Oakton is participating in the international Sky Day Project–a citizen scientist/citizen art project going on RIGHT NOW!!

Today (Thursday) and Tomorrow (Friday), every one in Oakton’s community (kids, especially!) is invited to:

1. Take Pictures of the Sky (Only the Sky! no building, people, mountains, nothing else!)
2. Tweet them using BOTH OF THESE hashtags: #SkyDayProject #oakton OR post them to Oakton’s Facebook page and we’ll Tweet it for you OR email them to oaktonpta.president@gmail.com & I’ll tweet them to Oakton’s Twitter Account
3. Check out the pictures from all over the world on skydayproject.org
4. Visit Adler Planetarium this weekend where the pictures will also be displayed all weekend long.

Go Cougar Scientist-Artists!

Please note:More information about each activity will be coming home in your child’s homework folder within the next days.

MONDAY

• Running Club – FREE – grades K to 5
  Mondays 8:15am – 8:45am | Sep 11th – Oct 6th, 2017
  6 meetups. We would love for parents to join us. You dont need to be a runner. Contact Mr. Murphy at murphyj@district65.net for more information.

 

• Mad Science – NASA-Academy of Future Space Explorers | grades 1 to 5
  Mondays 3:35pm – 4:35pm | Sep 11th – Oct 30th, 2017
  Costs $104 / 8 classes – contact K.C. at madscini@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions. 20 openings. Financial assistance, payment plan & scholarship available. Register at: www.register.madscience.org/northillinois/afterschool-register.aspx
  Find out more here:MadScience-OaktonRegfrom-Fall2017

 

• Soccer Club – FREE – grades K to 1 (grades 2nd & 3rd will come back in Spring)
  Mondays 3:45am – 4:45am | Sep 25th – Oct 30th, 2017 |15 openings per grade. We need at least 4 volunteers to run this club. No soccer experience necessary. Contact Mr. Kanchwala at Kanchwalan@district65.net for more information.

 

TUESDAY

• TAEKWON-DO Martial Art Club – grades K to 5
  Tuesdays 8am – 8:55am | Sept 12 – Dec 19, 2017.Cost: $195 / 15 classes | Contact: Anne Mason at 847-568-0912 or email amason@connellysacademy.com | Register: www.connellysacademy.com Find more information here: Taekwon-Do Fall_2017

 

• Oakton Chorus – FREE – grades 2 to 5
  Tuesdays Time: TBD either before or after school | end of Sept/ beginning of Oct |Please contact Mrs. Blacconeri at blacconerim@district65.net for more information
  

 

• Frisbee Club – FREE – grades K to 2
  Tuesdays, 3:35pm – 4:35pm | Sept 5th – Oct 24th | 12 spots available
  8 meet-ups | Contact: Lou Lapat at louislapat@gmail.com – Parent volunteers greatly appreciated
  Find the sign-up form & more information here: Frisbee Club Form – Fall2017

 

• D.I.M.E Dance Class – grades K to 5
  Tuesdays, 3:35pm – 4:45pm | Sept 5th – Nov 17th
  Cost: $80 / 10 classes | Contact: Marcus Brown at dimeverything@gmail.com | www.dimeverything.com
  

 

• Co-Ed Flag Football – grades 4 & 5
  After school – most likely on Tuesdays & Wednesdays.
  Questions? Please contact Mr. Murphy at murphyj@district65.net for 5th grade and Mr. Daniels at danielsg@district65.net for 4th grade.

 

WEDNESDAY

• Chess Club – FREE – grades K to 5
  Wednesdays: 8am – 8:50am | Start: Mid October 2017
  Please contact Mike Grossman at mgrossman@gmail.com for more information

 

THURSDAY

• Mudlark Theater – Creative Improv Class – grades 1 to 5
  Thursdays: 3:35 to 4:45 | Sept 28th – Dec 14th |Cost: $132 / 11 classes (scholarships available – no child is turned away for inability to pay)Contact: Darcy Coussens at education@mudlarktheater.org
  Register at: www.mudlarktheater.org/classes-at-schoolsFind more information here: Mudlark_Oakton F2017

 

• Oakton Sewing Club – grades 2 to 5
  Thursday 3:35 to 4:45 | Sept 28th – Nov 16th |Cost: $96 / 8 classes (incl. materials) minimum enrollment: 5 | Contact: Courtney Lyons at courtneylyonsbrown@gmail.com
  Find the registration form here:OaktonSewingClub-registrationFALL2017
  Find more information here:OaktonSewingClub-informationFALL2017

