William Hatch Elementary School PTO
William Hatch Elementary School PTO
... September 2008Greetings from Hatch School! It is a pleasure to welcome everyone to another exciting year!
We have many innovative projects and activities scheduled for this new school year. I hope every family will take the opportunity to participate in these worthwhile events. We encourage everyone to become active members of the Hatch School Community.
The Bank at School Program will begin Friday, October 3 for students holding saving accounts. Applications for new accounts will be available during Fee Day, Thursday, September 4. This program is sponsored through the State of Illinois and The Fifth Third Bank of Oak Park.
It is our goal to provide a comfortable, relaxed and safe noon hour for our children. Our program's guidelines are as follows:
Lunchroom supervisors are responsible for maintaining a safe, pleasant environment. Students are to respect ALL adults as well as other children. We are in need of substitute supervisors for the lunch program. If you are interested, please contact the school office.
To hear weekly activities and meetings at Hatch School, please call the Hatch School Voice Message System. Use the message system to leave messages for our faculty and staff. Dial 524-5830, listen to the prompts, and then press the teacher's four-digit number. The teachers' voice message numbers will be included in the fee day packet.
I know, as a former teacher, that reading stimulates the mind. Students increase their learning in so many ways, when they are actively involved in reading at home. Students improve their critical thinking ability, comprehension, and verbal skills by simply investing the time to read.
Therefore, we are looking for students who enjoy reading at home. The goal is for students to earn a minimum of 176 points during the school year by reading at home. The added goal is to celebrate the joy of reading, while earning points. Students that love to read will enjoy getting this deserved recognition. I know we have students that will earn more than two thousand points during the school year! The flyer will be in the Fee Day Packet.
The P.T.O. World Language Program will begin the week of October 6. We will offer German, Spanish, and French. Please watch for more information on Fee Day.
This is a reminder that school starts at 8:00AM. The first bell rings at 7:57AM. Excessive tardiness is unacceptable. As adults, we need to help students develop good habits to carry them through life. Please be sure your child arrives on time each day! I have an open door policy. If you have questions or concerns, please call me at 524-3095.
We hope to see everyone at the P.T.O./S.I.T Picnic, Thursday, September 4 at 5:00PM on the playground!
Let's make it another great year!
Sincerely,
Sheila Y. Carter
... October 2008The school board established seven goals for the district in 2007. They included:
All of these goals are now outlined in District 97's new mission statement. Please visit the district's website (op97.org) for additional information on the seven strategic areas that we, as a district, will be working on for the next five years.
We are ready to do our best to bring the district forward in accomplishing these plans and we would welcome any input from the Hatch Community.
For the last eleven years we have told students not to bring toys to school. We are continuing this policy. Parents, please help your children understand that their toys should be kept at home.
I am also asking parents to make sure students are not bringing skateboards, scooters, roller blades and bicycles to school. A busy playground is not the place for these potentially dangerous toys. Please help us keep everyone safe at school.
It was a pleasure seeing so many parents on Fee Day, Thursday, September 4. Many programs and activities at Hatch School were presented by our PTO. I would like to thank the many volunteers and teachers [who] donated their time to make it a success. The P.T.O/S.I.T Picnic was cancelled due to the weather. We will reschedule it in the spring! Let's hope for clearer skies!
Again this year, we successfully combined our annual "New Parents' Night" with our first P.T.O. meeting. The attendance was impressive! Our P.T.O. Presidents, Mary Cavanaugh and Sanford Greenberg, warmly welcomed the parents and invited everyone to participate in our PTO activities. If you missed New Parents' Night and would like to learn more about Hatch School, please call the school office.
Our Ice Cream/Smoothie Fridays are fun for the students at Hatch School. The money collected is used to:
Teachers are now busy planning field trips for the first part of the school year. Parents will be receiving information and permission slips to sign as the trips are arranged. Field trips take learning beyond the school and into the community. These trips are taken in conjunction with teaching units and are part of your child's educational experiences at Hatch. We are fortunate that, again this year, our PTO is supporting all field trips by paying for the buses. This generous gift enables us to provide many exciting field trips for our students.
On Friday, October 31, our daily schedule will be adjusted to give students more hours of academic time and less party time. Students in grades 1-5 will have a longer morning and a shorter afternoon. The schedule for October 31 is as follows:
All parents are invited to go to the auditorium or remain on the playground to watch the Halloween Parade at 1:20 PM. Classroom parties take place after the parade. Important: Kindergarten students will follow their regular schedule. Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. Kemper will have a parade and Halloween Party for both classes!
