Welcome Back to WHS for 2023-2024

Welcome back to the 2023-2024 School Year at Hammerschmidt!

The WHS School Theme for this year is:

"Breaking Boundaries, Exploring OUR World"

Last year's "World Expo" at the Connect 44 Center was the initial point of inspiration for this year's theme at Hammerschmidt. The excitement centered around our community's cultural heritage and families' backgrounds was contagious. It is our hope that we bring that excitement to our students of Hammerschmidt this year!

We aim to break down the barriers of our classroom walls, and extend our learning far-beyond as we explore OUR World! By Observing, Understanding, and Reflecting about the lives of others in distant places, we can learn and grow while also gaining some global perspective. We have been busy planning fun and exciting ways to engage our students in their learning journey this year.

Please join us this year as we break boundaries and explore our world!

Sunday, 8/6-

• WHS PTA Pool Party 7:00- 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday 8/9-

• Teacher/ Class Assignments will be accessible by logging into Skyward

Tuesday, 8/15

• Supply drop-off opportunity for families with last names A- K. 12:00- 12:30 p.m.

• Supply drop-off opportunity for families with last names L- Z. 12:30- 1:00 p.m.
• WHS PTA Popsicle Social: 12:30- 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, 8/16

• First Day of School!
• Full-day for Gr. 1-5
• Half-day (11:40 dismissal) for Kindergarten ONLY.
• 1:1 Kdg. assessment appointment in the PM.

Thursday 8/17 & Friday 8/18

• Full day of School for grades 1-5
• Half-day (11:40 dismissal) for Kindergarten ONLY.
• 1:1 Kdg. assessment appointment in the PM.

Monday, 8/21

• PTA Meeting, LRC - 7:00 pm

Pool party this Sunday, August 6th from 7-9pm at Paradise Bay. Free event to all Hammerschmidt families. Concession items available for purchase. See the flyer below!

All students will be issued a tech device from their classroom teacher once school begins. Students are free to bring their device to and from school. See the links below for additional information.

The D44 school calendar for 2023-24 has now been updated on our school and district websites. Click on the link below to access printable versions:

2023-2024 D44 School Calendar

If you are brand new to WHS, and your oldest child is in Kindergarten, please accept our warmest welcome to our Hammerschmidt family. We are committed to providing your child and your family a year full of positive memories, challenges, fun and growth!

CLICK HERE for the 2022-2023 KDG Orientation Newsletter!

All Kindergarten students are invited to come and visit Hammerschmidt to see their classrooms, meet the teachers, and drop off the KDG school supplies. It will take place on Tuesday, August 15th from 12:00-1:00 pm.

• IMPORTANT NOTICE: The first three days are half days for Kindergarteners.
• On Wednesday 8/16, Thursday 8/17, and Friday 8/18, Kdg. Students will attend from 8:35 a.m. until 11:40 a.m.
• During the afternoons on these days Kdg. teachers will be meeting one- on -one with students to do ESGI (Educational Software for Guiding Instruction) assessments. You will sign up for your child's appointment at the Kindergarten Student Visitation Session on Tuesday, August 15th.
• The first full-day for Kdg. students will be on Monday, August 21st.

KINDERGARTEN PARENTS.... CLICK HERE ... for more specific information!

Ms. Fernandez has been shifted over to Pleasant Lane to fill a retirement vacancy. Fortunately, she helped us hire a new WHS PE teacher! Please join me in welcoming Mr. Jeremy Canfield to our WHS PE Team.

Hello Hammerschmidt Elementary families! My name is Jeremy Canfield, I am new Physical Education teacher this year. This is my third year as a teacher. I spent my first two years teaching in Iowa before I decided to move back closer to home. I grew up in Downers Grove so I am very excited to be back closer to family. I have deep passion for sports including my love of the Chicago Cubs! In my free time I love to be outside hiking, running, and playing frisbee golf. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you and your families this year and having some fun in PE!

I know there is great anticipation for students and families to see which teacher your children have been placed with.

On Wednesday, August 9th, class placements and teacher assignments can be found for all registered students in our Skyward Information System.

(Kindergarten teacher assignments will be finalized during the first two weeks of school.)

In an attempt to limit the total number of people in the building at any one time, this year, we will be offering two separate student supply drop off opportunities. These will take place on Tuesday 8/15. The assigned time slot is determined by your family's last name.

• Last Name A- K, Tuesday 8/15 from 12:00- 12:30 p.m.
• Last Name L- Z, Tuesday, 8/15 from 12:30- 1:00 p.m.

Please note that these supply drop off opportunities are entirely OPTIONAL. There is NOT an expectation that all students will need or want to drop off their supplies in advance, and there is NOT the expectation that parents need to take off of work in order to participate.

Our WHS PTA is hosting a "Popsicle Social" in conjunction with our Supply Drop Off opportunity. This will take place on our WHS playground. Come enjoy a cool treat and socialize with our Hammerschmidt School community! This is a great opportunity to learn more about the PTA!

The Creamery first day of school celebration on August 16th. The Creamery will donate 15% of all sales back to our WHS PTA for the entire day, 10:30am-10pm. Come during the hours of 4-7:30pm for a chance to see your favorite teachers and administrators as guest servers and greeters!

Coffee talk is at 8:30am on Friday August 18th in front of the kindergarten doors. Stop by to learn more about the pta and sign up to volunteer for upcoming fall events and activities.

First PTA meeting is on Monday, Aug 21 at 7pm in the LRC. All are welcome to attend.

LUNCH SUPERVISORS NEEDED:

Are you interested in being a Hammerschmidt Lunch/Recess Supervisor? If so, APPLY ONLINE! Please feel free to reach out to Mr. Danielski with any questions! Become a part of our WHS or D44 team! Click here to learn more!

Save the date! The WHS School Picture Day is scheduled for Sept. 13th!

Join the WHS PTA!

You belong in WHS PTA. Parents, grandparents, teachers, relatives, and friends of the family are ALL welcome to join!

Become a Member. Donate. Advocate. Volunteer. Be a Resource.

Your membership, donation and involvement help support the many amazing programs the WHS PTA offers throughout the school year. Joining WHS PTA is a great opportunity to meet new people and build meaningful relationships, get to know our school’s teachers and staff in a fun, low-stakes environment and connect to important school and community resources that benefit/support your child.

Did you know you can Subscribe to the digital PTA and school calendar? Visit Events and then click subscribe. You can choose iCal, outlook or Google calendar and it will automatically add the events to your calendar.

Join the WHS PTA Facebook Page so you will always have the most up-to-date information for all the PTA events happening throughout the school year.

Join other parents, high school and middle school students, and professionals to learn about issues facing today’s youth. The Glenbard Parent Series engages top experts, parents and school staff to become proactive and informed in pursuit of the mutual goal to strengthen our communities. Programs are free and open to the public.

GPS-- Glenbard Parent Series - 2023-24