From the Desk of the Principal...

Winners in the Wednesday Journal's Design-An-Ad Contest

Congratulations to the nine winners in the annual contest. They are: Aaliyah B. (4-F), Will S. (4-K), Cait E. (4-K), Mia K. ((4-K), Jaelynn P. (4-F), Lily W. (4-F), Nicholas C. (4-Q), and Collette D. (4-K). Their picture ads appeared in the Wednesday Journal on Wednesday, March 24. Thanks to Mrs. Burns for entering Hatch Students in this annual event!

School-wide Read-A-Thon II

We are beginning our annual, seven week (60 points), Read-A-Thon on March 26 and ending May 6. (This program is designed for students that are not participating in the "Readers are Winners" Read-a-thon). It is important for students to realize that the more they read, the better they will read. Please check the flyer for details. We want every student at Hatch School to be a part of one of the read-a-thons!

Talent Show

The Hatch School Talent Show has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 20. Auditions will start Wednesday, April 5. If students would like to participate, please return the completed form to the school office, ASAP. Participants, with the help of their parents or guardians, must have their act completely organized by the date of the audition.

School Daze Summer School

The summer school catalog has been available since early March! Many excellent classes are being offered at Hatch and Irving. Accelerated classes are included again, this year! Please get your registration in, as soon as possible, to insure first choice selections. Any questions regarding the summer program may be directed to Stephanie Avila at the Central Office, 524-7634 or Sheila Carter at Hatch School, 524-3095, after 4:00.

Kindergarten Registration and Open House Information

Registration has begun for next year's kindergarten. All new students must be registered at the District Office, 970 Madison Street. Call 524-3000 for registration information.

Please pass this information along to neighbors and if they have not already done so, urge them to register as soon as possible. Once registered, further information will be sent out regarding Kindergarten Visitation and Orientation Day to be held at all Oak Park Public Schools. Our Orientation will be on Wednesday, May 4 at 2:30 pm.

Parents interested in early admission to Kindergarten for the Fall of 2011 should call the Registration Office at the District for more information. Children who reach their fifth birthday between September 2 and October 31, 2010 are eligible to apply.

The District also has an excellent Pre-Kindergarten program for four years olds who might be at risk. Further information is available at the District Office (524-3000).

Absentee Homework

If you wish to have homework prepared for your children while they are absent from school, please follow these simple steps:

• Call the school as early in the morning as possible and ask the secretary to notify your child's teacher(s) to prepare the daily assignments and homework.
• Your child's assignments can be picked up in the office at the end of the day.

Preparation of assignments and homework may take some time. Please do not go to your child's homeroom and ask the teacher to prepare assignments during the school day.

Reminder:

All students, whether walking or being dropped off at school, MUST CROSS THE STREETS AT THE INTERSECTIONS. Please set a good example and remind your child to use the white lines at the crosswalks. Crossing in the middle of the street is very dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers.

Sheila Y. Carter (Previously...)

May 22, 2009 - William Hatch Elementary Celebrates Third Anniversary of Hatch Patch Organic Garden, by Joanna Skubish. Published by The Chicago Trubune, "Trib Local" Edition. [select the above link to read the article on triblocal.com. If you experience difficulties, select this link to download an archived version of the article (pdf - 189K).]

Student Art Show & Auction

Bird enthusiasts, art lovers and consumers of fine things ... come to Fly Bird, 719 Lake Street in Oak Park, May 10th through June 14th for a visual and affordable treat. Fly Bird, a design-oriented gift shop in Oak Park, is hosting the 5th annual student art show/auction to benefit the Oak Park Education Foundation. Read more ...

Swine Flu Announcement

May 20, 2009 - The Village of Oak Park Department of Public Health has issued an announcement regarding recent cases of Swine flu in Oak Park. Read more ...

