Summer Scoop Newsletter

Important Dates:

June 3 - Summer Office Hours Begin

July 8 - August 1 - Summer School @ Blackberry Creek (KBK)

August 8 - Kindergarten Orientation & Supply Drop Off 4:00 - 6:00 pm

August 12 - 1st - 5th Grade Curriculum Night & Supply Drop off 4:00 - 6:00 pm

August 14 - First Day of School

Welcome Mr. Tankersley as the new Assistant Principal!

As we know, Mrs. Salto is the new principal at John Shields in Sugar Grove and Mr. Tankersley will be joining us next year. Here is a quick note from him!

Dear John Stewart Families,

I want to introduce myself as the Assistant Principal of John Stewart and BlackBerry Creek for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. Last year I was the Assistant Principal at Blackberry Creek and McDole Elementary schools. I am excited about the opportunity to get to know, learn from, and support staff, students, families, and the John Stewart community this year.

Thank you,  Mr. T

Tips for preventing 'summer slide'

Since our School Improvement Goal was focused on writing this year and will be part of next year's goal too, here is how to continue to Support Writing at Home
In a small notebook, have your child(ren) write just one or two sentences each day during the summer, in their own “One Line a Day” summer journal.

Habits are built through consistency, starting small and gradually building up. A little bit of writing is better than no writing, and a little bit of writing every day adds up to a whole lot of writing by the end of the summer. Plus, as students build their daily writing habits, they might decide to use two (or more) pages some days if they have something especially meaningful to write about.You can also teach students how to write a letter to family members, address an envelope, and mail it!

Here are some ideas to help students retain those skills they worked so hard to learn.

At the grocery store, have your student:

• Write down the grocery list
• Read signs throughout the store
• Weigh produce
• Use a calculator to add up the grocery bill as you go
• Compare multiple items/sizes/quantities to determine the best deal
• Count the number of items in the cart

In the kitchen, use cooking and baking for your kids to practice numbers and math:

• Measure the size of the pan needed
• Add items together or subtract what you are going to use
• Read recipes out loud
• Measure both dry and liquid ingredients
• Count the number of ingredients
• Cut fruits and vegetables into specific sizes, such as 1/2 of an apple or 1/4 of a banana
• Read about healthy eating at sites like MyPlate
• Calculate nutrient intake such as calories or protein
• Divide foods into portions at meals

In the car, whether it's a short or long trip, have your kids:

• Practice spelling by doing a spelling bee
• Run through math facts like counting by twos or multiplication tables
• Spot objects that begin with each letter of the alphabet
• Read road signs and billboards out loud
• Practice directions like turn left or turn south
• Turn off the verbal prompts on a map app and read directions out loud
• Listen to kid-oriented podcasts on topics like science, space or mysteries

At the park, participate in the park's built-in learning to:

• Look for and identify different leaves, trees, rocks, insects, clouds, wildflowers and weeds.
• Sign up for other free programs that capture their interest.
• Research the name of the park and where it came from.

At the community library, kids can explore these free resources:

• Check out the various clubs, programs and reading options offered
• Choose something new like comic books, magazines, cookbooks or music recordings
• Visit the library's exhibits and special events
• Sign up for summer reading challenges
• Do an in-depth study of a person, place or event in history

On a trip or vacation, whether for a weekend or week, open up a world of new experiences and learning by:

• Researching where you're going, what there is to do, the history of the place, how you'll get there and more
• Letting them plot your travels on a paper map that you download and print
• Having them keep track of the miles, fuel use and costs
• Creating a photo album of experiences and findings big and small
• Writing and sending postcards

At home, try some of these activities to spark learning:

• Play board and card games, do jigsaw puzzles, do word puzzles like crosswords and sudoku.
• Buy an inexpensive outdoor thermometer and rain gauge to keep track of weather events and compare findings with professional meteorologists
• Learn a new skill like cursive writing, coding or knitting via the internet or books
• Become a pen pal with a family member or friend, and write and send paper letters or practice typing skills by sending email messages
• Plan a backyard scavenger hunt; older kids can do this on their own
• Start a book club or book swap in your neighborhood
• Create a scrapbook of the summer with photos, writing and found items

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/tips-for-preventing-summer-slide

Summer Office Hours

The office will be open over the summer Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 3:00pm. The office is closed on Fridays starting June 7th. If these times do not work for you, please call the office to make a personalized appointment with Ms. Jaeger. Ms. Jaeger, Principal Secretary works all summer. I, Mrs. Aversa do not work during the month of July. If you need assistance from us, please feel free to call or email. (630) 365-8170



School Toolbox - Reasons to get School Toolbox

• Name brand supplies
• It's local 
• Get quality items from brands you trust 
• Pre-packaged in the exact quantities students need
• Supplies guaranteed all school year
• No shoddy folders or dead pens — if it doesn't last, we'll replace it
• Ordering takes about 5 minutes

Summer's fleeting — spend it somewhere other than the checkout line. Packed from your school's list. Start the first day with just what their teachers requested — no guesswork required

Visit: https://schooltoolbox.com/school-supplies/

Type in school: Kaneland John Stewart


2024-2025 Supply List

Kindergarten Supply List

First - Fifth Grade Supply List


Student Chromebooks

Over the summer months, students in 2nd - 5th grade keep their Chromebooks and chargers at home. Students are able to access educational programs until late July when the systems switch over. Please keep them safe and charged, ready to be used next school year.


