Whittier Wildcat Word!
Friday, September 30, 2022
A Message from Principal Robinson
Greetings, Whittier Wildcats,
We had another fantastic week of school. As we enter October, teachers are starting to prepare for Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 27, 2022. We are encouraging all families to sign up for conference time to have the opportunity to learn how your scholar(s) is doing and hear how teachers are supporting their academic and social-emotional growth. Our goal is to have 100% family participation. Teachers are willing to work with families who might need to meet on a different night due to other circumstances.
We are excited to continue celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month as a school next week. We will have a school-wide assembly on Friday with a special guest, a Spanish Storyteller from Colombia. Last year, she joined us via zoom, so we are excited to have her join us in person to hear about her adventures and learn about her culture.
Additionally, we would like to highlight our school's Hispanic/Latinx heritage throughout the school. We ask families to share photos, artifacts, and other items to display. If you would like to share things to celebrate your Hispanic/Latinx heritage, please email Mrs. Aguirre by Sept. 30th at laguirre@op97.org with the following. More information is provided below.
Don't hesitate to contact us (708-524-3080) if you have any questions. If you need to schedule a meeting with Mrs. McComb-Williams or me, please contact Ms. McGee (amcgee@op97.org) or Mrs. Alexander (ljohnson1@op97.org) at 708-524-3080 to schedule an appointment.
I hope you and our Scholars have a fantastic weekend.
Sincerely,
Patrick CL Robinson
Whittier School Principal
Whittier School - Where I Belong!
WHITTIER WILDCAT WORD STAFF SPOTLIGHT
One of our goals this year is to strengthen the relationship between home and school. In particular, findings ways for the Whittier community to know the staff at Whittier. Therefore, each week, we will randomly pick a staff member from an envelope to spotlight.
ANNIE DARLEY: 4TH GRADE TEACHER
Hello! My Name is Annie Darley.
I am one of the 4th grade co-teachers and this is my 27th year at Whittier! In that time I've taught 5th & 6th grades, 4/5th Multiage, and now 4th grade for a bunch of years.
My favorite colors these days are the fall reds and greens.
What I like most about Whittier is that it has a pretty positive, relaxed vibe for all the craziness in our teaching lives.
If I had a SuperPower it would be to time travel back to different parts of my life for just a few hours each time.
If I was an animal I would be my dog Archie or maybe a horse.
What advice would you give the scholars of Whittier? Get off your screens and spend a lot of time outdoors.
Upcoming Dates
September 2022:
Sep 26th
- No School - Rosh Hashanah
October 2022
Oct 5th
Oct 10th
- No School - Indigenous People day
Oct 12th
Oct 21st
October 24th - 28th
Let's Celebrate Hispanic/Latinx Heritage at Whittier!!!
This year, I would like to highlight our school's Hispanic/Latinx heritage on one of the school's bulletin boards or on the display case in front of the school. Therefore, if your child/children have Hispanic/Latinx heritage, please email me by Sept. 30th at
laguirre@op97.org with the following:
1- Share which country your child/children's heritage is from.
2- Write something from their heritage they would like to highlight.
3- Email me a picture & names of your child and other family members. Please include who is your child/children's homeroom teacher(s).
At school, we will celebrate our annual Hispanic/Latinx Heritage week in October. Details coming soon!
Muchas gracias,
Sra. Aguirre
laguirre@op97.org
SECOND STEP: SEL CURRICULUM SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH!
This week our students were taught lesson 5 of Second Step in their classrooms. Our Kindergartners and 1st graders learned how to use an assertive voice (and not a passive voice or an aggressive voice) to get their needs met. This looks like making eye contact, using a “level 2 voice” and calmly stating what you need. Our 2nd and 3rd graders learned about identifying feelings, which is an important foundation for having empathy for others. Our 4th graders worked on understanding complex feelings, which is important for self-awareness and also important for understanding others. And finally, our 5th graders practiced taking other’s perspectives which is so important to understanding the thoughts, needs, and feelings of others. Not every grade will have a home link each week!
Kindergarten- Being Assertive
First Grade- Being Assertive
Second Grade- Identifying Feelings
Third Grade- Identifying Feelings
Fourth Grade- Understanding Complex Feelings
Fifth Grade- Taking Others’ Perspectives (no home link)
WHITTIER ADVOCACY FUND- FAMILY SUPPORT SURVEY
At Whittier, we want to support each student as best we can during these challenging times. Our PTO received financial funds from an anonymous donor that we can use to support our students and families in need.
