Hoover Family Guidebook

If your Child is absent…

To report your child’s absence and the reason, call the school before the start of class on the day of the absence. Attendance is taken for all students daily.

If your child is unable to attend school, please call your school attendance line to report the absence and the reason, before the start of the school day. Please ensure you call even if your child is missing only part of the day (for example, to attend a doctor’s appointment). Please call each day your child is absent.

Students who are absent will not be allowed to attend or participate in after-school activities on the day of their absence. If your child misses more than six days in a trimester, a note from the doctor can be required before the absence is excused. If notes from the doctor are not received, your child could be considered truant. Please restrict vacations and other nonessential absences to days when school is not in session.

Hoover Attendance Line: (847) 357-5802

Tardies/Truancy

Unexcused tardies are not permitted. Tardiness is a form of truancy. If a child is repeatedly late or is absent many days, district officials will work with local law enforcement agencies and the Cook County Regional Office of Education and use conferences, counseling and tutoring to improve student attendance. Truancy Policy

Hoover loves celebrating birthdays! In order to accommodate dietary restrictions and keeping all of students safe, we ask for families to refrain from sending any edible treats. We can still celebrate in other ways!

You are welcome to bring goodie bags with your favorite items to share with classmates. 

Our Hoover calendar includes information such as

• Student Non-Attendance Days
• Pizza Fridays
• Hot Lunch Days
• PTA Snack Days
• Club meeting dates/times
• Special School Events 

Hoover offers a variety of clubs for students in 1st through 6th grade!  

More information on clubs, including which clubs are offered at which grade levels, can be found on our Hoover Clubs webpage.

Be on the lookout for sign-up information throughout the school year!

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR CLUB OFFERINGS

The 2025-2026 School Year Conferences will be held on Monday, November 24 and Tuesday, November 25.  More information regarding conferences will come out closer to the conference window.

Designated conference days will only occur in the Fall.  However, you may contact your child’s teacher to request a time to connect regarding your child’s progress at any point in the school year.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office at *847)357-5800 or your child’s teacher directly.  The Hoover staff directory can be accessed here.

main office

(847) 357-5800

attendance

(847) 357-5802

Portal Support

[email protected]

staff Contact Information

Staff Directory

8:25 am – 8:45 am: Parking lot closed for Drop-off. 

8:25am – 8:35am: Parent Car Drop-Off lane is open

8:30 am – 8:40 am: Student Arrival

• Please note that arrival after 8:40 am is considered tardy.  After this time, please walk your child inside the main office and sign them in.

8:40 am – 8:45 am: Morning Announcements

8:45 am – 3:00 pm: Instructional Time (M, T, TH, F) 

    (8:45-2:30 pm on Wednesdays)

2:50 pm – 3:10 pm: Parking lot closed for Dismissal (M,T,TH,F) 

    (Wednesdays the parking lot is closed from 2:20 pm – 2:40 pm)

3:00 pm: Dismissal

LUNCH/RECESS SCHEDULE

Half Day Schedule

• 8:30 am -11:40 am

Please note students do not eat lunch at school on Half Days.

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL

iPads

Students in Grades K through 2nd will be issued District-provided iPads for instructional use during the school day.

iPads will not be sent home with students.

Optional Device Coverage for your child’s iPad can be purchased at the beginning of the school year.  The Protection Plan form and instructions can be accessed here.

Chromebooks

Students in Grades 3rd through 6th will be issued District-provided Chromebooks for instructional use during the school day.

Chromebooks will be sent home with students daily.  Please be sure students return each day with their Chromebook fully charged.

Optional Device Coverage for your child’s Chromebook can be purchased at the beginning of the school year.  The Protection Plan form and instructions can be accessed here.

There will be times when we need to contact families and staff with emergency notifications and important updates. When that happens, District 54 will use many communication tools to ensure that all individuals who need to receive the message, get the message. The information below provides more details about crisis communication.

The safety of the children is the responsibility of both the parents/guardians and school personnel, but the decision to have a child attend school is ultimately made by parents and guardians. When schools are in session, if a student is kept home on a day when the weather is extremely poor, the absence will be considered “excused.” Please call the school and let them know you are keeping your children home.

Phone/Text/Email Notification

In emergency situations and for important communications, District 54 uses the ParentSquare rapid notification system to call, text and email every student’s parent/guardian. On extreme weather days, if schools were to be closed, the announcement would be made by 6:30 a.m. at the latest. Please remember to keep your contact information updated and do not unsubscribe from or block these emails.

