OAK PARK (ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL) DISTRICT 97 SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH FORUM & SURVEY:
FORUM – Mon. May 17 – 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Beye School Auditorium, 230 N. Cuyler
District 97 seeks feedback from all community members regarding the characteristics and qualities they feel are important for leading the district. Please attend and share your views.
ONLINE SURVEY – Deadline May 19.
The Leadership Profile Assessment form is also available as an online survey to provide people with an additional resource for submitting feedback regarding the search. The survey can be accessed by visiting http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T9SGPTT. The deadline for completion is May 19.
May 7, 2010 - We have received a report of someone using an OPRF counselor’s name as an endorsement of a financial aid search agency. This is false representation and not authorized in any way by the high school or counseling division. Click on this link for some helpful tips about scholarships/financial aid and how to detect and avoid scams.
2010 Census: Be Aware of Fraudulent Schemes
Census takers have begun visiting households that failed to mail back their 2010 questionnaire. They will also be clarifying contradictory or ambiguous data on previously returned forms.
The Chicago Police Department and the U.S. Census Bureau want residents to be aware of potential scams and have provided the following tips:
• People should be aware that the Census doesn't use e-mail to count people. Do not respond to any e-mail claiming to be from the Census Bureau.
• The Census Bureau NEVER asks for Social Security numbers, credit card, bank card or other financial passwords and identification numbers. Do not share that information.
• Census workers should have a badge and a second picture ID. They should NEVER ask to enter your home.
For assistance or to report fraud, residents should call 311. To be counted over the phone residents can call 311 or the Census Bureau Telephone Questionnaire Assistance (TQA) – an operator will interview you over the phone in order to complete the Census questionnaire verbally. The service is available in six languages.
Telephone Questionnaire Assistance (TQA)
• English:1-866-872-6868
• Chinese:1-866-935-2010
• Korean:1-866-955-2010
• Russian:1-866-965-2010
• Spanish:1-866-928-2010
• Vietnamese:1-866-945-2010
• TDD (Telephone Display Device for the hearing
impaired):1-866-783-2010
Tardy pilot program update for parents/guardians - May 6, 2010
From Mr. Nathaniel Rouse, OPRF Principal:
I want you to be aware that for the second day this week, students planned to disrupt implementation of the new tardy pilot program by refusing to go to class and congregating in designated locations. On Tuesday, more than 100 students crowded onto the 4th floor landing, refusing to go to class and creating a disturbance until they were dispersed about 5 minutes into the period. After learning of today’s plan, potentially involving hundreds of students, we invited two Oak Park police officers to join our staff-wide presence in the hallways during passing periods.
Such disruptions are not acceptable. They create a safety hazard; disrupt instruction; involve defiant behavior toward faculty and staff, and are fundamentally disrespectful to fellow students who are trying to get to their classes on time. We are counting upon you, our students’ parents/guardians, to reiterate this message and to support school efforts to bring excessive tardiness under control.
Too many of our students have gotten to a point where they no longer view being late to class as a problem: on-time is optional. Regrettably, we adults had also lowered our expectations and let lapse our consistent application of procedures to reduce tardiness. Quite simply, we need to change our school culture on this issue, and other schools that have used the Plascotrac tardy system have found it an effective tool in that effort. We are very pleased to note that in the first four days of this pilot, there have been far more students in classes on time. We also have seen a dramatic drop in students wandering the hallways during class periods.
Chronic tardiness is not an attitude or behavior that’s tolerated in life or work responsibilities. Most important for now, students cannot learn as effectively when they are not in class, and our students and teachers deserve instructional time that is not constantly interrupted by others who come late to class.
We ask you to join us in reiterating the value of timeliness and in affirming that disruptive behavior at school puts your child and their peers at risk for a safe and productive end to their year. Finals are just four weeks away. Prom and Commencement are around the corner. We want your students to focus on doing well and having a great time as they end 2009-2010 – and for seniors, their high school careers -- on a successful and positive note. Thank you for joining us in that effort.
New tardy procedures and consequences start Monday, May 3
April 29, 2010 - Tardiness continues to be a problem at the high school despite the implementation of our current tardy procedures. Timeliness is an important life skill that also impacts student success and our overall school climate, as well. To address this issue of concern, we have investigated the tardy policies of a number of comparable high schools, e.g., Glenbard East, Hinsdale Central, Evanston, West Aurora, Naperville North, and Proviso West. Many of these schools have been using a software program from Plascotrac. Every single school provided rave reviews of the effectiveness of the program -- in many cases reporting a decrease in tardies in excess of 75%.
We have decided to conduct a pilot of the program for the final five weeks of the school year, beginning Monday, May 3, 2010. We want to test the Plascotrac system during this special trial period before deciding whether to implement the program next fall for the entire school year. The details of these new procedures were given to your students by their 2nd period teacher earlier this week. We have also included these procedures on the letter available for viewing at the link below. Please review this information with your student and join us in emphasizing the importance of arriving to class on time.
We thank you for your partnership in this new effort and if you have any questions or concerns please contact Principal Nate Rouse at 708-434-3205 or nrouse@oprfhs.org. To see a copy of the letter and detailed procedures and consequences, please click here.
Drivers: stop using neighborhood alleys as shortcuts. Barricades go up May 3
The Class of 2010 voted last week on its choice of attire for the June 13 Commencement. Results, with 302 of 796 seniors voting, were announced Mon. March 15 :
- 71 % in support of traditional white dress or pantsuit/dark suit
- 29% cap and gown
SPECIAL POLICE BULLETIN: Please help the Oak Park Police Department identify the person responsible for multiple VOMET and RYDE graffiti incidents throughout Oak Park. Please see the detailed police flyer and photos here: http://www.oprfhs.org/events/03_26_10_graffitti_police_special_bulletin.pdf
