The Hawk
Holmes Elementary School - Week Ending 12/6/2019
IMPORTANT DATES/THINGS TO REMEMBER
- Report Cards Sent Home 12/6
- PTO Staff Luncheon - 12/11
- PTO Come Together - 12/11 6:00-8:00
- Friday Night at the Movies - Winter Escape - 12/13-6:00-8:00
- Winter Break - 12/23-1/3
- Classes Resume - 1/5
Report Cards come home today
We ask that families sign the report card envelope and return that to your child's teacher. You may keep the actual report card.
Friday Night at the Movies
This is a great opportunity for family fun or a chance for parents to have dinner out or get some Christmas shopping done.
Be sure to submit your forms soon!
See details below.
School Improvement Goal Progress Report
We are on our way, but still have a ways to go. Our teachers and students are working very hard and are making progress toward meeting our end of year benchmarks.
Below, please find the presentation that was shared. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. czelaya@op97.org
One Book - One Holmes - Parent Feedback
Thank you to all the students, staff, and families who participated in the One Book, One Holmes literacy initiative, Wishtree.
It was so heartwarming to receive so many emails from parents sharing how much you are enjoying the book and listening to staff readers.
We'd love your feedback. Please complete this short survey to help us determine if we should continue this initiative, and if so, to plan for future reads.
Click here to share your feedback.
HABIT #2: Begin With the End in Mind
Begin With the End in Mind means to think about how you would like something to turn out before you get started. Reading a recipe before cooking or looking at a map before leaving on a trip is beginning with the end in mind.
For young children, a good example is that of a jigsaw puzzle. Before doing a puzzle, they look at the cover of the box. They start with the end in mind.
Family Mission Statement
A family mission statement is like a constitution your family lives by that helps you all make decisions for your life. It represents the purpose and values of your family, and will allow you to shape your future according to the principles you as a family hold most dear, rather than letting other people or circumstances determine it. Mission statements take many forms. Some are long and some are short. They may take form as a saying or phrase, a picture, a poem, or even a song.
Make it personal to your family. You can get started by following these steps:
1. Discuss the following questions with your family:
- What does our family want to be known for?
- How do we treat each other?
- What unique contributions can we make?
- What big goals do we want to achieve?
- What unique talents and skills do we have?
2. Brainstorm ideas, words, and phrases to include in the mission statement. Remember, no idea is a bad idea.
3. Begin crafting your statement, but remember, it doesn’t have to be finished in one sitting. It can be a work in progress until you are all happy with the outcome.
4. Post the statement prominently in your home and encourage the entire family to consider it when making decisions or having disputes.
Here are some sample statements: We want to be the kind of family our dog already thinks we are. The mission of our family is to create a nurturing place of order, love, happiness, and relaxation, and to provide opportunities for each person to become responsibly independent and effectively interdependent, in order to achieve worthwhile purposes. No empty chairs.
Activities to do with your child:
1. Habit 2 provides a good base for activities around goal setting. As a family (or with an individual child), choose an area that needs improvement. The area of improvement, or the broad goal, becomes your end in mind. Then think of specific steps that will lead to achieving this goal.
For example, if the goal is to improve as a reader, specific steps may include reading a certain amount of time every day or working several times a week to improve oral fluency.
2. Ask your child if there is something special he or she would like to buy, then help your child plan how much money he or she will need to save and how long it will take.
Discuss ideas for earning extra money like doing additional chores and helping around the house.
3. Create a “wants” and “needs” collage with your child.
Cut out pictures of various items (toys, candy, vegetables, cleaning supplies, appliances, books, etc.) from a magazine and then ask your child to paste them under the correct column of “wants” or “needs.”
Discuss why he or she chose to put the items in the respective columns.
Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.
Anthony Brandt
Your Input is Important to Us
Background Information:
Title One Funds - Targeted Assistance vs School-wide
Holmes School receives Title 1 funds. Title 1 is additional federal funding we receive based on the percent of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch services. Depending on the percent of students who qualify for this program we can provide either targeted interventions to students who need additional support (Title 1 dollars can only be used for resources that support students identified as needing Tier 2 or Tier 3 supports) or School-wide Title 1 services (Title 1 dollars can be used for resources that benefit all students).
Last year our percent of students who qualified exceeded the threshold and we were able to use our funds for school-wide resources. Because of this, we utilized these funds to support our work with Leader in Me. The cost of the materials and resources for this program is $10,350.00 per year.
This year our percent of students who qualified has dropped below the threshold and we are no longer able to utilize these funds for school-wide resources and are again offering targeted assistance. Our overall enrollment has decreased by approximately 60 students. Because of this, we are not able to use these funds to pay for Leader in Me.
Why is this important:
Leader in Me has begun to transform our school climate and culture and we are seeing tremendous benefits. We do not want to lose this program due to funding issues.
