Cherokee 101
Whether you are new to Cherokee or in need of a back-to-school refresher, there is always a learning curve and period of adjustment to get in the swing of things at the start of the year. The following is a list of frequently asked questions regarding the happenings and processes at Cherokee School.
Cherokee Information
Address: 475 E. Cherokee Road Lake Forest, IL 60045 Phone: 847-234-3805 Principal: Mr. Luke Livingston [email protected] Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Lisa Carswell [email protected] School Office Assistant: Mrs. Renee Freeman [email protected] School Nurse: Ms. Judy Flaherty [email protected] District 67 Office: 847-235-9657 What are the school office hours?
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm. What are the student attendance hours?
*Students attend from 8:00am-2:50pm, Tuesday through Friday. *Monday attendance is from 8:00am1:45pm. *On half days, students attend from 8:00-11:00am. Morning Arrival
Morning arrival takes place on the playground each morning.
Afternoon Dismissal
Student safety is our top priority and ensuring a safe/orderly dismissal is a Cherokee priority. Parents are responsible for working with teachers to ensure a consistent dismissal plan is in place for students. We ask parents to reinforce with students the plan for getting home after school. Teachers and staff will assist in getting students to the following areas during dismissal:
What is a Blue Note?
A Blue Note is a note from home (it is white if it comes from School-Pak; blue ones are available in the office). This note tells teachers information regarding dismissal procedures for your child or indicates why your child is late in his/her arrival. The office must have a Blue Note on file to change dismissal procedures for a given day, as they are only allowed to dismiss students according to the information that they have in writing and signed by a parent/guardian. If a Blue Note is forgotten, a parent or guardian will need to stop by the school to complete the form. An email to the office assistants will suffice in an emergency. All changes need to be made by 1:00pm on Mondays and 2:00pm on Tuesdays-Fridays. What if my child needs to stay home from school?
Please call the school office (847-234-3805) by 8:15am to notify Lisa Carswell (Administrative Assistant) or Renee Freeman (School Office Assistant). You may follow up with an email, but calling is the best way to ensure that the message is received in a timely manner. What if my child becomes ill at school?
Judy Flaherty, the school nurse, will call you if there is an instance of illness at school. What if my child is late?
Currently, there is a district-wide “Start on Time” initiative to alleviate tardiness at all schools. When students are late, it distracts the teachers and has a detrimental effect on our students. Tardy students will be tracked; a letter will be sent home following the fifth tardy and a parent-administration meeting will be scheduled after the seventh tardy. The first bell rings at 7:55am. If your child arrives at 8:01am or later, he or she should check in with the school office to get a slip from the office that notifies the teacher that your child has been accounted for in the attendance and lunch count for the day. What if I need to pick up my child for an appointment?
Please send a Blue Note with your child to inform the office if you need to pick up your child early. Once you arrive, the office will call your student down. How can I find out if the school is closed due to severe weather?
Visit www.lakeforestschools.org, call the district’s main phone line at 847-234-6010 or watch ABC, CBS, NBC, WGN, FOX or CLTV television stations. The district also uses Bright Arrow as the primary means of notification by the district and will be utilized should severe weather require the closing of school or a late start. An alert will be sent to the primary phone number you have registered with the district. You can find out how to do this on the district website. How does lunch work?
Quest Food Management Services is responsible for managing the school lunches. Your child is welcome to bring a lunch from home or buy a lunch at school. Quest uses a POS (point of sale) debit system. You can set up an online account at www.myschoolbucks.com allowing you to track your child’s purchases and to pay into the account on an as-needed basis. The school requires that all snacks sent from home be free of nuts, nut products and nut oils (snacks only, not lunches). School menus can be found on the Cherokee School website under “Menu”. Food and beverage options for parties and school functions can be found at http://www.lakeforestschools.org/district-departments/student-services/district-67-informatin/health-services. |
What is the APT?
