FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions 
of students and parents.
  1. What are the procedures for parking and/or dropping off my child?
  2. What if there is any change for picking up and/or dropping off my child?
  3. What should I do if my child is sick and cannot come to school?
  4. How do I purchase hot lunch?
  5. Does my child have to buy the lunch everyday?
  6. How do I know when my child needs more tickets?
  7. What can I do if I lose my copy of the current month's menu?
  8. What emergency information do you need about my child?
  9. How do I speak with my child's teacher or other Waterbury staff?
  10. When should I expect to hear back from teachers and/or other staff members?
  11. What should I do if my message is not returned in a timely manner?
  12. Do we receive newsletters from teachers, parents, and administration?
  13. How can someone who does not speak English communicate with the school?
  14. What programs are available for childcare?
  15. Does Waterbury sponsor Boy and Girl Scouts?
  16. What other opportunities does WB offer for my child after school?
  17. What are the procedures regarding birthday treats?
  18. Is it OK to distribute birthday invitations at school?
  19. What should I do if I have a question that does not appear on this webpage?
  20. What if other parents have similar questions or information?



What are the procedures for parking and/or dropping off my child?

Please...when picking up or dropping off your children, park in the
appropriate spaces.  It is dangerous to park on the other side of Rodenburg
and cross the street with your child.  We also need to be sensitive to the
people who live in the townhouses; they need to get into their driveways, and
the mail person needs access to the mailboxes.

This can be a tricky situation and we need all your support so 
children will be safe and cars can move in a timely manner.

North end-parking lot:  this area is for drop-off only.  Stay in 
your car, and supervisor will assist your child.  Follow the 
directions of supervisors to move slowly and cautiously out of 
the parking lot.

If you want to walk your child to blacktop area, please park in 
the spaces at far end of lot (nearest the open field).

When parking, please use crosswalks only where supervisor with 
stop sign will cross you.

Pull all the way up to east end of lot when dropping off so other cars can
come into the lot.

Parking in front of building:  Park in areas not designated by 
yellow line.  Only buses and emergency vehicles can park in those areas.  This
is appropriate at all times during the school day.
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What if there is any change for picking up and/or dropping off my child?

If your child normally takes the bus and you are going to pick 
him/her up, please write a note stating the change.  If we do not 
have a note, we have to send them home in the "normal" way.
  
If the child is going home with someone other than an emergency 
contact person or you, write a note stating the person's name and
relationship; we will only release your child to anyone other 
than a parent and/or emergency person unless we have written 
notice from you.  
The safety of your child is our ultimate concern.
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What should I do if my child is sick and cannot come to school?

Please call the office, first, if your child is going to be 
absent from school.  The telephone number is 630-894-4207. If you 
also wish to call your child's teacher, please make sure that 
is "in addition" to calling the office.
Message should include the following information: 
 child's name, grade level, and teacher, reason for absence
PLEASE NOTE: This year, we need to collect data concerning 
specific information about symptoms your child has when he/she is 
sick; this information will help with the control of particular 
types of flu.

If you child will be out for multiple days, call the office every 
morning.  Calling in absences is extremely important.  If you do 
not call and a teacher marks your child absent, we have to call 
you.  We have over 600 children attending Waterbury.  If multiple 
follow-up calls need to be made, this lengthens the time that we 
contact you; a child not unreported at school and home is 
dangerous to the child, so emergency calls need to be made in a 
timely manner.
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How do I purchase hot lunch?

You can buy tickets (up to 20 tickets) by placing a check and 
lunch form in an envelope to include:  Child's Name, Grade Level 
and Teacher, Lunch Money. (Check is written to Keeneyville 
District 20.)
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Does my child have to buy the lunch everyday?

No, your child can use the tickets whenever he/she wants the 
lunch.
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How do I know when my child needs more tickets?

Arbor Management Company (lunch provider) has a school 
representative who will send a note home with your child when 
there are fewer than 3 tickets left.
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What can I do if I lose my copy of the current month's menu?

Menus are posted on our website under Notes Home.
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What emergency information do you need about my child?

You filled out a registration form, which included emergency 
contacts.  Please remember keep us updated of all information- 
these are the contacts, phone numbers, and emergency information 
when you have made any changes.

School physical forms for children in grades K and 5 Day Care 
information with phone numbers and schedules Changes in bus 
information if applicable.
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How do I speak with my child's teacher or other Waterbury staff?

Every staff member has a phone extension listed on the website 
and/or in your informational packets.  During school hours, you 
can call and leave a message and he/she will call you back.  