Our [Eleventh] Annual Hatch School Pumpkin Festival is scheduled for October 30 and 31. The Pumpkin Festival is a pumpkin-decorating contest with four categories: grades K-1, grades 2-3, grades 4-5, and the family category. Watch for the flyer during the week of October 13.
Our combined Open House and Curriculum Night was well attended. Thank you so much for your ongoing participation in school activities.
For the past three years, I have visited classes in grades 1-5 to talk about bullying. It has been successful in giving students the tools to identify and deal with bullying. If you would like a copy of the packet, please call the school office.
In the past few weeks, we have reviewed school safety rules with our students. We emphasized safe conduct in the lunchroom, on the playground, on buses and walking to and from school. I would like to remind parents of the following procedures:
Thank you for helping support a healthy, happy, and safe environment for your children.
Sincerely,
Sheila Y. Carter
... November 2008Conferences were held during the week of October 20. We had between 95-100% parent participation! If you did not get the opportunity to meet with your child's teacher, please call the school. It is important that parents participate in their child's education by conferencing with their child's teacher. This offers an opportunity for sharing information and planning the best educational program for each child.
We want all parents to be actively involved in their child's education by:
Hatch School had a winner in the Fire Prevention Contest sponsored by the Oak Park Fire Department. Congratulations to Riley E. in Mrs. Ficca's fourth grade class! Riley and his family enjoyed having dinner at the Fire Station. We are so proud!!
Congratulations to Hatch parents who participated in this year's Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 12. Mrs. H. (Andrew: 5-K), Mr. K. (Sam: 3-K) and Mia: (2-D) and Meredith S. (George: (3-K) and John V's (1-K/K) Aunt) completed the entire 26 mile race!!
On November 19, Michaela R. [5-D/L] will be honored at the Oak Park-River Forest Optimist Club annual luncheon. She will receive a plague for being an outstanding citizen. Students from all public and private schools in Oak Park and River Forest are eligible. The fifth grade teachers selected Michaela for demonstrating leadership in the school and maintaining a high scholastic average. Congratulations, Michaela! We are very proud of you.
The twentieth-first annual District #97 Young Authors Conference will be held Saturday, October 25, at Lincoln School. Many Hatch students will be given the opportunity to participate this year. Thank you for your support of this excellent conference for students!
Adult supervision on the playground is necessary for student safety. Students should not be on the playground before 7:45 am, unless they are participating in the breakfast program. Supervision on the playground begins at 7:45 am. After school, there will be supervision until 3:10 pm (2:10 on Wednesdays).
Important: For the security and safety of the students and staff at Hatch School, the playground doors will be locked at all times. Please use the doorbell by the lunchroom to participate in the breakfast program. You may also go to the main entrance to enter the building each morning.
Many parents are on the playground to greet their children at the end of the school day. They are not there to supervise any students. If students wish to play on the equipment after school hours, it becomes their parents' responsibility to see that these children are properly supervised. We want all students to feel safe at Hatch School.
The PTO sponsored, tuition-based World Language Program is also doing well. We have excellent instructors. Mrs. Lisa Peters teaches German, Ms. Isabelle Henry teaches French, and Ms Olga Callupe teaches Spanish. German, French, and Spanish (Kindergarten) meet on Tuesday during the lunch hour. Spanish (Grades 1-5) meets on Thursday.
A reminder! Parents need to call the school office (524-3095) when their child is absent from school. The office opens at 7:30 am.
The Homework Helper Program began October 7. This program is designed for students that may need additional support in completing homework assignments. We also create packets of additional work in language arts and math, for students to complete once they have completed their assignments. We are selecting students based on teacher and parent recommendations. The program meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, from 3:15-4:15 pm. If you would like your child to participate in this program, please call the school office.
The following teachers participate in this program: Mrs. L'Heureux, Ms. Winfield, Ms. Stack, Ms. Quickery, and Mrs. Noel. We want to make every effort to help students complete their homework assignments and to realize the importance of academic achievement.
Improving school climate is a district goal. Again this year, Hatch School will continue to emphasize the damaging effects of bullies. My anti-bullying program has been designed to teach our students that being a bully is not acceptable behavior. I have visited every classroom to talk with every student about the importance of not bullying others and what students can do to help students [who] are being bullied.
Sincerely,
Sheila Y. Carter
... December 2008The “Bank at School” Program is running very well. It is not too late to join. Application forms are in the office.
To improve the lunch hour, we provide a variety of activities for students during inclement weather. We offer:
Our lunch program is a fun time for students!
