OMS is a welcoming school, with a diverse population of students and families from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and cultures. To better celebrate these differences and to support our efforts of inclusion, a PTA Diversity and Inclusion Committee has been formed and is currently planning for the 2019/2020 school year.

To help us finalize the OMS PTA Diversity and Inclusion Committee mission, programs and events for next school year, please take a few minutes to fill out the below survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QQTG95D

Please help us celebrate our first class OMS staff during Staff Appreciation Week May 6th – 10th. We plan to honor them with special activities and treats throughout the week, including a breakfast and luncheon, but we can’t make it happen without help from all of you! Please consider signing up to volunteer your time or make a needed donation by clicking the sign up links below. We appreciate your help in thanking our teachers and staff for Making a World of Difference! Please contact Erica Williams or Deb Oiler with any questions.

Staff Appreciation Donation Sign-Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044aadae2ca75-staff3

Staff Appreciation Volunteer Sign-Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044aadae2ca75-staff4

Please join us in celebrating our first class OMS staff during Staff Appreciation Week. We have a fun line-up of optional activities that we hope the students will have fun participating in to show this special group that they make a WORLD of difference.

Monday: Words of kindness – write a note to your teacher to tell them something kind about them.
Tuesday: One flower – bring a flower to your teacher to brighten up their day.
Wednesday: Recite a joke to a staff member.
Thursday: Leave a mint on their desk to show them they are worth a mint.
Friday: Dress in your teachers favorite color. (More info coming.)

*We will have extra flowers and mints available on Tuesday and Thursday*

Because of her dedication, support and kindness, our very own Rachael Hooker was chosen as the Illinois PTA Outstanding PTA Volunteer of the Year!

She will be recognized at the Annual IL PTA Convention on May 4, 2019. To celebrate as a community, we will work together to spread kindness and good will on Friday, May 3. Each child will come home with a clothespin.

Please work with your child to decorate the clothespin and write a message of kindness. (Think Kindness Rocks, just clothespins!) Once complete, have your child “Pin” someone – a family member, a friend or (safely) someone who needs some cheer – as long as the message is kind! Be sure to take pictures and share the joy with the hashtag #OwlsforRH!

All families who have not ordered yearbooks were emailed via DirectorySpot before spring break. Orders must be submitted by May 1st to guarantee delivery for the last day of school.

Every yearbook includes 2 optional custom pages that are due by May 1st. TreeRing has a great video (https://treering.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013239092-Getting-Started-with-Creating-Custom-Pages) with detailed instructions on how to customize your yearbook.

If you would like financial assistance, please contact the front office or omsyearbookphotos@gmail.com.

Contact Kate Halley or Jeannie Glasstetter with any questions.

Camp Fit will be on Monday’s this Spring starting 4/29-5/13 (rain date 5/20) Please sign your child(ren) up if they are interested in participating in fun, active activities with their school friends after school.

WE CAN NOT MAKE THIS PROGRAM WORK IF WE DO NOT HAVE VOLUNTEERS. PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING US OUT.

Parents with younger siblings feel free to bring them along to join in the fun. All activities will be held outside this Spring in the field areas and running track. **Space is limited Sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScF9SGrKsYlIHVKekQrTZQA2f2MAQoeuCNyv5Wxa7nVYmZn8w/viewform

The 5th Grade Track is on Wednesday, May 8 at South Middle School’s track starting at 4:15pm. Participants don’t need to be a track star to join this fun event and get a taste of what future interscholastic events may be like! All runners are placed in heats by their time except for the mile run.

Permission slips will include more information and must be turned in by FRIDAY, MAY 3.

Any questions, please email Mrs. Pusateri.

This event is sponsored and run by School District 25

Per PTA guidelines, we need to update our Bylaws every two years. Please review the updated Bylaws. We will vote to approve at our May 15 meeting.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12sUBN0Q_2j9lAa-W5DvueVVI45JzY-QFyuJXhvIF3HY/edit?ts=5cab5068

We need you! The theme of the OMS Book Fair this year is “A Book is a Gift you can Open Again and Again”. We are so excited and would love some help setting up the evening before, supporting during the day as classes take a sneak peek and in the evening during the book fair.

Thank you in advance for you support!
Sign Up Genius Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4DAFAA2FA2F85-volunteer

Please join us for Cosmic Skating Night at the Mt Prospect Central Community Center, on Thursday, 4/25 from 7 – 9pm. Admission = a donation for the Wheeling Food Pantry.

NOTE: If you have your own roller blades, bring them! The roller blade rentals are free BUT QUANTITIES are very limited!

Save the date for this amazing “girls-only” format for puberty education on April 24th. Students must attend with an adult, but there is no charge & no RSVP required.

Reach out with any questions!

Beginning Monday, March 18 until Thursday, April 18, all around Olive, students and teachers will be collecting used markers that are ready to be discarded for the Crayola ColorCycle marker recycling program (https://www.crayola.com/colorcycle.aspx). Please help support our efforts by sending your kids in with any used markers you may have around the house – eve non-Crayola brands! Highlighters and dry erase markers can also be included. Drop-off boxes will be located around the school for your child to deposit the markers.

