Dear West Oak Intermediate Families,

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last night’s 3rd Grade Concert! The performance, themed around Native American Heritage, was absolutely heartwarming. The students were so proud of their hard work! We are grateful to Mr. Stanich for preparing students for the challenging vocals and readins and to Ms. Levy for showcasing the stunning student-made dream catchers. It was a wonderful celebration of learning, culture, and creativity!

Students’ 1st trimester report cards will be sent out today. With standards-based grading, our approach centers on student learning and their end-of-year mastery of important concepts in each subject area. Learning is a process, and students are continuously progressing toward mastering these concepts over time. If you have any questions about your child’s report card, please do not hesitate to reach out to their teachers—they are always happy to support and partner with you.

Thank you, families, for your continued involvement and support. We appreciate you and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Natalie Kalette

Principal

West Oak Intermediate School

• Parent Input Wanted: A Parent Survey was sent out this week, and we would love your input. Our goal is to gather feedback in regards to your overall experience with our D76 schools. Please complete this survey by November 21st. 

• Parent Teacher Conferences: We are excited for you to join us on November 24th for Parent-Teacher Conferences. To help you successfully schedule your child’s conference(s), please review the important notes below. 

Your child’s teacher(s) sent out Parent-Teacher Conference sign-up information through ParentSquare on Monday, November 3rd. Within ParentSquare, you will find a list of available time slots to schedule your child’s conference. When signing up, please select your preferred time and indicate whether the conference will be held virtually or in person and if you would like translation in the notes section. You may also note if you require a translator during the conference.

If you choose to attend virtually, your child’s teacher(s) will send you a Google Meet invitation based on your selected time. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher or your school’s front office.

• Erin's Law: In accordance with Erin’s Law, all Illinois public schools are required to provide age-appropriate lessons each year to help students recognize unsafe situations, understand personal body safety, and know how to seek help from trusted adults. We will be presenting the lesson during the weeks of November 10th through November 21st. These lessons are designed to empower students with knowledge and skills to protect themselves. They focus on:

• Understanding the difference between safe and unsafe touches

• Identifying trusted adults at home and school

• Learning how to say “no” and get help when feeling unsafe

• Recognizing personal boundaries and respect for others

The lessons are presented in a sensitive, age-appropriate manner by our trained staff and/or approved curriculum resources. Our goal is to ensure students feel safe, supported, and informed. If you have questions about the content of these lessons, wish to review the materials before they are presented, or do not want your student to participate in this lesson please contact your school social worker by Friday, November 7, 2025:

• Diamond Lake School: Deborah Wargaski 847-566-6601

• West Oak Intermediate School: Lisa Brickert 847-970-3544

• West Oak Middle School: Lindsay Harmon 847-566-9220

Thank you for your partnership in helping us keep all students safe and informed.

• Scholastic Book Fair: Scholastic Book Fair is right around the corner and we have some great new highlights for you this year!  On Monday, November 17th, students will be coming home with a Scholastic Book Fair advertisement, highlighting some great new materials that will be offered.  Students will be browsing the Book Fair during their Library visit periods next week and families are welcome to set up a virtual wallet for students to purchase items during the Book Fair on Monday, November 24th.  Click HERE to access the directions to the virtual wallet setup.

• SEL Focus of the Month: November's SEL focus is GRATITUDE! Students will be developing skills like emotion regulation, positive self-talk, and stress management through our Character Strong curriculum during morning meeting. Please see below for the monthly family newsletters: 

  • 3rd Grade Family Newsletter: English Spanish 

  • 4th Grade Family Newsletter: English Spanish

  • 5th Grade Family Newsletter: English Spanish

• Clubs and Activities: Clubs and activities are underway! Here is the after school clubs and activities schedule. 

• It's getting chilly!: As the temperatures start to drop, please ensure you are sending your student with warm winter-weather gear. We will continue to go outside for recess every day, except in the case of extreme cold or rain. If there is snow on the ground, students will need a hat (or hood), jacket, gloves, snow pants, and boots to play in the snow.

• Diamond Awards: New to this year, we ask families to complete this nomination Form if they would like to recognize a staff member they feel are going above and beyond with what they do in the classroom, school, or district. Please consider spreading the positivity by highlighting the great work that staff our doing in our district. 

• D76 CARES: At D76, the well-being of our students and families is our top priority. Understanding the critical role mental health plays in student success, we have launched D76 CARES - a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving access to quality mental health services across our community. D76 CARES stands for Community, Advocacy, Resilience, Engagement, and Support. Treatment services are initially provided free of charge to district families for up to 8 sessions. Click HERE for treatment request.

Positive Praise: Children thrive when their efforts and good choices are noticed. Take time to recognize positive behaviors—like helping a friend, completing homework, or staying focused in class—and comment specifically on what they did well. Saying things like, “I noticed how patiently you helped your classmate,” or “You stayed focused on your assignment—great job!” reinforces these behaviors and motivates your child to keep trying their best. Consistent, specific praise helps children build confidence, responsibility, and a growth mindset.

Your student's classroom teacher should be your first point of contact. For building-related information, please call the front office at 847-970-3544 or contact the following individuals via email: 

• Front Office Staff: Ms. Kailey Leon: kleon@dist76.org & Cinthia Maldonado: cmaldonado@dist76.org 

• Principal: Natalie Kalette: nkalette@dist76.org 

• Nurse: Julie Marchese: jmarchese@dist76.org 

• Winter Clothing Drive-Thank you so much for your generous response to the Winter Clothing Drive.  The bins were overflowing.  Thank You!

• Next PTO Meeting- Tuesday Nov 18th, 2025 6:00-7:00pm Diamond Lake Elementary School Library. 

• Crumbl Cookie Sale at Diamond Lake School, Monday, November 24th, 4:00-7:00pm while supplies last. $6 per cookie. 

• Parents night Out- Calling all 5-13 year olds for a fun night of Nerf battles on Saturday December 6, 5:00-9:00pm at Action Martial Arts.  Located at 706 E Hawley Street Mundelein. $35 entry fee. Sign up before November 21 to save $10

Please visit the D76 PTO Website for upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and more!