Hometown School Newsletter

May 17, 2022

Bencik's Buzz

Hometown Families:

We continue to see the excitement of our students as we are wrapping up the school year. We have about 12 days left. We are excited to partner with Arab American Services for the next school year. Please read the flyers. If you are interested in volunteering, please email me.

Hometown Second Grade presents "The Wizard of Oz"

The second graders presented "The Wizard of Oz" to their families and friends today. These kids have worked hard for several weeks preparing! They did a wonderful job proving once again....There's no place like HOMETOWN. Please click here to watch the performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2cLs6EN3dI
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Dress Code

We know that the warmer weather has brought out the summer clothes. Please be mindful that the dress code states that students should have shorts at fingertip length, tops cover the bell and no thin straps. No sandals should be worn as our students participate in PE everyday.

Returning Registration

Returning families in the district should have received an email with registration for the 2022-2023 school year. Please follow the directions listed in the email.

Yearbook Purchases

It is time to purchase the yearbook. Please use the following link to purchase.

https://www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1013796905702123

Fourth and Fifth Grade Concert

Tomorrow, May 18th, please join us for our fourth and fifth grade concert starting at 1:30pm. We will host the concert in our gym. Come see our fifth grade students perform the last concert of their elementary career.

Summer School

Classes are filling up fast. Please register for the classes as soon as possible.

Field Day Volunteers

We are looking for volunteers for the end of the year field day celebration. Please see the attached flyer for details.

Beginning Band Registration

Any fourth grade student who would like to join band, please mark your calendar.

2022-23 Beginning Band Registration (for current 4th grade students)

All meetings listed are at OLHMS:

Tuesday, May 17: 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm

Wednesday, May 18: 9am

Kindergarten Orientation

Thursday, May 19th will be our orientation for our new incoming kindergarten students. Our event will take at 6pm. Please come to Hometown for information about the new year. See the attached flyer for details.

Used Glasses

One of the local boy scouts is finishing up his project. If you still have some used glasses you would like to donate, please send them by the end of the week. Thank you already for the many donations.

TPS and Kindergarten Registration- OPEN

If your student is already registered with district in EC or preschool, you will just register with the backpack registration in April. If you would like to register your children for Tuition Preschool please use the link below. Kindergarten registration is also open. Please use the second link to register your child for the next school year. We can't wait to meet all of our new learners.


TPS registration:


https://www.d123.org/departments/teaching-learning/programs/tuition-preschool



Kindergarten:


https://www.d123.org/departments/teaching-learning/programs/kindergarten

Donuts with Dudes

We will host Donuts with Dudes on May 26th at 7:45am. If you are interested, please see the attached flyer for details.

5th grade End of the year event

Please look at the end of the year opportunity for our fifth graders. Please fill out the RSVP.

Field Day- Items needed


As you know, field day is quickly approaching and we are in need of drinking water. We are asking for your help in boosting our water supply. Cases of donated water can be dropped off in the main office anytime before May 27th.


Thank you for your help and support.

Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Maureen Finnegan

Every week we will shine a spotlight on one of our very own Hometown Staff members. This week we will meet Mrs. Maureen Finnegan


How long and what grades have you taught?


I have been teaching for 27 years. Twenty-three of the teaching has been in District 123. I went to Eastern Illinois University. I was able to student teach at Sward School in 5th grade. I started out as an aide in a 6th grade classroom at Sward. I taught for 2 years at St. John Fisher in 6th and 7th grade before coming back to Sward to teach 5th grade at Sward for 10 years. I was lucky enough to work for 4 years as a math coach at Sward, Hannum and Hometown and then an instructional coach at Sward for 4 years. A math coach works with teachers and classrooms to help the math lessons engage and excite. When a math support teacher opened up at Hometown, I knew I wanted to work in the math world again. I feel most comfortable working with our district math curriculum and love helping the students and teachers at Hometown.



If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why? I would love to travel anywhere in the West Coast. I have seen the east coast and the Midwest, and even some of the West, but I never have seen the pacific ocean or the mountains of Washington in person. Mountains are my favorite!


What is the best thing about working at Hometown? The best thing about HOMETOWN is each CHILD. I love the togetherness here and the way everyone roots for everyone. We are a tight knit community. I grew up here in Hometown. I have raised two children who have gone through this school. HOMETOWN has HEART and this is my favorite part of working here!


What is your favorite food? I love CHICKEN chimichangas! Honest, I just love eating! I am not a good cook though. Mr. Finnegan does all the cooking in our house. I am one lucky person because he is just the best cook ever!


Who is someone you admire and why? A person I admire is my mom. She was my best friend. My mom made everything look effortless. She raised 5 children. I was the youngest. She taught us right from wrong and never complained about anything! She made our beds every morning and sent us each day to school with a brown bag lunch. She made a sit down dinner every night (hot and ready to go when my dad got home from work). She taught me that family is everything. She had the best sense of humor and knew how to have fun. I miss her everyday, but love having all the positive memories and examples that she set. She led by example. Thank you for being such a good role model MOM!



If you see Mrs. Finnegan around the school make sure you say hello!!

Arab American Family Services

We will be happy to partner with the Arab American Services for next year. Please see the attached flyer. We are looking for parent mentors to start next year.

STEM Camps

See the attached flyers for our students to be able to attend the STEM camps at the different schools. This is another great opportunity for our children to use their knowledge.