Thursday Notes – November 16, 2023

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From Mr. Brooke’s Desk

Gratitude

Psalm 106:1 – “Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”

During this season of thanksgiving, I am thankful for God’s goodness and His love which endures forever.  It is my prayer that our community better understands the great gift of the gospel during this season. I would challenge you to spend time together as a family, naming the works of God and his faithfulness to all of us.

Grandparents’ Day 2023

Tuesday, November 21, will be the 47th Annual Grandparents’ Day at WCGS.  We are thankful for the opportunity to host so many guests on our campus just prior to Thanksgiving Break.

Annual Scholarship Auction

I wanted to pass along my gratitude to our community for participating in this year’s auction in such a variety of ways.  Many donated items, bid on items, attended the event, or encouraged us toward our goal.  As was previously shared, it was a record setting evening with $225,000 raised toward the scholarship fund.  Thank you!

Winter Weather Update

The realities of another Chicago winter are upon us, so we wanted to review with you the many ways in which you can find out if WCGS is closed on a given day because of the weather or for any other emergency.

• EMAIL – After consulting with other local school administrators, should the decision be made to close school OR to start school late, an email will be sent around 6:00 a.m. via FACTS advising families of the change in school status.
• SCHOOL WEBSITE – A message explaining any change in school status will be placed on the front page of our school website.
• SCHOOL PHONE MESSAGE – A message explaining any change in school status will be recorded and placed on the school’s phone system.
• EMERGENCY CLOSING CENTER – Go to the Emergency Closing Center website and search for our school by typing the school name (Wheaton Christian Grammar School) and city (Winfield) or the school phone number (630-668-1385).

From Mr. Painter’s Desk

Crossing Guards Wanted!  

Many of you have seen Mr. Koslosky helping each morning along Coventry Drive.  Since District 200 has changed to an earlier start time this year, we want to partner with our neighbors to help ensure their kids can safely walk to and from school.  WCGS is hoping to hire several crossing guards for morning arrival and afternoon dismissal, and we need your help to find the right people for the job! We are looking for kind and conscientious individuals with great interpersonal skills to interact with our families and broader community.  If you or someone you know would be interested in this position, you can find out more by filling out the application on our website: WCGS Crossing Guard Application.

Thank you to all the parents who were able to join us at Wheaton Academy for an evening with Alisa Childers. We continue to partner together in developing a biblical worldview for our students. You can learn more about Alisa and her work by visiting her website. Save the date for our next Parent Series event on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. where we will learn more about childhood anxiety.

Important Upcoming Dates

Friday, November 17

Zero Waste Day

Popcorn Day

Book Fair (8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-4:30 p.m.)

4:00 p.m. – Boys’ V BBall vs. Glencrest MS (WCGS)

5:00 p.m. – Boys’ JV BBall vs. Glencrest MS (WCGS)

Saturday, November 18

7:30-8:30 a.m. – Fathers’ Prayer Breakfast (Commons)

8:30-11:30 a.m. – Robotics Team

Sunday, November 19

BIRTHDAY: Lisa Kainer (Student Services Coordinator – K-5, Academic Specialist)

Monday, November 20

Hot Lunch – Chick-fil-A

Book Fair (8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-4:30 p.m.)

9:00-10:00 a.m. – Moms in Prayer (Commons)

Tuesday, November 21

BIRTHDAY: Joanne King (Reading Specialist)

NO HOT LUNCH TODAY

Book Fair (8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and 3:00-4:30 p.m.)

No PM Extended Care Today

Wednesday, November 22

NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break

Thursday, November 23

NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving

Friday, November 24

BIRTHDAY: Julie O’Malley (Kindergarten Aide)

NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break

Monday, November 27

BIRTHDAYS: Kathy Mitchell (2nd Grade Teacher), D.A. Nichols (P.E. Teacher, Athletic Director), and Vange Schock (Business Director)

Hot Lunch – Chick-fil-A

9:00-10:00 a.m. – Moms in Prayer (Commons)

3:30-4:00 p.m. – Grades K-1 Chess Club (Room 604)

Tuesday, November 28

Hot Lunch – Jersey Mike’s

3:30-5:30 p.m. – Robotics Team

4:00 p.m. – Boys’ JV BBall @ Schaumburg Christian

4:00 p.m. – Boys’ 5B BBall @ Schaumburg Christian

5:00 p.m. – Boys’ V BBall @ Schaumburg Christian

Wednesday, November 29

Hot Lunch – Barone’s Pizza

7:45-8:30 a.m. – FCA Huddle (Gym)

7:55-8:40 a.m. – Math Counts (Room 616)

8:00-8:40 a.m. – Honors Orchestra (Room 507)

9:00-10:00 a.m. – 4th Grade Wax Museum (Commons)

3:30-4:00 p.m. – Yearbook Club (Room 605)

3:30-4:30 p.m. – Spelling Bee Practice (Room 507)

Thursday, November 30

9:00-11:00 a.m. – Women’s Bible Study (Gospelife Church)

