Oak Grove News

Dear Families,

On December 17, the CDC shared important information regarding the Test-to-Stay program for schools during a White House Press Briefing. I shared with you months ago that Lake County was one of two counties across the nation to participate in a pilot of the Test-to-Stay program. The premise of the program is to allow students who have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case at school to test over a week period in lieu of quarantine, so long as the student exposed remains symptom-free. Data collected from the pilot revealed that less than 2% of students exposed to a positive case at school ended up testing positive. These results led to expanding the program across the country. Please note, that in order to exercise this program, all students and staff must be appropriately masked at all times. For OGS, the program is already up and running and we look forward to continuing to provide families with this option.

During the winter break, OGS school nurses will only be collecting positive test cases that impact our school. Therefore, families and staff should continue to report any positive case through end-of-day Friday, December 24, so that contact tracing from this school week can occur. Any positive cases that impact a student's return to school on January 10, should also be reported to our nurses. Our nurses will not be checking email routinely while on vacation, so if you have a question about your child's health, please reach out to your family healthcare provider to receive more immediate assistance.

Wishing you all a HEALTHY and restful winter break!

We are coming up to that time of year where weather can be unpredictable and "snow days" are a possibility. Last year, OGS received approval from the Lake County Regional Office of Education for an "E-Learning Plan," which allows the district to choose a remote learning day in lieu of using an emergency day, or "snow day." The plan required input from all stakeholders across the system, including teachers, the parent community, and Board of Education.

OGS plans to continue exercising the plan this year and administration may call for a remote learning day instead of a snow day, which avoids having to make up the day at the end of the school year. When bad weather is imminent, superintendents at all high school feeder districts have agreed to make the call on whether to shift from in-person to remote by 5:30 a.m. on the day in question. Parents will be notified via a BrightArrow phone and email message, and we will also have notification posted to our website. If administration believes there is a strong possibility for remote learning, teachers will be encouraged to send students home with the appropriate learning supplies in advance. NOTE: Depending on the circumstances of the situation, administration can always exercise an emergency day (or "snow day"), if moving to remote learning was not in the best interest of the school community.

IAR Spring Testing Window

We know that it is only winter break, but we are thinking ahead to some of the spring assessments that will be upcoming when we return. To accommodate a religious holiday and ensure that all students have the best testing environment, we have shifted our IAR testing window.The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (formerly called PARCC) testing will take place this year from March 7-22. More information in regards to the scheduling and test itself will be shared in future Oak Grove News.

Dear Kindergarten through Fourth Grade Parents/Guardians,

Just a reminder that the tech department will be updating policies and performing routine maintenance on all school issued iPads over winter break. All iPads must remain at school for winter break.

Dear Parents/Guardians of Laptop Users,

Students are not required to leave their devices at school for Winter break. Please be aware, when you are making vacation plans, that school issued laptops should not travel. If you have any questions, please email ogstechsupport@ogschool.org. Thank you!

Our school collected over 100 gifts for kids in need this year! Our Student Council would like to thank all who donated and made this such a success.

The Oak Grove Honor Society and Service Club winter service project is underway! In conjunction with Fill a Heart 4 Kids, members are collecting school supplies for the “Fill a Dream for Brighter Futures” project supporting school-aged children in surrounding communities. Please drop off one or more items to the collection box outside the main office, or with your child’s classroom teacher through January 13. Please note we can only collect items listed on the flyer. In January, our Honor Society and Service Club members will be taking all donated items and filling bags to be distributed to school-aged children in Lake County. Our goal is to make at least 60 bags and we need your help! Questions? Reach out to the advisors - Mrs. Alexa Dunn or Mrs. Anna Edelson

Beginning Band:

Students will have regular lessons Monday through Wednesday and full band rehearsal both Tuesday and Wednesday morning (one rehearsal per each band).

Concert & Symphonic Band schedule:

Band rehearsals for the rest of the week: 12/21-12/22

Tuesday - Choir students caroling by the busses and Band students (7-8) who are performing for the staff breakfast.

Wednesday- Only the band students performing for the breakfast.

Boys Volleyball tryouts are open to 7th and 8th grade boys, and will take place after school on Wednesday, January 12, and Thursday, January 13. Coaches will make cuts (if needed) in order to create teams with 12 athletes at the end of tryouts on Thursday. All athletes must have a current physical on file in order to participate.

Questions?

Coach Dave Izenstark (7th) - izenstark@ogschool.org

Coach Anna Edelson (8th) - edelson@ogschool.org

Happy Winter Break!

From our hearts to yours, we at OGS wish EVERYONE a healthy, safe, and fun-filled Winter Break! We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Monday, January 10, 2022.

Illinois Youth Survey

All 8th grade families should have received two messages last week regarding the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS), one from Mrs. B and one from homeroom teachers. The purpose of the survey is to better understand Illinois youth risk and protective behaviors as they relate to students and their success. Participation will involve completing a survey (with no names or identification numbers) that will be confidentially administered by the students’ homeroom teachers the week we return from winter break (January 10-14). Student participation will last no more than one class period (40-45 minutes). The parent notification/opt-out form can be found here and more information about the survey can be found on the IYS website at https://iys.cprd.illinois.edu/. The Lake County Health Department’s goal is to have at least 95% of the schools in the county complete the survey.

When we receive the report for our school’s results, we hope to use the data to learn more about key risk and protective factors that contribute to community-wide substance use rates; compare with county, statewide, and national results; assess needs in relation to students’ physical, social, and mental health pressures and evaluate student support services; and determine what resources we might add to our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programming at Oak Grove School.

SEL at Oak Grove (Updated Weekly)

The theme for the month of December is gratitude. Please take a few minutes to view the December page of our website to see what’s happening in SEL.

Please click here to access the Oak Grove SEL website.

If you have any questions please contact Susie Kiefer at skiefer@ogschool.org.

Mental Health Minute (Updated)

December - Family Stress and holidays

If you need support or are looking to support someone else please visit Safe2Help Illinois and/or our website for valuable information.

Important Dates

• Dec. 22: K-4 Winter Parties

• Dec. 23 - Jan. 7: Winter Break

• Jan. 10, 2022: Return from Winter Break

• Jan. 12: PTO Mtg at 6:30 PM in Elementary Library

Please click HERE to view the flyers in our virtual backpack. Flyers are updated weekly, so please check back often so you won't miss any of the events going on in our community.

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