On November 19, Michaela R., one of our fifth graders, was honored by the Oak Park-River Forest Optimist Club. She received a plaque for being an outstanding citizen. Students from all public and private schools in Oak Park and River Forest are eligible. Michaela was selected by the fifth grade teachers for demonstrating leadership in the school and maintaining a high, scholastic average. Congratulations, Michaela! We are very proud of you.
Ron Clark, a classroom teacher, created these 55 rules for his students to follow. The goals were to inspire greater academic achievement and commendable behavior. I am presently sharing these rules over the intercom, asking our students to practice them at school and home. I am amazed at the progress I have already observed! A complete set of the rules will be posted in the main hallway.
Sincerely,
Sheila Y. Carter
... January 2009The staff at Hatch School wishes you a wonderful New Year. We want to renew our commitment to provide quality, educational experiences for each child.
As we start the New Year, I would like to remind everyone about some safety issues. The District's disciplinary policy states: "Any student who brings a weapon onto school grounds will be suspended and scheduled for an expulsion hearing before the district board." I wish to be very clear on this matter so that there is no misunderstanding on the part of students or parents. Even a small pen-knife attached to a key chain is considered to be in violation of our "no weapons" policy. It is extremely important that this message be understood by all. This school year, I have scheduled school-wide assemblies and classroom visits to review safety/discipline policies with students. Teachers have also reinforced safety policies with students in their classrooms.
In keeping with our concerns about safety, we are once again emphasizing that it is extremely important for every visitor to check in at the office and to wear a visitor's name tag.Parents, who volunteer in our school on a regular basis, must also follow this procedure.
The Hatch School Faculty is requiring students to receive a Meets and/or Exceeds grade in every subject area of the curriculum. This includes the following specials: art, music, physical education and FLES (Spanish). We believe our students need to strive for mastery learning in all subject areas.
I met with every fourth and fifth grade student, who did not make the honor roll. We talked about the importance of academic achievement, communication with their teachers, more specifically, their motivation to do their best and their willingness to try to attain their goals. I truly believe every fourth and fifth grade student at Hatch has the skills and talent necessary for success! The second trimester will be a second opportunity for them to make the Honor Roll. The students agreed that they are ready for the challenge!
The Honor Roll certificates will be posted in the hallway by room 108. Please sit down with your child at this time and review your child's report card from the first trimester. The goal is to receive a 3 or 4 in every subject area.
An opportunity to participate in the District 97 Writing Talent Search will again be offered to all Hatch students (K-5). The categories for this contest are prose or poetry, narrative or expository, make believe/fantasy or true-to-life writing. Final choices will be selected by a panel of faculty members. These final entries will then be evaluated by a panel of District 97 judges. The winners and finalists will be honored at a writing festival in the Spring of 2009. An anthology of first place manuscripts will also be distributed.
The Homework Helper Program is going quite well for students that need additional support in completing homework assignments. We are selecting students based on teacher and parent recommendations. The program meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, after school from 3:15-4:15. If you would like your child to participate in this program, please call the school office. Mrs. L'Heureux,, Miss Stack and Ms. Winfield will be working with students. We want to make every effort to help students get into the habit of completing homework assignments on time.
The World Language Program is off to a great start! There are approximately 30 students enrolled in our Spanish, and German classes. The instructors are excellent and knowledgeable. The parents of enrolled students may stop by during the lunch hour to visit their children's classes and meet the language teachers.
District 97 is committed to providing all students with healthy meals during the school day. In honor of that commitment, Hatch School would like to reassure everyone that it is also against our policy to sell any unhealthy snacks/meals or beverages before, during, or after school. We are dedicated to providing our students with only healthy choices and we will continue to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Our read-a-thon program is going very well! As of December 19, 60 students have met the goal of earning 176 points. There are 166 students presently participating in the program. It's not too late to join the fun! Stop by the office for more information.
Sheila Y. Carter
... February 2009We had a very successful celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Miss Norton, Mrs. Mann, Ms. Lyles, Mrs. DePriest, and the entire student body contributed to this excellent program.
I would like to encourage parents to use our District Voice Messaging System. Each week the calendar is recorded on the Principal Message (524-5830) so that parents may check on field trips, assemblies, and special evening activities.
Your Teachers' voice message numbers are listed in the Student Directory. Teachers check their messages daily so this is a convenient way to communicate with your child's teacher.
February conferences were held on the following days:
It is essential that every parent visits the school and talks with his/her children's teachers about their academic progress. When parents participate in these conferences, their children receive a clear message that their schoolwork is important to everyone. Parents and teachers are able to share concerns and strategies that will improve our students' academic achievement (performance levels).
Please contact your child's teacher if you missed your conference.
