Longfellow Log

Week Ending 1/15

Important Dates/Reminders and Notes

Saturday, January 16th - PTO Treasure Hunt Fun
Monday, January 18th - No School in Observance of Martin Luther King's Birthday
Wednesday, January 20, at 3:30 p.m. - Special Board Meeting
Wednesday, January 27th 7:00 - 8:30 pm - Longfellow Community PTO Meeting

Important about Attendance Procedures

Attendance is taken during remote learning as well. If your child is not going to be in attendance, please be sure to call the Attendance # 708-665-3068 OR email: longfellowattendance@op97.org

For Families of students returning for Hybrid: Important Health Notice

If you are planning to send your child to school for hybrid learning, please be reminded that we must receive the following prior to return to school.

If you for any reason have not submitted your physical exam (EC/PKP, KG, 6th grade, or new to District 97) or completed immunization records to your nurse, this must be done prior to any in person learning.

If you need a Certificate of Child Health Examination Form (School Physical), click here

Please submit any medication authorization forms and any emergency action plans (which must be renewed every school year, signed, and dated by the medical provider and parent/guardian).

Please remember that any medication you send should be out of absolutely necessity to be administered during the school day or must be on hand for an emergency use. In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and decrease needs for a child to leave their classroom, please administer medications at home whenever possible.

Alert your child’s school nurse to the need to arrange a safe drop off when we are back for any in person learning.

All medication we receive, both over the counter and prescription, must be labeled, unexpired, and accompanied by the appropriate forms filled out by your MD AND signed/dated by you as the caregiver/guardian. (*This includes cough drops, eye drops, supplements, if at all necessary during the school day.*)

If you need a Licensed Prescriber Form (required for all medications, including over the counter), click here
If you need the Food Allergy Action Plan, click here
If you need an Asthma Action Plan, click here
If you need a Seizure Action Plan, click here
If your child has Diabetes, please be sure to get an updated Diabetes Medical Management Plan for this school year

If your child has any new health concerns or new allergies, please alert your school nurse.

Please make a copy of completed forms for your records. If you choose to email the paperwork to your nurse, again, please be sure the paperwork is current for this school year and you have signed and dated the parent/guardian portion.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our interim School Nurse Anne Guerrier (Nurse G) at aguerrier@op97.org.

The Longfellow Treasure Hunt FUNdraiser is open! 3 more Saturdays to join in the fun!!!

All Longfellow families are invited and encouraged to participate in the Treasure Hunt and a chance to win one of many fabulous prizes.

This is the PTO’s only major fundraiser this year and we need your support. By participating and/or making a donation to the PTO, you will be pledging your support for the PTO's mission. All Longfellow students are eligible to participate in the Treasure Hunt regardless of donation.

Please see all the Treasure Hunt details by clicking the link below to sign up! Good luck to all the Longfellow Treasure Hunters!!!

https://www.gofundme.com/.../longfellow-pto-1st-annual...

Social Lunch Bunch Groups in January

Each day during the month of January a different grade level will have the opportunity to join in on a special zoom social lunch bunch group. We understand many want and need a zoom break but we also heard from the survey that close to 75% of people who completed it would like their children to have the option of joining.

Students: Join us if you can following this schedule for the rest of the month!

11:30 - 12:00 pm

Mondays - 5th grade (No school Monday, Jan. 18th)

Tuesdays - 4th grade

Wednesdays - 3rd grade

Thursdays - 2nd grade

Fridays - Kindergarten and First Grade

Join Zoom Meeting
https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/84456033354?pwd=a295TlVCbkV6TGl3dE84Qk9yeVdkQT09

Meeting ID: 844 5603 3354
Passcode: bears

Engagement - How Families can help Support Students as well

During this first week back, Ms. Harris or Mrs. Sullivan presented an engagement lesson for each classroom. Please see the letter below that shares different ways families can support their children in staying focused and engaged.

Staying Focused During Remote Learning Letter.

Social-Emotional Wellness Check-Ins for Students

We are continuing to provide social-emotional wellness check-ins this fall. The District 97 school psychologists and school nurses collaborated to offer access to virtual mental health wellness checks at each school. Parents may sign up children for 25-minute Telehealth sessions where they can access an open ear for their sources of stress and learn self-care and coping strategies. Students may attend up to three sessions per trimester and may then be referred for other school-based supports if needed. If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please do not use this service and instead call the Thrive 24hr Crisis Hotline at 708-383-7500. You may also refer to this local resource guide provided by the Community Mental Health Board of the Oak Park Township.

How can my child access this service?

The virtual sessions will occur during school hours.
Use this Longfellow Wellness Sign-Up Link to book open slots. The appointment page will open within your own calendar. (If you do not have a Gmail account, you may contact aguerrier@op97.org & rneubert@op97.org). Prior to the appointment, you will receive a link for the video call or other access information.
During these unusual times, we need to partner with you to ensure your child arrives at the correct video link during their scheduled time and returns to their classroom Zoom after the appointment. Please remember to coordinate with your daycare providers if applicable.
We will inform your child’s teacher, so your child will be excused from class.
Please book appointments by the night before the appointment (at the latest) and not on the day of the appointment.

District News Below

Parent Information Session - Single Subject/Whole Grade Acceleration

For families who are seeking single subject or whole grade acceleration for the 2021-22 school year, the district will be hosting a Virtual Parent Information Session on Wednesday, January 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The session will include a presentation that outlines the process and requirements. Click here for the family letter about acceleration opportunities for the 2021-22 school year. >

Click here to view the event flyer.

Information about the District 97 Accelerated Placement Program, including definitions and timelines, can be found at http://www.op97.org/acceleration.

District 97 to Continue Providing Free Meals to All Students

Next Meal D97 Meal Distribution: Tuesday, Jan. 19
January Breakfast/Lunch Menus
Meals will be provided free of cost to any District 97 student in need. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches.

Meal distributions will be held every Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.

D97 Breakfast/Lunch Menus - January 2021