Take Home Tuesday

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Updates from the principal's office

Greetings Sward Families:

This week's focus is kindness as we celebrate Unity Day! Our spirit days, activities, and conversations this week center around treating others with kindness. I am proud of our Eagles and how they demonstrate kindness to others each day. In your after school discussions with your child, when you are asking about how their day was, please take a moment to ask how they demonstrated kindness toward someone else... I'm sure you will be very happy with the exciting examples they will provide for you. Every day, I see children asking others to play with them at recess, helping others pick up items they may have dropped, holding the door open for others, and volunteering to be a helper. Our Eagles are truly amazing! As always, thank you for your support and your partnership with us.

Have a super Tuesday!

Your partner in education,

Mrs. Candy Kramer

Sward School Principal

IDs for Classroom Parties

If you are on the list of the PTA classroom volunteers for the upcoming fall party, please stop by the office as soon as you are able to get your ID scanned. This way, we will be able to avoid having a long line of people on the day of the party. Otherwise, it could take a long time to check you in and you might be late to your room's party. Looking at the list there are A LOT of names that have not yet had their IDs scanned this year. Even if you were here to help out with last spring's Field Day, you will still need to be rescanned this fall. We scan twice each school year. We only have one machine that scans... if the list stays as it is for the fall party, the line will definitely be out the front door. If you are able to stop by at any time before the party, please do so.

School Meal Menus

Please keep an eye on the school meal menus for the meal options. Vegetarian meals are noted with a V and menu items that contain pork are noted with a *.

Additionally, there has been a menu change for the remainder of this week for breakfast:

Wednesday will be the apple muffin and cheese stick
Thursday will be the cereal and cheese stick
Friday will be the banana benefit bar

Also, tomorrow's chicken patty sandwich option will be replaced with the Hot and Spicy Chicken Sandwich rather than the regular chicken sandwich.

Affy Tapple Fundraiser

The PTA Taffy Apple Sale orders have been submitted. The apples will be ready for pick up on Thursday, October 28 between 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Sward front foyer. Orders must be picked up by a parent/guardian. They will not be sent home with students. If you have questions, please reach out to Blanca Rodriguez at (708)577-9768.

Party/Costume Guidelines

Costume time is coming quickly. Please be aware of the Halloween costume guidelines:

Face masks must still be worn under the state guidance.
Students are allowed to wear their costumes to school in the morning. All hairstyles must be completed at home (no sprays allowed at school).
Costumes of a violent nature are strongly discouraged. Students may not carry weapons- either play or real- as props to their costumes. No Heelys, no roller skates or rollerblades, no sharp metal items, no full face masks (so the children can still see and breathe since they will have their other face mask on).
All students are encouraged to participate in the school’s “parade of costumes” at 9:30. We are hoping for nice weather so we can parade outside! If outside, we will make a complete lap around the entire block of the school. Visitors will be able to stand anywhere around the outside of the building as long as the sidewalk is free for children to walk. If inside, to limit the amount of people in the building, unfortunately parents will not be brought in to view the parade.
Students will be required to take off a full-face mask if they have brought one to school with their costume.
Friday, October 29 is an EARLY DISMISSAL. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. PTA will be providing a "snack" for the students THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE AT DISMISSAL. Details are included in the permission slip your child brought home today. (***Permission form must be signed in order for your child to receive the food items.)
***THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE FROM THE PERMISSION FORM FOR THE CAPRI SUN. IT WILL BE A FRUIT PUNCH- (It does not contain red dye #40)
Please send in your PTA Party fee as soon as possible to help cover the costs of the food and classroom activities your child will be participating in.
If your child would like to distribute trinkets to their classmates, these must be NON-EDIBLE and please ensure there are enough for the entire classroom. If you need a current class count for these non-edible treats, please reach out to your child's teacher.

Quarantine Homework Help

...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.

D123 Spooktacular

Last year was lots of fun, so this year will be the 2nd annual Spooktacular celebration. Last chance to sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080d4ca8aa2aa64-2ndannual This will be held on Saturday, October 23 at OLHMS. Click HERE for additional information and details. If you have additional questions, please contact Teresa Shane at tmshane@gmail.com

If your child is absent

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.

SHIELD Program

Last week we began 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

Upcoming Dates

Wednesday, October 20- Unity Day! Wear as much orange as possible today.
Thursday, October 21- Sports Team Day: Wear a jersey or something that represents a sports team as we all cheer for Team Kind.
Friday, October 22- Sward School Spirit Day: Wear your Sward spirit wear or Sward blue today.
Friday, October 29- Costume Parade and Fall Party Day- Early Dismissal for Students: Dismissal is at 11:30 a.m.

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