Jane Stenson Weekly Roar 8-23-25

Posted Date: 8/23/25 (12:00 PM)

Stenson Weekly Roar

August 23, 2025

Exterior view of Jane Stenson School on a sunny day, with a brick facade and a blue sky.

Back to School Information

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Our first day of school is Monday, August 25th.

SCHOOL HOURS: Students are escorted into the building at 8:37 a.m. daily. School on Mondays runs 8:40 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and Tuesdays-Fridays are 8:40 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

BREAKFAST: Breakfast will be available starting on the first day of school. Breakfast will be served daily from 8:25 a.m. - 8:35 a.m. Students may enter the main entrance for breakfast. If a student arrives after 8:35 a.m. they will need to enter their grade level’s entrance to start the school day. Parents must pay for breakfast through their Infinite Campus account unless they qualify for free/reduced. Breakfast menus can be found on our website.

LUNCH: Students may choose to bring lunch from home or receive a school lunch. We will provide hot lunches through our provider, Organic Life. Students who bring lunch from home, may purchase milk only. Parents must pay for lunch through their Infinite Campus account unless they qualify for free/reduced. Lunch menus can be found on our website.

SNACKS – Your child may bring one snack to school. Candy is not allowed. We encourage families to avoid junk food, when possible. Your child’s teacher may communicate more specific information about snacks in the classroom.

MEDICAL FORMS: Please send your child’s medical forms with your child for the first day of school. Click Here for specific information about medical forms.

Arrival Procedures

ENTRANCE ASSIGNMENTS: Entrance numbers are posted on the doors. Parents are not permitted to enter the school with their child through these doors. Supervisors will be outdoors beginning at 8:30 a.m. Children will be brought in by staff beginning at the 8:37 a.m. bell. Check below for the appropriate entrance.

Kindergarten, Door 2
1st/2nd Grade, Door 3
3rd Grade, Door 4
4th/5th Grade, Line up by basketball courts, then enter Door 5

Students line up at the entrance doors, in their assigned line, in the morning when they arrive. The playground, fields and basketball courts are closed before school starts in the mornings.

BICYCLES: Only fourth and fifth grade students are allowed to ride their bikes to school. Students must wear helmets when riding their bikes. Bikes are to be locked up in the bike rack near the main front entrance. Should you permit your child to ride a bike to school, please discuss bicycle safety. No skateboards, scooters, or roller blades should be brought to school.

WALKING ROUTES: Students are to cross Church Street, Skokie Blvd. or Gross Point Road at the intersections with the crossing guard.

Please watch this video to review our arrival and dismissal procedures to ensure the safety of our students.

DROP-OFF AT SCHOOL:

Arrival Map

Students should be dropped off between 8:30-8:37 a.m. If you arrive after 8:40 a.m., please park and bring your child to the main entrance. Please note that if the weather is bad (below 15 degrees with windchill, rain, or wet/blowing snow), students will come into the school building beginning at 8:30 a.m.

K-2 dropoff:

Parents will drop off in circle drive near the playground swing set
Pull all the way up to the cone and let your child out on the curb side
There is absolutely no parking- the circle drive is only for drop off
If you need to walk your child to their entrance, you must park in a legal parking spot
We encourage parents to say goodbye and let their child line up on their own
Students will stand in the line labeled with their room number when they arrive
Parents are free to leave as supervision is available at 8:30 a.m.

3-5 dropoff:

Parents will drop off on the school side of Latrobe
Pull all the way up to the cone and let your student out on the curb side
There is absolutely no parking- the yellow part of Latrobe is only for drop off
Do not drop your student off on the East side of Latrobe and cross the street
If you need to walk your child to their entrance, you must park in a legal parking spot
We encourage parents to say goodbye and let their child line up on their own
Students will stand in the line labeled with their room number when they arrive
Parents are free to leave as supervision is available at 8:30 a.m.

Dismissal Procedures

PICK UP FROM SCHOOL:

Dismissal Map

Parents should arrive by 3:30 (2:30 on Mondays) at the latest. Make sure your child’s teacher sees you when you pick up your child. If you arrive after 3:30 (2:30 on Mondays), please pick up your child from the main office.

