Oak Grove News

Message from the Principal

Student Recognition - Spelling Bee
Congratulations to our competitors who qualified for the Oak Grove Spelling Bee!  The bee is Wednesday, January 17 at 6:30 pm in the Junior High Library.  Everyone is welcome to attend, but students who are coming to watch their friends must have an adult in attendance with them.

Winter Weather & Recess
Please be sure that your students are dressed appropriately for the weather. Specifically, jackets, hats, and gloves as well as boots and snow pants if applicable. As a reminder, our students are outside for recess unless the weather feels like 10 degrees or below. These guidelines are applicable for morning recess (arrival) and during the school day. 

E-Learning Plan - Reminder
It’s that time of year where weather can be unpredictable and we want to take a moment to revisit our E-Learning Plan. Please keep in mind that Oak Grove will make every effort to conduct in person learning but circumstances beyond our control may necessitate us to provide an alternate option for education on a given day.

If E-Learning is a possibility, teachers will send students home with the appropriate learning supplies (student device). Parents will be notified by 5:30 am if the school day will be held virtually. If so, technology support will be provided and a combination of asynchronous/synchronous learning will take place. For more information, please review Oak Grove’s E-Learning Plan.

Attention all Eighth Grade Parents/Guardians:
Oak Grove is hosting a high school transition meeting on Thursday, January 25, from 6-7 pm. Please join us in the Jr. High Café as LHS staff reviews the transition process to high school. There will be time for Q/A afterwards.

Cook Memorial Library Contest
Reminder that the Cook Memorial Library Design-a-Bookmark Contest entries are due this Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Students can drop them off at either OGS libraries or directly at Cook Memorial Library in Libertyville. 

The contest is open to students in grades K-8 who attend school in the district. Your design should feature a favorite book or book character. Be creative and original! One entry per student, one student per entry. Winners will be announced by Wednesday, January 31, 2024. First place designs in each category will be printed and distributed for library patrons to enjoy.

2024 Illinois Youth Survey
The Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) is a survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services. It gathers information about a variety of health and social indicators including drug use and perceptions, violence, bullying, depression, perceptions of school climate, nutrition, and fitness. The IYS results in a statewide report that is used by local and state policymakers.  For more information: Visit the IYS website to see the 2024 IYS survey questions, sample school report, and to learn more about IYS.  Oak Grove students will be completing the Illinois Youth Survey on January 25.  If you do not want your child to participate in this survey, please email Assistant Principal Joe O’Malley, omalley@ogschool.org, to officially opt-out of the survey. 

News from the Nursing Staff
In November, 2023, there was a recall on Children's Cinnamon Applesauce pouches which may contain elevated levels of lead.  The brands named in November were WanaBana, Weis, and Schnucks.  Please review the links from Illinois Department of Public Health and the FDA regarding the recall advisory. 

23/24 Extracurricular Survey 
Oak Grove is always looking for ways to better serve our students. In collaboration with the PTO, we’re conducting our 2nd Extracurricular survey. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey as your feedback helps us plan opportunities for the future. Thank you in advance! Click HERE to complete the survey.

Board Games Club
Get ready to settle into some winter fun!  The Board Games Club will be returning soon.  This is a wonderful chance for students in grades 5-8 to stay after school once a week, disconnect from screens, socialize, and play games.  If you are interested in joining us, please complete this form:  Board Games Club Registration

Mark your calendars for our meeting dates:  1/24, 1/31,  2/14, 2/21, 2/28.  Pick up is at 4:15. Please email Ms. Douglass with any questions:  douglass@ogschool.org.

Mental Health Minute
This week's topic is emotions. Our emotions serve as a guide for how we navigate various day to day situations or activities. Have you ever reacted strongly to something without thinking through what you decided to say or do? Strong feelings like happiness, sadness and anger can affect the way we react to various things that happen in our life. Checking in with ourselves multiple times a day is important as it allows us to process our feelings and think things through before acting. 

One tool that can be utilized both in school and at home is a feelings thermometer. A feelings thermometer can create a visual for children to understand how intense their feelings in the moment are and opens the door to discuss various coping strategies to deal with these strong feelings. 