Arts Celebrated - May 1, 2009

Congratulations to the Gallery Hatch Committee and Volunteers for a "Hatching" Event! Gallery Hatch is an annual celebration of the arts at Hatch School where the artistic talents of the Hatch Community is displayed and demonstrated throughout the building. See photos and blog from The Oak Leaves!

If you have photos and stories about "Gallery Hatching" that you would like to share, please submit them to PTO Updates. For a look at past Gallery Hatch photos, see: Past Gallery Hatch.

Jump Rope for Heart

- "The paramedics who showed up to help had some very motivating stories to tell the kids about people with heart disease!" Said Physical Education Teacher Sandy Noel. -

February 19, 2009 - Last week, Hatch students participated in the 30^th annual Jump Rope for Heart program. The students raised over $4,100 for the American Heart Association in the two days of jumping during school. The students logged a combined 33,542 jumps!

Our top three jumpers were: Cassie P. (2-S), Cole T. (4-Q), and Henry T. (2-N). Congratulations!

Pumpkin Festival Winners

- by Sheila Carter -

October 30-31, 2008 - There were 43 students who participated in this year's Pumpkin Festival! Once again, there were many great pumpkins, making the judging extremely difficult. We asked three secretaries from the District 97 Administration Building to judge the pumpkins. Here are the winners:

Hatch After Hours Enrichment

The first program of its kind in Oak Park, Hatch After Hours Enrichment Program started in September, 2005 with a four-week session. The program features enrichment classes in a variety of subject areas. The classes are scheduled for each day of the school week. These classes provide fun and challenging activities for students. The children go directly after school to classes that last for at least 1 hour. Children usually bring healthy snacks to eat before classes begin. This is an excellent educational alternative to after-school care!

Registration for Hatch After Hour 2008 Session II is now being accepted. Classes will begin on November 17. A new class is being offered this session - Knitter's Nest!

Scholarship

To be sure that the Hatch After Hours classes are available to all students, the PTO is very excited to announce that beginning this session it will fund 5 reduced-fee classes per session. Applicants eligible for free/reduced meals will automatically be eligible for a need-based scholarship. Applications by other students will be monitored by the school administration to determine eligibly. If you wish to apply, please fill out the registration form and check the need-based scholarship box. Then, all eligible students' applications will be placed in a lottery for picking the 5 winners.

The reduced fee will be $25 per student. If you are selected, this amount is due before the start of class. Please see the registration form for more detail (pdf - 167 K).

Dear Hatch Community: On February 19, 2008, many of you joined the Hatch PTO Board along with our teachers and principal in a discussion with Superintendent Connie Collins and Trish Carlson from the District 97 Board of Education regarding staffing at Hatch school. Read More ...

Hatch After Hours Enrichment

The first program of its kind in Oak Park, Hatch After Hours Enrichment Program started in September, 2005 with a four-week session. The program features enrichment classes in a variety of subject areas. The classes are scheduled for each day of the school week. These classes provide fun and challenging activities for students. The children go directly after school to classes that last for at least 1 hour. Children usually bring healthy snacks to eat before classes begin. This is an excellent educational alternative to after-school care!

Registration for Hatch After Hour 2008 Session IV is now being accepted. The registration deadline is Tuesday, March 18th. Classes will begin after Spring Break. Please see the registration form for all details (pdf - 159K).

11^th Annual Hatch Coffeehouse, February 15, 2008

Calling all writers, poets, essayists -- Students, parents, teachers and staff ...

Hatch Coffee House is an annual midwinter event that showcases the literary talent of the community. Amid the rich aroma of baked goods, fragrant coffee and delicious hot cocoa, young and not-so-young writers read from their personal best.

This year marks the 11^th anniversary of this stimulating event. Come and share your original (and not-so-original) works with other Hatch community writers. Select this link for more information and to access the participation form.

Gallery Hatch "Untamed" April 25, 2008

- by Leah Vergotine and Laura Constans -

Is your winter blah and empty without the jingle of sleighbells and hype of the holidays? Are you looking for some EXCITEMENT? Are you looking to fill all of those hours spent in December writing holiday cards and wrapping presents?

