December News

Important Upcoming Dates

December 4th- Fun Lunch- Ambrogis Chicken Strips

December 9th-13th- PTN Penguin Patch Holiday Shop

December 9th- Board of Education Meeting 7:00pm @ Harter Middle School

December 10th- PTN Meeting 6:30pm 

December 12th- Building-Based Spelling Bee @ 1:30pm 

December 13th- 1st Grade Musical Performance @ 2:45pm 

December 13th- PTN Holiday Hoopla (5:30pm) and Movie Night (6:30pm)

December 18th- Fun Lunch- Potbelly

December 19th- 1 Hour Early Dismissal

December 20th- Classroom Holiday Parties @ 1:30pm

December 20th- 1 Hour Early Dismissal

DECEMBER 23th- JANUARY 3rd

School Resumes January 6th

Parking Lot Safety
Please continue to review the parking lot procedures found HERE to ensure a safe arrival and dismissal for all students and staff.  

Winter Gear 
Please know that all students will go outside for their daily lunchtime recess when the wind chill is above 5 degrees. It is important to dress your children for the weather. Warm coats, hats, gloves, and boots, labeled with your child's name, are recommended. Boots and snow pants are required if your child wants to play in the snow. 

Holiday Parties
Thank you to all of our party volunteers. Parents who have signed up to volunteer are welcome to arrive at 1:20pm to set up. Students will be participating in a school-wide holiday sing-a-long in the gym, prior to returning to classrooms at 1:30pm. 

Please remember only parents who have signed up to volunteer, in advance, are permitted to attend classroom parties. If volunteering, be sure to park in a designated spot, rather than along the parent pickup lane. Additionally, per the elementary handbook, younger siblings are not permitted to attend classroom parties. 

Thank You KST PTN!
Thank you from the entire John Stewart staff for the delicious dinner provided during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Your thoughtfulness and generosity are greatly appreciated! 

5 Essentials Survey Parent Survey
The State of Illinois is once again providing a feedback opportunity through the 5 Essentials survey. This survey consists of 3 aspects- a parent survey, a student survey, and a staff survey. The parent survey link is available now and can be accessed HERE. All 4th and 5th-grade students will be taking the survey in their computer class, once the student link is released. Staff will be completing their survey during one of their morning collaboration times. We appreciate your time in completing the survey on behalf of Kaneland John Stewart Elementary School.

                                               A Special Thanks From our LRC! 

November News

                                                                       

Important Upcoming Dates

November 6th- Fun Lunch- Burger King

                             Parent-Teacher Conferences 4-8pm

November 7th- No School for Students

                             Parent-Teacher Conferences 10am- 8pm

November 8th- No School

November 12th- Flag Raising Ceremony in honor of Veteran's Day- 8:55am- 9:15am

                              PTN Meeting- 6:30pm

November 15th- Report Cards Live at 4pm

November 20th- Fun Lunch- Reams

November 25th and 26th- No School- Teacher Institute Days

November 27th-29th- No School- Thanksgiving Break

A Message from the Exploratory Team
Similar to last year, the Exploratory Team is providing time on Friday, November 22nd, when students can choose which Exploratory class they would like to attend, rather than following their regular schedule. This is an incentive for those students who have exhibited a strength in following school and Exploratory class expectations. Any student who has received fewer than 3 Behavior Documentation Forms or fewer than 6 individual, negative Dojo points between October 1st and November 15th will be given the choice of Exploratory class for the day. Students not eligible for the choice will participate in a lesson focused on re-teaching of expectations. This information was reviewed with all students earlier this month. We look forward to celebrating student effort!

We're Hiring!
The district currently has several non-certified positions available. If you interest in joining the Kaneland CUSD #302 family, please take a look at our vacancy page HERE.

Parking Lot Safety
We continue to receive concerns regarding the lack of adherence to our parking lot procedures during student arrival and dismissal. These procedures are in place to keep students, staff, parents and younger siblings safe. Current support you could provide that would be of great help to us include not exiting your car if you are in the parent drop-off/pick-up line, refraining from making 3 point turns on Prairie Valley in front of the school while buses and cars are attempting to enter and/or leave the lots and not driving around other cars in the lot when attempting to expedite your own departure. All of these behaviors have a negative impact on the collective need to dismiss our students safely. Our dismissal begins at 3:25pm. Both of our parking lots are typically empty by 3:35ish, making most delays due to the volume of cars and buses, relatively short. We ask that all parents continue to review the parking lot procedures found HERE.  

Winter Gear 
Please know that students will go outside for their daily lunchtime recess when the wind chill is above 5 degrees. It is important to dress your children for the weather, particularly with this early dose of winter we're receiving. Coats, hats, gloves and boots are recommended.  Boots and snow pants are required if your child wants to play in the snow.  Also, remember to put your child's name in their items. Our lost and found becomes full of plain black snow pants very quickly!! 

