In lieu of our annual parent teacher basketball game, this year we created a fun video to connect us all until we can be together again in person. Check it out here! 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)
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week! Please join me in saying thank you to the amazing professionals who are going above and beyond to support students and families particularly during this time. Please know that gratitude doesn’t have to be fancy nor expensive. A simple message of thanks can mean the world to our staff!
As we work toward continuous improvement, your input is important to us. At the end of each week we will send out this optional survey to families as another way of gathering information on how to best meet the wide range of student needs.
Next Friday is our next remote learning planning day for teachers. This time is so important as teachers are learning to navigate a completely different reality within our profession. Teachers are spending hours planning their virtual lessons as well as learning about new technology and instructional techniques as we evolve and grow in how we serve our students. Here are the dates for the remaining Remote Learning Planning Days in May:
Friday, May 8th
Friday, May 15th
Friday, May 22nd
2019-2020 Yearbook! You can still purchase the Yearbook. Click here for more information and/or click here for link to purchase.
Next week is National Physical Education Week. Each May, on the 1st Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., millions of school children all over the globe will exercise simultaneously in a symbolic gesture of fitness and unity. Project ACES has reached millions of children, parents and teachers all over the world, including participants from over 50 countries. Teachers will be sending out an invite for the Hatch ACES event via zoom.
The Hatch Bookfair is going on now via the internet! You can go to the Hatch Scholastic Book Fair website and order books that will be delivered directly to your house in 1-2 weeks! Remember that 25% of what you purchase comes back to Hatch for the teachers to order books and other learning materials for their classroom and for the librarian to order books, bean bag chairs, robots and more for the students at Hatch! The shopping is open until May 3rd. Thank you the PTO for providing this wonderful opportunity for the Hatch community!
The Hatch PTO is happy to once again offer the Kids Kreations art fundraising activity - A fun way to treasure your child’s artwork. This year we are going virtual! Each one of your children, with the assistance of Ms. Klemp, selected a work of art that they personally created. Their piece of art was mailed to the Kids Kreations company to be scanned. You now have the opportunity to order a wide array of over 50+ products with your child's art on it. Hatch PTO earns up to 35% profit on anything you chose to order. This is an entirely optional fundraiser. If you are interested in seeing your child's art and/or ordering anything, please contact Sharon Morgan at [email protected] and she will send you the art id code that you will need to view your individual child's artwork.
The ordering will be online (https://www.kidskreations.us) or over the phone (866-652-3770) only. Shipping will be directly shipped to your home. There will be a flat $8 shipping rate, regardless of the amount ordered. Thank you for supporting Hatch School! Any questions? Please contact Sharon Morgan [email protected].
Message from Ms. Ficca and Ms. Park: “Thanks to the kids in the Hatch Student Council and our incredibly generous families for making this the most successful fundraising year EVER! We raised $1000 for the World Wildlife Foundation of Australia, $1000 for the Yes, We Can Educational Foundation, and now, the Hatch community has raised over $3000 for Beyond Hunger (formerly the OPRF Food Pantry). We are so proud of the kids who gave their time, efforts, and enthusiasm (and thanks also to Mrs. Mendez for allowing herself to be duct taped to the wall!) for these very worthy organizations. Thanks, everyone, and we miss you! Go Tigers!”
The Washington Post has come out with a Parents' Guide to Teaching, Entertaining, and Comforting your Child during this time. This article offers something for everyone and we hope your family will enjoy it!
Technical support will be available from school and district technology staff by accessing the Help Desk through email, [email protected]. When an email is submitted, a Help Desk ticket is created and assigned to technology staff, who will be working throughout the day to address technology concerns. Our technology team can support District 97 devices and student online programs.
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.
We recognize that this time of crisis may create stress and trigger emotional difficulties for your child. D97’s school psychology department is offering acute (short-term) access to mental health wellness checks. Scheduled appointments are available daily between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. for mental health triage services during the COVID-19 school closure beginning April 13, 2020.
Parents/Caregivers, you may sign up your student for a 15-minute slot here: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UUVKMGZxZ0E0ZkpvfGRlZmF1bHR8ODI4ZTEzZmFkOTFjYWY5OGU5NjFiZDBkMDExZjkzNmY if you think your child would benefit from an empathetic ear and a few coping and self-care tips. When signing your child up, please provide the email (for video chat) or phone number you’d like us to contact at the time of the appointment.
Although this crisis may also be tough for adults, these mental health triage appointments are reserved to focus on student needs. If you have questions as a caregiver/parent, please email your building’s assigned school psychologist, your child’s educational team, or refer to this resource guide, created by the District 97 Social Work Department: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uKPIgKHr6sDnj_YHb1t6S9UbukwE2JUAZS4cv37H9QY/edit
The Oak Park Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) will host an online parent-to-parent support group for parents on Saturday, May 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The purpose of the group is to provide support to BPAC and EL parents in District 97 in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Event flyer and details >
For the latest D97 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.
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 email her at [email protected]. In your message please indicate if you would prefer to email 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 again for your patience and support!
Sarah Mendez
Hatch School Principal
1000 N Ridgeland Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 524-3095