DISTRICT 29 PTO MONTHLY MATTERS
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
Monday, May 6, 2024
Hi Everyone!
Welcome to the last month of school and particularly, Teacher Appreciation Week! The PTO chairs have a week planned of special meals, treats, and gifts for the awesome D29 staff, attempting to show just how much we appreciate all of their work in caring for the hearts and minds of our kids. Parents - check out the Teachers Favorite Things page if you are looking for ways to recognize some of these amazing folks.
And let’s keep the good vibes going throughout the rest of the school year. Read on to learn more about the upcoming Sunset Ridge Book fair on May 21st/22nd and of course the end of year Family Fun Fair on June 4th.
BUT we have some business to attend to as well. Please do your best to attend our last PTO meeting of the year on Monday, May 13th at 9:00AM on Zoom. We will be voting on the slate for the 2024-2025 PTO Board as well as the PTO Budget for the 2024-2025 school year. These items were presented at the April 8th PTO meeting and can be found on the PTO Website above the April meeting minutes.
You can find the meeting Zoom link here. See you then!
Thank you,
Sandy Norbot
STAY INFORMED
Sunset Ridge Book Fair
The Sunset Ridge Book Fair is around the corner! We are partnering with Anderson Books and it will be held in the SRS Library on May 21st from 9AM-4PM with evening hours from 5PM-7PM and May 22nd from 9AM-4PM. Cash, credit and Apple Pay are all accepted.
Can’t make the fair in person? Not to worry! Just go to www.abcfairs.com to buy your books online and have it shipped to school for free if purchased before May 22nd.
Keep an eye out for opportunities to volunteer at the fair!
Family Fun Fair
We’ll be celebrating the end of the school year with fun, food, and inflatables on Tuesday, June 4th at Clarkson Park from 3:30PM-6:00PM. Volunteers will be needed that day so please consider donating 30 minutes of your time. More details to come!
8th Grade Chairs
In lieu of fundraising for a class gift this year, the 8th grade class spent Friday morning at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville, packing meals for children in underserved communities around the world. This hands-on service work provided an opportunity for meaningful time spent together, some friendly competition, and teamwork amongst the kids, teachers, and parent volunteers. The goal for a group our size was to complete 60 boxes of packaged meals, and Sunset Ridge finished the day with 93 completed boxes, feeding 147 Guatemalan children with a meal a day for one year! It was so uplifting and the environment was so positive, with everyone lending a hand for this common goal. The graduation committee wishes to thank the district for providing the buses, the eighth grade teaching team for being such willing and enthusiastic participants, and the 12 parent volunteers who accompanied the group: Olga Dukach, Ana Miyares, Jenny Gallagher, Erica Marinello, Sara Sood, Sara Kirmser, Joanna Brown, Annette Dei, Nancy Detlefsen, Venessa Matuschka, Tracy Zeidler, and Shiva Seth. Upon return to school, the kids enjoyed an Al fresco Chipotle lunch on the art patio, which was coordinated by Shiva and Asheesh Seth, and the wonderful custodian, Dorothy, who set up all the tables and chairs and took it all down. We were incredibly proud of this group of young people, the behavior at the facility and the effort they put in.
Volunteer Opportunity at the Maker Faire!
See some old friends and make some new as you help SRS 7th and 8th graders facilitate a Paint by Number mural station and Tie-Dye station at the Maker Faire on May 30th! We are looking for adult help over two shifts at each station. See SignUpGenius for more information and to volunteer!
PTO Transition Meeting
Currently on the PTO? On the PTO slate for next year? Interested in joining a committee? Thinking about volunteering for any of the many PTO events? Come join us at the annual virtual PTO transition meeting on Monday, June 3rd at 9AM. This will be a great way for current members to pass on all the lessons learned, discuss the resources we have for our volunteers, and sketch out some of the plans for next year.
Meeting ID: 860 8762 6045Passcode: 222854
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 current Welcomers chair Katie Lutz (kj.lutz@gmail.com) or Sandy Norbot (president@district29pto.org).
School Supplies for 2024/2025
The PTO is once again working with 1st Day School supplies to allow for convenient school supply shopping for district families. 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.
Directory – Are you in?
