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December 15, 2024
Sunday Snapshot
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Tunes on the Turf Rehearsal
12/17/2024
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Tunes on the Turf
12/18/2024
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Winter Break (School resumes January 6, 2025)
12/23/2024
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Hanukkah begins at sundown
12/25/2024
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Kwanzaa Begins
12/26/2024
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PTA Twinkle Tour ends
1/5/2025
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Additional Notes
Garvy School Feedback Form: If you would like to provide any feedback, please feel free to use the following Google Form.
Staff Shout-out: Our staff shout out form is back! I want to provide a space for parents to show their gratitude for our hardworking staff. If you would like to give a shout out to a staff member, please fill out the following form. We will share all submissions with our staff. Parent to Staff Shout out Form
Level I & Level II Volunteer Application Process: All individuals who are interested in volunteering (includes chaperoning field trips) must be approved by CPS. Depending on the level of volunteering you plan to do, you will be asked to complete an application for either a “Level I” or “Level II” volunteer.
Steps to follow:
(Please note: It is a CPS requirement that you fall into one of these two levels to become a volunteer)
Step 1: Complete THIS volunteer form for CPS
This form is necessary for CPS to verify you have students in the system and that they attend the school you are requesting to volunteer at.
Step 2: Bring a government issued ID to the main office for verification. If you do not do this step, the process will not move forward.
For Level II, the process ends here.
For Level 1, you must also do the following:
Step 3: After you submit your ID, you will receive an email from CPS which will contain links and information for fingerprinting, background check and TB test. For fingerprinting, please fill out this form and take it to any Accurate Biometrics location. For the TB test, use this form. These tests can be completed at MercyWorks locations. Please note, there is a $20 TB test fee.
Step 4: Email copies of both the fingerprints and TB test to [email protected]. The sooner they receive these forms, the faster your application can be processed. Please note, fingerprints can take 2-5 weeks to process.
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Happy Sunday Garvy!
Be Kind 🐾 Be Strong 🐾 Be Well 🐾 Be a Bulldog
First Lego League
Our FLL team did a fabulous job this season. On Saturday, we won an award for our innovation project, Mr. Ravuray was awarded The Best Coach/ Mentor award, and finally we came in 4th place in the robotics tournament. The team is advancing to the Illinois Sectional Tournament which will held on the weekend of January 10th. We are so proud of our students and a special thanks to our two coaches, Mr. Ravury and Mrs. Hehn. Check out our team here: FLL Pictures
Tunes on the Turf
Our annual Winter Concert, Tunes on the Turf, is scheduled for Wednesday, December 18th at 9am outside on the Garvy Turf. During this honored school tradition, Ms. Correa, our Music Teacher, directs the students as they sing and/or play a tune. Our parents are invited to sip hot cocoa on the turf.
Performance Date: Wednesday, December 18th Time: 9am Location: Garvy Turf Grades Participating: K, 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th
NEW!!!! If your child’s grade level is not listed above, they will not be performing at Tunes on the Turf. Grades 1, 2, 5 and 7 will perform at our Spring Sing on May 14th.
We are kindly asking for donations of boxes of hot cocoa, candy canes, and marshmallows. If you are able to donate any of the above named items, you can send with your child or simply drop by the main office. Thank you in advance!
Personal Health/Sexual Education
Every school year your child will receive Personal Health Education as part of the Chicago Public School Sexual Health Education Policy. CPS acknowledges that families are and should be the primary sexuality educators for their children. Garvy Elementary is committed to partnering with families to provide supplementary instruction to the students via the sexual health education lessons. These lessons will be taking place during part of your child’s physical education class with Mrs. Colon and Mr. DeWitt. Both teachers have been certified by the CPS Student Health and Wellness department to implement this curriculum.
The Sexual Health Education courses will start when students return after Winter break on January 6, 2025. An overview of the lessons that will be taught are on this link: Personal Health Letter. If you would like to opt your child/children out of the course, please send an email or written letter to Ms. Colon [email protected] and Mr. Dewitt [email protected]
Out of School Time- OST
The Fall OST session ends on Friday, December 20th. The signup form for Winter OST will be shared in the next few weeks. The Winter session begins on Monday, January 27th.
Outdoor Recess
Our daily schedule includes approximately 25 minutes of recess for all students in  grades K-8. We will continue to venture outside, weather permitting, so we are asking that students be prepared for the winter elements by wearing boots, hats, gloves, and scarves to brave the weather.
We monitor the weather and will send students out if temperature and wind chill (feels like temps) are 20 degrees and higher. It is highly recommended that younger students (Grades K-1) have a change of clothes available in their lockers. If you have not sent clothes to school, please do so.
BAC Updates
We would like to invite parents to our next BAC meeting on January 9th, 2025 at 8:45 a.m. We will answer questions about ACCESS Testing (Testing window: January 17- March 4, 2025). Mr. Ravury will provide training on: How to create a Parent Portal account on Aspen, how to log in and check grades, pay for field trips, or graduation fees, and how to do an E-absence.
We are currently looking to fill one Parent Representative position on our Local School Council (LSC). We are looking for someone who are supportive of Garvy’s vision and will bring positive energy to help Garvy continue to grow. Please note that the LSC meets once a month at 5pm. If you are interested, please read the instructions below.
Step 1: Understand the criteria to make sure you are eligible before you apply.
- Parent Representative: Must have a child currently enrolled at Garvy. Also, you cannot be an employee of CPS.
Step 2: Please complete the forms attached and bring them to the school by Friday, January 10th. We are not allowed to accept any applications after this time. Also, we cannot accept electronic copies. You can find the necessary forms below.
Step 3: Included in the application is a personal statement that you will fill out explaining the qualities you possess to help Garvy’s LSC. You will have the opportunity to read this statement and share anything else you want with the LSC at the January 22nd meeting at 5:00 pm. Please be aware that making a statement at the meeting is optional.
Step 4: The LSC will go into closed session to review the applications. When they return to the public forum, they will state if they would like to fill the open position and vote on the applicants to join the LSC. They also have the opportunity to reopen the application window if they choose.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the LSC Chair, Janely Torres [email protected] or LSC member, Stephanie Bester [email protected].
Our Twinkle Tour map is set and ready to go! Voting will take place from December 13th, 2024 to January 5th, 2025. The winner will be announced Monday, January 6th, 2025. Twinkle Tour Map
To vote, use the link below:
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1st Annual Super Smash Bros E-Gaming Tournament
Rickover Naval Academy would like to invite the Garvy Elementary school community to their 1st Annual Super Smash Bros E-Gaming Tournament. This will also be a great opportunity for all prospective students and families to visit Rickover Academy and see what we offer.
It will be held next Sunday, December 15 , 2024. Doors open at 10am.
Read More...
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Portage Crain Counseling Center
Raising kids today is a roller coaster
NAMI Chicago and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois have teamed up to bring a monthly free peer support group for parents and caregivers to Portage Park and Belmont Cragin. Come meet other parents from the neighborhood to share experiences, advice, and even just lend an ear.
Read More...
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New Aspen Parent Portal Feature: E-Absence - Absence Reporting Made Easy!
Aspen Parent Portal allows parents and guardians to submit and track student absences electronically.
Read More...
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Go Bulldogs!!!
Love, Mrs. Bester 🐾 🐾
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