This is information about conjunctivitis. This is commonly known as “PINK EYE”.

Symptoms may include
* Itchy, burning, watery eyes
* Sensitivity to light
* Clear to pus-like discharge from the eye
* Crusted or sealed eye lids upon awakening
* Redness of the white lining of the eye

Diagnosis:
* Confirmed by health care provider

Causes
* Conjunctivitis may be caused by a bacteria, virus, or allergen
* Direct contact with an infected person
* Indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or objects

Treatment
* Consult healthcare provider
* Eye medication may be prescribed depending on the cause
* Medication should be given a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school

Prevention
* Child should use own towel and wash cloth
* Remind child to avoid touching/rubbing their eyes and wash hands frequently

If your child develops symptoms similar to those of conjunctivitis, please keep your child home from school, contact your healthcare provider, and inform the school nurse of a confirmed case. Remember that good hand washing is the number one way to prevent the spread of communicable disease.

Now that we have seen some winter weather, please see the link for information about our District 54 Severe Weather Response plan.

Is your child dressed for the weather?  With cold weather so quickly upon us, make sure your child wears a warm coat, gloves and hat/hood.  Our students go out for recess when the temperature is above zero degrees with the wind chill.  Snow pants and boots are needed if your child wants to play in the snow.  When the wind chill reaches below zero degrees or the playground is snow-covered, recess is held indoors.  So remember to help your child dress for the cold, winter weather.

District 54 will host its tenth annual Spanish Language Speech Contest on May 7. District 54 students in third through eighth grade are eligible to participate in this event. The application deadline is April 10.  For more information about the Spanish Speech Contest please click on the link to our district webpage. 

Come visit the Dirksen PTA table on Thursday, February 13 during conferences.  The table will be located upstairs near the book fair.  Learn about the many great things the PTA does for Dirksen students- and be one of the first to purchase a Dirksen School magnet.  Magnets will be sold for $2.00- and only cash can be accepted. 

We are excited to be offering a Typing Club for 3^rd– 6^th grade students.  This club takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8am.  Interested students can meet Mr. Johnson in room 211 with their charged Chromebook.  The club will run through the month of February.  

• Dirksen students will have Valentine’s Day parties on Thursday, February 13^th.
• Only those parents who have signed up to volunteer with their child’s classroom teacher can attend the party.
• Parties will be from 10:00am-11:10am.  Parents who are volunteering at the party can go to the classroom no sooner than 9:45 to set up.
• It is a half day of school.  Parties will end at 11:10 to allow the teachers and students to prepare for conferences.

Dirksen will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair on February 13th in the library. It will be open during conferences and until 7:00pm. We hope to see you there!

• We are looking forward to seeing everyone at conferences on February 13^th and 14th.
• Please know our students will have a half-day of school (11:40 dismissal) on Thursday, February 13^th and no school on Friday, February 14^th.

Registration for all new kindergarteners, for the 2020-2021 school year, will be on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 from 9:00-11:00am and 5:00-7:00pm, at your neighborhood school. If your child turns 5 years old on or before September 1, 2020 and your family is new to District 54 please read what you need to do to register for kindergarten.

1. Families new to District 54 should go to http://sd54.org/registration to begin your registration before February 5th.  Print the confirmation you receive and bring it to your neighborhood school on February 6th.   Current District 54 families, with new kindergarteners, need to register through their Parent Portal account.
2. Along with the printed confirmation, you will need to bring your student’s original birth certificate (no copies) showing the student was born on or before September 1, 2015 (State of Illinois regulation).
3. Families new to District 54 must provide proof of residency on February 5, 2020.  All documents provided must be current, valid for 2020-2021, and reflect name and addresses within the school boundary.  Below are items that are needed to prove residency:

At least one of the following documents:

The most recent real estate tax bill for residency showing owner as the taxpayer, or a signed lease for the residence including a beginning and end date, or a closing statement for the purchase of the residence.

And at least two of the following documents:

Illinois driver’s license, gas, water, electric, internet, television, telephone bill or letter confirming service connection, public assistance documentation, voter registration card, home or vehicle insurance certificate, Illinois automobile registration, or receipt for local city vehicle sticker where applicable.