Join the Gallery Hatch Committee! Make your Mark Planning one of Hatch's biggest events! We are looking for helping hands to be creative, to be productive, to make phone calls to pick up donation items, to make class art/performance projects, to sell raffle tickets and so much more!

Come to the KICK-OFF MEETING:
Wednesday, January 23, 7 pm, Dole Library.

Select this link for more information and to download the Kick-off Meeting Flyer (pdf - 79K).

Pumpkin Festival Winners

- by Sheila Carter -

October 30-31, 2007 - There were 59 students who participated in this year's Pumpkin Festival! Once again, there were many great pumpkins, making the judging extremely difficult. We asked three secretaries from the District 97 Administration Building to judge the pumpkins. Here are the winners:

2^nd Annual Hatch School Golf Classic

"It was a real team effort and a lot of fun!" - Marty Cavanaugh, Hatch Golf Classic Chair.

Maple Meadows Golf Course, Woodale, IL - September 30, 2007 - The Second Annual Hatch Golf Classic was a big success! Over 80 golfers and volunteers came out and enjoyed a warm and sunny Autumn day!

This outing has become one of ours most-anticipated fundraisers. As Marty has pointed out, everyone contributed! We had Hatch dads organizing foursomes, sponsoring holes, making donations, and providing helping hands at the outing. Of course, this event would not have been possible without the generous support from our sponsors and donors and the enthusiastic response from the participants and volunteers. We raised over $6,800 for Hatch School! And we beat the rain by one day!

Special thanks goes to Principal Carter and Mary Cavanaugh who spent the entire day working the "Mercedez-Benz of Westmont Hole-in-one" and the "Monte Carlo" holes!

Hatch Patch Nourishes the Spirit

- by Mrs. Donna C. Villa -
Neighbor and Former Hatch Parent

September, 2007 - I would like to thank you for this beautiful garden. Each day I walk by and I witness bees and butterflies, rabbits and squirrels enjoying your garden. The garden you have planted is full of food with nutrients to build strong bodies and fuel growing minds. It also nourishes my artistic nature. I would like to share some of my favorite photographs with you. Thank you for planting such a wonderful garden.

Fun Fair Thank You

- by Rebecca Callahan and Sanford Greenberg -

Thanks to all the parents, staff, and students who made this year’s Fun Fair such a great success. We especially want to thank Lynda Ficca, who provided immense help based on her experience running the event in prior years; committee chairs Beth Franken, Jeanine George, Carrie Landsman, Michelle McGuire, and Deb Tamondong; and Mrs. Carter, for the “moonwalk” and so much more.

Hatch After Hours Session IV

The 2006-2007 Hatch After Hours Session IV has begun. However, there is still time to register for some classes. If you enjoy Mad Science you will be thrilled to know that there will be 6 new classes this session with a NASA theme. There is still time to register for Mad Science, Drama, Clay Crazy 3rd - 5th grade and Web Design. For more information and to register, select this link (pdf - 36K).

Market Basket Returns to Hatch

- by Suzanne Allen -

By popular demand, we will be working with Seven Generations Ahead to bring Market Basket back to Hatch School. Market Basket brings fresh from the farm to your table. Each week, baskets are filled to the brim with tasty, fresh, and affordable fruits, vegetables and herbs that are locally grown by a farmer's cooperative. Off-season produce is provided by other cooperatives in the U.S. Select this link for more information about the Farm-to-City Market Basket Program and to print the order form. First order is due on January 22.

Mrs. Noel to join the 2006 All-USA Teacher Team

- by Sheila Carter -

We are very excited to announce that Mrs. Noel has been selected by USA Today to join the 2006 All-USA Teacher Team. This team is comprised of twenty educators who will act as representatives for all outstanding teachers in the United States. As part of this honor, Hatch School has received $2,000, which will be used to help purchase a climbing wall for our gymnasium. Thank you, Mrs. Noel!! Editor's Note: Mrs. Noel was a 2006 Golden Apple Foundation's award winner. She has dedicated almost half of her 30-year teaching career at Hatch School.

