Happy December Ogden Families!

We would like to start out on a positive note and say that the Flying High FUNdraiser from the Friday before break was an overall success and that is in huge part to all of you, parents, for helping us enforce the code of conduct. Great job students!

We had our last PTC meeting of 2024. You can see the meeting minutes HERE.

Can you believe we are at the end of the year and the holiday season is in full swing? We hope everyone can stop by the Red Sled Flicks and Friends open house event this Sunday, December 8th from 2-5pm at Park Junior High. There will be some great holiday movie shorts playing in the auditorium and some fun activities, like the 6th grade committee bake sale, the service committee wrapping and card station, the raffle sales, and of course, pictures with the big guy himself, in the cafeteria! It is sure to be a great time! Thank you to all those who donated to our family raffle, and don't forget to get your 50/50 ticket! The online sales close tonight but will re-open at the event for in person sales!

A special thank you to those who adopted a student for project LUK with the PTC service committee. Thank you to Melissa Seidelmann and Leah Burkiewicz for planning this event! For those who would like another opportunity to help a student in need, take a look at this wishlist for Park Jr. High students or this wishlist for Congress Park students.

Thank you and hope to see you Sunday!

Marissa Claxon and Jenna Tassoni

Ogden PTC Co-Presidents

Red Sled Flicks & Friends

Come help make Ogden's Red Sled event a successful one this year! We are looking for donations of supplies and even more importantly, your time! This is a great event to help out at. You can come help for half the event and still enjoy the other half with your family. We need a lot of volunteers to make this a fun and safe event for all.

To sign up to volunteer, please click HERE.

After you volunteer, please join us for our re-imagined Red Sled event! Flicks & Friends will be an open house with movie shorts, raffle sales, pictures with Santa, snacks, and more. Bring the whole family! (This is not a drop-off event.)

1 Ticket costs $100 | Maximum of 300 tickets will be sold

Deadline to purchase online tickets is December 7 at 9:00pm or when SOLD OUT! Tickets will also be available for purchase from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the in-person Red Sled Flicks & Friends event at Park Junior High on Sunday, December 8. Prizes to be drawn on Sunday, December 8 at 4:45 p.m. at the in-person Red Sled Flicks & Friends event.

$100 Ticket + $3.20 CC Processing Fee

To order tickets, click HERE.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - FAMILY RAFFLE SALES go live today!

One of Red Sled's favorite traditions is back - The Family Raffle. Purchase tickets for just $5 each for a chance to win one of 27 amazing prizes. No limit on the number of tickets you can purchase.

You will find something everyone will love in the raffle - don't forget to let the kids pick out their favorite items! Or, buy some tickets and maybe cross an item off the holiday shopping list. And, while you are at it, you might find a little something special for yourself - you deserve it!

Tickets are currently available online until 9:00pm tonight, December 6.

To buy a ticket today, click HERE.

Tickets will also be available for purchase from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the in-person Red Sled Flicks & Friends event at Park Jr High on Sunday, December 8. Winners will be drawn at this event on December 8 at 4:30 p.m.

Winners will be posted on the website after the live event and will be contacted by phone to coordinate the delivery of their prize.

Our raffle could not take place without all of the generous donations from Ogden families, staff and local businesses. A huge thank you to all of those people who continue to donate, and for our new donors as well - we truly appreciate your support of Ogden.

Questions? Contact Tanya Findlay.

Vintage Charm Shopping Night

Get ready for the holiday season with a shopping night at Vintage Charm! Grab your friends and join us on Wednesday, December 11th from 6-8PM at Vintage Charm for some snacks, drinks, and most importantly, shopping!

Vintage Charm will generously donate 10% of the proceeds back to the Ogden Ave. PTC.

Ogden Specials Teachers & Support Staff Gift Collection

Holiday gifts are being organized by Ogden families from all Ogden students for the specials teachers and support staff to thank them for all their wonderful efforts! The gifts will be from all Ogden students regardless of contribution towards the group gift. Specials teachers include PE, Art, Music, Spanish, and Library. Support staff will include custodians, health office staff, IT specialist, instructional coach, social worker, administrative assistants, resource teachers, and other school specialists.

If you are interested in contributing, please Venmo Jennifer Maresso @Jennifer-Maresso or drop off donations at 434 N. Waiola Ave by Wednesday December 18th.