Lunchroom Reminder
Please be sure to pack a spoon/fork in your child's lunch. We do not have utensils available in the lunchroom. 

Recommended Reading from Mrs. Zulkowski, RtI Reading Interventionist

Why Some People Become Lifelong Readers

Scholastic Book Fair
Each year during Parent-Teacher Conferences, we transform our library into the Scholastic Book Fair. Throughout the past week, students have visited the library with their class where they watched a video preview about the book fair. November 1st-6th, students will be able to preview the books and make Wish Lists during their homeroom library time. The Book Fair will be open for parents to purchase books during Parent-Teacher Conferences. 
Book Fair Flyer

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Conferences will take place on Wednesday, November 6th from 4:00pm to 8:00 pm and Thursday, November 7th from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. There is no school on Thursday, November 7th or Friday, November 8th. Conference sessions are 20 minutes in length. Please be sure to arrive promptly to help our teachers stay on schedule. With the change from quarterly to trimester reporting terms, report cards will not be distributed prior to conferences, as in years past. Report Cards will be available through Tyler on November 15th. The focus of the parent-teacher conference is to discuss goals for your child to work towards throughout the school year. Thank you in advance for your participation in parent-teacher conferences.  Most parents find this opportunity a great way to jump-start their holiday shopping while supporting the school. The profits from the Book Fair go right back into the LRC through the purchase of additional books and other items. 

Veteran's Day
Our annual Veteran's Day Flag Raising Ceremony will take place this year on Tuesday, November 12th at 8:50am. We are hoping to support our Veterans by not over-booking them for multiple ceremonies across town in one day. Families are welcome to join us at the flag pole for the ceremony. We plan to begin just before 9am and end around 9:20am. 

Student Illness
As the winter weather appears, we are experiencing an increase in student illness. Please remember that students must be fever free for 24 hours prior to returning to school after an illness. We are working to insure that all classrooms are thoroughly cleaned each night and that students are being diligent in washing their hands. 

October News

Principal's Message~ 
As we head into October, we are nearing the completion of all of our fall safety drills. Our recent fire drill was deemed one of the most successful we've ever had. Our students exited the building in record time and did so very quietly. Representatives from the Fire Department were quite impressed with the student's performance. Our tornado drill training was, unfortunately, tested during a real tornado warning being issued seconds before buses were set to depart. Our students demonstrated exemplary behavior as they were ushered off buses and back into the safety of the building. They remained calm and safe, were creative in how to use their time while waiting and followed all staff directions. Bus evacuation drills were completed last week with similar levels of responsibility on the part of the students. An intruder drill is scheduled for October 22nd. You should have received a letter from the district regarding the ALICE philosophy we will be expanding into our elementary schools this year. A copy of the letter can be found here: Alice Parent Letter.pdf  Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about any of our safety drills. 

In regards to student safety, there are several things you can do to support our efforts. Adhering to student arrival and drop-off procedures in and around the parking lots is immensely helpful. Small things like using your turn signal, avoiding turning left into the lot, crossing only at the designated cross-walks and having your child exit your vehicle on the curbside only model safe school behaviors to children and reinforces our overall safety messages. A complete copy of arrival and dismissal procedures can be found HERE. Below you will read about procedures to ensure a positive Halloween celebration. Your understanding and adherence to these expectations is greatly appreciated. Safety protocols are rarely convenient, but worth their weight in gold. It truly takes a village and we are so very grateful for ours!

                                                                                                        ~Laura Garland, Principal

                                                                                           
               

Important Upcoming Dates

• October 2nd- Walk to School Day
• October 7th- Homecoming Assembly
• October 7th- 11th Sprit Week
• October 8th- K-2 Fire Prevention Assembly
• October 9th- Fun Lunch- Potbellys
• October 10th- Dusti Bowling Author Visit at Harter Middle School -7pm                                                        *Open to All Kaneland Families*
• October 11th- Kaneland High School Homecoming Football Game - 7pm
• October 14th- No School - Columbus Day
• October 15th- PTN Meeting at 6:30pm
• October 16th- Picture Re-Takes
• October 16th- 4th Grade Field Trip
• October 16th- Board of Education Meeting- 7pm- Harter Middle School
• October 18th and 19th- PTN Fall Clothing Sale
• October 22nd- ALICE- Intruder Drill
• October 23rd- Fun Lunch- Paisanos
• October 24th- PTN Kindergarten and 1st Grade Spaghetti Dinner
• October 25th- PTN Family Movie Night
• October 28th- Board of Education Meeting- 7pm- Harter Middle School
• October 31st- Halloween Parties 2:30pm                                                                                                               Halloween Parade 3:10pm

Spirit Week- October 7th-11th

Please feel free to participate in whichever of our upcoming spirit days that you'd like. 

