11/18/2022
The 2022 Turkey Trot was a huge success! It was wonderful to see everyone participating in the annual festivities, even through the cold temperatures! Thank you also to our parent volunteers and Mr. Cruz for making this event possible.
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I am reminded now more than ever how lucky we are to have one another and to be part of a community that goes above and beyond to support our children. Please take a moment to express to your child’s teacher something they may have done for your child that you are grateful for. Maybe they have put a great deal of thought into how to push or support your child academically. Maybe they gave your child extra encouragement or a hug when they needed reassurance. There are countless ways I see our teachers caring for our children without even realizing it. It is part of what makes our school such a special place! I personally am grateful to be a part of such a unique and caring community where putting children first is a daily reality. I am thankful for every child, parent, and staff member who makes that reality possible!
Winter gear: Please help us have your child prepared for all outdoor time at school. Students must have snow pants & boots on to play in the snow, as we do not want children to sit in wet clothes after recess. Students who do not have the appropriate gear play on the blacktop only. We will go outside for recess as long as the temperature and windchill are above 15 degrees. Please send your child in clothing they can manage independently. Please practice independent zipping & bundling at home, so it becomes a smoother transition at school. If you need support accessing winter gear for your child, please let us know, and we can provide assistance!
Every day there is snow on the ground or in the forecast, please send:
- Gloves
- Hat
- Boots (if you don’t have them, send two pairs of shoes)
- Snow Pants
- Winter coat
SECOND STEP: This week, our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders took the Panorama culture and climate survey that asked them questions about their feelings and perceptions of belonging, safety, and support in their classroom and at our school. This information helps inform our school improvement goals and lets us know which social and emotional needs we need to focus on as a school. Our 1st and 2nd graders had a "booster week," and their teacher chose to teach social-emotional skills or routines that needed more attention. However, our kindergartners kept up with their Second Step lessons. They learned about anger and how to identify anger. They learned that it’s natural to feel angry and be angry sometimes, but it's never ok to be mean to someone or hurt someone with their anger. There is no home link to share this week!
MasteryConnect: This week, our 4th and 5th-grade students participate in a new assessment that is commonly utilized at the middle school that provides curriculum-based formative and summative assessments in which teachers are able to receive timely and actionable data about students’ skills as well as specific knowledge that reflects classroom content. MasteryConnect is a competency-based learning platform that allows teachers to assess students’ mastery of standards, monitor student performance, and inform instruction. Integrated standards-based reports provide real-time information about mastery of core standards for grades 4-5. Students completed one ELA and Math assessment that should take about (90-120) minutes.
Free Dental Exams at Hatch on Wednesday, December 14th & Thursday, December 15!! We are excited to announce our partnership with The Children’s Clinic in Oak Park to bring free dental exams to our Hatch students! They will provide free dental exams and sealant placement to students through their in-school portable dental program. Their services extend to every child, pre-k to 12th grade, regardless of insurance status or eligibility. Children in kindergarten, second, sixth, and ninth grade are required to receive a dental exam – this program fulfills this requirement. If your student is a current 1st and 5th grader, due to the date of these exams, this will fulfill their 2023-24 school year's required dental exams. Eligible children covered by Medicaid Insurance will also receive a dental cleaning and fluoride varnish if it has been six months or more since the last cleaning/fluoride. Students must be enrolled at Hatch to receive these services during school hours on 12/14 & 12/15.
Students who are interested in participating will need to return a completed consent form by FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2nd.
Please print and return the consent form. A printed copy is also being sent home with your student, as well.
We must have a consent form on file by Friday, December 2nd. Without it, your child will not receive free dental service.
D97 Updates/Reminders:
Be Safe and Healthy: Preparing for Winter in District 97
As we head into the winter months, it’s important that we all continue to work together to keep our schools safe and healthy for learning. Please take a moment to review the district’s Winter Preparedness 2022-23 deck or watch the presentation from the Nov. 15 board of education meeting.
Winter Illnesses and Everyday Preventative Strategies
This year, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has noted an increase in individuals getting sick from respiratory viruses, including the flu, RSV, and COVID-19. Health officials are urging individuals and families to take basic precautions to protect themselves this winter—stay home when you are sick, wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, and stay up to date on your vaccines. CLICK HERE to watch a brief video of everyday strategies to keep our schools healthy this winter >>
Emergency Closings and E-Learning Days
District 97 always strives to have schools open. However, if heavy snow or extreme cold makes it dangerous to travel, we may need to close schools. The district’s emergency closing procedures are outlined at https://www.op97.org/communications/emergency-closings.
In July 2021, the District 97 Board of Education approved an E-Learning Plan for students to receive instruction electronically in lieu of traditional emergency days (or inclement weather days). This means that instead of canceling school, the superintendent now has the option of calling it an “E-Learning Day” where students and staff learn and work virtually at home. This provides a continuation of learning and prevents the loss of critical instructional days, particularly in our first and second trimesters.
If the superintendent decides to close buildings and hold an E-Learning Day, the information is shared through multiple channels, including email, the district website, our Facebook and Twitter social media pages, and the Emergency Closings website. Staff and families are also encouraged to OPT into text messages from the district by texting YES to 87569.
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers and Mindfulness Matters" November Community Talk
DePaul University, in partnership with the Oak Park Township Community Mental Health Board and District 97, is offering a series of free, virtual community talks to the District 97 community as part of the Mindful Middle Schoolers and Mindfulness Matters Program. The next community talk, "Understanding Depression in Youth and Strategies for Treatment," will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The session will focus on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression in youth, as well as the strategies and treatments available to support youth living with depression. This community talk is for all families, not just middle-school families. Click here to register >>
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 provided 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.