The Olive Branch 9.4.26

In this Branch:

Principal's Message
Hope Larson - Author Visit
2026 IAR Assessment Results
Health Office Information
ABC/25 and PTA Memberships
Fun Fluency
Lunch Menu
Save the Date

Principal's Message

A quick reminder that the school playground is closed before school. Arrival time is 8:50 and all students are asked to report directly to their lines.

This week was full of unexpected weather and we had to spend more time indoors than we wanted to. Our priority is always student safety, but we always do our best to have students outside for recess. Next week's forecast looks much more promising! Looking forward to the week ahead.

No school Monday

Hope Larson - Author Visit

Get ready, young artists and readers! We are excited to announce that Hope Larson, a New York Times bestselling and award-winning cartoonist and comics writer, is coming to visit Olive-Mary Stitt School! Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will have an opportunity to attend a presentation by Ms. Larson at 2:30 PM on Wednesday, September 16.

The presentation is coordinated by The Book Stall in Winnetka.

Anyone who would like to order an autographed copy of one of Ms. Larson’s middle grade graphic novels, Very Far From Home and/or Very Bad at Math can visit the LMC website. There is an online order form there. Orders are due by September 13.

Spring 2026 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) Reports

Please keep an eye out for your child’s Spring 2026 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) results. Reports will be sent home for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders via backpack mail on Friday, September 18. Be sure to check your child’s backpack for their IAR report.

Health Office Information

We appreciate the families who have already submitted their child’s required health forms.

It is crucial that all necessary forms are provided to avoid any interruption in your child’s education as the State of Illinois REQUIRED EXCLUSION date of October 15th.

Our school nurses will be reaching out to families who need to submit updated information, so please be attentive to any communication via voicemail, email, or backpack mail. For any questions or further assistance, please visit our D25 Health Services page for the school nurse contact information.

Physical/Immunization Record:

Required for all kindergarten and new students
The physical must be completed within a year of school start, dated on or after August 20, 2025
Parents must complete and sign the health history section
Immunizations Requirements must be met or include a MD approved schedule of administration
Failure to submit the form and have it reviewed by the School Nurse prior to the OCTOBER 15th deadline will result in your child being EXCLUDED from school

Vision Exam Form:

Required for all kindergarten and students new to the state of Illinois
The exam must be completed by a licensed eye doctor and dated on or after August 21, 2025
The official State of Illinois Eye Examination form is required
Due date of October 15, 2026

Dental Exam Form:

Required for all kindergarten, second grade and six grade students
The exam must be completed by a licensed dentist and dated after November 15, 2025
The official State of Illinois Dental Examination form is required
This is due by May 15th, 2027

ABC/25 and PTA Memberships

OMS PTA

Our OMS PTA does so much to make our school community special—from fun family events and student activities to supporting our teachers and creating memorable experiences for our students. The more families who get involved, the more we can do together!

Whether you have lots of time or just a little, there is a place for everyone. Join the OMS PTA and be part of making a difference at Olive-Mary Stitt! 🦉💙

Join Today!

ABC 25

The D25 community is lucky to have the support of the ABC 25 foundation. In addition to funding teacher grants, every year, the ABC/25 Foundation awards $2,500 to all District 25 schools when 25% of the school's families become members. We hope you will considering joining! Click Here

OMS is also in need of an OMS/ABC 25 Liaison. The Liaison attends ABC 25 meetings and represents our school. After attending the meetings, you would share information with the PTA about events and pass along any marketing materials that need to be distributed. The Liaison also assists in reading, scoring, and voting on grants written by teachers. Please email president@olivepta.com if you have questions or are interested in possibly becoming our representative!

Fun Fluency Classes

Register Now for FunFluency - Classes Begin Sept 16!

We are excited to share that Fun Fluency Spanish enrichment classes will once again be offered at all District 25 elementary schools during the 2026–2027 school year!

Classes will be offered before and after school right at your child’s school. Fun Fluency classes are designed to make language learning engaging, confidence-building, and interactive for students of all experience levels.

Registration for the 2026–2027 school year is still OPEN. Space is limited, and classes fill up very quickly. Tuition for a full year is $365. For more information or to register, visit https://funfluency.com/registration or click the flyer below:

OMS Fun Fluency

D25 Families: Heritage Fest Is Looking for Booth Hosts

Saturday, September 19 | 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Arlington Heights Historical Museum
110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights

Heritage Fest is looking for families to host booths celebrating their culture, traditions, and heritage. If your family has participated in a D25 Multicultural Fair, this could be a great opportunity to share your culture with the broader Arlington Heights community.

Sign up to host a booth

Heritage Fest is presented by the Arlington Heights Park District, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights Historical Museum, and Village of Arlington Heights.