove Avenue Google Form to submit your family story to be included on our site and linked to the QR code for your picture. If you did not take a family photo during the Grove Family Pictures, you CAN still participate by submitting a picture and your story to the Google Form!! Family pictures and QR Codes from last year will remain up on the wall. If families who already have a picture up on the wall took new pictures this year, we will replace the existing picture from last year with the newest picture when we receive them, otherwise the previous picture will remain. We would love to have all of our Grove families represented on the wall and web page!

Referendum Community Information Meetings this Month

During the first half of 2024, more than 2,500 community members collaborated on a plan to continue to improve Barrington 220's aging school buildings. The final $64M community-driven plan will go to you, the voter, for approval as a referendum question on this November 5 election ballot. If successful, the referendum will:

● Increase Safety & Security throughout Barrington 220

● Build a New Community Auditorium at Barrington High School

● Enhance STEAM and Instructional Spaces for Students

Join us at one of our upcoming community meetings to learn more about the referendum, tour current spaces, and see why these improvements are needed:

● 6pm Monday, Sept. 9 at Barrington High School

● 6pm Wednesday, Sept. 18 at Station Campus

● 6pm Thursday, Sept. 19 at Barbara B. Rose Elementary

● Noon Saturday, Sept. 28 at Barrington High School (immediately following the homecoming

parade)

BHS Football Games

Barrington Football Games
Please click here for information from the High School regarding BHS Football

Doctor’s Note Required for Medical Absences

Due to a change in school code by the Illinois State Board of Education, this school year a medical note is required for parents/guardians who select the: “MEDUE: Medical/Dental Appointment” excuse option for their student in Infinite Campus or call their student out of school for a medical/dental appointment.


The revised school code defines "valid cause" for absence as the following: Illness, including the mental or behavioral health of the student; attendance at a verified medical or therapeutic appointment; appointment with a victim services provider. Please note that the student’s absence will be marked unexcused in Infinite Campus until a medical note is provided.


We understand this is a change in practice from previous years. Please know that our front office is here to help answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Field Studies

Outdoor Education Field Trips

We are excited to kick off the year with outdoor education in all grade levels. You will be hearing more from your child's teacher shortly regarding their area of study, date, and time of the related field trip. Below are the dates we look forward to getting a little dirty.

9/11 or 9/12 - 2nd Grade Grigsby Prairie

9/11 or 9/13 - 3rd Grade Wormery Center

9/12 - Kindergarten Crabtree Nature Center

9/17- First Grade Crabtree Nature Center

9/23 - 4th Grade Flint Creek Savannah

10/22 & 23 - 5th Grade Camp Timber-lee

Upcoming Dates

Friday, September 20th - Grove Family Movie Night, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 24th- PTO/Room Parents Meeting with special guest Superintendent Dr. Craig Winkelman, 9:15 a.m., Grove Multi-Purpose Room (MPR)

Thursday, September 26th - Families New to Grove and Kindergarten Mixer, KGround (Primary playground), Kindergarten: 4:30-5:15 pm, New Families 5:15-6:00 pm

Friday, September 27th - Early Release day for Students Elementary Day: 8-10:45am

Saturday, September 28th - Homecoming

Wednesday, October 9th- Timberlee Parent Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

District Printable Calendar
Click the red banner for the printable calendar

Quest- Lunch Provider Information

Quest Lunch Provider Menu
Click red banner for the new lunch menu website

Grove PTO

The Family Movie Night fundraiser is just 1 week away on Friday, September 20th - featuring the movie Elemental!


We are still looking for sponsors!

  • Family Movie Night Tickets & Sponsorship opportunities are available here: https://tinyurl.com/2024MovieNightTickets
  • Movie Night Packages can be purchased from now until Wednesday, September 18th. They will not be available to purchase the night of the event.
  • Pizza by the slice, tacos, ice cream and bottled water WILL be available to purchase the night of the event along with other concessions and items at the glow bar.


For all Kindergarten and new families that have joined our school this year, the Grove Ave PTO would like to invite you to join us for a play date! Join us on Thursday, September 26th from 4:30-6pm on the K-ground for the Grove New Family Mixer! See the flyer below for more details.

  • Kindergarten families - 4:30-5:15pm
  • New families - 5:15-6:00pm

Meet other Grove families! Enjoy a treat with new friends! Learn about the fun PTO activities coming this year!


Please consider supporting Grove students with Barrington Children's Charities and volunteer for Packs of Plenty. Help us pack food for qualifying Barringto students to bring home. One hour of your time, just ONCE this school year, makes a HUGE impact on our students at Grove! https://tinyurl.com/grovepacksofplenty2024


Click here for the latest flyers on upcoming events and other PTO Information!


General Questions? Email us at: GAvenuePTO@gmail.com

September 24th PTO Meeting

Dr. Winkelman, Superintendent of Barrington 220 schools and Dr. Carpenter, Assistant Superintendent of Barrington 220 schools will be at Grove's PTO General Meeting on Tuesday, September 24th at 9:15am in the MPR to share information about the Referendum project and help answer any questions from our community.


If you would like to ask a question ahead of time or are unable to attend the meeting, please share your questions here. Thank you!

PTO News
Click on the red banner for PTO Information, Sign Ups, Flyers, and more!

Click to expand flyer

Click to expand flyer

Click to expand flyer

Click to expand flyer

Character Strong

Grove's Greatness

Grove's new playground is #ThePlaceToB

We are so thankful for Barrington 220 and Grove PTO for making this dream a reality. We celebrated on Friday with the Kona Ice Truck and time to explore the playground. Special thanks to Grove PTO for this incredible partnership.

Grove Avenue Elementary

grove.barrington220.org