Incoming Freshman

Incoming Freshman Parent Night, Course Selection,Health Forms & Residency 

Here are key dates and the steps you will need to complete:

December 13th and 14th, 2022: Incoming Freshman Parent Night

• This important meeting will focus on how to request courses and enroll your student for the 2023-2024 school year. 
• December 13, 2022 - Incoming Freshman Parent Night (Brooks, Roosevelt and Private Feeder Schools) at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium. 
• December 14, 2022 - Incoming Freshman Parent Night (Julian, Roosevelt, and Private Feeder Schools) at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium. 

 January 24, 2023: Course Selection Night for the Incoming Class of 2027 (VIRTUAL)

Submit Freshman Course Selections during the Course Selection Night for the Incoming Class of 2027.   During this event, you will attend a virtual group presentation with your student’s counselor where there will be time to questions and enter your course requests via a Google Form. Please plan on being in attendance virtually starting at 6:30 PM.  We also will provide information on how students and parents can get involved at OPRFHS. Counselors will be contacting parents and guardians with information and a link to join the meeting.  

      After May 2023

• Submit all health and dental records by the deadlines.
• Students planning to participate in athletics should have the Certificate of Child Health Examination form completed after May 1, 2023, to ensure athletic eligibility for the entire freshman year. Students who will participate in fall     sport must turn in physicals 

BEFORE August 1, 2023

• The DHS Certificate of Child Health Examination form WILL BE ACCEPTED for participation in athletics.
• Illinois High School Association (IHSA) forms are not necessary for freshmen.  

June and July 2023: Online Enrollment & Residency Verification

• Further instructions will follow in the spring via email. Please note that course selections will not be valid unless you complete your student’s online enrollment and residency verification. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our offices. And again, welcome!

 

Oak Park & River Forest High School reviews student data to determine course selection options in English, History, Mathematics, Science, and World Language courses for incoming freshmen. Our divisions may use slightly different processes to arrive at their recommendations, so please review the information below for division-specific details.  For 8th graders who attend private middle schools, any achievement data that their school administers will be utilized in the course recommendation process.  

English & History Division

Course options in freshman English, History, and literacy courses consider a student’s ability to read, comprehend and analyze grade-level text.  We use students’ current grades in Language Arts and Social Studies, and MAP Reading scores to make a recommendation if supplemental literacy support or a different instructional experience is needed to be successful in the freshmen curriculum.  For questions, reach out to:

 

Erika Eckart/ English Division Head / eeckart@oprfhs.org

Amy Hill /History Division Head/ ahill@oprfhs.org

Science Division

Recommendations for our freshman Science course, Physics/Chemistry, are based on MAP scores in Mathematics and Reading, as well as a review of students’ science course performance in 8th grade. Based on that information, it may be determined that a student would benefit from our Physics/Chemistry course that provides more structure and support in reading and math skill development, and accessing the grade-level curriculum.  Click here for narrated freshman course selection information.  For questions, reach out to:

 

Matt Kirkpatrick /Science Division Head/ mkirkpatrick@oprfhs.org

Mathematics Division

OPRFHS Math placement freshman year considers the following information: MAP Mathematics scores, current course (prerequisite), and current course performance. Based on our review of information, we will make a determination of what is the next logical step in a student’s math course progression and also if there are any indications that a student would benefit from additional support and instruction to build critical math skills.  Click on this link for more information about the freshmen math curriculum.  For questions, reach out to:

Dr. Julie Frey /Mathematics Division Head/ jfrey@oprfhs.org

World Languages Division

Recommendations for Spanish, French, and Italian consider a student’s ability to understand the four modes of communication: reading, writing, listening and speaking in a language class. Based on a review of the current course level in language and student course performance, we will make a determination of appropriate placement in our programming. 

Students who have prior coursework or experience in Chinese, Japanese, German, or Latin, and are interested in potential placement in one of these language programs beyond the introductory level, should contact the Division Head.

Claudia Sahagun /World Languages Division Head / csahagun@oprfhs.org. 

Special Education Division

If a student has an Individualized Education Plan, a transition meeting will be held with the student’s current IEP team and special education representatives from Oak Park and River Forest High School.  As part of the transition meeting, course offerings are shared and a course request form is completed.  Course selections are made in collaboration with the special education team, based on the student's individual needs.

Lesley Roberts / Assistant Director of Special Education /lroberts@oprfhs.org

 

December 13, 2022  - Incoming Freshman Parent Night (Brooks, Roosevelt, and private schools) at 7:00 PM in the Auditorium

December 14. 2022 - Incoming Freshman Parent Night (Julian, Roosevelt, and private schools) at 7:00 PM in the Auditorium

January 19, 2023 -  Future Huskies Night - Open House 6:30 PM / In-Person

January 24, 2023 -  Course Selection Night for Incoming Class of 2027 (VIRTUAL) at 6:30 PM

May 1, 2023 - For prospective athletes - You can begin completing the DHS Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination Form - doctor signed - front & back (with all Immunization dates) and if needed, signed Medication Authorization Form - due to OPRFHS Health Services. Students who will participate in a fall sport must turn in physicals BEFORE August 1, 2023.

 May 15, 2023 - Completed State of Illinois Proof of Dental Exam due 

June and July 2023 - Online enrollment and Residency verification needs to be submitted. Information will be sent to parents/guardians in the spring.

 Illinois State Law requires each student to have a medical examination performed by a licensed healthcare provider (MD, DO, APN, PA). State law also requires each student to show evidence of immunity to the diseases listed in the immunizations section of the enclosed DHS State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination form. Parents and guardians are responsible for obtaining the medical examination and immunizations. All incoming 9th graders must turn in a physical examination and up-to-date immunization record by OCTOBER 13, 2023 to Health Services to attend OPRFHS. Those who fail to meet this requirement will not be allowed to come to school until the required documents are turned in per board policy 7:100, and Illinois School Code: 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1.

 

• All 9th graders must submit a proof of dental examination form by May 15, 2023.
  • Proof of School Dental Examination Form
• If a student requires medication during the school day, a Medication Authorization Form must be completed by the student’s physician, and on file with the Health Services office. A new form is required each school year.
• If your child has a condition that requires a medical action plan (asthma, diabetes, food allergies, seizure disorder, etc.), an updated medical action plan must be turned in at the time all forms are submitted. A new form is required each school year.

 

Please submit the completed and signed forms to medicalforms@oprfhs.org.  Please direct all questions to the Health Services office at 708-434-3234 or medicalforms@oprfhs.org.

*Please note that families must be enrolled in our district through our Registrar’s office before recommendations and/or testing can take place To begin the enrollment process, please go to our website at OPRFHS.org/enrollment. If you have any questions, contact our Registrar, Carmen Lopez at clopez@oprfhs.org

 

For transfer students and incoming freshmen from outside of our area sender schools, we will require the student’s most recent course information and grade report, and standardized test scores. For students who cannot provide a standardized Reading and Math test score (NWEA MAP, PSAT 8/9, ASPIRE, iReady, or Terra Nova, for example), we will need to administer an assessment to help determine a student’s academic levels. For questions regarding testing, please contact Kimberly Asbury at kasbury@oprfhs.org.

After receiving a Chromebook, it is vital that all freshmen update their passwords, agree to the Acceptable Use Policy, and complete the online student orientation. Instructions were given with the Chromebook. Choosing a strong password reduces the risk of account issues including loss of connectivity, disabled accounts, and the inability to participate in school-related activities. Please check your Gmail account for information regarding this.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Helpdesk@oprfhs.org or (708) 434-3737 and choose 'Option 2.'