The Ask:
Last year our PTO sought feedback from our staff and community to determine how best to utilize the approximately $20,000 PTO budget surplus. Please see the following top 3 results:
1) Purchase 7 AC's for classrooms $9000.00
2) Purchase 2 water fountains with bottle filler - $6,000.00
3) Help fund SPARK for two years $8000.00
To date, the only expenditure has been for water fountains. This is because I worked with the district to replace and repair the air conditioning units that needed attention without drawing on the budget surplus.
I am hereby requesting the $9000.00 that had been allocated for the air conditioners to help support Leader in Me and offset some of our costs.
Please complete this form and let us know if you are in agreement that funds be used to offset costs for Leader In Me.
How Will We Fund Leader In Me Moving Forward?
Our PTO and Holmes staff will be partnering to host a Spring Fun Run with all funds from this fundraiser going to support Leader In Me for the 2020/2021 school year. Our goal will be to raise $10,350.00. We will also be working to secure corporate donations and sponsorship. If you know of any corporate sponsors or businesses that would donate to support this program I would love to hear from you.
Thank you for your on-going support. We appreciate you!
Come Together: We're All in This Together! Please RSVP!
Wednesday, December 11, from 6-8 p.m. in the multipurpose room.
Join us as we launch a campaign of kindness and connection called "Come Together" at Holmes! Come out and talk to people you know. Talk to people you don’t know. Talk to people you’ve never met. We’re excited to create a space for families and teachers to enjoy a meal together, learn about yoga and mindfulness, and talk about what matters to you. In circles, everyone will have a chance to share experiences about school and the community and propose ideas for future events.
Dinner and childcare provided. Students can get help with homework.
Questions or needs for the evening, including dietary or language, email: Layla Krause at laylamalia77@gmail.com or Nicole Sumida at sumida.nicole@gmail.com.
5Essentials Survey
We need your help - Mann is still in the lead. Holmes has grown to a 9% response rate.
Did you know the 5Essentials survey results make up part of our Exemplary state designation? Please be sure to give us your feedback so we earn our points towards this designation.
Please click here to access the parent/guardian version of the survey. Please note that school-level reports will only be generated if at least 20 percent of our parents/guardians complete the survey
PBIS Update
ATTENDANCE
We are working hard to improve our attendance here at Holmes. Currently, our average is 86% of our students are in school every day. Our school goal is to improve that number to 90%. Please watch this video to be reminded of the importance of having students at school EVERY day! Remember, if your student will be absent, you need to call the office at 708-524-3100 to report the absence.
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
As a reminder, we use wind-chill temperatures to determine if we are going out to recess each day. If the wind-chill is below 10 we do not go outside but everything above 10 degrees means we will be outdoors. Please be sure that your student comes prepared to be outside in the cold temperatures every day.
As always, please reach out to Ms. Asgharzadeh with any questions or concerns that relate to behavior or attendance!
Holmes Spirit Wear Store is Open!
Click here to order!
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
All Things PTO
Race Conscious Dialogues
The Race Conscious Dialogues engages people who are white around identity, privilege, and power, then provides tools for anti-racism work. This local nonprofit has partnered with DivCo to offer school specific cohorts throughout the year, and Holmes is scheduled for the winter session (the general community cohorts will run as well). More information can be found at www.raceconsciousdialogues.org, and feel free to contact them directly with any questions.
There is room for 10 Holmes families - be sure to act quickly so you don't miss an opportunity! There are some scholarships available. Please contact Layla Krause at laylamalia77@gmail.com or Nicole Sumida at sumida.nicole@gmail.com.
Registration is now open for the Holmes Cohort, which will run the weekend of January 25th & 26th, 2020. Register Here
FUNDraising Update
We need your help in our FINAL push to reach our $25,000 goal for the 19-20 school year. We are proud to say, because of you, we have reached 76% of our goal. Your generosity helps keep our FUNDraising efforts to a minimum while increasing our commitment to FUN-raising community events.
Thank you. We truly appreciate your partnership and mutual commitment to FUN in 2020.
There are some ways you can donate right now to help us reach our goal.
1. Donate to the Holmes PTO Annual Fundraising “Direct Drive”.
2019-2020 Donation Suggestions
- Heart Level = $1,000
- Appreciation Level = $500
- Warmth Level = $250
- Kindness Level = $100
- Star Level = $40
- Any Amount = Give what makes your SMILE (If each Holmes Family gives $30 to this year’s Direct Drive, we will surpass our goal).
Ways to Donate
- Please return a check to school made out to the Holmes PTO (put Direct Drive in comments)
- Donate online at https://www.mightycause.com/story/3e623g
- Scan the QR code
2. Employer and Business Support
- Many companies have matching programs, check with your employer to see if you can double your contribution.
- If you know a local business interested in supporting the Holmes Community, please email that contact to fundraising@holmespto.org.
your holiday gift card giving needs
- Here’s how… (notes scrip NOW accepts credit card as payment) Shopwithscrip.com
- Enter Holmes PTO Enrollment Code 6BL378C861333
laylamalia77@gmail.com
Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Our annual Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon is Wednesday, Dec.11th. Please check out this link to see how you can help make it a success!
Community Happenings
Click here for details.
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