Dear Keller Families,
It has been a tremendous first week at Keller for the staff and students. I couldn’t be more proud of the staff with their efforts in preparing for, and in welcoming back the students. As for the students, they definitely won the week. As a staff we are so proud of the students for their display of grit and resilience each day as they navigated a new school and school year as a student. Lastly, a thank you goes out to the parents for all that you did to get your child ready for the start of another school year. On behalf of the Keller staff, thank you for all that you do and for your continued support.
TOGETHER AS ONE － this is the theme that drives all of us to work hard in all that we do. We are one team, one family, one community whose vision ensures the success of all students at Keller. Our mentality and approach is to take ownership for and believe in the fact that every child can learn, at the highest levels, without exception. Simply stated, when we are TOGETHER AS ONE with our approach, it allows us to be WITHOUT EQUAL. This means that we aim to prevail, no matter what the odds are or how difficult the situation might be. We constantly strive to have an authentic will to win, and as a team, school, and community, we are unmatched.
Again, thank you for a wonderful first week of school. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our front office staff or me. Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and support and we will work “TOGETHER AS ONE” to ensure the success of our students.
Regards,
Tom Barbini
Principal
[email protected]
Important Dates to Remember:
- September 4: Labor Day – No School
- September 7: Picture Day
- September 20: Half-day Inservice; students released at 10:40 AM
- October 9: Columbus Day – No School
- November 8: Half-day Inservice; students released at 10:40 AM
- November 20: Full-day Parent-Teacher Conferences – no school all day
- November 21: Half-day Parent-Teacher Conferences – no school all day
- November 22-24: Thanksgiving Break – no school
- December 21: Winter break begins at the end of the day
2023 – 2024 Keller Calendar
The 2023-2024 Keller Calendar can be viewed here: https://keller.sd54.org/aboutkeller/calendar/. This calendar contains upcoming events for Keller.
2023 – 2024 District Calendar
The 2023-2024 District Calendar can be viewed here: https://sd54.org/calendar/. Please click on the link for the Spanish version of the calendar.
Keller Junior High Website
Click here to navigate to the Keller Junior High Website.
Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Infinite campus is District 54’s student information system that connects parents to information. Through Infinite Campus, parents will have access to the Parent Portal. The Parent Portal provides access for parents to information regarding their child including paying fees, viewing assignments, attendance, grades, academic schedule, and teacher comments.
If you currently do not have a Parent Portal account, please email [email protected] or you can call our front office at 1-847-357-6500 and our secretaries can assist you. If you need help logging on to the Infinite Campus portal click here, email [email protected], or call portal support at 847-357-5110. If you have previously created a Parent Portal account and cannot recall your username or password, you can reset them yourself from the portal website by selecting forgot password.
Backpacks/lockers
Students can use backpacks this year to carry all possessions with them throughout the school day. They will also have the use of school lockers before and after school to store coats, gym shoes, etc. During the first days of school, teachers will discuss what items students should bring for class each day and what can be left at home, in lockers or in the classroom.
CELL PHONE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Cell phones must be turned off and kept in the student’s backpack or locker during school hours. If students are using a cell phone or an electronic device during school hours, it will result in confiscation of the item by the school administration. School hours includes during and after school events. The confiscated item can be returned to a student’s parent. These devices include, but are not limited to: cell phones, iPods, e-readers, mp3 players, earbuds, air pods and headphones.
Gym lockers/uniforms
Students will be issued a PE lock and locker by their PE teacher. Gym attire and uniforms will be discussed in Physical Education classes during the first week of school. Stay tuned for more information.
Parking Lot – Drop Off and Pick Up Information
In anticipation for the first week of school, I wanted to provide you with our parking lot drop off and pick up safety procedures. Please know that the safety of our students is our top priority. Working together, we can ensure that the students are safe during these times while making sure vehicles can enter and exit the parking lot efficiently. We appreciate your help and support, and thank you in advance for recognizing the importance of ensuring the safety of every student at Keller.
School Hours
School hours are 7:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. with first period beginning at 7:40 am. Please note: beginning Wednesday, August 23, every Wednesday is designated for staff development. Students are dismissed 30 minutes early at 1:45p.m.
Office Hours
Our office reopens on August 3rd. School office hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Remember that our student absence line (847-357-6502) is available 24 hours a day. Please call by 7:00 a.m. if your child will be absent from school.
Picture Day
Student picture day is scheduled for Thursday, September 7th, during PE classes. Representatives from Lifetouch will be at Keller on this day to take students’ pictures. Keep it easy by ordering this year’s school pictures at mylifetouch.com. When you go online, use Picture Day ID EVTKH7DRV and your student’s name to get started. If you choose to not order online, orders with payment can also be submitted directly to the photographer on picture day.
Cafeteria – Pizza Sales on Mondays and Fridays
During the school year on Mondays and Friday’s student can purchase a slice of cheese pizza for $3 from Old Towne Pizza during lunch. Pizza sales will begin Monday, August 28th.
