Meals for District 97 Students
District 97 has been working with our food service provider, Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, to ensure that all District 97 students have access to meals during our closure, including Spring Break. Please see the information below for those who are interested in receiving shelf-stable meals.

• When: Friday, March 20, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Where: Pick-ups will be held at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.
• What: Each bag will contain breakfast and lunch items for six days.

From Denise Frank:

Hey all! All this inside time is making me itchy to start gardening and, guess what?, it’s not too early!

Join us tomorrow, Thursday, March 19th, at 2:00 p.m. for the very first ever VIRTUAL GARDEN CLUB!  On our Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/irvingelementarypto/ 

We are going to read the book “Little Pea” and talk about planting sugar snap peas. Even if you live in an apartment, you can grow peas so long as you have a space to put a pot in the full sun. They are great container plants! No pot? No worries! You can also plant them directly in the ground. No seeds? No problem! We will drop off a seed to your house. It will be pre-soaked and wrapped in a wet paper towel, good to go for when you’re able to put it in a cozy, dirt bed.

Get Creative during eLearning Week – Low-Tech Options for Downtime 

1. Play outside! Yes, even in the rain (with proper gear of course!). With social distancing this will change the healthy proximity of our kids with their neighbors, but there are still plenty of ways to take advantage of our shift toward springtime.
2. Card games. For a low cost, a deck of cards can be purchased at area drugstores. Check this website for instructions for how to play a variety of card games.
3. Get the children involved in food prep. Make sure they wash their hands first, but there’s no reason kids can’t pick up a few new skills in the kitchen during this break from extracurricular activities.
4. Download audiobooks from the Oak Park Public Library.
5. Volunteer to help neighbors who are elderly with yard work or other errands or tasks outside of their homes.

Hope you are all staying safe and connected online (at least).

Dear Irving Parents and Guardians:

As we prepared today’s newsletter, we recognize how different things are this Sunday from last. Our students begin eLearning tomorrow, and all Irving related events are either canceled or in a “TBD” zone between now and the end of the year. As you are aware, Governor Pritzker declared all schools closed through March 30th. We anticipate knowing before that date whether we will return post-spring break or if eLearning will continue. In the meantime. We hope the information we provide throughout this edition of the newsletter proves helpful.

– Your Irving PTO Communications Team

If you are on Facebook, be sure to connect with other parents on the Washington Irving School Parents page.

See below for E-Learning Links and other Useful Links!

Irving’s E-Learning Resources

Grade K
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
 Social Emotional-E-Learning Plans, K-8

Ms. Otten
Ms. Perry Reading and Math Groups
Ms. Reyes Reading and Math Groups
Ms. Rogers Reading Groups

Link to Dr. Kelley’s Statement about E-Learning

https://www.op97.org/irving/

COVID-19 LINKS

D97 Coronavirus Update Center

NPR Comic for Kids Exploring the Coronavirus

How Coronavirus Hijacks your Cells (NYTimes Science article)

D97 Let’s Talk Page for asking Questions about Covid-19

Village of Oak Park Coronavirus Resources

Oak Park Coronavirus Citizen Response Facebook Group

E-Learning Links

D97 Remote Learning Home Page

D97 eLearning Student Checklist and Guide

List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions

March Mammal Madness

Sample daily schedule

Meals for D97 Students Who Receive Free and Reduced Lunch

• When: Monday, March 16, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Where: Pick-ups will be held at Longfellow Elementary School (Lobby) and Brooks Middle School (Commons). Families may choose the location that is most convenient for them.
• What Students Will Receive: There will be five shelf-stable lunches and five breakfasts available for every student.