WIS September 2014 Newsletter

Future Newsletters will be posted on our website, www.sd925.org
during the first week of each month
WIS News
SEPTEMBER, 2014
Principal’s Column
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome Back!! WOW, what a week it’s been. Beginning last Monday we had our kickoff PBIS station walk throughout the building with all students. Students learned and reviewed the behavioral expectations within various parts of the
school building. Please ask your child about the 4 “BE”s of WIS and discuss ways in which your family can utilize the
fundamental ideas of these expectations within your home. On that same morning WIS parents listened to an overview
of procedures and practices, some new some remaining. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you on the first day of
school.
Beginning next Monday, September 8th all students will partake in MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing.
This is the first benchmark testing of the year and will determine how we can better help your child navigate the curriculum and learning objectives. Understanding that good data and progress monitoring are hallmarks of identifying student need is the best practice for differentiating instruction.
Remember to mark your calendars for Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 11th at 6:30pm. There will be a
notice sent through School Messenger as far as the schedule for that night and when to visit grade level teams.
Last week all the students did very well during their first week of attendance. Having the chance to walk through all the
classrooms on numerous occasions, the students seem clearly focused and ready to being the new school year. Students
have been friendly and courteous in the halls and during lunch time. Each and every one of you should be very proud of
your child and the dedicated faculty that works with them on a daily basis here at WIS.
The start of the school year has been very positive and I hope your child has felt the same! I look forward to working
with all of you, along with the faculty, to assist in making this year a successful learning experience for each and every
child. Please do not hesitate to call if I can be of any assistance in helping with your child’s educational pursuits.
~~WIS is Soaring to New Heights. How High Can You Fly?~~
James H. Letsos, Principal
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2
Health Reminders
Please do not send a
student to school if they
have a fever or are
vomiting. Per District
Policy, students must
be fever-free for 24
hours, without the aid of
medicine, before returning to school.
Please encourage your
child to eat breakfast
daily! Students show
eating a healthy breakfast has many benefits!
Safety Reminder
Our Crossing Guard assists with ensuring the
safety of our students
as they cross Canterbury Street. Please
model safe behavior for
all of our students by
crossing at the crosswalk with your child.
Please do not drop students off at the stop
signs in front of the
school or directly in
front of the building.
The drop off lane on the
north side of Canterbury
Street is the safest
place to drop your child
off in the morning. Let’s
all work together to
keep our students safe!!
WIS
NEWS
Curriculum Night
Our Curriculum Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 11, 2014, at
6:30 p.m. There will be a general information session in the gym starting at
6:30. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to learn about the curriculum your child will learn this year as well as classroom procedures and expectations! This night is for parents only and we appreciate your assistance with maintaining a focus on the curriculum and how you can
support your child this year.
Birthday Book
Would you like to commemorate your students birthday AND help the Westchester Intermediate School Media Center at the same time?
For a $10.00 donations, your student may choose from a wide variety of new
books that we have purchased. This book will designated as your student’s
“Birthday Book” and will have a bookplate inside that show our student’s name
and which birthday it commemorates. Your student will be the first person to
check the book out. Books will be available to purchase on Thursday,
September 11th during Curriculum Night.
New Faces
The following staff members have joined the WIS Team:
Jenny Berg—3rd Grade Teacher
Melanie Duffy—3/4 SCC Teacher
Michelle Grandinetti—3rd Grade Teacher
Nancy May—3rd Grade Teacher
Lisa Gudmundson—4/5 SCC Teacher
Soledad Marquez-Jimenez—ESL/Bilingual Teacher
Margaret Xenakis—Speech
Margaret Faulkner—Lunchroom Supervisor
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3
Morning Routines
Building supervision starts at 8:30 a.m. Students are not to arrive prior to 8:30 a.m. Students enter the
building upon arrival. Students must be in their seats ready to learn at 8:45 a.m. Students that arrive after 8:45 a.m. are considered tardy and they must enter through the front doors and receive a pass
to their classroom. If students arrive after 9:00 a.m., they must be accompanied with a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian must sign the student in.
What if my child is sick?
If your child is not feeling well and will be absent from school, a parent or guardian must call the school
health office to notify us of the child's absence. Please call Mrs. Dowdle at 708/498-0095. Please provide your child's name, with the spelling, your child's teacher, your name, a number where you can be
reached, and the illness.
Lunch Times
3rd Grade—11:05 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
4th Grade—11:50 a.m. To 12:30 p.m.
5th Grade—12:35 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Parent/Guardian Contact Information
If you contact information changes during the school year, please contact the office immediately at 708/562-1011, to update your contact information. It is very important that we have the
most up-to-date information for students should an emergency arise. Your cooperation is
appreciated very much!
