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Westbrook is the place where the children of Mount Prospect District 57 begin their public education. We are lucky to meet all of the children as they enter school in Early Childhood or in Kindergarten. Our hope is that all of our children gain a love of learning and an understanding of school while they are here.
We also work to fulfill our mission:
To create an integrated learning environment that meets the diverse needs of our young learners and develops a life-long love of learning. The Westbrook School Community will foster a safe environment where students, staff and parents build positive relationships with each other.
Please call us if you have any questions, or if you are new to the community and you would like to know more about us.
Dear Westbrook Families and Friends,
Starting Monday, we will be changing our dismissal procedure so that the children that are being picked up or walking will be dismissed first. We will then escort the children riding buses out of school and onto their assigned buses.
I understand the frustration last week and I apologize for the waiting time. Please help by using the crosswalk due to the buses that will be lined up in front of Westbrook and please help all our friends to be safe during dismissal as they walk in our parking lot.
Our arrival procedures will remain the same, with cars and buses moving through specific lanes. We will have staff available daily to alert you to the traffic pattern, to escort children as they walk into school and to help create safe arrival routines.
Kathy Winters and Gail Kaczynski will be our Dismissal/ Bus Monitors for both dismissals and arrivals. Please alert them to any concerns that you have and they will share them with me at the end of our day, or if you see me, please feel free to let me know your thoughts.
Together, we will be able to have all of our children arrive and depart Westbrook in a timely and safe way.
Thank you for your help and support,
Jan Ewing
New Email Addresses 
District 57 completed an upgrade to it’s email systems recently. This means that email addresses have changed for staff. For all district employees irregardless of which school or building they work at, addresses will be the first initial of their first name followed by their entire last name, then ‘@d57.org’.
As an example, if an employee at Fairview named Frank Smith had an old email address of ‘fsmith@fairview.dist57.org’, his new email address would be ‘fsmith@d57.org’ (no quotes).
To contact a staff member you will not have to remember which building they work at. Email sent to their old address will be forwarded on to our new system through the start of July.
Thank you for your help and have a great summer.
We have three rules at Westbrook- BE KIND, BE SAFE and BE READY. This sets school-wide expectations for everyone. All of our staff use the same language and we teach specific positive behaviors across environments. We encourage conversations about how to be kind, safe and ready while in the classroom, on the playground, in the hallways, in the bathroom and while moving throughout the building. Our emphasis is on providing positive expectations and clarifying behaviors that we would like to see. Kindergarteners and Early Childhood children are able to understand and demonstrate their ability to meet the expectations.
This approach, PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) is a nationally recognized, comprehensive, evidence-based program that links academic success, behavior and character development. This thoughtful approach will assist children in developing a sense of security and safety in our school environment as well as developing respect for themselves and others. Through positive interactions in a caring atmosphere, these techniques and strategies are utilized: clearly stating behavioral guidelines, setting limits, being consistent and modeling appropriate activities.
Parents are encouraged to use the common vocabulary of Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Ready when talking with your child at home. Please use this language to demonstrate to your child acceptance, understanding and appreciation. Children learn from watching all of us, so let’s be the best role models we can be.
We will continue to update you on this program throughout the school year!
Kindergarten Registration (updated 1/26/10)
If you have not registered your incoming kindergartner yet, please feel free to stop by Westbrook anytime between 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to register as soon as you can. Also, please pass this information on to any neighbors/friends who will be sending their child to Westbrook for the 2010/2011 school year.
Children must be five years-old by September 1, 2010, to enroll in kindergarten for the 2010/2011 school year. The new hours for our AM session will be 9:20 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. and the PM session will begin at 1:20 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. All District 57 kindergarten students attend Westbrook School, 103 South Busse Road. Parents will also have the opportunity to get information for programming and Transportation.
Parents are required to bring proof of residency (current utility bill, driver’s license, etc.) and the child’s original birth certificate to the registration. For more information, please give us a call at (847) 394-7340.
Families New to D57 for 2010/11 (added 2/26/10)
If you are planning on transferring your child from another school to Westbrook for 1st grade for the 2010/11 school year, please stop by the Westbrook office to fill out registration materials in the near future. Please feel free to stop by anytime from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Children must be six years-old by September 1, 2010, to enroll in 1st grade for the 2010/2011 school year. The new hours for 1st grade will be 9:20 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. All District 57 1st graders will attend Westbrook School, 103 South Busse Road.
