Early Learning Center Family News
January 2023
TRANSLATE NEWSLETTER / TRADUCE BOLETÍN
STEP 1 / PASO 1
STEP 2 / PASO 2
STEP 3 / PASO 3
Upcoming Events
Friday, January 13th
- No School for Preschool
- AM Parent Participation Event
- No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Clothing Celebration- Wear Special Clothing (See below)
Thursday, February 2nd
- Board of Education Meeting at 7:00 PM
- No School for Preschool
- AM Parent Participation Event
Dear Preschool Families,
Happy New Year! We were so excited to welcome back all our students this week. Hope you were able to enjoy some time with the ones you love over the break.
Classrooms are close to finishing their unit of study on Clothes. Please see the message below about wearing special clothing to school on Friday, January 20th.
Friday, February 10th preschool students will not have school. However, we will have Miss Carole of Macaroni Soup coming to the ELC. We will have two different show times from 8:30-9:10 AM and 9:30-10:10 AM. The show will be held in our gym. We will have limited space available and ask that only one parent attend with your preschool child. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate siblings. Please RSVP here by Friday, February 3rd for your show preference as this show is first come, first serve. Confirmation emails will be sent out on February 7th. The event will also be streamed online for any families that cannot attend in person.
Thank you all for your continued partnership and support!
Sincerely,
Barb Golik
Principal
Creating an Inclusive Environment for All Students
Here at the Early Learning Center- and across D63 - we are committed to creating an environment in which every student feels a sense of belonging and inclusion.
To support this commitment, in the coming months we will be incorporating classroom learning about microaggressions.
What is a “microaggression”?
Often, expressions of racism, homophobia, sexism, religious intolerance, and more can be very obvious. But sometimes these negative messages can be delivered in smaller, subtler ways. These small - but powerful - messages are called “microaggressions.” They can be verbal or nonverbal, and are generally focused on a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, immigration status, physical ability, or religion. Sometimes, microaggressions may even “look like” compliments.
Examples might include:
Asking a non-white student, “Where are you really from?”
Continuing to mis-prounounce a student’s name purposely (and not due to speech or language difficulties or linguistic differences that would impact pronunciation) after being corrected several times.
Telling a girl, “You don’t act like a girl - you’re good at sports!”
Assuming a student can’t speak English based only on appearance.
Even if unintentional, microaggressions may be hurtful, impacting children’s self-esteem and well being.
How can we help students become more thoughtful about how they interact with others?
This winter and spring, across the District, we’ll introduce age-appropriate classroom activities to help students recognize microaggressions and become more thoughtful about their language and actions. The goal is to continue fostering a school community that feels welcoming for every student.
Wondering how to begin a conversation about microaggressions with your child? You may find How to Talk to Kids About Microaggressions/Cómo hablar con los niños acerca de los microagresiones helpful.
Learn more about District 63’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work. Questions? Contact Principal Barb Golik.
Weather Reminders
As the temperatures become colder each day, we want to remind families to please send students to school dressed appropriately for the weather.
- Our students go outside between 25° F and 90°F and spend 20-25 minutes outdoors on most days.
- If your child is in need of winter clothing (coats, mittens, hats, boots, etc) please contact the Early Learning Center office at 847-827-4165 or firststeps@emsd63.org.
Activity Boards for Absences
In the event that a student is absent, they may choose to engage with activity choice boards (sorted by grade level bands):
Choice boards are not meant to replace in-class learning, rather, they are designed to keep students engaged in learning activities if they are able to do so while absent.
Completion of choice board activities is optional and not required by District 63, which means that work should not be turned into school and students should not expect grades or feedback from teachers.
Winter Weather Emergency Closing Information
Take a minute to review D63's Winter Weather Closing information.
A few key points:
- If school buildings close, students shift to remote learning.
- Decisions to close school are made jointly with other area school districts.
- When students need to stay home, expect an email, text, and phone call. Information will also be posted on our website and social media.
Notes from the Nurse
Welcome back to school!
We will continue to follow the Illinois Department of Public Health Interim COVID-19 guidelines for school. Please keep children who are sick home from school. Remember students must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine. A student with a temperature of 100.4 or higher must remain home. Students should be free from vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.
The district encourages parents to test children who are ill for COVID-19. Test kits are available from the nurses office. There are also websites where test kits can be ordered for free by US mail. Any student who tests positive for COVID-19 must remain home for five days. Day 0= date of symptom onset or positive test. Students returning to school after a positive test MUST wear a mask days 6-10. Individuals who cannot wear a mask must remain home through day 10 OR provide two NEGATIVE rapid tests 48 hours apart, NO SOONER that day 6.
Please remember that any of the following symptoms could be due to COVID-19- fever 100.4 or higher, new onset of moderate to severe headache, shortness of breath, new cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, new loss of taste or smell.
Vaccination of all eligible persons is highly recommended.
REPORTING ABSENCES
If your child has to miss school due to illness or any other reason, please submit via the Parent Portal.
How to use the Parent Portal to report your child’s absence:
- All absences must be submitted on the morning of the day your child will miss school - NOT the night before. Once you log into the Portal, you’ll choose your child’s name and navigate to a list of online forms. Select and complete the “Absence Form,” and then submit.
- Review detailed, step-by-step instructions.
- You can find these instructions at any time on our website: www.emsd63.org/attendance.
- Questions? Contact the Early Learning Center main office at 847-827-4165
Summer Camp Academy Registration opens on January 1 - Visit the website to learn more, please share the following with your families: “Summer Camp Academy registrations opens on January 1. This is a great summer day camp program option for youth in grades K-8. Visit our website to learn more!”
School Hours
- 8:40 AM - School begins
- 11:10 AM - School ends
PM
- 12:15 PM - School begins
- 2:45 PM - School ends
Email: firststeps@emsd63.org
Location: 10000 Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 827-4165