Week of April 1, 2019

Second Step This Week

This week during Second Step our Kindergarten, First and Second Graders will be reviewing playground rules and safety.  They'll watch a "booster video" that students created last year to show students what our expectations look and sound on the playground. 

Our Third, Fourth, and Fifth graders will be diving into their problem solving unit and learning about ways to address conflict and difficulties with peers.  Only two grade levels have home links and we encourage you to take a look at them so you can reinforce these important skills at home!

Fourth Grade Home Link: Jumping to Conclusions

Fifth Grade Home Link: Handing Put Downs

 

 

Class Placement Information

Principal Dolezal sent a form for families to fill out to let our school know more about your child’s learning styles for class placement. Please click here to see a presentation about changes to class placement for next year. 

Dining for Dollars @ Potbelly 

 

Head over to the Potbelly on Lake Street on Tuesday, April 9th from 5-8 pm for dinner on Tuesday, April 9. Get one of your old favorites like a Wreck sandwich and a shake, or try something new like their salads or mac & cheese.  The best part is that 25% of your purchase goes back to Longfellow. Be sure to mention it when ordering!

 

Open Gym Canceled April 11th- April 24th

There will be no morning open gym from Thursday, April 11th- Wednesday, April 24th because the gym will be set up with gynmastics equipment for Physical Education classes.  During this time students are welcome to attend the breakfast program or Sunrise Study Hall. 

 

 

D97 Music Camp

District 97 is excited to offer it's annual Music Camp again this summer. Students from Oak Park and the surrounding areas are invited to attend this week-long camp and explore creating music through many avenues. Sign up for one session or many. Some sessions require previous experience, but there are plenty that don't! Register here to save your spot!

Islamophobia Lecture on April 10th 

The Longfellow Diversity Committee and DivCo is glad to welcome Longfellow parent Nadine Naber along with Dima Khalidi and Zeina Zaatari for a lecture and discussion about Islamophobia. Learn how to identify and combat sources of anti-Arab racism in our schools and community. Childcare is available, please click here to RSVP for childcare.

Can Do Challenge

During the month of April Longfellow will be participating in the "Can Do Challenge".  Local area schools will be competing for the most points through dollar donations, a food drive of non-perishable items, and volunteer hours in the month of April. Help Longfellow be the next school to take home the Can Do trophy! Please see Ms. Tatro and the Longfellow student council will be sponsoring this drive.  Click here to see our school website. April 1st the competition will begin! 

Let's Talk Middle School!

All 5th grade families are cordially invited to attend "Let's Talk Middle School" at Percy Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland, to learn a little about what makes middle schools tick. General topics include climate / culture, the transition from elementary to middle, and how the middle schools are handling matters of diversity, restorative justice, mental health, and student leadership. Attendees include PTO leaders from all ten schools; presenters include Principals Capuder and Fitzgerald, as well as Dr. Kamm, Senior Director of Equity, and Ms. Olson, Climate & Culture Coach at both Brooks and Julian middle schools.

Multicultural Festival on May 4th

Oak Park Elementary School District 97 will host its 39th annual Multicultural Festival on Saturday, May 4.The festival will kick off at 10 a.m. with a parade, beginning at Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland Ave. Following the parade, school and community members are invited back to Julian to enjoy musical performances, dancing, food, crafts and an international marketplace. To participate in the Multicultural Festival parade or activities, please complete the appropriate form and return it to Juanta Griffin and Lou Anne Johannesson no later than April 12, 2019. Forms can be sent via email to [email protected] or faxed to 708-524-3014.

Submit a "Cheers for Peers!"               

We would like to recognize children and adults who make a difference at Longfellow School.  If you would like to nominate an individual who makes a difference at our school, please fill out this form.  The individual you nominate will receive a printed form with a description of their contribution to making Longfellow a great place to be.

D97 Adventure Run

Longfellow Sports Night 

Walk, bike, or skip to Longfellow's Annual Sports Night where you can have your inner athlete shine! Longfellow's Sports Night will be on Thursday, May 9th from 6:00-7:00 pm on the Longfellow Playground.

 

State Testing Information- Illinois Assessment for Readiness (IAR) 

Our district began state prior to spring break and will be finishing our make up testing this week.  The state is no longer administering the PARCC assessment for 3rd-5th graders, but will give a very similar test called the "Illinois Assessment for Readiness".  It is important that every student have a working pair of headphones for the assessment.  Our schedule is still being finalized for this test and your child's classroom teacher will communicate exactly when and at what times your child will test during the testing window between March 11th and March 22nd.  As is required by law, every student who is eligible to take the IAR assessment will receive a test ticket or test booklet. However, in accordance with our practice, anyone who elects not to take the assessment will be permitted to read a book after the teacher has read the directions to the class and students have begun the testing process. Since students will not be allowed to go to the school library during the administration of the test, we ask that you please make sure your child brings his/her book to class during the IAR testing window (March 11, 2019 to March 22, 2019).

After School Tutoring and Summer Program 

The Equity Team (E-Team) is excited to announce that beginning Monday, April 1, we will be in the Oak Park Public Library Tutoring Center offering homework help and subject-specific tutoring. The Center is located on the third floor and is open Mondays-Thursdays from 3-6 p.m. The Center will remain open through May 30. Please help us welcome Patricia Washington as the Center’s Coordinator. Ms. Washington graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a major in criminal justice and a minor in social work. After starting her career with the Internal Revenue Service, Ms. Washington worked in the areas of healthcare and law, where she led successful initiatives to increase efficiency and streamline systems. Please encourage your student to join us after school and feel free to stop by and say hello. For more information, please email [email protected].  Also, our Power of Partnerships summer program, a partnership between the E-Team, Dominican University, District 97, and the Oak Park Public Library, will run from July 22 to August 16. Families with students entering grades 2-8 who need additional academic support are invited to contact us for more information at [email protected].

Bullying Report Form

District 97 has developed a new online Bullying Report Form that will help improve and strengthen the culture, climate and sense of belonging in our schools. The concept and several aspects of this form were based on a reporting tool that one of our middle school students created with the help of administrators and peers. The form can be used to report a conflict or behavior that is disruptive, hostile or makes a student feel unsafe. There is also a section of the form that can be used to communicate how students would like the reported concern to be addressed. This may include speaking with the social worker, administrative intervention, etc.  Any information shared via the form will be automatically and immediately sent to a designated school staff member for review and response. While having the names of the people who complete the form and/or were involved in an incident will enable us to more effectively address a reported conflict or behavior, providing that information is not required. The Bullying Report Form is accessible in several locations on the district's family of websites, including the drop-down menu under the section titled Students that is located in the main navigation on every page, as well as in the quick links that are featured in the colored text boxes on the left side of each school site.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, April 2nd-                     No School, Teacher Institute Day

Thursday, April 4th-                    Instrumental Music Festival @ OPRF from 6:30-8:30 pm

Monday, April 8th-                       D97 Choral Festival @ OPRF High School from 7- 8:30 pm

Tuesday, April 9th-                     Talent Show Auditions

                                                      Dining for Dollars at Potbelly

Tuesday, April 10th-                  Dismantling Islamophobia Lecture

Saturday, May 4th-                    D97 Adventure Run, Multicultural Festival

Thursday, May 9th-                   Longfellow Sports Night from 6-7 pm

Thursday, May 16th-                 Talent Show

Friday, May 17th-                      End of Year Picnic

Friday, May 24tht-                  Olympic Day

Thursday, June 6th-                   Last Day of School