Message From 05/12/2023

  • Posted May 16, 2023

05/12/2023
 

Thank you to our Hatch families and our amazing PTO for the overwhelming amount of love and appreciation you have shown our staff during Teacher Appreciation Week. Our teachers work long hours, not only implementing top-notch curriculum and instruction but also remembering to do all the little things that make our school such a special, happy place for children. Your support means the world to us!

 

Thank you to our special team for bringing back the Spring Arts Fiesta this week. It was so wonderful to see families in the building supporting our students as they share their many talents!

 

Hephzibah currently has 10 spaces open for the fall 2023-24 school year at Hatch. 

 

We are in need of parent volunteers for our Field Day event this year. We need your support with all the fun games and activities we have scheduled for that day. This is an all-school event, so the more volunteers, the better.  Please see the attached form.

 

8th grade Hatch tigers are welcome to come back and help as well!!!

 

Second Step: This week, our kindergarten and first-grade students learned about the fairways to play.  The fairways to play offer three solutions when children both want to play with the same thing.  Sharing, trading, and taking turns promote fairness and mutual enjoyment, so students are less likely to use aggressive solutions.  Our second graders learned about taking responsibility when they have hurt someone else’s feelings or upset them. They learned that taking responsibility means admitting what you did, apologizing, and offering to make amends. Our third through fifth graders are continuing to apply the problem-solving steps.  Learning new skills requires review and practice. Students are further cementing their knowledge of the problem-solving steps by using them to come up with positive solutions to interpersonal problems and identifying when they need to ask an adult for help.
 
Kindergarten- Fair Ways to Play
First Grade- Fair Ways to Play
Second Grade- Taking Responsibility
Fifth Grade- Seeking Help


 

The 2023 Spring Fun Fair is Thursday, May 18th, from 5 pm - 7 pm
Join us for a fun evening of games, snacks, raffles, and even a silent auction!
We are still looking for volunteers to help make this happen - please visit our sign-up link:
Buy Your Tickets Today (please fill out the form and then purchase tickets):

 

The PTO Board is looking for volunteers to help during the 2023-2025 school years. We have an opening for TWO members for our Hatch After Hours program. Please email us for more information: [email protected]

 

Cradles to Crayons Clothing Drive: Cradles to Crayons currently has a low inventory of clothing - but as this is an ongoing need, please consider donating directly to them at any time.

Needed sizes include infant through adult medium.

Please drop off donations of clothing and shoes at the entry at Hatch by May 26th.

 

Check out our Music Newsletter from Ms. Duran here:
 
Sarah Mendez
Hatch School Principal 
1000 N Ridgeland Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 524-3095

 

D97 Updates/Reminders:

 

Kindergarten and New Student Registration is Now Open!
Online registration for kindergarten and new students is now open for the 2023-24 school year. Kindergarten and new students may register from May 5, 2023, through July 1, 2023. 
 
Kindergarten Eligibility:
To register your student, you must be the custodial parent/guardian currently residing in Oak Park. Students registering for kindergarten for the 2023-24 school year must be at least 5 years old and be born on or before Sept. 1, 2018.
 
All students entering kindergarten, including those currently enrolled in one of District 97’s early childhood programs, are considered “new students” and should follow the kindergarten and new student registration process on May 5. All other currently enrolled District 97 preschool students who are not entering kindergarten should register as returning student beginning on May 26. 
Please click the links below to learn more about the registration process for kindergarteners and new students.

Returning student registration will open on Friday, May 26. Instructions for returning students will be shared in the coming weeks. We appreciate your partnership in preparing for a successful 2023-24 school year!

 

Community Health and Safety

The Village is Hosting a Free Firearm Lock Giveaway on Saturday, May 13

Gun violence is a public health crisis. District 97 is committed to partnering with the Village of Oak Park to address this crisis and help keep our community safe. 

The Village of Oak Park police and health departments are hosting a free firearm lock giveaway on May 13, 2023, to encourage secure storage of firearms so our community can be safe and healthy. Attendees of the giveaway event can receive a free firearm lock from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, in the courtyard at Village Hall, 123 Madison St. No registration is required. 

The health and police departments remind residents that safe firearm storage is a simple action a gun owner can take to reduce gun access among young people, keeping families safe. Safe gun storage is an issue that impacts the entire community and saves lives.

2023-24 District 97 Blended Preschool Program
On Monday, April 10, District 97 will begin accepting applications for the early childhood blended classrooms at Whittier Elementary School for the 2023-24 school year. There will be a limited number of spaces available. Click here to view the 2023-24 D97 Blended Early Childhood flyer >>

District 97 is seeking students who:

  • Are non-IEP students who will be between the ages of 3 and 4 years by Sept. 1, 2023.
  • Demonstrate age-appropriate language and social skills.
  • Are Oak Park residents!
  • Are not enrolled in a preschool program.

The registration window will be open from April 10, 2023, through May 19, 2023. For more information about the Early Childhood Blended Program or to apply, please visit https://www.op97.org/teach-learn/ecblended.

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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.