Happy Friday, Ogden Families!

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 on Tuesday, April 1, 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
• D102 School Board Candidates:

o Joanna Lago

o Erik Toman

o Jordan Beach

o Shannon Rischow

o Brian Grogan

On Wednesday, we held our February board meeting—check out the minutes HERE. Please remember that all parents are always welcome to attend!

The next few weeks are packed with fun events and we hope you plan to join us!

• Tomorrow is the Variety Show at 1 pm at Park—huge shout out to the committee that has worked so hard to put on an amazing show!
• Club Panther for grades 4-6 is Feb., 13 and promises to be the hottest event in town.
• Speaker Connie Martin's fascinating presentation about pre-Civil War quilts is Feb. 19 in the MPR. Let's pack the house!
• Trivia Night is March 7—see waitlist info below!
• Marco's Drag Brunch is March 16 and always sells out quickly!

Looking ahead!! Be sure to:

• Order your yearbook today by clicking HERE.
• Submit yearbook candid photos (we really need them!) by clicking HERE.

Have a great weekend!

Marissa Claxon and Jenna Tassoni

Ogden PTC Co-Presidents

D102 School Board Candidate Forums

As we mentioned above, School Board Elections are on April 1st with early voting starting in February! Click here for an Illinois Voter Guide. The League of Women Voters (a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government) is holding online forums for School Board Candidates for D102 and D204. Visit the League of Women Voters Facebook Page to view the recorded forums! 

Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speaker Connie Martin

Pre-Civil War Quilts: Secret Codes to Freedom on the Underground Railroad



Ogden's OPEN Committee invites you to experience a fascinating presentation by teacher, historian, and Illinois Humanities Road Scholars speaker Connie Martin. Ms. Martin will 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. She will also showcase replicas of 18 different quilt patterns sewn by her family over 200 years ago. Earlier in the day, Ms. Martin will share her story with 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade students at Ogden. The evening presentation is intended for parents and caregivers. Learn more about Connie here.

• When: Wednesday, February 19, 7:00–8:15 pm
• Where: Ogden Avenue MPR
• Who: Parents/caregivers of Ogden students and adult members of our community at large
• Register here.

For any questions about these events, please contact Betsy Shea.

Run for 102: Race to the Finish

Save the Date: District 102's annual Race to the Finish 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk taking place on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Cossitt Avenue School. Kick off the spring right!

Passport to Park

Have an INCOMING 7th grader next year?

Save the Date!!!

Park's annual Passport to Park will be held on Thursday, May, 8.

More information to follow!

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!

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 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!

Volunteer Opportunity

The Ogden Service Committee has planned a Day of Service on February 14th from 11 am to 1 pm, organizing and stocking shelves at the Share Food Share Love Food Pantry in Brookfield. We are looking for volunteers of all ages (ideally 1 adult to every 3-4 children).

To volunteer, click HERE.

Additionally, if you would like to donate items to the Share Food Share Love food pantry, they are most in need of hygiene items right now.

To donate items, click HERE.

Bring donations to the pantry on February 14th for the volunteer event. If you cannot make the event and you would still like to donate, items can be shipped directly to Ogden, attention PTC service committee. If you would like to drop off items or have questions, please contact Leah Burkiewicz or Melissa Seidelmann to make arrangements.

Marla's Lunch Volunteers

Marla's fun lunches are underway for 2025. Please review the SUG to see if you volunteered in 2025. Sign up was way back in September, so we understand if your schedules have changed. 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, Thanks to everyone who has and will volunteer this year - we are having a blast and the kids are loving their lunches! 

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

Marco’s Kitchen Emerald City Drag Brunch!

Sunday, March 16

1:30 pm

Tickets are going fast!

Get ready for a fabulous afternoon filled with incredible performances, delicious food, and endless mimosas!

$90 per person: Includes brunch, bottomless mimosas, gratuity, and an unforgettable show.

NEW THIS YEAR – The Emerald After Party! 

Marco has invited us to "keep the party going" until 6 pm with drinks and complimentary bites! Plus, 20% of all drink sales will be donated back to Ogden!

Seating Info: A variety of table sizes and setups will be available with open seating. No assigned seating—just good vibes and great company!

Please refrain from calling Marco’s for special requests. Dress to impress in green, rainbow, or whatever makes you feel fabulous!

Don’t miss this dazzling event—see you there!

To view the flyer, click HERE

5th/6th Grade Drama Club 2025!

Calling all 5th and 6th graders!

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.

All 5th and 6th graders are welcome; no experience necessary. We will have spots for actors and possibly set/props and hair/make-up, depending on the number of kids who sign up.

We do ask that you review this schedule before signing up; however, we need kids at most practices and all mandatory practices. Practice times vary between the Friday lunch hour and after school. 

Sign up for Drama Club here. Drama Club is $35. A Cheddar Up link will be circulated at a later date. Families will not be asked to pay the drama club fee until students have the chance to check out the club by attending our first meeting and auditions.

We will also need volunteers to help run practices, the show, work on the set, etc... So please plan to help in some way—more info to come on this.

Thanks in advance. Looking forward to a fun show!

Please let Nichole Veihman know if you have any questions.

Club Panther: Save the Date for the 4th-6th Grade Social Night

Students in 4th, 5th, & 6th Grades: Thursday, February 13th, 7-8:30 pm is the exciting one night pop-up event of the year! The grand opening of CLUB PANTHER! The hottest club in Harding Woods is only open for one night in 2025. Behind the velvet ropes at Ogden you will find a Blacklight Bash, so start prepping your white or neon outfit! Face/Body Paint will be offered so please dress for MESS! Leave your favorite white and neon jerseys, hoodies, and clothes at home and bust out those free camp and activity T-shirts or anything else you wouldn't mind some paint getting on. Accessorize to impress and get ready to GLOW!

