Oak Grove News

Superintendent Update
Dear Families,
Please save the date for my next Supt Talk on February 16, at 8:30 am. Bring any topics you would like to discuss and RSVP with your interest in attending to Jennifer McBride. Coffee and donuts will be served! And as always, if you have any more immediate questions or concerns, please reach out to me directly. I am happy to have a conversation via phone or through email, and also in-person. 

A Message From Mr. Murray
Brenna Biggs, from NASA, came to Oak Grove (virtually) to present to some of our 7th grade students. Brenna explained that NASA is currently in the third year of a campaign that is studying the development of storms in the eastern part of the US. Brenna was able to share some of the details of this campaign and the students were able to ask questions at the end of the presentation.   
Here are some additional resources that that Brenna provided for our students:
Airplane tracker (you can see all NASA planes including the ER-2 and P-3): NASA Airborne Science Program Tracker
Internship opportunities for students starting at 16 y/o: intern.nasa.gov
IMPACTS websites to follow daily updates: https://espo.nasa.gov/impacts/content/IMPACTS and IMPACTS_2023 Field Catalog | NCAR EOL (ucar.edu)

Author presentation 
Ellen Krohne, author of The Secret of a Mommy’s Love, talked to our 4th grade students on Friday, January 27th. Ellen told us how she gets her ideas for her books, showed us the folder where she keeps all her ideas, and took us through her journey of her writing process. In addition, Ellen explained that she hires one editor to look at the content of the book, one to look at grammar and conventions, and explained how she gets her books published. Finally, Ellen told the student that she donates her proceeds to charity. It was a wonderful experience for our 4th graders and we truly appreciate Ellen’s time. 

Soaring Eagles! Assemblies
We’re excited to celebrate an amazing second trimester with our fantastic Oak Grove Soaring Eagles! These assemblies are to recognize our blue ticket winners, academic achievements, athletes, musicians, clubs, and more!

SEL at Oak Grove
This month the students and teachers focused on ways to get to our upstairs brain! The upstairs brain is where we think, reason, problem solve and plan. When we are upset, under stress, or overly excited, the downstairs brain takes control. The staircase crumbles. You might try having a conversation with your child or yell at your child hoping their behavior will change but when they are not regulated the only thing they hear is their own reactions/conversations in their head. The downstairs brain is on alert saying things like, “Is everyone talking about me, they don’t understand, I am not going to listen.” They truly aren’t able to repair a situation at that moment because they are not regulated.  Click here to read more about this.
Pictured below: 
Students in grades 3-5 practiced regulating their emotions using the Emwave 2, purchased by our amazing Oak Grove School Education Foundation! 

Mental Health Minute
The theme for February is Mindset. In school, we talk about having a Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset.  Having a Growth Mindset means that you thrive on challenge, and don’t see failure as a way to describe yourself but as a springboard for growth and developing your abilities. If you’re interested in more information, please click HERE.  

Preschool Screening
Preschool screening will be held at Oak Grove on Wednesday, February 15th from 12:30 - 3:30. The screening is for three and four year olds who will NOT be entering kindergarten in the fall. The screening will examine a child's proficiency in speech/language and motor development, as well as assess pre-academic skills. Parents with questions or concerns about their child's development may schedule an appointment by contacting Julie Waehner.

Important Dates
JANUARY
1/30:  SEL Spirit Week begins Wear GREEN for the Zones of Regulation
1/30:  3rd Grade Art Club Rm 500
1/30: 8th grade musical rehearsals 3:30 - 5:30
1/31: Boys Volleyball vs Lake Bluff
1/31: Junior High Book Fair; OGSEF hosts Simply Bee - Building Resilient Kids from 6:30-7:30 PM (register here),  SEL Spirit Week - Wear RED, K-2 Yoga, JH Choir, 7&8 Math Counts, 5-8 Board Game Club