Monday- Sports Day
Tuesday- Class Color Day
                  K: Purple
                  1st: Red
                  2nd: Orange
                  3rd: Yellow
                  4th: Green
                   5th: Blue
Wednesday- Hat and Sunglass Day
Thursday- Crazy Hair Day 
Friday- Knights Spirit Wear

Transportation
Busing
Should you have any questions or concerns related to busing, please be sure to contact the transportation department at 630-365-5111 x71145. The school office closes at 4:00pm and we are not always available in situations involving a late bus. The transportation department remains staffed until the last bus returns and will be your best bet for addressing bus needs after hours.

Car Riders
Please be sure car riders are exiting card from the sidewalk side only. Please do not allow your child to exit your vehicle on the parking lot side due to the amount of traffic moving throughout the lot. Also, drivers, please remember that cars are prohibited from turning left off of Prairie Valley into our lot during arrival and dismissal and cell phone use is prohibited. We have asked the Elburn PD to increase monitoring of this area. Finally, be sure to use your turn signal if you are planning to turn right into the lot. Anticipating what driver's plan to do is challenging for our crossing guards if turn signals are not used.

IAR Assessments (Illinois Assessment of Readiness)
Current 4th and 5th-grade students took this assessment last spring. Score reports have arrived in the district and will be distributed to students via backpacks on Friday, October 4th. Please be on the lookout for this information. 

Halloween Celebrations
Celebrating holidays and events at school are fun times to create wonderful memories. Over the years, we have learned the importance of having clear protocols in place to ensure events remain safe and enjoyable for all involved. While we try to remain as flexible and open as possible, the following "rules" have proven to be essential in maintaining positive celebrations. Please be sure to review the following: 

• Costumes- Our students are allowed to wear costumes to school, provided they are appropriate for the school environment. We have a responsibility in an elementary school, with young children, to make sure all students feel safe at all times, therefore weapons, gore, blood, etc. are prohibited. The staff will use their professional judgment to determine if an element of a costume or a costume itself creates a negative impact to the learning environment for any student, at any grade level within the school. If a costume is deemed inappropriate, the child will be asked to remove it. Masks will be allowed during the parade only, provided the child has a clear line of vision while wearing the mask. 
• Parties- All classrooms will have a Halloween party from 2:30-3:00pm. Only those parents signed up in advance, through the Homeroom Coordinator, are permitted in the classrooms during parties. Parents volunteering within the classroom are prohibited from bringing younger siblings along. While we understand the inconvenience they may create, being able to direct one's full attention to students when in the classroom is essential. The district policy on not providing food to students applies during parties as well. Please do not send in food to be distributed to your child's classroom, as it breaks our hearts to have to ask the student to bring their treats back home when they've become so excited to distribute them.   
• Parade-  Our Halloween parade takes place at approximately 3:10ish. As parties wrap up, students will begin to line up in their costumes in preparation for the annual parade. Parents are encouraged to line the front walkway and around the flagpole to watch as each classroom parades out the door on the front, east side of the building, down the sidewalk, around the flagpole and back into the building through the door on the front, west end of the building. 
• Student Pick-Up- Please, please be sure to send your child to school with a note if their end of day transportation plans will be altered from their normal routine, for example, a parent will be taking them home vs. the student riding their regular bus route. Parents picking up students at the end fo the day should wait by the flagpole for their student to be dismissed, rather than entering the building. All pick-up rules apply on holidays, particularly not entering the front lot while buses are present, and crossing Prairie Valley only at the crosswalk. 

Now after all that......Let's have a safe, fun and happy Haloween! :)

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Conferences will take place on Wednesday, November 6th from 4-8pm and Thursday, November 7th from 10am-8pm. THERE IS NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7th or FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8th. 

Dusti Bowling Author Visit
Join us at Harter Middle School on October 10th at 7pm for an evening with Bluestem and Caudill award-nominated author Dusti Bowling! You’re invited to join us for a 60-minute presentation where Dusti speaks a little about herself and her lifelong love of reading. Writing tips will be shared with the students and she’ll also discuss her path to becoming a published author while recommending her favorite middle-grade books—both current and classic. More information can be found HERE. 

Pay it Forward~ Kaneland Community Read

https://kanelandpayitforward.blogspot.com/ 

This blog is dedicated to a community-wide sharing of the book Pay It Forward.  Throughout the school year, Kaneland Staff from across the district will be posting videos and updates on this blog sharing their thoughts, ideas, connections to the community. Families are also encouraged to also post comments and videos sharing the impact of the book and how they have chosen to Pay It Forward. To begin your family's journey, start by reading pages 1-26 and watch our first video.  We are excited to work together on our community read! 

