WE NEED YOU!
Are you looking for part time work while your kids are in school? Want to have some giggles and be part of a great team? Do you want to work with coworkers who make work fun, and feel more like home?
We want you to join our team!
Oak Grove School is looking for a dependable, caring and trustworthy person to join our dedicated, friendly and welcoming team in the elementary lunchroom, Monday through Friday, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. This person will help establish and maintain a calm, pleasant, and safe atmosphere in the cafeteria so that students may find mealtime a time to relax after the tasks of the morning. The ideal candidate will have experience working with children, a bright, enthusiastic personality, the ability to work collaboratively with peers and the willingness to play 'Red Rover, Red Rover'! (Just kidding on the 'Red Rover' part, but wouldn't that be fun?) Some of the duties required to help out our little ones:
- Assist students with use of utensils, opening lunch items, etc. as needed.
- Circulate among the tables during the meal period so as to be available to help anyone who needs assistance
- Circulate among outside supervisory areas during recess to ensure the safety of all students
- Ability to be flexible and adaptable to any situation
Attention: Bike Riders to School
We would ask parents who have students riding their bikes to school to have a conversation with your sons and daughters about bicycle safety. We are getting reports from parents and teachers about dangerous situations many of the riders are placing themselves in as they ride to Oak Grove.
For example, many of the students are not wearing helmets when they arrive at Oak Grove. We are not certain if they are taking them off, or if they are not wearing them at all. Also, we have multiple reports that riders crossing Route 137 (Buckley) are not obeying the traffic lights and have heard that multiple cars have had to “slam their brakes on” to avoid hitting the students. As you know, the intersection at O’Plaine and Buckley is one of the most dangerous in all of Lake County.
We have also heard that the students are not obeying the stop signs when they enter the subdivision on O’Plaine, south of Route 137. We have received reports that vehicles have almost hit bicycles as a result.
Lastly, at the end of the day, some students are riding recklessly through the parking lot as they leave. As you know the Junior High parking lot is very congested at the end of the day dismissal time. We have asked the students to “walk their bikes” to the end of the parking lot before starting to ride. Many did for a few days, but we are getting reports that they do for a few feet then get on and begin riding. As you know, parents are navigating the lot and backing out of spots, so it can be dangerous.
We will continue to encourage the bicyclists to be safe. We are so happy many of them are exercising and riding their bikes to and from school. Mr. Fenton and Dr. Lemon are meeting with the students today to discuss the matter. We are positive parents are probably unaware of the situation and will want to help us educate the students of the importance of being safe at all times. Thank you for your support.
Oak Grove Custodians Receive State Recognition
Saturday evening the Oak Grove custodial staff traveled with Dr. Lemon to Normal, IL to receive a "Those Who Excel" award. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) hosts a banquet each year to honor and recognize the very best teachers, support staff, and administrators in the state. The event culminates with the ISBE naming the Illinois "Teacher of the Year." There were 950 people present at the banquet on Saturday night.
The Oak Grove faculty, staff, and administration secretly nominated our custodians for the award last spring. They are the first personnel from Oak Grove to ever receive the award. We want to thank them for all the extra work they performed during our 5-year renovation of the building and for their sincere care and concern for our entire staff and students. They are the "foundation" of Oak Grove. Congratulations!
Sport Stacking in PE
Dear Parents,
I am really excited about the Sport Stacking unit we are currently doing in PE. Sport Stacking is an exciting sport where students stack and unstack 12-specially designed cups (Speed Stacks). Sport Stacking uses both sides of the body and brain developing important athletic and academic skills.
One of my goals, as a Physical Educator, is to promote activity at home through positive alternatives to computer, television and video game screen time. I believe that Sport Stacking is a unique, fun and simple activity that motivates kids to get up and move.
On Thursday, November 9th, my PE classes will be participating in The Guinness Book of World Records sport stacking day. We will join 40,000 other schools (over 300 countries) in an effort to break the current record of 622,809 students sport stacking in one day.
Speed Stacks Sets, StackMats and Minis are available for immediate for students to purchase here at the school.
