Our Weekly Newsletter

Welcome back to another exciting school year at Oakland Elementary School! I hope you and your family had a summer filled with opportunities to relax, reconnect, and create memories. At Oakland, we believe that academic success and social-emotional growth go hand in hand. We will continue to provide meaningful learning experiences while helping students develop empathy, responsibility, confidence, and resilience. Our goal is for every child to leave our building not only as a stronger learner but also as a kinder friend, a thoughtful problem solver, and a caring member of our community. Together, we can create a school where every child feels safe, seen, challenged, and inspired to become the very best version of themselves.

Families remain one of the most important partners in a child's education. Your encouragement, involvement, and support make a tremendous difference in your child's success. Whether you're volunteering at school, participating in PTO events, attending family nights, reading together at home, or simply talking with your child about their day, your partnership strengthens our entire school community.

Thank you for entrusting us with your children each day. It is a privilege to spend our days with your children, and we never take that responsibility for granted. I cannot wait to see all of our Oakland Owls back in the halls, ready to learn, grow, and soar together.

Here's to another wonderful year at Oakland Elementary!

Mrs. Leslie Blockman

Principal

Oakland families,

As part of my yoga mentoring program, I am offering a free community class on Saturday, September 19th at 10:00 am. We will be completing 60 minutes of Journey into Power yoga. No prior experience is needed or required. I am so excited to bring yoga to a community that has had a profound impact on me as an assistant principal and person.

Please join me at Lincoln Lofts apartments (community class will be taught outside in the parking lot area) to practice being in community with others.

You can sign up HERE or by following the link on the graphic.

Thank you all for being part of my community

Mrs. Katie Thomas

Assistant Principal

New Medication Authorization forms and Diet Modification forms: These need to be completed by the parent/guardian and doctor for EACH medication every school year. They can be found on the D87 website in the school health section under the family resources tab.

- If your child has Asthma, please make sure to bring your students inhalers.

- If your student has a food allergy, make sure to complete a food allergy form and let me know.

Sick Child: Students who have a fever of 100 degrees or above, diarrhea, vomiting, a contagious rash, or illness, should not attend school. Your child should be free of the condition for 24 hours before returning to school.

Kindergarteners and students entering an Illinois school for the first time need to turn in an Eye exam completed by an eye doctor, by October 15th.

Non-urgent Communication: For issues that are not urgent, please let me know if you prefer to use the Rooms app for communication. This is a great way for me to relay information without interrupting your day.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or email me: Nurse Erick @ 309-662-4302 or heikkilae@district87.org

Have a Great Day,

Nurse Erick

Book Checkout

Students will check out books each week beginning in mid September. Students need to return their library book on or before their class day in order to check out a new book. If a book is lost or damaged please email Mrs. Martin for replacement cost information.

Overdue notices will be sent home periodically throughout the quarter. See the class schedule below.

Kindergarten

Nord- Tuesday

Meadors- Wednesday

Kirk- Monday

Hornbacker- Friday

First Grade

Kalitzky- Thursday

Heinonen- Tuesday

Malecki- Monday

Schrift- Friday

Second Grade

Malisia- Tuesday

Lynch- Thursday

Prahl- Friday

Wolfe- Wednesday

Third Grade

Bunton- Friday

Gray- Wednesday

Alfeo- Monday

Fourth Grade

Cook- Thursday

Michaels- Monday

Conroy- Wednesday

Fifth Grade

Tobin- Thursday

Oberts- Tuesday

Hiles- Monday

Sarah Martin
Library Media Specialist

Oakland Elementary

If you are interested in participating in weekly Hope Packs (extra food bags for the weekend) please complete this linked form either electronically or on paper. A paper copy will be sent home to all students. Please complete/return the electronic copy or the paper copy by Friday, September 4th, 2026. The first food pack to go home will be a week or two later in September. Please fill out the form for each individual student that you wish to receive a Hope Pack.

Could you please add sign-up for Hope Packs with this Google form link: https://forms.gle/6M8PY1wZjfj2soWn8

Thank you!!

Michelle Watson

School Social Worker

Oakland Elementary School

We have had a fantastic start to our school year and are so grateful for our Oakland students. In an effort to bring our school community together, we are finalizing our Oakland grade level directories! Please scan the QR code if you would like to be included in the 2026-2027 directory. If you filled out the form at our back to school night, you do not need to fill it out again.

Thanks for all you do to make our Oakland community so great!

Please read through these procedures. We strongly believe that students are safer, and arrival/dismissal will run smoothly if parents are respectful of the guidelines for this area. Please plan accordingly when dropping off and picking up.

1. The front circle is for buses and daycare vans only during arrival and dismissal times.
2. There is NO parking in the side circle line during arrival and dismissal times. If you need to come into the building, use a visitor space or street parking.
3. The use of cell phones in a school zone is illegal. While in the parking lot, for the safety of all children and adults alike, please do not use your phone while your car is in motion.
4. Students may not leave the vehicle in the morning until a teacher is present.
5. Students must wait until the car has stopped in the loading area before approaching the door.
6. Students must load on the curbside of the car.
7. Parents should only leave their vehicle if they need to secure a child in a safety seat.
8. After your child is secure in your vehicle, please cautiously pull away from the pick-up zone to make room for the next family.
9. When exiting the parking lot, left turns are not permitted. Please be respectful of this procedure; cars attempting to turn left impede the efficiency of this process