Bobcat Blog
Friday, March 11
Notes and Reminders
- March 13: Daylight Savings - Spring Forward
- March 15: Institute Day - No School for students
- March 16: SHIELD testing on Wednesday next week due to Institute Day Tuesday
- March 18: 2nd Trimester report cards emailed home
- March 28 - April 1: Spring Break
***Please label your child's belongings (lunch box, sweatshirts, etc.) There are many items in the Lost and Found so encourage your child to look for any missing things in the Commons.
Get Connected on the PTO's Konstella digital platform
Want to hear about upcoming school and Beye School PTO sponsored events? Need to contact someone in the school or a fellow Beye family? Want to volunteer your time but don’t know what activities you can sign up for? Konstella is the answer!
The Beye School PTO uses Konstella, a digital platform built for PTOs to enhance communications with families. Sign up today to access the PTO calendar, view recent announcements, events or volunteer opportunities, or to start getting weekly Beye Bytes emails.
Getting started | Tips & tricks for getting the most out of Konstella
Principal Coffee in Person next Saturday, March 19
Whirlwind is located at 513 Madison Street in Oak Park. We hope to see you next Saturday!
As we switch to Masks Recommended next Thursday, please remember...........
Our COVID-19 testing partner, SHIELD Illinois, will continue to require masks in testing areas, since collection sites are technically considered healthcare facilities. This means that students participating in weekly SHIELD testing will be required to wear masks in the collection area only. The district will have disposable masks available, however, we encourage families to make sure that their students bring their own masks on their designated testing days.
Students will also need a mask if they visit Nurse Shilpa; however, we will have masks available when they come to the office if they do not have one. (All health offices are considered health care settings and masking is still required there.)
District 97 to Continue Nut-Free Lunches
As the district eases mitigations in the coming weeks, and as we prepare for the return of hot lunch after spring break, we are mindful that schools may continue to utilize classrooms and/or modified lunch procedures. In order to maintain safe environments for all of our students, all of our schools will continue to be nut-safe. Please assist us in this endeavor by refraining from sending your child to school with nuts or nut-related products for lunch or snacks.
Please contact your child’s school nurse if you have questions about the safety of any food products that you may be considering sending to school with your child. Thank you for your support with this preventative measure!
Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) - Grades 3-5 Please Read
Each Spring, all District 97 students in Grades 3 to 8 take federally-required assessments to help us understand how they are growing academically. Since 2019, the state has utilized the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) to assess students’ knowledge and skills in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, as well as their progress toward the long-term goal of college and career readiness.
This year, the IAR will be administered to Beye students between April 5 and April 14. Specific schedules for grades 3 - 5 will be shared shortly.
Check out our “5 Things to Know About IAR” document to learn more about this year’s assessment!
Additional Resources for Families
In Case you Missed It
Social Emotional Learning - Preparing for Masks Recommended beginning March 17
Your child's homeroom teacher received mask discussion decks to share with students during their morning meetings next week.
We want to share them with you as well. Have a great weekend!
Breakfast is Back Starting Monday, March 7
Mark your Calendars - Grade Level Gatherings are Coming Back!
Announcing the next all-grade second grade meet-up!
March 19th
10AM-12PM
Stevenson Park
49 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302
Announcing the next all-grade first grade meet-up!
March 20th
10AM-12PM
Stevenson Park
49 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302
Great Family Opportunity Coming Up
Join The Lyric Opera on Sunday, April 24 at 2:00pm for The Magic Victrola, a wonderful way to introduce the young people in your life to the brilliant world of opera.
The adventure begins when Gracie and Sam are dropped off at their Grandpa’s place for summer vacation. While at first the kids are less than excited to be without their modern comforts, things get much more interesting when they discover their grandfather’s old victrola, and his prized collection of opera records suddenly come to life! With the help of the mysterious birdman, Papageno, Gracie and Sam are off on a musical adventure through some of opera’s most delightful hits.
You’ll hear selections from some of the most beloved operas including The Magic Flute, Carmen, The Elixir of Love, and more in this whimsical, original opera created for kids aged 5 to 10.
Tickets are just $5 for children and $10 for adults. It’s a perfect family outing at an incredible value!
District News
Celebrating Women's History Month in District 97
Housing Choice Voucher Program Opens March 14
- Pre-applications can be accessed and submitted through an online portal reached directly through the OPHA website (www.oakparkha.org)
- Pre-applications can be completed anytime between 8:30 a.m. on Monday, March 14 and 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 25
Information about Acceleration Opportunities in District 97
District 97 believes that all students should be challenged and supported to develop to their maximum potential. For students who demonstrate they may benefit from accelerated placement, we provide opportunities to participate in an instructional setting that is usually reserved for students who are older or in higher grades than the child. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Single subject acceleration
- Whole grade acceleration
In accordance with the Illinois Accelerated Placement Act, District 97 has continued to refine procedures to ensure equitable access to acceleration opportunities for all students. New this year: all students who are grade eligible to take the Illinois Assessment for Readiness (IAR) must participate in the assessment in order to be deemed eligible for acceleration. The IAR is a critically important measure in determining the mastery of grade level standards and must be considered by the school team along with other sources of data.
Referrals for single-subject and whole-grade acceleration will be accepted from March 1 to May 15 of each school year. The general process is outlined HERE.
Information about the District 97 Accelerated Placement Program, including definitions and timelines, can be found at http://www.op97.org/acceleration. We will send additional communication to families as we near the opening of our referral and application windows next year. This information session will provide an avenue for families to share questions as well as receive information about the acceleration process. Please find additional information in the information session flyer.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us by visiting our Let’s Talk page (bit.ly/D97LetsTalk) and clicking the button labeled “Acceleration.”
UPDATED GUIDANCE - PLEASE READ
William Beye Elementary School
Cheryl Sullivan and Sheila Carter
Co-Interim Beye Principals
Location: 230 North Cuyler Avenue, Oak Park, IL, USA
Phone: 708- 524-3070
Twitter: @MrsSullivand97