Thursday Notes – August 29, 2024

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From Mr. Brooke’s Desk

WCGS Faithful Project Gathering

We want to invite you to the Faithful Project Gathering this evening just prior to our K-5 Back to School Night.  We will offer light appetizers at 5:00, a vision casting program at 5:30, and a time of prayer outside at 6:00.  We plan to have things completed by 6:15 so families of K-5 students can move toward Back to School Night.  We hope many of you will join us for this time of prayer and celebration as we launch this project together!

From Mr. Painter’s Desk

K-5 Back to School Night

I am looking forward to connecting with many of you this evening for our K-5 Back to School Night!  A few brief reminders:

• You may park and enter at Door 1 (front door) or Door 14 (by the playground/blacktop).
• We will begin the group session at 6:30 p.m. in the Commons, so please go directly there when you enter.
• Classroom sessions will be held at 7:00 p.m. and 7:35 p.m., and the two sessions will be identical. If you only have one child in grades K-5, you are welcome to leave after the first classroom session.
• Please review the schedule that I attached in my email on Monday for specific times for both evenings.

Morning Drop-Off

We have enjoyed the beautiful (but warm!) weather that the start of this school year has provided. It has been great for our faculty and staff to connect with your children and all of you outside at their various drop-off locations each morning. Now that students are generally in a decent routine, we are going to allow students to enter the building directly at 8:40 am each day starting this coming Tuesday, September 3 (after Labor Day). Teachers will no longer be meeting students outside and then walking them to the various entrances each morning. Instead, you may drop your students off by their designated doors and they may enter when the bell rings at 8:40 a.m. Please do not park along the curb in the mornings and wait for the 8:40 a.m. bell to ring. The curbside lane is designed for drop-off only. If you arrive at school early and want your child to wait in your vehicle, please park in our parking lot. Students may also wait outside the door entrances prior to 8:40 a.m., as there will be administrators and staff present starting at 8:30 a.m. Thank you!

Be Mindful of Our Neighbors

WCGS is blessed to have wonderful neighbors surrounding us on the south and west sides of the school. They are very accommodating to our community, and in turn, we want to be gracious and courteous to them as we enter and leave the school.

A few things to keep in mind to show respect to our neighbors:

1. Please be mindful of your speed. Resist the temptation to rush to school if you are late, and always remember that you are driving in a residential area.

2. Please watch for children who are walking to school, especially around Coventry Drive, due to Pleasant Hill Elementary School being so close.

3. Please always come to a complete stop at all stop signs.

4. Please be aware of our neighbors who are trying to get out of their driveways and subdivisions.  If you see that someone is waiting, we ask that you slow down to allow them to exit and get to the places they need to be in the morning and afternoon.

Thank you for partnering with us as we seek to show Christ to our neighbors around us!

Coffee with the Administrators

Please join us for our first Parent Series event, Coffee with the Administrators, on Tuesday, September 10, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. outside in the courtyard west of the playground. Come, enjoy an informal time with administration, meet other parents, and launch a great school year. Please sign up here if you plan to attend. We look forward to seeing you as we launch into another great school year!

Important Upcoming Dates

Friday, August 30

Summer Reading Celebrations

3:30 p.m. – Frozen Treats on the Playground

Monday, September 2

NO SCHOOL – Labor Day

Tuesday, September 3

MAP Growth Testing (Grades 7-8)

BIRTHDAY: Abi Babick (1st Grade Teacher)

9:00-10:00 a.m. – Grades K-1 Room Parent Meeting (Band Room)

3:30-5:00 p.m. – Robotics Team (Room 607)

Wednesday, September 4

MAP Growth Testing (Grades 6 & 8)

8:00 a.m. – Boys’ Golf Sectional @ Countryside Golf Club (Mundelein)

9:00-10:00 a.m. – Grades 2-5 Room Parent Meeting (Commons)

4:00 p.m. – Boys’ V Soccer vs. Timothy Christian (WCGS)

4:00 p.m. – Girls’ JV VBall vs. Timothy Christian (WCGS)

5:00 p.m. – Boys’ JV Soccer vs. Timothy Christian (WCGS)

5:00 p.m. – Girls’ V VBall vs. Timothy Christian (WCGS)

Thursday, September 5

MAP Growth Testing (Grades 6-7)

9:00-10:00 a.m. – Grades 6-8 Room Parent Meeting (Band Room)

