Oak Grove News

Message from the Principal

Event: Promoting Positive Student Behavior
OGS administration would like to invite all OGS families to a conversation to promote positive student behavior on October 24 at 6:00 pm in the Jr. High Cafeteria. Mr. Murray and Mr. O'Malley will be sharing updates regarding OGS behavior practices and how families can support these practices to help students achieve maximum learning. Please reach out to Mr. Murray at murray@ogschool.org or Mr. O'Malley at omalley@ogschool.org with any questions or concerns.

Halloween
For information regarding Halloween events on October 31, please click HERE. 

Erin’s Law - Grades K - 5
Our students in kindergarten through fifth grade will be receiving instruction beginning on the week of October 23 regarding Erin’s Law. For those of you that may not be familiar with Erin’s Law, the law requires all public schools in Illinois to implement a prevention child sexual abuse program which teaches:

• Students in grades pre-K through 8th grade age-appropriate techniques to recognize child sexual abuse and how to tell a trusted adult
• All school personnel about child sexual abuse
• All families about the warning signs of child sexual abuse, information to support sexually abused children, and where to find support

The youngest child in your family will be bringing home a book called, Think First & Stay Safe Parent Guide.  You should receive the guide by Friday, October 13, 2023. If you do not receive a booklet or need an additional booklet, please contact Susie Kiefer, SEL teacher, at skiefer@ogschool.org. 

Please view the Oak Grove implementation infographic for a snapshot of the topics covered. If you are interested in more information, follow the links to Child Lures and Safe At Last. If you have any questions about how Erin’s Law is being implemented or do not want your child(ren) to participate, please contact Joe O’Malley at omalley@ogschool.org. Thank you for your support in addressing this sensitive topic with your child(ren).

Soaring Eagles!
Soaring Eagles! is a school-wide program to develop the whole child, promote positive behavior, and recognize the success of our students! The Soaring Eagles! program allows students to earn blue tickets for positive behavior, coordinates monthly spirit weeks, and hosts assemblies throughout the year. 

As we look to continue to expand our Soaring Eagles! program, we’ve collaborated with the Oak Grove Student Council to add a School Store during lunch for the junior high students to spend their earned tickets. Alongside small prizes, various food items are also included in the School Store: Takis Fuego, Takis Blue Flame, and Takis Cheese, all types of Lay's potato chips, Hot Cheetos Fries, Cheetos Puffs, Skittles original, tropical, and sour, Twix bars, Hershey bars original and Cookies & Cream, and Airheads.

Mental Health Minute
This week's topic is decision-making. As children develop, they begin to acquire more tools to help them weigh pros and cons for responsible decision-making. Decision-making requires children to learn and apply critical thinking skills, problem solve, and identify solutions. Children need to consider not just themselves, but others when making positive decisions. Parents can reinforce goal setting to encourage development of self-awareness and confidence. Tips on decision-making skills can be found: Why and How to Teach Decision-Making Skills to Young Kids & Helping Kids Make Decisions

Fine Arts Newsletter
Please click here for the October 2023 issue of the Fine Arts Newsletter!

Cross Country
The Oak Grove Girl’s team placed 2nd overall in the conference!

Girls Basketball Try-outs
OGS Girls' Basketball tryouts will take place on Wednesday, October 18 in the Junior High Gym and Thursday, October 19 in the Patt Gym from 3:30 - 5:00 PM. You must have an active physical on file to try out. No previous experience is necessary! Please see or email Coach Izenstark at izenstark@ogschool.org or Coach Potter at potter@ogschool.org with questions.

Libertyville Fire Department 50th Annual Poster Contest
Thank you to all of the student entries. A special shout out to 3rd grader Fatima who was the overall grand prize winner!

Important Dates
10/11/23 - PSAT for 8th Grade Students Only
10/13/23 - 5th Grade Candor Presentation
10/17/23- Board of Education Meeting; COW @ 6:00 pm and BoE Meeting @ 7:15 pm in the JH Cafe 
10/18/23 - Elyssa’s Mission Grade 6-8
10/23/23 - Erin’s Law begins Grades K-5
10/24/23 - Promoting Positive Student Behavior Presentation 6:00 PM in the JH Cafeteria (see above)
10/31/23 - Halloween Parade (see above)

Athletics
Looking for information about upcoming games or events? Please check the Oak Grove Athletics Calendar

Curriculum Corner

Talk Tuesday
Thank you for those families that were able to attend our first Talk Tuesday last week. If you were unable to attend, the presentation can be found here as well as on the Oak Grove Teaching and Learning site. 

Save the Date - Veterans Day Celebration
Veterans and current service members in our Oak Grove community are invited to attend our annual Veterans Day celebration with their families the morning of Friday, November 10. The ceremony will begin at 9:00 am in the Junior High Gym. Please park in the upper parking lot and have an ID available for check-in. The ceremony will be followed by refreshments and an opportunity to explore the Historical Artifact Museum organized by the eighth grade students. If you are planning to attend, please RSVP using this link.  If you would like to honor a veteran and have their picture displayed, please use the Honoring a Veteran form and submit it to the office or your child’s classroom teacher. This event is open to veterans, service members, and their families. We are excited to share that we will be live streaming the event for all Oak Grove families to enjoy as well.   

OGSEF Gala February 24, 2024

The Oak Grove School Education Foundation is thrilled to invite you to the Biennial Gala on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Independence Grove.  In the coming months we will share information about the evening’s theme and primary focus in the Oak Grove News, on our website, and Facebook page. If you have special items, tickets to sporting events or any other donations you are able to make to OGSEF for the Gala, reach out to Autumn Parrish, President OGSEF  via email (autumne.parrish@gmail.com). Stay current by following us on Facebook @ogsfoundation and be the first to know about ticket sales, silent auction items and live auction previews!  Please click here to find out about more ways you can help!

PTO News

OGS & Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Caramel Apple Fundraiser
Last chance to order your delicious caramel apples, place your order HERE by this Friday!
Pick Up Dates: Friday, October 20 10AM - 9PM, or Saturday, October 21 10AM - 9PM.  Upon completion of this order form you will receive a text from the PTO with payment options. All payments must be received by Sunday, October 15, 2022. Unpaid orders will not be submitted. For any questions about this fundraiser, please contact Erin Liebgott. 

Pack 194 Cub Scout Firewood Fundraiser
Do you need firewood this fall or winter? Are you interested in helping support local Scouts develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills, and citizenship skills? This year the local Cub Scout Pack 194 is asking for support and your donation comes with a truck load (~3/4 face-cord) of split firewood delivered and stacked for you. If interested, please contact the Committee Chair. 

• Pine - $250 / Load – Good for outdoor burning, not recommended for fireplaces. Burns fast and smokey, medium heat.
• Ash - $300 / Load - Good for outdoor or indoor burning. Burns medium fast with some smoke, medium heat.
• Elm/Oak - $350 / Load - Great for fireplace burning or outdoors. Burns slow and clean, high heat.

Volunteer Signup Winners
Congratulations to Anna Linscheid, Kari Fitzpatrick & Andrea Parks who all won $20 Amazon gift cards for selecting their volunteer interests on the new PTO website! Even though the contest is over we still need volunteers, so please log in and volunteer for a committee or two today! If you have not yet signed in to the new website, instructions can be found in the Virtual Backpack.

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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