Thorp Families,
The School will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025 for Labor Day.
Parent University
Next week, on Wednesday September 3rd, we will be hosting our first Parent University for the 25-26 school year. It will be led by Ms. Daly and will focus on the High School Application process. If you would like to attend, please join the Google Meets by computer or phone using the information below.
Meeting ID
To joining by phone:
Phone Numbers
+1 669-223-1261
PIN: 256 796 777#
After School Sign-Ups
After school clubs will start the week of September 8th. Sign up here.
From the Counselors:
This year, our school will administer the Devereux survey for measuring students’ social and emotional competencies. We will use the data to strategically prioritize opportunities and strategies that support students in developing social-emotional learning (SEL) skills, and as a means of evaluating whether or to what degree our priority practices and strategies are effective. Please find more information in the parent letters below.
Snacks and Lunches
Please note, we are a completely nut-free school (Nutella included). Students can also not share food during lunch and snack, as your child may not know what their friend may be allergic to. PLEASE discuss the importance of this with your child. If your child’s class has snack time, that needs to be provided by you.
Spirit Store:
We encourage everyone to wear ThorpWear. Please visit our online store. We will unveil our “One School, Many Voices” theme logo next week, and provide a chance to purchase it in the store later. Our theme this year is Many Voices, One School. Our staff debuted it today. Check out our new logo. Let us know if we should add it to our Store!
Thorp App
Please find O.A. Thorp in your smartphone App Store. You will get daily calendar alerts and special announcements.
Lost Items
Please make sure you write your child’s name on jackets, water bottles, lunchboxes, and other belongings. Our lost and found collection is growing already and it seems like it is sponsored by Stanley.
Newsletter Logo
We have named our weekly newsletter the Thorpie Express. If your student would like to design its logo, please send their idea to [email protected]. We will use their logo, as well as have a framed picture of them and their design outside the office. This will be the last week for entries before we unveil the winner.
Teacher and Staff Member of the Month Nominations
We have amazing staff here, and want to recognize that whenever possible. Please nominate your special Teacher or Staff member here:
Nominate your Staff of the Month!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhPb-kMwR1CJfMwbJBJgd1wVD7qd9mir--n5QvAKMwkwTSdw/viewform
Nominate your Support Staff of the Month!
Please see below for notes from our amazing parent groups Friends of Thorp and PTA:
ATTENDANCE:
You will be receiving weekly and monthly reports on our school attendance. Congratulations to the following grades for the best attendance for the month of August.
Grade Three - 98.97% attendance
Grade Four - 97.87% attendance
Grade Seven - 97.68% attendance
The overall attendance was 97.02% for the month of August.
Week One 8-18-2025 98% attendance for the week
Week Two 8-25-2025 96.02 % attendance for the week
Have a great weekend!
Administrator-in-Charge Norma Cortez and Thorp Administration
Friends of Thorp:
Read-a-Thon Kickoff
Friends of Thorp is thrilled to announce our third Annual Read-a-thon event, from September 15th to 26th, 2025.
Funds raised in 2025 will support improvements to our newly reopened library, including new furniture, a vibrant wall mural, the completion of many beloved book series, audiobooks for diverse learners and restocking our birthday book vending machine.
Our goal is to raise $40,000 and record 100,000 minutes of reading through this year’s event — but we need your help!
All guardians will receive an email from 99Pledges on September 8th with the link and details to set up your child’s fundraising and reading tracker, if you do not receive the email on 9/8 please reach out to [email protected].
📚✨ The Great Thorp Reading Adventure: Book Swap! ✨🎬
During the Read-a-thon, Friends of Thorp will be hosting a Book Swap at Outdoor Movie Night on September 19! We’ll be collecting gently used books from Sept 8–16 near Security. On Movie Night, every child in attendance can choose a couple new books to take home to continue their reading journey! Don’t miss this chance to trade stories and spark new adventures!
Read-a-Thon Authors Signed Books
Friends of Thorp is excited to welcome three authors (Alex Willan, Liesl Shurtliff and Gene Ha) as part of our upcoming Read-a-Thon! If you would like a signed copy, please pre-order by 9/10/25. 20% of the book sales will go back to Friends of Thorp thanks to City Lit Books.
Birthday Books K-8
Friends of Thorp is sponsoring birthday books for the second year! Ms. Limani will ask students to come to the office around their birthday and will receive a token to shop at the book vending machine (near security). Weekend or summer birthdays don’t worry, the office staff will track you down.
Stock the Staff Lounge - Thank You!
We appreciate the contributions to restock the staff lounge with healthy snacks, drinks and a few treats! Over 20 items were purchased last week. There are still items available, visit our wishlist at OA Thorp Stock the Staff Lounge
Sept 9th Dine Out - 20% donated back to Friends of Thorp
Sweet Oasis Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
7549 W. Montrose Ave, Norridge, IL 60706
12PM - 10PM
Easy Street Back to School Bash & Dine Out - Thank You!
Friends of Thorp and PTA enjoyed seeing familiar faces and meeting many new families at the Meet & Greet at Easy Street. Thanks to all that came to hang out or placed a to-go order.
Friends of Thorp Monthly Meeting - Join Us!
Our next Friends of Thorp meeting of the school year will be Thursday, September 4 at 7 PM at Joe's on Higgins (5862 W Higgins Ave, Chicago, IL 60630) in their back room.
We are excited to share more about our upcoming activities for the school year and how you can help! Please let us know if you are able to attend so we can reserve enough space. We hope to see you there!
PTA:
Get Involved
Join the PTA today! Your $10 annual membership helps the PTA offer events like Family Movie Night and the Winter Wiggle and administer Room Parent and Teacher Appreciation Week programs.
Autumn Movie Night
Save the date: The Autumn Family Movie Night is fast approaching on September 19th! Get ready to enjoy a crisp Fall evening on the Thorp soccer pitch enjoying a family film, popcorn, and snacks!
Room Parents
Please learn more information and sign up to be a room parent here.