3:30-5:00 p.m. – Robotics Team (Room 607)

4:00 p.m. – Girls’ JV VBall @ Harvest Christian

4:15 p.m. – Co-Ed Cross Country Meet @ Wheaton Academy

5:00 p.m. – Girls’ V VBall @ Harvest Christian

Friday, September 6

K-8 School Pictures

MAP Growth Testing (Grades 4-5)

3:30-6:00 p.m. – Spartan Social

4:00 p.m. – Boys’ V Soccer @ Benjamin MS

4:00 p.m. – Girls’ JV VBall @ Benjamin MS

5:00 p.m. – Boys’ JV Soccer @ Benjamin MS

5:00 p.m. – Girls’ V VBall @ Benjamin MS

Nurse Notes

Return Policy

Preventing the spread of illness in schools is critical to keeping everyone as healthy as possible. At WCGS we require that sick children stay home until they’re recovered enough to go back to school. For fevers and other stomach illnesses, we require 24-hours fever/stomach symptom free prior to coming back to school. This helps not only to protect your child’s health but also to prevent the spread of illness to other children. If you are ever unsure of when to send your child back, email nurse@wheatonchristian.org for clarity.

Absence Reporting

SICKNESS/LATE ARRIVAL/EARLY DEPARTURE  Send an email to attendance@wheatonchristian.org or call the attendance line (630-668-1385, option 3).  These options are available 24/7.  Please be sure to communicate by 9:30 a.m. on the day of absence or special arrangement. All attendance messages will be forwarded to the homeroom teachers and/or the nurse (though you are also welcome to copy them if emailing).

PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCE Planned absences of a full day or more should be reported a minimum of one week prior to the absence via a Pre-Arranged Absence Form.  This form can be found on our school website, and copies are always available in the office.  Completed forms should be turned in at the office.  There is also a completely paperless version of the form available on the FACTS Family Portal.

Library News

Help at the Summer Reading Celebration!

More volunteers are needed! Please let Mrs. Brown know if you would like to help at the Summer Reading Celebration during the morning tomorrow, August 30. Sign-up here or email Mrs. Brown if you are available.

Notable Notes

School Pictures

Picture Day is Friday, September 6, during normal school hours. Please see the attached flyer from JostesnPIX for more details about what to wear (no green!) and how to order. Parents will receive emails directly from JostensPix to the addresses you provided to WCGS with reminders and notifications. Photos will be shipped directly to your home! Previewing, personalization, ordering, and payment will all take place online at jostenspix.com. Please note that all students will be photographed for the yearbook, but there is no obligation to make a purchase. If a student is absent on picture day, re-takes will take place on Monday, October 7.See the attachment here for more information. If you have any questions about picture day, please contact Shannon McDonald.

Backpack Donation

Looking for a place to donate your gently used backpacks? Bring them to WCGS and place them in the utility tote labeled Serve for Hope Uganda located just inside Door #1. Leonard and Lauren Matovu (parents of Joelle, 2S) founded and lead a ministry called Serve for Hope Uganda located in Namungoona, Uganda. Through a variety of programs, the Matovus and their team in Uganda aim to share the love of Christ and provide quality education to students in need. One way this is accomplished is by providing backpacks filled with school supplies which will be distributed at the start of the Ugandan school year (late January/early February). Thanks for your partnership in sharing the love of Christ and providing quality education for students in need!

Archived Thursday Notes

Did you know each week’s Thursday Notes are available for you to view on the school website? If you’re looking for a previous issue, and you don’t want to search your inbox, just look under the “Parents Tab” at the top of the page at wheatonchristian.org.

Asbestos Inspection and Management Plan

To the best of our knowledge and that of our architects (Legat Architects), our school was not built nor constructed with any asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. As required by law, we are to inform you that we have an Asbestos Management Plan (Click here for more information.)

Community Corner

FCA Basketball – Girls Only!

This camp is designed to help the girls grow their skills, IQ, athleticism, and love of the game of basketball. This is the perfect prep for girls looking to play on a school team. Ball handling, shooting, team play, speed and agility.

Lead Coach – Kurt Vahle, WA Head Varsity Girls Coach

Dates: Monday’s September 16 through October 28 (seven sessions)

Times:

Grades 3-5 – 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Grades 6-8 – 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Location: Wheaton Academy Field House main gym