From the Principals' Desk
E-Learning Day - UPDATE
As you are aware, in the case of an emergency (i.e., inclement weather such as large amounts of snow or extreme temperatures) OGS can opt to take an e-Learning Day in lieu of using an emergency day, which would need to be made up at the end of the year. OGS staff is ready to implement an e-Learning Day and instruct remotely with all students. If OGS administration calls an e-Learning Day, parents will be notified via phone blast.
Here are a few suggestions to help your family prepare for an e-Learning Day:
Provide a quiet, comfortable learning space for your child/ren.
Make sure your child’s technology device is charged and ready to go.
Be on the lookout for an E-Learning Day Schedule from your child’s teacher/s.
The following subjects will be asynchronous on an E-Learning Day: Fine Arts (Music, Art, Library, Drama, Tech, Spanish rotation) and Physical Education. This means that students should check their Google Classroom/s for activities provided by staff.
The following subjects will be synchronous: English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Science, World Language, SEL, Health, Special Education Staff and Interventionists. Staff for each of these subjects will send emails with Google Meet codes on the morning of the determined e-Learning Day.
5Essentials Survey
Each year OGS and all schools across the state of Illinois are required to take the 5Essentials Survey. The 5Essentials Survey identifies five indicators that lead to improved outcomes for all students, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. The five indicators that positively affect school success are:
Effective Leaders
Collaborative Teachers
Involved Families
Supportive Environment
Ambitious Instruction
Research derived from the survey has proven that schools strong on at least three of the 5Essentials are 10 times more likely to improve student outcomes. Survey implementation includes students in grades 4-8, parents, and teachers. The survey participation rates of each group (i.e. students, parents, staff) impact our standing in the Illinois accountability system.
The timeline we have planned for all groups to take the survey is as follows:
February 7, 2022: Teachers will complete the survey.
February 8, 9, and 10, 2022: Students in grades 4-8 will complete the survey in school. (If you would like your child (Gr 4-8) to opt out of this survey, please contact Mrs. Barnabee before Feb. 7, 2022.)
February 7-18, 2022: OGS parents complete the survey. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The link will be shared in next week’s OG News and sent via BrightArrow.
Early Release - Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Dismissal will begin at 11:15 AM next Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Please mark your calendars for next week’s Early Release.
Morning Arrival Reminder - Please arrive PRIOR to 8:15 AM
The morning arrival bell rings at 8:15am. After 8:20 AM, students are tardy. The upper lot doors will close and lock. Drivers then need to drive to the lower lot and drop off child/ren at the main entrance. If a bus is ahead of cars, drivers must stay behind the bus and NOT go around. This creates a safety hazard.
Kindergarten Class of 2022-23
Oak Grove School is in the process of determining kindergarten enrollment for the fall of 2022. Having correct enrollment numbers is important to us as it impacts the number of sections, teachers, and classrooms. If you have a child who is 5 years old on or before September 1, 2022 and is planning to attend kindergarten in the fall, simply go to www.ogschool.org/kindy to pre-register your child. You will be asked to enter the following information:
Your child’s name, birthdate, and gender
Parent names and address, phone number and email address
Names of siblings attending Oak Grove School
If you have neighbors who do not have children at Oak Grove and do not receive the Oak Grove News, please share this information with them.
We would also like to hear from you if you have a child that will be attending 1st grade at Oak Grove next year and is not currently attending Kindergarten at Oak Grove.
Kindergarten Parent Information Night - TBD Spring 2022
During this informational meeting parents will learn more about:
Information about the Kindergarten program for 2022-23
Kindergarten curriculum presentation
Parent Q & A
If you have any additional questions, please contact us at (847) 367-4120.
Dismissal and Student Spectators
A reminder: If your child has plans with a friend after school, transportation will need to be provided by parents. Students are not able to be assigned to a different bus route to be transported with a friend.
Also, students who have plans to watch friends in a sport after school need to go home first, and return at the start of the athletic event with a parent chaperone. Oak Grove School does not provide after school supervision of students.
SEL at Oak Grove (Updated Weekly)
The theme for the month of February is kindness. Please take a few minutes to view the February page of our website to see what’s happening in SEL.
Please click here to access the Oak Grove SEL website.
If you have any questions please contact Susie Kiefer at skiefer@ogschool.org.
Mental Health Minute (Updated)
The Mental Health team at Oak Grove, consisting of our School Social Workers, our School Psychologist, and the Social Emotional Learning Coordinator, will be providing you information on several social emotional topics throughout the 2021-22 school year. Twice a month, we will provide you with a brief overview of a topic as well as at least one resource for additional information. Please feel free to reach out to Ryan Murray, SEL Coordinator, if you have questions or need help finding more information.
Please click on the link below for this week’s issue
*If you need support or are looking to support someone else please visit Safe2Help Illinois and/or our website for valuable information.
Upcoming Important Dates
Jan. 31 - DEI Mtg 5:30 PM
Feb. 1 - Jr. High Book Fair
Feb. 2 - PTO Mtg 9:30 AM, Jr. High Book Fair
Feb. 3 - Jr. High Book Fair
Feb. 9 - 11:30 AM Early Dismissal for SIP Day
Feb. 10 - 8th Gr Musical Rehearsal 3:30-5:30 PM
Feb. 14 - 5th Gr to FMSC, K-4 Parties
Feb. 15 - Committee of the Whole Meeting, 6:00 PM, Board of Education Meeting 7:15 PM
May 27: Dance in Jr. High Cafeteria and Gym from 6:30-9:00 PM
- May 31: 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony at Libertyville High School from 6:30-9:00 PM
PTO News
PTO Meeting This Week
Our next PTO meeting is Wednesday the 3rd at 9:30 AM in the Jr. High Cafeteria and on Zoom. If you plan to attend in person, you will need to check in at the office. Links to the meeting documents and Zoom info will be distributed in a separate email on Tuesday.
Junior High Book Fair
Anderson’s Bookfair Co. is coming to Oak Grove Junior High Library tomorrow! February 1st, 2nd & 3rd all 6th, 7th & 8th graders will attend the fair with their ELA classes. Click here to view the teacher schedule: Jr High Book Fair schedule. Cash & credit card will be accepted. Any questions? Please contact Melissa Sallmann at
2 Days Left to Sign Up - 40 Spots Remain at FMSC!
February is the month of love; this is a wonderful opportunity for your family to show some love and help pack meals at Feed My Starving Children! Email Brooke Schamber at brooklee5@gmail.com if you’d like to join. To all families who already signed up, we look forward to seeing you there!
Band News
Beginning Band: This week we are focusing on pages 8 and 9 in the yellow book. We will start playing assessments for #31 “A Mozart Melody” (aka “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) next week during lesson time. We will be going over the expectations for this assessment during full band class this week.
Concert/Symphonic Bands: Mark your calendars, please! We will be having a concert on Wednesday, March 9 from 6:30-7:30 in the Patt Gym. Both bands will be performing! As we get closer to that date, we will be sending out details about call times and what mitigations will look like for the audience.
Jazz Band: Congratulations to our Jazz Band musicians for a wonderful performance last week! We started a new music cycle on Friday for our next concert towards the end of the year- date to be scheduled.
Curriculum Corner
CogAT Testing for 2022-23 TAG Placement
The CogAT, Cognitive Abilities Test, will take place February 28, March 1 and 2. This is a three-part test that assesses a student's Quantitative, Verbal and Nonverbal aptitude and results of this assessment are used in TAG placement decisions. Students in grades 3 and 5 will take this assessment as a part of the criteria for TAG placement moving into 4th and 6th grade. More information will be provided in regards to the testing schedule closer to the testing dates.
IAR Spring Testing Window
The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (formerly called PARCC), which is a state mandated assessment, will take place this year from March 7-22. Students in grades 3 through 8 will be assessed in both mathematics and language arts. More information in regards to the scheduling and test itself will be shared in future Oak Grove News.
Virtual Backpack
Oak Grove School Board of Education
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
