Where to Hear the Sounds of the Holiday Season

Oak Forest schools are gearing up for their holiday concerts, and Patch has compiled all the info into one handy list.

Radio stations have been pumping out the Christmas tunes for weeks—but there's no better version of 'Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer' than the one your kid's been practicing for weeks. Oak Forest schools are gearing up for their holiday concerts and Patch has a comprehensive list of when and where to hear the sounds of the holiday season this year. Arbor Park Middle School Jack Hille Middle School Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., at Jack Hille Middle School, Winter Band Concert Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. at Jack Hille Middle School, Winter Chorus G. Kerkstra Elementary Lee R. Foster Elementary Ridge Early Childhood Center St. Damian School Oak Forest High School Saturday, Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at Oak Forest High School, Madrigals Sunday, Dec…

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Michael M.

11:26 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012

Mike-now that you revealed that, some people will want the word holiday banned and replaced with vacation or some other nonsense.   more ›

Fire Department: Sprinklers 'Saved Arbor Park School from Burning Down'

A fire sparked in a document storage room at Arbor Park Middle School Friday evening. Without the school's sprinkler system, the building could have been engulfed, one Oak Forest fire official said.

A few halls of Arbor Park Middle School are flooded, and the stench of smoke lingers—but it could have been so much worse.  An old radio or electronic device might have been the cause of a Friday night fire, and fire officials said if not for the sprinkler system, the school might not have been standing afterward.  "If it wasn't for the building's sprinkler system, this place would still be burning," said Oak Forest Fire Lieutenant Jack Janozik.  No students were present at the time of the fire, which started in a document storage room in the northwest corner of the building around 5:30 p.m. Firefighters trudged through hallways filled with thick, black smoke to deactivate the sprinklers. Custodians were inside the school at the time of …

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orland park home owner

9:42 am on Monday, October 29, 2012

I would like to address the person stating there was more clean up in a house fire due to sprinklers. I had a house fire in 2007 in my Orland Park home. It WAS NOT sprinkled unfortunately. The clean up from the smoke damage was about 60k as it reached the third level of my home. If the home was sprinkled the damage might have been only 20-25K according to the insurance company as well as the fire…   more ›

Arbor Park Set to Host Rummage Sale

Arbor Park Middle School will host its annual rummage sale, Saturday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you're looking for a way to unload some past treasures and maybe pick up a few new treasures as well, the Arbor Park Middle School rummage sale is right around the corner. The event, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, and will feature items from around the Oak Forest area. During the sale, there will also be a craft fair and concessions available for purchase as well. Tables are still available for sellers, at a cost of $15, and donations are still being accepted. All funds raised through the event will go towards the Technology Fund at Arbor Park Middle School. For more information, call 708-687-5330.

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UPDATED: Kid Needs a Lift to School? Find a Carpool with Patch

Local parents looking to save on gas and time might find carpooling to be a convenient, affordable option. If you're willing to help out local parents, join the group starting here.

Some Oak Forest parents might find themselves in a pinch this school year. With changes in school bus routes or services, parents are forced to find new ways to get their kids to class.  Patch Facebook fans discussed changes in bus services, and a special something came about—parents offered to help each other out.  And so was born Mission: Patch Carpool. Two parents have volunteered to help out—can you join them? We'll keep a running list of all parents available. If you're in a bind, Patch can help you out! If you're available and you're willing to carpool your neighbors' kids, comment here with name,school and contact information. Or email Editor Lauren Traut, at lauren.traut@patch.com with your information. 

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Arbor Park Student Approached by Man in SUV, Officials Alert Parents

The incident took place near the the Edgewater Walk subdivision entrance. The student ran away and reported to a parent what happened.

Arbor Park Middle School officials are warning parents about a recent incident where a man approached one of their students. An older, white man driving an older model, black Oldsmobile Bravada tried to call the student over to his SUV Wednesday around 6 p.m. The vehicle was stopped near the entrance to the Edgewater Walk subdivision in Tinley Park near the Oak Forest border, according to a letter from school sent to parents Thursday. Sign up for our Tinley Park Patch or Oak Forest Patch breaking news alerts. The student refused and ran away. The student’s parent, who was nearby, informed police about what happened. Reports were made with both the Tinley Park Police Department and Cook County Sheriff’s Office. Arbor Park Principal Mary …

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Oak Resident

2:29 am on Monday, May 7, 2012

These scum need to be watched before they do severe harm to anyone.   more ›

Bullying Awareness Presentation Scheduled at Arbor Park School

The father of a boy who committed suicide after being bullied online will speak tonight. Read on to see the details.

In the anonymity of cyberspace, bullying can happen without a sound. Two middle schools have teamed up to bring a presentation by John Halligan, the father of a 13-year-old special needs student who took his own life after years of bullying. Officials hope the talk about Ryan Halligan's life in Vermont will bring attention to a quiet problem. “He was bullied in silence,” said Margaret Longo, superintendent of Forest Ridge Elementary School District 142. Both Jack Hille Middle School from District 142 and Arbor Park Middle School in District 145 are working together on the bullying awareness effort. The presentation for the community starts at 7 p.m. tonight at Arbor Park Middle School. Follow Oak Forest Patch on Facebook!  Halligan’s story…

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Arbor Park Student Approached by Suspicious Man in Pickup

The man in a pickup truck pulled up alongside the student near 167th and Central Avenue in Oak Forest Tuesday, and offered the student a ride home. The student ran home and contacted police.

Officials from Arbor Park Middle School alerted parents that a student had been approached by a suspicious man in a pickup truck while walking home from school Tuesday, April 3. The student was walking near 167th and Central, when the man drove up alongside the student, offering a ride home. When the student declined, the man continued to drive alongside the student on 167th Street. The student evaded the man by running home before he could turn around.  The man is described as in his 50s, with a white beard and no license plates on the truck. Reports were filed with Oak Forest Police and Cook County Sheriff's Department.  "We make every attempt to reinforce the importance of safety with our students," wrote Arbor Park MS Principal Mary …

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Rally Behind Arbor Park Students in Recycle Challenge

Save your plastic bottles and aluminum pop cans! Help District 145 students in their Dream Machine Recycle Rally and effort to support disabled veterans—and for a chance to win up to $50,000.

Show Us Your Stuff: Dads and Daughters in the Spotlight

We want your Daddy Daughter Dance pictures! The cute, the goofy—whatever you have, we'll take 'em! Add them to our album!

LOOK & ADD: Dads and Daughters Dance the Night Away

Oak Forest dads and their little girls spent some quality time together Friday, Feb. 10. Check out these photos, shared via Oak Forest Patch Facebook, then add your own!

A dad loves few things more than being able to twirl his little girl around a dance floor. She stands on his feet, he spins her around as her skirt billows, and she giggles. Ahhh, memories. Right, dads? The Oak Forest Park District hopes so! The district offered its annual Daddy Daughter dance Friday, Feb. 10, for Oak Forest fathers and daughters to take a spin around the Arbor Park Middle School dance floor together. Patch asked our Facebook fans for their photos from the night. Check them out, then add your own.

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