Take Home Tuesday

Greetings Sward Families:

As we begin 2022, we've definitely felt a drop in temperature as well as an increase in precipitation. This has made drop off a bit of a challenge. Please remember that even when the cones are not out, the "no parking- drop off zone" stays in place. This is to keep an efficient flow to getting the children into the school building. We want to try to ensure that the children are dropped in places that are cleared. For that reason, kindly keep the flow of traffic moving forward at the pace that the children get out of the cars to walk toward the building. As always, if you would like to get out of the car to help your child out or walk them to their line, you are welcome to do so IF you park in a spot that is not the "no parking- drop off zone."

Additionally, please remember that the drop off process can begin as early as 8:10, which is when the morning supervision begins. Of course, with icky weather conditions sometimes comes a slowed pace, as it does in all traffic cases. PLEASE remember that small Eagle eyes are watching and Eagle ears are listening. Kindly demonstrate patience while refraining from utilizing poor language while in the drop off line. Everyone has someplace important to be.

Your partner in education,

Mrs. Candy Kramer

Sward School Principal

Hi Families,

We have officially kicked off the Kids Heart Challenge!

During this service-learning program students and families will receive FREE access to missions and heart healthy activities from the American Heart Association! When students complete these missions, they will be a true Heart Hero, prepared and ready to battle heart disease in our community.

Go ahead and get a head start on learning about heart-health with your student by meeting the heart heroes here!

You can get a head start with your student by downloading the Kids Heart Challenge app and register for our team (QR codes are below) or follow this link to our school’s KHC webpage: www.heart.org/khc

Need assistance registering and gaining access to the free resources? Click here!

We are proud to help the American Heart Association as they are supporting our community in many ways during this pandemic. In a normal year, heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, but now people who have had a stroke or live with heart disease make up more than 40% of those hospitalized for COVID-19. The AHA has already funded $2.5 million in rapid-response grants to study COVID-19’s effects on heart disease patients and launched a COVID-19 Data Registry that is used by hundreds of hospitals nation-wide. This has made it possible to learn from COVID patients quickly and improve treatments more rapidly. The more that is discovered, the more research is needed. The AHA’s full COVID-19 response here.

We understand that not every family may be able to donate this year, but all students will enjoy (and learn from) the weekly missions and have the opportunity to share about heart disease in your family and community. If you are able to help raise funds, the American Heart Association will put those to work right here in our area!

Thank you!

Students and teachers 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. Additionally, your 4th-8th grade student will be asked about their experiences in school to help give school leaders critical student input and help develop future school improvement plans. If you would like to view the student survey questions or opt-out your student please complete the form found at: d123.org/five. You and your student's identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and anonymous. To get started with the survey head to d123.org/five.

Due to a change in the federal guidelines, there has been a change in the way we serve breakfast. This change took place following the winter break. There will no longer be breakfasts sent home at the end of the school day for the next morning. Instead, breakfast will go back to the traditional fashion of serving the breakfast in the lunchroom before the school bell. The students who would like to eat breakfast here at Sward will arrive to the north door on 98th St. between the times of 8:10-8:20. They will eat breakfast in the lunchroom and then proceed to their classroom to begin the day. There will continue to be no cost associated with the breakfast for the duration of the school year.

Thank you to all of the students who participated in the IXL Winter Wonderland Challenge that took place over the Winter Break. I am making my way around the building with a prize for every child that has completed and submitted their challenge packet. It might take a little while based on what excitement each day brings. In addition to that, all of the names of the children who completed and submitted their challenge packet will be placed into a hat and one will be selected for an additional special prize.

Spirit wear has arrived and was delivered just before the winter break. Please check through your order and ensure you received the correct sizes and items. If I made a mistake, please reach out and I'll correct it. If you are able to bring in the order form and the incorrect item, I will likely be able to switch it out for you right away. Please remember that quite a few of the sweatshirts are on back order. If your order contains any backordered items, there will be a note of the item on the order form.

During the morning drop off times, the bright orange no parking drop off cones are placed there to keep an efficient drop off lane with a smooth flow. If you place your car in park to walk your child to their line, that is parking. If you place your car in park in order to get out and help your child prepare for the day, that is parking. We ask that you go to a place other than the drop off lane in order to park. As the weather becomes icky, there are days that the cones may not be placed out. Please do not mistake this for the drop off lane becoming a parking lane. It will still remain a drop off lane. When people begin parking in the drop off lane, it forces others to pull out into the traffic lane at random places throughout the lane. This has already been the cause of fender benders.

PTA news!

Join Remind to get up to the minute reminders about PTA events right to your phone!!!
https://www.remind.com/join/swardpta2

...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 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.

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

• Monday, January 17- No School- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  
• Friday, January 21- Kids Heart Challenge Kick Off
• Tuesday, January 25- PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

Website: d123.org/sward
Location: 9830 Brandt Avenue, Oak Lawn, IL, USA
Phone: 708-423-7820
Twitter: @d123sward

Email: ckramer@d123.org
Website: d123.org/sward
Phone: 708-423-7820
Twitter: @MrsKramerD123