Irving Weekly Newsletter: Oct. 18, 2019

IRVING-RELATED: NEW

DISMISSAL TIME THURSDAY & FRIDAY

We are very excited for parent/teacher conferences this week.  It is always great to see our families working together with teachers.  Due to conferences, on Thursday, Oct 24th and Friday, Oct 25th, the students will be dismissed at 11am both days.

SPECIAL AREA TEACHERS AVAILABLE FOR CONFERENCES

Irving's Specials Teachers are happy to meet with parents interested in how and what their child has been doing so far this year. They will be available Thursday afternoon/evening. Please email the teacher to set up an appointment, either before or after your conference with the classroom teacher. Thank you!

INCLUSIVE PLAYDATE: EVERYBODY PLAYS--SUNDAY OCTOBER 27TH

Irving’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee is hosting an inclusive playdate where children with and without disabilities enjoy accessible playtime which has been designed with your children’s needs in mind using Mr. Tim’s expertise (D97’s Adapted PE Teacher).  This is also an opportunity for parents to get to know other Irving parents.  See the Everybody Plays! Flyer for more information.

THANKSGIVING MEAL

International Christian Fellowship Church would like to provide a Thanksgiving meal for up to 40 families who qualify for free/reduced lunch. Included in the meal boxes are the following: A Frozen Turkey, Canned Corn, Cranberry Sauce, White Rice 1Lb Bagged, Black Beans 1Lb Bagged, Pinto Beans 1Lb Bagged, Stuffing Mix, Brownie Mix, Mashed Potatoes, Packets Of Brown Gravy, Boxed Corn Muffin Mix.

You will need to pick up the meal box at Holmes School on Saturday, November 16th between 10am and 12pm. If you are interested, please complete this form: Thanksgiving Meal Sign-Up by October 22nd.

You will receive an email on 10/25/19 to confirm receipt of your request. Requests will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact the school social worker at Holmes Maria Pascarella at [email protected] or 708-524-7645 with any questions.

Background checks at irving- Wednesday, Oct 23  background check on Wednesday from 4:30-6:30p

IRVING-RELATED: PBIS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL, & SECOND STEP

SECOND STEP: BULLYING PREVENTION UNIT

As you know, we are using the Second Step program in your child’s classroom. The Second Step program teaches children important skills for getting along with others and doing well in school. It also helps our school be a safe, respectful place where everyone can learn.

To further help our school be a safe and respectful place, we are also going to use the Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit. In the lessons, your child will learn specific skills to help stop bullying. Students will learn how to:

  • Recognize when bullying is happening
  • Report bullying to a caring adult
  • Refuse to let bullying happen to themselves or others
  • Be a bystander who stands up and is part of the solution to bullying

In addition, we will email home fun activities called Home Links that will help you understand what your child is learning about bullying at school. They also give your child another chance to practice skills for handling bullying.

For bullying prevention to work, everyone needs to be involved so we need your help, too! Get involved in making our school a safe and respectful place by letting us know if you hear about bullying at our school. Make sure your child knows to tell you or someone at school if he or she is being bullied. And give your child the clear message that it is never okay to bully others.

If you have any questions about the Bullying Prevention Unit or the Second Step program, please contact Susan Mura.

In addition to these emails, you can find information regarding PBIS and Second Step on our Irving Webpage through the PBIS & Second Step link on the left.

As always, if you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to reach out.

GRADE

ACTIVATION CODE

(www.secondstep.org)

HOME LINK INFORMATION

Kindergarten

SSPK FAMI LY70

K BPU: Lesson 1

Grade 1

SSP1 FAMI LY71

1st Grade BPU: Lesson 1

Grade 2

SSP2 FAMI LY72

2nd Grade BPU: Lesson 1

Grade 3

SSP3 FAMI LY73

3rd Grade BPU: Lesson 1

Grade 4

SSP4 FAMI LY74

4th Grade BPU: Lesson 1

Grade 5

SSP5 FAMI LY75

5th Grade BPU: Lesson 1

IRVING-RELATED: REMINDERS

IRVING TRIVIA NIGHT

Don’t miss Irving’s annual school Trivia Night, sponsored by the Irving PTO. This event raises funds for 5th grade Outdoor Education scholarships and 5th grade Send-Off festivities. Register for Trivia Night by visiting this link.

BOOK FAIR: OCTOBER 21-24

Join us at the book fair and story time to discover new books together.  The Irving Book Fair is October 21-24.  Shopping hours are Monday & Tuesday 3-6pm, Wednesday 2:30-8pm, and Thursday 11am-5pm.  Please refer to the Book Fair Flyer for more information.

If you are available to volunteer at the bookfair, sign-up via the SignUpGenius link

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS

Please see Irving's Halloween Schedule for information regarding how our school will be celebrating Halloween this year.  If your child does not celebrate Halloween, please let your child’s homeroom teacher know and they will participate in an alternative activity in the library.

CULTURALLY SENSITIVE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Please see the attached letter regarding costume choices that help support our goal to create a positive learning environment where all students, staff, and families feel a sense of belonging.

FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS FOR HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS

Please refer to Nurse Jamie’s letter regarding Halloween for information regarding allergies and the teal pumpkin project.

NEWS FROM THE PTO

NEW: DIAPER PARTY FOR MS. GINA

Over the next two weeks, parents/families will be collecting diapers for Ms. Gina.  There will be two drop off centers; 1168 South Taylor Ave or 942 Gunderson anytime between October 21st and November 1st.  Parents/families who donate will also sign a card that will be available at each drop off location.

Ms. Gina’s diapers of choice include Pampers Swaddlers, Pampers Pure and Huggies Overnites; sizes 1 and 2.

Feel free to drop off a treat for Mrs. Johnson too as she will be holding down the fort while Gina is home with her new addition. (PS: Mrs. Johnson likes all treats that are non-chocolate)

NEW: PTO CO-PRESIDENT VACANCY

There is a vacancy for the PTO co-president position. This position would only be through the end of this school year.  For more information or if you are interested in being nominated please email [email protected] prior to November 14th.  The vote will be held at the November 14th PTO meeting.

PTO MEETING: NOVEMBER 14TH @ 7pm - CHANGE IN TOPIC

Our next PTO meeting will be held on November 14th at 7pm in the Irving Auditorium. There will not be a learning session for this PTO meeting.  The Restorative Practices presentation will be in December.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION (DivInc): OCTOBER 22nd @ 7pm

Please join us for the next DivInc meeting at the Irving library.  We will be discussing a variety of topics, including the upcoming Gender Inclusion training (Nov. 5th & 19th) and planning the Multicultural Potluck, which is November 21st. DivInc October Flyer

SAVE THE DATE: GENDER INCLUSIVITY TRAINING

Tuesday November 5th 7-9pm and Tuesday, November 19 7-9pm 

Join us for a collaborative training program for parents, teachers, staff, and community members on gender and inclusion provided by the PTO and DivInc. Gender & Inclusion Flyer

DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

FREE MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS

The Oak Park Public Library, in partnership with Rush University Medical Center, is offering free mental health assessments (through pre-scheduled appointments) for children and adults on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Main Library. A Rush psychologist will conduct the onsite assessment.

For more information, please visit https://www.oppl.org/news-events/announcements/free-mental-health-assessments-available/.

SCREENAGERS

As you know, the first and most critical step with respect to technology is to be mindful.  This documentary sheds light on how kids and teens can be healthy and co-exist with phones and social media in a relatable way that will benefit you, your children, and generations to come.

The film will be at Lake Theatre, Oak Park, on October 23 & 24 at 7:30 PM on both dates.  Price per adult $5; students 18 & under are free.

In addition, OPRF and the Mental Health Consortium have decided to contribute to this important community event by sponsoring the fee for the use of Lake Theatre.

As you know, the first and most critical step with respect to technology is to be mindful.  This documentary sheds light on how kids and teens can be healthy and co-exist with phones and social media in a relatable way that will benefit you, your children, and generations to come.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, Jeanne Nohalty, at 773-369-7217 or [email protected].  To view a trailer of Screenagers please visit www.screenagersmovie.com.

SUPER STEAM SATURDAY

Please join the Oak Park Education Foundation for a free fun morning of crafting, collaborating, and creating. Build a robot, design a skyscraper, unleash your inner artist and learn more about OPEF with great activities for kids ages 5-12. Join us Saturday, November 9th from 10am-12pm at Longfellow School. You can learn more about the event on OPEF's website or Facebook page.

SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT WORKSHOP

The Student Services Department is excited to announce a Saturday parent/guardian workshop exploring curricula used in D97 and the tools your students use each day on October 19th from 9am to 12pm. The topics covered will be Literacy, Math, Assistive Technology, Augmentative/Alternative Communication, Assessments, and Social-Emotional Learning.  Please complete this Google Form if you are interested in attending.  Childcare is available.  

INTERNET FOR ALL

District 97 is now accepting applications for our Internet for All program. Through the program, which we launched two years ago, we are able to offer free home Internet service to students in grades three through eight who do not have access to this critical resource. You can access a video about the program by clicking here, a flyer about the program in English and Spanish by clicking here, and a web page featuring the flyer, the video and additional information about the program by clicking here.

EARLY CHILDHOOD SCREENINGS

District 97's student services department is offering free early childhood screenings for children ages 3 to 5. You can access additional information about these screenings, which are by appointment only, by visiting https://bit.ly/2md3FPH.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • October 21-24th          Book Fair (Scholastic)
  • October 22nd              Irving DivInc Meeting (7-8:30pm)
  • October 24/25th          Student Attendance Half Day (P/T conferences)
  • October 24th               Staff Soup Luncheon (11am-1pm)
  • October 31st               Halloween Parade (1pm)
  • November 1st             No School (Institute Day for staff)
  • November 5th             Gender Inclusivity Training (7pm-9pm)
  • November 7th             Trivia Night (7pm)
  • November 13-15         5th Grade Outdoor Education
  • November 14th           PTO meeting (Learning Session: Restorative Practice) (7-8:30)

IMPORTANT LINKS

Helpful Links

Below are links that feature important school and district-related information and resources.

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