Take Home Tuesday

December 21, 2021

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Updates from the principal's office

Greetings Sward Families:

As 2021 comes to a close and I look back on all we have accomplished this year, I am amazed by how far we have come. We've navigated through these new and ever changing waters together. While the times continue to change and the changes are not always easy, it is important to remember that we can keep moving forward by working together.

I'm looking forward to exciting things in 2022.

I wish you and your family a fun and healthy winter break.

Your partner in education,

Mrs. Candy Kramer

Sward School Principal

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School Breakfast Format Change

Due to a change in the federal guidelines, there will be a change in the way we serve breakfast. This change will take place following the winter break. There will no longer be breakfasts sent home at the end of the school day for the next morning. Instead, breakfast will go back to the traditional fashion of serving the breakfast in the lunchroom before the school bell. The students who would like to eat breakfast here at Sward will arrive to the north door on 98th St. between the times of 8:10-8:20. They will eat breakfast in the lunchroom and then proceed to their classroom to begin the day. There will continue to be no cost associated with the breakfast for the duration of the school year.

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IXL Winter Break Challenge

Your child will be bringing home a Winter Wonderland IXL Challenge in today's Take Home Tuesday folder. This is completely optional. However, any child who chooses to complete this and turn it in to me by January 7 will receive a prize. Two of the pages are for math and two are for literacy. As for the exact skills the children complete within math and literacy, this is up to you to select.

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Spirit Wear Update

Spirit wear has arrived. It will be getting sent home today and tomorrow. Please check through your order and ensure you received the correct sizes and items. If I made a mistake, please reach out and I'll correct it. If you are able to bring in the order form and the incorrect item, I will likely be able to switch it out for you right away. Please remember that quite a few of the sweatshirts are on back order. If your order contains any backordered items, there will be a note of the item on the order form.

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School Nurse Update

Holiday break is fast approaching, I wanted to wish all of our Sward families a very happy and healthy break. Please continue to do all you can to stop the spread of Covid 19. Masking, handwashing, distancing and staying home when sick can greatly decrease the spread of this virus.

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Morning Drop Off

During the morning drop off times, the bright orange no parking drop off cones are placed there to keep an efficient drop off lane with a smooth flow. If you place your car in park to walk your child to their line, that is parking. If you place your car in park in order to get out and help your child prepare for the day, that is parking. We ask that you go to a place other than the drop off lane in order to park. As the weather becomes icky, there are days that the cones may not be placed out. Please do not mistake this for the drop off lane becoming a parking lane. It will still remain a drop off lane. When people begin parking in the drop off lane, it forces others to pull out into the traffic lane at random places throughout the lane. This has already been the cause of fender benders.

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PTA Update

PTA news!

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

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Quarantine Homework Help

...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.

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If your child is absent

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.

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SHIELD Program

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