Sheridan Newsletter 5.5.23
May 5, 2023
A Message from the Principal
Dear Sheridan families,
Spring arrived just in time for us to sing about it! Our Sheridan Sharks rocked the risers today. We still have happy tunes stuck in our heads after those performances. And such a range of musical styles – from “On the Road Again” and “Shoo, Fly!” to “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” and “De Colores” (perfect for Cinco de Mayo!)– there was something for every musical taste! Kudos to Mrs. Balinao, Mrs. Thornton, and Dr. Rener for the many months of preparation that went into the event. You put together an amazing show!
Thank you again to all of the parents who joined us for the annual ACES walk. It was wonderful to spend that time together!
This week also kicked off our gentle transition of fourth graders to their next chapter in middle school. Fourth grade orchestra students joined the orchestras from Everett, Cherokee, and Deer Path Middle School for the annual spring concert on Wednesday night. We have listened to them advance their musical skills all year and are so proud of what they have accomplished! Next up… Buddy Day on Monday! Fourth graders will spend the morning at DPM to get a first-hand look at 5th grade. More to come on other 4th grade events shortly!
Up next week:
Monday 5/8 - 4th Grade Buddy Day at Deer Path Middle School
Wednesday 5/10 - Spirit of 67 First Grade Buy-in “BINGO” party 3:00-3:45 pm
Thursday 5/11 - Spirit of 67 Second Grade Buy-in “BINGO” party 3:00-4:00 pm
Friday 5/12 - Exploration Day 1:00-2:30. Volunteers please arrive at 12:30.
Sheridan Garden Club – Gardening 2 Grow!
Sheridan Garden Club is going to be in a pumpkin and sunflower growing competition with the garden clubs at Everett and Cherokee, and we need your help! We know that when school starts in the fall, Sheridan’s garden beds can be growing the biggest pumpkins and the tallest sunflowers, but we’ve got to get the seedlings started at home before we can plant them in our garden beds at Sheridan.
Please sign up here https://signup.com/go/BEuAsfe if you’d like your child to bring home a seedling starter kit to start a pumpkin or sunflower seedling. Seedling packages will be delivered at school Monday, May 8th for the children to bring home and start. We are planning an after school planting of the seedlings and Sheridan garden beds in late May, so please keep an eye out for more details. Questions or want to help? Ask Noel Dolan at ckaman@law.gwu.edu or 312-933-6727.
From Your Librarian:
Wow! Way to go Sheridan Readers! Over 7,000 books have been checked out already this year!! The 700s, which include Sports, Arts and Graphic Novels, have the highest number of circulations. Good information for a Librarian! Library classes have been busy with continued Internet Safety, Research, Author Studies, Series book talks and more, supporting their work in their other classes.
Thank you for helping library books find their way back to the Library! Our last week of book checkout will be the week of May 15th to work on getting all books returned and back into circulation! I'll send another email reminder out next week of books your child has checked out. If the book has been lost or is damaged, please let me know, and I will send you the replacement cost and take the book off the account. Thank you for your support!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!
Erin’s Law Lesson:
As part of our personal protection and safety curriculum, students in will participate in a lesson aligned with Erin’s Law (105 ILCS 5/10-23.13) in an effort to raise awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse. The mandate reinforces the importance of empowering children in keeping their bodies safe. Erin’s Law is designed to accomplish the following:
Increase educator and parent awareness of child sexual abuse;
Provide educators and parents with valuable information regarding the signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse;
Deliver age-appropriate lessons that empower children in recognizing safe and unsafe touches and what they can do if something inappropriate or uncomfortable happens;
Teach children empowerment actions such as Say “NO”, Get Away, Tell a Trusted Adult; and
Remind teachers of their legal requirement to report all suspected abuse cases to the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS).
For EC-4th Grade Students:
Lessons will be co-taught by Mr. Brown and Nurse Charlene on May 17th or 18th in their classrooms.
The lesson will not include examples of sexual abuse, nor will it include explicit terminology. We understand this is a sensitive topic and handle it carefully with information that is developmentally appropriate to the age of the students. If you would like specific information about the lesson or to learn more about the topic, please reach out to your building social worker or school psychologist.
