11-12-2021
I am pleased to report that every slot was full for the vaccine clinic last night! This is amazing news for our students and our community as we work toward increasing a sense of normalcy again. I am extremely grateful to finally be able to protect my own children and my Hatch children!!
We understand that many of the appointments filled up quickly, and some families were not able to secure appointments at their schools. Please know that we are in close communication with the health department and will notify our families should more appointments become available.
COVID-19 vaccines for children and adults are also widely available at most national pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens and Jewel-Osco, and through many healthcare providers. Vaccines can be found by visiting www.vaccines.gov, texting your ZIP code to 438829, or calling 1-800-232-0233. For more information about COVID-19 vaccination opportunities in Oak Park, visit www.oak-park.us/vaccine. Oak Park residents who need assistance getting a vaccine can email the Health Department at [email protected] or call 708-358-5499. Additional information about the COVID-19 vaccine is available from the CDC and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
If you have questions about the vaccine, please CLICK HERE for an FAQ document prepared by the Village of Oak Park.
A student in grade 3 who was last in our school building on November 9th, 2021 tested positive for COVID-19. We are sending this notification for your awareness, and you do not need to take any further action at this time. If you have been identified as a close contact or the case was in your child’s classroom, you should have received a separate notification from Nurse Rossi or myself with additional information. As a reminder, we can slow the spread of COVID-19 as a school community by getting vaccinated, social distancing whenever possible, wearing masks in public, washing our hands thoroughly, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick. Thank you to our families for their kindness and patience as we worked with the health department to communicate the required steps.
Just a reminder that we do not have indoor space to allow students to safely enter the building prior to their entrance time in the event of rain or inclement weather. Please have your child arrive at their line as close to their time as possible just as we did last year. Thank you!
Please be sure that your child brings what they need for school each day. Due to the No Visitor Policy, please refrain from bringing forgotten items to school until further notice. We can supply lunches, bottled water and masks if a student forgets to bring those to school on occasion.
Turkey Trot is back! During the week of November 15th, 2021 our third, fourth and fifth grade students will be walking to Taylor Park during their scheduled P.E. class times to participate in a fun run. After a long pandemic pause, we are excited to once again participate in this annual tradition to promote healthy habits and begin to celebrate Thanksgiving!
Mark your calendars- Anderson Bookfair starts December 1st! This year's fall book fair is completely virtual and is with a new local company, Anderson Bookfairs, https://www.abcfairs.com/about-us . More info will come home with students before thanksgiving...stay tuned for teacher wish lists and more details in the future. If anyone has questions they can contact Beth Sauers at [email protected].
We wanted to take a minute to announce a new resource available to our Hatch families. D97 and DePaul University have partnered to offer care coordination to families across all of our schools. Care coordinator, Tetyana Krutsik, is available to Hatch families who are interested in community support with securing housing, rental assistance, benefits, insurance, medical/mental health care, tutoring programs, and child care programs. We are lucky to have this amazing, free resource for our families. Please check out the attached flyer and feel free to spread the word to families.
D97 Updates
D97 to Host 'Family University' Session on K-5 Literacy Instruction - Wednesday, Dec. 1
District 97 will host a virtual Family University session on Dec. 1 focusing on elementary literacy instruction.
The session will be held virtually, via Zoom, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Families will receive a link once they register.
Join us to learn more about our approach to literacy instruction in kindergarten through fifth grade. Staff from the Teaching and Learning Department will discuss the district's resources and the student experience, and will answer the most common questions submitted by families. Please use this form to submit any questions you have no later than 12 p.m. on Tuesday, November 16. We look forward to seeing you there! CLICK HERE to register for the event!
COVID-19 Symptom Checklist and Instructions for Symptomatic Students
In October, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education released updated guidance and an updated exclusion decision tree. As a result, we have updated some of our protocols and required documents for symptomatic students. CLICK HERE for a one-page summary of the required steps and testing for students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
Reminder: Stay Home When Sick!
Staying home when sick is essential to keep COVID-19 infections out of schools and prevent spread to others. Symptoms that should be monitored daily by District 97 staff, families and students are:
- Fever (100.4 or higher)
- New cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue from unknown cause
- Muscle or body aches from unknown cause
- Moderate/severe headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea