10/7/2022
Reminder: No school Monday, October 10, 2022, for Indigenous People’s Day
It was wonderful having so many families participate in Walk to School Day! We were lucky that the weather was perfect so our students could enjoy the fun. Our students did a great job on the evacuation drill this week, and I was so impressed with how well everyone followed all safety procedures the very first time!!
The Specials teachers at Hatch are collaborating on a Monarch Butterfly Migration unit. This unit will connect with our Día de Los Muertos discussions and the creation of our Hatch school ofrenda for the Oak Park/River Forest Ofrenda Walk. See the attached program flier if your family would like to participate in creating your ofrenda.
Hatch Needs Room Parents! Please consider signing up to be a room parent. Each class needs three parent volunteers who will work together to plan class parties, gather funds, and purchase gifts for the teacher. This role requires a minimal time commitment and is a great way to get involved at Hatch. There will be an orientation in September, date TBD. Please send questions to [email protected]
If you want to be a room parent, please sign up with the PTO!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084da4ab2fa3f94-2223
Halloween: We will continue the tradition of our annual Halloween parade on Monday, October 31st, at 1:45 pm. Classes will exit through the west playground doors, walk on the sidewalk around the field and re-enter through the east playground doors. Families are encouraged to gather along the route to cheer on our tigers! Any volunteers entering the building must check in with the main office to gain access. Mark your calendars!
Halloween reminders:
- Students will change into costumes after lunch.
- Costumes need to go on over students’ clothing, and children should be able to put their costumes on independently.
- The Parade will begin at 1:45 pm. We will exit through the west playground doors, head south on Ridgeland, east on Berkshire, and then north on Harvey back to school. Please stand across the street to take pics and cheer us on!
- No weapons, scary masks/props, or culturally insensitive costumes. Please remember that cultures are not costumes.
- NO food items are allowed. Food-free celebrations are part of our district-wide policy. The safety of our students is of the utmost importance.
- Any families that prefer their child(ren) not to participate in the Halloween celebrations, please speak with your child’s teacher about the alternate activity.
We are looking forward to celebrating with our fantastic Hatch community!
The month of October is National Bullying Prevention Month. This month-long event prevents bullying and promotes kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Across the district, our teachers will teach the Bullying Prevention Units, a 4-week curriculum designed to teach students to recognize, refuse and report bullying. As a reminder, conflict in childhood is natural and something that all human beings experience at all ages. Bullying differs from conflict in that it is ongoing in nature and a set of behaviors that intend to harm, hurt, or humiliate the victim. They involve power and control dynamics between two individuals or groups. Bullying can be reported at any time to a school staff member or by using this form.
D97 Updates/Reminders:
Our goal in District 97 is to create a positive learning environment where all students, staff, and families feel a sense of belonging. We have gathered information and resources regarding culturally-sensitive Halloween costumes in that spirit. We appreciate families being proactive with their children in making thoughtful costume choices. Click here for more details>>
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers and Mindfulness Matters" Community Talks: DePaul University, in partnership with the Oak Park Township Community Mental Health Board and District 97, offers free community talks to the District 97 community as part of the Mindful Middle Schoolers and Mindfulness Matters Program. The next community talk, "Mindfulness-Based Strategies and Their Applications at Home and School," will be held on October 19 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The session will focus on how mindfulness practices can help support youths' academic and emotional functioning at school and home. Please go to this link to register.
D97 to Host 'Family University' Session on Student Assessments - Tuesday, Oct. 18
Join us to learn about student assessments in District 97!
The district will host a virtual Family University session from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Families will receive a Zoom link once they register.
The session will help parents learn about the student assessments across District 97 schools, how the results support teaching and learning, and how you can use the information to understand your child's progress and next steps. Please use this form to register and submit any questions you have to our team ahead of time; we will address the most common questions submitted. Please note that the session will be recorded and shared on the District 97 website for future viewing.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Process for Reporting Positive COVID-19 Cases to D97 Schools
If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they must complete the following steps:
1) To notify the school nurse and receive a return-to-school date, families/staff must complete the confidential COVID-19 Positive Case Notification Form as soon as possible following the positive test. Information will also be shared with the Oak Park Department of Public Health.
2) Families must continue to report student absences via the school attendance line, and staff must enter their absences in Frontline.
To see the rules for isolation and quarantine, click here. Additional resources are linked below.