SCHOOL DISTRICT

A Letter from the Superintendent

Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members,

The Governor’s decision to cancel inperson schooling for the remainder of the 2019-2020 year has left us all feeling like we have not had the proper closure to the year. I wish our students had the opportunity to connect with their teachers and classmates in person one last time. In these times, we need to focus on the positive. I know there are so many great connections that are happening across the district between students and their teachers via online meetings. I am so proud of the ways our families and staff are contributing to helping each other by donating supplies, food, and PPE. These are the moments that make me proud to be your superintendent.

Below are frequently asked questions. While we can provide some answers now, we will be sure to follow up as more information becomes available or if there are any notable changes to share.

Is my child moving onto the next grade?

The short answer is, “Yes!” By this time of the year, our staff would have been in direct contact with any family who has a student that is being considered for retention at a particular grade level. That being said, the expectation of our E-Learning program is ‘student engagement.’ We want to focus on the continuity of learning as to avoid any major gaps in academic progress within and between grades. Our approach is in alignment with the recommendations from the Illinois State Board of Education that the ultimate aim needs to be: 1) All students have opportunities for continued learning that focuses on critical standards; 2) Districts work to minimize instructional loss; and 3) Students and families are given routines and structures to ensure they stay connected to schools and learning. If you have any specific concerns about a retention or promotion situation, please contact your school office directly.

What about all of my child’s stuff?

You all should have received an email from your school principal asking if you want your children’s supplies and personal materials. If you marked that you would like to get them back, we will make arrangements for you to pick them up. Our classrooms have been vacant for over a month with highly restricted access. We understand the tremendous level of concern across our community when it comes to disinfecting and minimizing exposure to the Coronavirus. We will take the necessary precautions to limit contact. For any pressing needs for a particular item, please contact your school directly. Principals will follow up with a more detailed schedule of delivery.

What about Summer School and Summer Activities/Programs?

It is unknown at this time if schools and districts will be able to host in-person instruction or activities during summer 2020. The Governor will make any decisions regarding summer programs in consultation with public health officials and in compliance with any Executive Orders from the Governor’s Office.

What about next year? On April 17, 2020, the Governor announced the statewide mandatory suspension of in-person instruction has been extended through the end of the 2019-20 academic year. Future decisions regarding the statewide suspension of in-person instruction will be made by the Governor in consultation with public health officials and in compliance with any Executive Orders from the Governor’s Office.

What about registration?

We are fortunate that we moved to online registration a few years ago. We will open online registration for all returning families on July 7. Depending on the current Stay at Home orders in Illinois we may have to adjust how we complete New Student Registration. More information will be out as we get closer to July.

We may not have all the answers now, but we will continue to communicate with all of you as we know more. Thanks to all of those who continue to stay home and follow the government’s social distancing guidelines. I am thankful to everyone who worked together in the best interests of those who are most at risk. Take care and be safe. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me via email (psalemi@sd925.org) or call 708670-1927.

Sincerely,

Phillip Salemi

Superintendent

Westchester Primary School

Kindergarten Pre-Registration

Due to the current Stay At Home order, Kindergarten Pre-Registration will be conducted online this spring. Beginning April 13th, we will open our online Kindergarten Pre-Registration for the 2020-2021 school year. Please visit our school district web site at https://www. sd925.org/ and follow the following menu path: • Click on the “Registration” tab • Click on “Kindergarten” tab

This is the first step in enrolling your child for kindergarten starting this fall. You will receive a notice after the review of your materials confirming the pre-registration process is complete.

In early July you will receive information in the mail to complete the online registration/residency verification process and pay fees.

Checklist for Pre-Registration

• Complete Kindergarten Enrollment Form • Email a copy of your child’s official birth certificate. A child must be five (5) years old on or before September 1, 2020. • Email a state or government issued photo ID with your name and current address • Email birth certificate and ID to gchayka@sd925.org • Please note that all items (completed enrollment form, ID and birth certificate) must be received to process preregistration.

Please bring completed health records, along with your child’s official birth certificate, to the Kindergarten screening. The date for this screening will be announced later. Please visit our school district web site at https://www.sd925.org to find more information on the required health records. Please contact Gina Chayka, WPS Administrative Assistant, at gchayka@sd925.org if you have questions or need assistance completing the preregistration process.

Westchester Intermediate School

While our most bizarre 2019 school year has come to a close. Many of our teachers worked to maintain positive connections with their students. We were able to provide support where it was most needed and continued to go about the job of learning. Our staff, students, and families did everything they could to confront and overcome the struggles of learning in a remote fashion. For our fifth graders who are moving on to middle school next year, we are super proud of the strides they made educationally in their three years with us. We have a lot to celebrate this year. We wish them the best of luck on the next part of the school journey. We also can’t wait to meet our incoming third graders from the Westchester Primary School. We are excited to get to know you and your families. We hope you have a wonderful summer and we’ll see you in August.

Go Huskies! Ellis Allen Bianca Alcarez Aniyah Anderson Francesca Arroyo Naylah Ayala Maria Bagry Paris Ballentine Liam Barrett Santino Bertucci Jacara Brooks Franz Marion Cabillo Eduardo Calderon Adrian Campos Eric Canady Mario Cepeda Elery Cheatham Jackon Claster Anna Connelly Schandy Cordero Scott Creviston Adan Delgado Anthony Dinkel Sue Mikhaela Dionela Dwight Dodd Philip Duff Samuel Duffy Elijah Eason Jazlyn Evans Adreana Fabian William Faust Dylan Flynn Lucille Forde Ella Forgue Benjamin Fulgencio Caleb Galletti Anna Galvan Emiliano Garcia Kyara Garcia Leart Gashi Jeffery George Kamryn Gibson Julien Gonzalez Scarlett Goodluck Walter Guilfoyle Maya Hansen Arthur Harris Makayla Haynes Daniel Heerboth Kenneth Hernandez Savannah Hoffa Raul Holguin Javon Holmes Abigail Hopp Jermaine Hudson Tytiana Hunter Nour Issa Sabrina Jackson Damari Jones Pamela Jones Jack Kaden Michael Kirk Joy Knighton Daisy Laslie Joshua Lauvina Brynn Layton Danielle Leanos Tracy Lee Martin Leiva Yaretzi Lizama Bryssel Loera Anthony Lopez Kaitlyn Lopez Cassandra Lovera Janelle Macasero Alex Martinez Angelica Mateos Naomi Matthews Kayla McCain Brandon Metcalf Brandon Meyer Matthew Michaels Aiden Mitchell Michelle Moore Arissa Neace Britney Nguyen Vincent Nguyen Juan Nunez-Gonzalez Joseph Ohazurume Chiamaka Okoli Kaitlyn Patrick Tiara Peters Jacob Pinckney Molly Pondelicek Briana Pop Portland Powell Jaylen Price Taniyah Reynolds Joshua Rivera Brandon Rosales Thalia Ruiz Nathan Sanchez Mason Santos Janiyah Scott Lyiah Seals Almir Selimi Damien Singleton Deshawn Smith Anthony Spidale Matthew Swan Mikaelah Thomas Nilah Thomas Deshaun Truss Jatli Vazquez Kelly Webb Owen Wesolowski JayShon Williams Mckayla Williams Mariah Wilson Marica Wilson Alexander Wutzke

Westchester Middle School

The entire WMS community would like to congratulate the WMS Class of 2020. We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to their future achievements. Good luck to our 8th graders and their families!

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