February 6 (7:15pm), Monday - Board of Education Meeting @ OE Community Room

Topics Include: Community Relationships/Partnerships Annual Report, Roof Bids for Oswego High School and Homestead, Draft District Mission Statement, and Approval of Search Firm

February 11 (10-1:00pm), Saturday - Black History Month - Professionals FAIR

Oswego East High School

February 13 (5-7:30pm), Monday - Board Advisory: Policy & Legislative Committee Meeting/DAC

February 15 (6-7:30pm), Wednesday - Board Advisory: Community Advisory Committee Meeting / OE

February 16 (5:30-6:30pm), Thursday - NEED GROCERIES? Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry Location: Fox Chase Elementary School, 260 Fox Chase Drive North Oswego

February 16 (5:30-6:30pm), Thursday - Board Advisory: Equity Committee Meeting / DAC

February 17, Friday - 3.5 Hr Student Attendance - School Improvement Day (No Early Childhood) / End of 2nd Trimester (K-5)

February 20, Monday - No School - Presidents Day

For a complete District Calendar of Events, please click here.

Hello SD 308 Families,

February 1st marked the start of Black History Month. This important time set aside each year is an opportunity for us to acknowledge struggle, celebrate successes, and inspire the future of our nation. Black history is American history. There are a number of events, activities, and ways that we can all participate in Black History Month. I hope that during this month, you will set aside time to engage in meaningful conversations that help us all to stay connected, not looking past the struggles both historical and present, but rather seeking a tomorrow we can all be proud of. The inspirational stories of Black Americans reach back decades, also joining them today are stories of people who have overcome adversity, broken through barriers, and excelled in their own ways. Black History Month is about now, the ways we can bring hope, voice, and opportunity to all. Each week during this month, we hope to highlight the stories of Black Americans, some who are widely known, and others whose stories you may be hearing for the first time. Thank you for joining us in celebrating, remembering, empowering, and inspiring future generations during Black History month and all throughout the year.

• Chef Shunquita “Que”

We can all be inspired to follow our dreams by people like Chef Shunquita “Que” who worked as a U.S. Navy Chief Logistics Specialist and counselor before turning her sights to cooking. While serving, she attended Columbia University’s School of Psychology and Capella University, earning her Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy. It was the love of her eclectic culinary experiences while serving overseas that she began to develop her passion for authentic cooking. She established herself as a chef and launched many businesses, including her own catering company called, Creole Soul. Chef Que’s motto is: “Some of life’s heaviest problems can be solved over a warm blanket, a good pot of gumbo and heartfelt conversation.”

• Mae Jemison

Another influencer of our time is Mae Jemison, a doctor, engineer, and NASA astronaut. Born in Alabama and raised in Chicago, Jemison graduated from Stanford University with degrees in chemical engineering as well as African and African-American studies. She then earned her medical degree from Cornell University. In 1992, Jemison became the first African American woman to travel into space as a science mission specialist. She founded The Earth We Share, an international science camp for students based on her travels into space.

• Mellody Hobson

Successful American businesswoman Mellody Hobson currently serves as the president and co-CEO of Ariel Investments and the chairwoman of the Starbucks Corporation. She received honorary degrees from Howard University, John Hopkins University, St. Mary’s College, and the University of Southern California. She was named one of the “100 most influential people” in the world in 2015 by Times Magazine.

• Shonda Rhimes

Best known for her hit TV show creations, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal, Shonda Rhimes is an American producer, screenplay writer, and author. In 2017, Rhimes was inducted into the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame. She is also the creator of her own storytelling digital media company that often works in collaboration with Netflix to produce content.

Registration takes place in two steps:

STEP 1: New Familes: Please visit the Tyler Portal and click "Register a New Family" to add your kindergarten student(s) for the 23/24 school year. Current SD 308 Families: Log into your Parent Portal account and add a new kindergarten student(s) via the Update Household Data section.