Requests to Opt-Out: If you prefer that your child opt-out of this prevention education session, please email your child’s teacher.
Resources for Parents:
Parent Information: Parents Protect!
Erin Merryn: The Story Behind the Law
Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois
Local Resource (Gurnee)- Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center
Mandarin at Cherokee:
Please read the information about registration for incoming kindergarten students and 1st grade students in Mandarin at Cherokee. If you are interested in enrolling your incoming kindergarten student or upcoming 1st grade student please contact Kate Cavanaugh (kcavanaugh@lfschools.net) by May 19th.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Susan
Grade 1-7 iPads - Summer Information
- Students who are entering 2nd grade through 7th grade for our 2023-2024 District 67 school year will be taking their devices home over the summer.
- 8th grade graduating students will turn in their District iPads, chargers, and Logitech crayons on May 24.
- Kindergarten students will be turning in their iPads to their homeroom teachers before June 5. A new iPad will be given to all 1st graders during the first week of the 2023-2024 school year in their new classrooms.
Below are basic care instructions for your student’s device and options for technical support over the summer.
What resources will continue to be available for my students over the summer?
All the apps & subscriptions students use throughout the year are available on iPads during the summer for them to explore their creativity, interests and knowledge.
Does my student need to bring their device to any summer programming?
If your student is registered for Summer Offerings/Extended School Year (ESY) courses that use technology, please send your student with their device to their summer classes.
What if technical support is needed over the summer?
If you are having problems with your iPad over the summer, please email the Tech Department studenttechhelp67@lfschools.net. If it is necessary to bring in your device to have it repaired or serviced, a member of the Tech Team will be available by appointment only.
What if we are moving and need to turn in the District iPad?
Email the Tech Department studenttechhelp67@lfschools.net to coordinate when you can turn in your iPad, charger, and Logitech crayon to the Tech Department.
District Update
District 67 Anaphylaxis Response Committee
It is always our goal to provide a safe environment for all children, including those with life-threatening food allergies. Anaphylaxis is a severe systemic allergic reaction from exposure to allergens that is rapid in onset and can cause death. It is the policy of the Illinois State Board of Education, according to Public Act 102-0413, that each school district must have an anaphylaxis policy that must be reviewed and reevaluated every three years and be updated to reflect any necessary and appropriate revisions.
We are convening a small group of school community members to review and make recommendations for updates to our District 67 anaphylaxis policy. The committee will meet approximately three times between now and next Fall 2023. If you are interested in participating, and feel you have relevant background, please fill out the form below.
Please submit your application and attach your resume using this form. Applications will close on Wednesday, May 10 at 5:00 PM. Thank you!
Upcoming District 67 Board of Education Meeting
The District 67 Board of Education will hold a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 in the Board Room at Lake Forest High School West Campus, 300 S. Waukegan Rd. (2nd floor) beginning at 7:00pm. Additional information and meeting agendas will be posted on the D67 Board webpage prior to each meeting.
District 67 Calendar - 2024-2025
The Board approved calendar for the 2024-2025 school year has been posted online (dated 4.25.23). Please note that minor adjustments to this calendar may occur throughout the school year. Parents are advised to refer to the calendars posted on the District website. Revision dates will be noted.
Parent Series: Transition Planning
Please join us in-person or virtually for our next D67 and D115 Parent Series on Transition Planning on Monday, May 15 at 12:00 pm. During our meeting, Amy Engstrom, Transition Specialist from TrueNorth will be available to answer any of your questions related to transition planning (employment, work experiences, education, independent living, and transition linkages). Please see the linked flyer for more information and to RSVP for the event. A light lunch will be provided.
Spirit News
Rock the Spirit Wrap-up
What a Night! Rock the Spirit was a record-breaking fundraiser, raising money for future grants for our students and schools! We want to thank everybody who made it possible! Thank you for attending and for supporting the auction and raffle. We hope you had a great time!!
We are also tremendously grateful for the teachers who have contributed Buy-In Parties to the auction. These priceless student experiences create lifelong, irreplaceable memories!
Good News!
The Buy-in parties are still available through Sunday, May 7th at 11:59pm! If you missed the chance to buy your child one of these unforgettable student experiences, check out https://spiritrocks2023.givesmart.com !! You may still get in on the fun!
