Take Home Tuesday

Greetings Sward Families:

As you have seen in our safety updates and in local news reports, there has been an uptick in Covid cases. As our winter break draws closer, we ask that you kindly continue to follow the health guidelines. If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home. Call the office and they will help to guide you through the next steps. They will ask you some questions and they will try to answer yours. The main office line is (708)423-7820.

Your partner in education,

Mrs. Candy Kramer

Sward School Principal

The winter concert for our kinder and grade 1 students as well as chorus will be held on Monday, December 20 (doors open at 1:00 p.m. and concert begins at 1:45 p.m.) Due to the pandemic, we will be limiting the audience members to 2 tickets per each family that has performers in the concert so that we can space the seats into a socially distanced pattern. Tickets have been provided in last week's THT folder. Masks will be required. Please do not attend if you are experiencing symptoms. We will be following Covid guidelines with all of our visitors.

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.

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.

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.

As we approach winter break, the Sward Student Council has planned a variety of spirit days for us. Please click HERE in order to see the document they have created us.

PTA news!

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...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

• Tuesday, December 14- Last Shield test administered until the week of January 10 (we will not be testing on the partial attendance weeks)
• Tuesday, December 14- This evening's Parent University will be rescheduled in January 2022. Please click HERE for additional details.
• Wednesday, December 15- Favorite Sweater Day
  
• Thursday, December 16- Plaid/Flannel Day
• Friday, December 17- Dress like your favorite holiday character day, PTA Classroom Winter Parties from 2:00-3:10
  
• Monday, December 20- Dress to impress day, Winter Concert for Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Chorus at 1:00 p.m. (there will be 2 tickets per family of the performers issued)
• Tuesday, December 21- Grinch Day: Making Hearts Grow with Kindness Day
• Wednesday, December 22- Pajama Day
• Thursday, December 23- Wednesday, January 5- NO SCHOOL- Winter Break
• Thursday, January 6- School Resumes

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