1^st Annual Hatch School Golf Classic

"By all accounts, this was a huge success!" - Marty Cavanaugh, Hatch Golf Classic Chair.

Maple Meadows Golf Course, Woodale, IL - October 29, 2006 - The First Annual Hatch Golf Classic enjoyed a most auspicious beginning this year. Over 50 golfers and volunteers came out and enjoyed a gorgeous Autumn day!

This outing was the brainchild of Marty Cavanaugh, who convinced eight other Hatch dads to join the work. With Summer fading fast and the window of opportunity winding down to less than six weeks, the committee worked diligently to put the outing together. Much was accomplished in a short period of time. Of course, this event would not have been possible without the generous support from our sponsors and the enthusiastic response from the participants and volunteers. We raised over $3,300 for Hatch School!

Special thanks to Principal Carter and Mary Cavanaugh who monitored and worked the "Cadillac CTS Hole-in-one" and the "Monte Carlo" holes!

Halloween Family Disco Dance

- by Cathy Gaines -

Hatch held its Halloween Family Disco Dance on Friday, October 27, 2006. During the funfilled event, it was apparent that everyone was having a great time. The costumes, disco lights, glow necklaces, and Halloween decorations set the tone for "dancing in the dark" to tunes blasted by DJ Allen.

Parents, students and staff mingled with each other in their creative and traditional costumes. Eighty-nine students participated in the costume contest [Select this link for a list of participants, their costumes, and more photos]. Kudos to all the costume contest judges, and congratulations to the costume contest winners!

I'd like to extend a heart-felt thanks to the Halloween Disco Dance Committee for taking "Teamwork" to another level. Special thanks to Mrs. Carter and to the Hatch PTO Officers for their extraordinary leadership, and to all the volunteers who assisted in making this event a success.

Hatch staff, parents and students, thanks for showing up and participating in this event. You made the difference!

2006 Fall Book Fair

- by Carrie Tran -

October 23, 2006 - The Fall Book Fair was a great success! We earned over $3,000 worth of books and material for our library. Also, we made $69.00 for the One-for-the-Books program. This amount was used for library resource material. In addition, Scholastic will donate 69 books to three charities on behalf of Hatch.

The Book Fair would not have been possible without the great Hatch volunteers. Everyone deserves a big THANK YOU! It takes a large group of people to run the Book Fair effectively. Thirty-three volunteers stepped forward -- what great support!

We thank the wonderful Hatch staff for your cooperation and patience with interruptions to your day. I would like to personally thank the individuals who watched my kids while I worked the fair. I could not have made it through the week without your help. I look forward to working with everyone again at our Spring Book Fair!

Hatch 1^st Annual Kiddieland Event

- by Jamie Pack and Mary Cavanaugh -

Thank you to all the Hatch Family and Friends who supported our 1st Annual Kiddieland Event. Thanks to you, we made $1,364 in profit for our school.

If you missed it, not to worry, we will do this again next year. It was lots of fun even with a little rain!!!

Mrs. Noel awarded the 2006 Golden Apple Awards!

Sandy Noel, Hatch's energetic Physical Education teacher, is a Golden Apple Winner! The Golden Apple Foundation's 2006 award honors accomplished teachers in the Chicago area.

Mrs. Noel has dedicated almost half of her 30-year teaching career at Hatch. We couldn't be more proud. Congratulations, Mrs. Noel!

Stimulating 9th Annual Coffeehouse Delights Large Crowd

- by Lynda Ficca -

Friday night, January 20, marked the Ninth Annual Hatch Coffeehouse. It was attended by one of the largest crowds in recent years, with both spirits and inspiration running high all night. There were two "firsts" at the event, both by members of the Tennison family. Noah, from Mrs. Brummel's first grade class, sang for the crowd, and his little brother Eli, age 3 1/2, was so inspired that he later took the microphone and improvised three very scary (and delightful) animal tales!