Summer School Board Meetings
June 24, July 29, August 12, August 26 (7 pm @ KHMS)

New Teacher Information
Your child's new teacher information will be released the first week of August in Infinite Campus...more information to come.  

Have a wonderful and safe summer!

💗 Mrs. Aversa

Summer Image Designed by Freepik

May Newsletter

May

1 Fun Lunch - Culvers
1 School Principal Appreciation Day
6-10 Teacher Appreciation Week
15 PTN Dine Out Night - Chipotle
17 5th Grade Outdoor Ed & 5th-Grade vs Teacher Basketball Game
21 Crossing Guard Appreciation Day
24 Field Day
24 1 Hr Early Release
28 1 Hr Early Release - Last Day of School - 5th Grade Clap Out @ 1:45pm

Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher appreciation week is approaching and it is a great time of year to show our educators how much we appreciate them. To help you know what each staff member likes, here is a document of Their Favorite Things 

Thank you in advance for all your support in showing them how much they are appreciated! 

Monday - Muffin Monday - Breakfast foods will be provided in the lounge for teachers

Tuesday - Sweet Treat Tuesday - teachers will be on the lookout for sweet treats

Wednesday - Catered Lunch for Teachers

Thursday - Thirsty Thursday - an assortment of drinks will be stocked in the teacher's lounge

Friday - Favorite Things Friday - teachers will get to pick a favorite thing off their teacher list

Third Grade Concert 

Here is the link to the 3rd-grade concert from Open House night.

From Our Behavior Facilitators

As we head into the end of the year, you may see an increase in students engaging in power struggles for several reasons.  Consider using these strategies to help kids meet their power needs.  Make sure to check out the, “6 Points to Remember” as well. 

School Nurse Appreciation Day - Friday, May 10th

We are always so grateful for our nurses, especially Ms. Scott, our school nurse who works hard to take care of all of our students on a daily!! Please consider celebrating Ms. Scott on this day! 

5th Grade Clap Out - 2024 Guidelines

It is that time again to host our annual tradition of the 5th-Grade Clap Out! Many students and families look forward to this tradition and we are excited to be able to celebrate our fifth-grade students as they move on to middle school! 

The clap-out will be on Tuesday, May 28th at 1:45 pm.

• The clap-out will take place outside (weather permitting) around the walking path on the West side of the school.
• A map of the clap-out route can be found below. Parents, please arrive by 1:35 to find a spot on the inside of the walking path.
• We ask that you do not stop your child to take a picture during the Clap Out.
• Pictures can be taken after school in front of the 5th-grade Graduate banner that will be hung on one of the baseball backstops.
• Following the conclusion of the Clap Out, you may take your child home by signing them out on one of the sign-out sheets located at the baseball field.
• In the event of inclement weather, the clap-out will be held indoors and parents will be in the gym

KST CLAP OUT MAP

Field Day - Friday, May 24th

Please have your child wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and bring water/water bottle. Feel free to pack a change of clothing for the water games they will play during the day. A Free Hot Dog lunch will also be provided by the PTN if you signed up. If not, please pack a lunch for your student. Free Hot Dog Lunch Sign-Up

5th Grade Signs

We will have 5th-grade graduate yard signs available for $15!
Order your sign by May 12th!

Signs are single-sided 18" x 24" with stakes 5th Grade Sign Order Form

Spring Weather Reminder

With the beautiful springtime weather, there come some unwanted pests to the community! We have had a few reports of TICKS being found on students. Tick season is considered to occur between April and September in the United States. They usually hide in low brush areas, waiting to find a host. If left undetected, several types of ticks may cause disease. We suggest that you check your student thoroughly at home after a day of playing out of doors.

If a tick is found, do not burn it or cover it with petroleum jelly. Do not use your bare hands to try to remove it either. Their mouths are like a tiny barb and may remain embedded, and that can lead to infection if not removed properly.

The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and gently, but firmly, pull it straight out. Do not twist or jerk the tick as it may then break off. If the mouth parts do break off, consult your physician about removing them. If you want the tick identified, you may want to consider placing it in a container and contacting the health department.

If your student should develop a rash or any unexplained illness accompanied by fever following a tick bite, you should consult their physician immediately and explain that they were bitten by a tick. Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected deer tick – but NOT all ticks carry the bacteria and a bite does not always result in the development of Lyme disease. A rash may begin to appear in anywhere from 3 to 32 days following a bite. It is often accompanied by fatigue, chills, fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and joint and muscle pain.

Applying insect repellent and wearing light-colored clothing and hats may be helpful in avoiding contact with ticks. Tucking pant legs into socks and wearing protective gloves while gathering wood or gardening is also recommended. Check student’s skin; including the scalp to be sure they stay free from any potential harm from ticks. More information can be found on the website of the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) ~ Kaneland Nursing Team