Pirate's Cove
October 16th through October 22nd
Traduzca este boletín al Español
Principal's Message
Pirate Families!
October 1st marked the beginning of Bullying Prevention Month. At Plank, we take teasing, name calling, and bullying very seriously. We just finished a Bullying Awareness week in our Crew Time homerooms. Families can view the slides that were shared with students by following this link. Our Bullying Awareness week will culminate next Wednesday with a Plank Unity Day, where we are encouraging all students to wear Orange in unity against Bullying. You can view the Unity Day slide by clicking on this link. You can learn more about Unity Day by visiting the Unity Day Website for more information for parents >> LINK.
October also is host to Red Ribbon Week, which starts October 25th. REd Ribbon Week emphasizes the importance of drug and alcohol awareness. We have a number of activities and a spirit week planned for students to honor Red Ribbon Week.
Below, you will find an anonymous reporting tool that students and families can used to report incidents to Plank administration. We are notified any time that this form is submitted with the report. We encourage all of our students to say something when they see something. We will always need the partnership from parents to help end teasing and bullying as well. Please stress the importance of being kind, treating others with respect, and the significant social impact of those that are bullied. We ask that all students be part of the solution, to not be a bystander, and to stand up and report bullying when they see or hear it.
Plank is also hiring! We are in need of several positions throughout Plank, such as Teaching Assistants, Long Term Substitute Teachers, A Dean's Assistant, and Crossing Guards. Please visit our Employment opportunities page to view all opportunities and/or complete an online application!
Continue to review the expectations on our What to Expect at Plank presentation with your child. We are going through these expectations with students during our first weeks of school as well. Continual reinforcement of our expectations for students is important to get back into the routine of school. You can find our presentation here>>>. LINK
The staff at Plank Junior High is committed to serving the students and parents of the surrounding community. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, and we can work together to find solutions. I can be reached at 630-551-9400 and thaymond@sd308.org. We look forward to partnering with you and your child throughout the year.
Always in partnership,
Tyler Haymond
Principal
Plank Junior High School
Plank Anonymous Reporting
Plank has a system for reporting anonymously. Click the link below to fill out an incident report to let the Principal and Assistant Principals know what happened.
Additional Reporting Opportunities
Important upcoming dates
10/22 - Picture Retake Day
10/25 - Red Ribbon Week
10/28 - High School Credit Opt out forms are due
11/11 - 5 - hour Student Attendence (Parent-teacher conferences)
11/12 - NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE - (Parent-teacher conferences)
11/24, 25, 26 - NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE - Thanksgiving Break
Plank Title I Parent Night Presentation
Home and School Meetings
Home and School Volunteer Opportunities
High School Courses: Credit Opt-Out Process
If you have a student enrolled in Algebra I, Honors English I, or Spanish I and do not want your student to receive high school credit for the class (Algebra I or Honors English I only) or wish to drop the course, please click the “Opt-Out Form” link below for further information. Opt-out forms must be completed and returned to your student’s counselor by Thursday, October 28th, 2021.
Table Games for Lunch Periods
Donations can be made in the Plank Main Office.
Peer Buddies Program
The Peer Buddies program is currently looking for volunteers!!!
What is Peer Buddies?
Peer Buddies is an opportunity for Plank Students who like to help others to volunteer in the Life Skills Program classrooms to have positive peer interactions with students who have disabilities / special needs.
Volunteers will spend time helping students complete whole class projects, reading with students, playing games, or helping with classwork / activities.
Your child would volunteer once per week and it is dependent upon their class schedule and the schedule of the LSP classrooms. Ms. Alonzo will review your child’s schedule to find the best time for them to volunteer that will not interfere with their academic classes.
Think your child would be interested in being a Peer Buddy?
Please have them come to Student Services to get a permission slip.
Any questions, please email Ms. Alonzo at ralonzo@sd308.org
Plank Announcements
TEMPORARY DISTANCE LEARNING AND ABSENCES
Remember, Temporary Distance Learning is not available for students who are absent from school for various reasons. Temporary Distance Learning only applies to students who are put on quarantine by the school/district. If your child is absent from school, they still have access to Google Classroom to obtain assignments, however, they are not able to log into the Google Meet for live instruction.
OEHS and OHS Home Football Games
Future Wolves and Panthers,
OEHS and OHS football seasons has started! If you are heading out to the games, don't forget...all junior high students must be accompanied by a guardian, who is also attending the game. Junior high students wont be able to enter without a parent or guardian.