STEAM Night is coming!!!

This long anticipated event is finally just weeks away. Come ready to explore Newton’s laws, see how our Fire and Police use math everyday and how every company in the community needs some form of STEAM to do their jobs! Architects, therapists, doctors, inventors and more, we have plenty to share with all of you!

This is a FAMILY hands-on interactive event!!

Want to help volunteer? Sign up here.

Anxiety Parent Presentation- Preteen/Teen Anxiety is reaching epidemic proportions in our area, impacting nearly every student at some level! South PTA is proud to host Jennifer Zielinski, M.A, N.C.C, L.C.P.C. from F.A.I.R. Counseling, Inc. (Families and Adolescents In Recovery) who will give a Free Parent Presentation on Preteen/Teen Anxiety- Thursday, April 11th at 7:00 p.m. in South Middle School’s Multi-Purpose Room. Learn about hidden signs of anxiety, coping tips, and treatment options, as well as ask questions from the floor. Presentation will be primarily geared towards parents of 5th-8th graders. See flyer for details.

This FREE event is open to all 5th through 8th grade PARENTS in D25.
Please contact sms.pta.presidents@gmail.com with any questions.

The Earth Fair volunteer sign up form is live on Sign Up Genius now: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040f4bacaa2aa13-olive

You do not have to be an Ecology Club member to assist with the Earth Fair. There will be exciting earth-conscious games and activities, outside vendors and giveaways. Please sign up today. Earth Fair is Tuesday, April 16th from 6:30-8:00 pm. Thanks in advance for you help. The kids are excited!

Contact Regan Sonnabend or Yeulanda Degala with any questions.

Please join us on Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 7 p.m. in the OMS LMC for our PTA meeting. We will have a “Bring Your Best Ideas” initiative in which we encourage our membership (you) to share new ideas for committees, programs, events or whatever you feel would be a great addition for OMS PTA! Please submit your idea through the Parent Voices Form, and we will add it to the agenda.
Parent Voices Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcT7nbAeyJBrp3qh43v68SwN5cgdyQcAMBXCOJYziihl36-Q/viewform

Thank you, and hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please contact olivepta@gmail.com

Come join other Olive parents at a wine tasting social event at Vintages Wine Shop! It will be on Thursday, April 11th from 6-8PM. It will be a great way to socialize and meet new people at Olive. The cost of the event is $10 and it includes: a wine tasting and appetizers. You can use this link to pay online with a small processing fee: https://oliveschoolnightout.eventbrite.com (password is ‘Olive’) or you can print out this form and pay via check with no processing fee. We hope you can join us!

Please contact Becky Hany or Stacey Esposito with any questions.

The Thomas Middle School PTA Nominations Committee needs your input.

Do you know someone who would be interested in having a position on the TMS PTA Board?

Is it you?

We are filling the positions of Co-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Fill out the nomination form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6xe1UPanpb8kYcvv_GqxNY9p1aRGt1QNh6dQkZU03Our_dQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2sAP4KDwW8mwA6Qc-220B0qNaHISbu9N7-PD5qJKoDh_9W46MChEbPqWo

The PTA is partnering with the school to help reduce the overflowing amount of items in the lost and found, and to help reunite items with owners. There are many sweatshirts, shirts and jackets are resting on the lost and found hooks, as well as water bottles, hats and gloves. A PTA volunteer has graciously offered to take some photos and try to help parents/guardians find missing items.

For items missing, please fill out the form below.
Link to Google Form: https://goo.gl/forms/FoRdG714JXyYxXyZ2

For specific questions regarding items, please contact our Lost and Found PTA Volunteer, Alice Dahl at (847) 632-9934 or drdahl1998@yahoo.com

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact olivepta@gmail.com.

South PTA Officer Nominations are OPEN- Do you want to make a difference at the local level? Please consider volunteering and putting your skills to work for a noble cause – Your Child and South Middle School. We are currently seeking nominees for SMS PTA Executive Committee Officer Positions- President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Qualified individuals must have a current 5th, 6th, or 7th grader Please see form for details.

Subscribe to South PTA Website: www.southpta.org Follow/Like South PTA On Facebook: (South Middle School PTA) Questions? Email sms.pta.presidents@gmail.com

On Thursday February 28th, OMS students were delighted by songs and stories from around the world presented by the Chicago Folklore Ensemble as part of our PTA Cultural Arts Program. Each tale explored respecting the environment and living in harmony with its flora and fauna while introducing students to traditional music from Nigeria, Thailand, India, and the Amazon Rainforest.

Register today for the 8th Annual ABC/25 Get Burbed Challenge! Walk or run with friends and neighbors who are coming together to support the ABC/25 Foundation. All proceeds are returned directly to the schools via teacher grants for innovative teaching methods and materials.

