Gower West News

Friday February 14th is a half day with dismissal at 11am and there is no school on Monday February 17th. Please enjoy the long weekend.

Regular school attendance is vital for your child. School starts at 7:45am that means if your child is arriving via car they need to be arriving at 7:35am so that they have time to enter the building and walk to their classroom, put away their things and be ready for learning at 7:45am. We have noticed that some students are frequently arriving late arriving between 7:50-8:15 which means that many students are missing essential parts of their education. Math or Reading for many grade levels starts at 7:55. If students are late they are missing this instruction and learning opportunity in addition to disrupting the learning of those who arrive on time.

Please do your best to have your child arrive on time to class by getting to school at 7:35am.

We want to recognize and thank our families for your partnership in supporting consistent attendance as we reach the second half of the school year and our 100th day of school. Illinois law defines “chronic absentee” as a student who misses 10 percent of school days within an academic year, about 18 days of an average 180-day school year. Your support of regular attendance is essential for academic growth, social development, and building lifelong learners.

Please remember to send your child to school dressed for the weather! We will venture outside each day as long as the "real feel" temperature is higher than 15 degrees (according to weather.com). We highly encourage students to wear hats, gloves, snow pants and warm coats daily!

When snow is on the ground, snow pants and boots are required to play in the field. (Those students without snow pants and boots will play on the plowed blacktop or playground equipment.) We are outside for 25 minutes so bundle up! Playing outside is always more enjoyable when we are warm!

Front Row Frenzy 2025

Purchase raffle entry for chance to win FRONT ROW seats to events this school year! Each winner will have up to 6 reserved front row seats and one premier parking spot. For the events with no seating, you can win one reserved premier parking spot. Each event will have 4 winners. You can purchase unlimited entries for your chance to win!

February 13th: 1st Grade Music Program

Stop selling entries 2/10 at 11:59pm and draw winner 2/11 at 8am

http://go.rallyup.com/grade1

Text code “grade1” to 33100

February 27th: 4th Grade Event Parking

Stop selling entries 2/24 at 11:59pm and draw winner 2/25 at 8am

http://go.rallyup.com/grade4

Text code “grade4” to 33100

March 13th: Kindergarten Music Program

Stop selling entries 3/10 at 11:59pm and draw winner 3/11 at 8am

http://go.rallyup.com/kindergarten

Text code “kindergarten” to 33100

March 26th: 3rd Grade Wax Museum Parking

Stop selling entries 3/23 at 11:59pm and draw winner 3/11 at 8am

http://go.rallyup.com/grade3

Text code “grade3” to 33100

There will be a Tuesday and Friday session. BAM's spring session-- starting Tue Feb 18 and Fri Feb 21.

Did you know...every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood

Did you know...a single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood

Did you know...25% of the blood supply is used by patients battling cancer

Did you know...only 3% of the population donates blood each year

When you add all of these up, it becomes apparent why the US is in a blood shortage. This Valentine's Day (Friday, February 14th), the Gower community is coming together to give back by hosting a blood drive at Gower West. Please sign up and help us help our community.

Where: Gower West Elementary School

When: Friday, February 14th

Time: 1pm-6pm

Sign-Up: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=Gower62

Child Care: We will be providing child care for donors during their donation

Walk-Ins: We will accept walk-ins but encourage you to sign up for a time slot

Donor Eligibility: Check at this website - https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html

Studio B Art has generously donated two gift cards to blood donors! You have two chances to win:

- sign up before or at the PTO's Family Dance (2/7)

- donate blood on 2/14

We are so thankful for our Gower Community!