3:30-4:30 p.m. – Grades 2-8 Chess Club (Room 604)

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

4:00 p.m. – Boys’ JV BBall @ Christian Liberty

4:00 p.m. – Boys’ 5A BBall vs. St. Petronille (WCGS)

4:45 p.m. – Boys’ 6A BBall vs. St. Petronille (WCGS)

5:00 p.m. – Boys’ V BBall @ Christian Liberty

5:30 p.m. – Boys’ 6B BBall vs. St. Petronille (WCGS)

6:15 p.m. – Boys’ 5B BBall vs. St. Petronille (WCGS)

Friday, December 1

Zero Waste Day

8:50 a.m.-3:20 p.m. – Children’s Christmas Sale

Nurse Notes

Thankful for the WCGS Community

As we approach the holiday season, the nurses would like to say how thankful we are for being able to care for your children while at school.  We find it a privilege and wanted you all to know that we are truly blessed to be a part of this great community. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” Psalm 100:4

Enjoy your time next week with family and friends as we look forward to time together.

STEAM+ Notes

Peculiar People Robotics TeamIs your child interested in the WCGS Robotics Team? Do you want to learn about what the Robotics Team has been researching, building, and coding this season? ALL parents, supervised students, and teachers are welcome to come to hear their presentations on December 7 from 3:45-4:30 p.m. in the STEAM+ Lab, Room 607. This presentation is helping them prepare for their qualifier on December 9. Hope to see you there!

Library News

We Need Book Fair Volunteers!Volunteers are still needed for several shifts including Grandparents’ Day and pack-up. If you are able to volunteer, please go to our Signup Genius page. Volunteers will receive a $5 coupon to use at the fair.

Library Reminder Email

All books checked out prior to the book fair will be due on Monday, November 27. In the next two days, if your student has books checked out, you will get a reminder email saying that the books are due in “two school days” or “one school day,” depending on the grade level. This is because all of the days of the Book Fair and Thanksgiving break are considered closed in our circulation system. Rest assured, the books are due on Monday, November 27. Nothing is due during the fair. You can always check the dates stamped in the books to be sure.

The Book Fair is Coming!

This year’s “Ocean Expedition” book fair will again be provided by I-55 Book Fairs. It is a Christian company that sells both Christian products and pre-reviewed secular products. A flyer with more information will be coming home next week and is available here. This will be a great time to get a head start on your Christmas shopping!

Fair Dates Sales: 

Thursday, November 16- 8:30-12:00, 1:00-4:30, 5:30-8:00 (Family Night)

Friday, November 17 – 8:30-12:00, 1:00-4:30

Monday, November 20 – 8:30-12:00, 1:00-4:30

Tuesday, November 21 – 8:30-1:00, 3:00-4:30

Pack-Up: Monday, November 27

Online Shopping Link Changed! We were just notified that the link for online shopping has changed from what we sent out on the paper flyers. Click here for the new link. You can shop from our book fair online from November 15-26 and get free shipping on orders over $50 with the code FREE50IL013.

Family Reading Night Tonight!We will have a Family Reading Night from 5:30-8:00 p.m. tonight. The food truck from Wheaton Academy, called The Shack, will be here, and activities will include shopping at the fair, story-times, and a craft and coloring table. We hope to see you there!

Library Shelvers Needed: The library is in need of weekly shelving help starting as soon as possible. You can pick the day and time, and it could just be for an hour or two after drop-off or before pick-up. Many books will be returned right after Thanksgiving, so we could use help right away if you are available. Please email Mrs. Brown if you are interested.

Other Important Information:

• Book Checkout: The library will be closed for usual activities like book checkout or AR tests through Tuesday, November 21. No books are due during the fair, but all books checked out before the fair will be due on Monday, November 27.
• Class visits to the fair: All K-5 classes will come through the fair during their regular library time from Wednesday, November 15, through Tuesday, November 21, except for the 2nd grades, which will come on Friday, November 17. When students come to the fair, they will be able to shop at that time if you send them with cash, OR they can make a wish list and shop with you during other open hours. You are, of course, welcome to come sooner than their library day during the before and after-school hours. Sixth grade students will come to the fair on Monday, November 20. Seventh and eighth graders will come at a time announced by their teachers.
• Teacher Wish Lists: Buy a book for your teacher’s classroom library! Teachers will be making wish lists of items that they would like to add to their collections, so be on the lookout for that when you visit the fair.

Notable Notes

Planning to Extend Thanksgiving Break?

If your family is planning to leave early OR return late from Thanksgiving Break due to travel, please be sure to communicate this to school ASAP by submitting a Pre-Arranged Absence Form.  You can use the online form through the FACTS Family Portal, or grab a printed hard copy from the front office. Pre-Arranged Absence Forms should be submitted to the office as soon as plans are made.  Please do not request schoolwork unless you intend to have your student complete it during your holiday. For more information regarding our Attendance Policy, please refer to page 9 of the Parent Handbook.