Principal's Newsletter
October 30, 2025
Dear Onahan Community,
Help Us Fix the Onahan Field — Your Voice Matters 💙💛
The Onahan Local School Council (LSC) is relaunching our campaign to fix our dilapidated and unsafe field, and we need your help. Despite years of advocacy, this important project continues to be delayed due to lack of funding from the Chicago Board of Education (CBOE).
Why We Need Action Now
The new field design is already 100% complete and ready to go, but without funding, we cannot move forward. When this project was first proposed, the estimated cost was $4 million. After years of inaction, it has now risen to $7–8 million, making the delay even more costly.
Our field’s current condition creates serious safety and usability concerns:
Uneven ground with rocks and holes
Poor drainage after rain, causing flooding
Multiple documented student injuries during recess, PE, and sports
Unsafe conditions for both school and community use
For more than a decade, Onahan’s LSC, along with past and current principals, have been advocating for improvements. This space is used daily by students and by our neighbors after school hours. It’s truly a community resource that deserves better.
Last week, we hosted an on-site visit from CPS leadership, including the Chief Facilities Officer, the Executive Director of Capital, and our Network Chief. They recognize the issue, but we need to ensure the Board of Education prioritizes and funds this project.
How You Can Help
Action Step 1: Contact Key Decision Makers
Use the talking points below or personalize your message:
Unsafe and deteriorating field conditions
Documented injuries due to poor maintenance
Longstanding community advocacy with no resolution
Importance of this space for both school and neighborhood activities
You can reach out to the following officials directly:
Senator Robert Martwick
📞 (773) 286-1115
📧 info@senatormartwick.com
Ed Bannon, CPS Board Member
📧 ebannon@cps.edu
Jenni Custer, CPS Board Member
📧 jcuster@cps.edu
Alderman James Gardiner (Ward 45)
📞 (773) 853–0799
📧 Ward45@cityofchicago.org
Alderman Anthony Napolitano (Ward 41)
📞 (773) 631-2241
📧 Ward41@cityofchicago.org
Alderman Samantha Nugent (Ward 39)
📞 (773) 736-5594
📧 Ward39@cityofchicago.org
Action Step 2: Speak at a CPS Board Meeting
You can also make your voice heard directly at upcoming Chicago Board of Education meetings. During the Open Voice portion, families can express why Onahan urgently needs a new field.
Upcoming meetings:
Monday, November 4
Tuesday, December 3
Spots to speak fill up quickly! Visit the CPS Board of Education website to sign up: Chicago Board of Education Meetings and Sign-Up
Thank you for your continued advocacy and commitment to the Onahan community. Together, we can make sure our students have a safe, functional, and welcoming outdoor space they deserve.
In the coming weeks, our staff and students will be joining this effort through a school-wide letter-writing campaign. Your voices will amplify theirs.
With appreciation,
Marianne Patten
HALLOWEEN AT ONAHAN
For specific Halloween details, take a look at the newsletter and communication from your child's homeroom teacher. In general, if you are sending treats, there should be enough for all students and be individually wrapped. Some classes my require nut-free treats due to allergies. Tomorrow there will be a costume parade around the outside perimeter of the school at 1:00 pm for grades Pre-K through 3rd.
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN ONAHAN'S DAY OF THE DEAD OFRENDA
As part of the cultural aspect of our Spanish world language program, our Onahan students will be learning about “Día de Los Muertos” or Day of the Dead during Spanish class. Below is a website that provides more background information about this holiday: https://dayofthedead.holiday/.
We have created an “ofrenda” by our Spanish classroom, which will be on display through November so that students, families, and staff may enjoy it and learn about this holiday! The “ofrenda” will represent elements necessary for life on Earth, different types of food, and pictures of deceased loved ones. If you’d like to participate, please send a photo or memento of a loved one who has passed away (with your full name and homeroom number on the back) so that it can be added to our school “ofrenda.” Please do not send valuable or cherished mementos or photos. Instead, send copies as this will be in an open area of the school and we do not want your items to be lost or damaged.
We are excited about this activity and celebrating our school’s diversity! Experiencing different cultures helps us learn about other people’s perspectives and contributions to our shared community as well as better understand our own culture(s). We hope you enjoy learning about the Día de Los Muertos holiday and traditions!
Thank you,
Sra. Vázquez
Spanish Teacher
CHEER ON OUR ATHLETES!
Come cheer on Patsy Flanagan (7th) and Sebastian Arroyo (8th) who are running in the city championship cross country meet this Saturday at Washington Park. Woot Woot!
Both 7th and 8th grade girls and boys volleyball teams are in the playoffs next week. They would love to see their classmates in the stands! Here is the schedule. See you there!
SUPPORT A VETERAN
PTO SCHEDULE
THE BOOK FAIR IS BACK
The Scholastic Book Fair will be at Onahan November 5th and 6th. Volunteers are needed to help set up and take down as well as assisting during the school day while classes come in to buy books. Please consider signing up to help. Sign up here! It will be an uplifting experience!
FRIENDS OF ONAHAN UPCOMING EVENTS
SPECIAL AUTHOR VISIT
Students in K-3 will be treated to an in person author visit. Look out for hyped up kids about this popular author. Wouldn't it be cool to have a signed book? Thank you PTO and Megan Freeley for arranging this special treat.
HOW ABOUT COACHING WINTER SPORTS?
PTO RAISE RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES
Do you want to help out the school but don't have time to spend on location? Do you drink Starbucks everyday, shop at Target frequently or buy gas? You can use reloadable gift cards and give money back to Onahan, ALL YEAR LONG!
NOW IS THE TIME - We Need to Pay for Curriculum
If you haven’t already, please take a moment to pay your school fees. The fees help support our new HMH Into Reading and Into Literature curriculum—resources not fully covered by our budget. Thanks to the PTO and Friends of Onahan, we’ve received generous support, but family contributions are still needed to ensure all students have what they need. If your child qualifies for free lunch, you can request a waiver from the main office. Thank you for helping make this possible!
To pay student fees go to Epay (or go to onahanschool.org main page, very top corner) and use the chart below. You can select the option of One Time Payment rather than creating an account or logging in. You will need one student ID, and if you are a current student, that can be found on Aspen’s parent portal, a progress report or report card. If you are not able to pay the fees, please contact the main office at (773) 534-1180.
Student Fees Pay For:
Text books
Buses
Field Trips
Consumable Workbooks
Classroom Magazines
Novel Sets
Classroom Instructional Supplies
Personnel
Professional Development
Contracts
Web-based Subscriptions
Office Supplies
Furniture
Safety Equipment for entry and dismissal
Incentives
Tech repair
AROUND THE CLASSROOM
HOMEWORK IN ROAR CARE - VERY STUDIOUS
TRUNK OR TREAT