Picture it – it’s summer break and your child is BORED and would like to have a friend over. Do you have the parent’s cell number? Email? The PTO Directory, DirectorySpot can help! But only if everyone has their info in there! It’s not too late and we can still have a robust directory in time for those summer playdates. Email Directory Chair Catherine Lucas at catherineannelucas@gmail.com to have your record added.
Parent Connections
At the next meeting on May 22nd at 9AM, there will be a review of the options for Middlefork School Capital Improvement. Zoom link here.
COMMUNITY NEWS
A Message from the Northfield Park District
Market & Music, Wednesdays starting June 12th, 5:30-8:30PM
We’ve got an exciting schedule planned for Market & Music with something for everyone – kids entertainment, concert, community market, food! Join us on Wednesdays at Clarkson Park for a perfect summer evening!
Exciting News – New Park Space
We have an agreement in place with the Village of Northfield that will permit the Northfield Park District to build and maintain a small park in the Tower Road right-of-way located just north of Temple Jeremiah on the east side of Happ Road. The plans for the half acre property include a playground, bike rack, drinking fountain, benches, landscape beautification, and a connection between Happ Road and the future Skokie Valley Trail. Fundraising efforts will begin soon so stay tuned for more information regarding this exciting addition of park space to Northfield!
Northfield Park District Summer Camps
Make your summer plans now. With our camps, you can sign up by the day to create your perfect schedule! See the camp activity schedules. Space is limited so don’t delay. While registration is ongoing throughout the summer, some camps/weeks are full. The sign-up deadline is 11:59PM on Sundays to have your child attend camp the following week.
Outdoor Pickleball
Outdoor pickleball season is here! Reserve court times online.
Community Center Closed for Memorial Day
In observance of Memorial Day, the Community Center will be closed on May 27.
Sign Up for Park District Emails
Don’t miss info on events, programs, activities, and updates! Sign up now!
A Message from The Alliance for Early Childhood
Let’s Play! Sandcastles and Seagulls, Saturday, May 11th 10AM-12PM, Gillson Park and Beach, Wilmette
Build sandcastles, explore the bird sanctuary, and play in nature with The Alliance for Early Childhood in partnership with Wilmette Park District and BackYard Nature Center. Bring your sandcastle building tools and sense of adventure and enjoy a morning of play and exploration at The Beach! Pre-Registration link.
A Message from the Northfield Library
Family Science, May 15th 4-4:30PM
Indulge in enjoyable experimentation! Engage in entertaining STEAM activities that promise to leave a lasting impression. Register here.
Next Stop: Library! After School Fun, May 21st 4-5PM
Drop in after school to build, play, and discover with toys and activities. No registration required.
Art Explorers, May 22nd 4-4:30PM
Join us to make something beautiful! We’ll have a variety of supplies to let your creative side shine. Register here.
PTO SHOUT OUTS AND THANK YOUS
Assistant Treasurer Karie Smith for her contributions to the PTO Executive Board this year. Her enthusiasm and new ideas help to keep the program fresh and forward thinking! The PTO’s financial operations will be in good hands next year with Karie as Treasurer.
Legislative Chair Tricia Gainsberg for finding and introducing the Department of Homeland Security’s “Know2Protect” presentation and materials to our community. Her eagerness to educate parents on internet safety provided an opportunity for us all to do more to protect our children.
District 29 100 Year Anniversary chairs Jeanine Rashkow and Sarah Cohn for helping to commemorate this special event by working with community members, staff, and alumni in finding and funding a perfect tree and plaque to be admired by students for years to come.
School Supply chairs Robin Decker and Mallory Ruh for granting D29 families with the convenience of online school supply shopping! ALL of their work in planning and coordinating with 1st Day School Supplies as well as district teachers allows families to have one thing checked off of our back-to-school lists. But their work isn’t over yet – thanks to them and the partnership with the district staff, your child’s supply kit will be in their classroom on the first day of school (if you order by July 1st!). Thanks Robin and Mallory!
COMING SOON & NOTES
Important Dates
May 13: PTO Meeting 9AM
May 14: Board of Education Meeting 7PM
May 21-22: SRS Book Fair
May 22: Parent Connections Meeting 9AM
May 27: No School – Memorial Day
June 3: PTO Transition Meeting 9AM
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 Sandy Norbot at president@district29pto.org to get involved or with any questions.
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