Early registration perks by 3/22/19 include a $5 discount on entry fee, guaranteed race t-shirt and the option to have your race packet delivered to our school. Race day is Saturday, April 13th – register now: https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=CY2V1H7

If your family is experiencing financial difficulties, the race fee for the student(s) will be covered by a generous donor in our community. Interested families can contact our Race Directors at abc25challenge@gmail.com for a code to utilize on the registration page.

Save the date for a wine tasting social event at Vintages Wine Shop on Thursday, April 11th. It will be a great way to socialize and meet new people at Olive. Details will be coming soon.

It’s time to mark your calendars for our Annual Book Fair! Give the gift of reading to a student or teacher.

If you have a little time to volunteer for this event, please contact Nicole at nicole.crissie@gmail.com. There are spots available in the day for event prep and in the evening during the fair.

Attention all 5th grade parents! Thomas Middle School is having their spring spirit wear sale. All orders can be placed online at www.HeadsUpApparel.com.

The sale will run March 1 – 15. Please contact Brett Hackmann at bretthackmann@gmail.com if you have any questions.

The Box Tops have been collected, clipped and counted….Olive-Mary Stitt collected just over 2,500 Box Tops! That’s $250 for our school!

The winning homerooms are Ms. Musich’s 2-3 with 529 Box Tops turned in and Mrs. Kusiciel’s 4-4 with 396 Box Tops turned in!

This school year we have made about $750 for Olive…just by cutting a label off of products that we use everyday…SOOOO EASY!

Please continue clipping and saving, and even recruit your family, friends and neighbors to clip too. We have 8 months til our next challenge so start saving today. I think we can double what we made this year…if anyone can, OLIVE us can!

Also, a great big thank you to all of the clipping and counting volunteers! I truly appreciate all of your time and effort.

Thank you!

Our PTA Executive Committee has a few open positions for the 2019/2020 school year. We need you! Before you jump on board, you may be curious about these roles and for what each position is responsible. We are here to help! Our outgoing Exec Committee members have made personal videos to give you a glimpse into what their position entails. Check out the videos in the link below to see if the position might be a good fit for you or someone you know! Contact olivepta@gmail.com with any questions.

Link to videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKIe1Q3P4tkZPydOoKS7H0A

Link to nomination form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDsHeECvHi7J7XTeiZy0U_NfKU6PTpC4cAP8uEuLutEFuXDQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

Calling all Owls and their families: Ecology Club is excited to announce that Earth Fair will be on April 16 this year, from 6:30PM-8:00PM. As always, we’ll have lots of fun games including the ever-popular Trash to Treasure, crafts and a chance to meet folks from local organizations that are committed to our eco-friendly cause.

This event is open to the community so feel free to spread the word to friends and neighbors.

Join us for a night of fun!

Please read the introduction and description below, and reach out to OMS PTA at olivepta@gmail.com if you are interested in working on one of these committees.

We have had an interest and request for the development of a committee that could help new first grade families transition into OMS with ease. Believe it or not, OMS has a large population of first graders that attended another school in the area for kindergarten, so these students and families are coming to the school brand new. We would like to start a committee that could help these kids and families get to know each other and the community, so they feel right at home when starting school.

Mentoring/First Grade:

• In early April/May, committee should meet to discuss play date dates for June, July, and August and work with OMS office staff to reach out to incoming first grade families.
• Establish an email list from the interest form completed by the parents. Communicate with incoming first grade families reminding them about upcoming play dates and offer to answer any questions that they might have.
• Coordinate approximately 3-4 play dates.
• Write an article for the Twig

Please read the introduction and description below, and reach out to OMS PTA at olivepta@gmail.com if you are interested in working on one of these committees.

OMS is a welcoming school, with a diverse population of students and families from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and cultures. We would like to celebrate our diversity and have a committee in place to reflect and support our efforts to be cognizant of diversity and inclusion. There is already a Diversity and Inclusion Initiative through the National PTA, so we will follow the guidelines and standards set forth as our road map as we develop this committee.

Diversity Committee:
• As a member of the National PTA, the Diversity Committee will follow the guidelines set forth in the National PTA Diversity and Inclusion Policy.¹
• Work to support the diverse needs of the community and differences that distinguish people, including, but not limited to, gender, race/ethnicity, mental, emotional, psychological and physical disabilities; learning styles; geographic residence; languages used; cultural heritage; and educational level.²
• Address inclusion by reaching out to people, engaging them in ways that address their needs and perspectives, and encouraging all families to become actively involved in PTA activities and membership.²
• Write articles for the Twig promoting the Diversity Committee.

¹More information on the National PTA Diversity and Inclusion Policy can be found here: https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/Diversity-Inclusion-Toolkit/leadership-tips-and-tools/National-PTA-Diversity-and-Inclusion-Policy

²https://www.pta.org/home/run-your-pta/Diversity-Inclusion-Toolkit/leadership-tips-and-tools/Diversity-and-Inclusion-Initiatives-Frequently-Asked-Questions