School Newsletters

Class Placement Optional Input Survey 

Dear Hickory Point Parents,
The class development process is incredibly elaborate and carefully planned each year to foster a nurturing learning culture and a positive rapport between the children and the teacher. We have three primary goals when developing class sections:

1. Ensure that each child’s academic needs are met.
2. Pair each child with another student or group of children for social-emotional success.
3. Consider teacher styles.

The class sectioning process involves multiple school personnel who consider numerous factors while maintaining an efficient schedule that meets the needs of all our students. This process takes countless hours and involves multiple iterations over many months. Some factors in the process include:

• Maintain the district class size of 17-22 with comparable class sizes across the grade levels
• Balance the number of boys and girls in a class and across the grade level
• Ensure the needs of students who receive support are aligned with the grade-level schedule and the schedules of the support personnel working with them. This includes the following teachers:
  • Special Education teachers
  • Speech and Language teachers
  • English Language Learner (ELL) teachers
  • Reading Support teachers
  • Math Support teachers 
• Review peer dynamics (students who work well together)
• Create groupings of children in math and reading so they have comparable abilities in the classroom for collaboration.

School principals often receive many requests from parents to place their children with specific friends. As you can imagine, this becomes impossible while trying to place children in an environment that best meets the needs of all children we serve. Given the complexity of scheduling, we cannot accept specific friendship or teacher requests by name. Should your child have particular needs that we are not already aware of, or if there is a known reason to separate children, completing this optional form is a good idea. While parents sometimes want their child to be with a close friend or a specific teacher, it’s not always in their child’s best interest in the classroom environment. Ultimately, we share a common goal to place children in a classroom where each child thrives academically and socially. We are committed to developing class sections with each child in mind while balancing the complex variables mentioned above. The lists are created and reviewed over time and by many staff members. Through our comprehensive, multi-step class development process, we intend to place our students in an environment where each child has a happy, successful school year. If you have input you would like considered, please complete this optional form by April 24, 2026.

Thank you for your support and understanding. 

Erin’s Law

In compliance with IL State law, a program on child sexual abuse awareness and prevention will be presented to all Hickory Point students on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. These presentations will be led by the Hickory Point Social Worker/Counseling Department.

The program is being scheduled in response to Erin’s Law, a State law requiring that all public schools implement a sexual abuse awareness and prevention curriculum for grades K-12. For additional information about Erin’s Law, please visit www.erinslaw.org.

The presentations will cover the following topics:

• Safe touch, unsafe touch, confusing touches
• Healthy/unhealthy relationships and grooming
• Good and bad secrets
• Saying “no” to unwanted touches
• Safety steps and reporting

The presentations are designed to empower and educate children in a developmentally appropriate, child-friendly manner. If you have questions about the presentations or do not wish your child to participate in this program, please email Dr. Deely (deely.m@nb27.org). A confirmation acknowledgment of your request will be sent.

First Grade Musical Performance

First grade Musical Performance is on Thursday, April 16, at 6:00 pm at Hickory Point School.

Kindergarten Musical Workshop is on Wednesday, May 13th  (during the daytime). Parents or guardians will be invited to participate in their child’s music class. 

More details to follow.

Important Dates:

• Friday, April 3 - No School
• Friday, April 10 - Spirit Day
• Thursday, April 16 - First Grade Musical Performance at 6:00 pm

For your children,

Dr. Maureen Deely, Principal

Mrs. Lauren Weingarten, Assistant Principal