Take Home Tuesday

Dear Sward Families:

I wanted to share a quick update about our day here at Sward School. As you may know we have moved to a “mask recommended” policy in District 123. As the Sward School principal, I am incredibly proud of all of our students today as they exhibited a tremendous amount of respect for one another throughout the day. As we continue to operate with these new guidelines, we all have a collective responsibility, both inside our school, and outside as well, to respect and support one another regardless of an individual's choice to wear a mask.

We began our day with a message of kindness and respect. Additionally, I briefly shared in our morning announcement that the decision to wear a mask is now a family choice. Some students may have masks on, and some students may not have masks on. I shared that our focus is to always respect one another and respect our different choices. I also shared the following talking points with teachers; these may be helpful to you, as well.

• Communicate empathy: Each family and student can make their own decisions on what they feel comfortable with. Encourage students to always try to understand other’s choices.
• Be honest: Explain that the expectations have changed. We often encounter times when expectations change, and we must adapt.
• Be respectful: This lives at the top of our “Eagle Expectations.” We will continue to show this respect by displaying kindness for one another. We will continue to model respect for each others' choices.

As your child returns home this afternoon, please help to support our positive school environment by reinforcing our Eagle Expectations. Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Your partner in education,

Mrs. Candy Kramer

Sward School Principal

The conference scheduling for Family Conferences on Feb. 24th and 25th has now closed within the Skyward system. If you still need to schedule or need to reschedule, please contact the Sward main office. The format will again be virtual so you will be able to attend your family conferences from a place that is convenient for you. Click HERE for more information as well as helpful videos. If you run into any obstacles, please contact the Sward main office at (708)423-7820.

Students, teachers, and parents/guardians across Illinois now have the opportunity to participate in the ninth annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and anonymous. To get started with the survey head to d123.org/five. Right now, Sward has a 6% response rate to this survey. We need a 20% rate in order to receive a report. Your voice matters.

We are planning for an IN PERSON Career Day! Your child will be bringing home a flyer with additional details about this exciting day. We plan to hold our Career Day on Thursday, April 28. If you are interested in coming to our Career Day to share with our Sward Eagles, please complete the bottom portion of the flyer your child brings home and send it back to school with your child. If you need additional forms to complete, please let us know and we will send some home with your child.

We are looking forward to a super fun and informational day!!

Spring picture day is Friday, March 18th. Information was sent home in last week's THT. This is the picture time that sibling photos can be taken (but, only siblings that are current Sward students). If you would like your children to take their picture together, please complete the form that was sent home today and return it to school. The children must have the form submitted to be pulled for a sibling photo. If the form is not filled out, they will simply be pulled for individual photos. If siblings have their picture taken together, they will not be photographed individually.

Attention 5th grade parents, this is an exciting time for your children as they will be heading off to middle school. Illinois regulations require you to submit a newly completed health exam and dental form for your child. Your child will also need to receive at least one (or more) additional immunizations. Forms completed now satisfy the 6th grade requirements and can be turned into Sward's health office to be reviewed and entered. After the last day of school, those forms can be turned in directly to OLHMS.

Please look for a packet in your child's Take Home Tuesday folder.

The open enrollment for the 2022-2023 Tuition Preschool Programs began on January 19. A link for the registration can be found at: https://www.d123.org/departments/teaching-learning/programs/tuition-preschool

Kindergarten registration for the 2022-2023 school year also began January 19. A link for the kindergarten registration can be found at: https://www.d123.org/departments/teaching-learning/programs/kindergarten

Click HERE to learn all about the Community Pavilion Open House at 9401 Oak Park Ave. from 10:00 a.m. through noon on Sunday, February 27. This is a free event and it includes multiple demonstrations of a variety of programs and offerings.

PTA news!

Join Remind to get up to the minute reminders about PTA events right to your phone!!!
https://www.remind.com/join/swardpta2

...just another friendly reminder that we have after school virtual homework help for the students who are currently in the quarantine protocol. If you would like your child to partake in this, please email ckramer@d123.org and ask for a link to that afternoon's Google Meet. The links change daily and the homework help is from 3:30-4:30.

If your child will be absent:

• Please call the Sward main office to report an absence (708)423-7820. There will be questions that must be asked during this time of pandemic protocol.
• Keep in close contact via email with your child's teacher. They will be able to inform you of the work your child will miss during the absence. They might provide links for your child to access on their device, a packet to pick up in the office, or a mix of both.
• Many days, there will be virtual homework help opportunity for the absent children from 3:30-4:30. Please email ckramer@d123.org for additional information or a meeting link.

We have begun the COVID-19 SHIELD testing at SWARD. This will only be for those that have already completed the OPT-IN form and signed their student up in Skyward Family Access.

The SHIELD Illinois program is a quick, simple, and non-invasive COVID-19 screening test. Students that have opted-in to the program will provide a small amount of saliva that is tested at a professional lab. Results of the test are then provided to families (if the results are positive) and our school district within the days following. The program offers students the opportunity to reduce or waive quarantine requirements in the event of close contact with a positive case or if the student demonstrates symptoms. You can opt-in to the program at any time by accessing Online Forms in Skyward Family Access. More information about the SHIELD Illinois program can be found at: d123.org/shield-illinois-testing-program If you choose to remove your child from the program after they have already been in the program, please call the Sward main office at (708)423-7820 to ensure that they have been removed from the system.

• Tuesday, February 22- PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.
  
• Wednesday, February 23- just a reminder there is NO basketball club this morning
• Wednesday, February 23- Menu Change today: Today's lunch choices will be Hamburger OR Chicken Sandwich- there will not be pizza today
• Thursday, February 24- Early Dismissal for students due to Family Conferences (Students are dismissed at 11:30. There is no lunch served today.)- Virtual Family Conferences 5:00-8:00 p.m.
• Friday, February 25- No School for Students due to Family Conferences/ Virtual Family Conferences 11:30 a.m.- 6:30 p.m./ End of Trimester 2
  
• Thursday, March 3- Pajama Day (rescheduled from our eLearning day on February 17)
• Monday, March 7- No School- Casimir Pulaski Day
  

Website: d123.org/sward
Location: 9830 Brandt Avenue, Oak Lawn, IL, USA
Phone: 708-423-7820
Twitter: @d123sward

Email: ckramer@d123.org
Website: d123.org/sward
Phone: 708-423-7820
Twitter: @MrsKramerD123