September Newsletter

Greetings John Stewart Families, 

We have had a wonderful start to our school year and the students have transitioned back into the school routine nicely.  We have begun assessing each student to see where their skills currently are and will then collaboratively work to continue to support each child's areas of strengths and areas of growth.  We have been focusing on our SEL curriculum through our Second Step program and establishing behavior expectations school-wide through our CHAMPS program.  Each part of their day can be "CHAMPed Out" to set the expectations. 

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As we begin the 2022-2023 school year, we are excited to continue our ongoing strategic plan work with Kaneland Connects.   The five commitments that comprise Kaneland Connects are:

• Standards-Based Grading (SBG)

• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

• Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

• Proficiency-Based Progress (PBP)

• 1:1 Learning

This multi-year strategic plan includes target goals, objectives, and regular updates for each commitment for each school year.  Please take a few minutes to learn more about Kaneland Connects at Kaneland Connects.  Please take a minute to check out last year's Todd Talks where Kaneland Superintendent Dr. Todd Leden shares a monthly update on the strategic plan with guest administrators in a video format.  District administrators plan regular updates to the Board of Education as well as regular updates in the Kaneland Key Communicators Network (KCN).

Have a great school year and be sure to stay “connected” to our Kaneland Schools through Kaneland Connects.

Proud to be a Knight, Mrs. Aversa, Mrs. Tucker, and the Kaneland District Administration

Important Dates

September

5 No School - Labor Day

7 Picture Day

9 Fun Lunch Orders Due 

12-16 Homecoming Week

21 Fun Lunch - Reams Hot Dogs

30 Run for Fund

October

5 Fun Lunch - Paisano’s Pasta

7 PTN Movie Night/Food Truck Event

TBD Walk to School Day  

19 Fun Lunch - Taco Bell

31 Halloween Party

Fun Lunch Sign-Up 

Here is the link. Make sure to sign up by Sep. 9th, NO late orders will be taken.

Charleston Wrap PTN Fundraiser

Please be on the lookout for more information regarding the Charleston Wrap Fundraiser from September 14 - October 3

Homecoming Week

Family Movie Night w/Food Trucks

Mark your calendars for a fun family night on Friday, October 7th! We will be showing a movie outdoors (weather permitting - indoors for inclement weather) and food trucks will be available. More information to come!!

Changing Weather 

As the weather begins to change, please dress your child in layers as it tends to be cooler in the morning than in the afternoon.  We like to take advantage of the nice weather and get outside as much as possible.  

Nurse Information

If you have any questions for the nurse, please reach out to our new nurse Ms.  Barb Scott - 30555@kaneland.org  /  (630) 365-8170 ext 73103

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Reminders

• If your child's transportation is going to be different for that day, please send them with a note so that their classroom teacher AND the front office can be notified. If an email is sent only to the teacher, the teacher may be out for the day and we, the office, might not receive your request. We also ask that you try not to change their transportation after 2:30pm unless it is an emergency. That way we can ensure everyone is where they need to be to get home.  
• Students should not be dropped off any earlier than 8:35 am, as there is no supervision. Teachers are in morning meetings until then.
• If you arrive later than 8:50, please bring your child to the front office to sign them in. 
• Please use your turn signal when entering and exiting the parking lot
• Please DO NOT use your cell phone while in the School Zone
• Please remember to not get out of your car if you are in the pickup line, please park in a parking spot if you need to leave your vehicle
• Thank you for using the parent wave zone as it provides our students with a safe area to enter and exit the building!

Welcome Back John Stewart Families!!

 

Mrs. Tucker and I are so excited to welcome everyone back to John Stewart for the 2022-23 school year.  We are really looking forward to a great school year full of learning, fun, and growth!!  We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our students can achieve their highest potential. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, our children need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities. 

This year at school, we will be focusing on growing students' advocacy skills, students will be able to identify the SMAR model for learning and examples of the stages, staff and students will increase their ability to co-construct feedback that leads to the next steps of their learning, staff will assess student work using proficiency tables, and staff will provide students with a variety of learning environments. We are also excited to implement MTSS (multi-tiered systems of support) to support the whole child, staff will model the use of long-term planning tools with students, and students will learn so much more through our strategic plan Kaneland Connects and everyday lessons and experiences. To keep up with your child's academics and what's happening in their classroom, please make sure to get connected on Canvas.   

With Appreciation, 

                Mrs. Samantha Aversa (Principal) and Mrs. Molly Tucker (Assistant Principal)

Scan the QR Code to Learn More About Kaneland Connects

Construction Update

On July 26th, we were contacted that the strike at the LaFarge Quarries ended and contractors are ready and able to get to work at John Stewart. The concrete for the sidewalks started to be poured this past weekend and the asphalt will be rescheduled for next year to be removed and laid.  If you need to visit the school, please call first to set up an appointment at (630) 365-8170.  Please send positive thoughts that everything stays on schedule!

Bell Schedule

• Bus students will enter as the busses arrive (approximately 8:40) and will wait at their assigned door until the bell rings.

• If walkers and drop-off students arrive at school before 8:40 they will wait outside their assigned door until a teacher comes to walk them in at the 8:40 bell.  

• Students should not arrive before 8:30 due to no supervision.

• Door 1:  K & 3rd

• Door 2:  1st & 2nd

• Door 12: 4th & 5th

• Students will be able to wait inside on days when the windchill Is 5 degrees or colder.

• If it is raining we will bring them in at 8:35am.

            FIRST BELL 8:40 A.M.
            TARDY BELL  8:50 A.M. - Parents/Guardians must bring their student(s) to the front office to check in if they are tardy

          

          AM Kindergarten Dismissal: 11:30 A.M.

