Thank you to the PTO and all the parents who attended our “Parents’ Night Out” last Saturday! Thank you also to everyone who participated in our Family Math Night and 2018 Science Fair, and a special thanks to our teachers for the enormous amount of time and energy that went into these events. It was wonderful to see our future inventors and mathematicians showcasing their skills!
We hope you can make it to our annual Staff/Parent basketball fundraiser tomorrow, Saturday, April 14th, at Brooks Middle School at 3:00 p.m. This week in preparation for the big game, we held a teacher/student practice game during lunch with lots of student spectators. A fun time was had by all and the energy was contagious! Our steel band (who will perform during half time) also made this video to get everyone excited for the big game tomorrow. Please check it out and we hope to see you there! https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Student Council is sponsoring Hatch’s participation in the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry's annual “Can Do Community Challenge” during the month of April. We will be taking in donations of non-perishable foods, toiletries, and monetary donations. Donations should be brought to your child's classroom. Here is a link where you can simply donate money, if you'd rather do that than send canned goods.Thank you!
https://interland3.
On April 20th, 2018 some members of the community are proposing another walkout for our students as a nationwide, student-led effort to end gun violence. At the elementary level, we do not anticipate many students taking part in the walkout. If students choose to walk out at that time, we will have a space for them to peacefully and quietly demonstrate in our school lobby supervised by administrators and staff. Teachers are directed to allow students to leave their classrooms if they want to participate. However, teachers will remain in their classroom to continue regular instruction with students. Students will be allowed a space and opportunity to let their voices be heard on this important issue, while also making sure that the activities do not create safety issues or disrupts the learning and instruction for those who choose not to participate.
Please let us know if your child will be taking part on April 20th. This will help us to better plan for our students. Please know that within the classrooms we will not be specifically discussing school violence or any current events involving school violence. If you or your children have concerns or questions, please feel free to reach out.
Author Visit: On Tuesday, May 1st, the author, Lauren Tarshis, of the amazing I Survived Series will be visiting Hatch! She will talk with the 3rd-5th grade students on how she uses non-fiction text for research to write her Historical Fiction series! After her 45 minute presentation, she will answer the student's questions and then autograph her books! The students have the opportunity to order her books to have signed. All students were given an order form in library this past week but click here for an extra copy. All order form are due to Mrs. Howe by Monday, April 30th. This visit is made possible because of all the purchases made during the Book Fairs, so thank you!
The Hatch Steel Band is proud to present a performance from the Northern Illinois University Steelband. NIU has the first and of the most prestigious collegiate steel band programs in the world. Mr. Jacobson has been developing a strong connection between NIU and Hatch. In the fall, Hatch students have been invited to the NIU campus for a masterclass and performance. This time, the NIU band is coming to Oak Park to work the Hatch kids and also put on a performance for the entire Oak Park community. The performance in on Friday, April 27th at 7pm at Julian Middle School and it is completely FREE! Hatch kids will get to work with the NIU students and professors, and then they will also perform some music as the opening act for big show.
Spring is officially here, and the 4th Annual Spring Arts Fiesta is just a few weeks away! Please mark your calendars for the 1st-3rd grade show on Wednesday, May 9th and the 4th -5th grade show on Thursday, May 10th. Please note all K-5th students will have an artwork in the gallery available for $20 cash or check purchase and all 1st-5th grade students will participate in the music and language performances. There is no obligation to buy student artwork. More details on grade level performance times coming soon!
Ms. Klemp also wanted to share a link that details some interesting ways to reserve your child's artwork for years to come. In addition to purchasing your child's framed artwork during our annual Spring Arts Fiesta there are a variety of apps, products and methods to archive their projects such as the link below.
https://tinkerlab.com/how-to-
See attached flyer for the District's Ethnic Festival & World Language Day Event. Please let us know if you would like to represent Hatch.
PTO REMINDERS
PARENTS VS STAFF BASKETBALL GAME – Tomorrow, April 14 from 3–5 p.m. at Brooks Elementary School. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids. Cash or check only. The PTO could use a few additional volunteers for snack and ticket sales, scoreboard and an emcee: http://signup.com/go/QyquLGt
PTO OPEN CHAIR POSITIONS FOR NEXT YEAR: Consider volunteering as Movie Matinee Chair, Fun Fair Chair, or PTO Babysitting (shadow next year, co-chair 2019-2020). Please contact Beth at [email protected] if you are interested or have questions.
PTO BOARD OPEN POSITIONS (All board positions are two years). We have openings on the Hatch PTO Board and particulary for the co-treasurer and board secretary roles,. If you are interested in joining the PTO Board and want to learn more, please contact current co-presidents Kristen Lee at [email protected] or Chris Liskiewitz at [email protected]. Nominations will be taken until next week’s PTO meeting, and voted on at the May 15 PTO meeting.
PTO MEETING: WHAT IS EQUITY and what does it look like in D97 schools? The School Board of D97 has drafted an equity policy. They would like the schools and community’s input on it. Come Tuesday, April 17 to the Hatch PTO meeting to hear from a D97 board member about the policy and how you can contribute your ideas. The meeting is in the media center/library from 7-8 p.m. Free childcare is provided by the PTO in the lunch room. We’ll also discuss next year’s budget and board positions.
IDENTITY, INTERSECTIONALITY AND EQUITY, A D97 Diversity Committee two-part workshop. Part one is April 24 at Whittier School from 6-8:30 p.m. This is not only for DivCo members but for any d97 community members interested training how to connect with marginalized groups within your school communities. http://bit.ly/DivCoEvents9
HATCH CAREER DAY
Hatch Career Day is coming Tuesday, May 22. The Hatch PTO Diversity Committee is planning a two-part event to provide students with a fun, tangible experience to foster a connection between their daily studies and the jobs they dream about. During the day, participating classrooms will hear from adults with various careers. That night the whole family is invited at 6:30 for pizza and to learn from three interesting people in our community including an aerospace engineer (aka rocket scientist!)
DivCo need your help to make Career Day a Success. They need volunteers during lunchtime on May 22 to escort guest speakers to their classrooms. There are two shifts: 11:30am - 1pm or 12:30pm - 2pm. Also, if you or someone you know, loves what they do and would be available to be a guest speaker, please let them know. Sign up to volunteer or submit a Career Day Speaker.
The last Hatch Movie Matinee of the year is April 20 - WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Can you provide helping hands for 45 minutes - 1.5 hours for this event? We can use your assistance! Sign up here. Reminder: Students need an online permission slip to attend. Admission is $2 and most concessions are $1. Kindergartners must be accompanied by an adult or older sibling (exceptions made for Hephzibah and Apollo program participants). END TIME is approximately 4:45. Students are expected to stay until that time.