GRES News 2.11.22

February 11, 2022

Good evening GRES families,

Winter weather provides us an opportunity to get outside and do something kind for someone else. This week's Kindness Challenge was to help a neighbor shovel snow. What other ways are you showing kindness to others? Maybe as a family, you can generate a list of things to do!

Do you know someone who represents the best of Yorkville CUSD 115? If so, nominate them for the Fostering Our Future Award! The Yorkville 115 community has shown extraordinary grit during the past year. Yorkville 115 staff seamlessly reimagined lessons and prioritized students' social and emotional needs. Yorkville 115 community members created virtual events, organized to help families affected by the pandemic, and created connections outside of school buildings that supported the students and staff working inside them. This connection is the heartbeat of our school district- what it means to be a Yorkville Fox. Every day, this steady pulse runs through the district. The Foundation wants to share the stories of these extraordinary heroes and honor them through Fostering our Future, its district-wide awards ceremony and recognition program.

Click here (https://yef115.org/awards) to learn more & nominate that amazing teacher, community member, or volunteer! The deadline to nominate is 2/25/2022.

5Essentials Parent Survey Reminder:

Last Sunday, the district sent out information on how to complete the 5Essentials Survey. As a parent, you now have an opportunity to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school called the Illinois 5Essentials Survey. The 10 minute survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains.

The Parent Survey Supplement is now open and will close on March 11, 2022. We need at least 20% of our D115 parents to participate so please complete the survey today!

To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact Brent Edwards at jbedwards@y115.org. Thank you so much for your participation and helping to provide key insights for improvement at your child’s school. Please find more information at Yorkville 5Essentials Parent Survey

5Essentials Student Survey Information:

We will be administering the 5Essentials Survey to fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students during ILT from 2/10-2/15. Any parent wishing to opt out their child(ren) needs to communicate prior to the classes' scheduled ILT class.

Are you worried you are not receiving all the communications from Y115? As we know, winter weather brings quick announcements of school updates. Please make sure that we have your correct phone number and email. You can check this in your Home Access Center. If you need to make a change, please call the office at 630-553-5513.

Please know our mitigating efforts are still in place and our custodial team is working hard. Teachers and staff are doing their best to keep students 3 feet or more apart and reminding children to wear their mask appropriately.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Michele Breyne

GRES Principal

Reading Corner

PTO

February first is the start of the Kane County Cougars Reading Program. Eligible participants will get free game tickets to a Cougars game, a drawstring bag, a hot dog, and a drink at the game! These participants need to log 200 minutes every two weeks. Submit a signed verification form every two weeks until March 29th. If you have any questions, contact Sandy Ramirez sramirezcvt@gmail.com or call 630-962-7483. The forms have been sent home with the students.

It's hard to believe that it's time to start planning for the 6th grade Send-Off and Teacher Appreciation Week...where did the year go? Teacher appreciation week is celebrated May 2-May 6. The sixth grade Send-Off is closer to the last day of school. If you are interested in helping plan the 6th grade Send-Off, we are looking for volunteers! How awesome would it be that you can play a role in your child(ren)'s life , or their teacher, so that they always have this to remember!?!? If you are interested, please contact Sandy Ramirez at sramirezcvt@gmail.com or call/text 630-962-7483.

Arrival & Dismissal

If you are a car driver and pick your child(ren) up at the front of the building, you may pull out and around other waiting cars if your child(ren) have loaded.

SHOUT OUTS!!!

"Mrs. Reed continues to impress us with her creativity and dedication to teaching. Our son has always LOVED school and appreciates a good challenge. We know how overwhelming it can be to constantly differentiate your instruction to meet the needs of all the students and still provide inquiry based activities that spark curiosity and require deep thinking for students who want a challenge. Mrs. Reed does this on a daily basis and our son comes home raving about her lessons, sense of humor, and thoughtful interest in him and his endless questions. We particularly thought it was so neat that when he came to school and recited the presidents in order, that she went home and learned them herself. She has continued to foster his love for learning and make school a place he looks forward to going. We could not have asked for a better 2nd grade experience and classroom environment for him. We are SO GRATEFUL for her communication and the way she "gets my son" and all that he is... we appreciate her so very much! She is a gift!"

"Mrs. Daros, thank you so much for always being very quick in response to emails. My daughter comes home every day saying how much she loves and enjoys your class. Thank you for making this year a successful year for her!"

"Ms. Ska and Mrs. Countryman thank you for all your support with our daughter and her 504. We feel this is the most successful our daughter has ever been and we are so proud of her accomplishments. We thank you so much for making school fun, and also challenging her to be better. She loves going to school and loves your class!"

Do you have someone you'd like to recognize or thank? Someone who has gone out of the way for you or your child(ren)? Submit a shout out by completing the Staff Shout Outs or you can email it to mbreyne@y115.org or scountryman@y115.org.

Thank you for helping spread joy! We are looking forward to sharing your responses!