All families and staff will receive calls, texts and emails whether or not you create a ParentSquare account. However, by creating an account you will be able to change your notification preferences, interact with requests, change your language preferences and see all of the messages previously sent to you, as well as staff directories and other information.

To create a ParentSquare account, go to parentsquare.com/signin and enter the email or cell phone number you provided to your school. ParentSquare also has a free app available on the Apple Store for iPhones or the Google Play Store for Androids. If you click on your name at the top, and then My Account, you can see the contact information we have on file for you, request updates and choose a language for your messages. ParentSquare offers translation to 85 languages. 

Websites and Social Media

District 54 will post school cancellations and other information to the District 54 Website, Facebook and Instagram accounts. We will also post information on emergencyclosingcenter.com, the website used by Chicago radio and television stations for school closing information.

Cancellation Procedures

When school is in session

If an emergency were to occur at school during the school day, District 54 will contact you. Our first priority is the safety of the children and adults at our buildings. Please be patient and know that we will call, text and email you as soon as we have information to share. Do not attempt to call the school. Telephone lines become extremely busy during an emergency and need to be kept open for emergency use.

Students will be kept at school or at an alternative location (if the school is unsafe) and will be supervised by District 54 employees until their parents/guardians are able to pick them up or until they are dismissed at the regular end of the school day. If it is safe, students will be dismissed in the usual manner (to walk home, board the bus, etc.). If students are moved to another site, parents/guardians will be notified of the site and pick-up procedures.

Bus Situations

All bus drivers are trained in emergency procedures. Intercom equipment in their vehicles enables them to maintain communication at all times.

Tornado Warnings

Children will not be dismissed from school when the area is under a tornado warning. Even at the end of the school day, children will be held at school until an all-clear signal is received.

School Crisis Plans

Every District 54 school has a standardized school crisis plan, which is reviewed with all staff and updated on an annual basis. All schools, in cooperation with our local police and fire departments, plan and carry out fire, tornado, bus and crisis response drills each year. For more information about the program at your school, talk to your principal.

District 54 provides free lunches and milk for those students from households that meet federal guidelines.

How Do I Register my Child for This Program?

• To receive free lunches and milk for your child, you must complete an application and return it to school. Please note that incomplete applications cannot be processed or approved. 
• Only one application per household is needed. 
• Applications for free lunch must be renewed each year. 

Where Can I Get an Application?

• Hard Copy Applications can be picked up from the Main Office.
• Electronic Copies can be accessed here:
  • English
  • Spanish

Who Can I Contact for More Questions?

• Please contact the Main Office at (630) 736-2500 with any questions. 

When are Applications Due?

• Applications are accepted at any time; however, please return all applications as soon as possible to ensure your child is receiving lunch and milk.

For more information about Free and Reduced Lunch click here

To learn about our District Food Pantry click here

2025-26 Kindergarten Registration

We are thrilled to welcome your little learners to the District 54 family. Together, let’s nurture their curiosity, foster friendships and make their educational adventure a truly memorable one. Online applications for the 2025-26 school year are now open. All District 54 elementary schools offer a full-day kindergarten program. Should you prefer a half-day program, please let the school principal know during registration.

Click here to learn more

Click here to learn visit our District Health Service Page

District 54 staff work with parents and students to keep students healthy. However, sometimes students do get sick. We appreciate the fact that our parents have been diligent about keeping their children home when they are sick and notifying our school office.

If children are vomiting or have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater), they will be sent home and parents will be advised to keep sick children home for at least 24 hours after they stop vomiting or do not show signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS 

All students must be up-to-date with physical examination and immunization requirements. All completed forms must be turned into the School Nurse Office. 

Physical Exam: The Illinois School Code requires that children entering preschool, kindergarten (or first grade if kindergarten was not attended) and sixth grade must have had a physical exam within one year prior to starting that grade level. Students of any age transferring from a school outside Illinois must also have had a physical within the last year. School Physical Form (Spanish Physical Form) Click here for a list of clinics that offer physicals and immunizations.

Immunizations: All immunizations must be current according to the requirements of the Illinois School Code. Students who fail to comply will be excluded from school. List of Immunization Requirements by Grade Level. Information regarding Meningococcal Disease and the vaccine can be accessed on the Illinois Department of Public Health website. If you would like to apply for religious exemption of immunizations, please complete the Illinois Religious Exemption Instructions and Form

Dental Exam: Students in kindergarten, second and sixth grade also must have had a dental exam within 18 months of May 15th of that school year. Dental Examination Form (Spanish Dental Form)

Eye Exam: All children enrolling in kindergarten or entering an Illinois school for the first time must provide proof of an eye exam completed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist or proof of an appointment for an eye exam no later than October 15th. District 54 vision screening is not a substitute for a complete evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to be screened if you submit a form signed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist indicating that an exam has been administered in the previous 12 months. Eye Exam Form  Eye Exam Waiver

Vision and hearing: Screening will be conducted in School District 54 as per the Illinois Department of Public Health rules and regulations. Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor.

