Dear Waters School Community:

Spirit Week is unique to Waters school. The week is filled with excitement and anticipation as each day we celebrate a different theme for the day. Our Harvest Day is extra special because the students get to taste the "fruits of their labor!" In addition, there are special stories that Mr. Leki shares with the students around the warmth of a low burning fire in the school garden. All the while sipping on hot cider and eating potatoes from the garden. Did your child share with you? Did they tell you how delicious the cider and potatoes were?    

This week we will continue our traditions with our Halloween parade on Tuesday morning at 8:45 a.m. If the weather is nice the parade will be outside. The parade will begin exiting the doors on the north side at Wilson. The parade route will be left onto Maplewood, left onto Sunnyside, and then left at Campbell to enter back into the school through the main doors. If the weather does not cooperate, the students will parade throughout the building. If it is indoors, parents will be permitted to come inside and view along the first floor corridor. On Wednesday, Dia de los Muertos, we will remember and celebrate our loved ones who are no longer with us. Please be sure to stop by to see the ofrenda, this space will be a tribute to our loved ones, outside the main office. 

This week will be shortened due to our staff professional development day on Friday. Teachers will be working with administration on initiatives that we have outlined in our CIWP (Continuous Improvement Work Plan).

Please don't forget that Student Parent Teacher Conferences will be on November 15, 2017. At Waters, we encourage the involvement of your child, our student, in the ownership of their education. We ask that your child attend the conference so they can share their progress with you. These conferences are scheduled between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Please be on the look out for a sign-up request in the upcoming weeks.  

On Saturday, October 28, I had the pleasure to join some of our students as they participated in the Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Schools City Championship Cross Country meet. We had four students qualify for the event: Cece Barlow, Madeline Herman, Emmitt Singer and Nate Bjurstrom. Congratulations athletes – we are proud of you!

I look forward to seeing everyone this week!

Dear Waters Community,

Students are learning about various cultures as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage during the month of October. Two weeks ago, students enjoyed the sounds of flamenco music from Spain, Mariachi music from Mexico and Salsa music from Puerto Rico. Each grade level is studying a particular country and its culture as it relates to Hispanic Heritage. They are creating display boards that will join our very own Frida Kahlo in the main hallway. 

This week students had the opportunity to use their imagination and take the Cardboard Challenge. Thank you Mrs. Vecchioni for spearheading this STEAM initiative. It was wonderful to see so many families creating together. One student even made a working trumpet!

This week will be filled with activities as we celebrate our annual Spirit Week. Please be sure to follow the daily "assignment" as each day has a different theme. We will host our annual Harvest Day pumpkin patch, petting zoo, roast our very own garden potatoes and hear fabulous stories in the garden while sipping hot cider!

Dear Waters Community:

I hope everyone was able to have an enjoyable and restful weekend!  

It was wonderful to see so many of you at Curriculum Night last week. I hope you were able to gain some insight into your child's day at school. Please remember to check the school website for information presented on Wednesday.

High School Information Meeting
This week, on Wednesday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m., Ms. Bricker, our counselor, will host our annual high school information night. GoCPS is the NEW application process for high school. Ms. Bricker will discuss the application and high school options. It is a mandatory meeting for 8th grade parents, however, 7th grade parents are welcome to attend.

Hispanic Heritage Month
Waters is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Students will have the pleasure of learning about Hispanic cultures during the upcoming weeks. I look forward to hearing from the students and their cultural exploration. On Friday, the students will have the pleasure of attending an assembly where Flamenco dancers, a Mariachi ensemble and a salsa band will perform.

Medical Exclusion Alert
This is a reminder to turn in medical forms for your child's immunizations and physical. If you have received letters and emails from your child's teacher, this is a priority for you this week. Please do not delay. Students who are not in compliance by Friday, October 13, will be excluded from school. For returning students, notifications went out last spring and reminders have been ongoing.

Some of you have expressed concerns that you had turned in the forms and are concerned as to why you are receiving an email from your child's teacher or a letter from CPS stating your child is not in medical compliance. Please contact your pediatrician and confirm the information with them first. Once confirmed, feel free to ask your pediatrician to email the documents to me or they can fax them to 773-534-5087.

If your child's immunizations are not current and/or your child needs a physical, please contact your pediatrician and request an appointment for your child. By providing the school with an appointment date, this will lift the exclusion. You MUST communicate this date by emailing me. If you are requesting a Religious Exemption, please see the attached document.  Your request must be signed by a healthcare professional. This is Illinois law.

Parking Concerns
As a reminder, parking vehicles adjacent to the school is not allowed during school hours. No Parking signs are posted on the parkway with designated times. Please be respectful of our teachers and their need to park alongside the street when our limited capacity parking lot is filled. In addition, parking in the alleys around the school is against city ordinance and you will be ticketed. There have been several cars parked in the alley blocking neighbors from leaving their garages. Please know the police have been notified and tickets will be issued.
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I thank you in advance for taking care of these matters and I look forward to the school week!

Dear Waters Community:

This week we will host our annual Curriculum Night on Wednesday, October 4 at 6:00 p.m. in the gym and at 6:30 p.m. in your child's respective classroom.  

CIWP, Essentials, SEL, DL, EL, TBE, TPI, WT, LSC, BAC: have you ever wondered what all these "letters" mean? Come on out on Wednesday evening to learn what these stand for and more! You will learn about our staff, mission, strategies, core content and other programs. You will also learn how our Local School Council (LSC), Bilingual Advisory Committee (BAC) and WatersToday (WT) work together to provide resources for our school to continue the outstanding learning opportunities that your children and families receive.  

We have advertised this as a parent only event. The staff have prepared their presentations with adults in mind. If you have not done so already, please seek childcare for this special parent evening.  

Waters family is expanding! Congratulations to Mr. Kurz, his wife and daughter, as they welcomed a son and brother, William Edward Kurz, into their family on Friday, September 21. Mr. Kurz has taken some time to be with his family. While Mr. Kurz is the expert physical education instructor at Waters, during his absence, we are collectively providing physical activities for the students. Our Essential Team members have joined in to provide physical learning opportunities outdoors (weather permitting) for the students. Safety and security is always a mainstay at Waters. This has been a great solution to getting the students outside for physical movement during Mr. Kurz' leave.  

Earlier this year, parent Carolyn Dean put Waters in touch with a company called Legrand. This company is interested in giving back to their communities in multiple ways, one is giving to schools. Legrand has donated about $7,000 of material to Waters Elementary, including occupancy sensors for the bathrooms, tamper resistant (safer) outlets for the hallways, and solutions for multiple outlet needs in various classrooms. To help install these products, Juan Bay and Erika Frank, both Legrand employees have donated their time as well. We are so grateful for this tremendous partnership and helping make our school GREEN! We look forward to our partnership that will continue to enhance Waters school and the local community. Thank you Erika and Juan!

Congratulations to our newly elected members of the BAC! We look forward to a productive year of learning together.  
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