Oak Grove News

Superintendent Chat

Dear Families,
I would like to share that the next Superintendent Talk with interested parents/guardians is scheduled for Thursday, October 27, from 5:30-6:30 pm. The meeting will be in-person in our Professional Development (PD) Room.

I am hoping you will join to hear highlights around initiatives we are working on at OGS and to hear from the community about their interests for our school and their experience as a family through their child(ren)'s years at Oak Grove.

These meetings will have a maximum of 15 participants in attendance to ensure voices can be heard. If a session fills, we will open additional meetings. Please RSVP to Jennifer McBride if you plan to attend. Refreshments will be served. 

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From the Principal’s Desk
Over the next few weeks, Mr. Murray and I would like to highlight some of our new staff members that you may see throughout our halls. Please help us welcome these new staff members to the Oak Grove family this year! This week we have Allie Wilgus and Jennifer Summers.
 
Allie Wilgus - Social Worker
Throughout college, Mrs. Wilgus cycled through majors such as paralegal studies, therapeutic recreation, and special education until a guidance counselor suggested she look at social work. Within the first semester of classes, she found herself in love with the program. While there were many specializations she could have chosen(child welfare, medical, military, geriatric, school) she decided on school social work because as she explained, “I believe it is important to provide support and interventions during such a pivotal time in children's lives.” One special fact about Mrs. Wilgus - she and her husband are expecting their first child in March!

Jennifer Summers - 5th Grade ELA Teacher
Before coming to Oak Grove, Mrs. Summers was a fourth grade teacher at Park View School in Morton Grove and earned her master's degree in Literacy Instruction. Mrs. Summers has a passion for teaching reading and writing and explained that, “Teaching ELA provides great opportunities to get to know students, connect with them, and have deep conversations.” So far she said she is enjoying the support and collaboration of her teammates as well as learning about the opportunities for students to get involved with different clubs. She said, “I love hearing about all of the experiences my students have right in their own community.” An interesting fact about Mrs. Summers is that she was on a competitive dance team throughout high school and performed at a Chicago Bulls halftime show.

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Risk Watch Program
Russ Bartholomew, a Lieutenant with Libertyville Fire Department, will visit Oak Grove School on the morning of Friday, October 14, to launch the first in a series of student presentations called, “Fire and Burn Prevention.”
 
First implemented by the Village of Libertyville in 1994, Risk Watch is an injury prevention program for children from preschool through fifth grade. Through partnerships with all area schools and the Libertyville Police Department, Risk Watch has been designed to help children and families create safer homes and communities by teaching them the skills and knowledge they need to make positive choices about their personal safety. Risk Watch seeks to prevent the major unintentional injuries that threaten children in this age group.
 
The major risk areas covered are:
• Bike and Pedestrian Safety
• Bus and Motor Vehicle Safety
• Fire and Burn Prevention
• Firearms Injury Prevention
• Poisoning, Choking, Suffocation, and Strangulation Prevention

National School Bus Safety Week - October 17-21
Next week is School Bus Safety Week and a perfect time to send a note of appreciation to our OGS bus drivers.

Halloween Clarification
All students in K-3 should come to school on Monday, October 31, dressed in their costumes. This is a correction from last week’s message for our 3rd Grade families.

Parent Teacher Conferences
Thank you to the 274 responses we received from the survey asking about your preference for meeting during this year’s Parent Teacher Conferences. The responses tallied the following results:
• 42% indicated that they would prefer In-Person conferences.
• 34% prefer a Virtual conference.
• 24% said either format would work.

Therefore, we will schedule the times for conferences based on these preferences. This year’s Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, November 21, from 1:00-8:00 pm, and again on Tuesday, November 22, from 8:00 am - Noon. Conference signup through Meet the Teacher will begin the week of November 14. More information will follow in a few weeks.

Erin’s Law
Erin’s Law instruction will begin on October 18. If you’re looking for more information regarding Erin’s Law, then please take a few minutes to review the 22-23 Erin’s Law letter to families.

Elyssa’s Mission - Reminder
Our signs of suicide program (Elyssa’s Mission) will begin with all 6th through 8th grade students on October 19. If you are interested in more information, please review the 22-23 Elyssa’s Mission: Family Letter.

Red Ribbon Week
The week of October 24 through October 28, Oak Grove students will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week. The Red Ribbon campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation. The Red Ribbon symbolizes a commitment to a drug free, healthy lifestyle with no use of any illegal drug and no abuse of a legal drug. The school will be decorated throughout the week with the Red Ribbon message. We at Oak Grove will be educating our children about the dangers of drugs and encouraging them to lead healthy, successful lives and making positive decisions.

For more information about Red Ribbon Week, CLICK HERE.

SEL Updates
National bullying prevention and awareness day is Wednesday, October 12. Please be sure to wear ORANGE to support students that feel alone. The simple act of wearing orange shows them that they are not alone and will hopefully empower them to speak out and reach out. For more information, please visit the Oak Grove SEL website.

SEL Survey - Reminder
The fall SEL survey will take place the week of October 17 - October 21. If you’d like more information, please review the 22-23 family letter.