September News

Principal's Message~ 
With the school year well underway, students have participated in fall expectation walks, completed benchmark assessments and are becoming more familiar with their daily routines and procedures. These initial weeks of school are dedicated to building positive relationships with teachers and peers. All students have been participating in daily social-emotional learning lessons led by their homeroom teacher, along with an additional adult staff member from either our Exploratory, Response to Intervention or Special Education teams. Our  School Social Worker and School Psychologist have also led specific lessons based on the STOP-WALK-TALK strategy designed to promote self-advocacy in situations where students feed bullied, annoyed or offended.  

Our desire to build strong, trusting and positive relationships extends to the families of our students as well. Every adult in the school chooses to be here each day. Every adult at KST cares deeply about your child(ren) and his/her success. We encourage positive dialogue, open communication and productive problem-solving throughout the year. It is the combined efforts of teachers and parents that yields the greatest academic and social-emotional growth. 

I look forward to the year ahead and the wonderful memories we're sure to make!
                                                                                                           
                                                                                                  ~Laura Garland, Principal
                                                                              


Important Dates

• September 2nd, No School, Labor Day
• September 3rd, PTN Charleston Fundraiser Begins
• September 4th, Tornado Drill
• September 6th, Practice Fire Drill (no fire department participation)
• September 9th, Board of Education Meeting, 7pm, Harter Middle School
• September 11th, Fun Lunch
• September 11th, 5th-Grade Outdoor Education
• September 16th, PTN Charleston Fundraiser Ends
• September 17th, First PTN Meeting, 6:30pm at John Stewart
• September 20th, PTN Run for Fund
• September 24th, Fire Drill with Fire Department
• September 25th, Fun Lunch
• September 27th, 5th-Grade Outdoor Education
• September 30th, Board of Education Meeting, 7pm, Harter Middle School

Visitors

When visiting John Stewart during school hours, ring the bell located to the right of the main doors to gain entrance. Once inside the office, you will be asked for your driver's license, which will be scanned through our RaptorWear system. You will be provided with a visitor badge that must be worn while in the building. Even if you have been entered into our system in previous years, we will need to re-scan your license this year. Please remember to bring your driver's license when visiting school!!

**If you bring your child to school after 8:50am, be sure to walk him/her into the building. The exterior doors will automatically lock at 8:50am and visitors will need to ring the bell to gain entry.  Young children may be unaware of how to access the building if they are sent in alone after 8:50am. Parents are also required to sign their student in at the main office if they arrive after 8:50am. 

Recess Reminders

• A variety of outdoor games and equipment is provided for students. Please do not bring additional items from home.
• Completing twists and flips on the bars is a popular recess activity. Parents may want to consider having girls wear shorts under skirts and dresses. 
• Open-toes shoes are prohibited at recess
• Stop-Walk-Talk is emphasized as a way to manage peer relationships. If your child is reporting difficulty with a peer, remind him/her to ask the peer to stop, walk away, and if necessary talk to a monitor. Please reiterate the Stop-Walk-Talk language at home as a way for your child to advocate for his/her own needs and as a way to be aware of the needs of others. 

Transportation Reminders

• Be sure to send a note to school with your child detailing any changes to his/her normal transportation routine.
• If your child is going home with a friend, a note is required from both families.
• A parent or other adult must meet kindergarteners at their bus stop. 

i-Ready Testing
i‑Ready is an online learning program which connects rich assessment data to personalized digital learning and powerful classroom instruction. With i‑Ready, teachers can sharpen their insight into student needs with actionable data and access rigorous, yet engaging instruction to help each student succeed. Students in grades 2-5 will complete their diagnostic testing in reading and math between Tuesday, 9/3- Friday, 9/6.

As with any testing, please make sure your child receives:

• a good night's sleep
• a healthy, nutritious breakfast
• arrives at school on time

Pay it Forward~ Kaneland Community Read

https://kanelandpayitforward.blogspot.com/ 

This blog is dedicated to a community-wide sharing of the book Pay It Forward.  Throughout the school year, Kaneland Staff from across the district will be posting videos and updates on this blog sharing their thoughts, ideas, connections to the community. Families are also encouraged to also post comments and videos sharing the impact of the book and how they have chosen to Pay It Forward. To begin your family's journey, start by reading pages 1-26 and watch our first video.  We are excited to work together on our community read! 

Preschool Screening

Kaneland School District will hold the first of four annual Early Childhood Developmental Screeners in September. This event is fast approaching on September 13th, 2019. This process is free to all Kaneland community members and will allow parents to better understand their child's global development from ages infant-preschool. 

These screeners are set up by appointment only and take place at the Early Childhood Center for Kaneland students located in Blackberry Creek Elementary School. The team will include a preschool teacher, speech and language pathologist, occupational therapist and physical therapist.

Both morning and afternoon appointments are available. If a family is interested in scheduling a screening or has additional questions, please call 630-365-4118. All families are required to provide proof of residency and a valid ID at the time of the screening.

Preschool Screening Information

Welcome Back!

