October 4, 2026
Sunday Snapshot
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8th Grade - HSAT
10/7/2026
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NO SCHOOL: Indigenous Peoples’ Day
10/12/2026
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Garvy Garb Day
10/16/2026
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90th Year Celebration
10/16/2026, 6 PM – 8 PM
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End of Quarter 1
10/23/2026
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Parent Volunteer Process
Level I & Level II Volunteer Application Process: All individuals who are interested in volunteering (includes chaperoning field trips) must be approved by CPS. Depending on the level of volunteering you plan to do, you will be asked to complete an application for either a “Level I” or “Level II” volunteer.
- Level I (Advanced): Best for mentors, tutors, coaches, unsupervised classroom assistants, and overnight field trip chaperones. In order to become a Level I volunteer, you must complete the volunteer form for CPS, provide fingerprints, get a background check and take a TB test.
- Level II (Basic): Best for day field trips, general school events, or volunteering under 10 hours a week where you remain in the line of sight of a full-time employee. Requires you to complete the volunteer form for CPS and submit your ID for verification.
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Happy Sunday Garvy!
Be Kind 🐾 Be Strong 🐾 Be Well 🐾 Be a Bulldog
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time when our school community places extra focus on kindness, inclusion, and respect for all. Every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and valued at school. Throughout this month, we’re empowering our students to speak up against mistreatment, look out for one another, and celebrate the unique differences that make our school community so special.
The Best Things We've Seen this Month
Take a peek into our classrooms! Every school day is filled with reading, thinking, creativity, investigations, and hands-on learning. We are excited to share a look at  what our students have been up to throughout the previous month.
The Best Things We've seen this Month
AtTENdance Challenge
When kids are in school every day, they stay on track with learning, build good daily habits, and make friends. Missing days makes it hard to catch up and can leave kids feeling left behind. Everyday attendance gives your child the best chance to succeed.
Students with an attendance rate under 90% are considered chronically absent. Our school-wide goal is 95% attendance or greater.
This week is the last week of our Quarter 1 AtTENdance challenge. The homerooms with 95% or better attendance will be invited to a special celebration.
These rooms are at or above the 95% attendance mark for Week 1 of the challenge:
| 104 |
108 |
101 |
105 |
107 |
112 |
| 212 |
201 |
204 |
206 |
126 |
123 |
| 125 |
127 |
124 |
221 |
222 |
223 |
CONGRATULATIONS!
These rooms have over 99% attendance for Week 1:
| 107 = 99 |
112 = 99.4 |
126 = 99.6 |
| 125 = 99.9 |
221 = 99.1 |
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Chess Club
Thank you for your patience - I know your students have been eagerly awaiting the start of Chess Club! We will begin on October 15th, and will meet weekly on Thursdays from 3:30-4:30pm.
If you have not already done so, please fill out the consent forms, one is the parent consent and one is the media form. They are both mandatory for your student to participate in this program.
This is Academic Chess, so students will have the ability to participate at in-person tournaments that will be held at Manley High School. Buses will be provided for every school that is participating. I will be present for these tournaments and will definitely need some volunteers to attend with me as well.
Who: Students in grades 3-8th  When: Thursdays, After school from 3:30 - 4:30pm
We are also looking for parent volunteers to help with the club. If you’re an avid chess player or want to learn, sign up to be a parent volunteer using the QR code on the flyer.
Questions: Contact Ms. Stanis- [email protected]
Walk and Roll to School Day
The 2026 National Walk or Bike to School Day is this Wednesday, October 7th. Walking to school can have many benefits for children, including helping them meet physical activity requirements and leading to longer, healthier lives. Hope to see you walking or riding to school this week.
Garvy's 90th Celebration 
Join us as we celebrate a major milestone—our school’s 90th Anniversary! Garvy School opened on October 26, 1936. Come together with fellow families, alumni, and community members for a special evening honoring nine decades of history, community, and excellence.
As part of this historic event, we are raising funds for school beautification to ensure our campus remains a vibrant, inspiring place for generations to come. You can leave your mark on our history by purchasing a personalized Legacy Brick, which will be permanently installed on school grounds.
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Date: Friday, October 16th from 6pm to 8pm
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Location: Garvy School 5225 North Oak Park Avenue
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Brick Orders: Purchase a Legacy Brick
We can't wait to see you there!
Medical Compliance
Proof of physical examinations and/or required immunizations are due no later than October 15th for the following grades: Kindergarten, 6th grade, and any students entering CPS for the first time.
Please join us for the Adopt-a-Classroom Meeting this Thursday, October 8th at 6pm. All meetings are virtual via the zoom link below. The Zoom meeting link will be the same for all meetings:
Meeting ID: 997 068 1795
Passcode: eELuV6
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Ziemann, AAC President, at [email protected].
We would love to invite you to the next meeting of the Bilingual Advisory Committee on Wednesday, October 7th at 8:45 a.m. in Room 208A.
LAST CALL: LSC members play an essential role in decisions that impact our school community, including approving the school-based academic plan, approving the alignment of budgetary resources, engaging in the annual evaluation of contract principals’ professional practices, and selecting or renewing contract principals.
We are currently looking to fill (1) Parent Representative position on our Local School Council (LSC). We are looking for volunteers who are supportive of Garvy’s vision and will bring positive energy to help Garvy continue to grow. Please note that the LSC meets once a month at 5pm. If you are interested, please read the instructions below.
