Yesterday marked the first day of Black History Month. This time in February is a dedicated period to celebrate and honor the achievements, contributions, and rich cultural heritage of African Americans. At Orrington, our staff looks for ways to embed this into the every day learning throughout the year.

Black History Month encourages everyone to reflect on the importance of diversity, inclusion, and understanding, fostering a collective appreciation for the richness of America's cultural tapestry. It is not just a time to remember the past but also a call to recognize ongoing contributions and work towards a more inclusive and equitable future.

From the Center of Racial Justice in Education, I wanted to lift these resources for families in particular:

• African American History Month Resources for Parents – Adlit.org
• Learning More About Black History for Parents and Families – NYC Dept. of Education
• 5 ways to celebrate Black History Month with your family – ChicagoNow.com
• 8 Black History Month Books and Resources for Kids -JusticeJonesie
• Celebrating Black History and Diversity Builds Self-Esteem and Empathy -Too Small to Fail
• African American History For Kids -University of Illinois Extension
• Top 15 children’s books for black history month -Family Education
• How to talk to your child about Black History Month (A script) -Mama Knows it All
• Black Children and Black History: The Importance Of Teaching Our Kids the Complexity Of Us -My Brown Baby

The City of Evanston has multiple events and activities going on this month which can be found HERE.

Some highlights include:

• Feb. 11: Matinee Movie @ Main Celebrating Black History: The Little Mermaid. (2023).
  
• Feb. 20: Teen Snack & Paint
  
• Feb 23: Black Family Game Night
  

Twice a month, Ms. Woelfle and Ms. Yoo work with each grade level. The more helping hands, the better as we plan interactive activities. A few of the future activities are as follows -

Feburary - Door decorations for Black History Month

March - Learning about our school's mascot and more

April - Garden planting and community clean-up

If you are available to help, please sign up HERE.

Please note, 5th and 1st grade are in the morning while 4th, 2nd, Kindergarten, and 3rd are in the afternoon.

The window for the 5 Essentials is now open for families and caregivers. We are aiming for at least 80% response rate from our community - your honest feedback helps us continue to grow as a school.

Link to survey: http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/

Opened Jan. 30, 2024 and closes March 29, 2024.

Reach out to us if you have any questions or you need assistance. We also invite you to stop by main entrance during conferences to take the 5 Essentials while you are Orrington!

Be on the lookout for information from your child(ren)'s teacher(s) about winter conferences - information should be out within the next few weeks.

The dates will be Tuesday, February 13th and Wednesday, February 14th. You can sign up for a conference with our FAPEL team in this spreadsheet.

In District 65 we are committed to helping all students reach their full potential and to provide opportunities that accelerate learning. Accelerated learning is available to all students; educators accelerate learning through grade-level differentiation, enrichment, and small group instruction. D65 also offers the possibility of alternate placement - which may grade skipping, single subject skipping or early entrance into grades K or 1st. You can find more information about acceleration HERE.

Acceleration Night is coming! All District 65 families with students in kindergarten through 7th grade are invited to join us to learn more about opportunities for acceleration, and about the process for consideration of grade-skipping. Meeting dates are; 2/6 @ 6:00 pm on Zoom

Please note the application deadline for grade skipping is Friday, March 8th. Any applications received after that date will not be reviewed until the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

Host a GFO to Fundraise for Orrington!

We are now collecting ideas for Gatherings for Orrington!!

What are Gatherings for Orrington?

A Gathering for Orrington is part fundraiser, part community-building.

GFOs are events of many kinds! Where hosts sponsor an event for Orrington families, students or caregivers, with all ticket revenues going directly to the PTA as a fundraiser. Those funds can be then used for student-teacher support, equity-focused or other community-building efforts, literacy efforts, like book- nook and so much more. Read more about GFOs.

What Kind of Events?

GFOs can be:

Service Projects: Like picking up trash at Lighthouse Beach

Games & Fun: Like an adult Kickball game or Poker night

Lessons & Workshops: Like a Cooking Class or Cookie Decorating party

Dinners & Tastings: Like a Wine or Beer Tasting or Pizza Party and Backyard movie

Sports & Fitness: Like a Paddle Party or Pickleball tournament

Other: The possibilities are endless! Be creative.

How do I sign up to host a GFO?

Fill out this form and we will contact you to schedule your event!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsWtakWtpSy9aLQiwGeMHWYf6cQGei_61Vs1DqZv7lLgmJww/viewform

You can read more about GFOs Here:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JDnYD6vWhE58AoP6fC6Ir4igYYN0OSpXsPu2wrO_CnM/mobilepresent?slide=id.p

If you have questions please contact:

Kristi.Raftery@gmail.com or sachakrasney@gmail.com

Nominate an amazing District 65 staff member for a High 5 Award!
District 65 is continuing its monthly staff recognition program to recognize those who continually go above and beyond. One licensed staff member and one educational support staff member will be recognized each month through May of this school year. Recognition includes a $100 gift card, recognition at a School Board meeting, and a video highlight in the Fast 5 and on social media!

Please consider completing a High 5 nomination for someone who goes the extra mile, turns up the J-Factor, or makes a difference for our students and school!

The Caregiver's Council for Disability Inclusion is hosting an event on Neurodiversity Affirming Inclusive Education on February 20, 2024 6:30-8:00 pm.

The Evanston/Skokie School District is dedicated to enhancing support for all learners within inclusive classrooms. This year's primary objective is to foster collaboration among parents, teachers, and administrators to facilitate student success. Our aim is to build bridges and cultivate inclusive schools, with a focus on community involvement. It is crucial for all community members to comprehend that inclusion is not only a legal requirement but also a best practice deeply valued by the district.

At the core of this effort is the recognition and understanding of individuals with disabilities as valuable and integral members of our school community. Join us in a session featuring Dr. Julie Causton and Dr. Kristie Pretti Frontczak as they guide us through exploring:

-The essence of inclusive and neurodiversity affirming schools and classrooms,
Identifying common barriers to neurodiversity affirming spaces, and
-Empowering families and educators to contribute to the creation of a neurodiverse and disability-affirming community.
-This interactive and engaging presentation promises to make the journey towards a more inclusive and supportive educational environment not only informative but also enjoyable for participants.

Here is the sharable ZOOM link: HERE

If your child could benefit from better organization and time management skills, join us for a 90-minute virtual webinar designed for parents and caregivers of Middle and High School students. Gain valuable insights into the "Teen Brain" and discover easy and effective strategies that will help your child find success at school through developing strong Executive Function skills at home.

February 29th, 2024

11:00am-12:30pm (CST)

Fee: $99

includes a digital copy of the EF Student Guidebook

Register HERE.

Please pass this information onto any incoming Orrington families you may know!

• Kindergarten enrollment starts an exciting new adventure for children and their families. Our caring educators and principals can't wait to welcome your children to their new school! Below, you will find all the information needed to register your child for kindergarten.
  

  Children must be five years old on or before September 1 to register for kindergarten. Students are assigned to an attendance-area school based on their residency address.

  Registration is ongoing for the 2023-2024 school year.

  
  

• Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year
  

  Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year opens on December 4.

  Lottery applications for our selective enrollment programs and magnet schools opens December 4, 2023, and closes on March 22, 2024.

  
  

  Note: When registering for the current school year, a student's school start date is 2-3 business days after registration is finalized.

  
  

LEARN MORE ON THE WEBSITE HERE.