FEBRUARY
2/1: JH Book Fair, SEL Spirit Day - Wear YELLOW, PTO Mtg @ 9:30am, 8th Grade Musical Rehearsals, 4th Grade Art      Club, Chess Club, iCook Class
2/2:  JH Book Fair last day, SEL Spirit Day- Wear BLUE, Boys Volleyball vs Edgewood, 4th-5th Grade Choir, Wrestling @ Crusco, Boys Volleyball vs. Edgewood
2/3:  SEL Spirit Day- OGS Wear, 8th Grade musical rehearsals
2/4:  Girl and Guest Dance  6:30-8:30, JH Gym
2/6:  Battle of the Books Begins, 8th Grade Musical Rehearsals, Boys Volleyball vs. Neal, 2nd Grade Art Club, 
2/7:  Battle of the Books, Wrestling @ Woodlawn, Boys Volleyball vs Sandburg, JH Choir, 7-8 Math Counts, 5-8 Board Games Club, 
2/7:  Talk Tuesday w/Biz Lindsay 6-8
2/8:  Battle of the Books,  Boys Volleyball @ Millburn, 5th Grade Art Club, Chess Club, iCook Class
2/9:  Battle of the Books, Wrestling Classic @ LHS, 8th Grade Musical Rehearsals, Restorative Practices Mtg 3:30

Talk Tuesday
Talk Tuesday will be on Tuesday, February 7th from 6:00-8:00pm in the Junior High Cafeteria. Please join us in working with Biz Lindsay-Ryan, an expert consultant on diversity, equity and inclusion. Biz has presented to our staff earlier this year and will again in March. This session will ground parents’ experiences in research and begin a productive dialogue giving tools to parents that will benefit the entire family. We will be providing childcare services as well. Please RSVP for this event using this link. 

Winter Placement Appeal Requests 
Parents/guardians of students in grades 4-8 can request an additional review of student placement for consideration into Oak Grove’s talented and gifted (TAG) program for the 2022-23 school year. Families can appeal placement for a child in ELA and/or Math once per calendar year which is reviewed by the Advisory Council. This process is discussed on pages 11 and 12 of the TAG Handbook. To initiate an appeal, please complete the Parent Feedback form and email to Leslie Weber and Alexa Dunn by Monday, February 6th. In completion of the form, please do not reference your child by name when providing examples and explanations. All student information is to remain anonymous when reviewed by the Advisory Council. Parents will be notified via email regarding the testing process and a final decision about placement made by the Advisory Council. If necessary, changes in placement will go into effect for the start of the third trimester. An opportunity to explore placement into TAG for the start of the next school year should be filed during the spring.

Free to Be 
In an effort to provide more opportunities for students to share openly and educate one another about their similarities and differences, faculty members are launching a diversity, equity, and inclusion club for students that we are calling Free to Be. 

All students in grades six through eight that desire a place to share and support one another and their differences are welcome to attend. This may include gender, sexuality, religion, culture, bullying, family structure and any other dynamic that makes our students feel unique. We will begin to offer Free to Be every other week during the middle school lunch periods. This safe space will be supervised by Oak Grove faculty members who are passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion. 

The mission of the Free to Be club at Oak Grove is to foster diversity among our student body by promoting inclusiveness, awareness, and acceptance. The focus is to celebrate all differences by creating opportunities that are welcoming and engaging for all.  No child should feel uncomfortable being themselves, and all children should have the opportunity to celebrate what makes them who they are. Students will be able to choose to join this group on their own during the school day. If you do NOT want your child to participate in this opportunity or have concerns, please reach out to Susie Kiefer. Please see this link for more information.

PTO News
PTO Meeting This Wednesday
The PTO will meet this Wednesday, February 1 at 9:30am in the PD Room and on Zoom. The agenda for the meeting is available HERE and the minutes from January 11th are available HERE. A meeting reminder with links and Zoom info will be shared by email.

Junior High Book Fair This Week
The Junior High book fair begins on Jan 31 through Feb 2. All students in grades 5-8 will attend with their ELA classes. Click HERE for the schedule, and ask your student when they have ELA. Cash, credit, & ApplePay will be accepted. There are still volunteer spots open so please click HERE to volunteer.  If  you have questions, please contact Melissa Sallmann or Lynsey Wolfe.

Winter Spirit Wear Sale
Oak Grove PTO is teaming up with Complete Image Apparel this winter to offer a variety of new Spiritwear options for students, parents, and teachers! Show your Eagle Spirit, and order today HERE. Orders are due February 5 and will be delivered to the PTO by February 27. Contact Courtney Johnston if you have any questions.