This is a FREE drop off event. Sorry, parents, the only way for you to get in is to volunteer! Please register on CheddarUp so we can make sure your Panther is on the VIP List!

Please consider donating your time or party merchandise to help make this party a success! Sign up HERE.

See you at CLUB PANTHER!

Questions? Contact Cathy Hernandez or Megan Novak.

Variety Show

The Variety Show is this weekend, Saturday, February 8 at 1 pm at Park Junior High. The show is free to attend but please bring cash to donate or buy concessions to support the costs of this event. Can't wait to see you there!

Let Erin McPartlin or Nichole Veihman know if you have questions. We can't wait to see the kids dazzle!

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.

Did you know that George Washington Carver invented hundreds of uses for peanuts, helping make peanuts a staple in the American diet?

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.

Upcoming 6th Grade Events

Quick Checklist:

1. Save the Date! ...6th Grade Pool Party, Sun, March 2, 6-8 pm
2. Save the Date! ...Passport to Park, Thurs, May 8, Park Junior High
3. Save the Date! ...Service project during school on Tues, April 1
4. Save the Date! ...Bowling social Fri, May 2
5. To order a PJH T-shirt for your 6th grader, click HERE.
6. To sponsor 6th grade events, click HERE.
7. To donate to support 6th grade events through CheddarUp, click HERE.

Pool Party

Aloha, 6th Graders! 🌊🎉

The biggest bash of the year is making a splash! Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 2nd, from 6-8 PM and join your friends for an epic POOL PARTY at the Oakbrook Aquatic Center! 

Here’s what you need to know:

Sign up your child and give permission to attend: 6th Grade - Student Sign-up

 Be a party hero! Help us make this event AHH-MAZING by donating snacks, drinks, your time, or funds for future fun: Volunteer & Donation SUG

Get ready for a night of swimming, snacks, and unforgettable memories! Can’t wait to see you there! 🌴✨

Attention 6th Grade Parents:

We are looking for photos of Ogden 6th graders throughout the years! 

On the last day of school, Ogden will have a special breakfast and slideshow for our graduating 6th graders. We are looking for specific pictures for this slideshow.

Using this GOOGLE photos link OGDEN PHOTO LINK, please submit photos for consideration according to these specific guidelines:

• Current 6th grade Ogden students only
• Limit: Only submit 10-15 photos in total please! 
• Talk to your 6th grade friends so you aren’t sending the exact same photos! 
• We will only consider the first 15 photos submitted
• Please label each photo submitted. If not labeled, it will not be considered. 

    For example: Quinn001 (for first photo), etc…will help us keep photos organized. 

• From kindergarten age through now
• Groups of 6th graders from school events
• No family or siblings in pictures
• Photos with Ogden teachers and staff are a bonus!

If you need ideas of how to coordinate with friends prior to submitting, email karensmith1000@me.com. Happy to help! 

Submit photos no later than Friday March 21st.



6th Grade Park Junior High T-Shirts



All Ogden 6th graders will be presented with a new Park Junior High T-shirt on the last day of school. Please complete this t-shirt sizing form so we can order the correct size for your 6th grader.

Class Sponsorships

Thank you to those families and businesses who have signed on to sponsor our 6th grade activities. Your contribution will help fund special events, including the pool party, a bowling party, the class breakfast and more. If you are interested in being a sponsor, view the 6th Grade Committee Sponsorship sign-up genius here and you can pay via this Cheddar Up link.

Thank You for Making Pickle for Panthers a Success



A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the Pickle for Panthers event this past weekend! Your participation and support will go a long way in helping to raise funds for our 6th graders.



We also appreciate everyone who purchased Super Bowl Squares—stay tuned! You will receive an email with your square numbers before the big game.

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.

District 102 STEM EXPO

On Saturday, March 1st, 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. We encourage you to use your creative and inventive skills to create a project at home and share what you learned with other students, families, and teachers at EXPO. Projects range in complexity from simple observations to full experiments, inventions or technology projects. 

Who: All students grades K–8

When: Saturday, March 1, 2025 9:00 am–Noon

Set-up is Friday, February 28th 4:00–5:30 pm

Where: Forest Road School Gym | 901 N Forest Road, LaGrange Park  

Click HERE for more information.

Are you ready to start?  Register HERE

All participants will receive a participation certificate and this year’s STEM EXPO t-shirt. Register on or before Feb 15th to be guaranteed your t-shirt size. Exhibits will not be judged; students/teams will be assigned a 1/2 hour time period when they will be required to be at their table to answer questions and explain their project to an EXPO Official.

Do you have questions?  

Email Mrs. Hohl, hohlvi@dist102.k12.il.us or Mrs. V,  vaiciuliske@dist102.k12.il.us  

Call the Science Center 708-215-6405  

The Family Liaisons will once again coordinate Career Day events throughout La Grange School District 102 for the third year. 

We are excited to introduce students to a wide variety of career paths. Career Day aims to provide students with a close-up view of different career options, helping them connect their learning to the real world. This experience allows students to explore a broad range of careers and understand how a good education can lead to success in these fields.

We are currently looking for speakers to share their experiences with our students, and we would be delighted if you could commit approximately 75 minutes for elementary schools and 105 minutes for Park Junior High School. This one-day event will take place in January and February 2025. In the form below, you may select the school(s) where you are interested in speaking. Thank you!

Click HERE to express interest in a presentation of your career. 

Park Tutors 2024-25

The Park Tutors Program is back! Park Tutors are available after school to tutor and mentor District 102 elementary school students. See HERE for details.

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