Bobcat Blog

• Friday, September 13: Student Green Team Registration Deadline (see below)
• Thursday, September 26 - Picture Day
• Thursday, October 3 - NO School Day
• Monday, October 14 - .No School: Indigenous Peoples’ Day
• Thursday, October 24- (full day of school for students) Conferences 3:00 - 7:00 pm
• Friday, October 25 - NO Student Attendance; Conferences - 8:00 - Noon

Soon you will see our comprehensive School Improvement Plan for the year. Students will continue to receive Paw Passes this year from staff for being Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. Our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS B) team reviewed various initiatives such as this at our recent staff meeting. These Paw Passes stay at school. Coming up on October 4, students can choose to "spend" their Paw Passes on various opportunities such as having lunch with a teacher, saying the Pledge, helping in a classroom, etc. Additionally, your child may come home this fall with a "Proud Paw Pass." This is a special recognition for following our School Motto: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe. This one is for home and could be for example put on the refrigerator.

One thing that would greatly help our homeroom teachers is if any changes in a student's dismissal plan be communicated as soon as possible. IF the dismissal plan changes, especially after 11:40 a.m, please email the teacher AND include Ms. Cooper (lcooper@op97.org) and Ms. Harlan (aharlan@op97.org) who can let the teacher know if they don't see a response. Most of our teachers do not have plan time in the afternoon and are busy teaching. They don't want to miss your important messages. Thank you.

Picture Day is Coming! Ask your child for the Picture Day flier that came home this week.

• There are extras in the main office
• Van Gogh is sponsoring a Pre-Pay picture program.
• You can log into ordervgil.com
• Enter your student's information and School Event Code (20052201)

Beye Bobcat Yoga Club is open to any Beye Student at any grade level.

We will meet every Thursday in the gym during lunch recess.

Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th graders will meet from 12:05 - 12:35.

1st, 3rd, and 5th graders will meet from 11:40 - 12:00.

Yoga club will not only try yoga poses and move our bodies, but also work on calming our minds.

Our first meeting will be Thursday 10/10 in the gym. Students should wear comfortable clothes. They can bring a yoga mat if they like, however we have some to share.

Sign Up: Yoga Club Permission Slip

Thank you Ms. Baker!!

Mx. Suhs and Lori Janu-Chossek are facilitating Kaleidoscope this year. Please see THIS flier. This club will take place every Friday from 11:40 am - 12:15 pm, during the students lunch block. Interested 4th and 5th graders will bring their home or hot lunch and eat during group at 11:40 and still engage in recess at 12:15. The club will begin on Friday October 11th, and continue through April 25th. The goal of this club is to create a space that is safe and inclusive for LGBTQ+, non-binary students and allies while working to identify ways to make our school a more inclusive place for everyone, specifically LGBTQ+ students and allies. Students will have the opportunity to share, listen to, and discuss personal experiences in a judgment free zone.

Parents can provide permission 1 of 3 ways, they can email Lori Janu-Chossek (ljanuchossek@op97.org), return the signed flier or complete the Google Form Permission linked on flier.

Thank you to the PTO Board and Working Groups for preparing our SY25 Budget. Thank you to everyone who was able to join the PTO meeting last Saturday in person or online. The budget passed! Please see the slide presentation below.

Community Meeting 9/7/24

SMART Hephzibah provides supplemental math and reading instruction for students in 2nd - 6th grade, and financial aid is available to all who request it. Our goal has been to make this accessible to every student who could benefit. SMART Hephzibah offers both “regular” and “advanced” classes. The regular classes will focus on strengthening knowledge of grade-level material and the advanced classes will go beyond the grade-level curriculum.

Find your perfect volunteer role!

We are looking for volunteers to fill some essential roles:

• There are many ways to get involved at Beye, from leading a working group, to helping run an event, to volunteering a few hours at an event or in the front office. Here is a list of volunteer opportunities to explore. Have awesome ideas for fun new fundraisers? Join the fundraising working group! Passionate about promoting healthy, delicious eating and exercise habits? Learn more about Fitness and Nutrition! Like meeting new people and building community? Parental Involvement is the place for you! Want to make sure that PTO events are welcoming, inclusive, and relevant for our whole community? Join the DEI committee. Do you have website design experience and a few hours to give? The Technology working group is looking for you. Want a one time commitment that supports our hardworking faculty and staff? Consider helping organize the meals for teachers during Parent Teacher Conferences.

This year Melissa Ingram and Joia Kopelow are helping to collect advertisements for the Beye Directory. Please see the important information below.

District 97 will implement the Raptor Visitor Management System starting Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. This system will streamline the check-in process and enhance security at all our schools. Visitors will need to present a government-issued ID to check in, and a badge will be provided to wear while on school property.

For more details and video tutorials on the check-in process, please visit our website. If you have any questions, please contact your building principal.

Thank you for your support in keeping our schools safe!

Special Olympics is back! CLICK HERE for our website, which includes a sign-up link, dates, locations and sports offered for the whole year. It's broken down between K-2, 3-5 and 6-8 grades.

There are still a handful of afternoon session spots available for early childhood blended classrooms at Whittier Elementary School for the 2024-25 school year! District 97 is seeks students who:

• Are non-IEP students who will be between the ages of 3 and 4 years by Sept. 1, 2024;

• Demonstrate age-appropriate language and social skills;

• Are Oak Park residents;

• Are not enrolled in a preschool program.

For more information about the Early Childhood Blended Program, including the link to apply, please visit https://www.op97.org/teach-learn/ecblended. If you have any questions, please contact the district's early childhood coordinator, Michele Suedbeck, at 708-524-3134.

If it is raining or in winter on mornings not above 15 degrees including windchill, the students come into the building for morning line up. Students may enter through their regular entrance or any other regularly used entrance. They will be directed to the following places:

Auditorium - Kindergarten, Second and Fourth

Commons - First, Third and Fifth

Our Beye staff does a wonderful job at planning field trips that enrich our curriculum and we enjoy having family members chaperone. In order to supervise students, the chaperone must complete a background check through the district. Please click on this link to make an appointment. The background check lasts for 3 years. It is helpful to do these earlier in the year as time slots fill up.

District 97 has updated the Student-Family Handbook for 2024-25. It contains important information regarding school policies, procedures, guidelines, student rights and responsibilities, and notifications required by state and federal law.

The purpose of this handbook is to outline for students, families and staff the expectations for building an educational community where everyone feels safe, included and able to learn. Having shared expectations, procedures and policies helps us respect all members of the school community in which we learn and work every day. Please take the time to read through the handbook and review it with your child.

Please consider signing up to help maintain our Beye community pantry! Thanks in advance.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084FAEA82EA0FC1-beye1#/

Background Check Sign Up

Beye entrances/exits

D97 2024-2025 School Calendar

Health Letter from Nurse Shilpa

“My Mealtime” online portal, (If you need to add money to your child's account)

Student-Family Handbook for 2024-25

Cheryl Sullivan

Beye Principal

csullivan@op97.org

Location: 230 North Cuyler Avenue, Oak Park, IL, USA
Phone: 708- 524-3070
Twitter: @MrsSullivand97