5- Very stressed/angry/sad!
4- Stressed/angry/mad.
3- Somewhat stressed/angry/mad.
2- A little stressed/angry/mad.
1- Not stressed/angry/mad at all!

Important Dates
1/10:  PTO Meeting at 9:30 am in the PD Room
1/15:  No student attendance
1/17:  Spelling Bee Grades 4-8 (qualified) in in the JH library from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
1/22:  8th Grade Candor Presentation Informational Meeting (virtual) from 6:30 - 8:00 pm
1/23:  Board of Education Meetings; Committee of the Whole 6:00 pm, Regular Meeting 7:15 pm (JH Cafe).
1/25:  Early Dismissal @ 11:30 am (School Improvement Day)
1/25:  High school transition meeting from 6:00 -7:00 pm in the JH Cafe for any interested 8th grade families

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

Curriculum Corner

Talk Tuesday
The next Talk Tuesday will be held on February 6 at Oak Grove from 6:00-7:30 pm in the Professional Development room. These meetings are hosted by the Teaching and Learning department and will share highlights around OGS curriculum and programming. During this session, we will share information on the talented and gifted (TAG) program and review the identification process for the 2024-25 school year. In addition, updates on this year’s literacy program pilots will be shared. Please take a moment to R.S.V.P. for this event in order for us to plan accordingly. The presentation shared at the Talk Tuesday will also be available on the Oak Grove website. 

iReady Diagnostic Reports
Reports will be sent home via email by January 10. If you do not receive a report by the end of the day on January 10, please email Dave Huber at huber@ogschool.org. If your child(ren) were absent for testing, please check with the classroom teacher regarding the completion of the test(s).

SEL Update
Grades K-5
Happy New Year! How are your children feeling about being back in school, back to sports, activities, homework and more? We all handle these emotions in different ways, but one of the best ways to practice managing our emotions is through breathing exercises. Students will focus on breathing exercises this month during SEL. To find out more, please visit our SEL webpage.

Grades 6-8
The Habitudes lessons will focus on impulse control. Students will learn how to put in place sturdy guardrails and build boundaries to keep on the path to success. 

PTO News

PTO Meeting This Week
The first PTO meeting of 2024 is this Wednesday, January 10 at 9:30 am in the PD Room and on Zoom. For information about this meeting, please see the agenda and minutes from our last meeting. A Zoom link will be sent by e-mail. We will be voting on two Special Fund Requests. If you would like to cast a proxy vote for these Special Fund Requests, please complete this form and email it to the PTO Secretary. 

Girl & Guest 2-3-24
Come join us for “A Night in Paris” on February 3, 2024!  Event and Raffle Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased HERE through January 19.  The Girl & Guest flier in the Virtual Backpack has additional information.

If you have 1-2 hours to spare, we would love some volunteers to help out.  Volunteers are needed for raffle ticket prep, set-up (the night before), check in/food/raffle tables, and decoration tear down after the dance. Sign up HERE!

If you have any unopened toys or gifts to include in this year’s event raffle, we’ll gladly accept your donations! Examples could be dolls, crafts, legos, slime, puzzles, gift cards etc.! Please reach out to Heather Bildsten to coordinate a pickup.

Chipotle Fundraising Night 1-17-24
Get your guac on and join the PTO Wednesday, January 17 at Chipotle in Libertyville! Pop in to the restaurant and show them the flier or order online for pickup using code AT364PK anytime between 4-8 pm for 33% of all sales to be donated to OGS PTO! Fliers will be sent home with students prior to the event and can also be accessed in the Virtual Backpack and on social media! If you have any questions about the Chipotle fundraiser, please contact Erin Liebgott or Elisabeth Cobb.

JH Book Fair Feb. 6-8
Attention all 5th-8th graders! The Junior High book fair is right around the corner. February 6-8 Anderson Book Fair Company will be coming to Oak Grove School. More details and information will be coming in the next few weeks. Stay tuned and keep an eye out on social media. If you have any questions about the JH book fair, please contact Melissa Sallmann or Lynsey Wolfe.

Lunch Volunteers
Lunchroom volunteer signups have been updated for the rest of the school year. Come supervise lunch and get a chance to see your student during the school day. Sign up for elementary or junior high!