Plank Spiritwear Orders
FASTBRIDGE
Access to FASTBridge Scores Via TylerSIS
FASTBridge Parent/Guardian Assessment Score Information-English
FASTBridge Parent/Guardian Assessment Score Information-Spanish
FASTBridge Benchmarking Assessment Parent/Guardian Letter
FASTBridge Parent/Guardian Letter-English
FASTBridge Parent/Guardian Letter-Spanish
Understanding Your Student's FASTBridge Scores
Information for the start of the school year
Please view the What to Expect at Plank 2021-2022 Presentation for additional information for the upcoming year!
Lea la presentación en español aquí Qué esperar en Plank - Estudiantes y padres Español 2021-2022
PE Uniforms/Lockers: Students will receive their locks and assigned a locker in PE during the first week of school. Information about this will come through PE.
Lunch: We will serve lunch during the school day this year. We have made some adjustments to our cafeteria seating to allow for social distancing seating for all students. If we need to use additional spaces in the building for lunch, we will accommodate the best we can and keep you informed.
Outside/Vendor Food - Outside vendor foods are not permitted in the lunchrooms this year. We cannot accept a delivery from a vendor (store or delivery such as Grub Hub) on behalf of a student. If a parent delivers outside food, the student will be able to receive their lunch, however, will need to eat in the Main Office and then return to lunch. Thank you.
Lockers: Students are using lockers this year (locker and combination located on the schedule email that was sent out earlier this week). We will encourage students to limit their locker usage to only a few times a day. We encourage students to take a look at their schedule and make a plan as to when the most appropriate time to go to their locker would be. (Example: before school/after school and before/after lunch, or, before school to pack for the first part of the day and then once in the middle of the day, and then at the end of the school day).
Backpacks: Students will be able to carry backpacks during the school day. Students are encouraged to ONLY bring the most important items they will need to participate in class and leave other non-essential items in their lockers.
Cell Phones: Just a reminder...a change in policy occurred last year regarding cell phones. Cell phones must be off and out of sight during the school day, from 8:10 to 3:10. If students need to contact home, they are able to use a school phone, with permission from a Plank staff member.
Buses: To find bus routes, click here for the transportation page on the district website. From there, click on Bus Routes on the left side of the page, then find Plank under the Junior High Arrival section. From there, look for your subdivision/area you live and find the closest stop to your home, which will also include your pick-up time. Please be at your bus stop 5 minutes prior to your pick-up time. Under the Junior High-Dismissal section for Plank, you will find the bus routes with the drop-off location and time.
Due to the many changes, larger student counts, the need for seating charts, and contact tracing, we will NOT be allowing students to ride buses other than their assigned one.
Chromebooks: Any incoming 6th grader, or new or returning student to Plank who has not received their Chromebook, will receive it during the first couple weeks of school. We have been distributing chromebooks to new students during lunches. If your child still needs a Chromebook, please reach out to thaymond@sd308.org.
Chromebooks that are damaged or not working will need to be turned into the Plank LRC. A loaner will be issued from the LRC until a replacement arrives or the device is repaired. See Dr. Meyer in the LRC.
Temporary Distance Learning: Students placed on Temporary Distance Learning will receive an email from one of the health office staff at Plank or from the district with the quarantine and TDL information attached. Once that is provided, then the classroom teacher will be able to allow a student into the classroom Meet Link for Temporary Distance Learning. Please understand that this could take a day or two while the health office staff is handling daily health procedures, routines, and concerns, but also information pertaining to quarantining students. While you are waiting for a member of the health office staff to contact you, the absence of the student is still considered excused.
SORA APP - link on our LRC site
Pirate families and students,
Here is a direct link to the Sora app. We can no longer access Sora from the waffle.
* * * * * Your Input Matters to Us * * * * * *
Please take the opportunity to share your comments about our firsts weeks of school. We'd love to hear from you! Click here to tell us.
Helpful Online Safety Information for Parents
Technology has changed the way we live, work, play, learn, and interact. It is hard to keep up with all the new apps, online trends, etc. our students and children are using. Below are helpful resources for parents to learn helpful tips about online safety, how to talk to your children about online safety, and information on current apps our students and children are using.
