The Student/Parent Handbook is now available on the Nettelhorst website. To read it-and all Nettelhorst families need to read the handbook-please  type the following address in your browser:

 Nettelhorst.org/dreams/ncg/?page_id=5

It’s very important that all families read the entire handbook and sign the pages at the back of the handbook that require signatures. These pages include various permission slips for students and provide the school with important information. Because we’re late posting this on the website, please disregard the September return date and return the necessary pages to your child’s teacher no later than October 3. Please do be sure that you turn in all of the pages that need your signature.

We’ve posted the handbook to the website in an effort to save trees as well as money, so we ask that you send in only those pages requiring signatures. I hope this handbook provides information that will help your family understand procedures and policies followed at Nettelhorst School. All of our policies and procedures are based on Chicago Public Schools policies.

If you do not have Internet access or cannot print off the necessary pages, please see the office for a handbook request form. We will send the handbook home with your child. We appreciate you helping us to wisely use our resources.

It’s important that we discuss our procedures for dismissal after school. Please refrain from taking your child as the rest of the students in the class are still coming out of the school door. I have asked that teachers, from kindergarten through third grade, check off students’ names when they have been picked up by an authorized adult. We are doing this for the safety and security of all children. When parents attempt to pick up children as they walk out the door, it makes it difficult for the teachers to complete the check-out procedure. It also slows down the process of exiting students from the building. Please wait until all of the students form a line (where they line up every morning). Please also always make sure that you have made eye contact with your child’s teacher. I thank you for your cooperation with this important procedure.

Parents should be and are advocates for children. We appreciate all of our parents and all you do to make Nettelhorst a wonderful place to learn. Nettelhorst has a Parent Advisory Team that I encourage all to join. The Parent Advisory Team is a group of parents interested in making Nettelhorst as great as it can be. Last year, this team helped construct our school improvement plan or what we call the SIPAAA. They also explored important issues, such as standards-based instruction, curriculum goal setting, and character development. Their input has been invaluable in charting the course for this school. Please join the Parent Advisory Team as the team sets the agenda for topics for this school year.  The first meeting will take place in room 204 on October 7 at 5:45 p.m. New team members are always welcome.

Finally, because Caribou Coffee has always been such a kind and generous neighbor to Nettelhorst, I would like to encourage families to support Caribou in its efforts to raise money for efforts that fight breast cancer. Between September 29 and November 2, Caribou will donate 10% of its sales of Amy’s Blend coffee and select merchandise to The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. Please help Caribou be part of the cure and help support our neighbor!

Quick News 

• If you really want to learn what happened at school on any given day, ask your child about it close to bed-time.  Children are usually more willing to share information closer to bed-time.
• To keep our playground a safe place to play, it’s important to refrain from skateboarding or using any equipment with wheels. In addition to being a safety concern, the wheels will wear off the paint over time. Please respect these guidelines, both before and after school.
• Due to the short week, ISAT results will be sent home on Monday.
• Bank Day has started for the 2008-2009 school year. Students can make deposits every Thursday during their lunch time.