DISTRICT 29 PTO MONTHLY MATTERS
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
Monday, June 3, 2024
Dear District 29 Community,
As we wrap things up and I pass the gavel, let’s review my experience this year as PTO President:
• Parent volunteers were consistently at the ready to enthusiastically plan and implement the PTO programs and services.
• The district superintendent, principals, teachers and staff truly partnered with the PTO in a cooperative and professional, yet warm and friendly manner.
• I had the pleasure of meeting with the Executive Board each month which included a team of women whose ideas, suggestions, feedback and support were instrumental for the operation of the PTO.
• The overall parent community was positive, generous, and supportive throughout.
So there you have it! In whichever way you participated or contributed, thank you all for making this a great year.
And here’s to incoming PTO President Ranjini Shankar and the 2024-2025 PTO Board! Many of you are continuing on the board from prior years, while others are joining in for the first time. You are in great hands because of the exceptional care that Ranjini puts into everything she does.
And now it’s time to celebrate! See you tomorrow, June 4th, at the Family Fun Fair at Clarkson Park from 3:30-6:00PM.
Sandy Norbot
STAY INFORMED
Family Fun Fair
We’ll be celebrating the end of the school year with fun, food, and inflatables TOMORROW, June 4th at Clarkson Park from 3:30-6:00PM. Come and say farewell to Mr. Parks, and wish him well in his retirement. He will be at the fun fair from 3:30-4:30PM.
WE STILL NEED A FEW MORE VOLUNTEERS: sign up here. Especially someone to dress up as Eddie the Eagle! Contact president@district29pto.org if you’re in!
Purchase School Supplies for 2024/2025 School Year
Want convenient online school supply shopping for next school year? The PTO can help with that. See the links below and place your order before July 1st!
Middlefork School Supply Kits: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=33665
Sunset Ridge School Supply Kits: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=35399
Please reach out to schoolkits@district29pto.org with any questions.
School Supply Donations
Do you have extra school supplies coming home at the end of the school year or already stored away at home? We are collecting school supplies in "like-new" or very good condition that can be donated to help students in need at Whittier Elementary School and Roberti Community House in Waukegan! Please drop off any of the supplies listed below in the donation box in the front entrance lobby of Middlefork or Sunset Ridge School between May 28th and June 5th.
Please consider donating any of the following:
• Pencil boxes or pouches
• Pencils with erasers
• Markers that still have good color
• Colored pencils and crayons less than 2/3 used (don’t need to be in the box, could be in a Ziploc bag)
• Backpacks
• Other school-related supplies (rulers, pens, notebooks, folders, binders, tape, name tags)
Author Visits at Middlefork School
Spring allowed for some exciting author visits and activity for Middlefork students! In March, author/illustrator Maddie Frost spoke to K-2 students about her work. In April, author of Elephants Come Home Kim Tomsic spoke to 3rd grade students. Each child was given a copy of the book to remind them that they can always come back to their community at Middlefork as they transition into the future at Sunset Ridge School and beyond. In May, Japanese Illustrator Momoko Abe walked students through her creative process for books such as Avocado Ask.
Welcomers Program – Become a Mentor!
Every year the PTO seeks to connect new families in our district with "Mentor Families”. Have you had a child at one of our schools for at least one school year? Then you too can be a mentor! Click here for more information and to sign up. Have questions before you commit? Please contact president@district29pto.org.
Directory – Are you in?
Are you in the PTO Directory, DirectorySpot? Be ready for those summer playdates and get togethers. Email Directory Chair Catherine Lucas at catherineannelucas@gmail.com to have your record added.
Winter Benefit 2025
Save the date! The 2025 PTO Winter Benefit, our largest fundraiser, will be March 8th. If you are looking to meet new friends or hang out with old while lending a hand, there will be a range of volunteer opportunities! Email president@district29pto.org with questions or to express your interest.
Parent Connections
The May 22nd Parent Connections meeting focused on the Middlefork School Capital Improvement options and the presentation can be found here.
Civics in Action
Starting next fall at Sunset Ridge, Student Ambassadors will be partnering with Civics in Action regarding school and community outreach and initiatives.
COMMUNITY NEWS
A Message from the Northfield Park District
Please visit the Northfield Park District website for information on upcoming Market & Music Wednesdays, free yoga, Summer Camp information and July 4th celebration details! If you don’t currently receive the Park District monthly newsletter, be sure to sign up here.
A Message from the Northfield Library
Embark on a Summer of Adventure with the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District Summer Reading Challenge! The reading log and more information can be found here.
PTO SHOUT OUTS AND THANK YOUS
To all of the PTO volunteer veterans whose youngest or only child is graduating tonight. We appreciate all of the volunteer hours that you have put in over your years with District 29. You’ve surely seen lots of changes, with some traditions ending and new ones beginning. You’ll always be part of the fabric of the Sunset Ridge / Middlefork PTO!
