Parent Update Friday, December 6, 2024 |
Dear Parents and Community Members,
Winter has arrived, bringing a season of inner warmth, joy, and reflection. As we embrace the spirit of giving, I encourage each of us to spread kindness and make a positive impact on those around us. Whether through a small act of generosity or a heartfelt connection, let’s use this time to uplift our schools and community, bringing joy to others.
As we look toward the future, I am excited to announce that we are entering the next phase of our strategic planning process. This plan will shape the direction of our schools and community, and your input is vital. To ensure every voice is heard, we have organized various opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ideas. These include surveys, meetings, online polls, focus groups, and town halls.
This plan is not just mine—it’s ours. Your perspective matters and your involvement will help ensure our efforts reflect the hopes and priorities of our entire community. I invite you to participate in any way that works for you to include your voice in writing this next chapter of our story.
When we work together with a shared vision for success, we can create a brighter future for our students and schools. Thank you for your continued support, and I wish you a joyful and peaceful winter season.
Warm regards, |
Superintendent of Schools Community Unit School District 308 |
During a 24-hour challenge in the 2024 Food Drive, Hunt Club Elementary School collected the equivalent of 1,318 food items, averaging 16.9 items per staff member. To recognize their efforts, Dr. Khelghati stocked the staff lounge with snacks. Watch the video here! |
December 9: Board of Education Meeting 7 pm December 17-19: Final Exams (High School)
December 20: Final Exam Make-Ups (High School) December 20: Early Dismissal - 3.5 Hour Student Attendance
December 20: End of First Semester (Grades 6-12) December 23 - January 3: No School - Winter Break
January 6: No School - Teacher Institute Day January 7: Students Return from Winter Break |
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| Hunt Club Teacher Shares Lesson Planning Talents |
Recently, an SD 308 teacher received the opportunity to make an impact beyond our district, contributing her expertise to the greater field of bilingual education. This opportunity arose when Books del Sur, a curricular company that offers resources to support dual language learning, was seeking a
lesson plan to accompany its monthly author book chat. Luisana González, a fifth grade dual language teacher at Hunt Club Elementary School, responded to this call to action. The lesson plan she created was shared last month.
“I appreciated the opportunity to learn about the featured author’s work since I am always looking to add great Spanish books to our classroom library,” she said in an email. |
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SD 308 Highlights Recent Financial Milestones |
Over the last several months, Oswego Community Unit School District 308 has revamped its financial management to more effectively utilize its funding. These improvements tie into our strategic plan, enabling us to approach this journey with a fiscally sound foundation.
With a past of failed referendums and budget cuts, SD 308 is committed to moving forward to create a better future for our students, staff, and community members. Our recent financial milestones reflect that dedication. |
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| PRIDE Recognition - Nominations Open |
Proudly Recognizing Individuals Demonstrating Excellence, also known as PRIDE, is a way for teachers and staff members to be recognized for their work in SD 308. Fellow district employees, students, parents, community members, or alumni can nominate individuals for consideration for this recognition.
PRIDE nominations for Grande Park, Homestead, The Wheatlands, and East View Academy are due by January 31. |
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Board of Education Meeting - Monday, December 9 |
Our Board Meetings are open to the public and start at 7 pm at Oswego East High School bi-monthly. You can read more about our Board of Education at www.sd308.org/Board-of-Education. |
No School (District Closed) Winter Break
December 23 - January 3 |
Reminder that there will be no school for any grades and the District will be closed from Monday, December 23 through Friday, January 3 for Winter Break. |
No School for Teacher Institute Day - Monday, January 6++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ |
Reminder that there will be no school for any grades on Monday, January 6 for a Teacher Institute Day. Students will return from Winter Break on Tuesday, January 7. |
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Your Voice in our Strategic Plan |
In phase one of the strategic planning process, ideas from students, staff, families, and our communities are vital. Each perspective is important when it comes to planning the future of our schools. Our strategic plan will evolve as we collect information from online surveys, special focus groups, and parent, staff, and student meetings. Please review the schedule and save the date for focus groups and town hall meetings in January. We will provide additional location details and RSVP links soon. Watch your email as we begin sending survey questions and on our website as we post opinion polls. Thank you for your time and consideration as we work together to write the next chapter of our story. |
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On November 20, Dr. Khelghati shared a message reminding students, staff, and families of SD 308's inclement weather closure procedures.
"The decision to cancel in-person school is never made lightly," Dr. Khelghati said. "We understand the inconvenience it can cause families and recognize that students benefit most from classroom instruction and in-person engagement. However, when weather conditions, such as snow, ice, or extreme temperatures, create unsafe travel conditions for our students and staff, we may find it necessary to close school buildings to ensure everyone's safety."
The full letter about our winter weather closure procedures can be accessed below. |
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Effective January 1, 2025 - Students will no longer be able to access their personal accounts on school-issued devices. This change will help students focus on their schoolwork during the school day and can better protect students from online threats and inappropriate content. The email communication sent out on November 7 by John Francis, Executive Director of Schools, can be viewed by clicking below. |
| Tonight, students from Oswego High School, Traughber Junior High, Thompson Junior High, Bednarcik Junior High, and Plank Junior High will be sharing their musical talents at the Village of Oswego's Christmas Walk. The event will take place from 4:30 to 8:30 pm. |
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Join us at the Oswego Public Library (Montgomery location) on Tuesday, December 17 for Caregiver Cafe. This is a safe space for parents, guardians, and caregivers of SD 308 parents to relax and engage in roundtable discussions with other caregivers facing similar daily experiences. The event will take place from 10 to 11:30 at 1111 Reading Drive, Montgomery, IL 60538. A virtual session will be held on Wednesday, December 18 from 6:30 to 8 pm. |
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| Creations by Pathways Craft Show |
Yesterday, Creations by Pathways hosted their 7th Annual Holiday Shoppe Craft Show. They achieved record sales at this event, topping all previous craft show earnings! Learn more about Pathways Transition Center by clicking here. |
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View All of Our Districtwide Announcements |
SD308 regularly posts announcements on our website to inform parents, guardians and community members. View our announcements to stay informed. |
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NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use and the intended recipient(s) regarding the business of the Oswego Community Unit School District. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact SD 308 and destroy all copies of the original message.
The Oswego Community Unit School District promotes mutual respect, tolerance and acceptance of differences. We empower, support, and motivate all students to thrive along their unique educational journey. |
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