Take Home Tuesday

Dear Sward Families:

The weather is finally allowing us to start having outdoor recess again! Hooray! Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather. Of course, we will be in if it is raining, snowing, or super cold again. But, for the most part, we will try to be outside as much as possible.

With the weather changing, this also allows us to stand outside to enjoy the fresh air in the morning before school. Please remember that we do have designated areas for parking. However, there is a section on each drop off side that is a designated drop off zone only. For safety and efficiency, please refrain from parking in the drop off only zone. Also having to do with our morning drop off routine... as we settle into the new routines from the latest Covid guidelines, I would like to inform you that the temperature screenings in the morning will be discontinued for the time being. I will notify you should these guidelines change.

Your partner in education,

Mrs. Candy Kramer

Sward School Principal

Students, teachers, and parents/guardians 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. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and anonymous. To get started with the survey head to d123.org/five. Right now, Sward has a 16% response rate to this survey. We need a 20% rate in order to receive a report. Your voice matters.

Save the date: There will be a McDonalds Drive Thru Fundraiser for the Sward PTA. This will be held at the 10533 S. Cicero location from 4:00-8:00 on Wednesday, March 9.

We are planning for an IN PERSON Career Day! Your child brought home a flyer with additional details about this exciting day. We plan to hold our Career Day on Thursday, April 28. If you are interested in coming to our Career Day to share with our Sward Eagles, please complete the bottom portion of the flyer your child brings home and send it back to school with your child. If you need additional forms to complete, please let us know and we will send some home with your child.

We are looking forward to a super fun and informational day!!

If you would like your Sward children to take their picture together, please complete the form that was sent home and return it to school. The children must have the form submitted to be pulled for a sibling photo. If the form is not filled out, they will simply be pulled for individual photos. If siblings have their picture taken together, they will not be photographed individually.

Attention 5th grade parents, this is an exciting time for your children as they will be heading off to middle school. Illinois regulations require you to submit a newly completed health exam and dental form for your child. Your child will also need to receive at least one (or more) additional immunizations. Forms completed now satisfy the 6th grade requirements and can be turned into Sward's health office to be reviewed and entered. After the last day of school, those forms can be turned in directly to OLHMS.

Please look for a packet in your child's Take Home Tuesday folder.

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

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.

• Wednesday, March 2- Districtwide Late Start- School begins for students at 9:30 a.m.
• Thursday, March 3- Lunch Menu Change: Today's lunches will be hot dog OR chicken nuggets (chicken bacon melt will not be available).- Pajama Day (rescheduled from our eLearning day on February 17)
  
• Monday, March 7- No School- Casimir Pulaski Day
  
• Thursday, March 17- District 123 PTA Council McDonalds Fundraiser from 4:00-8:00 p.m. click HERE for more details.

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