Principal's Message~ 

We are eagerly anticipating the return of energy, laughter and excitement to our building. It gets pretty quiet around here without students and staff. While the custodial and maintenance crews are wonderful, there is nothing like the sound of enthusiastic students and staff filling the halls! 

We have been working hard throughout the short summer to prepare for the upcoming year. As you'll see below, we have been interviewing extensively and are thrilled with the results. We have hired some top-notch staff members who can't wait to meet you! The KST faculty as a whole is a hard-working dedicated group of professionals committed to providing our students with a quality education. They have spent the last several weeks preparing learning environments, collaborating on curriculum and instructional strategies and engaging in planning to ensure the first days of school are as perfect as possible. The excitement and promise of a new year is upon us! 

A few upcoming community events that you will want to be aware of are the K-5 Curriculum Night/ Supply Drop-Off and the first-ever Taste of Kaneland. Additional information can be found by clicking on each link.  

Please keep the lines of communication open throughout the school year. Your interest and support show your child that their education is important. As a staff, we are here to celebrate, problem-solve, discuss, listen and reflect alongside you and your child. As parents, you are key team members in building a memorable and meaningful school year. Your involvement is greatly appreciated and respected. 

We look forward to seeing everyone soon~

Laura Garland

Welcome New Staff

We are pleased to welcome the following new staff members to Kaneland John Stewart Elementary School: 

Mrs. Tracy Read, Half-Day Kindergarten (PM) Teacher

Ms. Paige Nachreiner, 1st-Grade Teacher 

Mrs. Kaitlyn ImHof, 2nd-Grade Teacher

Mrs. Stacie Salzman, 4th-Grade ELA Teacher

Mr. Dan Rutter, 4th/5th-Grade STEM Teacher

Mrs. Taylor Knoepke, Special Education Teacher

Mrs. Kathryn Gabrielson, Social Worker

Mrs. Rachel Walker, Instructional Coach

Mrs. Kathy Kerry, Library Resource Center Assistant 

While not new to John Stewart, Mrs. Natalie Smith will take on a new role this year, moving from 1st-grade teacher to instructional coach. Mrs. Lori Doll will be moving from 4th-grade ELA to Extended Day Kindergarten and Mrs. Liz Orman will be moving from 2nd-grade to 1st grade.

K-5 Teams

Kindergarten: Mrs. Druwe (EDK), Mrs. Doll (EDK), Mrs. Tracy Read (PM)

1st Grade: Mrs. Liz Orman, Ms. Paige Nachreiner, Mrs. Karen Weigt

2nd Grade: Mrs. Kristi Purnell, Mrs. Ashley Sterkel, Mrs. Kaitlyn ImHof

3rd Grade: Mr. John Ahearn, Mrs. Teri Hartkopp, Ms. Chris Zollers

4th Grade Homeroom: Mrs. Terra Pyfer, Ms. Kellee Conquest, Mrs. Stacie Salzman

5th Grade Homeroom: Mrs. Sharon Dillon, Mr. Rob Williams, Mr. Dan Rutter

Crossing Guard Needed

We are in great need of a crossing guard for the upcoming school year. We can also always use substitute recess and lunch monitors. If you or anyone you know is interested in either position, please contact me at 10166@kaneland.org

Important Dates

• August 12th, 4:00-6:00 pm, K-5 Curriculum Night
• August 14th, First Day of School
• August 25th Taste of Kaneland
• August 26th, Board of Education Meeting, 7pm, Harter Middle School
• August 29th, Fall Picture Day
• September 2nd, No School, Labor Day
• September 3rd, PTN Charleston Fundraiser Begins
• September 9th, Board of Education Meeting, 7pm, Harter Middle School
• September 11th, Fun Lunch
• September 12th and 13th, 5th-Grade Outdoor Education
• September 16th, PTN Charleston Fundraiser Ends
• September 17th, First PTN Meeting, 6:30pm at John Stewart
• September 20th, PTN Run for Fund
• September 25th, Fun Lunch
• September 30th, Board of Education Meeting, 7pm, Harter Middle School

First Day of School Information

• August 14, 2019!
• This is a full day of attendance
• Busses typically run a bit late, as routes and routines are established
• Kindergarten and 1st-grade teachers will meet their students outside by the flagpole. They will be holding color-coded signs, with their name of them. The color of your child's transportation tag (you will receive this at Curriculum Night/Supply Drop-Off on 8/12) will align with the color of the teacher's sign. 
• 2nd-5th-grade students will line up at their designated door (see below). Their teachers will greet students in their classrooms. 
• There will be extra staff on hand during the first few days of arrival and dismissal to assist students. 

Student Entrance/Dismissal
To ease congestion and increase safety, students enter and exit our building through various doors, assigned by grade level. The assignments are the same as last year. 

