We had a great second week of school! The students are doing a stellar job as we get into our routines. I already see students engaged in learning and enjoying the new, albeit different school year. Thank you to everyone who attended our virtual PTO meeting on Tuesday. Working together to learn and grow in our ability to support our students in remote learning is such an important part of our success as a school! If you were unable to attend, but would like to access some amazing tips and tricks for supporting your child, you can access the presentation here or on our PTO website.
If you didn’t get a chance to see the amazing way our Oak Park community has kicked off school in a positive way, please check out this D97 First week of school video!
Art Alternative Lunch Clubs will begin the week of Monday, September 21, 2020.
Kindergarten, first and second grade students who are interested in art related activities can pop into the Zoom between 11:05am and 11:55am on Mondays using this link:
https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/8056946924?pwd=SEpZNVIwODlDakJJTTBVWDkraUhldz09
Third, fourth and fifth grade students who are looking for a studio space can pop in between 11:05am-11:55am on Thursdays using the following link:
https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/8056946924?pwd=SEpZNVIwODlDakJJTTBVWDkraUhldz09
Sarah Mendez
Hatch School Principal
1000 N Ridgeland Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 524-3095
Free Webinar on Supporting Children During COVID-19
Thrive Counseling Center is hosting a free Thrive Talks webinar, "Calm the Chaos!" on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. to provide parents with tools to support their children with the ongoing stress and uncertainty of the pandemic. The session will feature:
Child psychologist Heidi Hamernik, PhD
OPRFHS Special Ed teacher Douglas Hill
District 97 school social worker Lori Janu-Chossek, LCSW
PCC Wellness pediatrician Brooke Turnock, MD
Steve Parker, Marriage and Family Therapist
Please use the following link to join the webinar:
Continued Social-Emotional Wellness Check-Ins for Students
District 97 school psychologists and nurses have collaborated to offer access to virtual mental health wellness checks at each school this fall. Parents may sign up children for 25-minute Telehealth sessions where they can access an open ear for their sources of stress and learn self-care and coping strategies. Students may attend up to three sessions per trimester and may then be referred for other school-based supports if needed.
To sign up or learn more about these services, please visit https://bit.ly/3m3Xece.
If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please do not use this service and instead call the Thrive 24-Hour Crisis Hotline at 708-383-7500. You may also refer to this local resource guide created by the Community Mental Health Board of the Oak Park Township.
Next Meal D97 Meal Distribution: Tuesday, Sept. 22
During Trimester 1, meals will be provided free of cost to any District 97 student in need. Meal distributions will be held every Tuesday, 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. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches. Click here for the September 2020 menus.
Click here for more information about food service during Trimester 1. If you have any questions, please reach out to the district's food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at [email protected].
D97 to Host Virtual Parent Circles on September 23
District 97 families are invited to join us for Virtual Parent Circles, which will be facilitated in partnership with the E-Team of Oak Park. The event will be held Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. (click here to register)
This session was organized to accommodate families who were unable to participate in parent circles during our Aug. 13 Parent University. It is designed to build community among District 97 parents and guardians and provide support as we navigate remote learning.
PTO Reminders
Are you interested in supporting student equity at Hatch? Join the Diversity Committee and attend the first DivCo meeting Tuesday, September 22 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The group will brainstorm new activities and discuss aligning efforts for the 20-21 school year. Contact Kavita Vermani with questions.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ignatius-org.zoom.us/j/84991624665?pwd=Z3hsaU1CT0UydUFBVTVoa1hlSS82QT09
Meeting ID: 849 9162 4665
Passcode: 3e06a9
HatchWear sales end Sunday September 20 at midnight. All sales must be in by the end of the weekend, so make your choices and show your Tiger pride! Visit the online store here.