A Message From the Principal:

October was full of fun, learning and planning! All students enjoyed learning how to Never give up, Encourage others, and Do your best with our yo-yos and friend NED. Those that participated in the fundraiser got to throw a water balloon at the principal (of course, this principal was able to wear a rain poncho, hard hat and goggles). The Haines School Improvement Team completed our plan for the year and the District-wide Improvement plan was formulated. Everyone is well underway with the use of the new Language Arts series and the parent component of Power School and Storytown is up and running. The second and third graders visited Lincoln-Way High School for a play and the first graders had an “in-house” field trip with the New Lenox Fire Department and their safety house, ambulance and fire-truck. They also learned about the importance of 911, with a visit from a representative from the Will County 911 System. Our summer readers have all their ratings and rankings of their books proudly displayed on the large wall by the computer lab – thanks to the hard work of Mrs. Knutsen. Finally, thanks to all of our parent volunteers, all the classrooms had some really fun Halloween parties!

November will feature our annual American Education Week celebration with our Drop Everything and Read Breakfast for all of our Haines families (on November 18) followed by Parent-Teacher conferences the following week on November 23 and 24. The entire Haines staff dedicates itself to continuing the educational process you, as parents, began with the birth of your child. The breakfast allows us to celebrate this educational process and to thank all of you for allowing us to be a part of your family’s educational team. Report cards will go home on Nov. 18, allowing you time to look over the report, and formulate questions and comments before attending the Parent/Teacher conferences. The conferences will provide an opportunity for the sharing of experiences, progress, perspectives, and for planning future collaboration.

November is also the ideal time to take a few moments to reflect on our blessings and giving thanks for those blessings. Gratitude is an attitude........all great people have grateful attitudes. This is a great community with many great people and I, for one, am very grateful to be a part of this great community!