Parents are required to bring proof of residency (current utility bill, driver’s license, etc.) and the child’s original birth certificate to the registration. For more information, please give us a call at (847) 394-7340.
Emergency School Closing Info
There is a tab on the District website specifically for the reporting of emergency school closing information. The information on this page will be updated as necessary. During the winter months (through April), we will enable quick access to this page so parents and staff will be better informed about the status of our schools during questionably inclement weather.
For further information, please tune to local media outlets, including AM radio stations WMAQ (670), WGN (720), and WBBM (780), and TV stations CBS (2), NBC (5), WGN (9), Fox (32), and CLTV News on cable. A facility search is available at the on-line Emergency Closing Center at http://www.emergencyclosings..com.
Calendar Dates for 2010/2011 (added 1/22/10)
Please use the following link to view a letter from our Superintendent and a listing of 2010/2011 calendar dates. 2010/2011 Calendar info
Wellness Task Force Administrative Procedures Manual, Classroom Procedures Section
Although the district recognizes that individual birthday celebrations, classroom parties, and holiday parties are a tradition at school, we encourage alternatives to food be used as part of these celebrations. The attached document is the list of Alternatives to using food as a reward, that is published in the Wellness Task Force, Administrative Procedures Manual.
Westbrook Arrival Procedures:
Students arriving by car:
Please enter Westbrook off Busse Road and follow the traffic “U” waiting your turn to pull up in front of the school. Staff members will assist your student in exiting the car and entering the building. Please remain in the line of cars as you exit and avoid pulling around other cars. Please have the children sitting on the right side of the car and please do not let children exit your car until an adult greets them and opens the door.
Students arriving by bus:
Buses arrive and park in the bus lane. Staff members escort children from the buses to the building entrance. Staff members are waiting inside to greet the children and to assist them in finding their way to their class.
Westbrook Dismissal Procedures:
Students who are picked up will be dismissed by their teacher from the following locations: All PreK (Circle of Friends and ECDEC) Door #2
All Kindergarten students Door #9
Students riding buses are escorted in line by their bus drivers and staff to the buses.
Buses exit the parking lot and then we dismiss the children to their assigned doors.
Questions? Please contact our Transportation Department at 847-394-7360.
Bus Feedback
Please use this form to provide feedback or comments on our bus service.
Absences/Notes to School
If your child will be absent for school, please contact us on our attendance line at (847) 385-3860 to report the absence. Also, if there will be any changes in your child’s daily routine, please send a note to your teacher so that she is informed. The note will then be forwarded to the office. If the change pertains to bus riding, also write a note to your bus driver.
Safety Concerns
For the safety of the students and staff, please do not bring your pet when dropping off or picking up your child. Even the friendliest of pets will protect their owner if they feel they are in danger, many young children are afraid of them, and students may be affected by allergies. The presence of an animal can create an uncomfortable situation for parents and staff. Thank you for your cooperation.
We request that you discontinue all cell phone calls when you are dropping off or picking up your child. Your undivided attention will contribute to the safety of children and staff.
Acceptable Use Policy for Students
In accordance with Board policy on acceptable use of district technology, each student in District 57 will participate in a unit on cyber-citizenship and internet safety in their classrooms this month, using i-safe materials. They will investigate the proper use of computers, access to the network, and responsible ethical use of technology. In grades kindergarten through second grade, students will sign a class poster as their pledge to follow the rules of computer use in their classroom. In grades three through eight, each student will bring home a signed “Authorization for Electronic Network Access,” listing the expectations and guidelines for acceptable computer use. Parents are asked to discuss the guidelines presented with their child and sign the form as well, returning it to the school. The district is committed to safe, secure, and responsible use of technology in all of our classrooms. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact your building principal.
Play Dates
When arranging play dates, please have a parent pick up the children involved. It is too difficult to have kindergarten children riding buses that are not part of their regular routine. We are working hard to keep all of the children safe and we are still establishing relationships with bus drivers and the adults involved in arrival and dismissal procedures. Thank you for your understanding and support. We are aware that at the other school buildings it is allowed and we understand that as children age, they are more capable of advocating for themselves. Thank you again for your understanding.
Click here for the 2009 School Report Card