The Association of Parents and Teachers (APT) is responsible for fostering effective communication and cooperative working relationships between the school, home and the community. The APT monthly meetings are held in Room 127 on the third Wednesday of each month. The meetings start promptly at 9:30am. Relevant issues concerning Cherokee and the district are discussed. Your input is valuable. Everyone is welcome to attend. Carolyn Hutchinson is the current Cherokee APT President, and she can be reached at [email protected]. Will I have the opportunity to volunteer for APT events if I am not on the APT Board?
Yes, there are several special events (Spookfest, Winterfest, Field Day, Teacher Appreciation Week) that need numerous volunteers. APT Board members coordinating the events will work with Room Parents to solicit needed volunteers. A volunteer sign-up sheet is distributed in the fall and spring of each year. If you want to volunteer, contact Carolyn Hutchinson at [email protected] or watch for opportunities listed in the Friday newsletter. APT Contacts Please feel free to contact the following people with any questions you might have or if you would like to be involved with the APT.
Annie Kavanagh (New Families Coordinator) 773-960-7912 Kate Hanson (New Families Coordinator) 773-750-1692 Cyncy Schacher (New Famiies Coordinator) 773-209-4055 Alex Cherry (Kindergarten Coordinator) 847-712-8334 Julie Wade (Kindergarten Coordinator) 773-458-0668 Carolyn Hutchinson (President) 217-898-3173 When can parents expect to hear from Room Parents?
Room Parents usually begin contact with parents to coordinate volunteer opportunities in mid-September. What is the Spirit of 67 Foundation?
Established in 1985, the Spirit of 67 Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising funds and acquiring resources to provide enriching educational and cultural experiences or the students, parents, faculty, and staff of Lake Forest School District 67 that might not otherwise be provided. Find more information at http://www.spiritof67foundation.org. How can I learn more about school happenings? Several communication vehicles are used to educate parents about Cherokee School and District 67, including:
• Friday electronic newsletters (sign up at https://www.lakeforestschools.org/districtdepartments/communications/district-67-information/d67-e-newsletter) • The district website, www.lakeforestschools.org • The Cherokee website, www.lakeforestschools.org/schools/cherokee • The Cherokee APT Website, cherokeeapt.weebly.com - Cherokee APT Facebook: “Cherokee School APT” • Association of Parents and Teachers (APT) monthly meetings, held on the third Wednesday of each month in Room 127 When will school phone directories be available? The phone directories are distributed by the APT and will be available mid-October. You will have the opportunity to purchase additional copies and the information is also available online in a password-protected format.
Parent Information Night
Parents are invited to attend Parent Information Night on September 4th, 6:30 - 8:00pm. This is an evening meeting during which you visit your child’s classroom, meet your child’s teacher, and hear about the upcoming school year. **Please note this is a parents-only event.** Music Programs
Cherokee has a Winter and Spring music program - one just before the Winter Break and one during the spring for each grade level. Riding the Bus
• During school registration, you can buy a full year, half year, or “ten ride” bus pass. • During the first week of school, the APT coordinates parent chaperones to assist (particularly the kindergarteners) with the bus riding process during morning drop off at school. • You can find your child’s bus route on the district website. These routes are also posted near the front door before school begins. • Student who are not regular bus riders are not allowed to ride a bus unless they have purchased a “ten ride” bus pass, which is available online at https://lakeforest67.revtrak.net/tek9.asp. • Sign up for the SafeStop Mobile App, a free, easy-to-use mobile app that allows parents/guardians to monitor in real-time the status of their child's school bus. Go to http://lakeforest67.safestopapp.com/activate to register. You will need your child’s school ID number. Are field trips taken during the year?
Parents will be notified of field trips with a paper permission slip. Often, a few parents are asked to volunteer to join the class. When are conferences held?
School-wide conferences are held in October and March. Individual conferences may also be requested by a child’s teacher or parent. |