STEP 2: Attend one of the Kindergarten Registration Events (Listed Here) to submit required Registration documents to Central Registration at 4175 Route 71 (Door 1), Oswego

• Required Documents:
• One (1) Hard Copy of Original Birth Certificate
• Residency documents required (no cellphone images) - such as a tax bill, rental agreement, settlement statement or mortgage statement, and
• Two (2) utility bills, which can include documents such as gas, electric, water, internet, phone, or cable

Students currently attending Brokaw or a Satellite Early Childhood location do not need to attend one of these sessions.

February 6 (9:30-11:30am & 3:30-6pm), Monday - Kindergarten Registration, 4175 Route 71, Door 1, Oswego (Churchill, Lakewood Creek, Southbury)*

February 9 (9:30-11:30am & 3:30-6pm), Thursday - Kindergarten Registration, 4175 Route 71, Door 1, Oswego (Boulder Hill, Homestead, The Wheatlands)*

February 13 (9:30-11:30am & 3:30-6pm), Monday Kindergarten Registration, 4175 Route 71, Door 1, Oswego (Grande Park, Old Post, Prairie Point, Wolf's Crossing)*

February 15 (9:30-11:30am & 3:30-6pm), Wednesday - Kindergarten Registration, 4175 Route 71, Door 1, Oswego (Fox Chase, Hunt Club, Long Beach)*

*Please note, we welcome any family to attend any session, you do not need to attend the specific school date listed if it does not coordinate with your schedule.

Students, teachers, and parents across Illinois now have an opportunity to participate in the eleventh annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of a school. For parents, this opportunity allows them to share their thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about their child’s school. If at least 20 percent of parents at each school complete this survey, a parent supplement report will be generated. To take the survey visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. Note: you must choose Kendall County in order to locate all SD 308 schools. Please complete the survey between now and March 31.

This year, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has honored 490 individuals for their extraordinary contributions to education across the state, including the following individuals from SD 308: B.I.O.N.I.C. club from Oswego High School (Team Category - Award of Special Recognition - Wendy Monn, Colleen Predl, and Rachel Zeifert); Diana Calvillo from Hunt Club Elementary School (Early Career Educator Category - Award of Meritorious Service); Barbara Richmond from The Wheatlands Elementary School (Teacher Category - Award of Meritorious Service); and Samantha Sinovich from Southbury Elementary School (Administrator Category - Award of Meritorious Service). Full Press Release Here.

Resurrection Church located at 4054 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora, Illinois, has recently opened a food pantry which will be open on the first Sunday of each month from 12:30 to 3:00pm: Feb 5, Mar 5, Apr 2, May 7, Jun 4. They are able to assist those in the neighboring communities who are experiencing food insecurity and do not have any income or geographic requirements - ALL those in need are welcome.

The BPAC is a group of bilingual parents with students in the English learner (EL) programs. They will be hosting a Meet The School Board Candidates event on Thursday, March 2 (6:30-8pm) at Oswego East High School, Community Room. An interpreter & childcare will be available. Click here for more details.

Aurora Public Art will display artists Donnell Collins, Perry Slade, and Dr. Charles Smith from February 3rd to March 18th! Aurora Public Art takes place on the 3rd Floor Gallery, 20 E. Downers Pl, Aurora, IL. Events and Gallery Admission are free and open to the public!

Best Buddies is a program to empower the special abilities of people with IDD (Intellectual or Developmental Disability) by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society. The Best Buddies Club at OHS is selling spirit wear. Please join us by supporting this organization at Oswego High School. We would love to see you wearing Best Buddies gear around SD 308!

Northern Illinois University's Research Team is conducting an Autism Research Study for children ages 5 to 12 years of age, with or without a diagnosis of autism. Eligible participants will complete a one-hour session and children will receive a small toy.

Interested? Please contact the NIU Research team at: GaitStudy@niu.edu or complete an interest form by following the QR code link on the flyer: Learn More.

The NIU research lab is located in the NIU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic DeKalb, IL 60115.

For more information, you may also visit their website.

• To report a positive COVID-19 case in a student or staff member, please click here.
  

• The district's Safety Plan and Metrics can be found on the COVID-19 information page.