Posted January 6th, 2012 by Mrs. Peacock
Dear Anne Fox Families,
We are off to a very busy start this New Year! On our first day back, our students traveled through different places in the building to review how to “Be Respectful”, “Be Responsible”, and “Be Safe” both inside and outside Anne Fox School. Our 6th grade peer ambassadors did an outstanding job of leading our review. These behaviors contribute to making Anne Fox a successful learning environment. As a parent, you can continue to support positive behavior by discussing how to be safe, respectful and responsible at home and in the community.
Starting the week of January 9th, our English Language Learners will take the ACCESS test. This assessment is mandated by the state of Illinois and is an adaptive test that measures Speaking, Listening, Writing and Reading skills. Prior to break, students completed their MAP testing in Reading and Math. Student’s individual MAP scores will be reviewed with you during Student-Led Conferences which will be held on Thursday, January 12th and Friday, January 13th. If you have not already scheduled a conference time, please contact your child’s teacher. Due to conferences, school will be dismissed at 11:40 on Thursday, January 12th. There will be no school on Friday, January 13th or Monday, January 16th in observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Also beginning the week of January 9th, PTA will host the Scholastic Book Fair. The book fair will be open during the school day and during the evening conference night. PTA will also have a membership sign-up during conferences. Please consider joining the PTA, volunteering your time or talents, or attending a PTA meeting. This wonderful organization sponsors many events at Fox including the all school field trip, assemblies, ice cream social, and family fun night. The next PTA event will be the spaghetti dinner Friday, January 27th from 5:30-7:30. Our 1st Anne Fox Art Show will also take place on that night. Plan to spend the evening viewing your child’s creativity.
The weather has been unseasonably warm but colder weather will soon follow. Please have children dress accordingly. Students should dress for outside play each day with appropriate jackets, hats, scarves, gloves or mittens. When there is snow on the ground students still go outside for recess so your child will need snow pants and boots to play on the playground. Students go outside for recess each day unless it is raining or the temperature is unsafe, falling below zero.
Though District 54 makes every effort to keep our school open and operational, circumstances beyond our control oftentimes dictate school closings. To read more about the district procedures during school closings please visit the District 54 website at: http://sd54.org/schoolcancellations/. Please take some time to consider what kind of alternative arrangements need to be made for your children should our school be closed for inclement weather or other related emergencies.
Anne Fox is seeking a parent representative for the District Citizens’ Advisory Committee (DCAC). This is a School Board committee composed of staff members; parents; representatives of various governmental, community and business organizations; and members of the community-at-large. The Board established this committee to increase communication and provide citizen involvement at the school and district levels. DCAC offers members an opportunity to offer input on district topics and promote education and community involvement. DCAC has been a valuable resource for the district. Some recent projects include helping to develop a parent brochure about interventions, creating parent booklets, explaining MAP testing (Measures of Academic Progress), and providing feedback on a revised junior high report card, social studies curriculum and a new writing framework. For more information or if you are interested in representing Fox, contact Cyndi Ballmaier at (847) 357-5141.
2012 is going to continue to be an outstanding year at Anne Fox. Welcome back everyone!
Cyndie Gordon
Principal
