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Gower West News
January 19, 2024
Congratulations to This Week's W.O.W.'s!!!
Watch for More Information Coming TUESDAY, January 23!
Your School. Your Voice.
Mark your calendars! The 5Essentials Survey opens on January 23rd.
We will send more information and a link for the survey next week!
MAP Testing Continues Next Week!
Winter Assessment Window Begins
During the weeks of January 15 and January 22, 1st - 4th grade students at Gower West (NO winter testing for Kindergarten) will take computer-based tests called Measures of Academic Progress™ (MAP). We give students MAP tests to determine their instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and from year to year, in the areas of reading and mathematics.
You can help your child to do his/her best on the test days by:
making sure, if possible, that your child attends school on the days of the testing;
making sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep each night before testing;
letting your child know that you are confident in his/her ability to do his/her best; and
advising your child not to worry about the test, but to do the best that he/she can.
Additional information about MAP testing and a detailed explanation of results can be found on the Gower West website under the Academics tab, and clicking on Assessment & Grading. A summary report about your child’s performance on this year’s MAP assessments, fall, winter and spring, will be sent to you at the end of the school year. Mid-year results are not sent home in January as a practice, but parents may request the results following the winter assessment window if they would like to.
Classroom teachers will communicate dates/times for MAP testing. Thank you for your cooperation and support.
Purchase GW Spirit Wear!
Your purchase of spirit wear supports Gower West Elementary School, specifically rewards for Gower Gladiators who are respectful, responsible, and kind! We appreciate your support!
Save the Date!
Gower's Annual Science Showcase & STEM Night!
Gower 62 is hosting our annual Science Showcase and STEM Night on February 15th from 6:00-7:30 pm at Gower West Elementary School! This event is for all students in grades K-8 and their parents. The 4th-8th grade students who registered their Science Showcase projects will have the opportunity to share their projects in an "open house" format from 6:00-7:00 pm; and the Gower staff will be facilitating 4 Survivor Family STEM Challenges from 6:00-7:30 pm (click HERE to register). In addition, there will be outside guests from Indian Prairie Public Library, TinkRworks, the DuPage Regional Office of Education STEM Team, and more, with interactive STEM activities. Join us for a great night of STEM learning and support our 4th-8th grade scientists and engineers!
Rush in to Give Blood Drive - 1/26/24
We are one week away from the Gower Blood Drive! We still have multiple openings that we would love to fill as soon as possible. If you're able to donate blood or donate time to volunteer, please see the sign-ups below:
When: Friday, January 26th from 1pm-5:45pm
Where: Gower West
How to Help: There are two ways to help for this important event:
1) Sign up to donate blood here!
2) Sign up to be a volunteer during the blood drive here!
IN ADDITION, we are excited to announce that the Gower Middle Girl Scouts will be providing childcare for any donors or volunteers during this time in exchange for an optional donation. If you would like to sign up, please use the link here!Finally, for one additional incentive, the Red Cross is giving away a trip to#SuperBowl LVIII in Las Vegas for one lucky donor who donates blood in January! We can't promise that the Chiefs will be in the Super Bowl and that Taylor Swift will be there, but you never know...so you should probably sign up to donate blood just in case.
Please reach out to Maribeth Jankowski (imanot2@hotmail.com) or Meredith Mosconi (masigler@gmail.com) with any questions. .
Upcoming Events at Gower West
Please Mark Your Calendars
Monday, January 22
Map Testing
(4th AT Math, 3rd grade)
2:25 4th grade Basketball Camp, Session 2
2:25 1st grade Daisies
Tuesday, January 23
MAP Testing
(2nd Nigro, 4th AT Math, 3rd & 4th grades)
2:25 Spanish Club
2:25 Kindergarten Daisies
7:00 Board of Education meeting, District Office
Wednesday, January 24
MAP Testing
(1st, 2nd - Kurtz, Thompson, Wander
Williams, & 4th grades)
7:10 4th grade Chorus
2:25 3rd grade Basketball Club, Session 2
2:25 Science Olympiad
2:25 Young Rembrandts
Thursday, January 25
MAP Testing - Make-ups
7:10 3rd grade Chorus
2:25 Beginner Band Rehearsal
Friday, January 26
White Out Blizzard Day (wear white)
MAP Testing - Make-ups
1:00 - 6:00 Blood Drive @ Gower West
The Fun Fair is Coming Soon!
Looking for Parent Volunteers!
Junior Achievement Classes Start After the New Year!
We are looking for parent volunteers to help run the Junior Achievement program at Gower West! This is a great opportunity to work with students in your child’s classroom.
Junior Achievement presents an age-appropriate curriculum that teaches financial literacy, community connectedness, and entrepreneurship. Parent volunteers will work with the teacher to set up a weekly 45-minute session for 5-6 weeks. All materials and training are provided. Minimal preparation is required.
- FOURTH GRADE CLASS sessions will run in JANUARY-FEBRUARY.
- K-3 GRADE CLASS sessions will run in APRIL-MAY.
Follow the link below to sign up. We can only accommodate a maximum of 2 parent volunteers per class, so first come first served!
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Lynn at lsalahi@gmail.com. Thank you for your consideration!