Monarch News
September 3, 2021
#SomosOT
A Note from Mrs. Melamed
We hope you and your child are adjusting back to the school schedule and feel as though you are finding a “groove” in your week. As one of the buildings fortunate to have air conditioning, please remember to send your child to school with a sweatshirt for during the day since it can be chilly inside the school.
Beginning on September 9th, we will be conducting SHIELD Testing for all students whose families have opted in. Testing will be twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you have not opted in, we hope you will consider doing so moving forward, complete this form to opt in.
By testing our students, we are able to further mitigate the potential spread of Covid-19 by proactively identifying asymptomatic students. Should your child test positive, you will be notified and provided further direction from district and/or Lake County Health officials. Here is an FAQ with additional information.
Testing is conducted by Passport Health. They are also looking for parents/community members who would be able and interested in becoming a part-time team member to support the testing process in school. This would be a paid role. If you are interested, please review the job description and reach out to them at inquiry@preventivehp.com
Enjoy the long weekend. Please reach out with any questions.
Lilli
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Connecting as a Community of Learners
With classroom routines being established and classroom communities being built, teachers and students are gearing up to start learning new ways to critically think and process through information.
While this might come easy for some students, others need positive reinforcement to keep the excitement for learning up and running. Check out this article written by Bill Murphy Jr., that studied Carol Dweck’s research on the differences between a growth or fixed mindset. In summary:
Praising kids merely for their innate abilities, such as their intelligence, actually makes it less likely that they'll grow up to enjoy learning and to excel. (Fixed mindset)
Praising kids instead for the strategies and processes they develop to solve problems--even when they don't fully succeed--makes them more likely to try harder and ultimately achieve. (Growth mindset)
For example, Dweck says, “Instead of saying “Einstein was brilliant." A person with a growth mindset might observe that Einstein solved some incredibly difficult problems.”
By focusing on growth, students are more likely to be less worried about making mistakes, less likely to complain about being bored in school and more likely to find that effort aids in creating successes.
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OT Roofing Construction Update
The roofing company will be bringing the large crane on site this Saturday, September 4th to load the metal sheeting onto the roof. As a result, there will be NO access to the playground on that day. In order to keep everyone safe, we ask that everyone stay off school grounds on Saturday.
Then beginning on Wednesday, September 8th, specific doors (noted below) will be closed all week to ensure safety while the metal sheeting is being moved around the roof and installed. Students will still be able to access the playground; however, the door they enter and exit will shift.
Please remain on the blacktop of the playground to pick up your child(ren) and be mindful of the areas that are blocked off. If you see that an area is roped off, please do not enter that space.
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Vaccination Update for School Volunteers
All volunteers and visitors are required to mask at all times when inside the building. In addition to masking, Governor's Pritzker's August 26th Executive Order, requiring that all school personnel be vaccinated, applies to any volunteers in our schools (like PTO, parents and guardian) as well as district personnel. As a result, all volunteers must bring proof of their COVID-19 vaccination status when volunteering.
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Virtual Open House
Open house will be hosted virtually on September 24th. You will be able to access your child’s classroom open house video at 3 pm on the 24th through the Monarch News.
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Health Notes from Nurse Roni
Hello OT Families,
Always Follow the 3 W’s
Wear A Mask - please make sure your child's mask fits well
Wash Your Hands Frequently Throughout the Day
Watch Your Distance
Additional Information about COVID 19 will be featured in future newsletters. Continued wishes for everyone’s good health.
Nurse Roni
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After School Activities
Chess Club
The Oak Terrace Chess Club returns! The Chess Club, open to grades K-5, meets Fridays after school starting on September 17. For more information and to register, go to the PTO website Oak Terrace PTO - NSSD112, IL - Chess Club or see the flyer coming home with your child.
After School Sports Club
After School Sports are recreational activities for the students of Oak Terrace School. These include soccer, kickball, floor hockey, football, capture the flag, plus other activities and games that the students enjoy. The program starts right after school lets out, and ends at 4:20pm. This program is free of charge and a late bus will be available!
Session 1: September 20th - December 16th 2021
Session 2: January 3rd - April 13th 2022
Mondays: 3rd Grade
Wednesdays: 1st/2nd Grade
Thursdays: 4th Grade
Fridays: 5th Grade
Sign Up: Please sign up through the PTO Website -
Here is the link to register: https://www.oakterracepto.org/afterschoolsports
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Upcoming Dates/Events
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OT/PTO Partnership
Be on the lookout for spirit wear sales coming soon!
Save the date for the “Highwood Strong” evening market on Wednesday, September 22nd. The PTO will have a booth!
Friday, October 1st: Free Outdoor Movie Night
Volunteer Opportunities / Oportunidades para voluntarios
Help and support our students with the Zero Waste lunch program. Sign up here to volunteer! ALL volunteers must be vaccinated and show proof upon their first time volunteering.
Connect with the PTO!!!!
Facebook: Oak Terrace PTO
Instagram: @oaketerracepto
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Stay Connected / Mantenganse Conectados
School Hours
8:40 am - 3:17 pm
Email: lmelamed@nssd112.org
Website: nssd.org/oakterrace
Location: 240 Prairie Avenue, Highwood, IL, USA
Phone: (224) 765-3100
Twitter: @otmonarchs
Our Vision / Nuestra Visíon
All Oak Terrace students will engage in academically rigorous and relevant educational experiences in order to become bilingual, biliterate, and multicultural leaders in our diverse society.
Todos los estudiantes de Oak Terrace participarán en experiencias educativas académicamente rigurosas y relevantes para convertirse en líderes bilingües y multiculturales en nuestra sociedad diversa.