Hometown Families:

As the weather is changing, please make sure your children are dressed to go outside. We will be going out for recess until the weather is below 32 degrees.

We are looking forward to our Family Conferences this week Thursday and Friday. Please make sure you have signed up for a conference. Call the office to schedule.

Please remind your older children if they are picking up a younger sibling they should walk straight to get them and not stop off anywhere. We do not want our younger grades waiting for their older siblings. Students should not be stopping at the park after school without an adult. At the end of the day, students need to go home to check in with family and then may return to play in the park.

Parents will be able sign up for conferences starting on Thursday, September 29th at 10am, Parents are able to sign up for three conferences. We encourage families to sign up for homeroom teachers, encore teachers such as PE, library, art, or music as well as interventionists. Parents are able to sign up for conferences until October 10th.

10-13- Half Day- Dismissal at 11:30am PT Conferences 5pm-8pm

10/14- NO SCHOOL PT Conferences 11:30am-6:30pm

10/18- CASE Field Trip to Farm

10/19- Picture Retakes

Our picture retakes will be next week Wednesday. Families should bring the pictures back if they will be doing the retakes.

Please make sure students are not walking through the parking lot when arriving at school. Students should be using the pathway as to stay safe. Vehicles are pulling into the lot and we want everyone safe. Also, as you are standing with your child please remember we have little ears listening. Profanity is frowned upon.

We will have a week for Unity to stand up to bullying. Please see the flyer with all of the days for different dress down days.

Please make sure your health exam and immunizations are filed with the nurse. Exclusions start on October 15th.

Every week I will be spotlighting a staff member or a team. Meet our new reading specialist, Ms. Kristen Scheffler.

How long and what grades have you taught?

This is my first year teaching. I am an Academic Support Specialist working with students in Kindergarten-4th grade.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?

I would love to travel to Paris because I have never traveled out of the country and I would love to try all the French foods and desserts. French macarons are my favorite!

What are you most excited for this year?

I am most excited to continue building relationships with my students. We are off to a great start and it has been wonderful seeing my students' personalities come out while we are working in small groups.

What is your favorite food?

I love almost any dessert! I have a real sweet tooth. If I had to pick one it would have to be brownies.

Who is someone you admire and why?

I admire the other teachers at Hometown, but especially the other members of the intervention team. Since we are all working together in the same room, I have been able to observe the other interventionists a lot. As a new teacher, it is wonderful to have the opportunity to watch veteran teachers teach.

If you see Ms. Scheffler around Hometown, please welcome her and say hello!

Students will be able to participate in a talent show this school year. A flyer went home explaining the event. Auditions will be tomorrow, October 12th. Please encourage your students to sign up to showcase their talents.

Students will be able to come in costumes for our half day on Halloween. We will have a parade for students and parents to view outside weather permitting. If we have bad weather, we will have the parade in the gym. After the parade, teachers will have Halloween activities for their classrooms. If you child would like to bring non-eatable items to pass to the class they may do so. We will not have parents running activities this year.

Please remember you may NOT park in the back lot when picking up students. You must park on the side streets and walk to the child's door. Please be mindful during the dismissal time. Police will be monitoring the area.

We are happy to partner with the Arab American Services for the school year. Please see the attached flyer. We are looking for parent mentors to start the new year. If you are interested please reach out to the school. We will have a table at the Open house with more information.

Website: d123.org/hometown
Location: 8870 S Duffy Ave, Hometown, IL, USA
Phone: 708-423-7360
Twitter: @d123hometown

Email: abencik@d123.org
Phone: 708-423-7360
Twitter: @AmandaBencik