Online Safety Information for Parents:
Stay Safe Online - National Cyber Security Alliance
Guide to Potentially Dangerous Apps for Kids
Social Media Red Flags Parents Should Know About
What Parents Should Know About Social Media and Anxiety
Social Media Guide - Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency
Parent Resources
Follow the links to access the parent resources that we have available.
- A Parent's Guide to Google Classroom - A step-by-step guide to help parents that are unfamiliar with accessing Google Classroom.
- Google Classroom Cheat Sheet for students - Shake Up Learning
- Google Suite Tutorials - A collection of Google tutorials that students will be using with their teachers during remote learning. There are dozens of resources here that cover almost anything you need to know about using Google Suite.
- Parent's Guide to Student Portal - Tyler 360 document that outlines Student Portal access and features.
- Parent's Guide to Google Suite Applications - From Google Docs to Google Meets, this is a guide for parents to use as a reference for all of the available Google Suite Applications.
Set up a time to meet with the Plank Counselors!
Our Plank counseling team is using a new scheduling tool this year. It allows students and parents to directly book a meeting with us. Follow the links below to access the editable schedule to meet with one of our counselors. They also created and released the Counselors Corner Newsletter. If you have questions, reach out to our counseling team below!
Mrs. Gannon (students with last names A-L) cgannon-sd308.youcanbook.me/
Mrs. Hlavacs (students with last names M-Z) khlavacs-sd308.youcanbook.me/
Mrs. Modaff (students with last names M-Z) jmodaff-sd308.youcanbook.me/
21-22 School Yearbook
Don't Delay, Plank Pirates! It's time to order your YEARBOOK for the 21-22 school year. The online store will be open August 9. Order now, so you don't forget and get your $5 DISCOUNT. (From December 1st, cost increases to $30. Final order deadline is January 28, 2022.)
*Optional personalization for an extra fee.
If you have any yearbook questions, please email Ms. Thill at dthill@sd308.org.
21-22 Plank Yearbook QR Code
Plank Attendance Guidelines
Call Asusana Montes-Mijares
630-551-9401
Please leave a message on the Attendance Line noting the reason for the absence. Include all symptoms or the reason for the absence if it is not illness related. Students need to be called in if they will miss a partial day. Please note the class/classes that will be missed in addition to the reason for the absences.
Teachers are keeping attendance through class period If you have questions, please reach out to the individual teachers about these procedures.
Important People to Know
Administration:
Principal
Tyler Haymond 630-551-9410 thaymond@sd308.org
Assistant Principal
Bailey Campbell 630-551-9412 bcampbell@sd308.org
Assistant Principal
Mrs. Katie Jones 630-551-9411 kjones@sd308.org
Student Support Lead Teachers
Lead Special Education Teacher
Carrie Quinn 630-551-9497 cquinn@sd308.org
EL Coordinator
Guadalupe Gallardo Escobedo 630-551-9466 ggallardoescobedo@sd308.org
Secretaries:
Principal Secretary
Laurie Williams 630-551-9409 lwilliams@sd308.org
Registrar/Discipline Secretary
Camille Simmons 630-551-9418 csimmons@sd308.org
Attendance Secretary
Asusana (Susie) Montes-Mijarez 630-551-9408 amontesmijarez@sd308.org
Student Services:
Counselors:
Caitlin Gannon 630-551-9414 cgannon@sd308.org
Students with last names A-L
Kelly Hlavacs and Jen Modaff 630-551-9415 khlavacs@sd308.org, jmodaff@sd308.org
Students with last names L-Z
Melanie Reicher 630-551-9496 mreicher@sd308.org
Restorative Practice Counselor
Social Workers:
Regena Alonzo 630-551-9405 ralonzo@sd308.org
Marguerite Slinger 630-551-9416 mslinger@sd308.org
Building Nurse:
Denise Salisbury 630-551-9402 dsalisbury@sd308.org
Important Resources
Transportation: 630-636-2999
Tyler Parent Portal login/access questions: tylerhelp@sd308.org
Waiver of Fee questions: Kaitlyn Dolenak 630-636-3662
Free/Reduced Lunch Application Status: Paola Lares Luna: 630-636-3663
Plank Junior High School
Email: thaymond@sd308.org
Website: https://www.sd308.org/plank
Location: Plank Jr. High, Secretariat Lane, Oswego, IL, USA
Phone: 6305519400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plank308/?scrlybrkr=2abf877d
Twitter: @Plank308