Bulldog Bulletin Weekly Newsletter

We hope you had a restful Fall Break. As the weather gets cooler, please remember to send your student to school in a warm coat. Students have recess daily, therefore we want to keep all students warm while they play outside. We are also wearing pink on Thursday in honor of breast cancer awareness. Additionally, see the resources below for the prevention of bullying. Lastly, Picture retakes are Tuesday, 10/22/24.

Have a great week,

Mrs. Peacock

Bullying is a serious issue that affects many students. It’s important for us to work together to create a safe and supportive environment for all of our children. Below, you’ll find some important information, statistics, tips, and resources to help you support your child if they are experiencing or witnessing bullying.

What Is Bullying

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, cyberbullying and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

Bullying Statistics

• Prevalence: About 20% of students ages 12-18 report being bullied during the school year.
• Types of Bullying: Bullying can be verbal, social, or physical. Verbal bullying includes teasing and name-calling, social bullying involves spreading rumors and exclusion, and physical bullying includes hitting and pushing.
• Locations: Bullying often occurs in school hallways, classrooms, cafeterias, and online.
• Impact: Students who are bullied are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, and lower academic achievement.

Congratulations to Ms. Morgan, 4th Grade Teacher and Mrs. Marati, Special Education Assistant for receiving the Jerry Morin Award. Both of these ladies are great colleagues, well-liked and respected by students, and individuals of high character. Their dedication and hard work has not gone unnoticed.

Also Congratulations to Sully Blasgen for receiving the Tom Dockweiler Award. Sully had outstanding growth in his STAR assessment, great character, and kindness. He has a great work ethic, and is an all-around nice kid.

We are very proud of our Churchill Bulldogs, both staff and student.

#HSD153Proud

As we settle into fall and Halloween approaches, many are excited to celebrate on Thursday, October 31st. The following guidelines must be followed if students choose to wear a costume:

• Must wear costume to school. Students will not be allowed to change into a costume.
• Must be able to wear a costume comfortably while conducting daily activities.
• No make-up or masks are allowed.
• Refrain from any costumes that contain blood/gore, weapons.
• No props of any kind.

With the support of our amazing PTA, each class will have the opportunity to engage in some fun activities from 10:45pm-11:45pm. If you would prefer for your child not to participate in Halloween themed activities, please inform your child's teacher before 10/31/24. There will be a fun alternate activity that they may participate in. There will not be a snack provided. No other outside food is permitted. We are looking forward to a fun day!

Please take a moment to see if you might be able to volunteer on this day. We are still in need of a few volunteers to do a craft or game. See the message from PTA below.

PTA Halloween Party Volunteers

We are still looking for volunteers for many classrooms for this year’s Halloween Party (Oct 31, 10:45-11:45). Please use the signup genius below to sign up for either a craft or a game in your child’s classroom. If you volunteer, your contact information will be passed along to the room representative and they will reach out to you. Please note, volunteers must be members of PTA to volunteer for this event, if you are not yet a member, it is easy to join and the link is below.

Signup Genius: https://tinyurl.com/2jhkk7z8

Homewood PTA: https://homewoodpta.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true

Walk Walton is Sunday Oct 20, 10 am - 1 pm at Izaak Walton Preserve. This annual event offers families a fun and enriching outdoor learning experience. It’s a wonderful chance to enjoy fall activities while exploring nature. Tickets are available here.

To All Families: Please be advised that those who qualified for free or reduced priced meals from the 23-24 school year and have not yet reapplied for the 24-25 school year will no longer receive free or reduced meals beginning October 1st. If you are unsure if you have qualified for the 24-25 school year please contact our food service director at anne.simons@hsd153.org or call 708.922.2417. Be sure to include your child's first and last name in your messages.

Anne Simons

Food Service Director

Homewood School District 153

708.922.2417

Early Dismissal or Transportation Change:

• If a student needs to be picked up early or a transportation change is needed, please call the main office at 708.798.3424, before 2:30pm. You may also send a written note to school with your student. They must bring it to the main office.
• The next early dismissal is October 31. The time for making changes on early dismissal days is before 11:15am.

Lunch Drop Off:

• Food delivery services such as Uber Eats, Door Dash, etc., are not allowed and will be returned.
• Parents/Guardians may drop off lunch for students 20 minutes before the lunch period begins.
• Lunch period times are:
• 3rd grade 10:40am
• 4th grade 11:30am
• 5th Grade 12:15pm

Picture Re-takes are Tuesday, 10/22/24

Early Dismissal, 10/31/24

Lost and Found Donation to Goodwill is Friday, November 1st.

• Please remind your student to check the lost and found to collect their belongings.
• The remaining items will be donated to Goodwill on November 1st.