Fox Ridge Family Newsletter

Please do not reply to this email or any sent from our mass communication system. These are noreply products. A few families have attempted to email me using this email or replying to this email, but fortunately they also included their teachers so it was received and we noticed the noreply email which was intended for the principal. The correct email is michelle.woodring@d303.org.

Friday, February 21st - End of 2nd Trimester for Elementary Students

Wednesday, February 27th - Elementary Early Release 2:35PM dismissal

Thursday, February 27th - Half Day of School for Students 12pm Dismissal

Friday, February 28th - NO School for Students

Friday, March 14 from 6-8 p.m. - Science Night

Friday, March 21st - St Baldrick's Challenge-St Charles East HS 6pm

Please check your child's HAC (Home Access Center) account for emergency contacts. All students should have at least one emergency contact that is not a parent. In case of emergencies or illness an emergency contact is someone who can pick your child up from school within one hour of being called. Please email Nia.York@d303.org or Colleen.Monahan@d303.org to add an emergency contact for your child or children.

If for ANY reason you need to get out of your car while picking up your child from school (ie-strapping child into car seat, child needs assistance), PLEASE PARK and walk to pick up your child. There is NO exiting of vehicles in the Pick Up/ Drop Off Lane. This is too dangerous and delays the Pick Up/Drop Off lane from moving! In addition, as you are waiting on Tyler to enter the parking lot at arrival or dismissal time, it is suggested that you put your hazards on so that other moving traffic is aware that you are stopped.

At Fox Ridge, each student will achieve grade level standards in literacy, math and social emotional and behavioral skills.

Hello Families,

Although this past week was shorter, it was filled with meaningful learning opportunities. On Tuesday, all staff gathered at the Norris Center to explore the Science of Learning. Professional learning experiences like these—as well as those during early release and school improvement days—support our growth as educators. Providing time for teachers to learn with and from each other strengthens our collective efficacy, which positively impacts student learning in many ways.

One topic we’re especially excited about is The Science of Learning. This work focuses on how the brain learns and retains information. Our goal is to use this knowledge to design instruction that truly "sticks" with students. We look forward to seeing the impact of this work and hope to share some of our learning with you in the future.

Looking ahead, next week is another shorter one:

• Wednesday: Early release for elementary students
• Thursday: Half-day for spring conferences
• Friday: Countywide institute day (no student attendance)

After this week, we’ll return to four full weeks of school, which provides consistency and helps build momentum for student learning.

Lastly, the statewide 5Essentials survey is now open! I’ll share the survey link in a separate email—please take a few minutes to provide your feedback. Your input is invaluable in helping us guide and improve our work.

Thank you for your continued support. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

I am sharing this one more week, in case people missed it with the holiday weekend.

Above we have linked a video created from our first primary literacy night. This took place in November, many of our primary teachers participated along with specialists. Highlighted in the video, are ways families can support literacy at home.

As you may have seen, we are kicking off two reading programs: Ozzie Reading and One Book One School (OBOS).

Ozzie Reading is a reading incentive program in partnership with the Kane County Cougars baseball team. We are starting a new tradition in which our entire Fox Ridge community will work together to meet the required reading minutes. Parents will verify these minutes through a Google Form sent via our weekly bulletins.

This program is unique because our school will attend a Cougars game as a whole-school field trip during the school day. This special experience is funded by our school building budget and serves as a wonderful way to celebrate our readers in the spring. Unlike other schools that may have done similar programs, families will not attend with us during the school trip. However, students will receive an additional ticket to attend a future game with their families.

We are committed to ensuring that all students in our school read or are read to for the required minutes. We will keep track using the google forms and provide make up opportunities to ensure all students are able to earn the free ticket through their reading. We know the importance of daily reading, and nothing supports student growth as readers more than consistent reading practice.

During our second semester, all classroom teachers are identifying MVP's related to iReady. Last week was our first week, below are the students that were recognized by their classroom teacher's. They all had the photos taken and are highlighted in our front hall frames. We will do this moving forward to encourage iReady engagement and completion. We know that completing 45 minutes in both areas reading and math supports students in achieving their typical growth and stretch growth.

