THE SCHOOL DAY

What are the school day hours?
Grades 1–3: 8:20 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Grades 4-8: 8:20 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
Kindergarten a.m.: 8:20 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Kindergarten p.m.: 11:50 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

What time will the bus pick my child up in the morning? What time will they get home?
District 68 provides bus service that allows them to efficiently use resources.  In the morning there are two ‘runs’.  Whether your child is on the first run or second run is determined by your neighborhood.  Children on the first run arrive at school by 7:50 a.m.  They then have supervised recess until the classrooms open at 8:15 a.m.  The children on the second run arrive at 8:15 a.m.  The afternoon bus departure time depends on your child’s grade.  You will receive a confirmation letter with your child’s bus number and pick up / drop off time before school begins.  Contact District 68’s transportation director, David Karolewicz at ext. 2003, for more information.

What are the drop-off / pick-up procedures?
Parents may drop off students as early as 7:45 a.m.  Students in grades K-4 will report to the elementary playground and students in grades 5-8 will report to the junior high playground.  If you are picking up your K-3rd grade child at regular dismissal time, teachers will wait with him/her at the front doors of the school.  Students in grades 4-8 are dismissed at 3:20 through the upper elementary and junior high doors.  For any student pick up, you must park your car and walk to the door to meet them. If your child's pick-up routine is different for a specific day, you must write a note and send it to school with your child on that day.  Please refer to the Oak Grove Parent / Student Handbook for more information.

What do I need to do to pick up my child for an appointment during the school day?
Please bring a note expressing the need for your child to leave and include the time he/she will be picked up.  The child will give the note to his/her teacher and can leave the class at that time.  If the child forgets the time of pickup,  he/she will be called out of that class when the parent arrives in the office.  Parent must sign child out of building in the office.

If my child forgets his/her lunch, gym suit, homework, etc., may I bring it to him/her at school?
Yes, however, classes will not be disrupted by calling students out to retrieve their forgotten materials. Students may be released from their classroom, with their teacher’s permission, to come to the school office(s) throughout the day and check for any items delivered by parents.  Lunches left in the office(s) are picked up by our custodians and brought to the cafeteria where they will be given to that student.

Can my child bring in treats to celebrate their birthday at school?
This year at Oak Grove, we have gone "treat-free" in celebrating birthdays due to the rising numbers of students with food allergies.  This includes the passing out of treat bags, even with non-food items, as well.  We will continue to recognize the birthdays of our students in many ways, including presenting them with an Oak Grove birthday button.

How will we be notified in case of emergency closings?
Oak Grove School District uses the First Alert System, which allows the district to notify all parents and staff of any emergency information within minutes.  In addition, any closings are also posted on the Oak Grove website.

Can students a ride bike to school?
Yes, we have bike racks.

LUNCH AND RECESS

What are the lunch times?
1st, 2nd, 5th: 11:35 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
3rd, 4th: 12:20 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
6th, 7th, 8th: 12:00 p.m. - 1:06 p.m.
Each group eats for 20 minutes and goes out to play for 20 minutes.

Is there hot lunch program at Oak Grove?
The school does not offer a hot lunch program; however, the PTO (our parent-teacher organization) provides a catered hot lunch several days of the week.  You can order this program on a yearly basis through the PTO.  Orders must be made at the end of the previous school year and changes can be made until an assigned deadline in the fall.  It is important to check with your child to make sure they desire all items you order for them.  New students who move in at the beginning of the year will be given an opportunity to participate in the lunch program and should check with the PTO.

Does the school offer milk daily with lunch?
Yes, milk can be purchased on a yearly basis.

How is it determined whether or not the children will go outside for recess?
A playground temperature/windchill combination of 10° F or below will result in students staying inside for recess.  Other factors that will keep children inside include rain (heavier than a light mist) and exceptionally wet ground.


PROGRAMS, CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES

Are there options for your Kindergarten program?
Oak Grove offers a choice of a half-day or full-day program.  Although both options offer the same curriculum, an extra fee is required for the full-day program.  

Does Oak Grove provide any before or after school care?
Oak Grove has an independent organization, The After School Club, which rents space from the school that provides before and/or after school care for a fee. Their hours for care are 7 am - 6 pm.  For more information you can visit their website at http://www.afterschoolclub.com.

Who do I contact if my child receives special services?
At Oak Grove, we provide special education services, including speech/language therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy for students who are eligible for services.  For questions, contact Julie Waehner at ext. 2004.  If your child has received gifted education services or if you have questions about Oak Grove’s Curriculum Enhancement Services, please contact Mark Clement at ext. 2001.

What programs outside of the regular school day are offered to students?
Band, chorus, intramural sports, interscholastic sports at the Jr. High level, art clubs, poms/cheerleading, chess, computer club are all offered, just to name a few.  There are also many clubs and activities sponsored by the school and by private groups.  School sponsored clubs and activities begin in 4th grade, and depending on the club, target different age groups.  Activities sponsored by private groups, such as Girls Scouts, Cub Scouts, & Chess Club, establish their own age guidelines.  Information about clubs and activities can be found in the Oak Grove News prior to the enrollment period.

OTHER

What are your fax numbers?
Each office has a fax machine.
Junior High: (847) 367-4172
Elementary: (847) 367-7933

What is the approximate class size?
Each grade level has 4-5 sections of about 20-25 students each.  

What school supplies does my child need?
You will be sent a school supply list prior to the beginning of the school year.  You may choose to purchase your own supplies or you may purchase a ‘pre pack’ from the PTO, which includes most of the necessary items for your child’s grade.  The supply lists are also posted on Oak Grove’s website.

How can I be a volunteer at Oak Grove?
There are various ways to volunteer at Oak Grove School.  Your child’s teacher may offer opportunities to volunteer in the classroom or a field trip chaperones.  The PTO also welcomes volunteers to assist in various committees.  Contact the Oak Grove PTO for more information.

Where can I find information about the district’s report card?
Information about the district’s performance on Illinois Standards Achievement Testing (ISAT) may be found at  http://iirc.niu.edu or on the Oak Grove website.

When do students receive report cards?
Oak Grove School grading calendar is on a trimester program.  Report cards will be issued in November, March, & June.

What is the difference between the PTO, the Education Foundation and the School Board?
The PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) consists of parents and teacher whose purpose is to foster a closer relationship between the home and the school through the sponsorship of a number of fundraisers and programs.  The Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit and alternative funding source for Oak Grove School District 68. The purpose of the Foundation is to provide support in areas where larger, long-term investments may be required, such as in technology and science, in addition to providing funds for teacher development.  The School Board is an elected body of 7 members that oversees Oak Grove School.  More information on all 3 of these groups can be found on the Oak Grove website.