Oak Grove News

On 10/13, letters were emailed home to parents that had outstanding fees. Late in the day on Friday, the school was asked to send out a reminder message to any parents that still had outstanding fees to take care of those fees before Nov. 1st.

An email was sent out to the entire student body on Friday asking that any parents that had received a past due fees letter on Oct. 13th to please take care of it. Many parents assumed that Friday's email was an indication that they had past due fees. We regret the confusion - we sent out this message as a fast way to simply remind parents that IF they had received a past due fees letter that they needed to take care of it before Nov. 1st.

To be clear - if you did not receive an actual PDF letter on Oct. 13th showing exactly what was past due, you do not need to take any action. This message was simply a reminder to those that DID get a letter. We apologize for the confusion and will make sure that these types of messages are properly targeted in the future.

Click here to view the Halloween parade.

The Kindergarten - 3rd grade classes had a visitor in library on Friday from Mrs. Timony's sister Wanda Witch!

The school report card is available on line at this link. Please make sure you search for Oak Grove 68 in "Lake" County, as there is a separate Oak Grove 58 downstate. The information on the school report card is not complete, as results from the state assessment students took last year (PARCC) have not been made available to school districts at this time.

Hello Oak Grove Community,

As a reminder of the new Illinois Science Standards, you are welcome to download the framework that was used for their development: A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. While it is a very in depth and lengthy document, I have found it very helpful to understand the purpose and intent of our new standards.

With new standards comes new acronyms! Can you guess what each letter combination means within the new Illinois Science Standards? Answers in two weeks.

NGSS

PS

PE

LS

DCI

ESS

SEP

ETS

CCs

STEAM

REFUSING BULLYING AND BYSTANDER POWER

This week in Kindergarten through 5th grade we practiced our refusing skills. REFUSE means not to let something happen. You say NO. You can also use a signal that means STOP. When you report bullying to an adult, the adult should both intervene directly and help the child/person figure out and PRACTICE HOW TO RESPOND effectively. Research shows that students can reduce their chances of being bullied in the future by responding assertively. This helps students see that they can get help and HELP THEMSELVES, and that doing both is often the best way to handle bullying.

3rd-5th grade went one step further and discussed BYSTANDER POWER. There are many complex feelings we have when we witness bullying. After we recognize we have a choice to REPORT, REFUSE or SUPPORT. Sometimes just going up to someone and telling them that you saw and you don't think it's right gives that victim the courage to talk about what has been occurring. Other times that bystander can help the victim REPORT.

Theodore Roosevelt said, "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing."

Thank you for signing up for DOJO. We hope you are enjoying the weekly pictures and stories.

~Keep Smiling~

Mrs. Kiefer

Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit

The KidStuff 2015-2016 sale is in full swing. If you would like a coupon book that benefits The Make-A-Wish Foundation, please check out the flyer in the virtual backpack. It has all of the important details. Also, it's easy to pay for, using our RevTrac payment system online. It's easy, a good value, and helps out a great cause!

November 1, 2015

A Message from PTO Co-Presidents Lisa Perrone and Mia Hughes:

This Week's Lunches

Monday – Jersey Mikes

Tuesday – Panino/Potato

Wednesday – Pizza

Thursday – Panda Express

Elementary Book Fair

It's almost time for the Elementary Scholastic Book Fair! Please mark your calendars and plan on joining us Nov. 18th thru Nov. 23rd for our annual Fall Book Fair geared for students in GRADES K-4 and their families. Times and class schedules will be posted a week before the Fair. In the spirit of promoting the love of reading the Book Fair will be running its " All for Books" Classroom Coin Challenge starting Nov. 9h thru Nov. 19th. Each of the K-4 classrooms will be collecting any spare change the children would like to bring. All the money collected during this period will help build the classroom libraries of A.J. Katzenmaier School in North Chicago. This is a wonderful way for the children to give back! The classroom that collects the most money will get a pizza party! See the Virtual Backpack for more info.

Box Tops for Education

Just a reminder.... please keep clipping and sending in Box Tops for Education. Our collection drive is well underway and we appreciate your support. After the first count the following classrooms are in the lead to win the end-of-year treat.

Kindergarten - Mrs. Sweeney
First - Mrs. Brown
Second - Mrs. Schmidt
Third - Mrs. McCarty
Fourth - Mrs. Moroz
Fifth - Mrs. Gibbar

Don't forget families, faculty, staff, and teachers not affiliated directly with a K-5th classroom can help too! Just drop off your Box Tops to the Jr. High office. Please remember we only collect Box Tops for Education. Please do not send in Labels for Education (i.e. from Campbell's soup) or any other like promotion. Thank you for your support.

PTO Meeting

The meeting is this Wednesday, November 4, 2015 in the Teacher's Lounge at 9AM. All are welcome! The agenda is posted on the PTO website.

Target Rewards

Here's a terrific and easy way to raise funds for the PTO while you are doing something you have to do anyway...shop! All you have to do is use your Target Visa or Target Red Card. We will receive a percentage of the amount of each purchase in the form of a donation from Target. If you are a current Target card holder all you need to do is designate Oak Grove Elementary School (School ID # 47659). This can be done by visiting Target.com/tcoe, calling 800-316-6142, or visiting a kiosk in any Target location.

If you don't have a Target card, you can apply online or in the store. They have great rewards (5% off all purchases, free shipping, etc.). See store or their website for details. You do not have to have a student of Oak Grove to designate our school as a recipient of the donation. Grandparents, alumni, neighbors and friend can take part as well. A BIG THANK YOU to those who have already designated Oak Grove as their school. We currently have 86 card holders. To date, the district has earned $42,414.86!! This is a program that really gives back to the community. This reward program is ending in May 2016, so sign up soon.

Red Ribbon Week

A big thank you to Dana Huennekens for all her help with Red Ribbon Week!!

Fannie May Candy Sales

Many thanks to Cristina Buelow and Carlene Lichter for their work on the Fannie May fundraiser!

Halloween Parties

Thank you so much to all the parents who made the Halloween parties a huge success. Everyone had a fantastic time.

Eagle Extravaganza

Vendors are needed for the 4th Annual OGS Eagle Extravaganza. Are you a local artisan or craftsperson? Come celebrate the season with us on Saturday, December 5th from 9am-12pm. For more information and to sign up visit: https://oakgroveschooleagleextravaganza.shutterfly.com/.

ID’s

Please remind your student to bring their school ID to lunch. If they've lost their ID, they must order a replacement. The cost is $5 without a lanyard or $7 with a lanyard. Thank you.

The Gala 2016 items keep rolling in!
Calling all local & corporate sponsors:
If your family business or family friend’s business has something creative to donate, feel free to ask. Tax write offs are a great angle this time of year!
We are looking for creative auction items this week. The Fahy’s are donating a “private dinner for 8” at their home. Menu tbd…
First come, first serve, literally.
Anyone?

Another year, cancer-free for Mrs. Klunder came with an honor from her former students (now 7th graders). A group of students dressed up in PINK to honor the battle Mrs. Klunder fought with breast cancer. These students were in 2nd grade when Mrs. Klunder was diagnosed, and have been her cheerleaders throughout the past five years. These are truly a special group of students!

Please click HERE to view the flyers in our Virtual Backpack.

Click HERE to view Board Agenda and Minutes

Email: boe@ogschool.org
Website: www.ogschool.org
Location: 1700 S. O'Plaine Rd. Green Oaks, IL 60048
Phone: 847.367.4120