Dear St. Isidore Families,

I begin each new school year reflecting on this quote. Slowing down to be a child and a parent is so necessary. I hope that you and your family have enjoyed the best part of education this summer. I, too, have enjoyed the relaxation summer brings, but it has also been a whirlwind of activity to get everything ready for the first day of school.

Thank you to our summer maintenance staff who has worked so hard all summer to have our building in tip top shape for the return of our students and staff. The walls have been painted, classrooms cleaned and floors are waxed and ready to go! Just wait until you see the school office!

New Faces- Besides me, you will see some new faces on our staff. Please join me in welcoming…

Mrs. Monica Benes, Administrative Assistant – Mrs. Benes will work along side Mrs. Redpath in our school office. Mrs. Benes comes to us with 23 years experience as a school secretary in the Diocese of Joliet. Mrs. Benes served as school secretary at St. Joseph’s in Addison, Holy Family in Bensenville, and St. Paul’s in Joliet. I have had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Benes for the past 10 years. Mrs. Benes holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University.

Mrs. Rita Carter, Technology Teacher/Coordinator- Mrs. Carter comes to us with a wealth of experience in the field of instructional technology. Mrs. Carter was the technology teacher/coordinator at St. Michael’s in Wheaton from 2003-2014. She took time off after the 2013-2014 school year to be with her family and is now eager to return to the school setting. Mrs. Carter holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University.

Mrs. Katie Ciccone, 1^st Grade – Mrs. Ciccone is a firm believer in Catholic education as a product of Catholic education and graduate of Driscoll Catholic HS. Mrs. Ciccone’s children attend Catholic schools and her oldest is starting at St. Viator this August. Mrs. Ciccone taught first grade at Visitation School in Elmhurst prior to starting her family. Mrs. Ciccone holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University.

Mrs. Kristen Fabbri, 6^th grade homeroom/Middle School Social Studies/ELA – Mrs. Fabbri will be moving into Mr. Sheehan’s classroom and will be teaching 6^th-8^th grade SS and ELA (Do not fret…Mr. Sheehan has moved to the science lab and will be teaching middle school science with a 7^th grade homeroom.) Mrs. Fabbri has a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Loyola University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University. Mrs. Fabbri most recently served as an academic interventionist within the Diocese of Joliet and was a special education teacher in Niles District 219 prior to starting her family.

Mrs. Sue Stafford, 4^th grade – Mrs. Stafford is a veteran teacher and a returning face to St. Isidore School. Mrs. Stafford and her family are parishioners at St. Isidore and her daughter, Sara, graduated from St. Isidore in 2011. Mrs. Stafford taught at St. Joseph’s in Addison from 2003-2009 and then transitioned to Holy Family Catholic School in Bensenville at the start of the 2009-2010 school year and has been there since. I was Mrs. Stafford’s principal for five school years and I know you will be as impressed with her as I have been and continue to be.

New Parent Orientation – Parents new to St. Isidore School are invited to an orientation evening on August 6^th at 6:30pm in the school gym. Please enter through the main Ministry Center doors (Door Set 1E). This evening will help you become better acclimated with our procedures and routines. Speaking as a parent, it will also help ease your tensions and anxiety as your child begins at a new school.

Meet and Greet/Supply Drop Off- The school and classrooms will be open for school supply drop off/meet the teachers on Monday, August 19^th from 1:30-3:30pm. The time frame is open and flexible, so arrive when you arrive and leave when you are done. You do not need to arrive at 1:30 exactly, but please note that the event does end at 3:30, so please do not arrive at 3:25. This is for Preschool thru 8^th grade. Should your child have any medicine, inhaler, or an epi-pen, please be sure to bring those to the school office on this day with the required paperwork. The required Diocesan paperwork can be found on School Speak listed as Diocese Medication Form 2019-2020. We also have extra copies in the school office if needed.

Immunizations – St. Isidore School enforces Illinois School Code regarding exclusion policies for health requirements. To comply with state requirements, all immunization forms must be submitted on or before October 1^st. If you have not yet submitted your child’s health requirements you must do so no later than October 1^st, or your child will be excluded from school. These requirements specifically apply to students starting preschool, kindergarten, 6^th grade, and playing sports. Should you have any questions, please contact Monica in the school office. Please do not wait until the last minute to do so, as your child will be excluded should you not have the correct paperwork by October 1^st.

Summer Office Hours – Beginning August 1^st thru the first day of school, the school office is open 9am-3pm M-F. Please note that the school office will be closed on August 14^th and August 15^th for staff training, as well as the morning of August 19^th for our parish staff retreat. Beginning Tuesday, August 20^th, the school office will resume regular office hours of 7:30am-3:30pm M-F.

First Day of School – The first day of school for K-8 is Tuesday, August 20^th. Students are to wear their uniforms the first day. Students should arrive to school between 7:40-7:45 on August 20^th and line up in their homerooms directly outside of the Ministry Center. We will begin the year with the Hensley children ringing our original school bell at 7:50am, followed by a Back to School blessing from Fr. Jim. All parents are invited to join us outside for the blessing; however, parents will not be allowed to come into the school building with their children. Instead all parents are invited to our Boo-Hoo,Yahoo! breakfast in the school gym.

Our first day of school is a half-day. Students will attend Mass at 10am with dismissal at 11am from the main school doors.

Arrival shifts back to our typical routine the next day. Please be patient and allow extra time as we are all getting re-acclimated to the routine. Students line up in homerooms outside of the MC between 7:40am-7:50am. Do not drop your child off before 7:40am as the arrival area is not manned. Should you need to bring your child to school before 7:40am, you can use our morning care program beginning at 6:45am. If there is inclement weather for arrival, students will line up inside of the school building.

Dismissal procedures begin the first day of school with students being dismissed from the main school doors. Full day dismissal begins at 2:45pm for preschool and kindergarten, while 1-8 dismiss at 2:55pm.

First Day of Preschool- The first day for our littles is Monday, August 26^th. Preschool parents are invited to join us for our special preschool Boo-Hoo,Yahoo! breakfast after drop off on 8/26.

Extended Day – St. Isidore School offers morning care and after school care for our families. Extended Day begins on Wednesday, August 21^st. Morning care begins at 6:45am. Our aftercare runs from 3pm-6pm. Please contact Dawn Alvino with any EDC questions dawnalvino@saintisidoreschool.org

Gym Shoes/ School Shoes- Students can wear gym shoes as a part of their school uniform, including Mass days. The gym shoes can have different colors and patterns, but ideally should be as conservative as possible. No full-on neon, red, lights, etc., but color and pattern are allowed.

School Speak – As you know, we use School Speak as our student information system. It helps us if you continue to keep your information updated in School Speak. Please contact Mrs. Benes in our school office if you have any questions regarding School Speak.

Picture Day – As you are doing your back to school shopping, fall pictures will be taken on Friday, September 6^th. Students are out of uniform for picture day. There will be a picture retake day offered as well.

Curriculum Night – Mark your calendar for Curriculum Night on Wednesday, August 28^th. You will have a chance to visit your child’s classroom and learn more about our school’s programming and curriculum. The evening begins at 6:30 in the Ministry Center.

I am excited to start the 2019-2020 school year. I know that God is watching us and guiding us on this journey. I wish you a wonderful August as summer winds down and school approaches.

Blessings,

Mrs. Alimento,  Principal