Stella May Swartz
August 9, 2024
Dear Stella May Swartz School Community,
Welcome Back, Swartz Students and Families!
.Welcome back, Swartz Vikings! đđ We are excited to begin the 2026â2027 school year and welcome our students and families back for another year of learning, growing, and making memories together. Letâs make it a fantastic year as we embrace âWe Before Me: Building Our Legacy Together!â
Just a few reminders:
1. Meet the Teacher with School Supply Drop Off and Student Chromebook Pick Up - Monday, August 24th, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM.
- Visit your child's classroom and meet the teachers.
- Drop off your school supplies.
- Students take home new Chromebooks. Chromebooks MUST be fully charged before returning to school on Tuesday, August 25th.
2. First Day of School - Tuesday, August 25th -
Bus Riders - please make sure that he/she is at their assigned bus stop 10 minutes prior to their pick-up time. Please check your bus information as we have added another route to Salt Creek/ Swartz. We will now have 6 buses for Salt Creek/ Swartz.
Parent Drop Off
Drop Off Zone - Students only may exit the vehicle on Elder Lane via Monterrey after 7:30 AM.
Park and Walk - Parents may park in the parking lot or on the street and walk their students to the entrance after 7:30 AM.
At 7:40 AM - Students ONLY will enter the building and go to their classrooms.
PM DISMISSAL
Parent Pick Up
Pick Up Zone - Students will be escorted to their vehicle on Elder Lane via Monterrey. ONLY STUDENTS should be walking to the cars. DRIVERS and PARENTS/GUARDIANS MUST REMAIN IN THEIR VEHICLES.
Park and Walk - Parents may park in the parking lot or on the street and pick up students on the blacktop at 2:20 PM.
**Knowing your childâs transportation home on the first school day is essential. Please have a conversation with your child so they know whether or not they are taking the bus or being picked up.
3. Buses - Our bus company has changed its name to First Student. They suggest there could be a 5-7 minute swing on either side of their posted stop times. Traffic can be unpredictable, but routes should become more consistent after the first few days. First Student's contact information is below under our standing newsletter items for your reference.
4. The 2026-2027 D48 Family and Student Handbook is available in your childâs Skyward account. Each family is asked to sign the acknowledgment form in Skyward.
5. Student Use of Personal Technology - Students should not have personal technology (cell phones, Smart Watches, etc.) on or with them throughout the school day. This starts when they get on the bus and ends when they get off. All personal technology must remain in their backpacks at all times. All students will get one warning, and then it will be sent to the office.
6. D48 Annual Safety Day - Friday, September 4th - The Oakbrook Terrace Police Department will be joining us for the Lockdown Drill, and the Oakbrook Terrace Fire Department will be joining us for the Fire Drill. We will also be walking over to City Hall to practice our evacuation site.
7. Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 10th - Please see below for all of the details, information, and the schedule of events.
SAVE THE DATES!
FTC Back to School Social - Friday, August 28th - 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at SMS
D48 Safety Day - Friday, September 4th
Stella May Swartz Curriculum Night - Thursday, September 10th - 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Sincerely,
Dr. Karen Marino
Principal
- Visit your child's classroom and meet the teachers.
- Drop off your school supplies.
- Students will take home new Chromebooks.
- Chromebooks MUST be fully charged before returning to school on Tuesday, August 25th.
- Students will keep chargers at home to charge Chromebooks each night.
The iReady Fall Assessment Testing will open for all students on Monday, August 31st. Students in 3rd - 5th grades will take a diagnostic assessment in reading and math. These assessments are not graded, but a valuable tool that helps us understand your childâs current skill levels. The results allow teachers to tailor instruction to meet each studentâs unique needs and support their growth throughout the year. These assessments will also determine your child's Personalized Pathway for iReady in Reading and Math.
The testing window will close on Friday, September 11th, and student reports will be shared with parents the week of September 14th.
As part of our ongoing commitment to student safety, our district will be holding a District-Wide Safety Day on Friday, September 4th. On this day, all students will participate in a series of safety drills, including fire, lockdown, evacuation, and severe weather procedures.
- Oakbrook Terrace Police Department will be joining us for the Law Enforcement Drill. Please read the letter below.
- Oabrook Terrace Fire Department will be joining us for the Fire Drill.
These drills are designed to ensure that students and staff are well-prepared in the event of an emergency. We approach each drill in a calm and age-appropriate manner to help students feel safe and informed.
On Friday, September 4th, you will receive information from your child's teacher that reviews all expectations and curriculum for the school year, to be reviewed prior to Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 10th.
Then we will follow this schedule on Thursday, September 10th:
6:00 - 6:30: Tour the new and remodeled spaces at Swartz
6:30 - 7:00: Parent/Teacher Q&A in Classrooms
7:00 - 7:30: The Viking "Compass" (Gym) led by Dr. Karen Marino - Come hear how we will Learn (academics), Connect (social-emotional), Lead (behavior), and Navigate Safely (technology) this school year.
FTC Back to School Social will be on Friday, August 28th.This event will be held at Stella May Swartz School from 5 -7 PM.
All district families WELCOME! This is NOT a drop off event.
Thanks so much, and any questions, please reach out to Lisa Auriemme at lauriemme@saltcreek48ftc.org
Lisa Auriemme
FTC Co President District 48
First Student Bus Co. 630-279-2720
Often, our buses run late. First Student will notify us when there is a delay in the time for buses so we can notify our parents of the bus that is running late. Sometimes, a situation arises in which our office is closed, and a parent tries to call us. If this is the case, you may contact First Student at 630-270-2720. Note that our School Office hours are from 7:15 to 3:15, Monday through Friday, for Salt Creek and Stella May Swartz.
Update Information
It is important that parents keep their information updated in Skyward. If there is an emergency we do not want to have the wrong information. Please contact the proper school your student attends and give them any new information that needs to be changed whether it be for yourself, your spouse, another parent from a different address (we can separate addresses when student's are split between households),update new or old emergency contacts and any phone numbers for anyone on your Skyward parent portal. It is your responsibility to keep us informed. Salt Creek 630-832-6122, Stella May Swartz 630-834-9256 and Albright 630-279-6160.
Call the ABSENTEE LINE when your child is absent âď¸
Please make sure to call the Stella May Swartz Absentee line at 630-834-9256, press 2 if your child will be absent or arriving late. The school office will retrieve these messages every morning. If you have any doctor's notes, please send those with your student for the nurse's office.
*** You must leave a detailed reason of the absence.
A valid cause for absence includes illness (including mental or behavioral health of the student), observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, other situations beyond the control of the student. Remember if you do not call your student in on the day they are absent with a reason, they will be considered an Unexcused absence.
August 28, 2026 - FTC Back to School Social at SMS 5:00 - 7:00 PM
September 4, 2026- District-Wide Safety Day
September 10, 2025 - Swartz Curriculum Night and Community Showcase 6:00 - 7:30 PM
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