Orrington Elementary School
August 15th, 2023
Dear Orrington Parents and Caregivers,
As we approach the end of the school year, we are in the process of reviewing our School Work Plan (SWP) goals for the 24-25 school year, and beginning the development process for next year's goals. The School Work Plan ensures that building-level goals are in alignment with the pillars of the District 65 Strategic Plan. The focus areas for our goals include student growth and achievement in the areas of literacy and mathematics; professional learning communities to support teaching and learning, and culture & climate and student sense of belonging. Part of the SWP process is to gather collective perspectives and priorities from families to help inform our goal setting for the 25-26 school year.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide us with your valuable input.
By July, District 65 will have reduced nearly $20 million from the annual budget in two years, but more work remains. For several years, district leaders and board members have discussed in public meetings the potential need for school closures or consolidations. This is in response to an aging population within our community, declining student enrollment, underutilized buildings, and dated facilities.
While this process will surely be difficult, it represents an opportunity to reimagine and reinvest for the future of public education in Evanston/Skokie. No decisions have been made regarding additional school closure/consolidations. The District is in the early stages of planning, including developing potential criteria. See more information
The goal is to engage parents, caregivers, staff, students, and community members in a transparent process with clear criteria. Decisions must be made with integrity and rooted in data and community voice.
As such, District 65 invites you to attend an upcoming community conversation:
April 10, 6:30-8 p.m. at Chute Middle School (1400 Oakton St.)
April 11, 9:30-11 a.m. at Fleetwood Jourdain Community Center (1655 Foster St.)
April 15, 6:30-8 p.m. at Nichols Middle School (800 Greenleaf St.)
Spanish interpretation will be provided. Can’t attend in person? Share your thoughts virtually by 11:59 p.m. April 15, 2025.
We need your help! This April, our school is launching an exciting project that encourages creativity and sustainability, and we’re asking families to donate recyclable materials to support our students’ learning.
If you have clean, reusable items such as cardboard tubes, egg cartons, plastic containers, bottle caps, or other craft-friendly recyclables, please send them in with your child or drop them off in their classroom. If you are also looking to donate old puzzles with missing pieces, old books that are ripped, or more, we can use those! Your contributions will help bring this project to life and inspire students to think creatively about reusing everyday materials.
If you can donate hot glue guns, packing tape, masking tape, etc. to help us put it all together, we would also appreciate that!
Thank you for your support—we can’t wait to see what our students create!
Trimester 2 ended on March 7th, so our Fine Arts, P.E., and Library team has published their newsletter for your reading enjoyment! Check out what students learned in each space by reading the newsletter
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We’ve noticed an increase in common illnesses among our students, and we need your help to keep everyone healthy! By following these simple guidelines, we can work together to prevent the spread of sickness and keep our school a safe and thriving place for all.
When to Keep Your Child Home
If your child is experiencing any of the following symptoms, please keep them home from school until they are feeling better:
✅ Fever (100.4°F or higher)
✅ Vomiting
✅ Diarrhea
✅ Chills or body aches
✅ Persistent cough
When It’s Safe to Return
Your child is ready to come back to school when:
✔️ They’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
✔️ Any rash with a fever has been checked by a healthcare provider, and the fever is gone.
✔️ It’s been at least 24 hours since the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea.
✔️ They’ve been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours, if prescribed.
✔️ Their symptoms are improving, and they feel well enough to participate in daily activities.
Healthy Habits to Prevent Illness
Encourage your child to practice these simple habits to stay healthy:
🧼 Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
🚫 Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth.
🤧 Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow.
🗑 Throw tissues away immediately and wash hands afterward.
🥤 Avoid sharing personal items, food, or drinks.
By working together, we can help keep our students, teachers, and staff healthy. Thank you for your cooperation and support!
Stay well!
