News, tips to help parents and students as school resumes

February 4, 2018 · by Laura Hinderman · in

Originally published September 14, 2014 (Submission copy)

The familiar sight of school buses reminds us that it is back to school season once again. Checking in with Orland School District 135 Community Relations Coordinator Tracy Marc and High School District 230 Director of Communications Carla Erdey proved beneficial in the information that they shared to start the year off right.

Ms. Marc informed that Orland School District 135 “recently rolled out a huge technology program with the junior high students and our third grade students. All junior high students were issued a District Mac Book Air laptop shortly before classes began on August 25th. Our third grade students will be issued a District iPad the week of September 16.”

Visit the School District 135 website at: http://www.orland135.org and you will find many resources for you and your student. Backpack BLISS provides information that was previously distributed through student’s backpacks.  In this online version, the “BLISS” stands for the five reasons they use a “virtual backpack” program:

Be Environmentally Friendly

Lighten student backpacks

Increase effectiveness of flyer distribution

Save money for organizations

Save time for District personnel

The Just for Parents link provides information for parents of students and contains Alert documents; lunch, volunteer opportunities; among other online resources. This page also provides information on parent groups and provides educational resources, as well.

Clicking the Just for Students area provides links to everything from daily Sudoku games to career and college planning. There are also many homework and project resource links arranged by subject matter; an online dictionary, thesaurus, and other references books, as well.

Be sure to visit the District’s website often for all the latest news, and follow them on twitter at #135Chirpline and #OSD135.

Looking toward the high school aged students, Carla Erdey reminded that the “Skyward Family Access (internet) is a wonderful resource for families, and provides your student’s grades, attendance, alerts, and news, along with other important information.”

Instructions on how to access the website were available at the Back to School nights. However, the technology department can provide assistance to families that have not yet accessed the website, or if you are having technical difficulties.

Popping over to the www.d230.org website for District 230, the website provides information on all three district schools. Choosing the Carl Sandburg option accesses resources from calendars, clubs and activities, athletics, and includes the guidance office section, which offers career, college, and financial aid resources.

Ms. Erdey provided these “Top Tips”:

  • Be sure to check Skyward Family Access regularly. You can view grades, attendance, and reminders here. If you don’t know your user name and password contact the school’s Technology Support Specialist at (708) 671-3100. There is a parent ID and password and a student ID and password.

 

  • Follow the school and district on social media. @SandburgHS and @CHSD230 on Twitter and CHSD230 on Facebook.

 

  • Encourage your child to keep reading. Go to the library together. Make an event out of it by checking out books and then getting ice cream or lunch together. This encourages good reading habits and keeps communication open between you. Also, encourage your child to check out OverDrive. There is a link on the school website to this easy and free way to check out ebooks. Your child will use his or her school network ID and password to log in. This collection was expanded through a grant from the District 230 Foundation.

 

  • Check the school Guidance website weekly. This site includes advice to all stages of high school academics, a calendar of events including parent meetings and college visits, and resources related to college applications, financial aid and more.

 

  • Maintain a good study space at home. Clear away clutter and distractions. Keep school supplies handy. Ensure good lighting.

 

  • Know your child’s friends. Ask questions. Be involved. While high school students are learning independence, they still need guidance and support.

Any back to school discussion should also include our own local institution of higher learning – Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC). This community college provides a quality education for a fraction of the cost of other colleges. MVCC participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative. This initiative, sponsored by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board, makes it easier for students to transfer credit among Illinois colleges and universities that are also part of the initiative. Visit the college’s website at www.morainevalley.edu for more information on transfer credits, admissions and enrollment, along with other resources.

In all, provide your students with structure, patience, sleep, sustenance, and the supplies they need to feel confident and have an open mind for learning.