D123 Back to School Bash is A Smash

There was plenty of wholesome fun at Saturday's back-to-school extravaganza at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School.

There was no sitting on the sidelines at D123’s back-to-school extravaganza at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School on Saturday. Kids were kept constantly on the go with jumpy houses, a climbing wall and plenty of games. McGugan alum and BMX X-Game medalist Matt Wilhelm performed bike tricks and discussed intersection safety with a rapt audience of students from Hannum, Sward, Covington, Kolmar, Hometown and OLHMS. Families had a chance to network with the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, school organizations and local businesses. D123 students returned to school on Aug. 22. The Community Involvement Committee organized the back-to-school celebration. Share your first day of school photos, just like Carol Ellis Sheahan did.

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D123 Hosts Back-to-School Extravaganza on Saturday

Join D123 for back-to-school extravaganza at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School on Saturday, Aug. 25. The event is free and fun for the whole family.

It’s the back-to-school picnic to end all back-to-school picnics. Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 invites all D123 families to come out on Saturday for an end-of-summer blast at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School. Drop by anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25 and enjoy activities for the whole family. Meet BMX X-Game medalist Matt Wilhelm, jump in a bouncy house, run an obstacle course and get your face painted. Parents can also talk to representatives from the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Market Day, Oak Lawn Library, Children’s Museum, the Oak Lawn Police and Fire Departments, PTA/PTO/PTSA and more. It’s a great time to network with other families and find out about all of the awesome resources available in Oak Lawn and …

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Dr. Art Fessler Offers D123 Students 'A One Minute Welcome'

District 123 students started school on Wednesday. Watch the video of the school superintendent's "one minute welcome."

Share Your Back to School Pics!

School bells ring for most kids this week and next. Post your first-day-of-school photos on Patch.

Back to School: Post Your Pictures of the First Day of School on Patch

A new school year has begun. Patch has the place for you to showcase your first day moments.

Students are returning to school soon and, amongst the excitement and rush, many parents are snapping quick photos and the little ones toddle or sprint off to classes. Send your first day of school pics to nicks@patch.com or upload them directly to this article. Please make sure to include who is submitting the photo. Have a good school year! Join the conversation. Like Oak Lawn Patch on Facebook and sign up for the breaking news alerts!

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41 Years Later, Martinelli's Still Welcomes the Back-to-School Crowds

Patch stops by Martinelli's, a 6,000-square foot store that has sold uniforms to generations of area schoolchildren.

  For generations Martinelli's Childrens Wear in Evergreen Park has been a destination for parents and children checking off those back-to-school lists.  Generations of kids have been outfitted in plaid skirts and jumpers, or creased slacks thanks to this southwest suburban institution. "As we get closer to school starting, every day will get a little more crazy," said Joan Martinelli, the store's president. The 6,000-square foot retail store has seen decades of back-to-school rushes. Martinelli says many educators find a uniform or dress code adds to the learning environment and plays a major role in students' behavior. "I would definitely say that the schools testify that when the children are in uniform the behavior is a little more …

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The Back-to-School Rush 'Like Christmas' at The Classmate

The popular Evergreen Park store draws teachers, students and parents and is in the throes of its busiest time of year.

Those who have recently visited the jam-packed The Classmate school supply store may have indeed made their lists and checked them twice. But rather than keeping track of who is naughty or nice, they are looking for pencils, pens, notebooks, classroom decorations and more -- all of the staples that teachers, parents and students scramble to find this time of year. It's time to go back to school. "This is like Christmas time," said store owner Gail Sullivan with a laugh during a busy day at the store this week. "There's no better way to describe it." The excitement and anticipation has definitely begun for shoppers who tend to start swarming the store in the afternoons and early evening -- especially for schools on the Track E schedule in …

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