Girl & Guest Dance Volunteers Needed
We are in need of volunteers to help make the Girl & Guest dance a success. There are volunteer shifts available on Friday evening to help with set-up and on Saturday to help during the event and to clean up after. Thank you in advance for helping with a shift if you are able: Sign up HERE. If you have any questions about Girl & Guest, please contact Ambika Mayer or Heather Bildsten.

Grade Level Socials
Dates have been set for the K-1 and 2-3 Grade Level Socials! K-1 will take place on February 10 and Grades 2-3 will be on February 23rd. Parents of students in those grades either have or will receive an email with sign-up details directly. Be on the lookout! Information regarding socials for the remaining grades will come out in the near future.

St. Joseph’s Food Pantry Drive
Throughout February the PTO will be hosting a food drive for St. Joe’s Food Pantry. On a weekly basis, the St. Joe’s Food Pantry estimates that they feed approximately 1,000 Lake County residents! Drop-off boxes will be placed within the school to accept donations. See the flier in the Virtual Backpack for more information. The following are the most needed items: cereal, ramen, pasta, apple juice, flour, sugar, shampoo, conditioner, paper towels, rice, pasta sauce, soup, canned veggies, toilet paper, crackers. Please contact Brooke Schamber at 847-772-3055 with any questions. If you’d like to make a financial donation to St. Joseph’s Food Pantry, click HERE.

Save the Date: Son + One Night on March 11th
The Son + One event is back! On March 11th from 6pm - 8pm, the PTO will host a private Glow Bowl night at Bowlero in Vernon Hills. Local business owners: the PTO is looking for lane sponsorships. Please contact Kate Robinson, Amy Peterson, Beth Koopman, or Joni Kane if you are interested in helping sponsor the event.

The Variety Show Needs Volunteers!
The Variety Show committee needs you! Our committee cannot run on just a few people and our current co-chairs need to pass the baton next year. If you love the Variety Show and want to see it continue, please consider volunteering to help run the show this year. Email Christine Merrild and Ashley Wilson if you are interested in volunteering.

Due to the JH book Fair, the JH library will be closed for AM Hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week.

Please join us!
OG Student Council is hosting a Family Fun Day on February 18th!
*Varying times for different ages - see the flyer for details*
We are also  in need of adult volunteers for shifts for the event (high school students welcome to volunteer). Please click the link and fill out the form!
For more information, click here to view the flyer in the virtual backpack.

Attention Parents:  The 8th graders need your help!  Do you or someone you know have a career that they are passionate about? If so, please consider signing up to speak at the 8th grade career day.  Please see the flyer in the virtual backpack for more information.

Band News
All Bands: Wednesday, February 15 is our Winter Concert. This performance features all current bands at Oak Grove School (Beginning, Concert, Symphonic and Jazz). We could use a couple of volunteers to help monitor students who are not performing through the evening. If you are interested, please contact Mr. Frankowski (frankowski@ogschool.org) for details.

Symphonic/Concert Bands: Is your student interested in playing a solo or be a part of an ensemble? You’re in luck! Open to all current Concert and Symphonic Band members is the Oak Grove/Rondout Annual Solo/Ensemble Festival hosted here at Oak Grove. This optional event takes place Saturday, March 11 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Participating students commitment is roughly 30-60 minutes maximum. Registration closes on Wednesday, February 1 at 10 p.m. Contact Mr. Jones (jones@ogschool.org) or Mr. Frankowski (frankowski@ogschool.org) if you need an information packet.

Has it been a while since your student’s instrument has been taken into the shop for some light maintenance and a thorough cleaning? Students renting through Music & Arts should take advantage of this service as part of your rental. Please contact Mr. Frankowski if interested in scheduling or for more information.

Symphonic Band only: High School band auditions for placement are happening Saturday, March 18 by appointment over at Libertyville High School. Please contact Mr. Jones if you have questions and for details.

Beginning Band: Students should be currently working on pages 9-10 in their book. Students should practice outside of school 10-15 minutes as close to every day as possible to help reinforce the concepts we work through during rehearsal and in-school lessons. The online version of the book helps make practicing fun! Contact a director with questions or details to help support your beginning musician at home.