Saturday, September 30, 2023

October Newsletter


Important Dates 
  • October 2 - Custodian Appreciation Day
  • October 2-6 - Homecoming Spirit Week - see info below
  • October 4 - Homecoming Parade in Sugar Grove - starts at 6:00 and follows the same route as Sugar Grove Corn Boil
  • October 4 - PTN Fun Lunch - Jersey Mike's
  • October 4 - PTN Knight Out at Raising Cane's (Batavia)
  • October 5 - PTN Meeting 6:30-7:30 (KST Library)
  • October 6 - PTN Fun RUN - during exploratories
  • October 6 - 5th Grade Outdoor Ed
  • October 9 - No School
  • October 13 - Fire Safety Presentation at school for grades K-2
  • October 18 - KST Picture Retakes
  • October 18 - PTN Fun Lunch - Reams
  • October 23 - Bus Driver Appreciation Day (10/22)
  • October 31 - Kinder Halloween Parties 10:30-11:20 / 1st-5th Grade Parties 2:30-3:00
  • October 31 - Halloween Parade 3:05-3:20 - in front of the school

Please click HERE to view the 2023-2024 Kaneland School Calendar.


Custodian Appreciation Day
October 2 is Custodian Appreciation Day! We are very, very fortunate to have some of the most caring and dedicated custodians. The kids see Ms. Lily and Ms. Elizabeth each and every day - if you feel inclined - take a moment to help your child write a thank you note! They can bring it to school on Monday!

Homecoming!
Homecoming Week was kicked off today with a Pep Rally! KHS students came to school to excite the Knights and showcase some events kids can look forward to.



KST will be having Spirit Week during the week of Oct. 2-6 to support our Kaneland Knights.




At Home Idea!
A lot of families struggle with getting their child complete non-preferred activities. One way to help your child complete activities they do not prefer is to offer controlled choice. Offering controlled choices throughout the day can help reduce defiant behaviors by allowing children more choices in their day. Please see this graphic below for ways to incorporate choice into your child's day



Halloween Happenings  

As soon as the calendar turns to October, we all begin thinking about Halloween!

Yes - our school allows students to wear costumes. Please send your child in a costume to school on Tuesday, October 31.

Costume guidelines:
Please make them school-appropriate - if there is a mask or prop - you can send them at your discretion - students will have a parade where they can use these but then will need to tuck it away for the rest of the day in their backpacks.
We do ask that there is no gore or blood or guts

Parade:
We will have a school parade that will take place at 3:00-ish in front of the school 
Parents are welcome to attend, and can stay on the sidewalk between Door 2 and Door 12 - kids will walk the parade in their costumes.

Parties:
PTN has shared the sign-up for the Halloween Parties
We do not allow for any candy or food treats to be passed out.
Parties typically include a game and a craft!

Kaneland Preschool Screenings


Kaneland Connects Strategic Plan
The Kaneland Connects rollout of the strategic plan continues, we are in year three of the five-year plan. We are providing an update on the plan's progress along with information on upcoming events.

Standards-Based Grading (SBG) is one of the five commitments. SBG reports on the level of proficiency that students are able to demonstrate through a variety of assessments and projects, with grade reports falling on a continuum level from Needs Support to Proficient. Additionally, our high school grade span can earn a grade of Excellent (4). Standards-based grading is an effective way to evaluate student progress and encourages continuous improvement.

Standards-based scales are typically 1-4 at Kaneland High School (KHS) and 1-3 in grades K-8. Scores reflect students' increasing skills:

- 1 Needs Support
- 2 Approaching
- 3 Proficient
- 4 Excellent (This score is reserved only for our high school students.)

There is a link between multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and social emotional learning (SEL.) MTSS encompasses academic knowledge and functional and behavioral support for students, improving organization, function, and planning, and those needing regulation in a school setting. MTSS staff collaborate with social workers, psychologists, and behavioral facilitators to analyze and problem-solve support for a student. If you are looking for behavioral support for your child, don’t hesitate to contact an MTSS coordinator or principal in the building. Contact information can be found on the following web page Staff Directory.
As a parent, you are the best support system and advocate for your child's education. Checking your child's grades, reviewing their learning progress, communicating with teachers, and researching ways to support your child in their learning journey are some of the recommended tips. By doing so, a child achieves academic success and develops strong self-esteem and confidence. Please contact the Directors of Educational Services, Mr. Patrick Raleigh, at 11509@kaneland.org or Dr. Sarah Mumm at 10358@kaneland.org, with any questions, concerns, or comments.

