DISTRICT 29 PTO MONTHLY MATTERS
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
Monday, November 4, 2024
What a month it is has been! We blinked and now the holidays are just around the corner. It never ceases to amaze me just how much our volunteers accomplish – from Golden Tickets at Movie in the Park to amazing Halloween parties, from kicking off Benefit planning to wrapping a successful PTO Gifts application period, so many of you have been hard at work and I am incredibly grateful.
As always, plenty more to come in the month ahead and you can learn all about it at our next PTO meeting on Monday, November 11th at 9AM.
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 818 3080 9002
Passcode: 423325
Pro tip: If you don’t want to miss any future PTO or D29 event please be sure to subscribe to the district calendar here.
Ranjini Shankar
STAY INFORMED
PTO Dues & Classroom Party Fees
Thank you to all those who were able to pay their dues! If you haven’t, it’s not too late - The PTO is still collecting the following which can be paid through MySchoolBucks online or through the app.
1. PTO Dues, $25 per family – Dues help to fund the many PTO programs such as the Middlefork Coding Club, SRS AM Rec, Holiday Projects and more. Visit the PTO website to see the complete list of everything we fund.
2. PTO Classroom Fees, $25 per student – Room parents use these to fund classroom celebrations. Our Winter Holiday parties are just around the corner!
PTO Gifts
Our first round of applications has been completed! Keep an eye out on our website to see more information on all the requests and send Sarah Cohn feedback at president_elect@district29pto.org. Inspired by what you see and have some ideas you’d like to see funded? Not to worry! There’s a second chance to apply in February. Check out the PTO Gifts website for more information.
Middlefork Book Fair
The Middlefork Book Fair will be held in the Learning Resource Center December 10th-12th. More information will be shared in the coming weeks on how parents can volunteer to work at the book fair and specific dates/times that the fair will be open to families during Book Fair week, as well as setting up eWallets for your children.
NUSH Holiday Project
Each year, District 29 collaborates with Northwestern Settlement House (NUSH) to provide 40+ families in need with holiday gifts for each family member. NUSH has worked with countless individuals living in Chicago to disrupt generational poverty and open doors to better futures since 1891. Through the Holiday Gifts Project, D29 provides $15,000+ worth of food, clothing, and holiday gifts for NUSH families annually. It is truly a heart-warming project for all involved!
In addition to assigning NUSH families to each classroom for D29 families to sponsor, each grade will have a service learning activity related to the NUSH project -- from creating holiday cards for the younger students at Middlefork to packing stockings and taking classroom shopping field trips for Sunset Ridge students. And we couldn't successfully execute this project without the organization and muscle of the SRS Student Ambassadors, who help pack and load close to 100 boxes of gifts onto our truck.
More details will be sent out via ParentSquare later in November. In the meantime, dust off those elf hats and get ready to spread some feel-good holiday cheer with the rest of the D29 community!
Winter Benefit 2025
Are you ready to party? Get ready for the hottest night D29 has ever seen with the Miami Nights Winter Benefit on Saturday, March 8th at Sunset Ridge Country Club. Block your calendars, start working on your outfits, and even more importantly, click here to volunteer or offer up an auction item! We can use any and all skills to make this epic event a night to remember. Any questions or not sure how you can help but would like to get involved? Reach out to Megan and Jocelyn at miaminightsd29@gmail.com.
COMMUNITY NEWS
A Message from the Northfield Park District
Please visit the Northfield Park District website for information on how to compost your pumpkins until November 15th, election sign recycling November 5th-17th, the upcoming Holiday Fest on December 4th, the childcare program Club Dolphin, and winter classes starting January 13th.
Sign up to receive the Park District news here and follow the Northfield Park District on Instagram and Facebook!
A Message from The Alliance for Early Childhood
This year we are working with 40 different schools across the region to provide teacher and professional learning, parent education, and family experiences in the Let’s Play! series. Here is a link to the 2024-2025 Member School Program Guide.
A Message from the Northfield Library
Please visit the Winnetka-Northfield Library website for information on upcoming events and more!
PTO SHOUT OUTS AND THANK YOUS
Movie in the Park Chairs Catherine Dicke and Maria Rahmandar for planning such a fun evening watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and for the amazing golden ticket prizes. A special shout out to Matt Reed for lending us the fantastic sound system and to Bob Dicke for being the AV whiz who put it all together!
Conference Meal chairs Lydia Fields, Maureen Huhs, Erica Marinello, and Lizzy Silvia for providing an amazing spread at each school and giving the staff a much-needed boost to successfully get through all their conferences.
House and Grounds chair Jeanine Rashkow for the adorable Fall themed plants and décor around both schools.
All the Room Parents and Parent volunteers who planned and helped out with the Halloween parties that the children are sure to remember.
COMING SOON & NOTES
Important Dates
November 5: No School – Election Day
November 11: PTO Meeting 9AM
November 12: Board of Education Meeting 7PM
November 20: Parent Connections Meeting 9AM
November 25-29: No School – Thanksgiving Break
December 9: PTO Meeting 9AM
December 10: Board of Education Meeting 7PM
December 18: Parent Connections Meeting 9AM
December 23 – January 3: No School – Winter Break
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 Ranjini Shankar at president@district29pto.org to get involved or with any questions.
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