Oak Grove News

From the Principal’s Desk:

Veterans Day Celebration
We would like to extend an invitation to all Oak Grove community members who are veterans or current service members to attend our Veterans Day celebration the morning of Friday, November 11. 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 participate in the Historical Artifact Museum. We will also be live streaming the ceremony for those who cannot attend in person. Please RSVP using this link and indicate whether you will be attending in person or would like the link to the live stream. 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 (ogsofficestaff@ogschool.org) or your child’s classroom teacher.

More Congratulations Are In Order!
The girls’ cross country team had a successful season, placing 1st in conference and 4th in sectionals, with Elsie Colin qualifying for the state cross country meet.  On Saturday, October 15, Elsie represented Oak Grove School and finished 41st out of 237 runners! Way to go, Elsie!

Isaac Stone, a member of the OGS Symphonic Band, auditioned against hundreds of other 6th-8th grade musicians in Lake County to secure a spot in the Illinois Music Education Association District 7 Music Festival Concert Band. Students recorded three different audition exercises to show mastery and technique on their instrument. Isaac will be representing Oak Grove in this ensemble made of the best players from Lake, McHenry, and Cook counties in the trombone section. Congratulations, Isaac Stone!

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Red Ribbon Week
Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free
SEL Theme of the Month: Decision Making
Oct. 24-28
 

From 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. No use of any illegal drug and no abuse of a legal drug. The school will be decorated throughout 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. Please join us in supporting this cause by participating in the school spirit days listed below.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Welcoming New Staff
Please help us continue to welcome new staff members to the Oak Grove family! This week we have Lindsay Krieschen and Bronwen Mosquera.
 
Mrs. Lindsay Krieschen - Part-Time OGS School Psychologist
During her junior year as a psychology major at the University of Illinois, she joined a family studies lab as part of her coursework. This opportunity allowed Mrs. Krieschen to work with young children and their families for the first time in a clinical role. It was a combination of this experience, and advice from a cousin that led her to choosing school psychology for her graduate coursework.She attended Ball State University for graduate school and the rest is history. Before coming to OGS, she worked in Highland Park, Mount Prospect, and Northbrook. The opportunity to work at Oak Grove School has brought her closer to home and has allowed her more time at home with her two young daughters. So far, she is enjoying the genuine community and humor of the OGS staff.

 
Mrs. Bronwen Mosquera - OGS Enrichment Specialist & 4th/5th TAG Math
Once she closed her tutoring business in December 2021, she looked for teaching jobs that would allow for creativity. She owned and operated a K-12 tutoring center franchise in Evanston from 2016-2021 and before that worked at a charter school in Chicago as a team leader and 4th grade teacher. Taking on the OGS talent development role last February allowed for that creativity to flourish in her lesson planning and for the students in their learning. Coupled with teaching 4th and 5th grade TAG math this year, the role fits with her skill set. She says that it is “the students’ wonder and excitement to learn and the staff’s commitment to keep the students motivated and engaged,” that excite her most about being at OGS. Another interesting fact about Mrs. Mosquera, she co-owns a photography business, Sonder Lane Photography, specializing in families and newborns in the Chicagoland area.

 
Volunteers Needed
Oak Grove School values the support of our community! If you are interested or anyone you know is interested in volunteering in our school, we would love the help! We welcome parents, neighbors, grandparents, and friends. Whether it is reading with students, helping during Writer's Workshop, practicing math facts, or a whole variety of other possibilities, we welcome volunteers. Please complete this OGS Volunteer Form to let us know about your interest and availability. If you know of others who may be interested, but may not have access to our news, feel free to share our contact information: 847-367-4120, and we will find a way to connect with them.
 
Because teachers have different preferences for how volunteers are used in their classrooms, many have set up their own requests for volunteers in their specific rooms. By adding your name to this OGS Volunteer Form list, we will work on matching you with a grade level (and/or activity) within your comfort zone. Please be aware that parents will not necessarily be matched with one of their own child's teachers. This form is for adults willing to work with any of our students and teachers who are in need of volunteers. This form will be open throughout the school year.

Halloween Parade Details
Our Kindergarten through 3rd grade students will participate in our Halloween parade on October 31 starting at 9:05 AM. The parade will take place outside and on the trail in the backside of the building (JH fields). You will not need to enter the building to watch the outside parade. If you plan on attending, please be sure to park in the lower or upper lot and signs will be placed to help you find the parade location.
 
Inclement Weather - In the case of inclement weather, we will plan a spontaneous parade inside the halls of OGS. If the event is moved inside, parents will need to sign-in through the front office starting at 8:45 AM and proceed to the Pat Patt Gym to wait in the bleachers.

SEL Theme of the Month: Decision Making
This week is our SEL spirit week and Red Ribbon week. We are celebrating making good decisions and being drug free! Students have earned blue tickets all month for making good decisions in the classroom: staying focused, being prepared, helping others, and so much more!  Be sure to participate in Red Ribbon spirit week this week and discuss what good decisions are being made in your home. The more we highlight the behavior we want to see, the more often we will see it at home and at school.

During SEL lessons, students continue to learn about how to stay safe and go to a trusted adult anytime our inner siren goes off. K-3 parents, look for special directions in SeeSaw! Students should be sharing what they’ve learned in class with their trusted adult at home. Students should also be able to identify two safe adults who they could go to (one in the home & one outside the home) if they are ever feeling unsafe or uncomfortable.

