Oak Grove News

Hello Oak Grove Community,

Our new Illinois Science standards are based on the philosophy that the science and engineering require both knowledge of application skills as well as the content. In order to help support that integration, Crosscutting concepts were identified that have application within all fields of science and daily life. These CCs can help students make connections and support deep thinking across all grades K-12. The seven crosscutting concepts presented in Chapter 4 of the Framework are as follows:

1. Patterns. Observed patterns of forms and events guide organization and classification, and they prompt questions about relationships and the factors that influence them.

2. Cause and effect. Mechanism and explanation. Events have causes, sometimes simple, sometimes multifaceted. A major activity of science is investigating and explaining causal relationships and the mechanisms by which they are mediated. Such mechanisms can then be tested across given contexts and used to predict and explain events in new contexts.

3. Scale, proportion, and quantity. In considering phenomena, it is critical to recognize what is relevant at different measures of size, time, and energy and to recognize how changes in scale, proportion, or quantity affect a system’s structure or performance.

4. Systems and system models. Defining the system under study—specifying its boundaries and making explicit a model of that system—provides tools for understanding and testing ideas that are applicable throughout science and engineering.

5. Energy and matter. Flows, cycles, and conservation. Tracking fluxes of energy and matter into, out of, and within systems helps one understand the systems’ possibilities and limitations.

6. Structure and function. The way in which an object or living thing is shaped and its substructure determine many of its properties and functions.

7. Stability and change. For natural and built systems alike, conditions of stability and determinants of rates of change or evolution of a system are critical elements of study.

To see how each of these Crosscutting concepts (CCs) is developed within each grade, click here.

We are pleased to announce that the Lake Bluff School District is offering Oak Grove students the opportunity to participate in their Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP), being organized by Northwestern University and its Center for Talent Development. The Saturday Enrichment Program allows gifted students to focus their curiosity and passion on a specific interest area. These unique courses will run consecutive Saturdays from January 15th through March 5th. Winter SEP courses held at Lake Bluff will take place in the morning only (9:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.). Students pre-kindergarten through sixth grade are welcome to participate. Register now for the Winter Saturday Enrichment Program session in Lake Bluff. Read more in the Winter 2016 Course Catalog or click here to register.

The first Beginning Band/Concert Band concert of the year will be held this Thursday, Dec. 3rd, at 6:30 pm in the Junior High gym.

The Jazz Café concert will be next Thursday, Dec. 10th, 6:30 pm in the Junior High Cafeteria.

Parents, many things are still needed to make it a special night, please email me if you can help out in any way such as decorations, baked goods, coffee, etc.

Also, a few of our former Oak Grove band students will be there to serve you as a way of earning tips for two families in need this Christmas. There will be a donation basket available if you would like to contribute to this good cause.

Mr. Fenton has asked if a few of our students would like to come and perform some holiday music at the staff breakfast this year. I will be asking a few students to play in brass and perhaps woodwind ensembles.

Mrs. Saia has a great idea for our kids to perform as a pep band in early January at a school game. This will be open to any symphonic or jazz band member. More information will be coming soon.

I typically give the older band kids an opportunity to do a good deal of sight reading at this time of year, so they can see in print how their favorite holiday tunes are written out. It is an excellent way for them to “Map” out in their minds the songs that they have heard so many times before. Also, it is a whole lot of fun for everyone. My hope is that they will want to play for you and any visiting relatives while over break.

Solo and Ensemble contest is coming at the end of February. I encourage all Band students (4-8) to perform a solo, and/or in a small ensemble. I’ll send a letter home later this week.

5th grade students: YOU ARE SOUNDING TERRIFIC! Mr. Farris and I are very pleased with your progress and will be handing out more exciting sheet music for you to play. In the meantime, your second unit test will be the selection titled Marianne, #36 from the red book in cut time. I will hear students play that during lessons next week.

8th Grade students should be looking into the audition music for LHS. The Saturday in April comes faster than it appears on a calendar. There is no time like the present to get a jump on your future! There are two sets of music to choose from. Set A is required to be placed in Concert band. Set B is required if you would like to try and be placed in one of the top three ensembles as a freshman. Maybe now is a good time to have a discussion with your child, or myself, to address the possibilities. If you are going on to high school as a musician, it may be time to look at private lessons, and upgrading your instrument.

(Clarinets, if you are playing on the Buffet wooden E-ll clarinet I recommended you start on; there is no need for an upgrade other than possibly a mouthpiece.)

Thank you,

Mr. Jones

Head Coach - Jerrod Collier

Jerrod is the owner of Ascent Wrestling out of Energy MMA in Lakemoor. He began his wrestling career in 6th grade at Hawthorn School, wrestled through High School at LHS and was also on the Elite Eight State Final 1986 team. He has coached wrestling at Daniel Wright School and at Hawthorn North. Coach Collier loves mountain bike racing at the highest amateur level and is ranked 134 in the country for all ages.

