Happy 2025, Ogden Families!

We hope everyone had a wonderful break. The PTC just had our first meeting of the new year this week. You can find the minutes here. There are some exciting things coming up, so don't forget to mark your calendars!

• Camp Ogden: Sign up by Monday 1/13 to be entered for VIP seating for the variety show! The event date will be 1/24 and is promised to be lots of fun for the entire family! We are trying a new event this year, so let's make this a successful one!
• Variety Show: All participants need to sign up by TODAY! The show will be 2/8 at Park Jr. High.
• 4th-6th Grade Glow Dance: Save the date for 2/13. More info to come next week.
• Adult Trivia Night Fundraiser: Date will be 3/7 with sign ups starting 1/31.



We also want to mention again that one of our teachers, Mrs. Smolarek, is battling cancer and will be out for the rest of the school year. If you are able to help spread some joy to her, please consider donating here. If your kids would like to draw a picture or make her a card, please bring them to the Ogden office by Monday, January 13th, and they will be delivered to her.

Stay warm out there!

Marissa Claxon and Jenna Tassoni

Ogden PTC Co-Presidents

Variety Show Participant Registration

Is your child signed up to participate in the 2025 Variety Show? Have you finished registering them yet? Every participant must sign up here, please do so by this Friday, January 10. 

This year's splashy show will be at Park Jr High on Saturday, February 8th, 2025 at 1 pm! Please review this slide show for important info. 

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

Calling All Dancing Dads and Special Father Figures!

Ogden Variety Show needs you! A 'Dad' dance is in the works and you’re invited. We kick off mid-January. All are welcome to come to the first session without committing. 2 rehearsals max.

To sign up or learn more, click HERE.

Questions? Contact Annie Davidson.

All-6th grade closing dance at the Variety Show!

Calling all 6th graders! We are inviting all 6th graders to join the final number of the 2025 Variety Show! Your child does not have to be in another variety show act to participate, but it is also ok if they are (making this their second act/exception to the normal 1-act per child rule).

If your child is interested in joining, please sign them up here. The dance will be very simple and to the song Come Sail Away. We will make and distribute a video where kids can learn the dance on their own. Then we will have 1 or 2 practices closer to the show (combined with another already set practice). We want to send these kids out with great memories of their time at Ogden, surrounded by their whole class!

Let Nichole Veihman know if you have any questions.

Book Sales and 5th/6th Grade Virtual Author Visit with Remy Lai

The 5th and 6th graders at Ogden are invited to attend a virtual event in class on Tuesday, February 11th with award-winning author Remy Lai.

Ms. Lai will talk with Ogden 5th/6th grade students about her career as an author and discuss her new book, Chickenpox.

Be on the lookout for a CheddarUp link coming soon to order a signed copy (bookplate) of Chicken Pox and and/or Read at Your Own Risk.

Unfortunately, personalization will not be available this time around.

We can't wait to get book orders going and meet our author!

Questions? Email Samantha Sordyl or Erin Klunk.

It is back baby–bigger and better than ever! Save the date for Ogden Trivia Night, a fun-filled, adults-only night to exercise your useless knowledge, win prizes, dress to impress and laugh A LOT!

**NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR** Countryside Conference Center (6200 Joliet Road) with way more space, stellar sound system, multiple flat screens and cash bar! No more schlepping coolers and homemade bean dips.

We are all about that theme! Each team is encouraged to show up in a group costume. Extra prizes will be given out for best team costumes.

Friday, March 7

Countryside Conference Center / Local 150

Doors open at 7 pm

Trivia begins at 7:30 pm

Teams of 10 will sit together and compete for prizes, bragging rights, and the title of Top Trivia champions. Curated, hosted and scored by none other than Hambone Trivia, it will be a night of laughs, brain teasers, and most importantly, fundraising for the students of Ogden.

Space is limited to the first 25 teams of 10 players who sign up and pay their table entrance fee ($400 per table of 10 players). One Captain for each team will be responsible for team registration, payment and all communications regarding the Trivia event including cash bar details (more details to come after registration).

