Oak Grove News

Message From the Superintendent

Welcome back! We've had a smooth return to the school year so far, with our new arrival and dismissal procedures working exceedingly well. Our parking lot clears in the afternoon faster than pre-pandemic years. With that said, we encourage our families to use O'Plaine Road and our parking lot for picking up your child(ren). This will relieve the traffic and safety concerns behind our school on Lexington Road. We continue to talk with our bus company routinely to address our late buses. Durham is challenged again this year with a significant loss in staff -- down approximately 15 drivers across school districts. Please know, we are in frequent conversation with Durham to address this and greatly appreciate the patience our community has shown over the last year.

I'd like to also bring your attention to some new communication structures we are rolling out this year with our families. In next week's OG News we will share opportunities for you to join me and Leslie Weber (Asst. Superintendent for Teaching and Learning) for Talk Tuesdays (curriculum topics) and Superintendent Coffee Chats (topics of interest to our community). We hope you are able to attend one of the opportunities through the year. Please keep an eye for more information next week.

It's great to have the OGS family back this year!

Allison Sherman, Superintendent

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From the Principal's Desk

The home-school partnership is a relationship I highly value. This week’s Curriculum Nights offer the first of many opportunities we hope to provide this year that offer parents and guardians the chance to visit Oak Grove School and learn about the staff who nurture students in their learning environments. Over the course of the next several months, the building staff, district administration, and I plan to offer listening and learning sessions, parent universities, and classroom celebrations that bring us together to highlight the collective achievements of our community.

We look forward to seeing you during the Curriculum Nights hosted this week (TWO sessions each evening - one from 6 - 6:25 PM, and the second from 6:35 - 7 PM):

• Tues, Aug 23:
  • Kindergarten: Elem. Library
  • 1st Grade: Elem. Cafe
  • 2nd Grade: Individual Classrooms
• Wed, Aug 24:
  • 3rd Grade: Individual Classrooms
  • 4th Grade: Individual Classrooms (rotating)
  • 5th Grade: Jr. High Library
• Thur, Aug 25:
  • 6th Grade: Jr. High Library
  • 7th Grade: Jr. High Gym
  • 8th Grade: Jr. High Cafe

OGS Welcomes New Staff
Please join us in welcoming the following new staff members:

• Mrs. Bronwen Mosquera - TAG and Enrichment Specialist
• Ms. Chloe Kotiw - 7th Grade ELA
• Mrs. Allie Wilgus - Social Worker
• Mrs. Michelle Bereczky - 8th Grade ELA
• Mrs. Jennifer Summers - 5th Grade ELA
• Mrs. Lindsay Krieschen - School Psychologist
• Mrs. Melissa Sheldon - 5th Grade Science

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Curriculum Corner

Fall Benchmark Testing
All students in grades K-8 will take the Aimsweb reading test and students in grades K-5 will take the Aimsweb math test beginning this week. Students in grades K-8 will take the fall iReady diagnostic test for reading and math beginning the week of September 6. Both of these assessments aid in gaining insight in a child’s strengths and areas of growth in reading and math. iReady test results will be shared with families through email on Friday, September 23rd.

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PE Uniforms
Students in grades 6-8 are expected to wear a PE uniform during PE class. Parents were able to choose quantity and sizes during the registration process. If you did NOT order a PE uniform diring registration, and you would like to do so after the fact, you can place an order in our RevTrak webstore. CLICK HERE to go to the student fees section of our RevTrak store, and you will see PE shirts and PE shorts listed on the left. Each item is $9. Once you've completed the order, the business office will be notified and your child will be issued the uniform during class. Thank you!

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Girls Volleyball Tryouts
Tryouts will take place in the Pat Patt gym on Monday (8/22) and Tuesday (8/23) from 3:30 - 5:00. Please be sure to have a current physical on file with our nursing staff, registration payment, and permission slip. Detailed information can be found in the Oak Grove Athletic Handbook.

Cross Country
Informational meeting 8/24 3:30 - 4:00 JH gym
Practice starts on 8/30 3:30 - 4:15 JH playground
Sign-up closes 8/31

Please be sure to have a current physical on file with our nursing staff, registration payment, and permission slip. Detailed information can be found in the Oak Grove Athletic Handbook.

If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Cummins and/or Zoe Bourdon.

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Soaring Eagles!
We are thrilled to introduce our first social emotional learning (SEL) theme of the month: Communication. During the week of 8/29, students will focus on communication in various ways. Mrs. Kiefer will begin SEL instruction in all K-5 classrooms pushing in for 30 minutes weekly. Visit the Oak Grove Website and the SEL website for more information. Join us in kicking off this year with a spirit week! See the flyer for details about each day’s focus.

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Important Dates

• 8/30: Cross-Country Practice 3:30-4:15 PM
• 9/1: Picture Day
• 9/5: Labor Day - No School
• 9/7: 7th/8th Girls Volleyball at Highland 4:15-6:15 PM, PTO Mtg @ 6:30pm
• 9/12: Bus Safety Drills AM, 7th/8th Girls Volleyball at Deerpath 4:15-6:15 PM, DEI Mtg 5:30-7 PM
• 9/13: 7th/8th Girls Volleyball 4:15-6:15 PM, Cross-Country at Butterfield 4:30-5:30 PM
• 9/15: First Day of Hispanic Heritage Month, SIP Early Release 11:30 AM

PTO News

K-4 Room Parents & 5-8 Grade Level Coordinators
If you are interested in volunteering with the PTO as a room parent (K-4) or Grade Level Coordinator (5-8), please see the fliers in the Virtual Backpack!
K-4 signup link
5-8 signup link

Lunch Volunteers Needed!
Last week the wrong links to sign up for lunch volunteering were inadvertently shared! We are looking for volunteers to help distribute Marla’s lunches in both the elementary and Jr. High lunchrooms each day. Dates to volunteer are currently open through Winter Break - please sign up!
Elementary signup link
Jr. High signup link

PTO Crew Shirts
The annual Spiritwear sale for students, staff, and families will be starting soon, but if you volunteer at PTO events and would like a “PTO Crew” shirt, now is the time to order! These shirts are sold at cost and are not a PTO fundraiser. Order through 8/25 - follow this link to order!

Boohoo…Yahoo…Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who stopped by Old School Forest preserve on the 1st Day of school to celebrate the first day of school with the PTO! Special thanks to Lynsey Wolfe for organizing such a fun celebration!

1st PTO Meeting - Save-The-Date
The first PTO meeting of the year will be Wednesday, September 7th at 6:30 p.m. All PTO meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month unless that date conflicts with a school holiday.

Virtual Backpack

Please click HERE to view the flyers in our virtual backpack. Flyers are updated weekly, so please check back often so you won't miss any of the events going on in our community.

 

 

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