Dear Parents,

The Board of Education and the staff of Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 welcome you to the 2006-2007 school year! If you are a returning family to our district, you are aware that your children are attending a district that has undergone a number of program improvements in recent years in pursuit of increased student achievement. If your family is new to District 123, you have enrolled your children in a district that is committed to excellence and grounded in a century old tradition of family, community, and scholarship.

We know that you send your children to us with high expectations. We believe that you expect us to provide your family with a safe and secure school environment, a high-quality instructional program, talented and caring teachers, and effective and efficient use of fiscal resources. In order to meet your expectations, we have developed initiatives to improve our performance in each of these areas. As the school year progresses, you will be receiving further information about our district and school improvement process. This process is centered on increasing student achievement in the areas of reading and math by providing students with the type of instruction that will best meet their individual needs.

This publication is not only a calendar; it is a family-friendly introduction to our procedures, policies, rules, and other important information. Your building principal and your child’s classroom teacher will supplement this handbook with a great deal of information regarding your child’s program at his/her individual school. If you have any questions at the classroom, school, or district level, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school or the district office.

We understand and embrace the fact that it is our job to assist you in preparing your child for a challenging future. I encourage you to visit your child’s school, contact the classroom teacher, attend parent gatherings, ask questions, introduce yourself to other parents, and share compliments and concerns with your building principal. Our tradition of family, community, and scholarship has served us well in the past and will guide our decisions in the future. Together, we will provide our students with a rich, memorable, and high-quality experience.

Sincerely,
Kathleen McCord
Superintendent