Oak Grove News

Open Lines of Communication

We hope that all who were able to attend in-person or virtual Parent Teacher Conferences enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about your child/ren’s academic and social-emotional progress so far this school year. At OGS, we value our parents, guardians, and families as partners in the learning process and strive to keep our lines of communication open. Please do not hesitate to reach out anytime!

Honors Society Helpers

A big THANK YOU to our Honors Society volunteers who helped guide parents to their conference locations and who also helped supervise younger students while parents met with teachers.

Remote Learning When In Quarantine

This is just a reminder that the teaching team and tech team will need 24-48 hours to prepare instruction for students who need to learn remotely when in quarantine due to COVID.

Bus Update

Beginning today, our students will experience our first set of positive bus changes! Thank you, everyone, a million times over for your patience as we continue to work through our bussing challenges. At present, we have no changes to the AM routes. The following list explains the changes made to the afternoon (PM) routes. The bus company (Durham) has assured us that the timing of combined routes will be adjusted by five or so minutes, but a minimal difference from the previously scheduled routes.

PM BUS ROUTE CHANGES:

• BUS 1 and BUS 2 will be combined as one route.

• BUS 5 and BUS 6 will be combined as one route.

• BUS 4 will leave OGS first and then return for BUS 9. Thus, BUS 9 will be a late bus (approximately 20 minutes later).

• BUS 8 will leave OGS first and then return for BUS 14. While BUS 14 was previously a late bus, Durham is currently training a new driver who will be ready in 1-2 weeks. This means that BUS 14 will be a late bus for just a week or two more - The light is at the end of the tunnel!

• All other busses will remain as usual - 3, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 13.

SEL at Oak Grove (Updated Weekly)

The theme for the month of November is generosity. Please take a few minutes to view the November page of our website to see what is coming up this week.

Please click here to access the Oak Grove SEL website.

If you have any questions, please contact Susie Kiefer at skiefer@ogschool.org or Ryan Murray at murray@ogschool.org

Mental Health Minute (Updated)

November - Family Stress

If you need support or are looking to support someone else, please visit Safe2Help Illinois and/or our website for valuable information.

Important Dates

• Dec. 1: PTO Mtg at 9:30 AM in the Junior High Cafeteria

• Dec. 14: Committee of the Whole Meeting, 6:00 PM, Regular Board Meeting, 7:15 PM in the Junior High Library

• Dec. 22: K-4 Winter Parties

• Dec. 23 - Jan. 7: Winter Break

• Jan. 10, 2022: Return from Winter Break

• Jan. 12: PTO Mtg at 6:30 PM in the Elementary Library

Winter Benchmark Testing

All students in grades K-8 will participate in winter benchmark testing during the upcoming weeks. The Aimsweb testing window will be from December 1st-6th. Students will also take the iReady assessment in both math and reading and that testing window will be from December 6th-17th. Results of the iReady assessment will be shared with families in early January. For additional information please go to https://i-readycentral.com/FamilyCenter/.

Standards Based Grading

Currently, standards based grading is being used in grades K-6, with a pilot of SBG extending for another year at grade 6. The extension of the pilot was determined in collaboration with our SBG committee that includes teachers and parents. The extension also caused us to adjust our implementation timeline and delay consideration of SBG for grades 7-8 for at least one year. This spring, we will reconvene the SBG committee and discuss outcomes of our 6th grade pilot, review our overall implementation timeline and discuss future steps. We will continue to communicate with our Oak Grove families in regards to future steps and timeline.

Tonight, Oak Grove Wrestling will have an informational meeting about the upcoming season. Oak Grove Wrestling is an IESA program open to all 5th-8th grade students. Our Co-Ed program focuses on the fundamentals of wrestling to prepare for competition.

OGS Wrestling Parent Meeting

Monday, November 29 · 5:30 – 6:30pm

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/pnw-vjnt-ixw

The first practice will be held on January 10th. Physical must be on file to participate.

Any other questions, please contact Head Coach Chris Duenas (duenas@ogschool.org)

Our big Toys for Tots Collection is back! Send a special gift now through December 16. Please consider dropping off an unwrapped gift for a child ages 0-12. Toys for Tots does not accept the following items as gift donations:

• toys that look like weapons,
• real food, and
• stuffed animals.

Boxes are located by the main office and outside the business office in the hallway. As always, we know the Oak Grove community is extremely generous and we are happy to be able to support this great group during the holiday season.