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Understand the criteria to make sure you are eligible before you apply.
- Parent Representative: Must be a parent or legal guardian of a child currently enrolled at Garvy. Also, you cannot be a current employee of CPS.
Step 2: Complete the Nomination Forms
Every candidate must complete nomination forms as part of their application. This year, applicants will use DocuSign to apply electronically. DocuSign replaces paper applications for adult candidates completing their forms in English or Spanish. All online nomination forms must be submitted by October 11, 2026.
- Email Requirement: You’ll need to use your own (not shared) valid email address that you can access. This email will be used to save your work, send you a copy of your completed application, and confirm your ID verification later in the process.
- Getting started: After opening the application, click the “START” button to begin. If you can, try to complete the application in one sitting to make the process easier.
- Save and Finish Later: If you’re not able to finish the application in one sitting, don’t worry—just click “FINISH LATER.” You’ll receive an email from DocuSign Webforms with a secure link to return and complete your application at another time.
- Submitting Your Application: Make sure you fill in all required fields and click “SIGN” in each required section to submit your application successfully. Once you submit, you’ll automatically get an email with a copy of your completed form.
- More Languages: If you need an application in a language other than English or Spanish, you’ll continue to use paper forms. You can ask for the forms at your school or download them here.
Included in the application is a personal statement that you will fill out explaining the qualities you possess to help Garvy’s LSC. You will have the opportunity to read this statement and share anything else you want with the LSC at the October 14th meeting at 5:00 pm. Please be aware that making a statement at the meeting is optional.
Step 3: Verify your Identity
To finalize your application, you must also present two forms of identification IN PERSON to verify your eligibility. Mailed, e-mailed, or faxed identification will NOT be accepted.
Examples of acceptable forms of identification include:
- Driver’s License
- State of Illinois ID
- Voter Registration Card
- MediPlan/Medicaid Card
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- Public Library Card
- Current Lease
- Permanent Resident Card
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- Current Utility Bill
- Credit or Debit Card
- Employment ID
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Step 4: At the October 14th meeting, the LSC will go into closed session to review the applications. When they return to the public forum, they will state if they would like to fill the open position and vote on the applicants to join the LSC. They also have the opportunity to reopen the application window if they choose.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the LSC Chair, Krissy Estrada [email protected] or LSC member, Stephanie Bester [email protected].
- Our annual Eerie Excursion is live on our website, you can click here to enter! This year our Eerie Excursion is FREE. With the weather this past week, we are extending the signup for our Eerie Excursion until October 11th. Which means that there is still time to submit your house to view halloween decorations! Signup is free- go here to register!
- Garvy is celebrating its 90th Birthday in October and the PTA is selling limited edition shirts for the occasion! You can purchase a shirt here. You can also purchase a Legacy brick and have it placed outside the school! To purchase a brick click this link.
- On October 20th is McTeacher night at McDonald's from 5pm-8pm. Stop in to see our fantastic teachers, purchase pies for $1, and when you mention Garvy School 20% of the proceeds will benefit Garvy!
- October 21st there will be a mobile blood drive at Garvy. Register or just stop in to donate blood!
- The PTA secured group seating for our annual Chicago Wolves game! The game is February 20th, 2027 at 7pm vs the Rockford Ice Hogs at the Allstate Arena. We hope to see you there!
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Become a HFS Scholar- 8th Graders
The application for the high school Class of 2031 is now open for current 8th graders. The application deadline is November 1. See the attached flyers (in both English and Spanish) for more information about HFS as well as application requirements and guidelines.
Founded in 1993, HFS Chicago Scholars helps economically disadvantaged Chicago high school students flourish in and out of the classroom by providing educational enrichment through our lifelong mentoring, college readiness and academic excellence programs, as well as providing financial assistance to attend top Chicago-area schools.
Read More...
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Cradles to Crayons Donation Drive
Cradles to Crayons provided children, living in low-income or homeless situations, with the essentials they need to thrive at home, at school and at play. They supply clothing, coats, shoes, diapers, school supplies, and more, free of charge.
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CDPH Mobile Clinic
The CPS Office of Student Health & Wellness (OSHW) Primary Care Services team is pleased to share a series of Saturday School Health Clinics being offered this fall in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), PRISM Health, and City Colleges of Chicago.
These events are open to families with babies, toddlers, children, teens, and young adults through age 21 and are intended to make required and preventive health services more accessible to families across Chicago.
Read More...
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St. Patrick's Art Contest
Calling all inspired artists! Saint Patrick High School is having an art contest! This is a great opportunity for 5th-8th grade boys and girls to show off their creative side and win some amazing prizes! All entries must be submitted and/or postmarked by October 22, 2026. Contest winners will be declared by November 13, 2026. See the attachment for more details and instructions to share with your teachers and their students!
Read More...
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Cub Scouts
Cub Scouts are geared for both boys and girls in grades K-4.
Read More...
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RAS: Before and After School Care
At RAS, after school is a meaningful extension of the school day — not just an afterthought.
While many programs offer a safe place to play, RAS goes further by combining high-quality academic enrichment, active play, and social skill-building — all in a nurturing environment where your child will thrive.
Read More...
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Go Bulldogs!!!
Mrs. Bester 🐾 🐾
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