Thank you for your support and have a great winter break!

Variety Show 2025 - A Deep Sea Dazzle! 

This year's splashy show will be at Park Jr High on Saturday, February 8th, 2025 at 1 pm - please mark your calendars and start getting those acts organized!

• Act registration opened on Monday December 2nd and will close on Wednesday December 11. You will register on the Variety Show PTC page. Only the act rep will need to do this step, (not all of the individual students participating in the act).
• Student/participant registration will begin December 13 and last until January 10. This is the step where all students participating need to register.
• Please review this slide show for all the details and other important info. 
• If your child wants to be an emcee, that registration will happen with the student sign up process starting on 12/13.

Act Review and Practice info (also in slideshow):

• Act reviews will be at Ogden on either Tuesday January 21 or Thursday January 23. Practice will run from 3:15 - 4:30 pm.
• Rehearsals will be at Ogden on either Tuesday, January 28 or Thursday January 30. Practices will run from 3:15 - 4:30 pm.
• Tech week will be at Park and practice will be either Tuesday, February 4 or Thursday February 6, call times will be between 5-8 pm.
• Dress rehearsal will be at Park on Feb 7, call times will be between 5-8 pm.

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

CPCFRO Athletics

CPCFRO is an athletics program within D102 that introduces volleyball and basketball to 5th and 6th graders.

Registration is open now through Friday, December 23.

The Winter/Spring session is January to March with teams consisting of separate 5th & 6th grade girls' volleyball teams and separate 5th & 6th grade boys' basketball teams (dependent on registrations), playing 7-9 games.

The program's goal is to introduce the basic skills of each sport, get the children excited about playing, and allow for the inclusion of all kids in our district. All the teams within CPCFRO (Congress Park, Cossitt, Forest Road, and Ogden) are coached by parent volunteers.

While we keep score during the game, we do not keep track of wins/losses...the focus is strictly instructional and for the kids to HAVE FUN!!

To view the CPCFRO flyer, click HERE.

Questions? Contact Rachel Arndt.

OPEN Books

This school year, the OPEN committee will be purchasing books with a focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for each grade level. Books were selected in collaboration with the classroom teachers. A copy of each book purchased will also be provided to the special education team. 

December’s featured book for Kindergarten is Say Something by Peter Reynolds. 

This picture book is about the power of a single voice to make a difference. It encourages children to share their ideas, speak up, and stand up for what they believe in. Here is a video of the author reading the book aloud. 

Native American Heritage Month Reading Challenge

If you participated in the La Grange Library’s Native American Heritage Month Reading Challenge last month, you can turn your completed reading challenge card in at the front office anytime before Friday, December 13 to receive a $10 Starbucks gift card.

For any questions, contact Sara Johnson.

Winter/Spring Menus available for ordering Marla's Lunch

Ordering for Marla's Lunch for the January - May lunches will be open on Thursday, December 12.

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.

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.

Village of La Grange Park Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony



The Village’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Friday, December 6 at 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Park. The celebration will include caroling, hot chocolate and more! Residents are invited to bring the whole family to this free event with lots of holiday cheer.

La Grange Park Santa Parade & Mobile Food Drive



Sunday, December 15, 2024

4:30 p.m.

Santa Claus is coming to La Grange Park! Save the date for the Village's Santa Parade and Mobile Food Drive on December 15. This festive parade will travel throughout the Village and collect donations for local food pantries (Westchester Food Pantry, Share Food Share Love, BEDS Plus and St. Barbara's) along the way.

Check out the Parade Map to find out where you can drop off food donations and catch a glimpse of Santa!

Tuesday, December 10, 7:00pm

Sponsored by Illinois Libraries Present

Raina Telgemeier is the author and illustrator of the graphic novels Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, and Guts, all #1 New York Times bestsellers. She also adapted and illustrated four graphic novel versions of Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club series, and has contributed short stories to many anthologies. Raina’s accolades include six Eisner Awards, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, a Stonewall Honor, and many Best-of and Notables lists. 

The LIVE virtual author visit is sponsored by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries connecting communities and audiences across Illinois through shared event experiences.

To watch from the comfort of your own home and for a link to the zoom, register below.