 

FRIDAY

• Sticky Fingers – Children’s Cooking Class for grades K to 5
  Fridays: 3:45pm – 4:45pm | Sept 15th – Nov 13th, 2017 |Cost: $144 / 8 classes (minimum enrollment 8 / maximum enrollment 12) Families can also request a partial scholarship or a payment plan. Register at stickyfingerscooking.com and request financial assistance by emailing directly to our local coordinator Lucy Warenski at lucy@stickyfingerscooking.com.
  Find more information in English here: StickyFingers_English_Fall-2017
  Find more information in Spanish here: StickyFingers_Español_Fall.2017

A message from Oakton PTA President Alicia Aiken

Back to School is just around the corner and we wanted to get you back in the habit of checking your Oakton PTA website for updates!

For families new to Oakton, welcome to the PTA website! Once a week, well send out this update of school and community events to keep you informed. You can also check for dates and events at Oakton PTAs Facebook page and in the school’s weekly newsletter, the Oakton Bugle.

Well be relying heavily on the Facebook events calendar so be sure to like Oakton PTA on Facebook so you can stay informed. If youre not on Facebook, well be sure to offer other methods to stay on top of events like this website Bugle!

Classroom assignments were emailed last week. You may have noticed some familiar names in new grades and stay tuned for a complete list of teacher moves & newly hired folks.

• Kindergarten families you’ve probably already heard from your students teacher to schedule a meeting for you and your student to meet your new teacher before school starts.
• Families new to Oakton with 1st to 5th-grade students if youd like to be connected with a family in your students grade and/or magnet program to help you get to know our Oakton community, send an email to oaktonpta.president@gmail.com and well get you connected. Just tell us your students grade and if youd like to be connected with a family specifically in a magnet program (ACC or TWI).

You can get ready for the school year by joining the PTA right now at oaktonschoolpta.org/pta-membership.

 

What is a bulk purchasing program?

Bulk purchasing programs have been developed at a few D65 schools as an alternative to the typical process of acquiring school supplies that families go through each year. With a bulk purchasing program, supplies are ordered in bulk to be used as communal classroom supplies, rather than having families purchase supplies from retail stores. Families opt in to contribute each year- at a much lower cost than buying supplies at retail price- and teachers order exactly what they need to outfit their classroom for the year using the money that is collected.

What are the benefits?

Convenience:

• Supplies are shipped directly to the school and teachers have time to organize their classroom before the first day of school. Additionally, teachers have more control over the supplies coming into the classroom in terms of quantity and quality.

• Families do not have to go out to buy supplies.  

Equity:

• Every student has all of the supplies needed for the year, and all students receive the same supplies.

• Savings from buying in bulk allow for a tiered payment system in which low income families can pay a reduced price, and families who cannot contribute at all can potentially still be covered.

Cost-Savings:

• Families typically pay significantly less than they would if supplies were purchased at retail price.

• Savings increase year after year, as non-perishable items like scissors, rulers, and calculators do not need to be re-ordered.

Environmentally Friendly:

• Ordering in bulk reduces the amount of packaging used each year.

• Families often have to buy extra supplies based on how many items are sold in one pack. This program reduces the accumulation of unused supplies that some families experience, and ensures that supplies are not wasted.

How much does it cost to participate?

The supply cost per student ($35 standard/$25 reduced) will cover the total cost of supplies ordered. Payment forms are attached so that we can begin collecting payments before the year ends.

We also know things happen. There are people who may not qualify for the free and reduced lunch rate, but buying school supplies might be hard to do. We provide all families with the option to make a donation if they want to help offset the cost for others. Additionally, payments can be made in 3 installments in April, May, and September.

Is this program optional?

Families are not required to participate. If you do not want to participate, we need to know as soon as possible as it impacts our ordering. We will then give you the list of supplies to buy. Please note, the list will be brand specific because the teachers are looking for tried and true supplies and we ask that you stick to the list.

 

 

+ + + Download PAYMENT FORM PDF here. + + +

We are very excited to bring this program to Oakton! Please contact Angela Cummings at angelaplesecummings@gmail.com if you have any questions.

