Message from April 9, 2020
Thank you to everyone who participated in our remote spirit week this week. It was great to see the kids having some fun and being silly as a school community. We miss you all very much and wanted to send our love to all our Hatch families. Please see these messages from our staff!
WE MISS YOU SO MUCH!!! Click here to see how much! :)
Reminder: No remote learning tomorrow - Friday, April 10th nor Monday April 13th. Remote learning will resume on Tuesday April 14th.
Last week our Student Support Specialist, Ms. Winfield, along with our tech department, helped to ensure access to the internet and a device at home to participate in remote learning for our K-2 families that have expressed a need. We have successfully distributed iPads and hotspots to families. Although we would love to make packets for all K-2nd grade students, we are no longer able to print and mail packets. We understand that it would be ideal to have paper copies but we need to keep employees safe and therefore cannot have staff coming in on a weekly basis to print, collate, and mail packets.
As a staff, we continue to consider alternatives to worksheets as a means to demonstrate understanding, engage students in learning and deliver content. Please know that we respect the decisions you make regarding limiting screen time and work completion. We just ask you to do whatever you can. We will all need to demonstrate flexibility and patience as we navigate the best ways to deliver content and support kids at home using devices. This is a learning process for all of us!
While we follow the “shelter in place” guidelines, the week of April 14th will continue as remote learning to provide the continuation of learning in students’ coursework in homes without interruption. Please check your homeroom teacher’s communication method (such as email, blog, or website) for these lesson plans. In addition, on the Hatch Website, families can find links to grade level and teacher information and special area assignments (PE, Art, Music, Library, & FLESS). Once again, please make this work for your family. You can adjust schedules and prioritize assignments to fit your family’s situation/needs. We understand that everyone has different situations and stressors right now.
If you would like to donate to help Hatch families in need, please click here. Thank you to our amazing PTO for their support. Your generosity is so appreciated during this time. This is just part of what makes our Hatch community so very special. (link on PTO facebook page).
Please click here for an update on our Hatch Parent Teacher Basketball Activity.
Here is a quick except from Dr. Carmen I. Ayala, State Superintendent of Education, as you navigate learning from home:
“I want to share some advice from a psychology professor. Eva Pomerantz, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has long focused on how to facilitate children's motivation and achievement in school. This week, in a brief web post from the U of I, she was asked how families can achieve those same goals at home. Here is some of what she had to say:
First, I remind myself the goal is simply for my children to do something constructive. I try to be flexible in my idea of “constructive” and in terms of how much can get done each day.
Second, I try to put my children’s perspective at the forefront. I ask myself: Can we accomplish the goal of being constructive while doing it my children’s way? And if not, how can we do it in a way that would sit well with them?
Third, I’m also forgiving of my children and myself as we navigate this unusual and challenging situation. When things do not work, I try to find a way to do it better next time, and then I move on.”
One of our school psychologists shared a short social story explaining coronavirus (in multiple languages) for students who have autism. Thought I would pass it along in case your child might benefit by sharing it with them.
Can Do Challenge: Hatch has raised over $1000 already! We're in third place and it's only been a couple of days. Thank you for your support of our community!
Join District 97 students and staff in a Spring Scavenger Hunt! Click here to view complete details > To participate, just put something in your front-facing window each week to go with that week's theme. It should be large enough to see from the road and can be handmade or anything around the house! Kids can spot them from the road and can still practice social distancing. Let's show our community we are #D97Strong! (Tag the district's social media accounts using @oakpark97 and #MyD97.)
Meal Distributions: District 97 will hold meal distributions every Monday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave. Meals are available to any District 97 family in need. Each student will receive breakfast and lunch items for five days.
If you have any questions, please contact our food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at [email protected].
Free/Reduced Lunch Applications: Given the economic impact of COVID-19, families may have experienced a financial change such as income reduction or job loss. Even if it is temporary and regardless of other financial factors, a change of income may qualify your children for free or reduced lunch from now until October 1, including summer meals. We encourage all families who have experienced a loss or reduction of income to take a few minutes to complete the National School Lunch application. To learn more or access the application, please visit: https://bit.ly/3c5gxvV. Applications will also be available at our meal pick-up sites.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing measures that are in place, the 40th Annual District 97 Multicultural Parade and Festival scheduled for May 2 has been postponed indefinitely. Click here for more information >
The District 97 Student Services Department is hosting a virtual Special Education Parent Support Meeting on Monday, April 13, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Please see the details below to join us.
Topic: Special Education Parent Support Group
Date/Time: Monday, April 13, at 6:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 621 467 558
Password: 6g1e1z
2019-2020 Yearbook Deadline Extended! The deadline to purchase the Yearbook has been extended to April 16. Click here for more information and/or click here for link to purchase.
FREE INTERNET ACCESS: We want to be sure you are aware of the free internet access opportunities from AT&T, Spectrum, and Comcast. The Illinois State Board of Education has listed these opportunities at www.isbe.net/keeplearning.
For the latest information and updates, please visit our district website (https://www.op97.org/updatecenter/index), and please monitor your email and phone for messages from the district.
Art supplies - Parents who are in need of supplies for their child can reach out to Ms. Klemp at [email protected].
Flu/COVID Information:
If you or a family member have a fever, cough, or and/or flu-like symptoms, please consult with your primary care provider BEFORE going to urgent care or the emergency department. There are specific protocols in place for managing illness at this time that are designed to protect you and others. Your primary doctor or health care provider can help keep you safe while managing your symptoms.
If you have any questions, or would like to discuss any health care related issues further, Nurse Rossi is available and happy to help. Please e-mail her at [email protected]. In your message please indicate if you would prefer to e-mail or talk via phone.
As you know, the situation regarding COVID-19 is rapidly changing. Please go to one of these links for the most current information:
Continue to follow frequent handwashing, not touching your face, and physical distancing. We will get through this together!
As we continue to learn and grow our practices in remote learning, we want to thank you for your patience and support. We hope you enjoy the long weekend with some fun and relaxation as a family at home! Go tigers!!
Sarah Mendez,
Hatch School Principal
William Hatch School
1000 N. Ridgeland Ave. | Oak Park, IL 60302
Tel: (708) 524-3095 | www.op97.org/hatch
Attendance: (708) 665-3063 | [email protected]
