The Hawk
Holmes Elementary School - Week Ending 8/20/21
IMPORTANT DATES/THINGS TO REMEMBER
- Class placement email sent - August 20
- Welcome Back and New Family Meet-Up- August 20 4-6pm
- First day of student attendance - August 25
- Virtual Curriculum Night - September 2
More Details to Follow!
Principal Update - Important Information
Where Do I Line Up When I arrive For School?
Note: the abbreviations are grade level and then 1st initial of the teacher's last name. For example 1F = Ms. Freeman's 1st grade class.
Parent Handbook
Return to School Expectations and Safety Mitigations
Food Allergies/Nut-Safe Schools
Please visit https://bit.ly/3j0KGTB 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.
Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any District 97 schools during the 2021-22 school year. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.” The shift to include lunch was necessary as many students may be eating their lunch in spaces other than the lunchroom due to COVID-19 protocols.
Free/Reduced Meal Application
Although students will receive free meals, parents/guardians will need to submit the 2021-22 Free and Reduced Meal Application and be approved in order to be considered for a school fee waiver and other state programs. We encourage all families who currently qualify to take a few minutes to complete the application as soon as possible. Please visit https://www.op97.org/business-office/food-service for more information.
Taking You Child Home For Lunch
- Tell your child's teacher that your child will be leaving the school for lunch. Your child's teacher will share your 55-minute lunch period with you. It is also part of our Expectation video.
- Go to the office vestibule at door 1 (main entrance) to sign your child out. Your child will meet you at this location when you sign them out.
- After lunch, go to the office vestibule at door 1 (main entrance) to sign your child back in.
- Your child will return to their classroom
Please note, you will only be able to sign out your child. Other parents may not sign out other children under any circumstances.
2021-22 Registration Reminders
Returning Students
Registration for all returning District 97 students was due June 30. If you have not yet submitted your online registration, please do so immediately. Students who register late are not guaranteed to be approved by the first day of classes. Please note that only students who have completed registration and been approved by the district will be allowed to start school on Aug. 25. Emails either approving your student or requesting additional information come from InfoSnap@is.op97.org and are sent to the email listed for "Parent/Guardian 1" in our system. Please check your spam and junk folders for these emails.
New and Kindergarten Students
Parents who have a new or kindergarten student must start their registration by making an appointment at the district office. Appointments can be made by clicking here. Note: In order to make an appointment you will need to log in with your registration account, or create an account on the login page.
More Information: Registration FAQ's | Registration Required Document Lists | Registration Login Page | Registration Help Line | Request for Records | New/Kindergarten Student Appointment
Kindergarten Open House
Are You Looking For After-School Care? UPDATED
Here is some information on after-school care providers that operate in the community.
We are not endorsing these programs, this is strictly informational.
ABC Toon Town – before & after school – transportation provided – 708.848.0701
Apollo – after school program on school grounds – 855.543.7277
- First Baptist – before & after school - transportation provided – 708.383.1190
- Hephzibah – after school program on school grounds – 708.649.7140
- Homework Café at the International Mansion – before & after school – transportation provided – 708.525.5252
- Magical Minds Studio – after school – transportation provided – 708.948.7934
- Oak Park Park District – Clubhouse After-School Program – transportation provided –708.725.2110
- River Forest Community Center – transportation provided if there are enough Oak Park students – 708.771.6159
- Seed Montessori – after school – transportation provided – 708-613-5860
- West Cook YMCA – before & after school – transportation provided – 708.434.0231
We will update this list as we receive confirmation of continued operation.
Hephzibah
Hephzibah is a valued community partner that provides vital care and services to children and families in Oak Park. Unfortunately, due to staff shortages, Hephzibah's after-school programs at Beye, Whittier and Irving school locations will not open at the start of the school year. These closings are temporary; programs will reopen as soon as sufficient staff can be hired and trained.
Hephzibah is currently recruiting Youth Development Specialists to support their programs in District 97 schools. The job description is included below, and additional information can be found at www.hephzibahhome.org. We encourage community members to apply and share the information through their networks!
Hephzibah Youth Development Specialist
Youth Development Specialists will be responsible for planning and facilitating fun activities and games for children aged 5- 11. They will be working on a team of other Youth Development Specialists in one of the Oak Park elementary schools. The staff to child ratio is 1:10.
The position hours are: Mondays and Tuesdays, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The position begins on Wednesday, Aug. 18.
Pay for this position is based on years of full-time equivalent work with children. The pay range is $14 to $15 per hour. Additionally, there is a $250 sign-on bonus, which is distributed over the first year of employment.
School Supply Lists
SCHOOL PHYSICALS AND IMMUNIZATIONS
We are excited that District 97 is starting the 2021-2022 school year with full in-person learning. As a reminder, the State of Illinois requires the following:
- All students entering kindergarten, and any students new to District 97 must turn in a current school physical (Certificate of Child Health Examination and Immunization record) with up-to-date immunizations.
- All kindergartners and students new to the State must submit a professional eye examination (State of Illinois Eye Examination Form).
- All kindergarteners, 2nd graders, and sixth graders must submit a dental examination (Proof of Dental Examination Form).
- If your child has been diagnosed with a health condition, such as ASTHMA, FOOD ALLERGIES, DIABETES, OR SEIZURES, please provide a current EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN (completed by your child's doctor) along with the DISTRICT 97 MEDICATION AUTHORIZATION FORM. All medication forms and Action Plans must be renewed at the beginning of every school year. Forms can be found by visiting our Health Services Page.
Further information about all of the health requirements can be found here. If you have not already provided this information when you registered your child, please email your childs' records directly to our School Nurse Anne Guerrier (Nurse G) at aguerrier@op97.org.
We are so excited to welcome our new and returning Holmes Hawks!!
Free/Reduced Lunch Application
Celebrate Holmes Staff
Families, have you noticed a Holmes teacher or staff member who deserves a compliment or a thank you? Has this person made a difference for your child? Please share the reason in a brief email to me (czelaya@op97.org) so that we may recognize and thank them!
Community Hawk Nest
PTO invites you to a Welcome Back and New Family Meet-Up
Drop by for an outdoor family meet-up and connect with new Holmes families!!!
Friday, August 20th, 4-6 pm.
Holmes Playground
*Please note that due to COVID-19, we are unable to offer food or drink at this event.
Kindly help us with 100% masking and social distancing. No entry is permitted to the inside of the school.
Apollo After School Care is Back!
Apollo afterschool program is Back! They are offering different options each day of the week: Storytelling, Arts & Crafts, Science, Board games, and Apollo Olympians (fitness). See flyer for more details on signup. Sessions start the week of August 30th.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jg7OL9sk1TusPbRoX6iVli4L4KjCX0L_/view
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