Happy Valentine's Day, Ogden Families!

We hope you are all enjoying a nice long weekend with the snow we have and will get!

We want to start out by giving a BIG congrats to all the participants in the Variety Show this past Saturday. Everyone did a wonderful job! Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers for the hard work of making it such a successful event. A special THANK YOU to the committee, Nichole Veihman, Erin McPartlin, Jessica Beirich, Kit Joyce, Meg Probst, and Sarah Barus.

Also, a huge thank you to the 4th-6th grade event chairs, Meghan Novak and Cathy Hernandez, for a great event last night. Everyone had a fun time at Club Panther!

What's coming up next:

• Share the Love event will be all month long so there is still plenty of time to show some love to a teacher.
• See below for more updates on the Renew 102 referendum and school board candidates.
• Register for the STEM Expo by tomorrow, February 15.
• Speaker Connie Martin's fascinating presentation about pre-Civil War quilts is February 19 in the MPR. Let's pack the house!
• Trivia Night is March 7—see waitlist info below!
• Registration for Run for 102 is now open.

Enjoy your nice long weekend, and we will see everyone back on Tuesday, February 18!

Marissa Claxon and Jenna Tassoni

Ogden PTC Co-Presidents

Register by Tomorrow, 2/15 for D102 STEM EXPO!

On Saturday, March 1st at Forest Road School, the STEM EXPO will showcase the talents of District 102 students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and creative Making. STEM EXPO provides an opportunity for students from Kindergarten–8th grade to explore a science topic of their choice.

Questions? Email Mrs. Hohl or Mrs. V or call the Science Center, 708-215-6405. 

For more info, see the FLYER.

Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speaker Connie Martin

Wednesday, February 19,

7 to 8:15 pm

Ogden Avenue MPR

Ogden's OPEN Committee invites you to experience a fascinating presentation by teacher, historian, and Illinois Humanities Road Scholars speaker Connie Martin to share her family's pre-Civil War stories that reveal hidden messages and secret codes, which helped guide enslaved people to freedom on the Underground Railroad.

Questions? Contact Betsy Shea.

For more info, see the FLYER.

D102 School Board Candidate Forums

The following information about the referendum and school board candidates is provided for informational purposes only. Its inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by the Ogden PTC.

As some of you may be aware, there is a very important election ahead that will be held Tuesday, April 1st, 2025. This will be during the D102 spring break, so if you have plans to travel, please register for early or absentee voting. There are some important items that will be on the ballot that will greatly impact all D102 school.

This includes:

• Renew D102 (5 Quick Facts HERE)

School Board Candidates

• Joanna Lago
• Erik Toman
• Jordan Beach
• Shannon Rischow
• Brian Grogan

For more information on the school board members, The League of Women Voters® of the La Grange Area sponsored a Candidate Forum for School District 102. Candidates made a brief presentation on their backgrounds, qualifications, and interest in running for office. The forum was held virtually and published on The League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area’s Facebook page and in the Illinois Voter Guide after the forum concludes.

Key Dates for the April 1, 2025 Consolidated Election can be found HERE.

We hope that everyone will take this opportunity to get out and vote!

Run for 102: Race to the Finish

Early bird registration is now open for District 102's 10th annual Race to the Finish 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk!

This year's event is taking place at Cossitt Avenue School on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Both runs will kick off at 8:00 am.

Don’t miss out on early bird pricing now through March 5th! $25-5K, $20-1 Mile Fun Run + 10% off for families of 3 or more (use promo code FAMILY10). Register at runfor102.org.

KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT—SPREAD THE WORD!

If you have a child who will be entering kindergarten in the fall or know of a family with an incoming kindergartner, please note that our KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT is scheduled for Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 6:30 pm at Ogden. Learn about what our half-day program has to offer and please spread the word!

Share the Love

The PTC is delighted to announce the Share the Love event for the 4th year in a row!

To view classroom and specials teacher wish lists with items for their classrooms, click HERE. Let's show Ogden some LOVE during the month of February!

Marla's Lunch Volunteers

Marla's fun lunches are underway for 2025! If you can no longer join us, please update the SUG, so others can sign up. If you would like to join us, please continue to check the SUG below. Thanks to everyone who has and will volunteer this year - we are having a blast and the kids are loving it!

