Take Home Tuesday

Greetings Sward Families:

As our school year progresses, it is quite difficult to predict what the future will bring. Whether it is next month, next week, tomorrow, or in an hour, we are trying to have a Plan A, B, and C for everything.

One of our upcoming events, in which many children, teachers, and PTA parents look forward to is our Friendship Day celebration. We will have the parties during the afternoon of Friday, February 11... however, they might have a bit of a different look. This year, our Friendship Parties have been PTA planned by grade levels. The items needed for the parties will be delivered to the classrooms ahead of time. As long as the Covid metrics permit, there will be 2 parents per classroom to roll out the plans. These parents have already been contacted by the PTA.

As always, if your child would like to bring NON-EDIBLE tokens to distribute to their classmates, they are welcome to do so. However, any edible treats will be sent home with the child that brought them. While we appreciate the thought, we are only able to distribute the non-edible treats.

We hope to have more events in the near future in which we will be looking for parent volunteers... please keep updated by joining the PTA Facebook group.

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!

The open enrollment for the 2022-2023 Tuition Preschool Programs will begin tomorrow, 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 begins tomorrow, January 19. A link for the kindergarten registration can be found at: https://www.d123.org/departments/teaching-learning/programs/kindergarten

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.

The backordered spirit wear items are being processed and we will get them to you as soon as they arrive.

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).

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 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.

• Friday, January 21- Kids Heart Challenge Kick Off
  
• Tuesday, January 25- PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, January 27- 6:30 p.m. Parent University (This is addressing the Pediatric Covid Vaccine and has been rescheduled. It will be virtual. Please click HERE for additional information.)
• Friday, January 28- Grade 5 Candor Health program (please ensure your fifth grader has brought in their permission form)

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