Teacher Appreciation Chairs Courtney Weitz, Erin Welch, Jayaa Poddar, Kelly Halverson, Archana Piotrowski, Ema Dzaka-Dizdarevic, and Yena Levinson for your thoughtful and creative planning in order to show the D29 Teachers and Staff our gratitude. From catered lunches to fun student completed Mad Libs and so many treats in between, thank you for putting together a special Teacher Appreciation Week!
Sunset Ridge Book Fair Chairs Gretchen Swank and Ranjini Shankar for encouraging a love of reading for our kids! We saw the results – shelves of crisp covered books ready to be purchased, cracked open and devoured. Thanks for everything you did behind the scenes for months as well as working numerous hours to setup, check inventory, run the register, pack up, and more! And thanks to all who purchased books, which helps to support the PTO funded programs.
Family Fun Fair Chairs Robin Decker and Jeanine Rashkow for all of the planning that went into what is sure to be a super fun and memorable event to celebrate the end of the school year. Your consideration for adding new activities along with some old favorites reflects your dedication to ensuring that this is an enjoyable event for all.
School Supply Donation Chair Rachel Kermen for orchestrating our 2nd annual school supply drive. Thank you for reminding us of the needs of our neighbors, and making it easy for us to share our spare.
2025 Winter Benefit Chairs Jocelyn Dinkel and Megan Reed for getting the party started! Thank you for the time and consideration that you have already put into this major fundraising event that is sure to be a fun night out.
AND ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE for the outgoing 2023-2024 PTO Board!
President-Elect | Ranjini Shankar |
| Holiday Projects | Sarah Cohn |
Vice-President | Hillary Bufalino |
|
| Carma Pagni |
Secretary | Emily LeMire |
|
| Maggie Yocom-Piatt |
Treasurer | Yena Levinson |
|
| Julie Aiello |
Assistant Treasurer | Karie Smith |
| Hospitality | Aimee Reynolds |
Legislative | Tricia Gainsberg |
|
| Maureen Huhs |
Alliance for Early Childhood | Dana Santostefano |
| House & Grounds | Jeanine Fragale-Rashkow |
Author Visit / School Programs Middlefork | Maria Mastroianni |
| Lunchroom Volunteers – Middlefork | Laura Hendricks |
Author Visit / School Programs Sunset Ridge | Tricia Gainsberg |
| Lunchroom Volunteers – SRS | Laura Hendricks |
Bike Safety Week | Carma Pagni |
| Nominating Chair | Christie Caceres |
| Rachel Kermen |
| TrueNorth/formerly NSSED | Lauren Laughlin |
Book Fair Middlefork | Sarah Cohn |
|
| Matt Weil |
| Carma Pagni |
| Parent Connections | Dan Friedman |
| Laura Curry |
| Photo Day - Middlefork | Hillary Bufalino |
Book Fair Sunset Ridge | Gretchen Swank |
|
| Gretchen Swank |
| Ranjini Shankar |
| Photo Day - SRS | Seong McGarry |
Civics in Action (CIA) | Dan Friedman |
|
| Erin Welch |
Communications – PTO Newsletter | Sara Thompson |
| School Supplies | Robin Decker |
Communications – Social Media | Kristin Galbraith |
|
| Mallory Ruh |
Communications - Website | Kristin Galbraith |
|
| Rachel Kermen |
Conference Meals - Middlefork | Ema Dzaka-Dizdarevic |
| 6th Grade Social Dance Chair | Hillary Bufalino |
| Nicole McLachlan |
|
| Jessica Adams |
Conference Meals - Sunset Ridge | Erica Marinello |
| Teacher Appreciation - Middlefork | Erin Welch |
| Dan Friedman |
|
| Courtney Weitz |
Directory | Catherine Lucas |
|
| Kelly Halverson |
8th Grade Chair | Erica Marinello |
|
| Jayaa Poddar |
| Karen Halverson |
| Teacher Appreciation – SRS | Archana Piotrowski |
| Shiva Seth |
|
| Yena Levinson |
| Jessica Adams |
|
| Ema Dzaka-Dizdarevic |
Fall Event – Movie in the Park | Christine O’Neil |
| Welcome Team – Middlefork | Gretchen Fitzgibbons |
| Robin Decker |
| Welcome Team – SRS | Katie Lutz |
Family End of Year Event | Robin Decker |
| 2025 Winter Benefit | Jocelyn Dinkel |
| Jeanine Fragale-Rashkow |
|
| Megan Reed |
Junior Great Books Coordinator | Maureen Huhs |
| Technology Chair (Website) | Brent Payne |
COMING SOON & NOTES
Important Dates
June 4: Last Day of School – Early Dismissal
June 4: Family Fun Fair 3:30-6PM
June 11: Board of Education Meeting 5:30PM
All Zoom links can be found on the District 29 Calendar.
How to Help
Community involvement is instrumental in making the PTO a success. Please consider volunteering your time! Contact president@district29pto.org to get involved or with any questions.