Important Dates
• 10/15: IESA Cross Ctry State Meet, Fire Dept Open House 1-4
• 10/17: COW @ 6:00 pm, BOE @ 7:15 pm
• 10/20: End of 1st quarter
• 10/21: RSVP through THIS LINK for 10/25 Talk Tuesday (restorative practices)
• 10/24: Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) -virtual @ 5:30-7 pm
• 10/25: Restorative Practices Parent Meeting @ 6:30-7:30 pm RSVP LINK
• 10/26: Fire Drill #3 @ 12:30 pm
• 10/31: K-3 Parade @ 9:05 am along track, 5-8 Lunch DJ, K-4 Parties in afternoon
• 11/14: Conference Sign Up begins at 8:00 am
• 11/18: Conference Sign Up ends at Noon

Curriculum Corner

Talk Tuesday - October 25
Please join us for our second Talk Tuesday on October 25 from 6:00-7:30 pm in the Professional Development room. The session will discuss the meaning of restorative practice, the ongoing professional learning that our teachers are receiving and what these practices look like within our school and classrooms. We will have members of our Restorative Practice team present for the discussion.  PLEASE CLICK HERE to RSVP.

OGSEF Grants
The Oak Grove School Education Foundation awarded 22 Mini Grants to teachers to start the year! We are so appreciative of their support for our students and teachers. Some of the items included themed speech materials to serve younger students, filmmaking equipment, seat sacks, STEM materials for team building activities in the classroom, craft materials for clubs, phonics/sight word games, readers for English Language Learners, a new classroom rug, series chapter books, Calm Corner materials, wireless microphones for Drama, and board games to help build interpersonal skills. Thank you, OGSEF!

Veterans Day
On Friday, November 11, we will be honoring veterans and service members within the Oak Grove community. There will be a brief ceremony beginning at 10:00 am in the Patrick Patt Gym. We would like to extend an invitation to all Oak Grove community members that are veterans or a current service member to attend. Our 8th grade students will be sharing information about the history of Veterans Day and of the branches of the United States Armed Services as part of our museum after the ceremony. More information about this amazing day will be forthcoming.

Illinois Association for Gifted Children 27th Annual Parent Forum
IAGC's Parent Forum Series will feature two evenings and one morning of thematic programs focused on strategies to support advanced learners social-emotionally, academically, and through positive advocacy. If you are interested in attending, please register here.

From the PTO

Pick up RMCF Caramel Apples Orders Friday or Saturday
Thank you to everyone who supported the PTO and ordered caramel apples! The pick up times are on Friday, October 14, 10 am-9 pm -OR- Saturday, October 15 10 am-9 pm. Reminder, there are no reimbursements for apples not picked up.

Join us Tomorrow for our PTO Meeting
We hope you can join us at 9:30 am tomorrow either in-person in the JH Cafeteria or on Zoom. Meeting documents and Zoom info will be sent via email. We will debut the new PTO website, vote on the Standing Rules, and vote on a request for funds under $500.

Girl + Guest Dance 2023
The Girl + Guest Dance (formerly the Daddy-Daughter dance) is BACK! Save the date for February 4 , 2023 to dance the night away to great music with your favorite Oak Grove girls! The PTO is looking for volunteers to help with the planning of the dance; a request for day-of volunteers (set-up/take-down/tickets) will be posted closer to the event. If you’re interested in helping plan this event please sign up!

Fall Community Volunteer Opportunity
Another OGS tradition is back - OGS night at Feed My Starving Children! Join other OGS families on November 17 to pack meals during one of two time slots. To sign up go to www.fmsc.org and select one of the two Oak Grove Community Gives Back options on that date. The first is from 4:30-6:15 pm which requires code EE63V5 to join, the second is from 7:00-8:45 pm with M8BN2D as the code to join. If you have questions not listed on the website please contact Brooke Schamber to inquire about this event at (847)772-3055.

Spirit Wear Swap
Have your kids outgrown OGS and LHS Spiritwear? Gift it to another OGS family through the pinned post on the PTO’s Facebook page.

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Basketball
Attention all 7th grade girls! Basketball season is right around the corner. Tryouts will be held on Tuesday, October 18 and Thursday, October 20 from 3:30-5:00 pm. Players are required to attend both tryout dates and a current physical must be on file with the school nurse in order to be eligible to participate. During the basketball season practices are Monday through Thursday from 3:30-5:00 pm and games are at 4:15 pm or 4:30 pm. The season lasts until mid-December. If you would like to try out please email Coach Kurtz (kurtz@ogschool.org) to reserve your spot!

Oak Grove Yard Signs
Help support OGS Student Council by purchasing your very own Home of an Eagle sign! Use the link below to purchase and emails will be sent when orders are ready for pickup. Any questions? Please email Aimee Brown at abrown@ogschool.org.
Go Eagles!
 
OGS Yard Sign Link (RevTrak)

Helping Hands
Each year the Oak Grove PTO raises money to support its Helping Hands program. Funds from Helping Hands are directed towards OGS students experiencing financial hardships.  Below is a non-exhaustive list of the items and events covered under the program.

• Winter wear (coats, snow pants, hats, gloves, boots)
• Clothing (any kind)
• Shoes (any kind)
• Lunches
• Lost library book fees
• School club/activity fees
• School sports fees
• Field trip fees
• Spirit wear items
• Family dance tickets
• Books and trinkets at school book fairs
• School supplies

Please contact OGS Principal, Jennifer Barnabee at barnabee@ogschool.org, with any needs, or alternatively, fill out this google form which will go directly to Ms. Barnabee.  Although the PTO funds and helps coordinate the logistics of the program with OGS staff, no identifying information of the students will be revealed to PTO representatives. Requests are treated as confidential by OGS administration and staff.
 

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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