W.A. Johnson Family Newsletter
September, 2023
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The Illinois State Board of Education annually releases school report cards that show how each school, each district, and the state is performing on a wide range of educational goals.
The report cards also include summative designations that account for each school’s overall performance, as well as the performance of seven demographic subgroups of students. This designation takes into account students' growth and proficiency levels in English/language arts, math, and science, as well as schools' attendance rates and their results in the Illinois 5Essentials school climate survey.
W.A. Johnson School maintained “Commendable” designation this year.
During the November 15 meeting of the BSD2 Board of Education, District Administrators reviewed next steps in addressing the District’s curricular priorities. Those plans included increased support for all of the District’s EL students, and strategies to address increases in chronic absenteeism and truancy across the District.
District 2 now calls eLearning Days when closing schools due to extreme weather or other emergencies. eLearning Days will begin an hour later than normal school days to provide teachers planning time to adjust their instruction for eLearning.
On eLearning Days, Johnson students will log into their Chromebooks and go to their Google Classrooms through their Classlink page, and join eLearning from the Google Meets link(s) posted there. Attendance will be taken, and students will then be engaged in live instruction for the entire five-hour school day.
An eLearning Day counts as a regular school day, and does not require the District to use a built-in emergency day at the end of the school year. Parents will then be notified no later than 6 AM if the District is closing its schools and holding an eLearning Day. (No announcement means it will be a normal school day.)
Teachers will be available to support students with the content being presented for learning during live instruction or through email. Assistance with any technology issues may be addressed by contacting members of the District’s technology team. The Johnson School Technology Support Specialist is Mr. Joe West who can be reached at 630-766-2605 extension 3120.
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Each year Illinois Schools are mandated by the Child Vision and Hearing Test Act of Illinois to perform vision and hearing screenings in the school setting. These screenings are performed by a state approved vision and hearing screening technician. BSD2 starts these screenings as soon as possible in the school year, so that students will be provided an optimum educational experience. If your child should not pass these screenings you will be informed and asked to complete the referral form sent home by the appropriate medical provider. Please return the completed referral form to your school's health office as soon as completed.
Illinois mandates hearing screenings for all students in preschool and grades K-3; for all students receiving special education services; for teacher or parent referrals; and for transfer students. Vision screenings are mandated for students in preschool and grades K, 2, and 8; for all students receiving special education services; for teacher or parent referrals; and for transfer students.
Vision and hearing screenings are not substitutes for a complete eye and ear examination by an appropriate doctor. Your child will not be required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months and that evaluation is on file at the school. Your child will not be required to undergo this hearing screening if an audiologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months and that evaluation is on file at the school. Vision and hearing screenings are not an option. If a vision or hearing examination report is not on file at the school for your child and your child is in the mandated age, grade, or group, your child will be screened.
- Membership Dues: Click here to pay Johnson PTA membership dues online
- The 1st PTA meeting will be held on next meeting is on September 7th at 3:45pm
- Zoom option to share with families: PTA Meeting Zoom link. This will be the same link for ALL meetings this school year
PTA Board Members:
Victoria Myhre, President
Diana Sanchez, Vice President
Nicki Zengilani, Secretary
Christina Palacios, Treasurer
PTA email: johnsonjaguarspta@gmail.com
Google Voice phone: (773) 234-8284
Special Bonus: For every 2023-24 $10 membership, the PTA will give each member $10 in scholastic dollars to use at the Book Fair!
We encourage all students to bring a healthy snack and water bottle to school every day. Each classroom has a designated time for students to eat a healthy snack. Below is a list of snack ideas. Please be mindful of students with allergies. You child's teacher will inform you if a particular item is not safe for all students in the classroom. School snacks are available in the event your child does not bring a snack from home.
- Cheese
- Fresh fruit
- Yogurt
- Veggies with hummus or ranch
- Dried fruit
- Granola bars
- Popcorn
- Fruit pouches
- Guacamole with chips
- Pretzels
- Crackers with cheese
- Crackers
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Cottage cheese
- Goldfish Crackers
- Cheese-its
- Graham Crackers
We all like to feel special on our birthday. One way we can do that is by celebrating with our teachers and classmates. Due to allergy concerns and ongoing COVID safety measures, students will not be allowed to pass out edible treats this year. Non-Food items may be brought in to share with classmates.
Here are some suggestions:
- Mini Play-doh
- Small bottle of bubbles
- Party Favors
- Donate a game to the classroom
- Stickers
- Fun Straws
- Donate a book to the classroom to be read aloud to the class