Sets are $20.00.
Pro Series 2 sets are $25.00.
StackMats (mat, timer and gear bag) are $20.00.
Minis Sets are $10.00.
Speed Stacks Sets, StackMats and Minis are available here at school for immediate purchase. First come, first served on color and design choices. Checks should be made payable to Oak Grove School.
Please see Mrs. Savage in the Junior High Gym to purchase stacking equipment.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Savage
K-3 Monarch Award Reading Night
Do you and your child enjoy reading award nominated books?
Do you and your child enjoy doing activities tied to books?
If so, please sign up to participate in our Parent/Child Monarch Award Nominees Activity night. This Kindergarten through 3rd grade activities night will take place on Wednesday, November 15 from 6:30-7:30pm.
Sign up at https://goo.gl/forms/6mUp9au19TP7I7EI3 by Friday, November 10.
Curriculum Corner
Hello Oak Grove Community,
Now that we are in the school routine and fall is quickly becoming winter, it sometimes occurs to me that I am so busy getting my weekly tasks completed that I forget to focus on having meaningful and thoughtful conversations with my children about something other than accomplishing our required tasks. It only occurred to me after I read this article in Parents magazine “50 Fun Questions to Get Your Kids Talking” by Erinne Magee. While the article starts by talking about the many questions children ask us, it goes into encouraging us as parents to continue the conversation by asking questions of our children. You can see all the question starters in the link but here are a few that I tried over the weekend:
#21. If you wrote a book, what would it be about?
#39. What’s a memory that makes you happy?
#26. What do you think you’re going to dream about tonight?
We had such a great time discussing her ideas and visiting on the couch, I printed the questions out and stuck them on the refrigerator to remind me to stop and enjoy a moment with a good chat. I hope one of the questions is able to inspire a great conversation in your house, too.
Band News
Symphonic Band Parents
Tonight is the Festival pre-rehearsal at Highland Middle School from 7-9:00 p.m. Carpooling is encouraged!
Highland Middle School, 310 W Rockland Road, Libertyville, IL 60048
I should have the email and RevTrak link for Festival tickets out by Tuesday.
Jazz Band Parents
We will cancel Tuesday morning due to tonight's late rehearsal.
Beginning Band
The students are doing great! The focus for this week is on pages 6 & 7. Please make sure your child finds 15 minutes for daily practice to ensure the basics start to set in.
I will make a video screencast and email it to you in order to help set up your child’s Essential Elements Interactive account.
Reminders
- Tuesday, Oct 31 - No Jazz Band rehearsal
- Thursday, Nov. 9th - Symphonic Band plays the Festival all day, concert in the evening. NO Jazz Band rehearsal on the 9th
- Friday, Nov. 10th - Veterans Day Ceremony, Symphonic Band performs. Delayed morning band start time at 8:00 a.m.
- Monday, Nov 13th - No symphonic band rehearsal
Morning rehearsals are buzzing with a flurry of activity! Please help us stay on top of attendance by letting us know with a quick email if your child cannot attend a morning rehearsal for any reason.
Symphonic Band- jones@ogschool.org
Concert Band- farris@ogschool.org
Oak Grove School Education Foundation
Culver's Night - Thank you for your support!
Thank you to everyone that came out to support the Oak Grove School Education Foundation fundraiser at Culver's last week. We had a huge crowd and lots of fun. The kids enjoyed having their food delivered by our teachers and staff, so a big THANK YOU to all our staff volunteers:
Colette Poore
Nurse Judy Klosterman
Kathy Schmidt
Anne Miller
Amy Flores
Becky Jakubowski
Amy Loumeau
Bonnie Taylor
Bonnie Brown
Cindy Hamlin
Alyssa Osterman
Sara Loch
Cathie Saia
Nurse Callie Johnson
Funds raised will support the OGSEF’s initiative to provide teacher-driven differentiated curriculum at Oak Grove School.
PTO News
PTO Meeting
Please join us this Wednesday, November 1st at 9:00 am in the Junior High teacher's lounge. All are welcome - hope to see you there!
