Upcoming Dates

 
Turbo Goose on the Loose

Keeping you updated from the inside!  This is my new blog to keep the Mayer community informed on what is happening from inside the walls of Oscar Mayer.  Don’t worry!  Ms. Cabrera saved Turbo Goose (one of our Delaware Chickens), after she had escaped the fenced in yard.  Next time you come by, you will see some new wood work that should prevent the chickens from escaping in the future.

We have been working very hard all summer to prepare for the upcoming school year!  Our staff has started to trickle in excited to prepare for a new year. Our custodial team, Ramon, Louisa and Carelia have worked incredibly hard to clean every nook and cranny.  Our building looks beautiful thanks to their high standards.

For those that have been watching the CPS budget issues unfold in the media, you are aware of the budget cuts that Oscar Mayer experienced.  Mayer received a $199,000 budget cut that directly impacted our Montessori and IB programs.  Thanks to the commitment of our families and the funds raised by Friends of Mayer we were able to make up the lost funds and maintain all programs and staffing heading into this school year.  Friends of Mayer and the Local School Council have worked together over the summer to analyze our prior fundraising efforts in hopes to launch an even more successful pledge drive, benefit and walk-a-thon this school year.  Every donation makes a difference for our children.  Please consider participating in the fundraisers this year.  Our fundraising must surpass our prior years in order to maintain all of our programs for the 2016 – 2017 school year.

We look forward to greeting all of your children on the first day of school!  Enjoy your last week of summer, and keep reading!

Principal Katie's Blog can be found on the website, check it out throughout the year for for updates and news.

Right at School Registration is Open

I am so excited to be returning to Oscar Mayer for another exciting year of recess and after school with Right At School!  We have brought back many of your favorite classes and added some great new ones this quarter. 
- If you enjoyed the St. Patrick’s Day dance presentation at Mayer, please check out our Tuesday Irish dancing class by Design Dance.  
- Students requested more LEGOS  so we’ve added  a class that combines LEGO and the popular Minecraft in Mine, Craft, Build Survival Game
- We also have a new vendor for science classes we’re really excited about, Science Made Fun.
Registration is currently open so please check out our new schedule. www.rightatschool.com

Attention Parents of 3rd and 4th Grade Girls -
Registration is Open for
Girls on the Run

You can register your 3rd or 4th grade daughter for Girls on the Run at www.gotrchicago.org (you will see a link to click in the left column of their page).  You will note two teams are listed for Oscar Mayer (one for Tuesday/Thursday which will be coached by Jen Jones and Mary McAnally and one for Wednesday/Friday which will be coached by Angela Gore and Amy Meszaros).  Please choose the team that works for your daughter's schedule.

If you have any questions, please contact Maureen Riordan at maureenmriordan@gmail.com

Calling All 4th - 6th Grade Book Lovers
Battle of the Books is
Coming to Mayer! 

The Chicago Public Schools' Battle of the Books program encourages ongoing reading, teamwork and partnership throughout the course of a year.  School teams compete against each other in a multi-round tournament, answering gameshow-style questions about the books they've read.  Sign-ups will be at the start of the next school year, but if your child is interested in participating and would like to start tackling the book list over the summer, email Emily Schaffer (eschaffer@post.harvard.edu) for a list of the first five books on the 2015/2016 list. (The remainder will be available September 1).

LSC Meeting

Please join us at the Local School Council (LSC) meeting on Thursday, September 10 at 6:00PM in the school library. The LSC meets to discuss topics that are relevant to the long-term planning and education of our children. Our meetings are open to the public and any school related issues or concerns can be brought to the LSC. If you have questions or concerns between meetings please email oscarmayerlsc@gmail.com.

Celebrate the season with Friends of Mayer (FOM) for a Fall Fest after school on Friday, September 25th. Meet on the blacktop to learn about all of the exciting, collaborative things we have in store for the 2015-2016 school year. Looking to volunteer? We'll help you find a great spot! Wondering how to become more involved in FOM - all year long? We'll talk about that, too! Plus, we'll have treats for the kids, in addition to school extra-curricular activities represented at the Fest so you can learn more about the great opportunities offered to your children outside of their classrooms. Whether you are new to Mayer or not, the Fall Fest is the perfect way to jump into the action. See you on the 25th on the blacktop!

As part of the Bulldog Heroes community outreach program, we offer Mayer families the chance to volunteer off-site with other Mayer families on various projects. This year, we’re excited to offer five different dates at the Ronald McDonald House near Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Volunteer families will provide, cook and clean-up a dinner or lunch for the residents of the Ronald McDonald House. Please note, children must be at least 5 years of age to participate.

The Ronald McDonald House supports the needs of families whose children are receiving treatment at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. They offer families of hospitalized children 15-stories of care and comfort including 66 guest rooms, a rooftop healing garden, and a kitchen filled with home-cooked meals and supportive conversation. The residents are truly appreciative of the meals provided, as it means they can have some sort of normalcy during a very stressful time in their lives.

The dates available for Mayer families are: (times are estimates and will be finalized closer to the date)