Thursday Notes – November 9, 2023

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From Mr. Brooke’s Desk

HOPE Scholarship Auction

We are excited and honored to be hosting many of you tomorrow evening at our annual Hope Scholarship Auction.  Bidding is now live and 10 new items have been added to the website. We encourage you to take a look at this year’s many wonderful offerings by visiting our Hope Scholarship Auction website.  Whether you are able to attend in person or not, bidding is open to everyone and is a wonderful way to support our scholarship families.  Thank you for the many ways you partner with our WCGS community!

Veterans Day

We are honored to celebrate Veterans Day tomorrow and are so appreciative of the many who have served for our freedom. This day marks the opportunity to pause and honor those who have sacrificed on behalf of others. Tomorrow, our community will gather for a morning assembly to ensure our students are able to thank our veterans and be educated on what their service has provided. Thank you to all who have served!

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.

Wheaton Academy Parent Event

As part of the WCGS Parent Series, we invite you to attend this event on Tuesday, November 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the Wheaton Academy Fine Arts Center to hear Alisa Childers. How can we help equip our kids to have a Christian worldview in an increasingly secularized culture? Join us on November 14 to hear from author, singer, and apologist Alisa Childers. She will share tips about how Christian parents can teach their kids discernment by exposing them to bad ideas in an age-appropriate manner and teaching them to analyze media from a biblical perspective. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Please use this link to secure your registration.

Important Upcoming Dates

Friday, November 10

BIRTHDAY: Julie Jones (Multi Media Literacy Teacher)

Zero Waste Day

9:00-9:45 a.m. – All-School Veterans Day Assembly (Gym)

6:30-9:00 p.m. – HOPE Scholarship Auction

Saturday, November 11

Veterans Day

BIRTHDAY: Brenda Johnson (3rd Grade Teacher)

ILMEA Music Festival (West Aurora H.S.)

Sunday, November 12

BIRTHDAYS: Maddie Baumgarten (4th Grade Teacher) and Debbie Cairncross (Registrar)

Monday, November 13

Hot Lunch – Chick-fil-A

8:00-8:40 a.m. – Praise Team Rehearsal (Commons)

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

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

4:00 p.m. – Boys’ JV BBall vs. Schaumburg Christian (WCGS)

5:00 p.m. – Boys’ V BBall vs. Schaumburg Christian (WCGS)

6:00 p.m. – Boys’ 5B BBall vs. Schaumburg Christian (WCGS)

7:00 p.m. – Board Meeting (Library)

Tuesday, November 14

Hot Lunch – Jersey Mike’s

1:00-2:45 p.m. – 5S2 to Wade Center

3:30-5:30 p.m. – Robotics Team

4:00 p.m. – Boys’ JV BBall vs. Aurora Christian (WCGS)

5:00 p.m. – Boys’ V BBall vs. Aurora Christian (WCGS)

6:00 p.m. – Boys’ 6B BBall vs. Aurora Christian (WCGS)

6:00 p.m. – Boys’ 5A BBall @ Benjamin MS

6:45 p.m. – Boys’ 6A BBall vs. Aurora Christian (WCGS)

7:00 p.m. – Parent Event at Wheaton Academy (Alisa Childers)

Wednesday, November 15

Hot Lunch – Barone’s Pizza

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

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

8:00-8:40 a.m. – Praise Team Rehearsal (Commons)

10:45 a.m. – Grades 6-8 Chapel (Commons)

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

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

3:30-4:30 p.m. – Helping Hands Service Project – Grades 4-5

Thursday, November 16

BIRTHDAY: Nicole Todd (Jr. High Math Teacher)

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

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

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 vs. Harvest Christian (WCGS)

5:00 p.m. – Boys’ V BBall vs. Harvest Christian (WCGS)

5:30-8:00 p.m. – Family Reading Night (Library)

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

Nurse Notes

Returning to School After an Illness

Preventing the spread of illness in schools is critical to keeping everyone as healthy as possible. The WCGS School Nurses recommend that sick children stay home until they’ve recovered enough to go back to school, typically starting the 24-hour count from the time that the symptoms start to improve. This helps not only to protect your child’s health but also to prevent the spread of the illness to other children.

Consider the following signs as you make your decision whether or not to send your child to school:

FEVER– If your child has a temperature of 99.5-degrees F or more, it’s best to keep them home. A fever is a sign that the body is fighting off infection, which means your child is vulnerable, and can also spread the illness to others. Wait at least 24 hours after your child has been fever-free without medication.

Vomiting and Diarrhea – Both vomiting and diarrhea are good reasons for your child to stay home. These symptoms are too difficult to deal with at school, and are signs that the child is still capable of spreading the infection. Wait at least 24 hours after the last episode and watch for a normal appetite for at least one meal before considering a return to school.

Fatigue – If your child is acting particularly fatigued, he or she is unlikely to benefit from sitting in class all day. Make sure your child stays hydrated and let him or her rest at home.  Your child will be more susceptible to picking up a circulating illness, too, if their body is worn out.

Persistent Cough or Sore Throat – A persistent cough is likely to be disruptive in class, and is one of the primary ways of spreading a flu infection. If your child has a severe sore throat and a regular or persistent cough, keep him or her home until the cough is nearly gone or easily controlled.

IF YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN HOME WITH AN ILLNESS – Does your child look pale or tired? Does he or she act irritable or seem disinterested in regular daily activities? Are you having a hard time getting your child to eat anything? These are all signs that more recovery time is needed at home. Even if your child seems to have periods of energy during the day while home “sick,” it’s important to put that into context with how they act following that increased activity. If he/she seems to “wither” at bedtime, give them another day of recovery at home.

STEAM+ Notes

Peculiar People Robotics Team

Is 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!

We still need many more parent volunteers in all areas, especially for set-up, Family Reading Night, 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

Set-Up: Tuesday, November 14
Sales: 
Wednesday, November 15     8:30-12:00, 1:00-4:30
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

We will have a Family Reading Night on Thursday, November 16, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. 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!

Other Important Information:

• Book Checkout: The library will be closed for usual activities like book checkout or AR tests from Tuesday, November 14, through Tuesday, November 21. Students may check out two more books than their usual limit beginning on Tuesday, November 7. No books will be 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

WCGS Visitor Badges/Lanyards

The supply of WCGS visitor badges/lanyard is getting low. Please check your coat pockets, purses, cars, and homes for the red lanyards with the visitor badges that you might have left school wearing. If you find one, please return it to the front office as soon as you are able so that we can replenish our supply. Thank you!

Appearance Code

As the season changes, we welcome in second quarter, and a reminder about appearance code. We are so thankful for the countless parents serving in many capacities around the school.  As you so willingly and lovingly come to support the WCGS community, please be mindful of the example you set for students and others visiting our school.  As stated in our Parent Handbook, “All volunteers are respectfully requested to refrain from wearing abbreviated leisure and exercise attire, plunging necklines, cropped tops, short or receding hemlines, or tight and revealing clothing of any kind when serving or visiting the school.” These appearance guidelines are intended to promote an atmosphere where everyone can comfortably serve while supporting the community. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Fathers’ Prayer Breakfast

On Saturday, November 18, we will host our Fathers’ Prayer Breakfast from 7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Commons here at school. Whether you have attended before or this is your first time, we look forward to sharing a meal, hearing a devotional, and praying together as fathers in the WCGS community. It is a rich time and one that I hope you will consider joining. We will respect your time and dismiss by 8:30 a.m. so that you can continue on with your weekend. If you are able to attend on November 18, please RSVP to Lauren Fortosis by Monday, November 13, to help with breakfast planning.