OPEF’s BASE Camp now open for registration!

The Oak Park Education Foundation’s exciting roster of summer B.A.S.E. Camp classes for students entering grades 1-9 is now available for registration atwww.opef.org/basecamp/register/.  Our camps filled up fast last summer, so register soon!

This summer’s program includes Geared Up (engineering with LEGOs), LEGO Landmarks, Architecture Adventure, Vex Robotics, Genetics Mural, Dissection, Medical Illustration & Dissection, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Digital Photography, and Summer in Song (songwriting and chorus).  These will be great fun, and educational, too!

B.A.S.E. Camp runs from June 4-29, but classes vary in start dates, times, lengths and locations. It is open to children from any and all schools. And this year we’ve expanded to three locations: Julian Middle School, Brooks Middle School, and Oak Park and River Forest High School.

National Nutrition Month and PACK Week: March 12-16

Pack Assorted Colors for Kids.

To celebrate PACK week, the hot lunch will provide a fruit or vegetable that is the “color of the day” during the week. We also encourage students, who bring a cold lunch, to also pack a fruit or vegetable that color, on that day.

Even if you cant bring that color fruit or vegetable you can still help to promote this by wearing the color of the day.

Monday – Pack and wear Purple
Tuesday – Pack and wear White
Wednesday – Pack and wear Red
Thursday – Pack and wear Yellow/Orange
Friday – Pack and wear Green

Click here for a flyer with PACK Week Tips.

Eagle Extras Registration Update for Spring Session

Classes are filling quickly. If you are considering registering for Mad Science K-2 or Legacy Olympiad, space is limited….register as soon as possible before these classes are full.

The following classes have not hit minimum enrollment and are in jeopardy of cancelation:
Everybody Rocks! K-2 needs 4 more students
Wizard of Oz K-2 needs 2 more students
Glee needs 8 students
Legacy Hoops needs 3 students
Fitness and Fun on the Run needs 3 students
Yoga K-2 needs 3 students
Mad Science 3-5 needs 10 students

Last day for registration is March 22.

Updated course description sheet can be found here.

Letter from Principal Hodge – ISAT Week

Dear Irving Families:

Beginning Tuesday, March 6th through Friday, March 9th children in grades 3, 4, and 5 will be taking the Illinois Standards Achievement Tests (ISAT).  These tests measure student performance as it relates to the Illinois Learning Standards and classroom curriculum.  All public school children across the state are required to participate in the ISAT testing program.  ISAT is used as a means for program assessment for our school and is one of several measures for determining individual student achievement.

District 97 is required by state and federal law to administer the ISAT test to all students in grades three through eight during the designated two-week testing window. This year, the testing window will take place March 5-16, 2012. The law also states that any student in those grades who is absent during the testing window, but returns to school before testing is completed, must be administered a make-up test.

In addition, state law requires that scores received on state assessment tests administered in the elementary grade levels (K-8) must be maintained in a student’s temporary record.

Irving’s testing schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, March 6th through Friday, March 9th  – Testing begins at 8:30 a.m.

Monday, March 12th through Friday, March 16th  – Make-up Testing

Parents, please assist your child in being prepared for testing.  Eating breakfast and being well-rested will help your student to do his or her best.  Discussing the importance of the test while minimizing any anxieties your child may be feeling is helpful as well.  These steps will support our collective efforts for having each child achieve the best possible results.

Sincerely,

John Hodge, Principal

You can also see the letter here.