Contact Dr. Sarah Mumm if you would like to be a part of the Kaneland Connects Committee. We will meet three times this school year, starting September 27, 2023, then on January 31, 2024, and April 23, 2024, at Kaneland Meredith Academic Center (KMAC) from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Our committee is focused on evaluating the progress of the five commitments outlined in our strategic plan, available on the following web page Kaneland Connects. We recognize the importance of closely monitoring these commitments and ensuring we meet our goals. We are dedicated to ensuring that our schools provide the best possible support for our students, and we're excited to continue working towards these important goals.

In our school district, we strive to ensure that every student is given an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of the course in which they are retaking an assessment. To achieve this, we have implemented a standardized retake process that involves a conference between the student and teacher. Targeted practice activities are identified during this conference, and a deadline is set for the student to complete these activities. Once completed, the student can then move on to their re-assessment. This approach helps promote fairness and consistency while giving students the support they need to succeed.

The upcoming Homecoming Parade in Sugar Grove is on October 4, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. The Kaneland District will participate with a float showcasing our connections and commitments through Kaneland Connects. It will be a great time, so join us along the parade route!

Friday, September 1, 2023

September Stewart Scoop


September 

4        No School - Labor Day
6        Fun Lunch - Culvers
7        Fall Picture Day
20      Fun Lunch - Paisanos Pasta
22      First Trimester Progress Reports (as needed)

October
2-6    Homecoming Week   
4        Fun Lunch - Jersey Mikes
9        No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day
18       Fun Lunch - Reams

Tuesday Recess
Our Gaga Ball Pit will be getting new concrete laid on Tuesday, Sept. 4th beginning at 7 a.m.  We will have to close the playground off for Tuesday due to the equipment needed for the project.  However, temperatures are projected to be higher anyway so students will have indoor recess. 

This Is Us Bulletin Board
This year's theme at school is "This Is Us" - we are brave, strong, smart, hard-working, loving, and so much more which is what makes us such an awesome school!!  To celebrate this theme with us, we would love to have our families join our whole school bulletin board.  Please email a family photo to Jessica.Bottorff@kaneland.org so we can print it off and add it to our bulletin board in the main hallway.  Thanks for participating! 


Kaneland Homecoming
October 4th - Parade
October 4th - Powder Puff @ Kaneland High School Football Stadium
October 6th - Football Game 

Last-Minute Transportation Changes
We kindly ask that you DO NOT change your child's transportation that day any time later than 2:30 p.m. unless it is an EMERGENCY.  Thank you! 

We're Back to School at KST!

News From The Behavior Facilitator
Are you curious about how your child’s days have been going at school? Do you often get one-word answers and are left feeling like you aren’t sure how to encourage your child to share about their day? Check out the below tips for ways to help your child open up about how school is going.

The Best Questions to Ask Your Kids About Their Day at School
Make Your Questions Specific


Who did you play with at recess?
What did you do during PE class?
What did you need help with today? Who helped you?
What was your favorite thing about your day?

Some specific questions for older children might include things like:
Who did you work with during math?
What was the funniest thing that happened today?
Who did you hang out with at lunch?
Who is your favorite/least favorite teacher this year?
Is there anything I can do to support you today?

Start by Talking About Your Day
Sharing about our day will help us model how to talk about the day. This is a new skill that needs to be learned over time. Ask Nothing and Connect Instead

Instead of talking and asking all those questions you are aching for answers to, try taking some time at first to connect with your child. Offer them a hug or a high five. Spend some time making jokes and laughing with your child if they feel playful, or consider racing them home from school for fun. Do whatever works for your child to help them feel safe, grounded, and at home.

Once they are happy and calm, that might be the time you can start to ask them questions about their day. But you’ve got to set the stage and gently ease them into it.
Check out this article to dig deeper into helping your child share about the school day.

Mid-April Newsletter

April 17 Fun Lunch - McAllisters 18 PTN Dine Out - MOD Pizza 18 OPEN HOUSE & 3rd Grade Concert! 5-7pm 21 Annual Kaneland Fine Arts Festi...