Mental Health Minute
Are you interested in some K-8 friendly reading around decision making? Please click HERE to find some stories as a continuation to our October Mental Health Minute.

Important Dates
• 10/25: Restorative Practices Parent Meeting from 6:00-7:30 PM
• 10/27: Superintendent Chat from 5:30-6:30 PM
• 10/26: Fire Drill #3 @ 12:30
• 10/31: K-3 Halloween Parade around the field track at 9:05 AM (or Pat Patt Gym if inclement weather), K-4 Parties in PM
• 11/1: LHS Band Pre-festival from 7-8:30 p.m at Highland Middle School
• 11/2: PTO Meeting at 6:30pm in Elem Library
• 11/2: Picture Retakes
• 11/8: Election Day - No School
• 11/10: Early Release at 1 PM
• 11/11: Veterans Day Celebration (RSVP Here)
• 11/14: Conference Sign Up begins at 8:00 AM
• 11/15: Board of Education Meeting at 6 PM
• 11/18: Conference Sign Up ends at 12:00 PM

Superintendent Talk
This is the last chance to register for this week’s Superintendent Talk that is scheduled for Thursday, October 27, from 5:30-6:30 pm in the Oak Grove PD room. Please RSVP to Jennifer McBride if you would like to attend. Refreshments will be served.
 

School Board Member Election
Three seats on the seven member Oak Grove School Board of Education will be filled at the April 4, 2023 election. Candidates elected will serve four-year terms expiring in April of 2027. The seats expiring are currently filled by Anthony Giamis, Raabia Khan, and Kim Rihman.

Residents interested in running for the Board can pick up a petition packet at the Lake County Clerk’s office at 18 N. County Street in Waukegan.

More information, including important dates can be found on the district website.

Elections are nonpartisan and Board candidates do not indicate a political party affiliation. For more information about the nature and duties of serving on a School Board, please click here.

Curriculum Corner

IAR Parent Portal Now Open
The IAR Parent Portal is now available for parents/guardians. Earlier in the school year, parents of students in grades 4-8 received their child’s IAR results from the spring of 2022. The results contained login information to access the parent portal. The IAR Parent Portal User Guide is available and has information about how to create an account and log in to access student scores. This portal will also allow parents/guardians to track their student’s scores from year to year, beginning with the spring 2021 results.

Talk Tuesday-October 25
Our second Talk Tuesday will be tomorrow, 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. Please RSVP here.

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PTO News

Log In and WIN!
The new PTO website is up and running! You should receive an email today with instructions for how to register on the site. Remember to use the email address you used when you completed school registration. If you are unable to login, email Kate Byers for assistance. Everyone who logs in and selects their “How I Volunteer” responses by 10/31 will be entered to win 1 of 3 $10 gift cards to either Starbucks or DD! Stay tuned in the coming weeks and we’ll share a weekly tip to make the most of the new site.

Forgotten Lunches
The PTO-sponsored Lunch Pantry provides a backup lunch option when students leave their lunch at home or forget to order a hot lunch. In the past few weeks we have seen a significant increase in the number of lunches we’ve distributed, particularly in the junior high cafeteria.
Please help your students make sure they have their lunch squared away before coming to school and double-check your Marla’s orders to ensure students know the days they need to bring lunch from home. If you would like to donate to the lunch pantry, either by purchasing items or with a donation, email the PTO to find out more.

Last Minute Lunch Volunteers Needed
If you have a flexible schedule, please consider joining our list of Last Minute Lunch Volunteers. You can either select “Last Minute Lunch Volunteer” as one of your “How I Volunteer” options on the PTO website or you can email Aayshah Mirza to join the list. And don’t forget you can always schedule lunch volunteering ahead of time on either the Elementary or Jr. High lunch sign-up forms.

Help Needed for the Fall Book Fair Nov. 14-17
The Fall Scholastic Book Fair for Kindergarten - 5th Grade is coming to OGS on Monday, November 14 - Thursday, November 17. If you are interested in signing up for a volunteer slot, please email Kelly Epley. We will be sending out a link to sign up for volunteer hours soon!

63 Spots Filled, 197 Remain - Volunteer at FMSC!
Twenty years ago, Feed My Starving Children opened in Libertyville. Come be part of this long-standing Oak Grove tradition to volunteer at FMSC during the Season of Giving! Sign up to help pack meals on November 17th by visiting www.fmsc.org and selecting one of the two Oak Grove Community Gives Back options on that date. The first is from 4:30-6:15 which requires code EE63V5 to join, the second is from 7:00-8:45 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.

 
Please Share Your Photos From the School Year to the Yearbook Team!
First Day, Special Events, Sports & Clubs, etc! Upload with this link
https://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/#!/?code=ogsyb2023
 

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. Please email Aimee Brown with any questions.
OGS Yard Sign Link (RevTrak)

We’ve Updated Our Social Media Accounts
Due to security concerns, we had to reestablish our Facebook and Instagram accounts which required new account names.  Please follow us!!  

 
Board Briefs
Board Briefs are a quick summary of each School Board Meetings. The official minutes will be posted in the Agenda section after the Board Minutes have been approved at the following month's meeting. CLICK HERE for the October 2022 Board Briefs.

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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