Grades K-2 Parents can park in the circle drive as long as they are not double parked

You may only park in the circle drive after school (before school is drop and go)

Grades 3-5 Students can walk home or walk to a parent in a parked car, if they have a signed permission slip. If you choose, you may submit this permission slip to your child’s teacher.

If you need to get out of the car, you must park in a legal parking spot
Parents can park on Latrobe, Lyons, or Church as long as they are not double parked.
You may not park in the bus lane
You may not park in front of the fire hydrant

A cartoon lion holds a clock, promoting on-time arrival at Stenson school.

Attendance is Key to Success!

It is very important that students arrive for school on time, everyday, in order for their day to begin smoothly and to avoid the least amount of interruptions for the classroom.

ABSENT FROM SCHOOL: If your child will be absent, you must report the absence including the reason for the absence. If your child has a medical appointment and will come in late or leave early from school, we ask that you report that information as well. Absences or early/late arrivals due to appointments may be communicated through the Parent Portal or you may call the Attendance Line at (847) 676-7396.

TARDY TO SCHOOL: If your child is late to school, you must escort your child into the main entrance and sign them into school for the day. The sign in sheet will also include the reason for the tardiness. Please note that you will be asked to sign your child in late beginning at 8:40 a.m.

Academic Corner

Students in grades 1-5 will be testing in Math and Reading three times a year. Kindergarten will be tested two times a year beginning in December in Math and Reading. Please review this letter for more information about iReady. We will be testing at the end of this week into next week.

Kindergarten Kick Off

We are excited to get to know our Kindergartners this week! As we get to know our Kindergartners we will determine their classroom assignment. On Thursday afternoon, Kindergarten families will receive an email with information on your child's classroom teacher assignment for the school year.

A circle of children hold hands, smiling and looking up.

Ready, Responsible & Respectful

THE 3 R’s: Throughout our school you will see and hear our students talking about being READY, RESPONSIBLE AND RESPECTFUL. These are the pillars of our code of conduct at Jane Stenson School. Feel free to point out examples of how these skills are critical at home as well.

CELL PHONES/SMART WATCHES: The following is prohibited student conduct in Skokie School District 68: using a cellular telephone, smart phone, smart watch, and/or audio/video recording device, or other electronic device in any manner - including during recess - that disrupts the educational environment or violates the rights of others, including using the device to take photographs in locker rooms or bathrooms, cheat, or otherwise violate student conduct rules.

Cell phones may not be used at school. Cell phones must be turned off and stored in students’ lockers before the school day begins through the end of the school day.

A smartwatch may not be used for communicating with others during the school day. If students and parents need to communicate during the school day, they should do so through the Main Office. The school assumes no responsibility for the security of these items.

DOG INFORMATION: Please note that dogs are not allowed, even on a leash, on school property. Dogs are allowed on park district property, however, not during school hours. School hours are considered to be 8:30-2:30 on Mondays and 8:30-3:30 on Tuesdays-Fridays on school days.

BIRTHDAYS: Student birthdays will be acknowledged by the class. Cupcakes or other food items and balloons are not permitted. Party bags are allowed, as long as there is one for each student. Party bags will be distributed at the end of the day and opened at home. If you would like to distribute birthday party invitations, you must include an invitation for each child in the class. The invitations should be given to the teacher and the teacher will distribute.

PARENT-STUDENT HANDBOOK: Please review our District 68 Student and Parent Handbook for more detailed information.

A cartoon illustration of a school building with open doors.

Open House: Tuesday, September 2nd

Please join us for our annual Open House on Tuesday, September 2nd.

Kindergarten-2nd grade 6:00-7:00 p.m.
3rd-5th grade 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Family Directory

This year, families may choose to be included in a new Family Directory. The directory will list each student’s name, homeroom, and parent/guardian contact information (name and email from registration records). If you’d like your family included, please complete the form that can be found in the email that Dr. Grens sent on August 22nd.