Click to access other forms and procedures. The school nurse can be contacted at 847-357-5800

Parent Portal

Parent portal allows you to register your child for school, access report cards, and see your child’s attendance records. For assistance on your parent portal please reach out to [email protected].

Parent Square

Weekly messages from our principal are sent to your email and phone number connected to your student’s account. This is a great way to keep up with the happenings at Hoover! Teacher communication can also come through Parent Square! You will need to activate your Parent Square account. 

Click here to connect to the District PBIS webpage

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) is a proactive, systematic approach that has been found to improve the behavior outcomes of students in every grade. Staff members work together to consistently teach, model and reinforce appropriate behaviors that students are expected to use at school. PBIS teaches students to be responsible for their own behaviors. Typical expectations include: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible. Attention is focused on creating and sustaining primary (school), secondary (classroom) and tertiary (individual) systems of support that improve chances for academic success for all children and youth.

In the past, schoolwide discipline focused on reacting to specific student misbehavior by implementing punishment-based strategies including reprimands, loss of privileges, referrals, suspensions and expulsions. But research shows that punishment is not effective when used inconsistently and without other positive strategies to encourage desired behavior. Teaching positive social behaviors creates an environment focusing on the desired behavior not the response to student misbehavior.

Every Thursday throughout the school year, Hoover serves Jet’s Pizza (cheese only). Each slice is $3 and children can purchase 1 or 2 pieces. They must have money when they arrive to school. Pizza is ordered first thing Thursday morning, so late money or orders cannot be accepted. A signed permission slip MUST be on file in the office before students can purchase pizza. If a student comes with money for pizza but does not have a lunch or signed permission slip, parents will be called to bring a lunch. Unfortunately, we cannot take verbal permission. Extra permission slips are available in the office. If you are not sure if your child has turned in a permission slip, please check with the office or your child’s teacher. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office.

The Hoover Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a non-profit organization run 100% by volunteers and partners with the school and District 54 to provide educational and fun experiences for your children. 

At Hoover, our PTA plans and supports over 25 different programs and events including assemblies, treat days, school store, the book fair, classroom parties, birthday books, and so much more!

Becoming a PTA member is important because your donation supports all of the enriching events and activities that the PTA sponsors at Hoover. Joining the Hoover PTA does not mean you have to volunteer or attend meetings. It means you believe in the students, the staff, and the families.By becoming a PTA member, you are helping to make a difference for every student at Hoover!

Email- [email protected]

Instagram- @hoover_school_pta

Linktree site- linktr.ee/hooverpta

Families can log in to their child’s record on our parent portal and see report cards, current grades, absences, demographic information and assessment information. Report cards will be available shortly after the end of each trimester. 

Grades and attendance information on the report card become a part of a student’s permanent record. Parents and students have the right to view a child’s records. Click here to read the District 54 Student Records Policy.

Student Supply Lists for Kindergarten through 6th grade can be found using the link on our website.

MAP

IAR

Each spring, students in District 54 take federally mandated assessments (IAR) designed to help school districts understand how our students are growing academically. IAR testing assesses students in the areas of English Language Arts and Math. These assessments are for our students in grades 3-6. 

Testing Reminders

• Please have students in attendance and on time for testing days
• Make sure devices are charged
• Remember to eat breakfast

Bus Transportation

District 54’s Transportation Services Department works in conjunction with school personnel, First Student transportation company and families to provide a safe and efficient service.

Routes and Stops

School bus routes and stops are determined by District 54’s Transportation Services Department on the basis of safety, efficiency and student ridership. Bus routes, stops or times may be altered by District 54’s Transportation Services Department if ridership changes during the school year. Scheduled bus route stop times are set as a general guide. 

Students are expected to ride to and from school on their assigned buses. Students may only get on and off the bus at their assigned stops. It is the district’s long-standing practice that a child must have consistent pick-up and drop-off points to ensure student safety. Parents or guardians must notify the school in writing if permission is given for a student to walk, rather than ride, to and from school.

Forms of bussing and transportation policies can be viewed on School District 54’s website.