Don’t have a team? No problem, we can help form teams among Ogden families looking to join forces. See our contact info below.

Registration will open at 9 am on 1/31 via CheddarUp, so start organizing your teams and themes and keep an eye out for that email. Registration will be first-come, first-served with a max of 25 teams. Space is limited. ONLY the team captain should register the team and pay for the team entrance fee. You all collect and square up amongst yourselves.

Interested in learning about the sponsorship opportunities in and around this event, email Melissa Seidelmann. Sponsorship packages include brand mentions, logo exposure, promotional reads and a lot of love from the Ogden community.

To register a table starting 1/31 at 9 am, your team will need:

• 1 Team captain who handles team registration and payment
• $400 table registration fee payable through CheddarUp

Again, stay tuned for the registration email on 1/31 at 9 am.

Any questions please reach out:

Gaelen Orbon (708)712-6363

Melissa Seidelmann (773) 814-3061

Jen Kairuz (630) 544-4751

OPEN Banned Book Discussion on All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

Join OPEN for our second book discussion this year featuring banned or challenged books. This discussion will be around the young adult non-fiction memoir and manifesto All Boys Aren’t Blue by journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson. The book features a series of personal essays following Johnson’s journey growing up as a queer Black man in New Jersey and Virginia.

We will kick off the program with a bit of background on the history of banned books in the United States and then have an informal discussion of the book. We hope you will join us for what promises to be an informative and thought-provoking discussion!

• When: Monday, January 27, 7–8:30 pm
• Where: Betsy Shea’s home, 126 N. Waiola Ave. in La Grange
• Who: Parents/caregivers of Ogden students and adult members of our community at large

RSVP here

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



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 School Gym
• 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.

January Featured Book



This month, OPEN's Featured Book (gifted to Fifth Grade students) is Inside Out and Back Again by Thannha Lai. Written in Prose Poem form, this book explores the experience of a young girl fleeing her home in Saigon during the Vietnam War. Ms. Lai wrote this story loosely based on her childhood experience. Here is an interview with the author about her writing (conducted by two elementary students). Read about Thannha Lai and learn more about her books here and check out our reading guide to use at home. 

For additional information on how to get involved with the OPEN committee, visit the OPEN webpage.

Mark your calendars and join us for these informative and inspiring events!

Winter/Spring Menus available for ordering Marla's Lunch

Ordering for Marla's Lunch for the January - May lunches is now open.

Click HERE to order.

Use code oas424 if you're new to Marla's Lunch.

Families in Marla's system will get an email reminder from them as well. If you are new to Marla's lunch, click HERE for general instructions, FAQ's, and menus.

As a reminder, you can order "lunches" (in the form of credits) for any staff at Ogden, to be used anytime they like. Instructions can be found in the document above.

Feel free to contact Andreea Alm or Melissa Huitink with questions or feedback.

Ogden Green Team

Hello Ogden Community! 

The Green Team is asking for your help. We are currently collecting the following empty containers for recycling through Terracycle:

• Personal care: shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, cosmetics (anything you use on your body)
• Oral care: toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, floss and mouthwash containers
• Other things we collect:
• Plastic caps and lids
• Beverage tabs
• Holey and lonely socks
• Broken holiday lights

PLEASE make sure the containers are empty

Our goal is to have everyone bring in at least one item after winter break to recycle. There are collection bins in the LRC and in the main entrance.

Thank you for helping us help the Earth!

Mighty Patriots Pack the Place

The D102’s Mighty Patriots Special Olympic Basketball Team is having their Pack the Place at Park Junior High on Tuesday, Jan 14th at 4 pm in the North Gym. Come out and cheer on the Mighty Patriots!

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.

La Grange Library

Winter Reading Challenge

Sunday, December 15 - Friday, January 31

Chase away the winter chill! Complete six reading activities to earn a small prize packet and a ticket for our amazing prize baskets. Want to turn up the heat? Complete all the activities to earn an additional ticket for the baskets!

Register on Beanstack to participate online, or grab a paper form at the Library.

Click HERE for a video with more information.