E-Mail addresses are also available for every staff member.  On 
subject line, please write something that identifies you as a 
parent of Waterbury.  (We receive a fair amount of junk mail and 
this prevents staff from opening something that could harm the 
computer system.)
Make an appointment to visit with staff members by calling and 
arranging a date and time.  Parents should not come to school and 
talk to teachers without previous notice unless, of course, it is 
an emergency.
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When should I expect to hear back from teachers and/or other staff members?

Most teachers and support staff pick up messages and e-mails 
during the lunch hour and/or after school.  Although they make 
listen to phone messages or read e-mails during lunch, there may 
be little time during the day to respond.  Therefore, they may 
wait until the end of the day.

If you have an emergency or a special request regarding picking 
up or delivering a last-minute message to your child, please call 
the office.
 This assures a more timely response.
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What should I do if my message is not returned in a timely manner?

Sometimes our phone and computer systems do not cooperate with 
its users.  This does not happen often but there are times when e-
mails do not come through and phone messages are lost.  If this 
happens, please call/e-mail again.  The staff and I would rather 
receive another message than to ignore your questions, concerns, 
and/or requests; positive communication is extremely to important 
to us. 
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Do we receive newsletters from teachers, parents, and administration?

The PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) and I send approximately 
one newsletter per month.  

Teachers send out regular newsletters, either once a week or once 
every other week.  We now have all newsletters posted on 
my "Notes Home" page.  This will eliminate the use of paper and 
insure delivery.  For information for signing up for the 
Waterbury Listserv, see the "Notes Home" page.
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How can someone who does not speak English communicate with the school?

For the last three years, we have worked toward translating 
newsletters and other timely information into two languages:  
Spanish and Polish.  We can continue with this endeavor only with 
parent/family volunteers.  There are computer programs that 
translate text into a variety of languages but these translations 
need to be proofread by native speakers; sometimes the written 
word does not translate accurately.  Please contact me if you
would be interested in participating in this activity.  If more 
than one person volunteered to do this for non-English speaking 
families, we could share the work.  Contact me at 
bcarow@esd20.org or call 894-4207 and I will contact you.
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What programs are available for childcare?

In addition to private daycare centers in the area, District 20 
and Roselle Park District offer a before and after-school program 
for all WB students in PM Kindergarten-Grade 5.  If you are 
interested, contact Brad Cripe @ 894-4200 or 
bcripe@roselleparkdistrict.com
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Does Waterbury sponsor Boy and Girl Scouts?

Yes! There are many opportunities for your child to join the 
scouting program.  We have many great parent volunteers who 
organize troops, are troop leaders, and plan activities for the 
kids.  In your PTO packet or in the PTO web page, there is 
contact information.  The group meetings are at Waterbury.  
Volunteers are always needed; please be advised that these 
programs can only continue if everyone participates by 
volunteering.
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What other opportunities does WB offer for my child after school?

Spanish class takes place every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30.  It is
open to all grades.  Students gather in the Learning Center after school.  If
you need more information, please call Mrs. Gomopoulos  (630) 894-4249.

Young Rembrandts: This after-school program meets once a week for
approximately nine weeks.  Two licensed art specialists bring 
supplies and expertise to our children.  There is a sign-up and 
fee for this program.* 

Science Discovery:  A parent of two WB students, Mrs. Rhajni 
Patel, has written an extraordinary curriculum for students in 
grades 1, 2, & 3.  The program is based on the inquiry method, 
which represents best practice in science and science curriculum.*

"Speak Up, Speak Out":  This is a new program offered in 
conjunction with the DuPage Regional Office of Education and WB 
School.  Mrs. Kathy Bruni, former middle school Reading/LA 
teacher, has written a curriculum for students in Grades 4 & 5 
that combines intensive research on a variety of people and/or 
events, written opinion paper, and, finally, an oral 
presentation.*

*Informational pamphlets will be sent home with your child after 
the start of school.
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What are the procedures regarding birthday treats?

Your child may bring in a treat for the class.  However, because 
of allergies, etc., the treats need to be individually wrapped.  
This includes store-bought and homemade items.  You may also 
choose to send a non-food treat (i.e. pencils, erasers, etc.). 
Children with summer birthdays may bring in a treat at the end of 
the school year.
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Is it OK to distribute birthday invitations at school?

Please distribute birthday invitations from your home unless 
every child is invited to the party.  This avoids hurt feelings.
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What should I do if I have a question that does not appear on this webpage?

The first thing to do is to call and/or e-mail Mrs. Wanders, Mrs. 
Cronin, Mrs. McLoughlin, or me for any other questions or 
concerns.
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What if other parents have similar questions or information?

To benefit all of our WB families, please e-mail me any 
additional topics, questions, and concerns that I can include on 
this webpage.  Our goal is to keep all families well informed.
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