Take Home Tuesday (on Monday)

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Updates from the principal's office

Dear Sward Families:

This week, you are receiving the Take Home Tuesday on Monday... since there is no school for students tomorrow. The district has a Teacher Institute Day planned for the staff members tomorrow. On a side note, we did receive a few phone calls asking about our start time on Wednesday. We have a regular school day on Wednesday (it is NOT a late start).

Also this week, our Illinois State Testing will begin in third, fourth, and fifth grades. Your child might come home talking about the IAR tests they are taking. This is the Illinois Assessment of Readiness and is designed to provide information about student progress toward the long-term goal of college and career readiness. This assessment includes 3 tests in Mathematics and 3 in English Language Arts.

We will be administering these assessments within our morning hours, when the students seem to be the most fresh and ready to go. It is important that they arrive to school on time. Please ensure your child has had a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast. Please remind them that as long as they are trying their best they are doing a great job.

Your partner in education,

Mrs. Candy Kramer

Sward School Principal

Career Day

We are planning for an IN PERSON Career Day! Please click here for additional details about this exciting day. We plan to hold our Career Day on Thursday, April 28. If you are interested in coming to our Career Day to share with our Sward Eagles, please complete the bottom portion of the flyer and send it back to school with your child. If you need additional hard copies of the form to complete, please let us know and we will send some home with your child.

We are looking forward to a super fun and informational day!!

Erin's Law

Today our students took part in our annual Erin's Law presentation. Erin's Law is a state mandated, age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention program. Once again, District 123 has partnered with Victor Pacini for this presentation. The curriculum varies to provide developmentally appropriate information for our students at the different grade levels. Please talk with your child about the presentation they saw today. They will tell you all about their team of Trusted Heroes. Please visit www.tic-tac-no-go.com to download a book, a song, and coloring pages for free that will review the message they learned today.

OLHMS Spirit Gear and School Kits

Attention parents of children going into 6th grade for the 2022-2023 school year:

School kits and spirit wear have begun and are both online only sales.

The School Kits photo is attached by clicking here and the link is below.

The school kits account number for OLHMS is19643

https://www.shopttkits.com/

The spirit wear information can be found by clicking here.

Ronald McDonald House fundraiser

Our PTA Pajama Day fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House is scheduled for April 14. On this day, everyone is encouraged to wear their jammies to school. Additionally, if your child is able to donate $1 for the Ronald McDonald House, it would be appreciated. Our PTA will be making meals for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. These monetary donations from Pajama Day will be used to purchase the food for these meals. Any leftover funds will be used to purchase items for the Ronald McDonald House from their wishlist.

Update from Nurse Dina

Attention 5th grade parents, this is an exciting time for your children as they will be heading off to middle school. Illinois regulations require you to submit a newly completed health exam and dental form for your child. Your child will also need to receive at least one (or more) additional immunizations. Forms completed now satisfy the 6th grade requirements and can be turned into Sward's health office to be reviewed and entered. After the last day of school, those forms can be turned in directly to OLHMS.

Registration

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

Quarantine Homework Help

...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 is absent

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.

SHIELD Program

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.

Upcoming Dates

Tuesday, April 5- No School for Students- Staff Institute Day
Wednesday, April 6- Today is a regular start time. It is NOT a late start day today.
Thursday, April 7- Lunch Menu Change: Yang's Orange Chicken will NOT be available today. Options will be mac and cheese or chicken nuggets.
Saturday, April 9- PTA Spring Craft and Vendor Fair 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 14- Pajama Day to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House (if you are able, please bring $1 to donate)
Thursday, April 21- Incoming 6th grade orientation at OLHMS 6:00-7:00 p.m.

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