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9-28-2026 Junior Bulldogs Newsletter

Posted Date: 09/28/26 (03:56 PM)
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A cartoon bulldog puppy with a purple collar and a tag with 'JR' on it.

Early Childhood Center

Junior Bulldogs Newsletter

September 28, 2026

Miles of Smiles Dental Program

The Miles of Smiles Dental Program will be visiting our school on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

This program provides a variety of preventative dental services to children at no cost to you, including exams, cleanings, fluoride, and sealants if needed. This is a wonderful opportunity to ensure your child's dental health without having to schedule an outside appointment.

A permission slip was sent home on September 14 with more information about the program.  If this is a program you are interested in, please fill out the form and send it either in your child's folder or to the front office by Thursday, October 1st.

Thank you for your help in supporting healthy smiles!
 

Erin's Law

In 2013, Illinois passed Erin’s Law (House Bill 6193), which requires all schools to provide age-appropriate lessons on sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention for students in Pre-K through 12th grade. These lessons are designed to help children learn how to stay safe and protect themselves.

To support this important work, our District Social Workers, Psychologists, and Health/PE teachers will provide developmentally appropriate instruction aligned with state learning standards. This instruction will focus on giving children practical tools to recognize unsafe situations and know what to do. Topics include:

  • Understanding safe vs. unsafe touches
  • Following safety rules at home and school
  • Learning how to say “NO”
  • Knowing the difference between safe and unsafe secrets
  • Understanding that abuse is never the child’s fault
  • Telling a trusted adult if something happens

Parent Information Session:  Families are invited to attend a virtual informational meeting with Elisa Leporini, Director of Student Services, to preview the instruction and ask questions.
  • Date: Monday, September 28, 2026
  • Time: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. (Virtual via Google Meets)
  • Link: Join Google Meets

Student Presentation Schedule:
Students will receive instruction in the classroom setting between October 5th through November 20th, 2026.

Opt-Out Option: If you prefer that your child does not participate in this program, please complete the Curriculum Objection Form by October 5th, 2026.
 
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students safe.
 

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Your child's teacher will be notifying you this week when you can sign-up for parent/teacher conferences, and I will be sending another post with directions.  They will be held on Thursday, October 8 from 4:30-8:00 p.m. and Friday, October 9 from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Here is a breakdown of the schedule:

Thursday, October 8
4:30-7:00 p.m. - In-Person Conferences
7:00-8:00 p.m. - Virtual Conferences

Friday, October 9
8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - In-Person Conferences
1:00-3:00 - Virtual Conferences

 

Parent/Guardian Perception Survey: We Want to Hear From You

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, Skokie 68 is conducting Perception Surveys to gather feedback from students, families, and staff about their experiences in our schools.

Your parent/guardian feedback will help us identify areas for recognition and improvement and support the goals of our 2026–2031 Strategic Plan. Survey results will also establish baseline data and help us measure our progress, including our goal of strengthening the sense of belonging among students, families, and staff.

The survey is anonymous and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Complete the Parent/Guardian Perception Survey:

Thank you for sharing your perspective and partnering with us as we listen, learn, and use feedback to make meaningful improvements for our students, families, and staff.
 

Back to School Information

PARENT SQUARE
Parent Square is our primary communication tool between home and school. Here is the link along with information about how to set-up an account and get started with Parent Square:

  • If you don't have the invitation: Go to ParentSquare's sign-in page. 
  • Enter the email address or phone number that is on file with the school. 
  • Follow the prompts to verify your account and create a password. 
Parent Video - Getting Started with ParentSquare (3 minutes)

SCHOOL HOURS:
Morning students attend school from 9:00-11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. Drop-off time is 8:55 a.m.
Afternoon students attend school from 12:15-2:45 p.m. Monday-Friday. Drop-off time is 12:10 p.m.
Please arrive on time because our staff is unavailable to supervise your child before or after sessions.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Please send your child to school with the following supplies daily:
  • A large backpack (big enough to fit a folder)
  • A water bottle labeled with your child's name
Please send your child to school with these items that will remain at school:
  • A change of clothes (pants, shirt, underwear, socks) placed in a Ziploc bag with your child's name on it.
  • Package of pull-ups or diapers in your child's size and 2 packs of baby wipes if your child is not potty trained.

STUDENT INFORMATION FORM 2026-2027: This form is being mailed to each family. Please complete for each student attending our preschool and return to the ECC.
 

Health Office Reminders

Physical Form Deadline
Please provide your child's physical form with up to date immunizations by October 15th.  Physicals must be done within one year prior to the first day of school attendance. If we do not have this form by October 15, your child may be excluded from school.

Reporting Absences
Please make sure that you contact the school when your child is absent. Attendance is very important as it helps establish routine for your child and helps them retain their lessons as they continue on their path of education. Please contact Lia Moreno, the health clerk, in order to report any absences. Below is her contact information:

Lia Moreno, Health Clerk
 

Drop-Off & Pick-Up Reminders

  • Please use the circle drive in front of the ECC for drop-off and pick-up as opposed to parking your car in the parking lot and walking to the front door. This is safer and faster.
  • Please form two lines in the circle drive—one on the left and one on the right.
  • Please stay in your car if we need to move vehicles forward toward the front where the stop sign is.
  • Please do NOT park in one of the handicapped parking spots in front of the building unless you have a valid handicapped plate or tag.
  • In the circle drive, please keep the white striped area clear for families and students walking to/from school and staff members walking to/from their vehicles.

During the winter, there may be fewer parking spots in the lot because of snow removal. Families of afternoon students who park in the lot may be stuck in the lot because of dismissal at OOJH.

Below are links to more detailed procedures and a map of the drop-off/pick-up route:
 

Bus Drop-Off Reminders

Here are a couple of reminders to make drop-off run more smoothly for our students on the bus:
  • To help our bus drivers get familiar with all of our students, please have the number card matching your child's backpack tag when you are picking up your child from the bus. This was handed out at Meet and Greet last Monday or sent home in your child's backpack.
  • An adult listed on the student's information form needs to come and meet their child at the bus. Staff on the bus cannot bring the student to the door. If an adult is not at the bus to receive a child, the bus will return the student to the ECC, and we will call you to come and pick-up your child.
 

Snack Information

Your child will receive a nutritious snack daily at preschool. Snacks typically include a whole grain, a fresh fruit, and milk. Click on the menu linked below to find out more.

 

Upcoming Events

  • September 28 6;00-7:00 p.m. - Erin's Law Parent Information Session (virtual via Google Meets)
  • October 1 - Miles of Smiles forms are due
  • October 2 - No School - Teacher Institute Day
  • October 8 4:30-8:00 p.m. - Parent/Teacher Conferences
  • October 9 - No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences
  • October 13 - No School - Indigenous Peoples Day
  • October 27 - Miles of Smiles Dental Program
Example calendar with dates pinned
 

Devopmental Screenings

The next developmental screening is on October 9. To make an appointment, please call Connie at the Niles Township District of Special Education (NTDSE) at 847-965-9040 extension 841.
Poster announcing "DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS" for preschool-aged children (3-5) in specific school districts.
 

Links

 
Person using a laptop

Contact info

847-568-8901
Coordinator of Student Services & Early Learning:
John Siegler - jsiegler@skokie68.org
Early Childhood Secretary:
Heidi Canchola - hcanchola@skokie68.org
Early Childhood Health Clerk:
Lia Moreno - limoreno@skokie68.org