Juliette Low promotes family atmosphere on Future Tigers Night
The transition from preschool to kindergarten can be exciting, but a little intimidating for students. The staff at Juliette Low Elementary had that in mind when they welcomed in some new additions for a special evening this week.
Dozens of families visited Juliette Low for Future Tigers Night, a safari-themed event designed to strengthen the family feel of the school. Photo booths, read alongs, music, games, and more were on display as kindergarten teachers opened their classrooms and got to know their new students.
“The purpose was to get our future Tigers excited about school, get them acclimated with the building, engage in readiness activities, have social interactions with their soon-to-be peers, and meet the faces of our Juliette Low staff,” said Lily Smith, Juliette Low Principal.
Families were invited to tour the building, many of which got their first look at the Learning Resource Center, the multipurpose room, and where their student will spend most of their time. Members of the CCSD59 administration and community partners such as the Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect Libraries were also on hand to see these new faces.
The evening was made possible through a generous donation from the District 59 Education Foundation. The group of volunteers recently pledged $500 to every elementary school in the district to use for the purpose of greeting and celebrating incoming families.
“What better way to build the District 59 community than to welcome its newest members along with their families?” said Marlene Pasdo, president of the foundation. “Each school is approaching these events in their own unique ways, but always with the common concept of supporting students and families new to our district.”
The grant, one of many the foundation uses to support every CCSD59 school and individual staff members, provided Juliette Low staff the opportunity to set up multiple stations that allowed for an immersive experience.
The effort made a strong first impression on many families.
“It was such a warm welcome to Juliette Low and District 59! My daughter was excited to tour a real kindergarten classroom and become familiar with the school,” said Eric Steckling, father of an incoming student. “The safari hats, interactive activities, and giveaways were a great touch and it was fantastic to meet so many staff members!”
Smith and the Juliette Low staff are committed to keeping that family and community atmosphere strong, and hope these new students enjoy their entire time as Tigers as much as they did on this evening.
“The ability to get their names quickly and invite them into our school builds our relationships early,” she said. ‘We know we are the link to their educational experiences. Eventually, they will get the opportunity to build those rhythms of routines that we have at school, but on this night, our focus was to spark their developing curiosities to learn and form meaningful relationships that will contribute to their successes.”
