Get ready for Back to School Movie Night! This fun event is a great way to kick off the school year and help jumpstart fundraising for our 5th grade class. We need both volunteers during the event (short shifts so you can still have fun!) and donations of supplies (or cash if you’d prefer we do the shopping for you). Links to sign-ups are in the comments, and mark your calendar so you can be sure to attend!
This fundraiser will support activities and celebrations for the graduating 5th grade class all year long. Help us get the year started off right! Adults and current 5th grade students are welcome to sign up. Time slots are just 45 minutes, so you can help out and still have tons of fun. Thanks!
Please <SIGN UP LINK> to help with Back to School Movie Night!
Please <SIGN UP LINK> to help with Back to School Movie Night, TREATS & SNACKS Donations
Thursday, September 18th from 7-9pm at Bobby’s Eastside in Forest Park.
This adults-only event is an opportunity to kick off the new school year, socialize with new and returning Irving families, and meet the Irving PTO. Everyone is invited. There will be light snacks and each person will receive a drink ticket for draft beer, wine, mixed drinks & non-alcoholic drinks (while supplies last), followed by a cash bar.
First PTO Meeting of the Year TONIGHT! All are welcome!
Join us in person (in the Irving Library) or online (via Zoom) at 7pm!
We will have committee updates during the first half hour, then a special presentation from Mr. Sakellaris on How to Support Your Child at Home (Always a favorite presentation! You don’t want to miss it!). We will also introduce the PTO and explain how to get involved and hear a Principal’s Update from Ms. Mura.
What does garden club do? Come and see! We don’t mind if you pop in and then head out early. Come once, come a few times, or come every week; we’re happy to see you whenever you come. Our routine: we start off with a snack and a story (that relates to gardens or plants, or what we’re planting that day), then we dig, plant, weed, turn compost and more. It’s all kid friendly and very engaging. Sometimes we have special guests, like the Oak Park Public Library Book Bike or Irving staff.
How long does garden club run? Weather permitting, we’ll start back up for the season the first Friday in April, 4/11 and go through the end of school. There is no school or garden club on Friday 4/18. (Garden club is totally volunteer run, so if we have scheduling conflicts, we have to cancel for that day. We may have conflicts on 5/23 so we’ll let you know about that, and any other dates later on).
How do I know if garden club is canceled? If it’s raining and chilly, or unpleasant for gardening, we will cancel. We always cancel if there is thunder or lightening. We will post on Irving’s Parent Facebook page, and if the weather is bad and you don’t see us in the garden after school, garden club has been canceled for that day.
You can also find important updates and documents in one central location at op97.org/back-to-school. We recommend bookmarking the page for easy access throughout the year!
📸 Share Your First-Day Smiles! The first day of school is always full of energy and excitement, and we’d love to see it! Families and staff are invited to send photos of students, classrooms, and celebrations to communitynews@op97.org.
This year, District 97 is proud to launch our new Identity and Heritage Calendar, created in partnership with staff, families, and community members. The calendar highlights heritage months, identity recognitions, and major religious observances throughout the year, serving as a resource to guide celebrations, events, and planning across the district. It reflects our shared commitment to honoring student identities, amplifying student voice, and fostering an inclusive culture in every school.
Looking ahead, we aim to grow these recognitions into meaningful experiences that include student-led programming, community-wide arts and cultural events, and even career exploration opportunities. We’ll continue to update the calendar annually so it evolves alongside our community.
District 97 has updated the Student-Family Handbook for 2025-26. It contains important information regarding school policies, procedures, guidelines, student rights and responsibilities, and notifications required by state and federal law.
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Menus for our elementary and middle schools are available at
During the 2025-26 school year, all students will be required to pay for their breakfast and lunch meals unless they are directly approved by the State of Illinois or approved after completing the 2025-26 Free and Reduced Lunch Application (English/Spanish). We encourage all families who currently qualify to take a few minutes to complete the application as soon as possible. Please visithttps://www.op97.org/business-office/food-service for more information.
Food Allergies/Nut-Safe Schools
Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any District 97 schools during the 2025-26 school year. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.” Our schools have been nut-safe for the past two years—helping to create safer, more inclusive environments for all of our students.
Please visit http://bit.ly/460wpOb to access information about the district’s food allergy management program, as well as tips and options for identifying food that is safe for snacks and field trips. We appreciate your support of this important initiative!
Health Services and Requirements
Please visit the Health Services web page to find important forms related to physicals, screenings and medication, as well as information about our policies for illness, allergy and asthma management, concussion protocol, medication and more. For specific questions or concerns, please contact your school nurse.
Safety Reminders
As we begin the 2025-2026 school year, let’s work together to keep our schools safe and welcoming for everyone. Below are important reminders to help ensure the safety of our students, staff, and families. Please visit ourDistrict Safety Page for additional resources.
Once checked in, visitors will receive a temporary badge that must be worn at all times while in the building.
8)Technology Information and Resources
Please visit bit.ly/3PctavT for information from the district’s technology department about the deployment of student devices, online filtering at home, the district’s acceptable use policy, and the procedures and protocols that are used to set up accounts for students.
(portion of sales donated to Irving)
(portion of sales donated to Irving)
(plan to get wet if you participate! Bring change of clothes, towel, water shoes, goggles, etc!)
(for younger kiddos or those who want a calmer experience)
Irving School PTO 