• Kindergarten and 1st Grade: Door #1/Front Main Entrance
• 2nd/4th Grade: Door #2 / Front of building/ east end of the building
• 3rd/5th Grade: Door #12 /Front of building/ west end of the building

Parking Lot Procedures
All parents dropping off or picking up their child(ren) should use the west parking lot only. The main lot is reserved for buses during arrival and dismissal times. No cars should enter the main lot during arrival and dismissal. 

We kindly ask for your patience and compassion toward the staff members working to keep our parking lot safe for everyone during student arrival and dismissal. We recognize pulling all the way forward or waiting a few moments to pull away after picking up your child is not always convenient, but these simple actions support the greater goal of student safety. Please remember, the professional training and experience of the staff on "parking lot duty" is in the education field, not traffic control. They do their best each day and greatly appreciate positive feedback and demonstrations of grace. The hecticness of the parking lot during student arrival and dismissal is a perfect place to model kindness for our children. 


Parent-Teacher Network (KST-PTN)
The KST PTN is a wonderful group of dedicated parents, administrators, students and  teachers, working to enhance the educational environment by fostering a sense of support, pride, and enthusiasm through cooperative efforts. All parents and staff are automatically members.; no need to officially join :) The KST-PTN meets monthly and welcomes all teachers and parents to attend, share ideas and hear about what is being planned for the upcoming school year. Mark your calendar for our first meeting on September 17th.

Virtual Backpack

Be sure to check this wonderful resource for school, district and community information, as well as extra-curricular opportunities for students. Paper flyers are not sent home via student backpacks, so it is crucial to check the Virtual Backpack regularly. The backpack can be accessed via our school or district website, by clicking the link at the top of this page, or by clicking here

Student Handbook

Be sure to review the Kaneland Elementary Student Handbook for the most updated policies and procedures related to the elementary level. Handbook information includes topics such as student attendance, birthday celebrations, recess/lunch guidelines, among many others. The handbook can be accessed via the school or district website, by clicking the link at the top of this page, or by clicking here

Supply Lists

Supply lists can be accessed via our school or district website or by clicking here.

School Start and End Times

School begins at 8:50 am. Students arriving after 8:50 am are considered tardy and will need to stop in the office for a tardy slip. Doors open for students at 8:40 am and supervision of students waiting to enter school, begins at 8:35am. Please be sure to sign your student into school, in the main office, if he/she is arriving after 8:50am.

At the end of the day, walkers are dismissed at 3:25 pm and bus riders are dismissed at 3:30pm

1:1 Technology - Grades 4 and 5

The complete 1:1 handbook can be found HERE. Pages 14-16 need to be completed and returned to the school office before your student can bring his/her device home. 

2019-20 Grade Level Musical Performances

Given that several of our grade level musical performances take place during the school day, we understand it may require some additional planning on the part of families to attend. Therefore, we wanted to share the dates with you as early as possible. Please see each grade level's 2019-20 performance dates.

Kindergarten- February 7, 2020, at 2:45 pm
1st-Grade- December 13, 2019, at 2:45 pm
2nd-Grade- May 8, 2020, at 2:45 pm
3rd-Grade- April 16, 2020at 5:30 pm (just prior to Open House, which is from 6-8pm)
4th-Grade- May 1,2020 at 2:45 pm
5th-Grade- District-wide 5th-Grade Choral Festival April 14, 2020, at 
                      Kaneland High School at 7:00pm. 

2019-20 Holiday Parties
At Kaneland John Stewart, we celebrate Halloween, Winter, and Valentine's Day with classroom parties. Parent volunteers and the PTN do an amazing job planning fun celebrations within each classroom. 

This year our celebrations will take place on the following dates:
Halloween Party~  Thursday, October 31st at 2:30 pm- Costume Parade at 3:00 pm
Winter Party~Friday, December 20th at 1:30 pm (This is a 1-hour early dismissal day)
Valentine's Party ~ Thursday, February 13th at 9:30 am (There is no school on 2/14)

We are experimenting with the time for the Valentine's Day party this year, having it in the morning, rather than the afternoon. We are curious to see if morning party time alleviates the parking and traffic congestion that is typical with end of the day parties. We'll see how it goes!

