Take Home Tuesday

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Updates from the principal's office

Greetings Sward Families:

Due to the volume of snowfall and unpredictable weather conditions forecasted to begin this evening and throughout the day, all District 123 schools will be exercising an Emergency eLearning Day tomorrow, Wednesday, February 2, 2022. All District 123 school buildings will be closed for in-person classes and activities.

The National Weather Service has issued a "Winter Storm Warning" for our immediate area and expects the snow to make travel challenging during the morning commute and afternoon dismissal times. The decision to close school buildings was made early within the day for families and staff to prepare for eLearning activities tomorrow. At this time, we are anticipating that in-person school will resume on Thursday, February 3.

I will be sending out additional information by tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. Your child's classroom teacher will be sending additional information by tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.

Stay safe and warm.

Your partner in education,

Mrs. Candy Kramer

Sward School Principal

Soup for the Super Bowl

Student Council is sponsoring “Soup for the Super Bowl” for our local food pantry in Oak Lawn. We are collecting non-expired canned or dry goods until February 11. With a donation, each student will earn an eagle feather and vote for whom they think will win the Super Bowl! If you select the right team to win, you will receive a pencil. Thank you for your support.

Kids Heart Challenge

Can you believe we are almost HALFWAY through our Kids Heart Challenge program?! Sward students are having SO much fun learning the different ways to have happy and healthy hearts. Has your student jumped on board with our heart hero explorers?! Take the challenge to keep your heart healthy HERE and earn your free reminder wristband right away!

Join us in finding all the fun ways to keep our hearts healthy and happy! My favorite way to keep my heart healthy is by moving MORE, like our friend FLASH teaches us, but what way is YOUR favorite?

Be sure to sign up HERE to choose a challenge to keep your heart healthy! Don't forget to use your free wristband you get for taking the challenge as a REMINDER to keep your heart healthy and happy!

5Essentials

Students, teachers, and parents/guardians across Illinois now have the opportunity to participate in the ninth annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and anonymous. To get started with the survey head to d123.org/five. Right now, Sward has a 4% response rate to this survey. We need a 20% rate in order to receive a report. Your voice matters.

Vaccination Clinic

February 19 - District 123 & IDPH Vaccination Clinic

Feb 19, 2022
10am - 4pm
OLHMS - 5345 West 99th St

The vaccination clinic is open to any community member and all vaccination types (Pfizer, Moderna, J&J) will be available. This will include 1st dose, 2nd dose, and booster doses if applicable.

BOOK APPOINTMENT - d123.org/vaxclinic2022

Click HERE for the flyer.

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

Drop Off and Pick Up

During the morning drop off and afternoon pick up times, please be sure to keep the safety of all in mind. If parking, please do not block the cross walks. Not only does this make crossing safely extremely difficult, it is also prohibited to stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.

Additionally, we have been getting reports from our Sward neighbors of cars blocking their driveways at drop off and pick up. Please remember to display patience and consideration as you are dropping off and picking up your child(ren).

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.

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