No matter your views, this week’s long election process may have brought additional stress and anxiety to your household. We know that many times the strain and worry that adults experience can trickle down to children despite our best efforts to shield them from those stressors. If you find your child needs extra support for any reason, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our teachers and support staff can be an amazing source of stability and comfort during uncertain times. We are all part of a larger Hatch family and will support each other as such!
Meet Author Stuart Gibbs! On Tuesday, November 10th, any 3rd, 4th or 5th grader who wants to have lunch with the author of the Spy School series can! Stuart will be talking about the inspiration behind the series as well as the research that goes into writing his new book, Spy School Revolutionary War. The presentation is 11 -11:30 and the zoom link information will be in their Library Google Classroom.
Hatch Library Book Checkout: Students have the opportunity to check out Hatch Library books! For all the information please click here.
November is Native American Heritage Month! If you are looking for some good books to read aloud this month, please look here! Also, as we start looking ahead in November, please consider how we present and celebrate Thanksgiving.
Save the date! Our next materials pick up will be on November 17th (K-2) and 18th (3-5) from 3-4pm. Due to the rising number of COVID cases, this will be a “no contact” pick up. Specific procedures will be sent out next week.
IMPORTANT ART INFO from Ms. Klemp - Please have your student bring their art kits with the watercolor set, brush, painting paper and construction paper mat to art next week (November 9-13.) They will also need crayons, a paper towel and a small plastic cup for water. Thank you for supporting your artist's art education. We can't wait to see their paintings!
Sarah Mendez
Hatch School Principal
1000 N Ridgeland Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 524-3095
D97 Updates/Reminders:
Erin's Law Information Session for Families: District 97 will host a virtual information session on Erin's Law (Illinois Public Act 097-1147), which requires all public schools to implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program. The session, "Keeping My Family Safe," will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. via Zoom. Families are invited to attend to learn more about Erin’s Law and tips for protecting their children. Erin’s Law Parent Night Details >
Next Meal D97 Meal Distribution: Tuesday, Nov. 10 Meals will be provided free of cost this fall to any District 97 student in need. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches. 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.
D97 Breakfast/Lunch Menus - November 2020
'Stamped' Family and Community Discussions: District 97 students, families and community members are invited to participate in a three-session discussion on the book Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Attendees will join together for a presentation followed by discussions in separate breakout rooms. In conjunction with Brooks and Julian middle schools' fall curriculum read, the sessions will follow along with the chapters being read by students and staff. Breakout sessions will be led by students from Dominican University, who will follow a peace circle format and draw on the Stamped Educator's Guide.
Events will be held:
Tuesday, Nov. 17 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (click here to register)
Tuesday, Dec. 1 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (click here to register)
These sessions are made possible with the support of: District 97 staff; Oak Park and River Forest School District 200; the Oak Park Public Library; the E-Team of Oak Park; and Dominican University’s Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) group.
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.
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Program: The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, and DePaul University’s Community Counseling Center have partnered to deliver a vast array of educational and therapeutic services to staff, families, and youth through the “Mindful Middle-Schoolers Program.” Below is a list of upcoming VIRTUAL talks, which will be held via Zoom. Registration via the Eventbrite links below is requested. Once you register, a link will be emailed to you four hours prior to the start of each event.
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Community Talk Flyer
Thursday, November 12: Technology and Mental Health: Strategies to Promote Mindful Digital Citizenship https://www.eventbrite.com/e/technology-and-mental-health-strategies-to-promote-mindful-tech-use-tickets-124165523423
Wednesday, November 18: Understanding Depression in Youth and Strategies for Treatment and Support https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-depression-in-youth-and-strategies-for-treatment-and-support-tickets-124167264631
Tuesday, December 1: LGBTQ Youth: Understanding and Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-youth-understanding-and-supporting-mental-health-and-well-being-tickets-124167752089
Wednesday, December 9: Understanding Anxiety in Youth and Strategies for Treatment and Support https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-anxiety-in-youth-and-strategies-for-treatment-and-support-tickets-124168632723