End of the Year Information

Principal's Message~ 
In raising children, we often hear "the days are long, but the years are short". The is very applicable to education. We find ourselves, yet again, at the end of a school year that has just flown by! This year has been full of celebrations including several staff members receiving grant funding to purchase flexible seating, web-based instructional tools, and a Lego Wall, students demonstrating leadership and self-advocacy skills, the incorporation of weekly social-emotional learning lessons for all students, the approval of 1-1 technology at the 4th-12th-grade levels, the incorporation of customized learning pathways and a continuum of learning in math at the 1st-3rd grade levels, surviving a full instructional day with no power, a multitude of fun-filled PTN events, and recognizing our own Mrs. Purnell as Kane County's Elementary Educator of the Year! The planning for next year has already begun. We are sure to find ourselves in this same spot one year from now, surprised at how fast time flies and celebrating the accomplishments of our students and staff. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe and fun summer! 
                                                                                                                       ~Laura Garland
                                                                                                                        Principal


Important Dates 
May 21st- McCare Night 5-8pm
May 27th- Memorial Day Holiday- No School
June 4th- One Hour Early Dismissal
June 5th- Last Day of School
                 - Field Day
                 - Free Fun Lunch
                 - One Hour Early Dismissal
                 - 5th Grade Clap-Out

Field Day
Field Day will be held on the last day of school, Wednesday, June 5th. Please remember that this is a 1 hour early dismissal day, with students being dismissed at 2:30pm. Please be sure to send your student dressed for the weather, including wearing shoes with a back, and with a water bottle. Sunscreen should be applied at home as staff may not apply sunscreen to students. 

Free Fun Lunch- DEADLINE to order is TOMORROW, May 21st!!
Thank you to the John Stewart PTN for providing a free Hot Dog Fun Lunch for all 1st-5th and Extended Day Kindergarten students. The lunch will be provided on the last day of school during Field Day. To have your child receive the lunch, a parent or guardian MUST give permission by registering HERE.

Clap-Out
Our annual 5th Grade Clap Out will take place on the last day of school, Wednesday, June 5th, at 2:15pm. Students in grades k-4 will line the hallways, cheering and clapping, as our 5th graders parade through the halls for the last time. The 5th-grade parade will continue outside, along the front sidewalk. All parents are welcome to line the walkway outside and continue the cheering and clapping. Parents of 5th graders may want to bring a tissue!  

Thanks to Midwest Ground Cover and the Cub Scouts
If you have enjoyed the addition of the beautiful flowers at our front entrance, be sure to thank Midwest Ground Cover for their generous donation. They provided all the plants, fresh soil and some very helpful plant knowledge!  An additional thanks to Mrs. Bagnasco and her Cub Scout troop for their grounds beautification efforts! 

Happy Retirement 
The end of the school year will find Mrs. Palpant, Mrs. Straughn and Mrs. Smykowski heading into retirement. Each of these women has made significant contributions to our school community and will be missed. We wish them the best in their next chapter. 

Taste of Kaneland
Save the Date~ The first Taste of Kaneland event will be held on August 25, 2019 from 3:00-7:00 pm at Kaneland High School. The celebration will include food, games and student performances. A flyer for the event can be found HERE.

April News

Principal's Message~ 
Welcome Back! In talking with students today, it was great to hear of all the adventures that took place last week. Camping trips, road trips, the first time in an airplane, watching turtles hatch on the beach...the stories have been amazing! I imagine the memories will last a lifetime. The students were definitely less impressed to hear about my exciting week of mid-day Costco trips and folding laundry! 

As we move into April, we are looking forward to welcoming everyone to our Open House and showcasing the learning taking place throughout the building. We are also beginning to plan for next school year. If you have not already registered an incoming kindergartener, please contact the school office at 630-365-8170. We are hoping to get as accurate of a student count as possible to help determine the number of kindergarten sections we will run. 

I hope everyone is able to get out and enjoy the nicer weather that is supposed to be right around the corner! Please remember the afternoons can still be chilly. Students do go outside daily for 20 minutes of recess, so please be sure your child is dressed for the weather. 

I look forward to seeing everyone on the 11th!
                                                                                                                       ~Laura Garland
                                                                                                                        Principal

Important Dates & Information
April 3rd- Fun Lunch-Paisanos
April 5th- Daddy Daughter Dance 6-8pm
April 7th- Kaneland Arts Initiative Festival at Kaneland High School
April 11th- 3rd Grade Performance 5:30pm
April 11th- Open House 6pm
April 15th- 5th Grade Choral Festival at Kaneland High School 7pm
April 16th- PTN Meeting 6:30pm
April 17th- Fun Lunch- Ambrogi's
April 19th- No School
April 23rd- Erin's Law Parent Presentation at Harter Middle School 7pm
April 24th- Secretary and Monitor Appreciation Day
April 26th- PTN Mother/Son Event
April 30th- One to One Technology Parent Meeting at Harter Middle School 6:30pm


Open House

Please Join Us Thursday, April 11, 2019

From 6:00 - 8pm

During this evening, bring your family and let your student(s) lead you through the school. They will showcase

• Learner Profiles - how they self-reflect on how they learn best
• I Can Statements - targets of learning in the various content areas
• Learning Environment - Then vs. Now - school has changed a great deal since we were kids...see the school day through your child's eyes

Don't forget about our Book Fair - it is a great and easy way to support our library by purchasing books from our book fair.