This is what teachers were asked to do-Please review your students data from the past week, identify a student that is most improved in reading and another that is most improved in math (this can be someone who is putting in more effort, time, passing more lessons, anything to recognize and acknowledge their work.)

Here are the students from this week - 2/19-2/22 Congratulations!

KBr Ethan Jia/Sofia De La Rosa

Next Thursday, February 27th, all elementary students in D303 will have a half-day of school due to our Spring parent-teacher conferences.

Due to the 12:00 dismissal, students will not have lunch at school that day. All classrooms will take a snack break at some point in the morning.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out, michelle.woodring@d303.org.

We started strong in February with our racket sports unit. Students have been working on hand-eye coordination and striking with a short implement. Last week 3-5 played Badminton and K-2 played Floorball. This week 2-5 focused on Pickleball, while K-1 had fun using balloons to practice striking.

CHANGE OF CLOTHES:

Please remember to send a weather appropriate change of clothes to school with your student.

Also, we need donations of gently used GIRLS Pants, shirts and underwear.

ILLNESS:

If your student is diagnosed with an illness or infection, please notify the health office. We are tracking our students' health closely to watch for any trends in the classrooms. This includes, but not limited to, respiratory illnesses, COVID, Flu, Pink Eye, and Strep. We appreciate any information you give us regarding your student in the event they are ill.

Please remind your student to cover their coughs and sneezes and wash their hands often.

The CDC recommends that people with strep throat stay home from work, school, or daycare until they meet the following criteria:

• They are no longer feverish
• They have been taking antibiotics for at least 12–24 hours

People with strep throat should also:

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve
• Wash hands frequently
• Wash cups, utensils, and other items that have been touched by an infected person

CDC 2024

Christina Marello, Building RN, 331-228-2404, christina.marello@d303.org.

We need your help to make this event a success. Please consider volunteering for a shift.

Order your FREE Fox Ridge car magnet through the PTO's spirit store. We ask that you only order one per household.

foxridgepto.com

PTOFoxRidge@gmail.com

Private Facebook Group

As we embark on the season of planning for the 2025-2026 school year, the identification process is underway for accelerated placement for next year’s 4th, 5th and 6th graders. Here is some helpful information:

• All 3rd grade students are automatically considered for potential placement in Academically Talented (AT) Math and AT ELA programming. You do not need to request it. However, you can reach out to ask questions about the process anytime using the contact information below.
  
  

• 5th grade students are also automatically considered for potential placement in an additional Accelerated Math Pathway that starts in middle school. This pathway provides for the completion of Algebra before entering high school by allowing students to complete more than one grade level of math in 6th grade and 7th grade.
  
  

• 5th grade students who are currently in our AT programming may be identified for potential placement in the Infinity Gifted Program at the middle school level. These students may take part in additional testing in February. Parents will be informed in advance if additional testing is requested.
  
  

• Families of students who are identified for placement in our AT Math, AT ELA, Infinity Gifted or Accelerated Math programming will be informed by March 28. Please refer to the Identification Timeline for additional information.
  
  

Yvette Stahl, Gifted Coordinator

yvette.stahl@d303.org | 331.228.6166

As part of our school wide behavior incentives, individual students earn Golden Paws from teachers for meeting our behavior expectations of being respectful, responsible and safe. The Paws are entered into a raffle drawing that takes place on Fridays during lunch time. Students are recognized by their peers and are able to select a small prize. If you have items you would like to donate (stickers, croc charms, pokemon cards, etc), please send them in to Mrs. Patty Griffith, our Student Support Interventionist.

The locked glass display case in our front lobby is a great opportunity for students to show off things they like to collect. Some examples of collections that could be displayed in the case: cards, figurines, stickers, stuffed animals, rocks/shells, or books. We will curate any collections submitted by students to ensure they are school appropriate. Collections will be displayed for 2 weeks. Interested? Fill out our Display Case Form for a chance to have your collections featured.

District 303 is proud to partner with the Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) to offer our families broader access to information sessions and resources that support their child’s development.

For decades, GPS has been offering free programs that aim to empower and strengthen families, individuals and communities. As a partner organization, District 303 will support promoting upcoming programs and their importance to our local community.

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