Longfellow Log
Week Ending 10/23
Important Dates/Reminders and Notes
- Friday, October 30th - Halloween festivities (Class parties in the afternoon; please reach out if your child does not celebrate Halloween so we may provide an alternate activity.) Students may not have weapons as a part of their costumes.
- November 3rd - No School - Election Day
Important about Attendance Procedures
Join us Wednesday, October 28th 7:00 - 8:00 pm - Supporting our Longfellow Bears
Longfellow Supports Parent Info Night
Wednesday 10/28/20 at 7-8 PM
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/8693367413 Meeting ID: 869 336 7413
Come learn about the different ways Longfellow Bears may receive support at school, what those supports look like (remote or not), and how students may be identified:
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Supports in a least restrictive environment framework
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IEPs
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504 Plans (allergy/health plans); Wellness Appointments during COVID
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MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) and PBIS (Positive Behavioral
Interventions and Supports)
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Informal classroom accommodations and interventions
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Related services consultation with teachers or parents
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Grade acceleration
Longfellow's 2020 Virtual Pumpkin Festival
Show off your pumpkin decorating skills and share the
spirit of the season!
POST PUMPKIN PHOTOS ON
THE PADLET HERE!
Padlet is open all month!
Letter to D97 Families about Halloween Costumes
For those of our families who celebrate Halloween, many of you are starting to discuss costumes 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, ethnic 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.
Village of Oak Park: Hours for Trick-or-Treating
Kuumba Kids
Social-Emotional Wellness Check-Ins for Students
We are continuing to provide social-emotional wellness check-ins this fall. The District 97 school psychologists and school nurses collaborated to offer access to virtual mental health wellness checks at each school. Parents may sign up children for 25-minute Telehealth sessions where they can access an open ear for their sources of stress and learn self-care and coping strategies. Students may attend up to three sessions per trimester and may then be referred for other school-based supports if needed. If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please do not use this service and instead call the Thrive 24hr Crisis Hotline at 708-383-7500. You may also refer to this local resource guide provided by the Community Mental Health Board of the Oak Park Township. How can my child access this service? The virtual sessions will occur during school hours. Use this Longfellow Wellness Sign-Up Link to book open slots. The appointment page will open within your own calendar. (If you do not have a Gmail account, you may contact aguerrier@op97.org & rneubert@op97.org). Prior to the appointment, you will receive a link for the video call or other access information. During these unusual times, we need to partner with you to ensure your child arrives at the correct video link during their scheduled time and returns to their classroom Zoom after the appointment. Please remember to coordinate with your daycare providers if applicable. We will inform your child’s teacher, so your child will be excused from class. Please book appointments by the night before the appointment (at the latest) and not on the day of the appointment.
District News Below
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Program (especially for families with students in 5th - 8th grades)
The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, and DePaul University’s Community Counseling Center have partnered to deliver a vast array of educational and therapeutic services to staff, families, and youth through the “Mindful Middle-Schoolers Program.” Below is a list of upcoming VIRTUAL talks, which will be held via Zoom. Registration via the Eventbrite links below is requested. Once you register, a link will be emailed to you four hours prior to the start of each event.
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Community Talk Flyer
- Thursday, October 29: Strategies to Support Executive Functioning and Self-Regulation https://www.eventbrite.com/e/strategies-to-support-executive-functioning-and-self-regulation-in-youth-tickets-124164006887
- Wednesday, November 4: Mindfulness-Based Strategies and Their Applications in Academic and Home Environments https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mindfulness-based-strategies-in-academic-and-home-settings-tickets-124164791233
- Thursday, November 12: Technology and Mental Health: Strategies to Promote Mindful Digital Citizenship https://www.eventbrite.com/e/technology-and-mental-health-strategies-to-promote-mindful-tech-use-tickets-124165523423
- Wednesday, November 18: Understanding Depression in Youth and Strategies for Treatment and Support https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-depression-in-youth-and-strategies-for-treatment-and-support-tickets-124167264631
- Tuesday, December 1: LGBTQ Youth: Understanding and Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-youth-understanding-and-supporting-mental-health-and-well-being-tickets-124167752089
- Wednesday, December 9: Understanding Anxiety in Youth and Strategies for Treatment and Support https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-anxiety-in-youth-and-strategies-for-treatment-and-support-tickets-124168632723
'Stamped' Family and Community Discussions
In conjunction with Brooks and Julian middle schools' fall curriculum read, the sessions will follow along with the chapters being read by students and staff. Breakout sessions will be led by students from Dominican University, who will follow a peace circle format and draw on the Stamped Educator's Guide.
Events will be held:
- Tuesday, Nov. 17 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (click here to register)
- Tuesday, Dec. 1 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (click here to register)
These sessions are made possible with the support of: District 97 staff; Oak Park and River Forest School District 200; the Oak Park Public Library; the E-Team of Oak Park; and Dominican University’s Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) group.
District 97 to Continue Providing Free Meals to All Students
Meals will be provided free of cost this fall to any District 97 student in need. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches.
Meal distributions will be held every Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.
Ms. Jefferson & Mrs. Sullivan
708-524-3060
@AmyJefferson97
708-524-7825
@MrsSullivand97
Website: www.op97.org
Location: 715 S Highland Oak Park, Il 60304
Phone: 708-524-3060