Longfellow Log

Week Ending 5/14

Important Dates/Reminders and Notes

Monday, May 31st - Memorial Day - No School
Thursday, June 10th - Last day of School

We ask that you please help your child head to school with everything they need for the day including: school materials, water bottle, iPad, etc.; we want to reduce items that are being brought to school during the day; it is especially hard to manage this year
No Dogs are allowed on school property
If students ride a bike or scooter to school, please remind them to walk it once they hit the campus
Playground is closed before school and immediately after due to the volume of students

Reading Olympics

All 5th graders had an opportunity to join Reading Olympics this spring. We had six Longfellow participants who chose to read up to five extra books this year in preparation for our contest. Amir A. Luke N-C, and London H. were the runners-up. Our top three scorers will become the Longfellow team and compete against the winning teams from 8 other schools. Congratulations to Luke M. Samantha W. and Callum M.! The Area-Wide Competition will be on May 26th in a virtual format.

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Calling All Scientists

Calling All Scientists -

Longfellow will be hosting a Virtual Science Fair this year! Longfellow students of all ages will be invited to carry out a science project and submit it to be presented for the whole school to see, virtually (no trifold needed!). Visit our website at https://sites.google.com/longfellowpto.org/science-fair/ to find out more information and to get information on how to submit a project! Projects will be accepted from now until May 28, with projects able to be viewed after May 28. Contact Joe Matise at vp_enrichment@longfellowpto.org with any questions.

District News Below

Face Masks Still Mandatory In All D97 Schools

On May 13, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that face coverings are no longer required for individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. While this news represents an important milestone in the pandemic, the mask mandate for Illinois schools has not ended at this point.

District 97 follows the guidance of the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois State Board of Education and the Oak Park Department of Public Health. We do not have information at this point about the impact this latest development will have on schools. Until we receive further guidance, face coverings will continue to be required in all of our schools regardless of vaccination status.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

On May 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for all children age 12 and older. Click here for information about the vaccine and nearby clinics, including the Cook County Community Vaccination Program.

Oak Park Health Department Extends Vaccination Registration to Residents 12 to 15 Years Old
Parents of Oak Park students ages 12 to 15 can pre-register their children to be alerted when COVID-19 vaccine clinic appointments are available through the Oak Park Department of Public Health. Local public health officials expanded the registration criteria to include this newly eligible age category as federal officials approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in individuals 12 and older. Pfizer is the only COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in individuals age 17 and younger. Individuals who pre-register will be contacted by email to schedule an appointment on a first-come, first-served basis. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the vaccination clinic.

District 97 will work with the health department to provide details about vaccine clinics once they are finalized.

Finish Strong: Help Us Keep D97 Safe

Finish Strong: Help Us Keep D97 Safe
As COVID-19 continues to impact our community, it is critical that we remain vigilant in our efforts to keep District 97 schools safe.

The decisions we make during these next few weeks have a direct impact on our ability to maximize in-person learning for our students. Whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated, we all have a responsibility to follow ALL safety guidelines set by state and local health departments in order to reduce potential spread of the virus.

With this in mind, please help us "Stay Safe and Finish Strong."

If you are sick, STAY HOME.
Wear a face mask or covering at all times while at school.
Maintain social distancing (6 feet, as much as possible).
Wash or sanitize your hands often.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue.

Registration Information for 2021-22 School Year in D97

Online registration is currently open for the 2021-22 school year in District 97. Please visit https://www.op97.org/hr/student-registration for complete details.

Returning Student Registration Extended through June 30
Returning student registration will be entirely online and is extended through June 30 for returning students who are currently in kindergarten through seventh grade. The parent/guardian listed as PG1 in PowerSchool will receive an email from infosnap@is.op97.org with their student’s snapcode and instructions to register. Returning Student Registration Information >

Note: In order to register, Oak Park renters must have a lease that covers August 31, 2021, or the student’s first day of school.

VIDEO: "The ABCs of Registration are 'D-E-F'"
CLICK HERE for a brief video that outlines the District 97 registration process!

As you begin the process, remember that the "ABCs" of registration are "D-E-F."

D - Documents: All required documents must be scanned and ready to upload before starting registration.
E - Early: Registration is a longer process and we ask that families register early!
F - Finish: Registration is finished once you receive a confirmation email from the district.

New Students and Kindergarteners
Families who wish to enroll new students or kindergarteners must first gather all required documents and make an appointment to have them reviewed. At your appointment, the registrar will explain the online process, verify your documentation and child's grade level, and enter the student into the online registration system. After your appointment you will receive an email for each student with a unique link to submit that student’s registration information. Information for Incoming Kindergarteners >

Appointments can be scheduled using this link:
https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx?event=3548&culture=en

The Asian American Experience: Community Education Event on May 20 at 7 p.m.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. In light of the recent rise in AAPI hate crimes and violence, making space to acknowledge the impact that the historical and present day anti-Asian sentiment has on our community is more important than ever. On May 20, Districts 200, 97, and 90 and the Oak Park Public Library are partnering with community members to host a virtual conversation about the racial equity challenges of our Asian-American community members. Stay tuned for more information on this community event.

SAVE THE DATE: D97 Virtual Summer Step Up Program

District 97 is holding a Virtual Step Up Summer Program for students in Grades 1-8 (students who are in kindergarten through seventh grade during the 2020-21 school year). The program will run July 26 through Aug. 5, 2021 (8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. OR 12 pm. - 2:30 p.m.).

Summer Step Up is designed to support any District 97 student that could benefit from revisiting grade level standards from the previous year. Additional information and sign up forms will be shared by schools in May 2021.

District 97 to Continue Providing Free Meals to All Students

Next Meal D97 Meal Distribution: Tuesday, May 18th
May Breakfast/Lunch Menus
Meals will be provided free of cost this fall to any District 97 student in need. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches.

Meal distributions will be held every Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.

D97 Breakfast/Lunch Menus - May 2021