Take Home Tuesday

Greetings Sward Families:

As we progress through the school year, our partnership with the Shield program (Covid testing) continues to evolve. For the time being, our weekly testing day of the week has been changed from Wednesday to Tuesday. This is subject to change again as the year progresses.

As always, this program is completely optional. In order to take part in the Shield testing, a parent/guardian would need to have registered them through Skyward Family Access. From there, a weekly list is generated and the students are brought to the place in the building where the testing occurs. If you choose not to have your child take part in this program, no worries. You would simply not register them to do so.

Until now, if there has been a concern with test results, I have reached out to the parents via a phone call. If you have not heard from me, there was not a concern. There is now the availability of a parent portal. If you'd like to directly access your child's Shield test results, you are most welcome to set up the parent portal. You can do this by following the instructions listed HERE. If you choose not to create a portal, it is not a problem at all. I will still reach out via phone call if there is a concern with your child's test results.

I hope this is helpful. Please reach out with any questions you might have.

Your partner in education,

Mrs. Candy Kramer

Sward School Principal

Our Sward PTA will be having a Chipotle fundraiser. Click HERE for details and to view the flyer. Tomorrow, December 1 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Chipotle at 6230 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn. A portion of the proceeds will go to Sward PTA. If you'd prefer to order online, click here for instructions and please use the code 7GTQG4D. Please note that if you do order online, a pickup at the 6230 W. 95th St. location is required for Sward PTA to receive the credit for the fundraiser. Chipotle fundraising does NOT include deliveries into the fundraising campaigns at this time.

***Please make sure you mention the fundraiser before you check out and show the cashier a copy of the flyer (either hard copy OR on your phone by clicking HERE).

Thank you for your support! :)

The "Before School Basketball Club" will not be meeting tomorrow morning due to the districtwide late start.

There will be an after school PTA Hot Chocolate sale this week. Looking at the weather forecast, looks like the nicest day will be this Thursday, December 2. So, that is the day it will be. Like last week, hot chocolate will be $1 and for sale at all 3 exit doors at dismissal time. There will be a free sweet treat give-away with each purchase.

The winter concert for our kinder and grade 1 students as well as chorus will be held on Monday, December 20 at 1:00 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 will be provided. Masks will be required. Please do not attend if you are experiencing symptoms. We will be following Covid guidelines with all of our visitors.

The spirit wear order has been placed and they are working to fill it as you read this message. However, unfortunately some of the items are on backorder from the manufacturer. Those items will be filled as soon as they arrive to the spirit wear company. The backordered items include:

• Blue Crewneck Sweatshirt in sizes YS, YM, AL, AXL
• Gray Crewneck Sweatshirt in sizes YS, YM, YL, AS, AM, AL, AXL
• Full Zip Hoodie in all youth sizes

If any of these items were included in your order, they will arrive to you later than the rest of your order. Sorry for any inconvenience.

The new Oak Lawn Community High School's girls' volleyball coach, Ms. Miller, has extended an opportunity for Sward students in grades 4 and 5 to attend the upcoming free volleyball clinics in December. Please click HERE for additional details and registration information.

Thank you for all those who participated in the Ronald McDonald House Pajama Day Fundraiser just prior to Thanksgiving Break. Over $400 was raised which will provide a great dinner for the house plus items from their Amazon Wish List. Your generosity is truly appreciated!

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

• Tuesday, November 30- PTA Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
  
• Wednesday, December 1- NO Before school Basketball Club (due to the late start)
• Wednesday, December 1- Districtwide Late Start: School begins for students at 9:30 a.m.
• Friday, December 17- PTA Classroom Winter Parties from 2:00-3:10
• Monday, December 20- Winter Concert for Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Chorus at 1:00 p.m. (there will be 2 tickets per family of the performers issued)
• 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