Message from March 13, 2020
Dear Hatch Families,
I know there is a lot of uncertainty during these times, but you can be certain that Hatch will do whatever we can to support your child and your family. Last night, District 97 made the difficult decision to close our schools effective Friday, March 13, through the end of spring break, March 27th. We are working to consider both academic and basic needs as we plan for next week. These efforts are to ensure that students will still have access to grade-level instruction while schools are closed.
Each day, your child’s teacher will send out assignments for a variety of subjects. These assignments will equate to approximately 5 hours of work. Students will have several days to complete each assignment; e-learning is all about flexibility! It is vital that you and/or your child complete(s) the daily attendance that will be sent by your child’s classroom teacher each day. All attendance forms must be completed by 2:00 pm. Starting Monday, March 16th, please look for an email from your child’s classroom teacher by 8:00 am with the e-learning materials. You will receive more information within that email directly from your child’s teacher.
We would like to partner with you to set a tone of calm and safety throughout our school community. We will make sure to plan as best we can and provide your child with the resources they need to effectively utilize the e-learning period. This eLearning is uncharted territory that we are all navigating together as a community. We are strongest when we work together. Though the staff will truly miss seeing your children’s faces during this time, we know that everyone’s safety is a top priority. We appreciate in advance your flexibility and patience as we navigate this e-learning platform. We are here to answer any questions you may have. Please continue to check your email and District 97’s website for updates. Please stay safe during this time, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
While the plans will be ever-evolving, we do have some basic structures in place:
Basic Needs:
We know that many families are shoring up on food and supplies. We also know that many families count on two meals a day at school. With the generosity of our PTO, we will provide gift cards to families who may need them. Please reach out to our social worker Bess Bates at [email protected] if you need this assistance.
Our support staff will be communicating directly with families who may have specific needs.
Community organizations are developing a food distribution plan and will communicate with residents as those plans unfold.
Academic Needs:
Today educators worked together to gather resources to send home. These resources will be aligned to grade level standards and support student growth at home.
Educators in all disciplines will be regularly available for 1 hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon to families and students about academic learning during the e-learning period. During “live hours” you can expect a real time response to emails depending on the volume of questions the teacher is receiving. Your child’s teacher will communicate their specific “live hours.”
Students will be able to access online resources through their Clever accounts.
Students will be expected to submit work either through an online platform or a hard copy when we return to school. Please be sure to save any work your child completes so that it can be submitted to the teacher.
Ms. Polley ([email protected]) our Instructional Coach and Ms. Winfield ([email protected]) our Student Support Specialist will be available each day from 9:30-10:30 am and 1:30-2:30 pm to help with questions around assignments or academic concepts.
I will be available to address any questions, comments, and concerns. I will also be in regular communication with our educators. Please do not hesitate to reach out.
Thank you again for your patience and support,
Sarah Mendez
Hatch School Principal
1000 N Ridgeland Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 524-3095