PTO Meeting this Wednesday Morning

Please join us on Wednesday, December 1st on Zoom at 9:30 am. Meeting documents and Zoom link will be sent in a separate e-mail. Please note that there will not be an in-person option for this month’s meeting. Mrs. Leslie Weber will present about changes to the 5-8 Health Curriculum, and we will discuss how these changes impact the 5th grade girls tea and boys night programs. If you have participated in these programs in the past or are curious to learn more, we’d welcome your input so these committees can incorporate your feedback as they plan.

Winter Market this Saturday - 14 volunteer spots left to fill!

The frosty and fun event is only a few more days away!

• Stan’s Donuts & Coffee: Please pre-order your delicious donuts and help us meet our presale goal to ensure the truck will stay for donut purchases throughout the event! Stan’s will also donate 10-15% of sales if we meet our minimum goal, so please order indulgently to support our PTO programs! Follow this link to place your pre-orders.
• Secret Shopping Village: This is an opportunity for students to shop in “secret” and have a real surprise for someone special. Gifts for any occasion and recipient will range in price from $2-$8. Cash will be accepted and our gift vendor partner is also offering pre-paid vouchers. Purchase pre-paid vouchers here and then fill out this shopping voucher for your student to use on Saturday.
• Gift Vendors & More: Take-and-Go spirit wear will be available for sale and the Boy Scouts will be selling s’mores! Check out our vendor guide to see who will be joining us at the event as well!
• Volunteers & Donors Needed: We still have 14 more 1-hour adult volunteer spots to fill and additional student spots have been added. PLEASE donate an hour of your time to help make this event successful. Sign up here.

Haven House Thanksgiving Donation Drop Off

Thank you to everyone who donated items to the Haven House Thanksgiving service project! We are so grateful for your generosity and wanted to pass along kind words from the Haven House Team: “We are overwhelmed and profoundly moved by the kindness and generosity of all those who contributed to the donation of Thanksgiving meals, gift cards and baby items for our shelter residents. 'Thank you' seems so inadequate. You all have made this a very special Thanksgiving for the women and children we serve. Please extend our deepest gratitude to everyone at Oak Grove School.” Thank you also to Brooke Schamber for coordinating this service project.

Volunteers Needed - Junior High Lunch Room

As we think ahead to 2022, please consider signing up for a specific day of the week through the remainder of the year either on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to help us fill the Junior High Lunch Volunteer sign-up sheet. The lunch program is one of the PTO’s biggest fundraisers, and we appreciate all the volunteers that help make it possible! https://signup.com/go/zfYZEqW

Pavers

The Oak Grove School Education Foundation (OGSEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization run by parents, teachers, and administrators. OGSEF funds teacher-initiated grants and programs focused on engaging, empowering, and inspiring students to advance to new levels of learning.

During this holiday period, think about giving a lasting gift to your children by purchasing an inscribed paver for the playground! This is an excellent graduation gift to commemorate your child's years at OGS or just a way to show that your children were a part of Oak Grove.

Visit our website at ogsef.org and place your order today. All funds directly support OGSEF's mission.

Gala '22

Tickets are now available for Gala '22 on 2/19/22 at Independence Grove. The Oak Grove School Education Foundation (OGSEF) is hosting an amazing night with food, entertainment, drinks, and a live/silent auction while raising money for OGSEF and spotlighting "Expanding Learning Beyond the Classroom."

Text "Gala22" to 76278 or visit http://gala22.givesmart.com for info or to purchase tickets. You can also preview auction items including a signed Justin Fields Chicago Bears NFL jersey, a 2-hour private apple picking experience at Heinz Orchard in Green Oaks, a three-person helicopter tour of the Chicago area, 6 water park day-passes to Great Wolf Lodge, and more!

Jazz Band: Thursday, December 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Junior High Gym will be our “Jazz in the Gym” performance! The Jazz Band will be performing a mix of standard blues and swing tunes mixed with pop music. Don’t forget to mark your calendars!

Concert/Symphonic Band: Both bands have started or are starting some new tunes. In addition to practicing their music from their book (especially Concert Band- with their playing assessment coming up next week), musicians should be focusing on these new pieces during their at-home practice sessions.

Beginning Band: We are venturing into page 8 in our book. There are some new notes to be on the lookout for this week as we continue making excellent progress during our at-school lessons. Parents, please encourage your child to pull out their instrument for at least 15-20 minutes a day. Musicians should also be using the online version of the book to play along with at home. If your child is still struggling to access this, please have them see Mr. Frankowski for assistance.

Please click HERE to view the flyers in our virtual backpack. Flyers are updated weekly, so please check back often so you won't miss any of the events going on in our community.

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