School starts at 8:00AM. The first bell rings at 7:57AM. There are a number of students who still do not arrive on time. This excessive tardiness is indicative of a negative attitude. As adults, we need to help students develop responsible qualities to carry them through life. Our goal is to have all of our students arriving on time, every day.
Our breakfast and hot lunch programs, which are run by Ms. Hood, Mrs. Space and Mrs. Moroski, are very popular with all of our students, including kindergarten. We wish to thank our wonderful, lunch staff for their dedication and hard work.
Depending on the weather, we have set up a variety of indoor activities for students during the lunch hour, including basketball, games (including hoola-hoop and rope jumping), computer lab, coloring, bingo, a chat room, World Language Program, and the Math-a-thon Program. We also have a study hall in the media center for students in grades 4-5, who wish to read or use the computer to complete assignments. We no longer offer movies during the lunch hour. We want students to be active and engaged in healthy activities. Students appear to enjoy these choices, because these options improve the quality of their lunch hour.
Sincerely,
Sheila Y. Carter
... March 2009Please consider getting involved in some of the many activities sponsored by our P.T.O. We would like to thank the parents who volunteer so many hours of their time to support us. Hatch is a wonderful school because of the excellent parent support. Let's continue our successes. We need your involvement.
Thanks to all of you who have made an effort to keep our school safe. Again I am reminding everyone that when visiting the school, parents must stop by the office, sign in and wear a visitor's pass. I have asked all staff members to escort visitors without passes to the office.
There are many staff members in our building who do not know all of our parents. Unless parents wear a visitor's pass, the staff has no way of knowing who is authorized to be in our building.
Please do not just "run up to the classroom for a minute to talk with the teacher". First, you must go to the school office, sign-in, and wear a visitor's pass. All staff members, substitute teachers and teaching assistants wear badges while they are working at Hatch. We need the cooperation of everyone to keep our building as safe as possible.
The 2009 Summer School Catalog will be distributed to our families. The catalog has an excellent listing of classes for both morning and afternoon sessions. Registration will begin immediately following the distribution of the catalogs. Please do not delay; some classes will fill quickly! Any questions regarding the summer program may be directed to Stephanie Avila at the Central Office (524-7634) or Sheila Carter (524-3095) after 4:00 pm.
Please remember that the first Friday of each month is our "Bank at School" day. Mrs. Zucker, Hatch Parent, will be available for students to make deposits on their accounts. It is not too late for students to open new accounts. If you are interested, please call the school office (524-3095) for an application.
For the tenth year, Hatch School will once again sponsor our annual School-wide Read-a-thon. This is a seven-week program for students who are not participating in the "Readers are Winners" program. (185 students are presently participating in this year's "Readers are Winners" Read-a-thon and 86 students have met the goal!) As in previous years, students will have to earn at least 60 points to go to the Naperville Gymnastics Club for a day of fun, fun, fun! Please watch for a flyer with more information.
The math-a-thon program is going very well. Many students from each grade level are participating. The Hatch Staff is working with the students during the lunch hour. It is not too late to join the fun! For more information, pick up a flyer from the information center located by the office.
Sincerely,
Sheila Y. Carter
... April 2009Congratulations to the three winners in the annual contest: They are: Leila B. (4-Q), Madeline A., and Jaclyn L. Their picture ads appeared in the Wednesday Journal., Wednesday March 25. Thanks to Ms. McGowan for entering Hatch Students in this annual event!
We are beginning our annual, seven week, Read-A-Thon on March 28 and ending May 8. (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!
The Hatch School Talent Show has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 12. Auditions will start Wednesday, April 15. 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.
The summer school catalog has been available since early March! Many excellent classes are being offered at Hatch and Longfellow. 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.
February, March and May are registration months for next year's kindergarteners and new first graders. 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 on Friday, May 1. The Hatch Kindergarten Open House will be held 8:30-10:30AM and 12:30-2:30PM.
Parents interested in early admission to Kindergarten for the Fall of 2009 should call the Registration Office at the District for more information. Children who reach their fifth birthday between September 2 and October 31, 2009 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).
If you wish to have homework prepared for your children while they are absent from school, please follow these simple steps:
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.
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.
Sincerely,
Sheila Y. Carter
... May 2009I would like to state my concerns to all parents, who may want to request a certain teacher for their child. Placing your child in an appropriate, educational environment is an extremely complex task.
The teachers, the reading specialist, the Student Services Team, and the principal all have input on class placement procedures. Your children are seen in various settings. Their level of independence and self-motivation are always considered in our placements. In addition, reading and math achievement levels, racial balance and boy-girl ratios are taken into account. We consider which children do not get along well together. Our recommendations are based on all of these considerations.
