The Mustang Memo

• Friday, March 13th - Report Cards go home

• Tuesday, March 17th - Institute Day (NO School)
  

• March 23rd - March 27th - Spring Break (NO School)
  
• Friday, April 10th - Non Attendance Day
  

As part of the Mannapalooza fundraising dollars, we will be purchasing a buddy bench this spring. In addition to that, Student Council is working on their next service project. We want to collect 250 pounds of plastic caps/lids to donate a "Buddy Bench" to the school. A Buddy Bench is a special bench where students may sit down and others then join them. It promotes inclusion. Please see the flyer that explains what types of caps they are and are not collecting. Share with your neighbors. Caps/lids need to be clean and dry. Thank you for helping us earn a Buddy Bench.

(We will look to expand this program next summer when we can be back at Mann.)

The advanced math and reading courses (targeted for students between the 80th - 95th percentile on MAP) will run everyday for three weeks from Wednesday, June 10 to Tuesday, June 30 at Whittier (715 N Harvey Ave), because Mann will be undergoing Media Center renovations this summer.

The cost will be $380.00 per course for all three weeks. Students who are doing both the morning and afternoon courses may stay for a supervised lunch, at no extra charge. See schedule below.

Registration is now open for Mann ONLY students from January 29th thru February 12. Register now on ClassTrack Mann families will have two weeks to enroll, and then we will open it up to the other D97 families.

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--Math: 9:00am – 11:30am (Pick up at 11:30am, if student is not attending the afternoon reading course.

--Lunch and Recess Break: 11:30am – 12:00pm (Please bring a peanut-free lunch and water bottle.

--Reading: 12:00pm – 2:30pm (Drop off at 11:55pm, if student is not attending the morning course.)

Show your support for Reese and his family. A new fundraising goal of $75,000 will provide the best possible care for our third grade Mustang. 100% of the funds are designated for the costs of Reese’s therapies and long term recovery.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/rsiler

The T-shirt campaign has been re-opened per popular demand. Please know that in order to go to print, 31 shirts need to be sold. The shirts will be available for purchase until Feb. 14th and will be delivered 10 days after that, so around 2/24.

Click here to support Anthony Siler for Reese Siler's Cancer Treatment and Rehabilitation

From ISBE: "A school’s participation rate on state assessments impacts its rate of proficiency and its annual designation. ESSA requires states to calculate proficiency by dividing the number of students who met or exceeded standards by either the number of students who tested or 95% of the number of students who should have tested, whichever is greater. Schools with less than 95% participation in state assessments are ineligible to receive the Exemplary designation. Schools with any student group that has a participation rate below 95% for three consecutive years will develop and implement a Work Plan for School Improvement. English Learners must take all portions of the IAR to meet federal requirements, even those in their first year in the U.S. Their results in that first year provide a baseline for growth but do not count for accountability."

95 Percent Participation FAQ

Impact of IAR

District 97 is continuing to monitor the news regarding coronavirus (COVID-19). We have been following recommendations from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), which has been receiving guidance from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Please be assured that we are following all recommended protocols of the IDPH, which includes routine deep cleaning and disinfecting in all of our buildings. Our nurses are also reviewing hand-washing best practices with all of our students. We will continue to monitor updates about the coronavirus from local, state and federal agencies, and will keep families informed should recommendations change.

The IDPH recommends everyday actions to help prevent the spread of viruses, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

We are also recommending a comic developed by NPR and experts to help kids understand coronavirus: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus

The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, and DePaul University’s Community Counseling Center have partnered to deliver a vast array of educational and therapeutic services to staff, families, and youth. The “Mindful Middle-Schoolers Program” will offer staff training, parent workshops, groups and counseling for middle school students in Oak Park during the 2019-20 school year. To learn more about the program and upcoming talks for parents, please visit https://www.op97.org/news/1673321/mindful-middle-schoolers-community-talks-2020.

Below is a list of upcoming community talks for parents, students and staff.

• Wednesday, March 11 (Julian): Social-emotional needs of today’s Middle-Schoolers - http://bit.ly/2PeaADY

District 97 will host an Educator Career Fair on Friday, April 3, from noon to 4 p.m. at the administration
building, 260 Madison St. Candidates will have the opportunity to speak with school principals, share their resumes and complete an online application. Event flyer >

District 97 has opened registration for students who are starting kindergarten during the 2020-21 school year. Click here for information about our upcoming kindergarten registration days (March 11, March 21 and April 6).

Additionally, the district has put together a letter for 2020-21 kindergarten families that includes important dates and information about school fees, health requirements, and before- and after-school care options. All elementary schools will host a Kindergarten Open House on Wednesday, May 6, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. for families to learn more. Click here for the Kindergarten Open House flyer >

The Strengthening Families Program is a free, evidence-based prevention program for families with children ages 7 to 17. The 11-week program will teach effective parenting skills, healthy communication, stress management skills, conflict resolution and more. The program will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Tuesday from Feb. 25, 2020, through May 12, 2020, at the River Forest Community Center. Click here to view the program flyer.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Parent Resource Site
The District 97 MTSS Team has created a D97 Parent Resource Site to further support instruction happening in the classroom. The site has been created to provide an overview of MTSS and support all students in the areas of reading, math and writing. Our team has selected resources that offer a free version to our families. If you have additional free websites or resources you would like to share, please reach out to MTSS Director Faith Cole at fcole@op97.org. Thank you for your partnership!