Fall Picture Day
Fall Picture Day is Monday, September 22th. All students will be photographed for records
keeping purposes. Order forms will be sent home the week of September 8th. Should you
wish to order pictures, please return the order form with payment by Monday, September 22nd.
If you have any questions, please contact the office at 708/562-1011.
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4
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER!
U P C O MI NG E VE NT S :
 Sept. 2 Board of Education Committee of the Whole Mtg. at 6:30 p.m.
 Sept. 3 WPTC Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at WIS Cafeteria
 Sept. 8-19 MAP Testing
 Sept. 10 Beginner Band Parent Meeting 5:00-8:00 p.m. at WIS
 Sept. 11 WIS Curriculum Night 6:30-8:00 p.m.
 Sept. 18 WIS-WPTC Room Parents Tea at 9:00 to 10:00 am. at WIS
 Sept. 18 Destination Imagination Mtg. at WMS at 6:00 p.m.
 Sept. 18 Board of Education Meeting at WMS at 7:00 p.m.
 Sept. 22 Fall Picture Day
 Sept. 22 District Intervention Parent Meeting at WIS at 7:00 p.m.
 Sept. 24 Teacher Institute Day—Early Dismissal at 11:45 a.m. No Lunch Served
 Sept. 25 Administrative Forum at WIS Cafeteria at 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
 Sept. 29 Bilingual PAC Mtg. at WPS at 5:30 p.m.
 October 3 Check eSchoolPLUS for Mid-Trimester Progress
What is the WPTC?
The WPTC is YOU! It is a family-school partnership that is made up of families with students attending Westchester Primary and Intermediate Schools, and the faculty and staff of those schools.
Without you participation, the WPTC cannot exist.
The WPTC is Westchester Parents and Teachers for Children. Our objectives include encouraging
a closer relationship between the home and the school, as well as supporting the school district’s
mission. We sponsor fun, family-oriented activities throughout the school year that include Classroom Parties, Book Fairs, Popcorn Days, Smencil Days, Fundraisers, and School Picnics at the end
of the year. Plus many more!.
If you haven’t had a chance to join, it’s not too late. This is a great, easy way to get involved in
your child’s school. Registration forms were sent home last week. Look for our table at Open
House.
Dates to Remember
SEPTEMBER
5
Back to School Picnic – located at Westchester Park District
at the Community Center and Pool
9
WPS Curriculum Night 6:30p-8:00p
11
WIS Curriculum Night 6:30p-8:00p
17
WPS Room Parent Tea 11:30a-1:00p
18
WIS Room Parent Tea 9:00a-10:30a
OCTOBER
7
WIS Dads and Doughnuts
8
WPS Family Math Night 7pm
24
Fall Family Dance 7pm (location TBD)
30
WMS Fall Dance 6p-8:15p
31
WPTC Room Parties
WPS morning 10a-11a
WIS afternoon 2p-3p
Dear Parents,
Welcome! On behalf of the WPTC, we would like to share some exciting news about an important fundraiser,
Market Day.
For almost 40 years, Market Day has been helping organizations like ours raise funds for important educational
resources.
Why is Market Day so important to us?
 By shopping at marketday.com or at our local GFS store every month, you help our school meet fundraising
goals through the purchase of quality food at a value.
 Over 150 foods to choose from; Market Day offers a wide variety of products including low fat, low calorie,
gluten-free and all natural options.
 Market Day requires no door-to-door selling, so it’s simple and easy to participate.
 Your order will be pre-packaged for easy pick-up.
It’s easy to participate with many alternate shopping options.
Simply order online at marketday.com or return the Order Guide to WMS by the Wednesday before the pick up
date. Our Market Day pick up schedule for this year is: 9/14, 10/12, 11/9, 12/7, 1/18, 2/15, 3/15, 4/12, 5/17, 6/7,
7/19, and 8/23. They are all on Saturdays at WMS 9:15-:945am.
Please visit the marketday.com website for more details and monthly specials, promotions and bonus days. All
new families ordering for the first time can use promo code NEWFIVE for $5.00 off your first purchase. If you
are shopping at GFS use our account # 1331 or simply tell them it’s for Westchester Middle School.
We encourage you to order from Market Day. With every purchase you are helping the WPTC earn funds for important educational resources. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us.
Sincerely,
Gina Cerasuolo [email protected]
Cindy Mayle [email protected]
Market Day Chairpeople
Westchester Intermediate School
10900 Canterbury Street
Westchester, IL 60154
P-708/562-1011
F-708/562-0299
Visit us on the web at www.sd925.org

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