D97 Updates

RunTough for Team Owen

This community event is organized by the Family of one of our D97 Mann Mustangs, Owen Petrzelka, who in October 2020 lost his brave 6-month battle against DIPG, the deadliest form of childhood brain cancer. Since 2020, his family has organized a virtual 5K run, in conjunction with the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, to raise funds for childhood brain cancer research. This year’s 3rd annual virtual 5K run is scheduled for Saturday, October 1 and it’s not too late to sign up! But whether or not you are interested in running, we have great news!! This year, there will be an even bigger community event in order to try to live up to one of Owen’s mottos: “making someone happy is our job”. To that end, on race day, the 900 N Grove block in Oak Park will be turned into a community fun zone where community members, whether they are running or not, can stop by throughout the day for some fun kids’ activities, food/drinks, and live music. Visit the Event Webpage for more details and logistics information.

New Families Night & First PTO Meeting

It’s a double feature! Are you and your student new to Irving? Did your student just start kindergarten, or maybe your older student transferred from another school? Maybe your student attended Irving last year but you still feel “new” due to the disconnectedness we’ve all experienced over the past couple of years! Please join us Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6pm in the school lunch room to hear from our principal Ms. Mura and some of our PTO members about all the happenings at Irving School! Then head on over to the library for our first PTO meeting of the year at 7pm. We will be discussing open board positions, upcoming events, and more! If you can’t make the PTO meeting in person, join us on zoom at 7pm:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89384341152?pwd=Q3FMZWoyc3VoSHF4ZEUvZXNQNTY4Zz09

(Meeting ID: 893 8434 1152 / Passcode: 639601)

SMART Math Program

SMART will be offering a 6-week fall program to give current 2nd through 5th graders an extra boost in math, in the early evenings starting the week of October 10th. New this year based on feedback from parents and teachers: SMART will have both “regular” and “advanced” math classes this fall. The “regular” classes will practice and reinforce grade-level material and the advanced classes will go beyond grade-level material. Sessions will be taught by D97 teachers over Zoom. Students from any elementary school in Oak Park and River Forest are welcome. Total cost is $72 for the full term. Financial aid is available for those who need it.

Join the nearly 300 students who participated in the SMART program last year. For more information and to register by Friday, September 23, visit www.smart-oakpark.org.

Gender Equity Training Event

D97 Divco is welcoming all parents, caregivers, teachers and educational volunteers to participate in Lurie’s Gender Equity Training with representatives from Lurie Children’s Hospital. This training will help develop awareness on supporting and affirming gender identities and sexual freedoms amongst children and youth. Ensuring the safety and comfort of our children in this community is crucial and has a significant impact on their health and wellbeing. We hope you will join the rest of our D97 community in working towards a more loving and accepting space for all children.

Submit any pre-meeting questions here: https://bit.ly/3LBNDGD

Zoom Link to Join the March 3 Meeting: https://northwestern.zoom.us/j/98564989866