Food/Drink in Class
In order to promote a clean and healthy environment, students are only permitted to eat snacks in class at the discretion of the instructor. To promote an inclusive learning environment sensitive to our fellow students with allergies, certain rooms may be designated as “food free.” Sharing of food is not allowed. Students are allowed to bring water bottles containing water with them throughout the day including in classrooms. Please ensure your child’s water bottle has a secure lid. Drinks in cans, from coffee shops, flavor pods for drinks, etc. are not permitted. Students needing medical accommodation with regard to food/drink should first speak with the school nurse.
Please ensure that your child’s snack follows the following guidelines:
- First and foremost, snacks must be peanut/tree nut free to promote an inclusive learning environment sensitive to our fellow student’s allergies.
- We encourage students to bring healthy snacks like fruit.
- Aside from fruit, the snacks must be a prepackaged, single serving item (smaller than the size of a fist).
- The snack should not be a distraction to the learning environment. In plain terms, students should not eat a snack in the classroom that is loud to eat, messy, or smelly.
- Students are not allowed to bring meals into the classroom to eat. This includes fast food items which are a distraction to the learning environment.
BUSING
If your child is eligible to ride a bus to and from school, then the District 54 Transportation Department will mail your student’s bus pass to your home before school begins in August. If your student rides the bus to and from school, please note the following procedures:
- All students riding a bus are required to show their bus pass upon boarding the bus. If a student loses their bus pass, a replacement bus pass may be acquired in the main office.
- If your student is assigned a bus, please encourage them to take the bus home after school for safety reasons.
Activity Buses
Starting Monday, August 28, we will have our four activity buses starting. The buses leave Keller at 4 pm every weekday except Wednesdays. Activity Buses are made available to students who are eligible to ride the bus to and from school. All students riding the 4 p.m. activity buses must have their bus passes available for the driver. The bus will stop at community stops, which will be at least one mile from the school and may not be the same as the student’s regular stop. To find the closest stop and the correct route for your student, you may contact our main office or Transportation Services at (847) 357-5104. Early in the year, club and sports supervisors will assist the students in determining their activity bus.
Fall Sports
Girls basketball tryouts will start on August 28th. In addition, any student is welcome to join the Keller cross country team. In order participate in these or any sport an approved physical examination must be on file with the school. Permission slips for Girls Basketball and Cross Country will be made available starting on Information Day on Wednesday, August 9th. More information regarding Girls Basketball and Cross Country will be made available on our website, https://keller.sd54.org/, in the near future.
Physical Examinations
If your child plans to try out for one of our athletic teams and/or participate in intramurals, per School Board Policy, current physicals are required of all students to be on file prior to try-outs and/or participation in any inter-scholastic or intramural sport.
- All new students entering our district must present proof of immunizations and a health examination prior to the first day of attendance.
- The physical must be administered by a physician or nurse practitioner and include the required parent portion completed and signed. A physical is considered invalid if the parent portion is not completed and signed.
- Please note that physical examinations are good for one year from the date of the exam.
- Since sports physicals are valid for one year from the date of the exam, parents of students who are interested in participating in any junior high sports are urged to schedule a physical exam during summer months. A summer check-up will allow the student to participate in any sport throughout the 2023 – 2024 school year.
- Sports physicals may be sent to Keller beginning August 9, 2023. Please make a copy of the physical for your own records before turning into the school.
- For your reference, please click on the links below for the physical examination form and for a list of clinics that offer physicals.
MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL
For the safety of students and staff, students are not allowed to carry or self-administer medication without written physician and parent authorization on file with the School Nurse. If your child does need to take medication during the school day, the attached form must be completed by both your child’s physician and the parent. Once completed, the Medication in School Form along with the medication should be brought into the nurse during school hours and medication labeled as indicated on the Medication Form. The Nurse’s office nor School does not stock any medication for students. If a student is carrying medication without written authorization on file with the School Nurse, the medication will be confiscated and parent will be notified. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Kowalewski, Keller School Nurse @ 847-357-6510.
Vision and Hearing Screening
Vision and hearing screening will be conducted in School District 54 as per the Illinois Department of Public Health rules and regulations. Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor.
News from Keller PTA
- Membership – Donate to our award-winning PTA! Click HEREto purchase a membership. Proceeds go towards fun activities for our students and staff so please consider a membership today!
- Hot Lunch – Instructions for purchasing hot lunch is HERE
- Spirit Wear – 30% off sale starts August 15th! Go to SALE/32589
- Volunteering – We are in need of volunteers to pass out hot lunch! Commitment is as little as 1 hour so please take a look at our list of time slots here
- Keller PTA Newsletter – newsletter can be accessed here
No Food Deliveries Allowed
With a focus on student and staff safety, District 54 will not allow food delivery services (including, but not limited to, GrubHub, DoorDash, and local restaurants) to our schools. We will continue to have hot lunch days, which are planned events, organized and supervised by school or PTA volunteers. However, we will no longer accept other outside food deliveries to keep our schools secure.
Keller Junior High