Please Click her for December News and Important Dates: December0.pdf
My mom just sent me this and I thought it was worth posting...Happy Holidays!
The Wooden Bowl
I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now,
a year from now.
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson.
The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.
The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and
failing sight made eating difficult.. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.
When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.
'We must do something about father,' said the son.
'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.
Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.
He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded,
'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. '
The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks.. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.
For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason,
neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day,the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life.'
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.
But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
30th Annual Science Fair
Co-sponsored by District58 and Friends of the Gifted and Talented
Saturday,January 22, 2011
at O’Neill Middle School
Online registration and information regarding the Science Fair can be found at dg58.org/science fair
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two informational workshops are planned for participants and parents:
Wednesday, December 1 Wednesday,December 8
O’Neill Middle School HerrickMiddle School
7-8 p.m. / Grades 1-6 7-8p.m. / Grades 1-6
8-9 p.m. / Grades 7 & 8 8-9p.m. / Grades 7 & 8
Information presented will include:
•Selecting appropriate projects
•Procedures for doing experiments
•Instructions for completing projects
Available for purchase: Project Display Board($3.00)
ScienceProject Folder ($2.00)
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Come join the more than 500 District 58 students
who participate in the Science Fair!
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SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING INFORMATION
Below are two articles regarding social emotional learning from the Illinois State Board of Education. One is an introdiuction to SEL and the other is about bullying.
SEL Article #1 Intro to SEL Final.PDF
SEL Article #2 Bullying.pdf
School year 2010-2011 will see all #58 schools using theAIMSweb benchmark and progress monitoring system for all students in the areaof reading. Benchmark assessments will be completed three times during theyear.
FallBenchmark 8/30– 9/10/2010
WinterBenchmark 12/6– 12/17/2010
SpringBenchmark 5/9– 5/20/2011
After the fall benchmark, all parents of students in tier 2and tier 3 will be notified by the classroom teacher of the intervention thatwill be implemented for their child, as well as the manner in which theirchild’s progress will be monitored.
At the firstand second parent teacher conferences, all parents will be given his or herchild’s AIMSweb reading improvement report. After the spring benchmark, theindividual reading improvement report will be sent home with the student.
Parents of students who are receiving interventions will benotified of the interventions before conference time. Conference time,therefore, becomes a discussion of progress achieved and interventionsprovided. As with any additional support provided for individual students,classroom teachers will share information about the students’ interventionswith parents as soon as the intervention is put into place.
If you have any questions regarding this process please callMrs. Bruebach at 630-719-5845 or send a note to your child’s teacher.
Indian Trail Student Drop off and Pick up Information
General Considerations
- Please do not park and run your child across Stonewall. We expect our students to use the safety patrol on Stonewall and do not want to model unsafe behaviors.
- Do not pass a school bus that has its stop arm out. This is illegal and unsafe.
- Please do not park in the circle drive if you are playing on our playground after school. Please park in the main lot so parents who are picking up children are allowed ample space.
Morning Drop-off Plan
- Students who are dropped off in the morning in grades 1-6 should be dropped off near the gazebo in front of the school (south side).
- To access this drop-off point please pull in the main parking lot. Parents should pull up to the gazebo to allow students to exit the car. Fifth and 6th grade students can be dropped off closer to the back playground to ensure their safety. There are some special education busses that need to pull up in this space. Please help by giving them space to pull in.
After your child has exited the car please check to make sure they have walked away. Children sometimes have a tendency to forget something and go to open a moving car door.
Pull away so others may drop their children off. This is not a parking zone. If you need to go with your child please use a regular parking space in the lot.
- Children in Kindergarten can be dropped off in the circle drive at the north end of the building. Families with Kindergartners and older children may be dropped here or in front.
Parents may park in the circle drive and walk their children to line or can drop them off on the sidewalk near the side entrance.
Once you have walked your child to line please return to your car so other may have the same privilege. If you prefer to stay with your child please use the south side parking lot and walk your child to line.
An additional safety patrol will be placed on the sidewalk near the bus drop off.
- Only Preschool parents may park in the bus zone or the circle drive beginning at 8:25 in the morning to drop off their children. The zone is for busses only before 8:25. Preschoolers should be walked into the building through the side door. After 8:35 your child is considered tardy and should come in through the office.
Middle of the day pick up and drop off for Preschool and Kindergarten only
- At 11:00 parents are asked to use the bus lane to pick up students. Our busses will use the circle drive.
- At the 12:00 drop off parents are asked to use the bus lane. Busses will use the circle drive.
After School Pick-up K-6
- Students in grades 1-6 will be picked up just east of where morning drop off occurs.
- Cones will be placed to indicate a pick up zone. Please do not pick up your child outside this area. It is for their safety.
- The same traffic pattern will be used as in the morning.
- Students will be asked to wait in the student waiting area outside. When a students car pulls up they will get in and the car should pull away to let the next car pull up.
- If you know your child is slow to get outside please do not be the first to arrive. Cars will be asked to pull around if they are holding up traffic.
- There will be a teacher placed at the pick up spot to help the process.
- In front of the gazebo will be a designated spot for mini-busses that pick up children.
- Please do not park in front of the busses.
- Kindergarten pick up will be in the circle drive. Families with Kindergarten children and older children may park in the circle drive.
After School Pick-up Pre K
- Preschool parents should pick up their children beginning at 2:25 and use the circle drive.
- Please do not park in the bus lanes.
ALLERGY INFORMATION
Over the last several years we have seen an increase in life-threatening allergies. This year we have several students with allergies to nuts, dairy and eggs. In order to be respectful to these children, we are asking that you send only fruits or vegetables for fruit snack. Also, we are asking that any treats brought into class are store bought. Treats will not be given to the children with allergies (they will supply their own). Please be respectful of the classroom teacher’s wishes about sending treats to school, many teachers are asking that birthday treats not be sent. If you have any concerns, please call me.
