Take Home Tuesday

Dear Sward Families:

We are planning for the World Day of Cultural Diversity and are looking for your help and input. On Monday, May 23 from 6:30-8:00 p.m., we will be celebrating the variety of cultures that are represented throughout our Sward community! We hope you will join us at this family event! Please click HERE for additional information and to share your ideas with us.

This will be an evening filled with entertainment, cultural treats, and a sharing of our experiences and backgrounds that make us who we are... diverse and incredible! We are hoping to fill our main gym with tables representing a variety of regions that represent our cultural backgrounds. We are looking forward to seeing photographs, tasting food, listening to various languages, admiring artifacts, and telling stories to share who we are. We hope you will consider clicking the link above to set up a table and share some of your culture with us!

We hope you will join us for this celebration!!

Your partner in education,

Mrs. Candy Kramer

Sward School Principal

Our PTA will be selling frozen treats for $1 after school tomorrow, Wednesday, May 11. This will occur at dismissal at each exit while supplies last.

Check out the A-Z School is Cool Calendar by clicking HERE. There are so many exciting events coming up!!

5th Grade Families,

OLHMS is looking forward to meeting our soon-to-be 6th grade parents this evening, May 10th from 6-7:30pm for our PTSA sponsored 5th Grade Open Gym and Parent Night!

OLHMS would like to determine how many guests to expect and plan light refreshments for parents while 5th grade students are busy playing games and interacting with new friends.

Please use THIS LINK if you plan to attend on Tuesday, May 10th from 6:00-7:30 pm. This link can also be used to inform OLHMS if you are interested in Spanish for your scholar.

PTA news!

May 10 is the last day to place the Mrs. Field's Fundraising orders. Click here to view the electronic flyer. If you have any questions, please contact Blanca Rodriguez at (708)577-9768. The product will be delivered in late May. We will get a date to you asap.

Also, on May 10, as a "thank you" for all of the families' support with the fundraisers throughout the year, the PTA will be hosting an exciting assembly for the students during the school day. Click here for more information about the show your children will be experiencing.

Band information and reminders:

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For 4th Grade Families:

• Now's the time to sign up for 5th Grade Beginning Band!
• Beginning Band Info Letter
• Beginning Band Website (lots of info on the instruments and registration process)

Beginning Band Registration @OLHMS (Parents may choose 1 meeting to attend. No students, please.)

• Tuesday, May 17 at 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm OR Wednesday, May 18 at 9am

Attention Kindergarten and 2nd grade parents, the deadline to turn in dental forms is May 15th. Please get those forms in as soon as possible. Call the health office with any questions or concerns.

We currently have many lost items waiting to be found. Click here to check out all of the items that are trying to find their way home. The items will also be out on a table during next week's Book Fair.

Please click here for information regarding a lawn treatment memo.

Click on these links for information about STEAM Camps offered through District 218:

• click here for Richards
• click here for Eisenhower
• click here for Shepard

Your child brought home a Back-To-School Supply Kit form in their Take Home Tuesday folder today. This form includes ordering instructions. They are grade level specific and will be delivered to your child's classroom for the first day of school. If you have any questions, please reach out to Nicole at npirklgoodfellow@gmail.com

Registration for the D123 Summer Programs will begins today. Please click here for additional information about the programs that will be offered. This year's Launch and Discovery programs will be held at Covington School from June 20-30 AND July 11-21.

Returning student registration began today. Please log into Family Access on your Skyward account to begin the process.

The open enrollment for the 2022-2023 Tuition Preschool Programs began on January 19. A link for the registration can be found at: https://www.d123.org/departments/teaching-learning/programs/tuition-preschool

Kindergarten registration for the 2022-2023 school year also began January 19. A link for the kindergarten registration can be found at: https://www.d123.org/departments/teaching-learning/programs/kindergarten

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 If you choose to remove your child from the program after they have already been in the program, please call the Sward main office at (708)423-7820 to ensure that they have been removed from the system.

• Tuesday, May 10- Grade 5 orientation (open gym and parent night) at OLHMS 6:00-7:30 p.m. (click here for more information)
  
• Wednesday, May 11- Spring Concert for Grades 4, 5 and Chorus 1:30 p.m. (tickets for the concert will be sent home in next week's THT)
  
• Friday, May 13- Pajama Day
• Monday, May 16- Lunch Menu Change: options will be yogurt fun brunch OR cheese pizza
• Wednesday, May 18- Drama Club Performance begins at 9:30 a.m. (doors open at 9:15 a.m.)
• Thursday, May 19- Incoming Kindergarten Open House Orientation 6:00-7:30 p.m.
• Monday, May 23- World Day of Cultural Diversity- Come join us for a family night at Sward from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 24- Sports Team Day
• Friday, May 27- Field Day- Wear your PTA Field Day t-shirt.
• Tuesday, May 31- Animal Print Day
• Friday, June 3- Last day of school. 11:30 dismissal (no lunch today)

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