When parents call to request a change of teacher or separation of certain children after the class lists are posted, this greatly complicates matters. Certainly, I want your concerns and priorities expressed, but I am asking you to please consider all of the factors that go into each child's placement.
I would respectfully suggest that you view whatever placement we plan for your child as a positive, learning experience. We must allow children to face realistic situations, as much as possible, and help them to grow strong by adjusting to a variety of personalities and teaching styles. We are just as concerned as you are that their learning experiences should be both positive and rewarding.
Therefore, I am asking all parents to consider all of the above carefully before asking for special changes in class placements. If you have an extraordinary circumstance, then please feel free to write a letter to me by May 15. All summer mail will be held at the post office until late August.
There is still space available for students to attend our summer school program, "School Daze "2009". We have additional catalogs available in the office. If you have questions regarding the program, please call Stephanie Avila at the district office (524-7634).
The Lost and Found has many items. To assist us in getting lost items returned to students, please label your child's belongings -- especially jackets, hats, lunchboxes, and sweaters. We want to make every effort to return lost items to students.
Our Hatch School Talent Show is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6. The program is primarily for Hatch Students, but parents are invited to attend. Performances will be at 9:00 AM (K-3) and 12:30 PM (K, 4-5). There are many talented students participating in this production.
We are very pleased to give recognition to the many students in grades 4-5 that are on the Meets/Exceeds Honor Roll. The certificates are displayed in the main hallway by the school office. The Honor Roll Breakfast will be on Wednesday, May 15 in the Lunchroom. Congratulations to everyone who made the Honor Roll. We are very proud of your academic success!
The read-a-thon is a big success again this year! Over 140 students have already met the reading goal for this year. The deadline is Friday, May 8! The students who have qualified, will party at The Naperville Gymnastics Club on Friday, May 22 or Friday, May 29. We'll leave the school at 10:00 A.M. and return at 2:00 P.M. Our top reader has earned over 2,400 reading points! Please consider joining the fun next year!!
The district-wide Tribute to Excellence Week is a tradition in Oak Park. We will celebrate at Hatch on Wednesday, May 27 for grades K-4. The fifth grade Awards/Promotion Celebration will take place on Wednesday, June 3. Please watch for more information.
Sincerely,
Sheila Y. Carter
... June 2009We are at the close of another school year and I wish to say a special good-bye to the families whose youngest child is leaving Hatch School and to those families that are relocating. You will be missed! We wish you well. Thank you for your cooperation and support.
I also wish to invite the fifth grade students to return to Hatch often. We want to stay in touch with you as you make career choices and develop into young adults.
Two hundred and fifty-two students participated in the School-Wide Read-A-Thon. Two hundred and Thirty-six students earned enough points to meet one of the reading challenges. Those students celebrated their accomplishment by going to the Naperville Gymnastics Club on Friday, May 22 (3-5) or Friday, May 29 (K-2). They participated in many activities including a pizza lunch. The staff at the Naperville Gymnastics Club enjoyed our visit.
On Wednesday, May 27, at 12:30PM, the entire school came together to celebrate the many achievements of our students at Hatch School. Students received medals and certificates in the areas of academics, health and fitness, and participation in the various activities at Hatch School.
We were pleased to see so many parents in attendance.
On Wednesday, June 3, at 12:00PM, our fifth grade students will receive awards for scholastic achievement, participation in school activities and service to the school. Presidential awards for Educational Excellence will be presented to students who maintained a meets/exceeds average throughout 4th and 5thgrades. We will also honor two students for "extraordinary academic effort."
IMPORTANT REMINDER - Please pay negative lunch balances before June 3 of this school year.
The breakfast program will also continue next year. Many students are arriving on time to be a part of the program. Students are well behaved and eat quietly with their friends.
Wow!! The talent show was a smashing success! There were many acts performed by very talented students.
First Day of School: Tuesday, August 25
School Fee Day for the 2009-2010 school year will be held on Thursday, September 3 from 2:00-7:00PM. Some of the School Fee material will go home on Tuesday, September 1.
It is not too late to sign-up for our summer school program which will be held at Hatch and Irving Schools this year. Tuesday, June 10 is the first day of summer school. If you need additional material or information, please call Stephanie Avila at 524-7634.
This is the last chance to claim lost items. We will have tables set up by the main office June 1-5. Please stop by!
Hatch School will continue to need parent volunteers in order to have another successful school year. We are very fortunate to have such giving parents at Hatch School, but we do not want to over work them. Please consider heading a committee or volunteering to serve on a committee. Please plan on actively participating in our PTO for the new school year!
Sincerely,
Sheila Y. Carter
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