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Información sobre el “programa para ordenar útiles escolares al mayoreo”

 

¿Qué es programa de útiles escolares al mayoreo?

Este programa se han desarrollado en algunas escuelas del D65 como una alternativa para las familias y poder obtener materiales escolares para cada año. Con este programa la compra es por mayoreo, se ordena de acuerdo a lo que el maestro/a necesita en sus salones y esto lo obtienen a base del dinero que se colecta. Las familias optan en contribuir cada año- a un costo mucho más bajo que la compra al por menor- y los maestros piden exactamente lo que necesitan en sus salones de clase para todo el año escolar.

 

¿Cuales son los beneficios?

Comodidad:

• Los materiales son enviados directamente a la escuela y los maestros tienen tiempo para organizar su salón de clases antes del primer día de clases. Además, los maestros tienen un mayor control sobre los materiales que tienen en el salón en términos de cantidad y calidad.

• Las familias no tienen que salir a comprar útiles.  

Igualdad:

• Cada estudiante tiene todos los útiles necesarios para todo el año escolar, y todos los estudiantes reciben los mismos materiales.

• Los ahorros de este sistema de comprar por mayoreo nos permite poder ayudar a familias de bajos recursos.

Ahorro:

• Las familias suelen pagar mucho menos del precio de la compra al por menor.

• Los ahorros aumentan año tras año, como; artículos de tijeras, reglas, calculadoras y estos no se necesitan volver a ordenar.

Medio Ambiente:

• Ordenando por mayoreo se reduce la cantidad de empaques cada año.

• Las familias a menudo tienen que comprar materiales adicionales a base de cuántos artículos se venden en un paquete. Este programa reduce los materiales no utilizados asegurandonos que los materiales no se desperdicien.

 

Costo para participar:

El costo es de ($ 35 promedio o / $ 25 reducido ) cubrirá el costo total para los materiales. Las formas de pago están incluidas por favor mande su pago antes de que termine el año.

También sabemos que muchas cosas pueden suceder. Hay personas que no califican para almuerzo gratis o reducido, y comprar materiales escolares puede ser difícil. Pedimos a familias si pueden hacer donaciones para cubrir el costo.  En adición, los pagos pueden hacerse en 3 cuotas en abril, mayo y septiembre.

¿Este programa es opcional?Las familias no están obligados a participar. Si no desea participar, necesitamos saberlo tan pronto como sea posible ya que afecta nuestra orden. A continuación, se les dará la lista de materiales para comprar. Tome nota mantenga la marca de los artículo de lista de útiles que los maestros requieren  

 

 

+ + + Download PAYMENT FORM SPANISH PDF here. + + +

Estamos muy contentos de traer este programa a Oakton! Por favor, comuníquese con Angela Cummings en angelaplesecummings@gmail.com si tiene preguntas.

 

You’ve probably heard about District 65’s $14.5 million operating referendum, which will be on the ballot at the upcoming April 4 general election.

So, what is it, and how does it affect Oakton and your student?

Basically, the district is running out of money, and needs more tax revenue to cover certain expenses, including things such as capital improvements (construction projects on school buildings), but also faculty salaries (specifically, reading specialists and middle school music instructors, among others).

Voting “yes” on this measure would likely mean securing these projects and positions in the near future, while also resulting in an average annual increase of $470 in property taxes for most Evanston residents.

The District is hosting several informational sessions about the referendum; the next session will be at 7 p.m. March 8, at St. Nicholas Church, 806 Ridge Ave.

For information on upcoming sessions, visit www.district65.net.

Please consider attending one of these meetings so you can make an informed decision April 4!

– EAD

All Oakton families are invited to our new Spring Fling, a delightful mash-up of several favorite annual events: The Taste of Oakton, Fine Arts Night and our annual iPad raffle.

The evening kicks off with performances by our DIME dancers and Chorus. Families are also invited to peruse displays of fine artwork by our young Picassos, and visit our newly blooming edible garden (featuring our primary students’ Butterfly Project). Finally, we’ll feast together on global fare (everything from empanadas to wiener schnitzel) prepared by YOU – our diverse community of parents and caregivers. Stick around until the end of the night to see who wins our annual iPad raffle!

It’s going to be a night of family fun, Oakton style.

Bring your family and a dish that reflects your ethnic heritage, along with some cash for raffle tickets; we’ll provide the rest!

– EAD