A wonderfully creative variety of original and favorite poetry and stories from Hatch parents and students made for a most memorable evening. Thanks to everyone who participated by writing, performing, attending, baking goodies for the intermission, and supporting this special opportunity for our school community to show and share their artistry with words and voices.

TOY DRIVE A BIG SUCCESS

- by Mary Jo Msall -

Thanks to the many generous families out there, the Girl Scout Toy Drive delivered about 120 wrapped gifts to the Fraternite de Notre Dame Church in Austin in mid-December. Many people donated wrapping paper and candy in addition to new toys. Scores of Hatch Girl Scouts, represented their grade one through five Troops, attended our Saturday wrapping get-together. Many hands made light work. Thank you Scout parents and donors!

Gingerbread House Workshop Inspires Wonderful Winter Creations

- by Louise Carmichael -

Gingerbread House Workshop was once again a huge success. 60 young architects armed with graham crackers and their unlimited imaginations went to task early Saturday morning and came out with candy-covered masterpieces. Many used the available blueprints but others were inspired to design their own, all enjoying the freedom to decorate their edible creations. Congratulations to the Kindergarten and 3rd grade classes for having the most participating students!

HATCH STUDENTS WIN FIRE PREVENTION AWARDS

- by Eric Forte -

Two Hatch students, Madeline F. and James P., both from Ms. Keefe's third grade class, were recognized for the posters they created for the Oak Park Fire Department's 30th Annual Fire Prevention Poster/Essay Contest. Over 600 students in the District 97 area submitted posters or essays, and 16 winners were selected. This year's theme was "Use candles with care."

The Fire Department sponsored an award night on October 12 at its main station, 100 S. Euclid, for all students whose posters or essays were selected. Students and their families were treated to a pizza dinner and a special tour of the fire station, courtesy of Fire Chief William Bell and contest supervisor Lt. Peter Pilafas. Each student also received a prize package that included a smoke alarm, a flashlight and a variety of fire safety-related information. Congratulations to Madeline and James, and other contest winners.

Hatch Students to Add Healthy Flavor to S3 Kitchen Menu

S3 Kitchen - a new Oak Park eatery that recently received 3 forks from the Chicago Tribune - is looking to add some new flavor to its menu: kid-friendly, healthy foods, created by kids for kids.

With its "Flavor Fanatic Recipe" contest, S3 Kitchen extends lesson plans initiated by Hatch's very own P.E. Teacher, Sandra Noel. Woven into her lessons about nutrition, Mrs. Noel conducts cooking activities and hosts special classroom parties aimed to get kids excited about interesting flavors - foods that taste great, are fun to cook, and also happen to be healthy. The "Flavor Fanatic Recipe" contest gives kids a chance to tap into their culinary creativity. Any Hatch student can submit his or her own recipes and ideas for healthy menu items. Recipes must feature at least two of the following: fruits, vegetables, whole grains or beans. S3 Kitchen will serve the winning dishes on its menu as monthly specials! The grand prize winner will get to run S3 Kitchen for a day. Families can drop off recipes at S3 Kitchen (814 South Oak Park Avenue) or email them to Chef/Owner Karl Bader at kfbader@ameritech.net.

For birthday parties at Hatch, S3 Kitchen is also offering kid-friendly healthy platters at special prices. Platters include Fresh Fruit Wands with Creamy Vanilla and Ginger Magic Sauces; Veggie Batons with Zesty Honey, Taste of Asia and Greek Goddess Dips; Party Pinwheels; and Adventures in Dipping with flavors from around the world. Interested parents can call Karl at 708/383-SSS3.

April 20, 2005 - Spring Sing 1, 2, 3

Thanks to Ms. Mjolsnes and the students of First, Second, and Third Grade for a wonderful Spring Sing Event! For some highlight photos, see the Spring Sing Gallery!