The Hawk
Holmes Elementary School - Week Ending 12/13/2019
IMPORTANT DATES/THINGS TO REMEMBER
- Winter Break - 12/23-1/3
- Classes Resume - 1/5
- 2nd Trimester Benchmark Assessments begin (MAP, BAS, Aimsweb) 1/6-1/31
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School - 1/20
Leadership in Action
Be sure to ask your child about what "Not Giving Away Their Shot" means and how they can stay true to themselves.
OAK PARK LIBRARY BOOK DONATION
Six Flags Read to Succeed
Holmes is once again participating in the Six Flags Read to Succeed program. Students can earn a ticket to Six Flags Great America by doing six hours of extra-curricular reading, and they can earn extra rewards (e.g., discounts) if they read more.
New this year, parents will be able to enter reading minutes directly online via eReading logs, so you don’t have to collect paper forms. We’re distributing reading logs with instructions later this week - parents can submit reading minutes anytime from now until April 1, 2020 and Six Flags tickets will be distributed in May. This is a great incentive to do some fun reading over winter break, so please encourage your students to meet their goals if they’re bored at home during the break!
The reading logs all have a registration code that is unique to each homeroom teacher. Watch for information from your classroom teacher.
For families without ready access to the internet, students can turn in the paper form and we will submit for them.
If you have any questions, please email Seth at srweber@gmail.com
Communication and Community and Engagement Plan for FY20
"In District 97, we aim to provide a learning environment that is equitable and inclusive of ALL children. To do so, we need your continued partnership by supporting schools and students, monitoring your own child’s progress and giving us feedback along the way.
Before you and your child(ren) begin the season of rest, rejuvenation and precious time with friends and family, please take a moment to complete THIS SURVEY. Your responses will assist us in further improvements as we prepare for the remainder of the school year.
The survey will close on Dec. 27, 2019, at 5 p.m. Thank you in advance for your response, and for your continued support of our schools and the students we serve."
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 heartwarming to receive so many emails from parents sharing how much they enjoyed 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.
Junior Achievement (JA) in a Day
Our school has an opportunity to participate in a unique educational enhancement program. Junior Achievement of Chicago is partnering with our school for the second year to introduce financial literacy to our students starting in Kindergarten. Junior Achievement delivers relevant, hands-on experiences that empower students to make a connection between what they learn in school and how it can be applied in the real world.
The event will take place on a school half-day, January 31st, 8-11 a.m. We are looking for parent volunteers who are interested in serving in their child’s classroom. The lessons are laid out in an easy to follow format and the kits include fun, engaging activities for the students to participate while they learn. Additionally, the curriculum aligns with the State of Illinois learning standards, so many of the skills are an enhancement to what the students have or will be learning in class.
Charlisa Pugh, our JA liaison is taking volunteers on a first come first serve basis. So if the date and time commitment works for you, please email her at cpugh@jachicago.org or call 708-456-1400 ext. 255 ASAP so she can slide you into the slot for your child’s class. There will be a brief training closer to the day of the event. Please contact Charlisa Pugh if you have any questions or concerns.
5Essentials Survey
We need your help - Mann is still in the lead. Holmes has grown to a 10% 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
November 20 Community Meeting Notes
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
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