If your scholar(s) is in need of school supplies or Whittier Wear, please take a few minutes to help us better understand how we can support your family's current needs by filling out the google form below. Someone from our school will be in touch with you within the week. Please fill this out for EACH child in your family. Thank you in advance.
https://forms.gle/zZx4YwLk3ejxQ31W9
Please note - ALL these responses will be kept confidential and can only be accessed by school social workers, the assistant principal, and the principal.
Fun Run
Whittier PTO's annual Fun Run Fundraiser went Live September 12! Join us in our annual fundraiser with a variety of prizes(We need a Prize Sourcing Volunteers!) and on October 12th the kids run, take on the obstacle course with music and fun. Learn More and register today!
Grade Level PlayDates Are Here!
New this year, each Sunday through October the PTO Liaisons will be hosting a meetup at Field Park. More details to come:
September 18th - Kindergarten
September 25th - 1st Grade
October 2nd - 2nd Grade
October 9th - 3rd Grade
October 16th - 4th Grade
October 30th - 5th Grade
WISE Registration is still open!
WISE Registration is still open!
Jewelry Making, Yoga and more still have open slots. Review the courses here and register here.
SMART Math Tutoring
Looking for extra math practice or enrichment? SMART will be offering a 6-week fall program to give current 2nd through 5th graders an extra boost in math, in the early evenings starting the week of October 10th. New this year based on feedback from parents and teachers: SMART will have both “regular” and “advanced” math classes this fall. The “regular” classes will practice and reinforce grade-level material and the advanced classes will go beyond grade-level material. Sessions will be taught by D97 teachers over Zoom. For more information and to register by Friday, September 23, visit www.smart-oakpark.org.
Team Owen’s Virtual 5K October 1
Horace Mann Elementary student Owen Petrzelka lost his DIPG battle in October 2020. Since
2020, his family has organized a virtual run in conjunction with the ChadTough Foundation to
raise funds for DIPG and childhood brain cancer research. This year’s 3rd annual virtual run is
scheduled for Saturday, October 1. Participants may run/walk/bike/swim-you name it!
We want to make this day a big community event that lives up to one of Owen’s mottos of
“making someone happy is our job”. To that end, Owen’s parents, Amanda and Adam, have
plans to turn their street into a community fun zone the day of the event where community
members, whether they are running or not, can stop by throughout the day for some fun kids
activities (free), food, and live music.
team: https://www.teamowen.org/Race/92431/Donate/z5MoZKIuCl5NpO2R
Mindful Middle-Schoolers and Mindfulness Matters" Community Talks - Spring 2023
DePaul University, in partnership with the Oak Park Township Community Mental Health Board and District 97, is offering a series of free community talks to the District 97 community as part of the Mindful Middle Schoolers and Mindfulness Matters Program. The next community talk, "Mindfulness-Based Strategies and Their Applications at Home and School," will be held on October 19 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The session will focused on how mindfulness practices can be helpful in supporting youths' academic and emotional functioning at school and at home. Please go to this
link to register.
D97 Family University on Student Assessments
D97 to Host 'Family University' Session on Student Assessments - Tuesday, Oct. 18Join us to learn about student assessments in District 97!
The district will host a virtual Family University session from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Families will receive a Zoom link once they register.
The session will help parents learn about the student assessments given across District 97 schools, how the results are used to support teaching and learning, and how you can use the information to understand your child's progress and next steps. Please use this form to register and submit any questions you have to our team ahead of time; we will address the most common questions submitted.
Please note that the session will be recorded and shared on the District 97 website for future viewing. We look forward to seeing you there!
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and our teachers, staff and community have begun to celebrate and pay tribute to the contributions and history of Hispanic Americans. We'd love to hear how you are honoring the unique achievements, contributions and histories of Hispanic Americans this month!
Tweet us (@OakPark97, using the hashtags #MyD97 and #D97Joy) to share stories and photos or email us at d97feedback@op97.org. Looking for ideas of how to celebrate with your family?
Learn about Latinx culture at the first annual
Convivencia: Hispanic Heritage Month Festival, Saturday, Sept. 17, 12-4 p.m., Taylor Park, 400 Division St., Oak Park. This free event
is
hosted by the Oak Park Regional Housing Center in partnership with the Oak Park Public Library, Park District of Oak Park and the Village of Oak Park. Enjoy Latin American foods, live music in Spanish, cultural dance, face painting, loteria, a resource fair, and more. Visit
oprhc.org/convivencia/ to learn more.
