Take Home Tuesday

Greetings Sward Families:

We are looking forward to meeting with you during our Family Conferences. Our fall conferences will be held on Thursday, October 14th between 5:00-8:00 p.m. and Friday, October 15th between 11:30-6:30 p.m. and they will be held in a remote fashion. The registration is now open. You will be able to see the open time slots once you have entered the Family Access section of Skyward. You may select the open time slot that is most convenient for you. Additional information and instructions can be found by clicking https://d123.org/schedule-family-conferences-beginning-monday-october-4-2021-at-10am/

If you have any questions or need assistance, please call the Sward main office at (708)423-7820.

Have a super Tuesday!

Your partner in education,

Mrs. Candy Kramer

Sward School Principal

Tomorrow--- Wednesday, October 6--- will be Crazy Hat Day! :) Yay!!

The beginning of October often brings chillier weather. Yesterday we received a very special delivery from a very special family! Mrs. Gloodt's mom is an avid crocheter. She hand crafted multiple boxes of winter hats for our very own Sward Eagles. As the weather grows colder, we will have many happy Eagles with warm heads as they wear a hand crocheted hat made especially for them! Mrs. Gloodt's sister and Mr. Gloodt stopped by to deliver these beautiful winter hats. Thank you to the Gloodt family!

The PTA Taffy Apple Sale is underway. Orders are due no later than October 15. The apples will be ready for pick up on Thursday, October 28 between 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Sward front foyer. Orders must be picked up by a parent/guardian. They will not be sent home with students. If you have questions, please reach out to Blanca Rodriguez at (708)577-9768.

For those of you who ordered pictures from the first school picture day, they will be coming home today. If you thought you may have ordered them, but aren't sure, please reach out to the Van Gogh customer service line at (847)382-2282 ext 7 or visit their website at www.ordervgil.com and select help center.

Retakes are scheduled for October 28. More information will be coming home soon about the retakes.

Costume time is coming quickly. Please be aware of the Halloween costume guidelines:

• Face masks must still be worn under the state guidance.

• Students are allowed to wear their costumes to school in the morning. All hairstyles must be completed at home (no sprays allowed at school).

• Costumes of a violent nature are strongly discouraged. Students may not carry weapons- either play or real- as props to their costumes. No Heelys, no roller skates or rollerblades, no sharp metal items, no full face masks (so the children can still see and breathe since they will have their other face mask on).

• All students are encouraged to participate in the school’s “parade of costumes” at 9:30. We are hoping for nice weather so we can parade outside! If outside, we will make a complete lap around the entire block of the school. Visitors will be able to stand anywhere around the outside of the building as long as the sidewalk is free for children to walk. If inside, to limit the amount of people in the building, unfortunately parents will not be brought in to view the parade.

• Students will be required to take off a full-face mask if they have brought one to school with their costume.

• Friday, October 29 is an EARLY DISMISSAL. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. PTA will be providing a "snack" for the students THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE AT DISMISSAL. Details are included in the permission slip your child will be bringing home soon. (***Permission form must be signed in order for your child to receive the food items.)

• Please send in your PTA Party fee as soon as possible to help cover the costs of the food and classroom activities your child will be participating in.

• If your child would like to distribute trinkets to their classmates, these must be NON-EDIBLE and please ensure there are enough for the entire classroom. If you need a current class count for these non-edible treats, please reach out to your child's teacher.

At this time, the Cook County Department of Public Health guidance that we follow no longer will accept a doctor's alternative diagnosis as the sole means of allowing a symptomatic student back to class. The most current guidance requires a negative PCR test to reenter prior to the end of the quarantine.

As a follow up to last week's AJ Day filled with gold, yellow, pennies, and happiness... AJ ended the week with a very special moment to ring the celebratory bell to signify the end of chemo. If you would like to view his special moment, please click HERE.

If you are on the list of the PTA classroom volunteers for the upcoming fall party, please stop by the office as soon as you are able to get your ID scanned. This way, we will be able to avoid having a long line of people on the day of the party.

PTA news!
Thank you very much for your support during the Culver's fundraiser. It looked like everyone had a great (and delicious) time raising funds for our PTA's events!

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

Please click HERE for the latest scoop on classroom parties. If you haven't turned your party money in, it is not too late :) Please turn your party money in as soon as possible.

This year, all of our D123 students have the ability to receive a breakfast and a lunch at no charge, regardless of whether or not they qualify for free or reduced lunch. However, the lunch status may have an effect on your registration fees. Last year's lunch status has expired on October 4. If you would like additional information, please click HERE or call Sward's main office at (708)423-7820.

...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.

Last year was lots of fun, so this year will be the 2nd annual Spooktacular celebration. Please click HERE for the latest informational flyer including a QR code that can be used to register. Just in case the QR code doesn't get you to the right place, here is a link that will take you there: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/5080D4CA8AA2AA64-2ndannual This will be held on Saturday, October 23 at OLHMS. If you have additional questions, please contact Teresa Shane at tmshane@gmail.com

The following links will take you to the various options for the Spooktacular:

• Amazon wish list https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3RCWQ82UW7AQO/?ref_=lol_ov_le
• Signing up to do a display or trunk display https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/5080D4CA8AA2AA64-spooktacularhttps://
• Signing up for monetary donations towards the Spooktacular olhmsptsa.memberhub.com/store

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.

Our D123 Ed Foundation's Tacos and Trivia Night is back in person. The Ed Foundation provides our students and staff with such wonderful opportunities and experiences. Please click HERE for more details about the event as well as information about registration.

Physicals need to be turned into the Health Office by October 15th. Physicals are needed for Preschool, Kindergarten and new transfer students. A vision exam and a dental exam are also required for Kindergarten. Please remember to fill out the health history portion of the physical form. If forms are not in by 10/15 students will be excluded from school starting 10/16 until forms are received. If you have any questions please contact the Health Office.

Last week we began 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 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

• Wednesday, October 6- Districtwide Late Start: School begins for Sward students at 9:30 a.m. AND Crazy Hat Day
  
• Monday, October 11- No School: Indigenous Peoples' Day
• Thursday, October 14- Early Dismissal for Students: Dismissal is at 11:30 a.m. (lunch is NOT served on this day)
• Thursday, October 14- Virtual Family Conferences 5:00-8:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 15- No School for Students: Virtual Family Conferences 11:30-6:30 p.m.
• Friday, October 29- Costume Parade and Fall Party Day- Early Dismissal for Students: Dismissal is at 11:30 a.m.

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