Mother/Son Luau
The Mother/Son Luau is this Saturday, November 4th, from 6:30-8:30 pm in the Junior High gym. The last chance to purchase tickets is this Wednesday.
http://www.ogsef.org/pto-mother-son-dance.html
Snowflake
Snowflake was held on Friday, October 13th. This year we had almost 400 7th & 8th grade students in attendance from Hawthorn North/South, and Oak Grove. In addition to the students, their parents, and close to 100 facilitators and high school students also attended the event. This worthwhile event helps our 7th and 8th graders start to think about the transition to high school. Arming them with positive support through their peers, and helping them make positive choices as they navigate the challenges throughout their lives.
To pull that off, we have many, many teachers and volunteers who help make the evening a success. Thank you to Julie Goodman, Stacey Ramstedt, Laura Pfister, Monica Goldberg, Barbara Davoux, Jennifer Tippett, Tainia Whittaker, Mr. Fenton, Dr. Lemon, and all the teachers, staff, and students from Oak Grove, Hawthorn, Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High School. Your time is valuable and much appreciated! Lastly, Gayle Timlin, Kimberly Wesley, who set up the program for the evening; thank you for your commitment!
OGS Holiday Spiritwear Sale 11/2-11/15!
https://www.headsupapparel.com/
If you have any questions, please contact the Spiritwear coordinators Courtney Johnston, johnstoncourtneyr@gmail.com or Katrina Treutelaar, katrinatreutelaar@me.com
Elementary Book Fair
The Elementary Fall Book Fair will begin November 15th. Everyone is welcome to shop during shopping hours. If you would like to assist your child during their scheduled classroom shopping time, we welcome you to join them.
Book Fair dates: November 15, 16, 17 & 20
Shopping hours:
11/15: 8:30am-3:30pm FAMILY EVENT 6pm-8pm
11/16: 8:30am-3:30pm
11/17: 8:30am-3:30pm
11/20: 1pm-7pm (during conference time)
Special activities: FAMILY EVENING EVENT- November 16th, 6pm-8pm
We will be raffling off a gift basket full of new books and goodies.
K-4 students will be sent home with a flyer about the event. You can find that information and classroom shopping times in the virtual backpack.
Book Fair Website: http://www.scholastic.com/bf/oakgroveelementaryschool13
All For Books
Remember to bring in your change for the Classroom Coin Challenge! Kindergarteners through 4th graders, please bring your coins into your classrooms from Nov 6th through Nov 16th. The winning classroom will win a shopping spree at the Book Fair! Details are in the virtual backpack.
Junior High Book Fair
The Junior High Book Fair will run November 7-10 in the Junior High Learning Center. A copy of the classroom shopping times is available in the virtual backpack. Everyone is welcome to shop during the shopping hours listed below, as well as after the Veterans Day Ceremony on November 10th.
JH Book Fair Dates: November 7, 8, 9 & 10.
Shopping Hours:
11/7: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
11/8: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
11/9: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
11/10: 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m
Junior High Book Drive
This year the Junior High Book Fair will be hosting a book drive competition from October 30 - November 10, for Andrea's Angels. The grade (grades 5-8) that donates the most books will receive a pajama day! Books can be dropped off in the bins in the Junior High library.
Oak Grove Wrestling
If you have any questions, please contact Head Coach, Chris Duenas. (duenas@ogschool.org)
Preschool Screening
November 8th
12:30pm - 3:00 pm
Preschool screening will be held for students who live in Oak Grove School District and who are three or four years of age. The screening will examine a child's proficiency in speech/language and motor development, as well as assess pre-academic skills. Parents with questions or concerns about their child's development may schedule an appointment by calling Julie Waehner at (847) 367-4120 ext. 2004.
Virtual Backpack
Oak Grove School Board of Education
Click HERE to view Board Agenda and Minutes
Email: boe@ogschool.org
Website: www.ogschool.org
Location: 1700 S. O'Plaine Rd. Green Oaks, IL 60048
Phone: 847.367.4120