3rd Grade Performance 

Please join us in the Gym at 5:30 pm on Thursday, April 11th, 2019, just prior to Open House for a special concert by our 3rd graders!

*Please have your 3rd grader in the multi-purpose room at 5:15 PM.  Please be sure to arrive on time, so that your child may participate.  Students will check-in with their teacher and line up in concert order.  Parents will proceed to the gym to find their seats. Our 3rd-grade classrooms will be closed at this time.

*The concert begins promptly at 5:30 PM.  

* Please be sure your child is dressed nicely for the concert, but nothing too fancy. (It helps to make the pictures and video extra special.)   Please, No hats!  

  

*Immediately following the concert, the 3rd-grade teachers will walk their students back to the classroom & parents will follow AFTER all 3rd-grade students have exited the concert.  This will ensure a safe dismissal.

*All third-grade classrooms will close at 7:15 PM, so be sure to visit your third grader's classroom first before going to other siblings’ classrooms.

Yearbook
If you would like to place your order directly through the school please complete
this form and return it to the main office NO later than April 10th, 2019. Yearbook Order Form
Any order forms received after April 10th, 2017 will not be processed and will be returned to your student. You will still be able to order a yearbook online using the website any time after April 10th, however, you will be charged an $8.99 shipping fee for direct shipping to your house. All yearbook orders received by April 10th will be distributed at school in May.

Now Hiring
Kaneland school district is looking to add nurses to our sub-pool. If you would be interested in serving as a substitute nurse in one of our schools, please click this link to fill out the online application for substitute nurse.  Thank you for your consideration!

Illinois Science Assessment

All fifth- and eighth-graders and some high school students will begin taking the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) March 1. 5th-grade students at Kaneland John Stewart will take this assessment on April 4, 2019. The ISA aligns with our new Illinois Learning Standards in science. This assessment helps families understand how well students are performing academically and see whether they are on track to succeed in college. The ISA represents Illinois’ commitment to preparing all students for college and careers, including in the high-demand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The assessment also satisfies federal accountability requirements.

The ISA is designed to reflect classroom experiences. Many students who took the assessment last year said the ISA seemed more like an instruction than a test. Students do not simply select an answer and fill in the bubble of a multiple-choice test. Rather, the ISA pushes students to apply their knowledge when they give answers, thus better preparing them for higher education and a career. All students deserve the opportunity to demonstrate what they know; they get to see how knowledge is applied to real-life situations.

The ISA is an hour-long summative assessment. The results provide administrators with important data to help them make broad curriculum decisions at the school and district levels. But classroom educators will not use the results to make teaching adjustments year-to-year for individual students.

We encourage you to talk with your children about the importance of doing their best on the ISA while communicating that the assessment yields only one piece of information about them and their school’s progress. Students’ attendance, classroom work, homework, projects, performance on local tests, participation in sports and extracurricular activities, and contributions to the school’s climate and culture all help them grow and learn.

We all work together to ensure Illinois students build a cohesive understanding of science over time. Thank you for your role in developing lifelong learners and successful citizens.

Erin's Law
“Erin’s Law” requires that all public schools in each state implement a prevention-oriented

child sexual abuse program. A parent meeting regarding Erin's Law presentations for 1st and 4th grade families will be held on Tuesday, April 23rd  at Harter Middle School at 7pm. Additional Information regarding how Kaneland CUSD #302 meets Erin's Law requirement can be found here: Erin's Law Parent Presentation     Erin's Law Parent Letter

One to One Technology Parent Meetings
All parents are invited and welcomed to attend the 1:1 learning implementation parent meeting. We are excited to begin the process of rolling out Chromebook for each 4th-12th-grade student beginning next year. At this parent meeting, the team will share the purpose, process and key parent signature pages that must be completed. Please be sure to attend one of the following meetings:

April 22nd at 6:30pm in the Middle School Cafeteria- Middle School focus 
April 23rd at 6:30pm in the Kaneland High School Cafeteria- High School focus
April 30th at 6:30pm in the Middle School Cafeteria- 4th and 5th-grade focus

Please bring your questions to the session.  Students are also encouraged to attend this meeting to hear the process and responsibility.  We look forward to a great session!

Exploratory Choice Day

The exploratory team is once again providing an exciting opportunity for all students to earn an exploratory "Free-Choice" day on Friday, May 17, 2019. This means each individual student will have the chance to spend their exploratory time in whichever exploratory classroom they choose as their most favorite (Art, Music, PE, Computer, Critical Thinking). In order to maintain eligibility for this event, students will be expected to follow the school-wide expectations, receiving no more than 2 behavior documentation forms from any teacher between Monday, March 11th through Thursday, May16th. Between the school-wide expectation walks students engage in three times per year, daily expectation reminders from teachers and peers, as well as your support at home, we expect high levels of student participation in this event. Should any students not meet the expectation, an alternate activity will be planned during their exploratory time.