The Mustang Memo

• Monday, January 13th - January 24th: 2nd - 5th grade MAP testing window
  
• Monday, January 20th - NO SCHOOL - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  
• Week of January 27th - Conferences
  
• Thursday, January 30th and Friday, January 31st - 1/2 days for students
  
• Thursday, February 6th - 3rd grade music performance 8:30am
  
• Friday, February 7th - PTO meeting 8:15am
  

Thank you to all of you who have been or are working hard to be on time.

During our recent staff development time Wednesday, we brainstormed the importance of kids being in line with their classes by 8:00. Here are a few reasons: (random order)

• Safety
• Responsibility
• Ready to learn
• Set the pace for the day
• Do not miss instruction
  
• Feel a part of the group/ sense of belonging
  
• Organization
• Observe group dynamics
  
• Good morning greeting
• Accurate lunch count is possible
• Established expectations
• Community
• Lessens anxiety
• Routine and order
• Social interaction
• Proper transition
• See friends
• Get to specials on time
  
• Positive culture
• Builds discipline
• Start the day calm
  
• Positive start to the day

Update: The Rainbow Walk will not be next week, but hopefully soon. When we have a better sense of his first day back, we will share the news.

In early January, we want to celebrate an important moment in one of our very own Mustang's lives. Reese, a 3rd grader, has been undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments over the last year and a half, and his last treatment is on January 2nd!!! In honor of this, we wanted to celebrate with him by wearing the colors of the rainbow on the day that he returns back to school after his last treatment because he LOVES rainbows! On this day, kindergarten will wear RED, 1st grade will wear ORANGE, 2nd grade will wear YELLOW, 3rd grade will wear GREEN, 4th grade will wear BLUE, and 5th grade will wear PURPLE. We will have a rainbow parade for Reese when he walks in the building. Please start thinking of the perfect shirt to wear on this day! We will let you know the exact date as soon as possible!!

Show your support for Reese and his family. A new fundraising goal of $75,000 will provide the best possible care for our third grade Mustang. 100% of the funds are designated for the costs of Reese’s therapies and long term recovery.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/rsiler

Save the Date: District 97 Summer Launch 2020

District 97 is excited to announce the dates for the upcoming 2020 Summer Launch Program. Summer Launch will be held June 15 through July 10, 2020 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon). The program for Grades K-4 will be held at Holmes Elementary School, and Grades 5-8 will be held at Brooks Middle School.

Summer Launch is a summer program designed for students in kindergarten to seventh grade who are identified as needing intervention support in reading and/or mathematics during the school year and fall below the 11th percentile in reading and/or math.

Our Summer Launch Program will include Reading/Writing Workshop and Math support, in which students will be able to build upon the reading and writing strategies they have learned during the regular school year, as well as participate in math activities.

The Summer Launch program is designed to support students:

• In continuing to build their skills towards becoming strong, confident readers and writers.
• By allowing them personalized instruction in reading, writing and math.
• By supporting them in sharing their voices and helping to feel valued.
• By supporting them in building meaningful connections with their teacher and peers.

Participation in the Summer Launch program is by invitation only; letters will be sent to eligible families via email in late January.

District 97 will host a parent information session on Erin's Law (Illinois Public Act 097-1147), which requires all public schools to implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program. The session will be held Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Brooks Middle School, 325 S. Kenilworth Ave. Families are invited to attend to learn more about Erin’s Law and tips for protecting their children. Erin’s Law Parent Night Flyer >

For families who are seeking early admission to kindergarten or first grade, the district will be hosting a Parent Information Session on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the District 97 Administration Building. The session will include a presentation that outlines the process and requirements, as on-site support for parents. Click here to view the event flyer >

We are administering the Illinois 5Essentials Survey again this year to certified staff and parents/guardians from all 10 of our schools, as well as students in grades four through eight.

The parent/guardian survey is available now. Please click here to access the parent/guardian version of the survey. Please note that school-level reports will only be generated if at least 20 percent of our parents/guardians complete the survey

Email: csullivan@op97.org
Phone: 708-524-3085