The Hawk
Holmes Elementary School - Week Ending 8/19/22
IMPORTANT DATES/THINGS TO REMEMBER
- Class placement email sent - August 19 - 4:00pm
- School Supply Drop Off - August 23 - 2:00-3:00
- First day of student attendance - August 24 - Students dismissed at 2:30
- First day of school - PTO Welcome Coffee in the multipurpose room after drop-off - August 24
- Curriculum Night - August 30 - details to follow
More Details to Follow!
Supply Drop off and School Scavenger hunt
It has been so long since our families have had the opportunity to visit our building. With that said, we will have directions in our classrooms for a self-guided scavenger hunt to visit different spaces in our school. Come explore the building and meet our specials staff when you visit.
If you ordered supplies from school at the end of last year, those supplies have already been delivered to your classroom. You are welcome to come during supply pick-up to visit your room and explore the school.
Food Allergies/Nut-Safe Schools
Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any District 97 schools during the 2022-23 school year. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.”
District 97 schools have been nut-safe for the past two years—helping to create safer, more inclusive environments for all of our students. We appreciate your support of this important initiative.
Please visit https://bit.ly/3AyGPpI to access information about the district’s food allergy management program, as well as tips and options for identifying food that is safe for snacks and field trips.
Holmes Snack Policy
Breakfast and Lunch at Holmes
Please see below for important information about District 97’s food service program, including information on the free and reduced meal eligibility and application process, accessing student meal accounts through the “My Mealtime” online portal, and 2022-23 breakfast and lunch menus.
For the past two years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made it possible for school districts to serve all students free breakfast and lunch through waivers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The USDA free meal waiver is now expired and will not be extended for the upcoming school year.
2022-23 Breakfast and Lunch Menus
During the 2022-23 school year, students can:
- Bring a nut-free lunch from home.
- Order school lunch.
- Breakfast Menu (Beye, Hatch, Holmes, Mann, Whittier)
- Hot Lunch Menu (3-Week Cycle)
- Hot Breakfast/Lunch Nutritional Information (coming soon!)
2022-23 Breakfast and Lunch Prices
Breakfast: $1.75 Full Price
$.30 reduced priced
Lunch: $2.80 Full Price
$.40 Reduced Price
Breakfast is daily from 7:15-7:45. You will enter the lunchroom through the courtyard on Chicago Ave when you arrive.
Free and Reduced Meal Eligibility and Application
Students may receive meals at a free or reduced cost either by being directly approved by the State of Illinois OR being approved after completing the 2022-23 Free and Reduced Lunch Application. All families who are directly approved by the state will receive an approval letter by email. If you feel your student may qualify for free or reduced-priced meals but are not directly approved, we encourage you to complete the 2022-23 Free and Reduced Lunch Application as soon as possible. There are several options for completing and submitting your application (see below).
2022-23 Free and Reduced Lunch Application (English and Spanish)
Submit Your Application Online
Filling out and submitting a Free and Reduced Meal Application is a quick and easy two-step process when you use Mealtime Apply Online! Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to set up a Mealtime account and complete the online application.
Step 1: Create a profile (you will need your student ID#).
- Visit www.mymealtime.com/apps.
- If you already have a Mealtime account, you can access the application from there—just log in.
Step 2: Start your application.
- Click the "New Application" button.
- From the Mealtime account, click the orange banner or box.
Paper/PDF Applications
For those parents who do not have access to a computer, or those who prefer not to use the online system, paper applications (available in English and Spanish) are available to download from the district website or your student’s school website. You can also ask for one at any of the school offices or at the district office. Only one application per household, per school district is needed. Completed applications can be dropped off at your student’s school or the district office (260 Madison St.), or emailed to the district's food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at cellis@op97.org. You can also fax the application to 708-524-3019.
Questions
If you have any questions, please reach out to the district's food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at cellis@op97.org.
Where will my Child Line up on The First Day of School
Note: the abbreviations are grade level and then 1st initial of the teacher's last name. For example 2F = Ms. Freeman's 2nd grade class.
When will my child have lunch and recess
Walk Your Child to Class on the 1st day of school
Student Masking
Please be sure your child carries a mask with them in their backpack even if they are not wearing it throughout the day.
Introducing the Holmes Assistant Principal
Meet our School Nurses
When emailing them, please be sure to email them both so we can work to ensure continuity of service for our students and our families.
*NEW* Process for Reporting Positive COVID-19 Cases to D97 Schools
If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they must complete the following steps:
1) In order to notify the school nurse and receive a return-to-school date, families/staff must complete the confidential COVID-19 Positive Case Notification Form as soon as possible following the positive test. Information provided will also be shared with the Oak Park Department of Public Health.
2) Families must continue to report student absences via the school attendance line, and staff must enter their absences in Frontline.
To see the rules for isolation and quarantine, click here. Additional resources are linked below.
What I Need to Know
Holmes Family Handbook
Are You Looking For After-School Care?
Here is some information on after-school care providers that operate in the community.
We are not endorsing these programs, this is strictly informational.
- Apollo – after-school program on school grounds – 855.543.7277
- Hephzibah – after-school program on school grounds – 708.649.7140
- Magical Minds Studio – after school – transportation provided – 708.948.7934
- Oak Park Park District – Clubhouse After-School Program – transportation provided –708.725.2110
- Seed Montessori – after school – transportation provided – 708-613-5860
We will update this list as we receive confirmation of continued operation.
Community Hawk Nest
Al Fresco Friday
Come out and join us for our first Al Fresco Friday on August 19th with a farewell to Ms. Asgharzadeh. Meet us on the Holmes playground anytime from 4-6 pm. A good opportunity to meet new and returning families.
PTO Family Coffee
Dr. Christine Zelaya
Email: czelaya@op97.org
Website: http://www.op97.org/holmes/
Location: 508 N Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park, IL, United States
Phone: 708-524-3100
Facebook: facebook.com/christine.zelaya.96
Twitter: @ChristineZelaya
Contact your PTO
Email: pto@holmespto.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HolmesPTO/
Twitter: @HolmesPTO