Hometown Families:

We thank the families who attended the PTA meeting this past week. We have included the presentation that our teachers have shared about reading. We hope that you can join our district to talk about IXL this evening. The link is listed below.

We strongly encourage you to take our 5Essentials survey. You may use any device to take the survey. We are looking for feedback to improve our school community.

Family Conference sign up will also open on February 9th at 10am. Our options include an in person experience or a phone conversation. We would like you to connect with up to three different staff members. Please use Skyward to sign up for the conferences.

IXL: What Families Need To Know!

IXL is a personalized digital learning space that covers K-12 curriculum and is used by more than 14 million students. Join the D123 Parent University to learn how your student can leverage the tool to extend and personalize their learning.

Join the presentation tonight at 6:30pm by clicking the link below:
meet.google.com/ajx-ncjr-kjs

Hometown School will listen to an Erin's Law presentation in PE periods on Friday, February 10th. Erin’s Law, is a state mandated, age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education program for students Pre-K through 8th grade.

Research conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused by the time they are eighteen.

Erin’s Law now requires schools to help students understand the difference between safe and unsafe touch; safe and unsafe secrets; and how to “get away and tell today.” Children will also learn how to recognize child sexual abuse, reduce their vulnerability, and report abuse.

The curriculum will vary from grade to grade, and will be developmentally appropriate per grade level. Topics will address abuse awareness and prevention, personal safety, and effective communication practices.

School social workers will visit K-5 classes to present lessons to the students. During these lessons, students will learn about the dangers of abuse and the difference between safe and unsafe touch.

If you do not want your child to participate in the program, please email Dr. Bencik at abencik@d123.org.

For more information regarding Erin’s Law please visit:

http://www.erinslawillinois.org

Our family dance will be Friday. Our door will open at 5:45 to start dinner in the MPR room. Please enter door 1 for dinner. The gym will be set up for dancing afterward.

In order to sign up for the events please use the link below.

Here is the link for the Sign up genius for PTA

https://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=c.SignUpSearch&eid=0EC3CADCF9CCFB67&cs=09B6BADC8FBC8B167B0664745BB49BC9&sortby=l.title

Below is the information shared during PTA. If you have questions, please reach out.

Congratulations to all of our students who participated in the read challenge over the winter break. Students were able to enjoy pizza in Dr. Bencik's office. Our students Charlotte, Matthew, Emma, Danna, Teddy, and Amelia had a great time.

Once again Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 will participate in the 11th annual statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions conducted by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). This survey provides a platform for students, teachers, and parents to express their opinions on ways to improve their community's schools. Please take a moment to ensure your voice is part of the process by participating in the survey. The 5Essentials survey helps school administrators in District 123 prioritize and plan for the upcoming school year. Our school will only receive the results of the survey if enough families, staff, and students participate.

CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED

During the January 23rd Board of Education meeting, the 2023-2024 D123 academic school calendar was approved.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CALENDAR

Please register your child for the upcoming school year for Preschool/Kindergarten. The links are provided.

2023-2024 Preschool Registration is now open!

For more information and to start the process please visit:

https://www.d123.org/departments/student-services/early-learning-programs

2023-2024 Kindergarten Registration is now open!

For more information and to start the process please visit:

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

The end of the trimester is February 24th. Please check with your teachers to make sure you have completed all work to be graded for accurate grade reporting.

On February 23rd, Hometown will host a game day to celebrate all of the good behavior our students have exhibited in trimester 2. We are looking for parent volunteers to come during the morning. The sign up page is linked below and your child will be coming home with a paper copy. Please return it if you are interested in joining us for the fun.

Kindergarten, second, and fifth grade families received dental forms last week from Nurse Sheila. Please turn forms in as soon as possible. If you are in need of a form, please reach out to Nurse Sheila.

Our first and Second grade CASE classroom is taught by Mrs. Russell. She is new to Hometown this year, but has been working in our district at Kolmar prior to this year. These little friends will be focusing on Valentine's day this week! Students will complete Valentine’s Day fine motor activities that focus on tracing, cutting, gluing, hole punching and coloring. We will also be completing literacy activities that focus on the CORE word, give. We will be learning different items we can give to our friends and family on Valentine's day through word of the day. The words the kiddos will focus on are candy, flowers, teddy bear, letter, and valentine. Students will learn the group, function, features, and where these items are found. In math, first grade students are working on telling time to the hour and second grade students are working on identifying money. Students will work on their social skills through a show and tell activity where they will bring an item from home to share with their classmates. Students will get to talk about the item and their classmates will get to ask them questions about the item they brought in. Students also participate in cooking activities each week. This week we will be making milkshakes!!!! Students will work on following directions, measurement, and sequencing.

Please see the attached flyer for tacos and trivia.

Email: abencik@d123.org
Phone: 708-423-7360
Twitter: @AmandaBencik

Website: d123.org/hometown
Location: 8870 S Duffy Ave, Hometown, IL, USA
Phone: 708-423-7360
Twitter: @d123hometown