District 97 Halloween Letter 2022
Dear District 97 Families,
For those of our families who celebrate Halloween, many of you are starting to discuss costume choices with your child. Although students are not required to wear costumes, we recognize that they are a fun and creative part of our schools' Halloween activities.
Our goal is to create a positive learning environment where all students, staff and families feel a sense of belonging. In that spirit, we ask that you take care to ensure that your child’s costume choice does not portray a stereotypical image of any group of people or culture, or be offensive to any one racial, ethinic or religious group. We appreciate you being proactive with your child in making thoughtful costume choices.
To support you in your conversation with your child and to build your understanding around this topic, we have compiled links to resources that you may find helpful:
Thank you for your continued support of our students and schools.
Oak Park Elementary School District 97
School Lunches - Milk Only Charge
As a reminder, if your student takes milk only during lunch, there is a cost of $.45 per carton, regardless of your family's school meal eligibility status. If you have not already done so, please add funds into your student’s meal account to accommodate the milk only charge. If your student takes the full school meal, milk is included. Thank you!
School Fees
The district is currently accepting fee payments for the 2022-23 school year. Full payment is due by September 30, 2022. You can access the fee information by visiting
https://www.op97.org/business-office/fees.
IGOV
The Intergovernmental Committee of Oak Park (IGOV) is hosting an informational workshop called "Plug into the Climate Action Going On in Oak Park" in the cafeteria of
Oak Park and River Forest High School, 201 Scoville Ave, on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome!
Learn about green transportation, lowering energy bills, planting native gardens and more.
Click for more details >> https://bit.ly/3DnGM1u. Imagine OPRF Project 1 Tours and IGOV Meeting
Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 is hosting another round of Imagine OPRF Project 1 tours on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The tours will follow the iGOV meeting which will take place that same morning at the high school. Similar to our Open House last May, the tours will be self-guided, and visitors can see the new Student Resource Center, new classrooms, and the revamped South Cafeteria, Student Commons, and Welcome Center.
Click here to view the event flyer >> Strengthening Families Program
The Strengthening Families Program is a free, evidence-based prevention program for families with children ages 7 to 17. The 12-week program will teach effective parenting skills, healthy communication, stress management skills, conflict resolution and more. The program will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Tuesday from Oct. 4, 2022, through Dec. 13, 2022.
Click here to view the program flyer >> Places and Faces Event: People You Should Know to Help Our Community Grow
The OPRF Office of Equity and Student Success is pleased to invite you to
"Places and Faces: People You Should Know to Help our Community Grow" at Oak Park and River Forest High School on Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Meet teachers, administrators, support staff, and student leaders of color. Learn more about activities and resources for students. Take a student-led tour of recent facility updates and more! Light refreshments will be served. If special accommodations are needed, please contact
tgarland@oprfhs.org by Sept. 20.
(The event is geared toward parents, but anyone in the community may attend.) Click here to view the event flyer >> Community Voices Report
Families, students and neighbors are invited to
Community Voices, a series of free, public events driven
by and
for the community to pursue lasting change. The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation will be sharing our community needs assessment, which reveals the most pressing needs in our area, what the data tells us, and how the power of our community will guide our future to a racially just society.
- Saturday, Sept. 17, 9-11 a.m. @ Proviso East High School
- Saturday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. @ Oak Park Public Library Main Branch
- Tuesday, Sept. 27, 6-8 p.m. online
More information is at
https://www.oprfcf.org/community-voices.
NEW Combined Student and Family Handbook for 2022-23
This year, the district worked to merge the Effective Student Behavior Handbook and Family Handbook into one comprehensive resource, the Student-Family Handbook, in order to streamline information for families and staff. The new handbook contains important information regarding school policies, procedures, student rights and responsibilities, and important notifications required by state and federal law.
The purpose of this handbook is to outline the expectations for building an educational community where everyone feels safe, included and able to learn. Having shared expectations, procedures and policies helps us respect all members of the school community in which we learn and work every day. Please take the time to read through the handbook and review it with your child.
Technology Update
Please visit
https://bit.ly/3pxoN0I for information from the district’s technology department about the deployment of student devices, online filtering at home, the district’s acceptable use policy, and the procedures and protocols that are used to set up accounts for students.
*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) 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.
As always, thank you for your continued collaboration and support. Enjoy your weekend!
John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary
