December 3, 2020

​​​​​​​Grande Reserve Elementary School Families,

Second quarter has sure flown by! We are already beginning to do Winter Benchmarking using MAP. See letter here. You can help by making sure your child(ren) eats a balanced breakfast and talk with them about the importance of taking their time to do their best!

We want to stay in school so please practice safe social distancing, limited travel, and mask wearing any time you are out of the house! If anyone in the home is exhibiting COVID related symptoms or is awaiting test results, please remember to keep all children/siblings who attend schools in the district home as well!

Our students are continuing to use RazKids, Lexia, Dreambox, Khan, and other resources. Recommended usage is 15-20 minutes per night; ask your child(ren) to show you around in whichever learning platform they are using! :) We are already seeing growth in students. We are decreasing the number of students reading below grade level; what exciting news!

As we continue to settle into this school year, I encourage our students and parents to communicate with me regarding any concerns or suggestions you have to improve our school community. I also encourage you to become an active member of the GRES family—follow us on social media (@115gres), participate in GRES and PTO activities, and recognize our dedicated employees and incredible students with positive thoughts and messages (any messages I receive are passed on to the staff)!

Sincerely,
Michele Breyne
GRES Principal
Teacher Feature

“During this incredibly strange and stressful time in our world Mr. McHugh finds a way to bring light, joy and laughter to the students. He has worked hard to write his own songs/music about this crazy Covid situation our students are dealing with and it brings such happiness to my children and to our family to hear them singing at the top of their lungs about "another squirt of sanitizer and another squirt and another squirt!" Thank you so much for dedicating extra time and energy for the students at GRES.”


“Mrs. Lickfelt is wonderful! She has compassion, and patience. She takes time to understand the needs of my child and truly cares for our kids! We are lucky to have you Mrs. Lickfelt.”


Mr. Johnson has done a great job with attendance and communicating with the school staff regarding e-learning attendance. He has made a screencastify presentation to assist others.
Press Release: December 2020 Yorkville Public Library Youth Services Department

Yorkville Public Library has gone to regular operating hours. Face coverings must be worn in the building. Curbside service is available for those not wishing to enter the Library. The Library is open:
Monday–Thursday 10:00am-7:00pm,
Friday 10:00am-5:00pm, and
Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm.

Every Monday in December at Yorkville Public Library - CRAFTS TO GO!  
Stop by the library for a craft kit. These kits are available each Monday in the library foyer while supplies last. Weekly themes for craft kits include winter, Christmas, and more.  Limit one kit per child.  

Every Friday on YPL Facebook - DROP IN STORY TIME (virtual) 
Each Friday morning watch Ms Jennette read a story on Yorkville Public Library Facebook.  

Virtual 3-D Printing 
Leah English provides a step by step tutorial on how to use Tinkercad. Tinkercad is an easy to use 3D CAD design tool, where you can create an object that we can print on our 3D printer. Check out the library's website to link to the YPL YouTube channel, follow the steps to create your own 3D printed piece. Prints cost $0.20 per gram. 

Tuesday, December 1 and 15 at 2:45 at Yorkville Public Library - TAG (TEEN ADVISORY GROUP)
Teens in grades 8-12 get together to share ideas about the teen area in the library. They help create and plan programs. This group also has opportunities to earn volunteer hours. Great chance to meet new people and have some fun and laughs. * Face masks and social distancing are required. 

Thursday, December 3 and 17 - STEM at Home 
Follow along with Ms. Jennette to create projects using common household items. Check out Facebook and YPL YouTube channel for the instructional video.  

Friday, December 4 and 18 at 10:30am at Yorkville Public Library - DROP IN STORY TIME (at YPL) 
Join us at YPL for Drop In Story Time with Ms. Jennette. This story time will be held in our large meeting room, the Michelle Pfister Room. Face masks and social distancing are required. 

Tuesday, December 8 and 22 at 4:30pm at the Yorkville Public Library - BOOK CLUB for 3rd and 5th Grades
In this two session book club, the participants will receive the book on December  8. Then it will be discussed at the following session on December 22. Please  register for both days on the YPL website. * Face masks and social distancing are  required. 

Wednesday, December 9 at 6:00 pm - Family BINGO on Zoom 
If you are interested in joining us to play BINGO on Zoom, please register on  the YPL website and you will receive a Zoom invitation. Each player will need  4 Bingo cards. See you soon! 

Thursday, December 10 and 17 at 4:30pm at the Yorkville Public Library - BOOK CLUB for 1st and 2nd Grades
In this two session book club, we will read the book,“Stanley’s Christmas  Adventure” by Jeff Brown. This is an easy reader chapter book. Please register for  both days on the YPL website. Face masks and social distancing are required.


Holiday Concert Information

  • All K-6 full day face-to-face students will be involved

  • We're thinking of a Winter Holiday Concert Drive-In at GRES Front Parking Lot

  • Stay tuned for more details! :)
Transportation

District 115’s bus company, Septran, has experienced a significant reduction in available bus drivers/monitors, due to their need to quarantine according to the district’s health protocols. The district has implemented measures to ensure Septran has enough bus drivers/monitors to continue the on-site learning model, including leaving the first three rows behind the bus driver unoccupied. Septran will continue to revise seating charts to space the students appropriately. This may result in some students sitting two to a seat, depending on the number of students on the bus route. Seating charts are subject to change as the district navigates the ongoing pandemic.

According to Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines, if an individual is determined to be COVID-19 positive, students within a three-row radius on the bus must quarantine. Since Illinois State Board of Education guidance allows up to 49 passengers on a bus, any quarantine procedures are likely to affect a significant number of passengers.

If you have any questions and/or concerns regarding these measures, please email Mike Vargas, director of business services, at mvargas@y115.org. 
Family in Need

We have a family in our community that is experienceing some hardship due to medical related issues and ongoing treatment as a result. In short, the family would benefit from support through at least mid-December, possibly longer.

Specific supports that would be appreciated include:
Gas Cards (long drives to the city)
Target Gift Cards (food/clothes)
Restaurant Gift Cards (for the sitter to have dinner delivered for the children while the parents are at the hospital in the city)

If you are able to support in any way at all, please drop off (or send with your students to turn in to the office) a gift card listed for the options above.
Winter Holiday Gift Donations
Grande Reserve Elementary School, as part of Y115, we will be collecting items for distribution to our families in need as well as new unwrapped toys for support of Operation Santa Claus 2020 sponsored by the Yorkville Junior Women’s Club in partnership with the Kendall County Community Food Pantry.

Wonderful local opportunities for giving!

And if your family is in need of some extra help this year or you know a family that could use help with the holidays, please contact Ms. Lickfelt, social worker (vlickfelt@y115.org), Mrs. Countryman, or Mrs. Breyne.

To donate please return the gift donation (unwrapped) 
to GRES by Friday, Dec 11th, 2020.
Future Important Dates:
12/11 - winter holiday gift donations due today
12/15 - PTO Meeting
12/16 - Winter Holiday Concert Drive-In at GRES Front Parking Lot
12/18 - GRES students released at 2:35pm
12/21-1/3/21 - NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
Teacher Feature
We would like to add a special section to our weekly newsletters but we need your help! Each week we would like to give a special "shoutout" to a GRES teacher. Students or parents can nominate a teacher to be included in our "Teacher Feature" section of the weekly newsletter by sharing a reason(s) why they make school a wonderful place to be! Your input can be shared by completing the digital submission form or you can print our paper copy and have your child turn it into the office at school. Thank you for your support, we are looking forward to sharing your responses!

You can either email it to: mbreyne@y115.org or
complete the: Teacher Feature Digital Submission Form
Hybrid Headlines
Please reference previous newletters for information regarding opportunities for our hybrid and e-learning students to participate in events at the Outdoor Education Center located at Hoover Forest Preserve in Yorkville.

In addition to your child coming to school there is an expected two hours of learning that are taking place at home also. Teachers have shared this information in Google Classroom or SeeSaw, depending on the grade of your child. If your child is struggling with their independent work at home, please contact your child's teacher for assistance or modifications. If your child is not completing their afternoon work, it will be marked as a partial absence.
E-Learning Exclusive
Please reference previous newletters for information regarding opportunities for our hybrid and e-learning students to participate in events at the Outdoor Education Center located at Hoover Forest Preserve in Yorkville.

Please ensure your child(ren) is fully clothed when attending Zoom meetings.

Attendance is mandatory on all zoom lessons. This is the time your child is receiving his or her direct instruction. Please make sure your child attends every zoom session or they will be marked absent. Attendance and truancy are still being monitored in all learning formats.
Nurse's Nook
If you will be traveling outside of the Continental US, please notify the office ASAP, as all family members will need to quarantine for 14 days upon return.

Please remember we are following the IDPH guidelines as we continue to make decisions in the best interest of our students and staff.

If anyone in the home is exhibiting COVID related symptoms, please remember to keep all children/siblings who attend schools in the district home as well!

Dental exams are due May 15, 2021 for all Kindergarten, 2nd, and 6th grade students.
PTO Information
PTO Meeting 12/15 @ 7:00pm; here's the link to join the Zoom meeting:
Meeting ID: 909 645 1872
Passcode: cXY0sJ
Yorkville Education Foundation Updates
  • Please reference previous newsletters for current information.
Stay Connected
Download the Mobile App
Download the Y115 mobile app to know what is happening in Y115 schools (and student-specific information for parents). Available for FREE through Google Play & App Store.
Be Involved
Want to make a difference? Join the foundation, boosters, PTO, a council or committee and volunteer your time to support public education in District 115. www.y115.org/volunteer
Fox Foodies
 School Lunches & Send Money to School:
  • Please reference previous newsletters for current information.
Grande Reserve Elementary School | Phone: 630-553-5513 | Fax: 630-553-5030 | www.y115.org