We Heard You!
Some of you mentioned that you would have liked to purchase one of the vacation packages. The packages were very popular during the live auction at Rock the Spirit! Winners commented that the auction prices were a bargain for the deluxe trips! To accommodate anybody who could not attend or if you were there but would have liked to purchase a vacation package, the vacations are temporarily available again at https://spiritrocks2023.givesmart.com. Purchases must be made prior to 11:59pm on Sunday, May 7th.
Profound Appreciation!
We want to express special thanks to the Mancuso and Carver Family for their extreme hospitality and generosity as the Presenting Sponsor for Rock The Spirit. They made this a night to remember! Also, to Ryan and Angele Close for the 3 Bartesian stations –what a brilliant Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or College Graduation Gift idea! Also, thank you to Bliss Diamond for the spectacular diamond earrings they provided for the Sparkle Raffle. Co-Chairs, Sam Trace and Johanna Naismith–you Rock!
The Spirit is so grateful for all of this support! We cannot wait to see how the funds raised will be spent on future grants!
APT News and Events
Thank you Sheridan for all your food donations to the Food Drive to benefit North Chicago Community Partners! CROYA was packed today with food to go out and thank you for everyone who helped sort and bag! Thank you APT Food Drive/Community Service Members Carrie Cole, Caroline Eimerman and Liz Schwartz for helping coordinate!
We have a lot of upcoming events:
Field Day is Thursday, June 1st from 12:30 - 2:30 pm!
Sign up to volunteer with the games: https://signup.com/go/vaVqQeP
Staff Appreciation Week - next week, May 8th - 12th
Thank you to our APT Staff Appreciation team: Gretchen Athas, Vicky Bozic, Jillian Floriani, Julia Hudson and Perry Minter - who have been hard at work putting together a special week for our staff, including a raffle each day, grab n go snack bar, and more!
On Thursday 5/11 is the staff appreciation midday Starbucks coffee run! Please sign up to bring our amazing Sheridan staff's favorite coffee! Drop off to the front office between 12:45 -1:30 and some of the APT Staff Appreciation Committee will run the drinks to the staff! Sign up here: 2023 Staff Starbucks Order Form (Responses)
Exploration Day - Friday, May 12th 12:15 - 2:15
Thank you to all the parents who have volunteered to help next week! Thank you Exploration Day Committee Lead Veronica DeNicolo and committee members Jenny Akemann, Vicky Bozic, Mary Galea, Nilo Kearney, Kelly Reformado, and Anna Robinson.
Mark Your Calendars:
May 8th - 12th: Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
Friday, May 12th: Exploration Day
Friday, May 19th: 7:15 am 4th Grade Donuts with a Grownup Breakfast. Please RSVP by May 14th to Vicky Bozic at victoria.mastro@gmail.com
Thursday, June 1st: Field Day 12:30 - 2:30 pm. See sign up above.
Thursday, June 1st: 4th Grade Family Social 4:30-5:30 Everett Park Cherokee, Everett, and Sheridan 4th grade families welcome!
Have a good weekend!
Elyse Butler
APT President 2022-24
School Supply Kits
If you would like to order a K-4 school supply kit for next school year, ordering is now open & available until July 1st. Thank you School Supply Coordinators Jenn Adams, Gina Misiora & Amanda Lamberti!
Community News & Events
Visit the Green Backpack or the front page of your school website to view the latest programs offered in our community.
CROYA
CROYA’s Spring 7th/8th grade dance is Friday, May 12th from 7:30pm-9:30pm at CROYA! Tickets are $5 and can be purchased during lunches or at CROYA starting Monday, May 8th. Students are not able to leave the dance early unless they are picked up by a parent.
Voices of Spring Concert
Sunday, May 7, 4 pm
The Lake Forest Civic Orchestra looks forward to spring! Join our community orchestra for an afternoon of spring inspired classical works. Our program included Mozart's "La Finta Giardinera Overture", Lili Boulanger's "D'un Matin de Printemps", Sibelius's Fruhlingsstimmen", Strauss's "Voices of Spring" and concludes with the stirring Schumann Symphony No. 1 "Spring". Learn more.
1360 N. Sheridan Rd.
Lake Forest, IL 60045