Hometown Families:

Please join us for open house this Thursday from 4:30-6:00 pm. Teachers will have presentations and information about their daily schedules and things your students will learn this year. The first teacher presentation will start in the 4:40-5:00. The second presentation will start at 5:15. We hope you can make it.

Open House is scheduled for September 15th from 4:30-6:00pm. We look forward to seeing all of the families that evening. We will also have the an ice cream social until 6:30pm. Our first presentation will be from 4:40pm-5:00pm in your child's homeroom. The second presentation will be from 5:15pm-5:35pm. Please make sure you stop by the gym for the other information.

Please join the PTA for an ice cream social at open house from 5:45-6:30. Meet some new families, enjoy the ice cream, and join PTA.

Today is the last day to order spirit wear. Please look at all of the fun items to purchase.

Today in the take home, your family will be receiving our district procedures on MTSS. If you have any questions, please reach out to the office.

Our school is a Title I school. The attached compact was sent home with your child today. This compact talks about the commitments to each family. Please read and sign for each child. The return date is September 27th.

Please save the date for some upcoming events. We will host a book fair October 4th-6th. We will have family game night October 6th from 6pm-7:30pm and Mother/Son bowling on October 8th. Flyers will be going home next week. Please reach out to Kari Devine with questions at 708-691-3003. If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Kari. We would like to have all of our events and if we do not get volunteers we will have to cancel them.

D123 will host its annual World Vision race at the middle school. Families can sign up online to run or walk. The race will start at the middle school. Flyers were sent home last week with your child.

Please join us on Thursday, September 22nd for a presentation about sexting, cyber-bullying, snapchat, and instagram. This event will take place at the middle school.

Every week I will be spotlighting a staff member or a team. This week I will begin by introducing our new CASE teacher Ms. Samantha Dow.

How long and what grades have you taught?

This is my fifth year teaching. I have taught K-3.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?

I would love to go to Italy! I think it is a beautiful place. Plus I hear Italy has some great food!

What are you most excited for this year?

I recently moved to IL to be closer to family. This year I'm excited to spend a lot more time with my family! Additionally, I'm excited to be working at Hometown. I was very nervous about starting a new job in a new state. However, everyone at Hometown has been welcoming and helpful which has eased my nerves.

What is your favorite food?

I love pizza and tacos!

Who is someone you admire and why?

I admire my aunt. My aunt is a retired 1st grade teacher. She had been teaching for over 30 years! I grew up helping her in her classroom and she inspired me to become a teacher. She has been very helpful and supportive as I went through my schooling. Now that she is retired she can now help me in my classroom!

If you see Ms. Dow around Hometown, please welcome her and say hello!

Please remember you may NOT park in the back lot when picking up students. You must park on the side streets and walk to the child's door. Please be mindful during the dismissal time. Police will be monitoring the area.

Please join our PTA. There are a few more days left for the contest. The class that has the most participation will have an ice cream party. Help your child's class get ice cream. We will have a table set up at open house.

Did you know you can keep up to date on school news through our Twitter account? You can also see pictures of events that have happened at school as well as photos of daily activities in the classroom. Scan this code to follow our account or go to twitter.com and follow @D123Hometown.

We will have our first tornado drill on September 20th. Teachers will be instructing students on what to do in case of a weather emergency.

We are happy to partner with the Arab American Services for the school year. Please see the attached flyer. We are looking for parent mentors to start the new year. If you are interested please reach out to the school. We will have a table at the Open house with more information.

Website: d123.org/hometown
Location: 8870 S Duffy Ave, Hometown, IL, USA
Phone: 708-423-7360
Twitter: @d123hometown

Email: abencik@d123.org
Phone: 708-423-7360
Twitter: @AmandaBencik