Asst. Coach - Christopher Duenas
Chris is very excited to to join the Oak Grove Eagles Wrestling Program. He comes to us with experience coaching football with the Libertyville Boys Club and wrestling with Hawthorn Junior High. Like Coach Collier, Chris also attended and wrestled at LHS.

Chris loves fishing and kayaking. He is also a big fan of comic books.

Welcome Coaches Collier and Duenas! Let's go, Eagles!

Jenny Pittam will be holding a webinar in the Junior High Learning Center on Tuesday, December 8th at 6:00.

Peter McGowen, owner of Students Love Travel, will be answering all questions parents may have about the Spanish immersion trip to Puerto Rico during Spring Break 2017.

If you are interested, please email Ms. Pittam at pittam@ogschool.org to reserve a seat at the presentation.

The Grove Gala 2016 - Tickets & Sponsorships on Sale Now!
Our biennial Spring Gala will take place on February 27th, 2016 at Independence Grove. The Gala is OGSEF’s biggest fundraising initiative and we need the support of our community, parents, faculty and students to make it a great success. Plus, it is a great opportunity to network and socialize with your community…not to mention a ton of fun! The event features food, drinks, entertainment by CoverGurl, auctions and more. This is an event you will not want to miss!

To purchase tickets or commit to one of our Sponsorship Packages, please visit http://www.ogsef.org/gala-2016.html and click the "Buy Gala Tickets Now" tab at the bottom of the page or visit our event campaign page.

Thank you for your support!

Gala Volunteers – We Need You!
The Oak Grove Gala Committee is seeking individuals to lend a hand. We need volunteers for small shifts on the night of the event for registration/check-in, monitoring/closing auction tables and supporting the paddle raise/live auction. You can sign up to volunteer online at https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/Mjg1MA==.

Thank you in advance for being so generous with your time!

Shop for Learning!

Ready for the holiday shopping season? Take advantage of the great deals AND support educational initiatives at Oak Grove School at the same time at no additional cost to you! Visit www.ogsef.org and click the Support Us tab at the bottom of the page. From there you can 'Shop to Support' with a ton of great merchants - Amazon, Target, Nordstrom and many more!

November 30, 2015

A Message from PTO Co-Presidents Lisa Perrone and Mia Hughes:

Lunches this week

Monday – Quesadilla/Hot Dog

Tuesday – Panera

Wednesday – Pasta

Thursday – Culver’s

Pancake Breakfast/Mall in the Hall/Eagle Extravaganza

This Saturday from 9am – 12pm. Don’t miss this great PTO event. There will be delicious food, shopping for the kids, and shopping for the adults! Come get a jump on your holiday shopping at OGS. See the virtual back pack for more information. We still need volunteers. If you can help, even for an hour, please contact Jennifer Pasternak at jenniferpasternak@yahoo.com

Conference Dinner

The PTO hosts a dinner for our wonderful teachers during conferences. Thank you to Joanie Sauers, Beth Williams, Kim Konigseder, and Cami VanDixhorn for coordinating the dinner. Also, thank you to all our bakers: Lisa Perrone, Stephanie Huffman, Laura Psimaras, Diane Powers, Carrie Siebert, Ani Mattson, Susan Kurland, Liz Howard, Renee Tam, and Bianca Pereira Garcia.

Thank you to Lisa Kula for hosting the Ladies Wine and Shop Night at What She Wants Boutique supporting the PTO.

Our next PTO meeting is this Wednesday, December 2nd at 9 am in the Junior High teacher’s lounge. The agenda is available on the PTO page at ogschool.org. All are welcome!

Book Fair

Thank you to all who came out and supported the Elementary Book Fair. Together you made it a great success! Kids, parents and teachers all came and checked out the wonderful books the fair had to offer. Congratulations to all the K-4 classes who participated in the ALL for Books Coin Challenge! Oak Grove collectively helped to raise $1588.24 for A.J. Katzenmaier School library in North Chicago! What a wonderful effort; you should all be so proud. The classroom that raised the most money was Mrs. Flores's class, who will receive a pizza party.
Thank you to all the volunteers who came out to help run the fair; without you the fair could not happen. A very special thank you to the Committee members: Jennifer Liu, Nikki Krakowski, Becky Rynes, Mia Hughes, Jen Sahagian, Maria Roberts, Sarah Roe, Jenny Mayer and Raabia Khan.
We look forward to seeing everyone for the BOGO Fair in April!

Oak Grove School is proud to participate again in the “Toys for Tots” program through the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Toys will be collected outside both the Elementary and Junior High offices until December 16. Grove families can donate a toy for a girl or boy, age 9-12 years. Unwrapped toys can be dropped off by the trees displayed at the Elementary and Junior High Office entrances.

Please click HERE to view the flyers in our Virtual Backpack.

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