Yearbook Photo Submission Deadline March 10!

The yearbook committee relies on parent photo submissions to create the yearbook for you! We especially need photos from the following activities to make this year's yearbook special:

• Winter Classroom Parties
• CPCFRO games
• Camp Ogden
• Candids from school events (esp kinder, 1st, 3rd, and 6th)
• Art Enrichment
• Science Center
• Spirit Week
• Any other Ogden events!

Upload your photos to the Image Share site. Be sure to tag the grade and event in your submission. Click HERE for instructions to upload photos.

Photo submission deadline is March 10!!

Order Your Yearbook Today!

Yearbooks are $17.50 and sales go through May 31.



Note you must order a yearbook through the Jostens website by clicking HERE to ensure you get a yearbook. We may have a limited number available for late requests, but there is no guarantee!

Questions? Contact Rachel Arndt

5th/6th Grade Drama Club 2025!

Upcoming Dates...

Interest Meeting

Friday, Feb. 21

Lunchtime in the Library

Auditions

Wednesday, Feb. 26

2:30 p.m. in Music Room

This year the Ogden Drama Club will put on the play Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Your Teachers (but were afraid to ask) by Jason Pizzarello. Hope to see you at our first Interest Meeting on Feb. 21 and Auditions on Feb. 26!

The play will take place for their school classmates on Thursday, April 24 during the school day and for parents and the community on Friday, April 25, in the evening.

Click HERE for more information about Drama Club.

Please let Nichole Veihman know if you have any questions.

February Is Black History Month!

To celebrate Black History Month, the front display case at Ogden will feature Black Inventors and their inventions, which you can learn about here.

February Featured Book—This Is How We Play

February's Featured Book (gifted to first grade classrooms) is This Is How We Play by Jessica Slice & Caroline Cupp and illustrated by Kayla Harren. This picture book showcases children with disabilities at play. The authors—both parents with disabilities—acknowledge the challenges of disability while keeping an upbeat, rhyming tone. Click here for an American Sign Language (ASL) Read Along, and check out our reading guide here to use at home.

Additional Trivia Tables

If you blinked and missed it—don’t panic! We’ve working with the venue to squeeze in more tables.

If you still need a spot, email jenkairuz@gmail.com by TODAY, Friday, Feb. 14, and we will send you a separate sign-up link.

Quick reminders:

• Teams = 10 people per table
• Team Captain handles payment and passes along all trivia intel
• First Captain email drops this weekend with crucial info: food & drinks, mulligans, extra games, and the THEME! We love a good group costume!

Get ready for an unforgettable night of fun, facts, and fundraising!

Upcoming 6th Grade Events

Quick Checklist:

• 6th Grade Pool Party, Sun, March 2, 6-8 pm, more info HERE
• Passport to Park, Thurs, May 8, Park Junior High
• Service project during school on Fri, April 11 CORRECTION
• Save the Date! ...Bowling social Fri, May 2
• Submit photos for the 6th grade slideshow: OGDEN PHOTO LINK. Click HERE for more information about the slideshow.
• To order a PJH T-shirt for your 6th grader, click HERE.
• To sponsor 6th grade events, click HERE.
• To donate to support 6th grade events through CheddarUp, click HERE.

COSSITT SCHOOL CLOTHING SALE

Exciting news! Cossitt Elementary’s consignment sale is on Saturday, March 8, from 10 am to 1:30 pm. Explore over 20,000 high-quality items for infants to size 16, including fall/winter clothes, coats, shoes, sports gear, and books.

Get involved by selling or donating your gently-used children’s clothing. It’s a great way to declutter and give your items a new life! Plus, you can volunteer to help out and shop for amazing deals. Don’t miss the HALF PRICE bargains from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

Your participation supports our school and promotes sustainability by keeping textiles out of landfills. Join us in making a difference!

For details and involvement opportunities, click HERE.

RoboThink Chicagoland

RoboThink Chicagoland is excited to announce 2 school-break camps AND 2 new class series to really dig into robotics skills! These programs are all held at First United Methodist Church (right across from Cossitt Elementary).  

REGISTER HERE: Events | RoboThink Chicagoland