• Student Dismissal

• 3:25 p.m. - Walkers & Pick-Ups

• 3:30 p.m. - Bussers

Absent Line/Transportation

If your child is unable to be at school, please call the absent line (630) 365-8170, Press 4

For transportation needs, please call (630) 365-5111 ext 71148

Ways to Stay Connected

Tyler - This program will allow you to check your child's teacher, bus information, home information, emergency contacts, etc.

Canvas  - This program will allow you to check on your child's academic work and communication from the teacher. The teacher will provide you with an email or document on how to get registered for their specific class. This resource will help parents navigate through Canvas - Canvas Information. 

Facebook & Twitter  - We will post pictures, videos, and helpful reminders. 

Kaneland.org - Stay up to date with what's going on in Kaneland through the main website.  You can pay your fees/milk at the webstore (shopping cart icon), you can look for a teacher's contact information through the staff directory, check the district and individual calendars, and much more! 

KST PTN Website - Stay connected to fun activities and volunteer opportunities at KST.  We are always looking for more parents to be involved to help run these special events. To learn more about the PTN, we would encourage you to attend a meeting that is held on Tuesdays at 6pm in the library at John Stewart.  Look for the meeting dates on the school's calendar at KST.Kaneland.org 

Sugar Grove Park District - The SGPD provides a before and after-school child care program called CARE. They also provide students with a variety of after-school activities. You do not need to be a Sugar Grove resident to participate in classes. 

Recess/Lunch Monitors

We are still in need of 3 monitors. PLEASE visit this link if you are interested in helping your school. 

School Calendar  

Please click HERE to view the 2022-23 Kaneland School Calendar

School Visitors

We love our school volunteers and visitors!! If you are interested in volunteering in your child's class or in the library, please contact that teacher or staff member. If you are a new volunteer or visitor, please bring your driver's license when checking into the front office to get scanned into our system. If you have already given us your driver's license and are in the system, please just check in at the front office to receive your visitor's badge.

Milk

You are able to prepay milk for the year or by each semester. This is available on the Kaneland Webstore. The last day to purchase milk on the Webstore will be August 17th. If you elect to pay for the entire school year, the fee is $42.00-1st sem., $42.00-2nd sem., Or $84.00-year

 

Your child can also bring 50 cents daily to purchase milk when they would like if you do not want to prepay milk for the semester.

Immunization and Health Records

We would encourage all incoming kindergarten students to have immunization records, health forms, dental forms, and eye exams submitted by the first day of school, August 17.

 

We would also encourage all incoming 2nd-grade students to have an updated dental form submitted by the first day of school.

Bus Routes and Teacher Assignments 

As you start school, your child's information for who their teacher is, what bus they ride and report card will go through a system called Tyler. Each parent has a log in to manage their child's information through Tyler.

Class assignments will be shared through Tyler on August 5th. 

All students who are eligible to take the bus will automatically be routed on one. We realize that families each have unique circumstances that may not require the need to take the school bus (daycare, preferences to drive, etc). If this is the case, we ask that you let the main office know that your child will not be taking the school bus.

EC-5th grade Supply List Information

Here is a link to the school supply lists. Please bring the supplies with you to your child's scheduled curriculum night - Kindergarten, August 11th / 1st grade - 5th grade, August 15th. If you can't make it to curriculum night, your student can bring their supplies on the first day of school, no problem! We will have extra staff members outside to help!

Parent Zone For Waving 

In the past, parents liked to walk their students to the main entrance of the building to send them off for the day. In order to maintain the safety of our students and staff, we are asking parents not to walk up to the entrance with their children. Please stop at the sidewalk and say your goodbyes there. Think of it like the “kiss and ride or fly zones” you would see at train stations and airports. 

Parking Lot Procedure

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. Please Click Here for a Map. When in the parent drop-off line please have students only exit the car on the right side by the sidewalk. Parents, please remain in your car. If you need to get out for any reason, please find a parking spot to assist your child(ren). The traffic should continue to move along.

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.

Building our Community with Elburn Police & Fire Departments

This summer, Mrs. Ward (Blackberry Creek Principal), myself, and members of the Elburn police and fire department met to discuss building our relationship with both elementary buildings and their departments. During the upcoming school year, you may see a police car, fire truck, or other vehicles from these departments at the school. Please know that this does not mean there is an emergency, but that they are just there to visit with the students and staff to build that community. If an emergency does arise and we need their services, an email will be sent to parents notifying them of that need for their support. During their visits they may be eating lunch with the kids, playing at recess with them, visiting classrooms, etc. We feel it is extremely important to develop these relationships with these departments and we wanted to give you a heads up about their increased presence at the building from time to time this year.

IL SalesTax Holiday

Please click here to learn about IL Sales Tax Holiday

KST Office Support

Main Phone Number (630) 365-8170

Samantha Aversa - Principal - 10017@kaneland.org - ext. 73105

Molly Tucker - Assistant Principal - 26726@kaneland.org - ext. 73109

Ashley Jaeger - Principal Secretary - 17969@kaneland.org - ext. 73102 (Payment Questions)

Jessica Bottorff - Secretary - 48265@kaneland.org - ext. 73101 (General Questions & Absences)

Important Dates

Thursday, August 11th - Kindergarten Supply Drop-Off Curriculum Night (5:00 - 6:00 pm) / New Student Self-Guided Building Tour (6:00 - 7:00 pm) 

Monday, August 15th - 1st - 5th Grade Supply Drop-Off (4:00-6:00)

Wednesday, August 17th - First Day of School (K-12th) - Full Day Attendance